Beyond banquet halls and country clubs, there are so many unconventional and picturesque locations to host a unique, unconventional wedding at the Jersey Shore. Veering away from traditional atmospheres and creating a completely new experience to celebrate “I Do” is a fun and easily attainable challenge. From music lovers to history buffs, venues at the Jersey Shore can be easily transformed into a custom wedding ceremony and reception space that is totally outside the box and geared towards any desired aesthetic, vibe, or theme. Read on to learn more about unique and non-traditional wedding venue options at the Jersey Shore.
Asbury Park
Asbury Festhalle + Biergarten | 527 Lake Avenue
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Asbury Festhalle + Biergarten is a restaurant and bar with German food, live music, and a three-tier outdoor rooftop patio located in the heart of downtown Asbury Park. Both the indoor space and rooftop at Asbury Festhalle + Biergarten can be booked for private weddings. Its menus are customizable with authentic German entrees, a flare of American cuisine, and a large selection of premium international draft beers. The festhalle and biergarten can accommodate wedding parties of up to 750 seated guests. Unfortunately, the Asbury Festhalle + Biergarten sustained extensive water damage and flooding during a storm in September 2023. Both the indoor festhalle and rooftop biergarten are temporarily closed for renovations and repairs from the flood damage. The restaurant and bar are currently not taking private event requests until they reopen this spring. Stay tuned to its website and social media accounts for updates.
Read More: The 14 Best Bridal Shower Venues at the Jersey Shore
Belmar
Beach Haus | 801 Main Street
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Beach and beer enthusiasts will love this rustic brewery-style setting for a wedding. Beach Haus is an independent craft beer brew pub located on Main Street in Belmar with two stories of spaces that can accommodate 15 to 600 guests any day of the week. Beach Haus’ official wedding package includes a prosecco toast, a five-hour premium open bar, a one-hour cocktail party with three stations, three passed hors d’oeuvres, and a four-hour reception with a plated sit-down dinner. The Taproom, Beer Hall, and Patio — located on the second floor — can accommodate up to 300 guests. Wedding inquiries can be made on the Beach Haus website.
Brielle
The River Queen | 800 Ashley Avenue
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The River Queen provides a full-service wedding on a replica Mississippi River Boat. The elegant, two-story classic riverboat — complete with a gently turning paddlewheel — cruises along the shorelines of the Manasquan and Metedeconk Rivers and the Barnegat Bay. The River Queen features climate-controlled upper and lower cabins, two bathrooms, two fully stocked bars, and three spacious outside viewing decks. The riverboat can accommodate 35-90 passengers and reception packages range from $5,200 to $15,000. Catering is provided through the ship’s in-house executive chef. The charter season runs from mid-April through late December. A River Queen wedding consultation form can be found here.
Holmdel
Bell Works | 101 Crawfords Corner Road
Bell Works — the historic former Bell Labs building in Holmdel, New Jersey — provides a variety of multi-faceted, eye-catching spaces for an unconventional wedding. Its expansive ballroom is the perfect venue to gather hundreds of guests in a stunning, open space. The ballroom has floor-to-ceiling windows with ample natural light. When the sun sets, the space has customizable lighting, color schemes, and special effects to match the wedding’s aesthetic. For those looking for an outdoor wedding space, The Rooftop at Bell Works overlooks rolling greenery and a sparkling pond, an idyllic spot to exchange vows. To inquire about hosting a wedding at Bell Works, call (732) 288-4425, email events@bell.works, or use the form on the Bell Works website.
Howell
The Herbary at Bear Creek Farm | 494 Lakewood Farmingdale Road
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The Herbary at Bear Creek Farm in Howell is a beautiful garden center property that provides a lush, woodsy, and floral wedding aesthetic and experience. Its 15-acre property features a rustic barn, a greenhouse, gazebos, trails, and a koi pond with a waterfall. A wedding at The Herbary can accommodate up to 80 guests. The space rental includes a private greenhouse, dreamy string lighting, heating and cooling systems, tables and chairs, ample parking, and a private full bathroom. Call 732-938-2327 or email theherbarybearcreek@gmail.com to inquire about booking a wedding at The Herbary.
Long Branch
Whitechapel Projects | 15 2nd Avenue
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Whitechapel Projects is an industrial-chic wedding venue located in Long Branch, New Jersey. When the venue isn’t hosting weddings, it is also used as a restaurant, brewery, art gallery, and marketplace. The Whitechapel Projects event space is flexible with indoor and outdoor capabilities that can accommodate 20 to 250 guests. Catering at Whitechapel Projects is provided by the restaurant’s culinary team, who source fresh and local ingredients for its artisanal menus. Meals are accompanied by the nano-brewery’s rotating selection of in-house, local, and imported craft beers. An event request form can be found on Whitechapel Project’s website.
Middletown
Deep Cut Gardens | 152 Red Hill Road
From lush greenery and walking trails to tranquil ponds and rose gardens, Deep Cut Gardens is a hidden gem in Middletown with 54 acres of beautifully manicured and maintained gardens and greenhouses. Deep Cut Gardens is a gorgeous outdoor wedding venue providing a fairytale setting and a stunning backdrop for vows. To host a wedding ceremony at Deep Cut Gardens, contact Monmouth County Park System’s Reservation Department at 732-842-4000, Ext. 1. A consultation with the park’s manager is required before a date for an outdoor ceremony can be secured.
New Egypt
Laurita Winery | 85 Archertown Road
If a rustic, romantic aesthetic with wine barrels and twinkly lights sounds appealing, then Laurita Winery will be a dream wedding venue for you. Tucked away in New Egypt, New Jersey, Laurita Winery is one of the largest and most beautiful tasting rooms in the state. The warm and woodsy winery prides itself on stunning views and a sophisticated, but cozy, ambiance. Weddings often conclude with a firework show on the property followed by a magical sparkler exit. A wedding inquiry form can be found on the Laurita Winery website.
Sandy Hook
Sandy Hook Chapel | 35 Hartshorne Drive
The Sandy Hook Chapel is situated on a scenic and expansive property on a barrier beach peninsula within Sandy Hook Beach in the Gateway National Park. The recently restored chapel can host 130 guests inside and 400 guests outside. The Chapel has high ceilings, wood plank floors, an intimate upstairs loft, and overlooks the Sandy Hook Bay. Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. Pricing packages can be found on the National Park Service website. Please note that the Chapel is fully booked for 2024 and not yet booked for 2025.
Sayreville
Starland Ballroom | 570 Jernee Mill Road
Concert enthusiast couples can host the event of their dreams at Starland Ballroom — a concert venue located in Sayreville. With exclusive access to the entire venue, guests will share many of the same amenities that national touring acts (such as notable Starland Ballroom performers Blink-182, Bon Jovi, and Kelsea Ballerini, just to name a few) have used — like its fully adjustable stage, state of the art sound and lights, marquee, dressing rooms, and custom ticketing. Starland’s large stage is perfect for hosting a live band or a DJ. The total meeting capacity for Starland Ballroom is 2,000. For more information about hosting a wedding, check out Starland Ballroom’s website.
Sea Girt
Parker House | 290 1st Avenue + Beacon Boulevard
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Parker House — aka God’s Basement — is a relaxed tavern and club, under the guise of a Victorian beach home located one block from the beach in Sea Girt. The Parker House provides its entire venue grounds, including an overnight stay exclusively for family and friends in its 30 guest rooms, for private weddings. Parker House is currently booking dates for weddings during the months of September and October 2024 and 2025. Parker House accepts private events in May, September, and October only. In-season events (June through August) may be considered on select dates and times. A wedding inquiry form can be found on Parker House’s website.
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Wall
Allaire State Park | 4263 Atlantic Avenue
The Chapel in the Historic Village at Allaire is a quaint and simple, non-denominational wedding venue where a couple can personalize their entire wedding experience. The Chapel — which is listed on the National Register of Historic Sites, NBD — is available for rental year-round and can be transformed to match whatever vibe the couple envisions. The Chapel is decorated in period colors with rich beige walls and white trim, light oak flooring, and pews with a hint of blue on the altar. The space can accommodate up to 100 guests. For information on booking The Chapel at Allaire State Park, contact the Allaire Office at 732-919-3500 Ext.16 or email chapel@allairevillage.org.
