Posted on January 24, 2024 by Jacqueline Larcara
In September, I took a tour of the Estate at Florentine Gardens. Situated on four acres of manicured grounds, this luxurious and majestic venue in Bergen County is breathtaking and romantic. With brick pathways, fountains and stone gazebos, this Georgian-style mansion is located in suburban River Vale. The venue boasts a new indoor ceremony room and recently renovated grand ballroom (more on both spaces below). Photo opportunities abound at Florentine Gardens. Your photographer will have a field day with all the indoor and outdoor portrait options.
Here are five things that stood out to me during my Estate at Florentine Gardens tour.
I gasped when I walked into the new ceremony room at Florentine Gardens. This is not just a room in the venue that can be converted to accommodate your ceremony. This is a dedicated space for picturesque nuptials. The grand two-story space features hand-crafted ceiling moldings, a 7-foot stone fireplace and floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the gardens. The room is decorated with soft, neutral tones, creating a romantic atmosphere.
On the day that I was visiting, contractors had just installed black wrought iron railings on the mezzanine, which is a great spot for photographers to get those bird’s eye view shots or for musicians to serenade ceremony guests. There is also a second floor outdoor mezzanine with railings for stunning photos with the gardens as the backdrop. The abundance of natural light in this room provides the feeling of being outdoors without any worry about the weather.
Their bridal suite features a fireplace, numerous places to sit and four salon chairs. This large space offers ample room for bridal party members to spread out and the salon chairs provide the ideal getting-ready space. Your makeup artist and hair stylist are sure to love this space that is truly designed for prepping on your big day. It’s worth noting that the groom suite is impressive as well. There is a pool table, TV and an antique barber chair that the wedding party can use to get haircuts and shaves.
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Who doesn’t love sipping a cocktail and sampling delicious appetizers alfresco? Having the option for a partially outdoor cocktail hour is always a nice perk for guests. Just off the indoor cocktail hour room, a back patio features tables and chairs along the side of the venue. Guests may want to meander and take some of their own photos in the gardens during cocktail hour.
The gardens that surround the property are beautifully landscaped with lots of greenery and seasonal flowers as well as potted plants and stone structures. If you decide to forgo an indoor ceremony, their outdoor ceremony space is lovely as well with a good amount of trees for shade. There are many romantic photo ops to take advantage of on the grounds. It’ll be hard to choose just one spot for an enchanting first-look.
As soon as you enter this space, it feels regal, spacious and elegant. In 2020, the venue completely renovated its ballroom, which can accommodate 360 guests. The ballroom features floor-to-ceiling windows, 10-foot crystal chandeliers, a wrought iron Juliette balcony, a stone fireplace and hand-crafted ceiling moldings. One of the most impressive features of the grand ballroom is the surrounding windows that extend from the floor to a 25-foot high ceiling, allowing for an abundance of natural light. Other appealing features include a built-in bar and state-of-the-art, built-in lighting and technology.
Check out gorgeous Real Weddings at The Estate at Florentine Gardens from Angela & Erik and Sara and Brendan.
