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Northern NJ Wedding Venues

danielle60314danielle60314 member
100 Comments Second Anniversary First Answer 5 Love Its
in New Jersey

Hi everyone!!

Sooooooooo excited... I recently got engaged and would like to start the search for a wedding venue in Northern NJ.  I honestly have no idea where to begin.  We aren't looking to have a huge wedding.   Approx. 150ppl (max).  I would say no more than $150/plate or less (including tax & gratuity)

Can anyone recommend places for me to start my search?

Thank you so much!! :)


Danielle

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Re: Northern NJ Wedding Venues

  • Jenn7778Jenn7778 member
    100 Comments 25 Love Its First Answer First Anniversary
    I am getting married at Primavera Regency in Stirling and it is AMAZING! We are paying $120 per person plus tax and tip and we only had to guarantee 100 people for a Saturday night in November. Everything is included and the food is the best food I have ever had at a wedding.
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  • danielle60314danielle60314 member
    100 Comments Second Anniversary First Answer 5 Love Its

    Hi Jenn!!!


    Congratulations!!! Thank you for your response.  I will totally look into the Primavera Regency! Did you look at a lot of other venues?

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  • Jenn7778Jenn7778 member
    100 Comments 25 Love Its First Answer First Anniversary
    Hi Danielle!!!

    I only looked at 2 other venues. I fell in lie with the chandeliers at Primavera and the food. We have been to a couple weddings there and they have by the far the best wedding food I have ever tasted. I also liked the fact that everything was included and there were only 3 upgrades (sushi bar during cocktail hour, filet mignon vs prime rib and Viennese hour for desert). The cocktail hous it to die for and thy give you a ton for the cost. You also get a maître d, coat check and valet parking included and they only hold 1 event per night.

    I was shocked at how reasonably priced they were for all you get included. I am dealing with Vinnie and Chris is going to be our maître d.
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  • danielle60314danielle60314 member
    100 Comments Second Anniversary First Answer 5 Love Its

    Oh wow... That sounds great.  I'm putting The Primavera at the top of the list. :)  My fiancé is active military so I will see if they offer anything for his services too. :

    If I may ask.. What part of NJ are you in?

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  • Jenn7778Jenn7778 member
    100 Comments 25 Love Its First Answer First Anniversary
    I live in Union, NJ and Primavera is in Stirling which is by Berkeley Heights. It is northern NJ. I can not say enough how great they have been to work with!
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  • jaz3088jaz3088 member
    Sixth Anniversary 100 Comments 25 Love Its First Answer
    edited June 2014
     

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  • jaz3088jaz3088 member
    Sixth Anniversary 100 Comments 25 Love Its First Answer
    check out The Terrace in Paramus :) 
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  • majesty318majesty318 member
    Knottie Warrior 100 Love Its 100 Comments First Answer
    edited June 2014
    We just had our wedding at the Knoll Country Club (East) in Boonton. We guaranteed 150 and paid well under $150 per person. The cocktail hour & Viennese were insane. Also the people were GREAT to work with. I really can't say enough good things about them!
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  • dalm0mdalm0m member
    Ninth Anniversary 500 Comments 25 Love Its Combo Breaker

    NNJ is a huge place. 

    Before you start running around, where do you live & where will you be getting married?  Look in those counties. 

    Also check out wedding magazines / websites BEFORE you get in the car.  Some places will give you info over the phone.  I was able to eliminate a lot of places based on phone conversations.  Saved a ton of time & gas. 

    Think about the style you want.  Do you want a hotel venue?  Do you want a stand alone place? Do you want something more unique?

    Approximately how big / small will your wedding be.  Size may change where you look. 

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  • danielle60314danielle60314 member
    100 Comments Second Anniversary First Answer 5 Love Its

    Thank you all for the responses and the ideas. 


    We live in Union.  We have a ton of choices. We don't mind if its a little away from the house either.  I'm going to try and narrow it down so that my fiancé and I can look at them together on line and after that start making some calls etc.  We would prefer to get married on the premises and to also have access to a hotel near by for our guests to stay at.  A lot of my side doesn't live in NJ so I'm sure they would want to stay the night someplace close.

    I will totally check out Knoll Country Club and also Terrace.  Thank you for your suggestions. :)

    We don't want a big wedding so we are probably looking at less than 150...  Perhaps like 125...  I'm sure not everyone is going to RSVP with a yes. :)

    Majesty318...  Did they have a minimum of 150 ppl to book?  I think that may be eliminating some places because I know some venues don't want to accommodate  a smaller sized wedding.


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  • Jenn7778Jenn7778 member
    100 Comments 25 Love Its First Answer First Anniversary
    @dzecca Primavera is like 15 minutes from you. I live in Union also! Small world!
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  • danielle60314danielle60314 member
    100 Comments Second Anniversary First Answer 5 Love Its

    Yes it is!!! I was thinking the same thing. NJ is pretty large! :)


    you booked your wedding for November? 2014/2015? :)

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  • Jenn7778Jenn7778 member
    100 Comments 25 Love Its First Answer First Anniversary
    @dzecca my wedding is 11/7/15.
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  • majesty318majesty318 member
    Knottie Warrior 100 Love Its 100 Comments First Answer
    dzecca I am not sure how low of a minimum they will do. It's probably negotiable depending on date. We knew we would have 150 so that's basically where we started with them; we didn't try for less. Definitely worth a shot though :)

    We blocked rooms at the Holiday Inn in Parsippany which was great to work with.

    And we also got married on site at the Knoll.
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  • love0208love0208 member
    Fifth Anniversary 25 Love Its 10 Comments First Answer
    I 2nd Primavera also, it is definitely a diamond in the rough!  I am getting married in may 2015 and I can't wait.  We did the food tasting which was amazing!!  And everyone whom I speak to has nothing but great things to say about it.  Also, you have the entire place to yourself which I love!  I know all brides has their 'requirements' so to speak, so I would check it out and see if it is a fit for ya!!

    Good luck with everything and congratulations!!!

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  • danielle60314danielle60314 member
    100 Comments Second Anniversary First Answer 5 Love Its

    Thanks guys!!!!!


    Primavera is on the top of our list to go look at.  Has anyone been to Crystal Springs?

    I have to try and narrow it down to a few so that I can start calling for appointments. :)


    We are engaged 2 weeks and everyone is already asking what the date is.  LOL 

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  • danielle60314danielle60314 member
    100 Comments Second Anniversary First Answer 5 Love Its

    Thank you Pearl78!!!!  That's wonderful you booked your venue!!!!


     I will be happy when we start looking and find a place. :)

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  • love0208love0208 member
    Fifth Anniversary 25 Love Its 10 Comments First Answer
    Thank you dzecca, we were too !!!! And yes I experience the samething, with people asking what the date is, it was pure craziness, but suprisingly we booked our venue aproximately 45 days after we got engaged!! Primavera was the 3rd and last place we looked at!! Keep us all posted on your progress!
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  • Jenn7778Jenn7778 member
    100 Comments 25 Love Its First Answer First Anniversary
    edited June 2014
    @pearl78‌ Primavera was the first venue we looked at!
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  • danielle60314danielle60314 member
    100 Comments Second Anniversary First Answer 5 Love Its

    @pearl78... THANKS!! I will def keep everyone posted!!  45 days is awesome. I'm hoping we can narrow it down and start making appointments soon. I think I may look at Primavera last so that I have a few to compare them too etc. :)


    @pearl78 & Jenn778... What other venues did you both look at??? :)

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  • Jenn7778Jenn7778 member
    100 Comments 25 Love Its First Answer First Anniversary
    @dzecca‌ I looked at The Palace at Somerset Park which was pretty but very expensive once you add on everything you get elsewhere and I also looked at The Clubhouse at Galloping Hill which I was very unimpressed by. The food was not good and for a brand new venue I did not like the decor.
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  • danielle60314danielle60314 member
    100 Comments Second Anniversary First Answer 5 Love Its

    @Jenn7778.. THANK YOU!!! I appreciate your feedback on the venues you looked at. 

    I showed my Fiance the Primavera and he really liked it. We are going to call and book an appt.  He also liked Crystal Springs CC & Ravello's so they maybe 2nd and 3rd on the list. 

    We are engaged 2 weeks today... So I'm hoping to have a venue booked by August the latest. :)



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  • Jenn7778Jenn7778 member
    100 Comments 25 Love Its First Answer First Anniversary
    edited June 2014
    Dzecca once you start planning you will not stop! Lol I was completely planned 3 months after we were engaged. After we decided to go with primavera everything else just fell into place! Let me know if you want any other vendor recommendations. I have prices and insite on a lot in out area. :-)
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  • danielle60314danielle60314 member
    100 Comments Second Anniversary First Answer 5 Love Its
    @Jenn7778...   I would love all the recommendations you can give. That's so sweet of you! THANK YOU!!  You can never have too much!! I'm also new to NJ so I don't know my way around that great yet either. I only moved to NJ in April. LOL
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  • Jenn7778Jenn7778 member
    100 Comments 25 Love Its First Answer First Anniversary
    Well I will list everyone I am using. I made sure to meet with at least 3 vendors in each category except my photographer. I knew his work and booked him before anything else since he is so amazing! I did not always book the least expensive but who I though would make my wedding amazing! I am not sure what your budget is but would be willing to share costs with you in a private message if you want. Just let me know.

    DJ - Posh Entertainment in Cranford (Mikey B is our DJ and owns the company) they are amazing and very highly rated on the knot. I felt comfortable with him the minute we sat down. He was more down to earth and less Jersey cheesy then all the others.

    Florist- Avenue Florist in Elizabeth. Nathan is a bit quirky but he does amazing work and will work within any budget you have. His samples were really beautiful and I had a lot of friends who had used them. The 3% sales tax vs 7% did not hurt either.

    Limos- Santos Limos because they had the best rates and the most included

    Hotel block - Somerset Hills Hotel in Warren. It is who Primavera recommended and they include a shuttle to and from the reception in the rate. We are also doing a brunch the next morning there.

    Photographer - John Barone in Philadelphia because he is amazing!

    Videographer - Steve at All Occasion Vidoe in Philadelphia. He was willing to mold a package within my budget and works with my photographer a lot.

    Hair and Makeup - Gianna Giaconna in Summit. My trial was amazing and she is super easy going and responsive.

    Rehearsal Dinner - Sofia'a in Springfield. They have delicious food and give you a ton for the money. It is ring your own so it keeps he price down a bit.

    That is all I can think if for now but I am sure I am missing something! Lol
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  • danielle60314danielle60314 member
    100 Comments Second Anniversary First Answer 5 Love Its

    OMG!!! Thank you so much!  WOW!! You really have pretty much everything booked! LOL That's awesome!!!

    I would love some round-about pricing (privately of course) for whatever you want to share. :) 

    I am totally going to check out John Barone Photography since I don't have a specific one in my right now. 

    I do have a Videographer I would love to use.  I just need to book my venue first before I contact him.  He is amazing. He isn't in NJ but, I know he will travel.

    Hair & Makeup is a huge plus. Thank you for the suggestion. Since I'm new to NJ I wouldn't even know where to begin with that one.

    I was going to scout around for a hotel once I booked my venue.  Most of my friends and family do not live in NJ so I'm sure they will want to stay over. A shuttle would be an absolute PLUS!


     I'm from NY so I'm used to waaaay more than 7%. LOL  3% is amazing!!


    My Fiance said he had someone in mind for the DJ but, I'm not sure who it is yet.

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  • Jenn7778Jenn7778 member
    100 Comments 25 Love Its First Answer First Anniversary
    @danielle60314 I just sent you a PM.
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  • love0208love0208 member
    Fifth Anniversary 25 Love Its 10 Comments First Answer
    @danielle60314 my fiance had to remind me that we only looked at 2, the other place was in Union, Costa Del Sol, which I didn't like at all, too old fashion for me, it had like an 80's vibe but that's just me.

    To help you out, I did book Jason Rhee for photography, so far I love his work and his prices are EXTREMELY reasonable!!  If you look on his blog, I feel like he is getting better and better everytime if that is even possible.  He has a very romantic feel to his work.  

    If you are looking for something more editorial HANDS DOWN Julian Ribinik !!! He is out of New York, prices are pretty reasonble, his photo albums are GORG!! But again editorial, beautiful work, just not what I was looking for.  He works with his wife and they are so nice, they will give you a cavity!

    Florist, I agree with @Jenn7778, Avenue Florist, I have an appointment this weekend to see what he cooked up for me, he is a bit quirky but all the Knoty's sware by this guy, he does work with any budget, so I am excited to see what he comes up with. 

    That is as far as I have gotten, lol, @Jenn7778 is way ahead of the game!! lol
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  • love0208love0208 member
    Fifth Anniversary 25 Love Its 10 Comments First Answer
    @Jenn7778 I live in Union too, what a small world!!

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  • Jenn7778Jenn7778 member
    100 Comments 25 Love Its First Answer First Anniversary
    Pearl78 so funny that 3 of us live in Union and might all be getting married at Primavera.

    Nathan is definitely quirky but does amazing things.
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