How to Plan a Wedding in New Jersey
- 1). Find venues for your ceremony and reception in New Jersey. You can choose to marry in your church and have a nearby reception in a hotel ballroom such as the Westminster Hotel in Livingston. Couples seeking to have their ceremony and reception in the same location can choose venues such as Spring Lake Manor in Spring Lake Heights or Buttonwood Manor in Matawan. Visit the venues, talk to the event planners, and choose the venue that fulfills your wedding expectations.
- 2). Consider hiring a wedding planner. Wedding planners can help you choose vendors and negotiate contracts. They also can help create your dream wedding on a budget. Interview wedding planners in your New Jersey locale, and weigh the benefits of their services.
- 3). Seek out local wedding vendors. Meet with photographers, florists, caterers (if your venue does not provide the food), DJs or bands in your area to create a support staff to make your New Jersey dream wedding come true. Check out the New Jersey Bride magazine, which offers vendor lists for everything from bakers to bridal salons.
- 4). Find wedding-day attire. Local bridal salons and tuxedo shops allow the bride and groom to try on their wedding-day ensemble and pick the one that looks best on them. National chains such as David's Bridal and Men's Wearhouse have locations throughout New Jersey. Alternatively, you can visit local shops, such as Bijou Bridal in Paramus, for alternative looks.
- 5). Find accommodations for you and your guests. If you are hosting your reception at a New Jersey hotel, you and your out-of-town guests can stay at the hotel, which will often give you a discounted rate for your block of rooms. Otherwise, find a hotel close to your reception venue, and ask about receiving a group rate.
- 6). Apply for a New Jersey marriage license. Bring your completed (but unsigned) application along with proof of identity, residency, Social Security card, witness over the age of 18 and $28 application fee to the Registrar of Vital Statistics in your New Jersey county. Both the bride and groom need to be present to receive the marriage license.