Posted on May 31, 2024 by Jacqueline Larcara
Dreaming of exchanging vows with vineyard vistas as the backdrop? Imagining a wedding that’s both indoors and outdoors? Want to delight your guests with delicious New Jersey-made wine? A winery could be the perfect wedding venue for you. Here, we take you into the vines and showcase stunning winery weddings around the Garden State. All wineries included are members of the Garden State Wine Growers Association and grow their grapes on site.
Alexandra and Bradley love Cape May and knew the Shore town would be great for their big day, but they didn’t want a beach wedding. When they visited Willow Creek Winery, “it just felt like us,” says Alex. She describes the venue as “a blend of rustic elegance” because it combines wooden structures and chandeliers. Overall, she loved the “warm and cozy” atmosphere of the winery in the fall. For their November 4, 2023, wedding, their 170 guests enjoyed a sunset cocktail hour on a patio with a firepit overlooking the vineyards before moving to the indoor reception area, which featured a big fireplace. Some of Alex’s favorite photos of the day captured Bradley carrying her through the vineyards. “That was so fun,” she says. “The vineyards were green but also turning brown so it was perfect fall vibes.” Ahead of the big day, the couple did a wine tasting with their parents. Alex chose Willow Creek’s sangria as her signature cocktail. The couple wanted a weekend-long celebration for their wedding, so they rented cottages at neighboring Beach Plum Farm. Willow Creek also has five on-site cottages available for overnight accommodations as well as two full-house rentals off-site near the property.
While Alison and Jacob were searching for a wedding venue, there was “something about Tomasello Winery” that left an impression, says Alison. “Driving on the White Horse Pike in Hammonton, you don’t expect to see as much as you see [at the winery].” For their “warm and sunny” July 28, 2023 outdoor ceremony under a pergola, “there were rows and rows of endless vineyards,” says Alison. “You could kind of escape where you were.” About 90 guests enjoyed an indoor cocktail hour and reception. Alison appreciated that the winery was easy to work with, especially considering that she lives in Idaho and planned her wedding across the country. There is a changing suite for the bridal party to use for dressing only. Alison took some stunning photos on the spiral staircase. The couple opted for custom-labeled Tomasello wine favors for their guests, which are included in the wedding package. They plan to return to the winery for their one-year anniversary. They’re looking forward to sitting in the tasting room and chatting with people. “We can say, ‘Oh it’s a great place to get married,’” says Alison.
“When we drove up to Unionville Vineyards, it was just so calm and peaceful,” says Michelle. The couple was sold on the serenity the winery offered. Michelle started her wedding day by getting ready with her sister and mom in the “really cute farmhouse that has a rustic vibe.” A handful of winery patrons got a glimpse of the bride as she walked to the outdoor ceremony location behind the farmhouse. “It was kind of fun as a bride to walk out in my dress and have some people ogling,” she says. Once she got to the lawn area for her ceremony, “it was completely private,” says Michelle. The couple also strolled through the vineyards and took photos. On their wedding day, June 13, 2021, they set up a croquet kit, cornhole boards and a large Jenga set for guests to have fun with during cocktail hour. Michelle and Christopher opted to have their 40-guest reception under the on-site three-peak tent that is equipped with chandeliers. Unionville can accommodate weddings up to 175 guests in the tent and more intimate receptions can also be held indoors on the winery floor. “The tent outside is really quite beautiful because you get to see the whole landscape,” says Michelle. Guests were served Unionville wine. “It was delicious,” says Michelle, who is now a wine club member with her husband. One of her favorite parts of her wedding was the final hour of the reception when everyone moved to a fire pit where an acoustic duo provided music as guests made s’mores.
Julianna and Charles chose to wed at a winery because “we didn’t want to have a typical wedding,” she says, “and we just love wine!” After seeing Laurita Winery’s large space and indoor and outdoor offerings, “we were immediately like, ‘This is it,’” says Julianna. Taking some unique portraits in the vineyards was memorable for the couple. “I loved that,” says Julianna. They didn’t get ready on premises, although there is an area to do so. For their November 4, 2023, big day, their ceremony was on the grand lawn at dusk. They had heaters and the DJ provided lighting because it gets dark early in November. Their 166 guests enjoyed the cocktail hour and reception, which took place in two separate rooms with bars. One of the couple’s favorite parts of their big day was ending the night with a fireworks display over the vines. Because Laurita often offers fireworks shows, the venue put the couple in contact with a fireworks vendor. “That was really awesome to have kind of like entertainment for our guests,” says Julianna.
Verónica’s father knows the owner of Bellview Winery, so when they popped by for a visit and the winery happened to be closed, the owner still happily opened the tasting room just for them. “It has that mom-and-pop feel,” says Verónica about Bellview. “I totally fell in love with the landscaping, the setup and the staff.” The outdoor elements sold Verónica and her now-wife, Yomary. As she envisioned their wedding, “I was thinking I want nature to be the backdrop,” says Verónica. “My wife and I are both in health care, so we wanted a quasi-open space.” Their October 20, 2022, ceremony took place outdoors next to the vineyards, where the pair also had a fun photo session. “The sun was out and it was beautiful,” she says about her wedding day. But at night, it got chilly, so their 135 guests enjoyed an indoor cocktail hour followed by a tented reception with heaters. Bellview specializes in micro-weddings but a tent rental allows for larger parties. For Verónica, there was nothing better than being partially outdoors on her big day. “I was barefoot at one point and I loved it,” she says about walking on the grass. “It’s like a hidden gem,” she says about Bellview. “You don’t feel like you’re in New Jersey.”
[RELATED: The Ultimate Guide to Wedding Venues in New Jersey]
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