NJ Venue all-inclusive under $60pp

State and public parks often have cheap sites (think outdoor ceremony and reception in a lodge or building on site) but definitely not all-inclusive. Most of the ones I looked at included tables and chairs but that was it. Still might be cheaper if you do that and look into separate catering and such.

I think Celia Milton is in the NJ area, maybe she can give you some recommendations for venues.

Good luck. it's going to be hard because everything is ala carte. if you get married at a park, you will need to pay for linens, tables, chairs etc. I had an NJ wedding in September and paid almost $200 (including )

ETA: May I suggest having a wedding in January? My friend got married at the Brownstone in Paterson on Jan 3, 2015 and said she had a $50,000 for half the cost. You still may be looking at over $60 a plate, but you can certainly cut corners with other details.

We are having a church ceremony and we are very mother nature oriented so we are booking the church for 4/22/2017 which is earth day. So far I have come across very few venues in my price range, but most of them are indoors. NJ budget wedding is pretty much an oxymoron since everything is sooo expensive. January would be way too cold to be outside. I have found some lovely places in Delaware, but they are about 2 hours from the church without traffic.

Is there not a hall or outdoor area near the church?

No, the only option would be the church basement or the gymnasium which we are not interested in.

Rutgers Gardens? There is a pavilion that you can rent for $4000 and you choose from their preferred caterers. I think you can get catering for $60-75 pp but that doesn't include alcohol, tax, service, and I'm not sure about linens and tableware.

Unrelated but Cassie is that your engagement ring as your pic? It's very pretty. I love darker stones

Are you members of that specific church/have you already committed to having your ceremony there? If not I might be shopping around for a church with an outdoor area for the reception.

What part of NJ? ETA: If you are looking for North Jersey. The Elan in Lodi is very reasonable and semi inclusive. The food is amazing too. If you do it at a park you will need do rentals which will add up a lot.

I think you could pull of a state or public park for $60 a head. City parks in our area are $40 to $150 to rent shelters for a entire day. State parks here are $30/shelter

The Delaware River Mill Society has two venues in Hunterdon County that are outdoor or partially outdoor and may have more affordable catering options. Prallsville Mills and the 1850s River House. I think the 1850s River House may be more of what you are looking for.

It is pretty impossible for an all inclusive here. April is in season, you're talking about 2017 (so no last minute 'value dates' will probably be available). And don't forget, you still have to add tax and service to most prices, so you REALLY need to be about 46.00 per person to start.

The easiest thing to do is to shift to Feb or Thursday.

The Elan is not going to be that cheap.

Outdoors means you have to bring in (usually) a caterer, staff and rentals like tables and chairs). That is definitely going to cost more than 60.00. Pretty much any time you go with a caterer and try to build it yourself, it's going to be more than that. Including Prallsville.

Check out the Spa at Hird Lake, in (i think) Sparta. It is very cost efficient and despite its name, it's very rustic.

The Garden Vista Ballroom has a 5000.00 package for up to (i think) 120 guests. You bring your own liquor. It's in passaic, and it's a historic building. The owner is a really wonderful guy and does a lot of charitable work within the context of his venue.

I honestly cannot think of anything else in that price range that I'd recommend to anyone.

Thanks Holly! Yes, that is my engagement ring! My fiance and myself are are a little of a more offbeat type of couple. I have never really been one for diamonds. he designed the ring himself and had it custom made which is what I love. It is sapphire center stone with the Celtic trinity and the 6 diamonds on each side of the band :-)

This church is special because it is where I have made all of my sacraments. My parents and my sisters were all married there, so I wouldn't be interested in changing churches.

Jacqui- Rutgers Gardens is about the only place that I am truly considering! Thank you. Since I am getting married in April the price is $1800 for the site. I have inquired with the caterers and need to meet with them for pricing.. fingers crossed! Just trying to be prepared and ind alternatives in case it does not work. Thanks for the suggestions! I'll check them out!

I'm in Central Jersey so I have a pretty wide area to look in! I'll check out the Elan! Thanks!

Unfortunately State Parks are difficult to get permits for alcohol and can't necessarily be as private, seeing as the parks are public grounds and would still have visitors, but thanks for the idea.

Celia- Yes, I know the tax and gratuity would still need to be tacked on. No one in Jersey really includes that. Unfortunately I can't have a Thursday wedding at my church and we are really set on our date. I am trying to chop the guest list down even more to be able to afford a little bit more per head, but I have such a huge family that it's not easy! Thanks for your suggestions!

My friend lives in NJ and recommended Galloping Hills in Union NJ. She has been to 2 weddings there and said they are reasonably priced and the food was good and have all-inclusive packages. I live in PA and wanted to have my wedding local so I didn't look into that venue.

Try the Garwood in Westfield, NJ and The Graycliff in Moonachie. At the Garwood, you can secure their buffet option on a Sunday in April at about 49.00pp++.

These two spaces were the most reasonable I saw.

I'm glad Rutgers Gardens is an option for you! $1800 is much better than $4000! Honestly, I couldn't remember if it was 4000 or 2000 but I was on mobile and couldn't easily check. I also thought the lower price might have been special pricing for alumni. I LOVE Rutgers Gardens, but the space didn't work for us, and I was too concerned about rain. I work on campus, and have eaten Food Architects catering a few times. It has always been tasty, and if the park space had worked for us I would have had them cater. However we were looking at more like $100-120 per head including all rentals, service, and alcohol. I think there were cheaper food and rental options, so you could be under those prices.

Yea, I have a phone appointment with Twin Oaks and The Food Architects to work out pricing and see if they can work with my budget. Thank you all!

Pantagis Renaissance in Scotch Plains might work with your price range. I went to a wedding there and it was pretty nice.