Venues in New Jersey Perfect for Small Weddings

Published:
January 13, 2025
Updated:

If you’re looking for a small wedding venue for 50 guests or fewer in New Jersey, you’ve come to the right place. There are plenty of amazing options for intimate celebrations across the state. Whether it’s a historic space in North Jersey, a charming garden venue in Montclair, or a coastal wedding retreat on the Jersey shore, we’ve rounded up the best small wedding venues in New Jersey. This includes venues with lodging (hello, weekend wedding!) and even budget-friendly spots like VRBOs!

From personal experience, I know that finding the perfect micro wedding venue can be a challenge, but we’re here to make it easier! This list doesn’t cover every single venue option in New Jersey, so if you don’t see exactly what you're looking for, be sure to check out our other venue guides:

Meet the experts

Small Wedding Venues in North Jersey 

North Jersey offers a diverse range of micro wedding venues to suit any style or preference. Couples can find elegant manor houses and historic estates with grand ballrooms and manicured gardens, perfect for traditional or upscale celebrations. For a more rustic vibe, the region boasts charming barns and vineyards nestled in the countryside. Additionally, North Jersey features modern venues like industrial-chic spaces and boutique hotels, ideal for contemporary weddings.

13-Acre Luxury Estate; photo courtesy of VRBO

Inn at Glencairn — Princeton

Uniquely decorated with a historic flair, the Inn at Glencairn operates out of a renovated Georgian manor originally constructed in 1736. With a reputation for their luxurious rooms, modern amenities, and great food, it’s clear that this venue does everything that it does very well - and your elopement and micro-wedding is no exception. Here, you can expect quaint yet elegant antique decor, comfortable overnight accommodations for you and your guests, and a friendly staff to guide you through the vendor selection and booking process. If comfort, style, and personality are important to you when selecting a venue, then the cozy Inn at Glencairn just might be the perfect place for you to tie the knot.

James Ward Mansion — Westfield

A hidden gem just waiting for you to find it, the James Ward Mansion has been called Union County’s “Best Kept Secret”- and for good reason. With an inviting and captivating exterior, this small wedding venue in New Jersey only gets better once you enter through the French front door. Plenty of romantic spots for the ceremony and reception can be found inside, including a garden atrium with a stunning skylight and a gorgeous fountain. This venue invites you to “Make Our Mansion Your Mansion,” and offers full catering and event planning services. Here, you can be confident that the James Ward Mansion is dedicated to making every wedding the main event.

Montclair Wedding Sanctuary — Montclair

Neo-gothic architecture, gorgeous stained glass windows, vaulted ceilings - you can expect all this and more from the Montclair Wedding Sanctuary. Known as the First Congregational Church, this New Jersey micro wedding venue welcomes all to hold their unique wedding ceremony and reception on the grounds and is dedicated to making every event, no matter the size, perfectly special. Here, you’ll choose between the classically regal atmosphere of the historic indoor sanctuary and the more intimate, beautifully cultivated garden courtyard for the ceremony. The Montclair Wedding Sanctuary provides everything that you want and need for the perfect wedding - majestic ambiance, multiple stunning spaces, and a welcoming, accepting atmosphere - making it the perfect place to marry the person of your dreams.

Inn at Millrace Pond — Hope

Your wedding day is something to be celebrated without the stress of leaving the venue on-time. At the Inn at Millrace Pond, weddings are a 24-hour affair, as this venue offers overnight lodging in 17 of their comfortable rooms in the historic barn and farmhouse. With many of their structures dating back to the 1700’s, this little village maintains a quaint and rustic ambiance that will make you feel like you are stepping back in time. The Inn at Millrace Pond is a truly unique, charming, and memorable small wedding venue in New Jersey for you to hold your wedding ceremony; and, with accommodations for the afterparty and lodging already taken care of, you and your closest loved ones can focus on celebrating into the night.

Perona Farms — Andover

Founded over 107 years ago, Perona Farms is a family owned and operated wedding venue that promises a memorable wedding tailored to your vision for the big day, no matter the size. Offering wonderful service, delicious on-site catering, and all-inclusive wedding planning services, here you can choose between one of three locations for the ceremony and reception. The team at Perona Farms has carefully cultivated the atmosphere on the grounds, from the charming, historic barn to the elegantly rustic reserve to the industrial chic vibe of the refinery. One thing is for sure: Perona Farms has the dedication, resources, and experience to make your wildest wedding dreams come true.

Bello Giorno Estate — Belvidere

With a name that translates to “Beautiful Day” in English, the Bello Giorno Estate lets you know immediately what you can expect when you book your wedding with them. Detailed and artistic landscaping covers most of the grounds, all leading to a picturesque gazebo where you can say your vows amidst the gorgeous natural scenery of the gentle Pequest River; or, if you’d prefer a wooded setting, the rustic Wedding Tree is also available for your ceremony. Promising personal attention to your small gathering and plenty of customizable details, the Bello Giorno Estate will do everything to ensure that you have an unforgettable wedding and, in their own words, a “beautiful day.”

Country Carriage House ; photo courtesy of VRBO

Small Garden Wedding Venues in New Jersey

If you’re a plant lover like me you might be dreaming of a garden wedding venue. Choosing to host your micro wedding ceremony and reception among the greenery of an Inn’s well-manicured landscape or a local botanical garden adds so much natural beauty to your event, offering a serene and romantic backdrop for your big day.

Woolverton Inn — Stockton

Experts in intimate gatherings, Woolverton Inn offers multiple micro-wedding and elopement packages for you and up to 50 guests. Here, you’ll find historic buildings dating back to the 1700’s across the grounds, as well as beautiful outdoor spaces, from the picturesque garden to views of rolling hills and farmland. Committed to all things romantic, this venue includes a luxurious overnight stay for two at the inn in the base wedding package. Overnight accommodations are also available for your guests, if you want to keep the party going late into the night. No matter your vision, the Woolverton Inn will help make your wedding unforgettable.

Natirar — Peapack-Gladstone

For an event as important as your wedding, you’ll want to make sure that every little detail is just perfect. At Natirar, the dedicated event staff will help you plan and implement your wedding every step of the way, from creating a custom reception menu to managing the charming decor and lush garden area for your intimate event of 18 to 40 of your favorite people. The historic setting is elegant and charming, with romantic details that will make you fall in love with the place. With an emphasis on your vision and the finer details, Natirar is a venue that you can trust to make your wedding absolutely magical.

Unique Small Wedding Venues in New Jersey

One thing I love about having a micro wedding is the unique venue options that become available! A smaller guest list opens up tons of opportunities, whether a river cruise is your vibe or a Grammy-award winning industrial chic loft.

The River Queen — Brielle

Dreaming of an unforgettable wedding on the water? The River Queen offers wedding ceremonies on their stunning replica Mississippi River Boat, either while the boat is docked or out on the open water. Here, you can enjoy the calming and picturesque ambiance of the Manasquan River, Point Pleasant Canal and Barnegat Bay with your loved ones while you tie the knot, and during the fully catered reception aboard the River Queen. Keep in mind that the price for this venue does not include any decorations or flowers, and that you may only hold your ceremony during the cruise if you find an officiant willing to go out on the water with you. For a truly private and intimate wedding surrounded by beautiful scenery, try the River Queen.

Industrial Chic Loft — Newark

Just 30 minutes from Manhattan, this industrial-chic loft has plenty of character on it’s own with raw wood beam ceilings and tons of interesting decor you could use to make a totally unique space for your micro wedding. Outside food and beverage is allowed so you have total flexibility and the by-the-hour rental model ensures you have the perfect amount of time to bring your dream wedding to life. Use this link to book and get $50 off your booking.

South Jersey Micro Wedding Venues

The Olde Mill Inn — Bernards

Charmingly rustic with all of the modern comforts you could ask for, the Olde Mill Inn seamlessly blends historicism and hospitality to create a memorable experience for you and your guests. A number of picturesque outdoor ceremony sites and multiple elegant indoor rooms for the nuptials and ceremony cover the grounds, and this venue will prioritize your intimate gathering just as much as any large wedding. With a fantastic on-site caterer at the Grain House Restaurant and reception locations that are equal parts romantic, enchanting, and cozy, the Old Mill Inn guarantees the exceptional service and quality required to make your big day seem like something out of a fairytale.

Bonnet Island Estate — Stafford Township

Inspired by classic coastal mansions, the Bonnet Island Estate offers rental of the full venue with overnight accommodations for you and up to 24 others when you book your wedding with them. Awash in gorgeous landscaping and waterfront views, the picturesque scenery and regal architecture make for perfect photo opportunities and create a serene ambiance for the ceremony in the quaint Boathouse Chapel. If an overnight stay seems overwhelming, or if your guest list is a bit longer than 24, the Bonnet Island Estate also offers a five hour venue rental that includes use of the grounds and the chapel for the ceremony.

Farm Wedding Venues in New Jersey

Is a farm wedding venue more your speed?

Willow Creek Winery and Farm — West Cape May

Photo ops and wedding planning specialists abound at the Willow Creek Winery and Farm, a small wedding venue in New Jersey that boasts the ability to make your intimate gathering of 25 to 50 guests feel just as grand as an event of over 300. Prioritizing your vision, here you have a wide range of ceremony and reception locations that can be decorated to create your preferred version of romantic ambiance, from opulent to rustic to modern to simple elegance. With the option to make your wedding a two-day affair and seemingly endless grounds covered in unique structures and gorgeous vineyards, Willow Creek Winery and Farm will make your wedding feel like something out of a fairytale.

Small, Affordable Wedding Venues in New Jersey

Finding an intimate wedding venue that fits your budget can be one of the most challenging things to do, but if you are able to find a cheap wedding venue, you can save loads on your wedding overall. Fortunately, there are some great options for cheap wedding venues in New Jersey that don’t sacrifice on style.

Sacred Vows Chapel — Burlington

Are you stressed about your upcoming wedding and just want to know that the venue is booked and ready without all the fuss? Try Sacred Vows Chapel, an affordable, simple, and stress free New Jersey wedding venue that specializes in elopements and micro-weddings. Here you will be wed in a cozy, classic church building complete with a charming bell tower. The space comes pre-decorated in dreamy, Christianity-influence details with romantic lighting streaming in through the windows. With the option to invite between 0 and 50 of your loved ones to the ceremony, and the choice of holding a reception there, too. Sacred Vows Chapel is a simple and cost effective venue just waiting to be discovered.

Raritan Inn — Califon

Looking to elope in style without any of the stress? Raritan Inn’s elopement packages are affordable and all-inclusive, simple yet include everything you need for a special, memorable wedding. All packages include flowers, a champagne toast, the officiant, and a cushy overnight stay for the happy couple, and the larger of the two packages allows you to invite up to 20 guests to celebrate with you and includes a custom wedding cake. No matter what your preference is for your elopement, the Raritan Inn provides the service and customization options to make sure that your wedding day is as elegant, magical, and memorable as you’ve always wanted it to be.

Breathing Space — Burlington

Truly intimate gatherings are what Breathing Space does best. Offering only micro weddings of up to 10 guests, this venue promises a stress-free and memorable wedding experience held at a picturesque 1889 farmhouse. Here, you’ll celebrate your nuptials with those closest to you within the elegantly decorated space, or outside on the manicured grounds. This small wedding venue in New Jersey touts their affordability, which also allows you to focus on what matters most on your wedding day - authentic love and joy without the stress of breaking the bank and planning an elaborate event. If you have a very short guest list and enjoy historical settings, then Breathing Space may be the perfect venue for your wedding.

VRBO Wedding Venues

When it comes to Airbnb and VRBO wedding venues, New Jersey has a lot due to the abundance of resort towns. I always recommend checking VRBO first for wedding venues because their event policy is much more generous than Airbnb’s. Airbnb wedding venues can be found, but are usually best suited for elopements and tiny weddings with just a few guests. Here are a few solid choices for your micro wedding or elopement.

Finding the perfect small wedding venue in New Jersey is all about matching your vision to the right space, and the options here offer something for everyone. Whether you’re drawn to historic inns, lush gardens, waterfront estates, or unique spots like riverboats or industrial lofts, New Jersey has a venue to fit your dream micro wedding. Don’t forget to check out the additional guides and tips linked above if you’re still searching for inspiration or practical advice. Your small wedding is an opportunity to celebrate love in a big way, and these venues are here to help you create unforgettable memories!

Author Bio
Jennie Swenson is a former micro wedding bride, and she now supports countless couples in planning their own intimate celebrations through her blog, featuring real micro wedding stories and a curated vendor directory. Her practical advice and firsthand experience make her a go-to resource for those seeking to create memorable and meaningful micro weddings.

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