The Marketplace

We tied the knot in May of 2019, we both live in London, England but as my wife is American with ties to the Jersey Shore, we chose the Marketplace in Long Branch NJ for our wedding. Despite organising 95% of it from England over the phone and email, Jon and Sandra were very accommodating and flexible with our requests and went out of their way to ensure the 5 hour time difference between US and UK was not an issue. We honestly could not recommend them enough, they were always supportive of our ideas and always offered suggestions and examples without being too overbearing, or pushing a particular package or agenda on us, which is something we became tired of when contacting other wedding hosts. The venue itself was perfect for our ceremony and reception, it has two fantastic rooms and a great outdoor space. Finally, the catering provided by the venue was amazing! Jon and Sandra arranged a tasting menu for us so we could pick and choose our favourite dishes and also made some great suggestions. Our guests still talk about going back to NJ to get some more of the food! The in-house staff were also amazing!

Jon and Sandra are the nicest people to deal with and made our special day amazing! As mentioned they are so accommodating and welcoming, always have time to talk to you and listen to your ideas, always respond to emails, do not push things on you and ultimately want to create a pleasant collaborative environment. Its easy to tell that they have a real passion for it and truly care about putting together the best day for you, rather than getting paid and moving on to the next wedding. If you're planning a Jersey Shore Wedding, then this is the first place to call!

The Marketplace was AMAZING! Jon was the best. He met with us multiple times and made sure our day was perfect! Everything was gorgeous and went so smoothly! The food was to die for and everyone was full after dinner! Even got leftovers for the next morning. The servers and bartenders were great as well! If we have another event Jon is the first person I would call! We are so so so happy with how everything turned out! THANK YOU SO MUCH JON!!!

We had the sincere pleasure of working with Jon Skiptunis of the Market Place. I first met Jon through my role at Columbia University, where we hired him and his former company for our Graduation Ceremony reception for 700. Our school worked with him for two years, and we developed a quality relationship. During that time I came to know Jon and the exceptional care, professionalism and attention to detail he brings to his events.

We fast forward five years to when my wife and I began to plan our wedding. Jon was the first person who came to mind, and while I only had fond memories of his events, I did not know how that would translate to a wedding where we put our circles (and finances) on the table. However, our first consultation eliminated any hesitations and doubts. We were so incredibly relieved to know that we were in such good hands and that putting our wedding together with Jon was going to be such a blast.

The weeks and months rolled on from there. Jon was always in touch when necessary; we bounced ideas off of him and vise-a-verse. Jon still had great ideas and insight, from logistical nuances to venue options, showcasing his extensive experience. He was always reachable by email, text or a phone call. He helped us find our venue!

In addition to helping us find our venue and put together a beautiful ceremony, Jon executed what turned out to be an incredible menu capturing the essences of Indian, German, Mediterranean and Senegalese/West African cuisines. Five months later I still get the craving for the lamb samosas and the Jolof Rice croquettes he and his team designed for us. Jon dug and searched high and low for vendors in and around the tri-state that carried the various unique ingredients for the menu. Everything honestly tasted like home. Our families were in awe.
My wife and I have experience with event planning so working with Jon was a dream in that we were on the same page 99.99% of the time. We came in with some prior event planning experience that helped make for a smooth event but there were also things that sound better as ideas and Jon was always gentle but firm about those things that just wouldn’t work (i.e. something logistical, with the placement of tables chairs, or even with some of the menu items). That said, Jon’s approach and the attention he gives works very well for any couple including those who do not have any experience in this arena and he is well-equipped to help them design the wedding they want.

Our wedding was incredible. Our families still talk about it, our closest friends (who are always very candid and honest with us) consistently say that it was one of the best weddings they have ever attended. We could not have pulled it off without Jon. Moreover, while the event is one thing, we can’t say enough about Jon and his temperament, his experience, his sincerity. We truly trusted Jon. With the experiences my wife and I have had over the years, many caterers and event planners have given more than enough reason for us to be skeptical. Working with Jon was refreshing and an absolute pleasure. I don’t think it's common to find people in the wedding/event business who have the perfect balance of kindness, empathy, thoughtfulness on one side, and professionalism, organization, honesty on the other.

We were not able to thank him enough.