Help! Need a non-banquet/ballroom venue for ceremony and reception in NJ

Most places won't give info over the phone since it varies so much. Not sure where in NJ you are... you can def have a wedding for $30,000 if you do it right but not sure for 150 people. Good luck and keep us posted.

Why do you want to avoid ballroom or banquet hall? Ballrooms, especially, can be beautiful and give you everything you're looking for, including outdoor space for ceremony and cocktail hour.

I think you should venue some ballrooms and banquet halls to see if you can imagine your wedding there. If not then hey, also, there is a vendor tab here that you can use to find places in your region. Some places will email their packages to you, but you should still visit every place you're interested in. $30,000 is a great budget for 150 people IMO. I found an all inclusive place (decor, food, alcohol, cocktail hour, etc) for $80/pp and I'm inviting 150 people that's around $12,000. Also, your date may be considered off peak, so your prices may be cheaper. Start looking NOW.

Check out the Madison Hotel in Morristown. It is in your budget and has a gorgeous conservatory instead of a ballroom. I love how unique it is. Also, check out The Loft at Jack's Barn and the Sussex Conservatory and Barn. Both have outdoor options with a very rustic feel. I am getting married at Naninas in the Park, they have a gorgeous outdoor ceremony location but the reception is in a ballroom.

Don't forget that when you call to get pricing there is room for negotiation! Good luck!

Thanks ladies for responding! I'm a hippy kinda at heart and like being outdoors. Have always envisioned my special day to be outside in a garden or something. I have been to tons of weddings in the last 5 years in the tri-state and my least favorite were at "wedding factory" banquet/ballrooms. I am the polar opposite of the stereotypical Jersey Girl and do not like excess or ice sculptures or a venetian hour (I just want ice cream cake) I also found the food not to be that good and just underwhelmed with the whole experience in any of the ballroom/banquet hall venues. My fiance feels the same way.

I have looked into Jack's Barn -our guest list is too big

Sussex Conservatory I love, however not sure since its in the middle of nowhere and we have a decent amount of people traveling out of state (NC). Also, the fee just to use the property is $4300, so takes a decent chuck out of our budget.

I checked out the conservatory at the Madison Hotel - I don't mind it, however I need to see it in person.

Anyone else have ideas??? Love to hear!!!

Thank again!

FH suggests the Grand Summit as a possibility, and I'll second the Madison Hotel.

Edited to add: We went for brunch here after my wedding gown shopping sesh on Saturday, and it looks like they'd do a solid job for weddings: http://www.oldemillinn.com/grain-house/

You're not going to find much room to negotiate in season on a Saturday at the end of April.

We're at the Conservatory all the time; it's gorgeous, and it's not really in the middle of nowhere. The Barn at Perona is great too; we are also there all the time. The Madison is gorgeous.....we're also there a lot; all of these venues book up insane fast.

Try;

The Museum of Morris County

Montclair Museum of Art

Ballyowen (part of Crystal Springs)

Rock Island Lake Club and their sister property Bear Brook (I think; you'll find them both on the same website)

HIrd Lake Spa (very rustic, don't be put off by the name)

Camp Rickabear (very rustic)

The Olde Mill; one of my top faves, but the more rustic grain house is too small for you I THINK. It's a lovely venue with great people and the added benefit of a hotel right there. (Not industrial-like at all)

The Bernards Inn

Waterloo Villiage

David's Country Inn

Valley Crest Farm (you'd probably need to add a tent to this, but it's lovely and pretty inexpensive)

Farmhouse at the Grand Colonial

Hunterdon Hills Playhouse

Tourne Winery

Lauretta Winery

Bear Mountain Inn (not in NJ, of course, but close and fabulous)

Ninety Acres at Natirar

Factory 220

Chauncey Conference Center

Skylands Manor

Newark Museum

Crossed Keys

Brook Mill Farms

Bamboo Brook

Willow Wood (don't be scared by the bathrooms; it's gorgeous)

Prallsville Mil

^^^Considering she's likely officiated in every garden holding weddings in the Garden State, I'd seriously consider her choices.

I wonder if the Hunterdon Art Museum in Clinton hosts weddings. If so, it would offer a Ye Olde Historic Vibe outside with the mill and the river but a chic contemporary art vibe indoors.