4 upscale wedding venues in Central Jersey
For the 2.3 million American couples who wed each year at a total cost of more than $70 billion, choosing a wedding venue is one of the first and most significant decisions the two (and their families) will make together.
If you’re among those looking to tie the knot, Central Jersey’s range of upscale wedding venues can help ensure a unique and memorable experience on your special day. Here’s a look at four of them:
The Ryland Inn
Set on 10 beautifully maintained acres that include an equestrian paddock and a charming Groom’s Cottage complete with a barber shop, pool table and bar, the Ryland Inn has been offering hospitality since 1796.
Operated since 2012 by current owners Frank and Jeanne Cretella, “the Ryland Inn offers a comprehensive and elegant wedding experience for discerning couples in a beautiful bucolic venue,” said John Williams, vice president of hospitality for the facility’s parent company, Landmark Corp. Memory Maker.
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The Inn’s two main event venues — the Grand Ballroom and the Coach House — can accommodate up to 230 guests in custom-designed spaces marked by oversized fireplaces, stunning crafted chandeliers and other elegant, understated and sophisticated decor.
“In addition to our event spaces, the Ryland Inn also offers accommodations for bridal parties in our beautifully renovated buildings, which include our seven-room Pelham House, five-room Kimblewick House and custom bridal suite in the Hay Loft,” said Williams, who noted that the storied Ryland Inn reflects a venerable heritage of elegance and good taste.
“Our guests become part of that legacy and can return time and time again to partake of the superb cuisine and verdant aspects of this truly legendary venue,” he said. “Our goal is to create the most wonderful and lasting memories for each and every guest.”
The Ryland Inn is at 115 Route 28, Whitehouse Station. Call 908-534-4011 or visit www.rylandinnnj.com.
Hamilton Farm Golf Club
Celebrating its 90th year of hosting weddings, Hamilton Farm Golf Club, a renowned and historic two-course golf facility in the bucolic Somerset hills, launched its new 5,000-square-foot wedding venue this spring.
“Our new space is elegant, understated and capitalizes on the scenic views and natural beauty of the property,” said Colette Rochat Flint, Hamilton Farm’s director of catering.
The new 5,000-square-foot ballroom accommodates up to 300 guests with a dance floor and features such striking details as 13-foot ceilings, crown molding and wainscoting.
Other highlights include access to sunset views over the 9th and 10th holes of the Highlands golf course as well as balcony views that overlook the property’s new garden and restored fountain, brick enclosure and copper-roofed gazebo, all of which are original to the century-old estate and provide ample opportunities for spectacular photography.
Offering sumptuous cuisine and the opportunity to book up to six guest rooms in Hamilton Farm’s vintage mansion as well as a four-bedroom/four-bathroom guest lodge on the property, “we hold one wedding at a time and strive to ensure that our facilities feel as comfortable as your own home,” said Flint.
“Our warm and sophisticated new venue, combined with the vintage elegance of our century-old structures and pristine, meticulously maintained natural landscape promise a truly unique, personalized and one-of-a-kind wedding experience.”
Hamilton Farm Golf Club is at 1040 Pottersville Road in Peapack-Gladstone. Call 908-901-4062 or visit www.hamiltonfarmgolfclub.com.
Park Chateau Estate and Gardens
A sister facility to Nanina's in the Park in Belleville and the Park Savoy Estate in Florham Park, Park Chateau Estate is situated on 15 acres and officially opened in March.
Offering the authentic style and setting of a vintage chateau, “we host one event at a time and are a full-service facility with two coordinators and chefs available for every event,” General Manager Tom Casella said of the setting, which can accommodate up to 400 people for a sit-down dinner with dance floor and also offers two bridal suites with a full salon as well as a groom’s suite.
“Fully capturing the essence of romance, Park Chateau brings to life an estate that one would expect to find in the pages of a classic French romance novel, complete with the makings of ‘happily ever after,’” Casella said.
“In addition, our luscious gardens, which include a private pond and serene chapel, provide the perfect picturesque setting for any outdoor or indoor wedding ceremony.”
Casella encourages bridal parties to imagine the luxury of being pampered in the salon, brought breakfast and/or lunch with cocktails, and fully supported by his and her assistants on their special day, then taking pictures in the manicured French gardens and being married in the property’s quaint chapel.
“And that’s just the beginning,” he said.
Park Chateau Estate and Gardens is at 678 Cranbury Road in East Brunswick. Call 732-238-4200 or visit www.parkchateau.com.
Natirar
The centerpiece of a 90-acre estate in the rolling hills of Somerset County and formerly owned by the King of Morocco, the century-old, 35,000-square-foot Tudor Mansion at Natirar reopened in June following an extensive renovation and now includes the addition of a new Grand Ballroom and adjacent Conservatory, which can accommodate groups of up to 225.
The new 5,000-square-foot ballroom features expansive views of the countryside as well as a unique 26-foot living wall, while event menus designed by Executive Chef David Felton reflect the property’s distinctive Table at the Farm epicurean experience and showcase the bounty of Natirar’s private 12-acre farm.
“In the mansion, we took extraordinary efforts to honor the history and tradition of the original home, refining such architectural details as molded plaster ceilings, period lighting fixtures and lavishly carved stone fireplaces while adding a modern touch,” said Natirar founder Bob Wojtowicz. “It’s a beautiful setting for portraits, cocktail receptions and intimate dinners.”
With Natirar’s one-event-at-a-time policy ensuring that each group benefits from the team’s full attention, “wedding events at Natirar estate are personal, elegant and timeless and the natural beauty of the property and the mansion are a complement to the intrinsic beauty of a wedding day,” Wojtowicz said.
Natirar is at 2 Main St. in Peapack-Gladstone. Call 908-722-1200 or visit www.natirar.com.