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Award winner
Award winner thanks to recommendations from couples on WeddingWire.com.
  • 2019

Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts & Sciences

Up to 432 guests
Ceremony/Reception
Outdoor/Indoor
Clean Up
Jaime
Megan
Cait
lauren
Kelsey

Recommended by 99% of couples

About this venue

Location
Design your dream wedding with freedom, space, and flexibility! The Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts & Sciences (LBIF) is a historic venue in LoveLadies, NJ, just minutes from the Barnegat Lighthouse State Park. The Foundation welcomes couples for wedding ceremonies, receptions, bridal showers, rehearsal dinners, wedding welcomes, engagement parties, and celebrations. Nestled on 22+ acres on the north side of Long Beach Island, LBIF enjoys beautiful views between the bay and beach with access for shore ceremonies. Its unique mid-century modern architecture and natural backdrops create a relaxed, tranquil setting with ocean breezes and beautiful skies.

The Venue
The main building, designed by architect George Daub in 1948, features a large open space art gallery with a twenty-foot vaulted ceiling and natural lighting. The Gallery can seat up to 150 guests for formal dinners or buffets and hosts a stage for music and space for dancing. Contemporary art exhibitions adorn the gallery walls, creating a sophisticated experience for your guests during your celebration. No two weddings are alike, as couples may transform this space into their dream reception venue with personalized decor.

In addition to the main Gallery, the venue offers use of its varied outdoor spaces, including upper or lower deck areas for a cocktail hour, overlooking the vista of the salt march of Barnegat Bay with magnificent photogenic sunsets. The property has space to rent outdoor tents, large or small. Within a five-minute walk, a beach ceremony is possible with direct access to the beach across the street. Additionally, plenty of on-site parking is available.

LBIF is the ONLY venue on Long Beach Island that provides couples with the freedom, space, and flexibility to curate the wedding of their dreams. LBIF's in-house wedding planner is available by appointment to help consult or plan your wedding. Extra fees may apply. We offer our highly recommended and preferred vendors references to choose from while also allowing outside vendors for a greater personalized touch.

History
The LBIF was founded in 1948 by artist Boris Blai, a student of the Paris sculptor Auguste Rodin. For those who love art history, Rodin is best known for his statue, "The Thinker," and other artwork depicting human realism. In addition to studying under Rodin, Blai was also the Founder and Dean of the Tyler School of Art, Temple University in Philadelphia. The LBIF continues Blai's vision in its mission to enhance the creative arts and the physical sciences for all age groups, from children to life-long learners.

What You'll Love About LBIF
This venue is located within a nature preserve, abundant with wildlife, birds, salt air, and gorgeous vistas for photography. It allows for a fully customizable backdrop for any style wedding with your personalized details to abound. Booking only one wedding per weekend, each wedding is unique. Our incredible staff will work with you to ensure you feel supported throughout the entire process. Check out the reviews to see how this unique venue has provided couples with magical experiences and timeless memories.

As a 501c3 non-profit, the LBIF opens its doors to welcome weddings and celebrations, families and friends, and supporters of the arts and sciences. Together we help support LBIF's mission of bringing education and culture to the community year-round.

Features

Small team (2-10 members)

Experience

  • 78 years in business

  • We speak English

Links

Visit website

Weddings at this venue

Mollie & Andrew's wedding
Mollie & Andrew
22 photos

FAQ

Do you have a site fee for wedding receptions at your venue?

Yes

What is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during peak season?

$7,000

What is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during off-peak season?

$7,000

Do you have a site fee for wedding ceremonies at your venue?

Yes

What is the starting site fee for wedding ceremonies during peak season?

$7,000

What is the starting site fee for wedding ceremonies during off-peak season?

$7,000

Which of the following are included in the starting site fee?

Chairs
Clean Up
Parking
Set Up
Tables

How many event spaces or rooms does your venue offer?

3

Describe your venue:

Art Gallery
Beach
Historic Building
Museum
Waterfront

What kind of settings are available?

Indoor
Uncovered Outdoor

Which of the following wedding events does your venue service?

Ceremony
Reception
Bridal Shower
Engagement Party
Rehearsal Dinner

What event services do you offer?

Clean Up
Event Rentals
Outside Vendors

What event items are available?

Chairs
Tables

What transportation and access is available?

Parking
Wheelchair Access

What months are included in your peak season?

March
April
May
September
October

What months are included in your off-peak season?

January
February

Still have questions?

Reach out about anything you didn't see answered here—no question is too small!

Wedding couple

Reviews of Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts & Sciences

Weddingwire
5.0/5 16 reviews
Google
4.6/5 132 reviews
Jaime
Jaime Sent on 10/08/2024
5 out of 5 rating

A Dream Wedding at LBIF

Our vision for our wedding was always to capture the charm and essence of Long Beach Island. We were looking for an open space where we could bring our vision to life, and LBIF not only delivered that but exceeded all of our expectations. Jaime, the Wedding and Special events coordinator, was spectacular from the very start. She was responsive, flexible, transparent, and made us feel like we were working with a friend rather than a venue contact. Planning a wedding from out of state can be stressful, but Jay made everything feel easy. She helped with everything—from vendor suggestions in the planning stages to being there throughout our entire reception. Not only did we fall in love with the LBIF, which provided the perfect atmosphere for our big day, but the staff’s dedication to our wedding was beyond anything we could have asked for. They were incredibly receptive to all of our needs, big or small, and treated us with such care that it felt like we were family. Jay truly made the entire planning process seamless and enjoyable. There’s no better feeling than watching your dream wedding come together with all the support you could need. If you’re looking for a venue where the possibilities are endless, look no further. Beauty really is in the details, and you can absolutely find it at LBIF.
Megan
Megan Sent on 03/01/2024
5 out of 5 rating

A charming and customizable venue with awesome staff!

From the moment we stepped into this charming venue, we knew we had found the perfect place to celebrate our special day.
The atmosphere at the Long Beach Island Arts Foundation was nothing short of magical. The combination of rustic charm and coastal elegance created a unique and enchanting vibe that perfectly complemented the special day and us as a couple.

One of the highlights of our experience was working with the incredible team at Long Beach Island Arts Foundation, particularly our day-of coordinator, Jaime (Jay) Caravella. Jay went above and beyond to ensure that every detail of our wedding was executed flawlessly. From coordinating vendors to managing the timeline, Jay's expertise and attention to detail were truly invaluable. Her fun nature and reassuring presence allowed us to relax and fully enjoy our special day, knowing that everything was taken care of.

The venue itself offered the best of both worlds – a spacious and versatile indoor area for the ceremony and reception, as well as outdoor spaces that allowed us to take advantage of the beautiful surroundings. The flexibility of the venue allowed us to personalize our celebration to make it uniquely "us", which made it feel even more special.

If you're looking for a venue with a perfect blend of charm, versatility, and coastal beauty, this is the place for you. Our heartfelt thanks to the entire team, especially Jaime (Jay) Caravella, for helping us create the wedding of our dreams.
Cait
Cait Sent on 11/27/2020
5 out of 5 rating

The Best Little DIY Venue That We Will Forever Miss

The moment we saw this space we knew we were going to have so much fun making it our for the evening. Like many others, we only did a small backyard style ceremony as Covid ended up changing our original plan. Lydia at LBIF was unbelievably responsive and helpful during our change of plans. We didn't expect to receive our deposit back as that wasn't the case with some other vendors, however she reached out to us to offer it when we had to cancel. We'll forever miss the opportunity to decorate this AMAZING space and work with Lydia. Looking forward to seeing other weddings at this space!!
P
Pete Sent on 03/09/2020
5 out of 5 rating

Great LBI Wedding Venue

The entire experience was great. Nice people to work with, everything delivered as promised, and it went of without a hitch. Great venue -- book it..
lauren
Lauren Sent on 10/26/2018
5 out of 5 rating

The most perfect place on the jersey shore.

We can not imagine having our wedding any where else. Guests are still raving about how beautiful the space was, amazing the view was for cocktail hour, and how extremely unique it all was. LBIF is a canvas that we were able to paint into the perfect wedding day, that is just one of the many things that makes it so perfect for your LBI wedding. The space is so unique and the possibilities are endless. Not only was the space amazing, but the staff of LBIF was top notch. Lydia helped us so much with planning and recommendations that helped make our wedding so perfect. She was always there to help and answer any/all questions, solve any small or large bridal breakdown, and resolve any last minute hiccups that were thrown our way. And our vendors are still reaching out to us saying how amazing she was to work with. If you are looking for a unique space on the jersey shore LBIF is the spot for you. My husband and I look forward to attending more events at the foundation and being part of the wonderfully friendly LBIF community.
D
Deborah Sent on 07/31/2018
5 out of 5 rating
What a beautiful place for a wedding on the island! When looking for a venue, this did not pop up on the radar anywhere. I feel like it was a hidden jewel compared to all the other locations we visited (on-site or on-line). So glad we found it!
J
Jamie Sent on 06/26/2018
5 out of 5 rating
Lydia and the staff at LBIF made what could have been a disaster (RAIN!!) an experience we will never forget. They were flexible, professional and did everything to accommodate us... with a smile! It was a pleasure to work with the team. Thank you!!
L
Liam Sent on 06/19/2018
5 out of 5 rating
For several years now we've held Weekend-long educational programs at the LBI Foundation in the Springtime. We provide classes and lectures and serve meals to our guests. Even though we are not the typical guests that the Foundation is used to having, the staff always does whatever it takes to make our programs successful. They are unfailingly helpful, flexible and a pleasure to deal with. Of course, the facility is also beautiful, but the staff is their greatest asset.
D
Dean Sent on 06/19/2018
5 out of 5 rating
My wife and I were looking for a special place to hold our combined 50th birthdays celebration. We looked all over Long Beach Island and all the venues were either too small, too expensive, or did not allow us to have a live band into the late hours of the evening. We found the Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts & Sciences. Their event space was perfect and the side deck area that overlooks the bay was a nice place to step away from the party for a while. The foundation and it's staff were very accommodating and professional and very friendly. They went the extra mile to assure our event went off without a hitch. I would HIGHLY recommend LBIF for your event
Kelsey
Kelsey Sent on 09/18/2017
5 out of 5 rating
I am so happy we chose LBIF a year ago! Lydia and James were so easy to work with and really helped make our vision for the space possible. They were easy to work with and jump in to help at the last minute. Lydia is so warm and professional and easy to talk to. I trust her with everything! The space is so much fun to work with because The Foundation truly lets you run with it and use it how you'd like.
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.

Awards

16
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2019 Winner
illustration message review

Are you interested?

Team

Jaime Caravella
Jaime Caravella
Weddings + Special Events Coordinator

Professional Network & Endorsements

Shore Catering Shore Catering Wedding Caterers

A wonderfully unique venue!!!

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Wedding couple

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Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts & Sciences frequently asked questions

Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts & Sciences includes the following items and services for wedding events in its starting site fee:
  • Chairs
  • Clean Up
  • Parking
  • Set Up
  • Tables
The space offered by Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts & Sciences for wedding events is known for:
  • Art Gallery
  • Beach
  • Historic Building
  • Museum
  • Waterfront
Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts & Sciences offers the following indoor/outdoor options for weddings:
  • Indoor
  • Uncovered Outdoor
Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts & Sciences offers the following types of wedding events:
  • Ceremony
  • Reception
  • Bridal Shower
  • Engagement Party
  • Rehearsal Dinner
Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts & Sciences offers the following services for wedding events:
  • Clean Up
  • Event Rentals
  • Outside Vendors
Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts & Sciences offers the following furniture and decor items for weddings:
  • Chairs
  • Tables
Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts & Sciences is recommended by 100% of couples who have used their services. Their overall rating is 5.0, with the same score awarded for quality of service, flexibility, value, professionalism and average response time.

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