The 7 Best Wedding Venues in South Jersey
When some couples get engaged, they already know every vendor they will hire and every detail of their wedding. They’ll use the DJ from their cousins wedding, the dress shop in town that all of their friends used, and of course the photographer will be Ted Felsberg (lol). But that’s not most people. Most people start at square one and go from there. You start by making a list of everything that is important to you, then you prioritize each item on the list. So, what’s on the top of the list? A venue!
In my humble opinion, the biggest hurdle in planning any wedding is choosing the date. If you can convince your family and friends to take off from work and travel to a Wednesday wedding, more power to you. If you can do that, then you can pick from any venue or vendor and they’ll probably be available. But, most people don’t do that. I know if my wife and I tried to do that with our wedding, we would have been the only ones in attendance! Also, depending on where you live, the weather plays a big role. I live in South Jersey where spring and fall are prime wedding seasons. It’s not too hot and not too cold. Because of all these factors, venues tend to book up very fast. A lot of times they’re booked two years in advance, so that is why I put it at the top of the list.
When choosing a venue for one of the most important days in your life there are several important things to consider. You want the look and vibe to match your personalities. You also want the food and service to be top notch. You might want them to have lodging on the premises or close by. And if you have anything that you want personalized like decorations etc, you want the venue staff to be accommodating.
As a wedding photographer, I get to see a lot of wedding venues in the area. I always have great experiences, but here is a list of seven venues that stand out as amazing places to host your wedding. Enjoy!
Scotland Run - Williamstown NJ
I have photographed many weddings at Scotland Run and it is one of my favorites. The staff is incredible. They’re extremely friendly and professional from the time of booking, all the way through the wedding day. I have seen them go so far above and beyond. One time the rain was so bad it flooded the outdoor walkway to the ceremony area. The staff waded through the water and attempted to remove the water using hand tools. Their dedication to their clients is unmatched. Aside from that, they hit all of my other check boxes. Great food, as well as beautiful grounds and building. Definitely check them out. Here is their website and a blog post from a wedding that I photographed there.
Lodging is close by. About a ten to fifteen minute drive.
Spot for indoor ceremony in case of inclement weather.
Wide veriety of photo locations.
Great food.
Amazing staff. Marlo, Michael and Marissa are incredible.
https://scotlandrun.com/weddings
http://www.felsbergphotography.com/mainblog/2019/12/12/emily-and-marc-scotland-run-wedding-photos
Smithville Inn - Galloway NJ
The Historic Smithville Inn is located in Galloway, NJ in the Smithville Village. If you have never been, you are in for a treat. One of the awesome things about this venue is that it’s located in this little village of shops with tons of great places for amazing photo ops. Aside from the Inn, there are places like the dock around the lake, the carousel, the big bridge, the covered bridge, the train, the gazebo, and “Ted’s secret spot” (contact me to find out where that is!). As a wedding photographer, having a wedding at this venue really opens up possibilities and keeps my creative juices flowing.
Summary
They have lodging on the premises.
Spot for indoor ceremony in case of inclement weather.
Wide veriety of photo locations.
Great food.
Amazing staff. Justine and Kyle are a dynamic duo.
Tomasello Winery - Hammonton NJ
Tomasello Winery is nestled in Hammonton, NJ on the White Horse Pike. Hammonton is a very old historic town known for its blueberry farms and wineries. The winery gives a beautiful modern rustic look for your wedding. The outside ceremony area uses the vineyard as the background. They’ve recently renovated the inside reception area to maximize the dance floor, and show off the beautiful high ceilings in the dining area. The Tomasello family and their staff are very accommodating and professional. The food is amazing, and you have a great selection of wine for your reception!
Summary
Spot for indoor ceremony in case of inclement weather.
Wide veriety of photo locations.
Great food and a wide veriety of wine to choose from.
Amazing staff.
The Bradford Estate - Hainesport NJ
I am a huge fan of venues that only host one wedding at time. I realize that business is business and that they need to be profitable, but the problem that couples run into is this. Lets say you meet with a venue. They go over everything that they offer and they show you all of their indoor and outdoor photo locations. You love everything you see so you book them. But then on your wedding day you show up for your wedding and because they have 3 other weddings going on, you aren’t allowed to use the photos areas that you saw during your consult with them. I know several venues that do this, and sometimes it’s not an issue, but other times it can be. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t book a venue that hosts multiple weddings a day, this is just something to think about and something to discuss with your venue staff ahead of time.
At the Bradford Estate, however, there’s no need to worry about that. Even though they have a very large facility, they focus on just you for your wedding day. The grounds are beautiful, and the bridal suites are very spacious with a lot of window light. I am always impressed with the food there as well. They offer a bountiful spread for cocktail hour, delicious dinner, and a very well presented dessert selection.
Summary
Lodging is close by. About a 15 minute drive.
Spot for indoor ceremony in case of inclement weather.
Wide veriety of photo locations.
Three bridal suites with window light.
Great food and lots of food options.
Amazing staff.
Brigalias - Sicklerville NJ
It’s hard not to mention Brigalias when talking about the best South Jersey wedding venues. I’ve been photographing weddings for eight years and every year they keep improving their venue and their services. I remember when they built the chapel, the Philadelphia love sign, the multiple fountains, and the rustic section like the swing. More recently they’ve built a third ballroom, and a barn! They clearly spend a lot of time and money on giving you a great experience. They have so many photo locations on their property that it makes my job very easy, especially when I am on a time crunch to get a lot of photos done in a short amount of time. To top it all off, the food is incredible! They take great pride in the food that they serve to their guests, and the staff is very focused on making sure that you have an amazing wedding day. I highly recommend them.
Summary
Lodging is close by. About a 10 minute drive.
Beautiful chapel for ceremonies
Wide veriety of photo locations.
Great food and lots of food options.
Amazing staff. Jessica and Paula are the best!
The Grand Ballroom - Collingswood NJ
The Collingswood Grand Ballroom is so beautiful that I almost got married there. My wife and I have always loved it. The wrap around second floor mezzanine level is so gorgeous. My favorite part is at the end of cocktail hour when the curtains open up and the couple is having their first dance below for everyone to watch. It’s so romantic. I love the architecture and lighting when making beautiful pictures. Definitely consider having your wedding there.
Summary
Lodging is close by. About a 10 minute drive.
Ceremony on the grand staircase is beautiful.
Veriety of indoor and outdoor photo locations.
Great food.
Amazing staff.
Everly at Railroad - Tuckahoe NJ
Everly at Railroad is a hidden gem in South Jersey. I’ve only shot there once, but they left a big impression on me. The service, food, decor, and ambiance were extremely well thought out. If you are looking for rustic, mason jars, burlap and the most unique look in South Jersey, then look no further. On the top of that, when I was there I got to meet a lot of the staff and the owner. They were the kindest, sweetest people. They not only made my job very easy, but they were very attentive to the couple and their guests. I cannot wait to work there again.
Summary
Lodging is close by. About a 15 to 20 minute drive.
Spot for indoor ceremony in case of inclement weather.
Wide veriety of photo locations.
Great food.
Amazing staff. They know how to treat people.
There are a ton of great options for your wedding venue, but these seven are my personal picks. I hope you enjoy planning your wedding, and if you need a photographer I would love to be considered. Thank you, and happy planning!
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