Please help! We're looking to get married this October 4th. In either a Bed and Breakfast in Cape May, NJ or an indoor solarium in Bayonne, NJ. I've never been to Cape May, we'll be going in two weeks. Has anyone had a wedding in Cape May, NJ or Bayonne, NJ?
Our budget is $3000 for about 50 guests. Where else can I have a nice Northern/Southern NJ wedding within that budget or lesser? Also, does anyone know of any inexpensive young violinist and young singer? That'll be our entertainment, along with our own music/MP3s. Also, does anyone know of a reasonably priced bakery in Bayonne, or Cape May?
We're skipping an open bar and will buy wholesale wine, beer, soda and bottled water. We may have a buffet setting of Filipino, Italian, and Latino food. I will do decorations myself. And no bridal party. It'll be a VERY simple, Sunday morning wedding and short brunch reception.
Hi, I used to live in this part of the world. Cape May is a delightful place with lots of ambiance.There are many old hotels and beautiful B&Bs.
For bakeries, you'll probably have to stop in Wildwood, which is on the way.
Here's the name of a bakery closest to Cape May:
Britton's Gourmet Bakery (609) 522-5600 5600 Pacific Ave, Wildwood Crest, NJ 08260. This place is a local favorite.
There's also Cabrelli Bakery LLC 1700 Central Ave North Wildwood, NJ 08260 (609) 522-8322
Cape May also has an Acme chain grocery store in the downtown/tourist area that might be able to have what you're looking for or can order something special. Contact info: Acme Lafayette St Ocean St, Cape May, NJ 08204 (609) 884-7217
Check your local bridal stores in June/July for a gown. I own a shop in Ohio and that is when we have a big clearance sale. Prom is over and it's time to buy for fall so we need to clear out inventory. (Bridal manufacturers require shops to place orders for "samples" 2xs a year.) Go into the smaller bridal shops and talk to the owner. There is wiggle room on pricing!
My manners book states it is usually in the brides home church or the brids home town.
My husband and I spent less than $500 and had a very nice church wedding, with a cake and punch reception for 200 persons following. We each had 1 person stand up with us and a child for a ring bearer. We printed our own invitations from a kit at Office Depot. My dress was a $700 dress that was a floor display. I got it off ebay for $17 (brand new). I had my ring girl and my attendent wear a pastel dress of their choice. My husband and his ring bearer and his attendent wore black jeans, khakie shirt and string tie. (sort of a western theme) Our only decorations were the candles up front, and flowers on the stands up front. At the reception I used simple glass bowls from Hobby lobby at 49 cents each with a floating candle in food colored water. I wanted the focus on us, not our decorations. The reception was at our church, so the church let us use their punch bowls and table clothes--no charge. Since we were church members, there was no charge to use the church. We did give our minister and piano player and attendents gifts. We asked several close friends and family to take pictures, as we knew they had digital cameras. We got some really good pictures, and my husbands cousin got some after as well, with the entire wedding party present.
Login using the form on the top of the page to post feedback (if you are a registered user). If you have not yet registered, click here to do so. It's FREE!.
Archives:
Request: Wedding Advice for New Jersey or New York
Archived on 04/16/2008
My fiance and I are not planning a wedding yet because we have other things we want to fix first and then save enough money to pay for our own wedding. Unfortunately, no one will be helping us with wedding fees and we have our own apartment and along the bills to pay. We have a car and I go to school full time, which doesn't allow me to work full time to earn more money. He wants to get married in New York (where his family and friends are), but I want to get married in New Jersey (where we currently live, and I have my family). I fear doing it in NY because I know, or at least I think that it will be more expensive there rather than in NJ. Can someone please give me some advice on which state it would be more sensible and post any links with lists of places where I can do my reception in either state. Thank you.
Erica from New Jersey
Answers:
RE: Wedding Advice for New Jersey or New York
Get married by a justice of the peace. You don't really need a wedding that costs thousands of dollars, and a wedding dress that you will only wear one time, and to spend all that money on renting a reception hall and paying expensive caterers.
Have a judge marry you, and invite relatives afterwards to a regular restaurant for a meal. that's what I did, because I didn't have money for a wedding. (07/02/2004)
By Ann
RE: Wedding Advice for New Jersey or New York
I think it is less about which state is cheaper but more about which state you can be more actively involved in the planning. The more you do (decorating/ coordinating/ supervising) yourself- the more you will save $$$$$ in the long run.
Remember, Erica, above all, even though it is suppose to be the "best day of your life"... it is just that, one day, so make things easier on the both of you and focus on the marriage part of it. The simpler the better- and less stress too.
LIST of $ savers
1. Try something that no one you know is doing like a picnic wedding, camping wedding, tea party wedding, or a theme in the area that you can capitalize on and keep it simple.
2. Enlist family friends, and acquaintances to a variety of the jobs (cake, DJ, minister, flowers, etc.)
3. Keep the wedding party small- Everyone of your friends/family does not have to be in the wedding party only those who you will talk to in the next 25 years (probably about 3 attendants each)!
Have each of them pay for their own attire and don't do overboard with candle lighters/flower girls/ring bears!
4. Try silk flowers (and have a friend arrange them for you)
5. Find a ceremony location for free ( local church/ park/ river walk/ etc.) and have the reception at the same place.
6. If your willing and if the family is up for it try a potluck reception. A wedding is a time where family gathers so treat that part like a family reunion and put a grandmother in charge. OR
just do cake and punch (and have a family member make the cake)
7. Ask around for friends (2 or 3 different ones) (who are not in the wedding) to take pictures before, during and after the ceremony and reception (have them include candids and black and whites).
**If you use a photographer only take a few formals that you will hang in the living room after the ceremony- this will cut down on the charge and his/her time.
8. Try shopping for a white prom dress instead of a wedding dress. Or use cheaper prom dresses for the bridesmaids.
**make your own veil with a length of tulle and a hair clip**
9. Keep attendant/helpers gifts to a minimum! They are there for you- keep each gift to about $10.
10. Shop Ebay or antique stores for wedding bands (his and hers)
11. Go all out on your honeymoon!
(07/02/2004)
By Mrs. Mills
RE: Wedding Advice for New Jersey or New York
I agree with Mrs. Mills, have it closer to you so that you have more control. Doing things long distance will cost more phone money and will stress you more. A minister of your faith may be available to perform a simple ceremony in your church or at a park. Friends are always willing to help with decorating and a cake and punch reception will be better than thousands of dollars debt.
Congratulations and enjoy a simple wedding. (07/02/2004)
By Linda
RE: Wedding Advice for New Jersey or New York
Here's a web Site of a great Photographer
www.picthisdigital.com
Try some of the local Colleges and university for the reception hall (07/27/2004)
