Shocked at costs!!

Yea I was shocked when I first started looking, so then I started being creative and tried thinking of unusual places to get married.

Don't live in NJ so can't help you with finding venues though, sorry!

Welcome to NJ. What are you looking for in a venue though? Those prices sound like Skylands Manor and Pleasantdale Chateau. If that's what you're looking for, that's kind of the average for that level of .... Mmm... What's the word... Elegance is all I can think of, but you can have an elegant wedding at nearly any price.

Where are LadyCrystal and OTW? I believe they are both Jersey brides...

Edit: OTW beat me to the punch.

Wow that's insane!! No way I'm spending that much. We're having our reception in a local heritage hall and having an outside caterer bring in the food. SO much cheaper, and we can provide our own alcohol. Which is awesome cuz my parents make wine and are covering that.

Weddings don't HAVE to be stupid pricey.

First, cut the guest list even though you don't want to. Those cousins you haven't seen in a while? They don't need to come.

Think Friday think Sunday; think November or very early December; October, in prime season is not going to give you any leeway to negotiate because the bald truth is that if you don't book someone else will. I know you didn't want to hear that, but nearly every venue I work in has a minimum on an in-season Saturday night.

Okay, if you don't hate me already, check these venues out;

The Garden Vista Ballroom in Passaic. It's beautiful, national historic site (the first Lions or Elks or some other club in NJ). The ballroom is gorgeous and Jim who runs it is an absolute doll. Very cost effective.

Solar Di Minho, in Roselle (also known as Solar Manor)

The Fiesta, in Woodridge Newly renovated and really, really pretty.

The Tides, in North Haledon

The Brownstone, in Paterson

The Brickhouse, in Wyckoff

Perona Farms, in Andover

Doolans Shore Club in Spring Lake. A sunday in April about 75 pp. The Waterview Pavilion which is near there is similar cost also.

In NJ, most venues are around 100.00 plus tax plus grats. That's how you get to that number.

Bringing an off premise caterer into a site like the Glen Ridge Women's Club or the Ridgewood Women's Club can work, but you still have to deal with renting stuff and off premise catering which isn't necessarily much cheaper though you can bring your own liquor.

LOL@ Celia- I love the way you word stuff. Good advice!

Oooh idk how far south you want to go, but they do weddings at the Wildwood convention center. Im not positive what the cost was, but I'm pretty sure it was under 100 pp

@CATRAPOIN I'm HERE!!!!!!!! How much are you willing to spend and what part of nj? I found a bunch of amazing places under $100 per person.

I'm a NJ bride with a huge guest list (over 400) which is after, unfortunately, much trimming. Care to share more places under 100 pp? Having a hard time finding a place that's gorgeous, large enough, and that I can afford. Preferably in north or central NJ

@Lady- glad you could make it! I knew that YOU would know places around there for cheaper than that!

Marina & Laura - you both are looking during peak season. There are options, but are you open to Friday and Sunday weddings?

Oakeside Mansion in Bloomfield, NJ is really nice and starts at $70/person

Mayfair Farm in West Orange was reasonable as well.

Here's the thing. I want a BMW. I drive a Scion. It's what I can afford. Maybe you feel like you need to invite 200 guests, but if you cut it down (and you'll find you lose them in groups; all the distant cousins, all the people from work, everyone your dad ever golfed with).....you see where I'm going....you can afford a wonderful wedding with the people who mean the most to you. You won't spend all night visiting with people you thought you liked but realized you don't even recognize.

Pick 80-100 people you really like. Have a non cheesy, very nice party for them. If you get to 100 or so, check out Trinity in Keyport.

And thanks Catrapoin!

Jersey is expensive & weddings are expensive. Add the 2 together & the budget gets blown pretty quickly.

I agree with the other ladies...cut your guest list! Also, don't rule out anything until you've researched it thoroughly. Also, while it's true that South Jersey can be less expensive you'll need to look outside of the Jersey shore for that to hold true.

Everything is more expensive once you say the word wedding.

For 200 people you are going to have a hard time staying in a low budget. Essex Manor is pretty nice. Try the Crystal Plaza in Livingston. They charge a flat fee of $10000 but the food is exquisite and the service is impeccable. Stay away from the Greycliff Manor, they gave me food poisoning but they start at $65. I absolutely LOVE my place, Bridgewater Manor. They worked with me on the price and threw in a bunch of extras. Oakside is wonderful as well, around $70. My boss and his wife got married at the Buttonwood Manor and that was around $85 per person the food was great and it is on a lake. You have options.

Don't forget the added taxes and fees. There's a 20% service fee, 1-3% gratuity (which I have no idea what the difference between service fee or gratuity) and a 7% sales tax.

We are getting married in Philly, but I hear you on these things. It's pretty ridiculous, and remember the catering/venue cost alone is usually about 40-50% of your entire wedding. As Celia said, be open to Fridays and Sundays. You can check Laurita Winery -- we are getting married at one of the other locations by the same catering company and they are at least a little bit more reasonable than the figures you got. The minimums change depending on the month. May, June, Sept, & Oct have the highest minimums generally in the Mid-Atlantic area, so be open to considering November or another month. Jan-March are almost always discounted at venues.

Unfortunately I also don't have flexibility of my date due to my and my fiance's schedules. I am having the wedding on a Sunday though so that saves us something right off the bat. You mentioned that Crystal Plaza charges flat rates? How does that work exactly?

Yea, invite less people unless you can afford it. I would rather have 100 people with a elegant classy awesome food eedding and can afford it then 200 people with nasty food because I was being cheap. 100 people at 150 per person is ok. Were only inviting those that we see on a regular