Outdoor Wedding Venues in New Jersey From the Shore to the Mountains
Outdoor wedding venues in New Jersey have considerably more range than the phrase might suggest. You can get married beside the Atlantic, overlook a lake, celebrate among formal gardens or take over part of a historic village tucked into a state park.
And because this is New Jersey, “outdoor wedding” doesn’t have to mean choosing one particular landscape. The Shore, mountains, gardens and waterfronts are all within the same state, which feels slightly excessive but works very well for wedding planning.
These five New Jersey wedding venues make especially good use of what’s outside their doors.
Five Hidden Gems for Outdoor Weddings in NJ
Photo: Waterloo Village
Waterloo Village
Waterloo Village in Stanhope gives “outdoor wedding” considerably more room to work with. The restored 19th century canal village sits within Allamuchy Mountain State Park, surrounded by wooded landscapes, historic buildings and the Musconetcong River.
Couples can choose from several outdoor ceremony settings, including the Secret Garden, gazebo, orchard and brick patio. The historic village itself also becomes part of the experience, giving portraits everything from old stone and canal paths to gardens and open green space.
Outdoor celebrations can continue well beyond the ceremony. Waterloo has a wood fired pizza oven for late night bites and a fire pit that can turn the end of the reception into a post wedding gathering under the stars.
And then there are the alpacas.
Very few wedding venues can casually add those to the list.
Photo: Ocean Place Resort & Spa
Ocean Place Resort & Spa
Ocean Place Resort & Spa in Long Branch takes the outdoor wedding concept directly to the Atlantic. Couples can hold the ceremony on the beach or use the Great Lawn, with ocean views keeping the Shore firmly in the picture. The resort has 50,000 square feet of outdoor lawn and beach event space, so this is considerably more than a ballroom that happens to be near the water.
The celebration can move indoors afterward to the Atlantic or Monmouth Ballroom, while Oceanport offers another event-space option with ocean views.
And don’t overlook the beach bonfire. Ocean Place offers bonfires as part of its wedding and event experiences, giving couples an excuse to bring everyone back outside after the formal part of the celebration ends.
Apparently the Atlantic wasn’t enough of an outdoor amenity.
Photo credit: The Palace at Somerset Park/MPW Media Group
The Palace at Somerset Park
The Palace at Somerset Park in Somerset gives outdoor weddings a much more formal setting. The property sits on 30 acres, with landscaped gardens surrounding its Neo-Palladian style venue and outdoor ceremony spaces.
One of the smartest parts of the layout is that the East and West sides each have their own private garden, along with a separate foyer, ballroom and wedding suite. That means two weddings can take place on the property while each celebration keeps its own dedicated spaces.
Couples planning an outdoor ceremony also have an indoor backup ceremony space if the weather changes. And for couples who really want to use the grounds after dark, The Palace even offers the option of a fireworks display viewed from the terrace.
Thirty acres, private gardens and optional fireworks. Apparently subtle wasn’t on the landscaping plan.
The Estate at Farrington Lake
The Estate at Farrington Lake in East Brunswick puts the water at the center of its outdoor spaces. The property sits on 22 acres of lakefront gardens, with a pergola overlooking Farrington Lake for outdoor ceremonies and a patio where couples can take cocktail hour outside.
New tenting options give couples another way to use the lakefront setting while keeping some coverage overhead, and the solarium style reception room brings the grounds back into view through panoramic windows once the celebration moves indoors.
Between the gardens, patio, pergola and lake, this is one of those venues where “outdoor wedding” doesn’t end when everyone leaves the ceremony.
The Oyster Point Hotel
The Oyster Point Hotel in Red Bank trades oceanfront for riverfront, overlooking the Navesink River from its hilltop setting. The waterfront terrace gives couples an outdoor option for cocktails with panoramic river and marina views before the celebration moves into the newly renovated ballroom.
The hotel also offers outdoor tenting, giving couples another way to use the waterfront setting rather than simply admiring it through the ballroom windows.
And because it’s a boutique hotel in Red Bank, the setting works particularly well for couples who want waterfront scenery without committing to a full beach wedding.
The Navesink gets the view. Everyone’s shoes get to stay out of the sand.
Frequently Asked Questions About Outdoor Wedding Venues in New Jersey
What should we look for in an outdoor wedding venue in New Jersey?
Look beyond the ceremony space. Ask where cocktail hour can happen outside, what outdoor areas remain available during the reception and what happens if the weather changes. The best outdoor venues make the grounds part of more than just the vows.
Do outdoor wedding venues in New Jersey have indoor backup spaces?
Many do, but the backup setup varies by venue. Ask to see the actual indoor ceremony option during your tour and find out when the venue typically makes weather-related decisions. Plan B works considerably better when you like it almost as much as Plan A.
Can we have a New Jersey outdoor wedding without getting married on the beach?
Absolutely. New Jersey outdoor wedding venues range from historic villages and formal gardens to lakefront estates and riverfront terraces. On this list alone, Waterloo Village offers historic grounds, The Palace at Somerset Park has private gardens and The Estate at Farrington Lake has a pergola overlooking the lake.
Which outdoor wedding venues in New Jersey offer waterfront views?
Ocean Place Resort & Spa sits along the Atlantic, The Estate at Farrington Lake overlooks its namesake lake and The Oyster Point Hotel overlooks the Navesink River. That gives couples beach, lake and river settings without leaving New Jersey.
What should we ask about when planning an outdoor wedding?
Ask about rain and wind plans, guest accessibility, shade, restrooms, power for ceremony sound, décor restrictions and how long you can use the outdoor spaces. If you’re planning extras such as a fire pit, bonfire or fireworks, confirm those details directly with the venue too.
Can an outdoor wedding continue outside after the ceremony?
Yes, depending on the venue. That’s actually one of the things that makes this group interesting. Some offer outdoor cocktail-hour spaces, while others extend the experience with features such as Waterloo Village’s fire pit, Ocean Place’s beach bonfire or Farrington Lake’s lakefront patio.
Keep Exploring New Jersey Wedding Venues
Outdoor weddings in New Jersey can mean considerably more than a ceremony on a lawn. These venues bring historic villages, Atlantic beaches, formal gardens, lakefront views and riverfront terraces into the celebration.
Explore New Jersey wedding venues on PartySpace to find outdoor settings alongside ballrooms, historic estates, farms, country clubs and other venues throughout the state.
If gardens are the part that caught your attention, explore our 5 New Jersey Wedding Venues for Flower Lovers for venues where seasonal blooms and landscaped grounds get an even bigger role.
Because if you’re getting married outside, the scenery might as well earn its invitation.
