Location, location, location . . . make it memorable
MICHAEL T. BURKHART
Courier-Post

Courier-Post Staff

Where you'll conduct your nuptials is up to the two of you, depending on religious beliefs or family traditions. About half of all couples do not get married in a house of worship, said Pat Ambrosius, who owns Distinctively You Weddings in Woolwich. And places like parks, historic sites, Hammonton wine country, golf venues and even the newly renovated and expanded Adventure Aquarium on the Camden Waterfront are gaining momentum. Ballrooms are still popular.

"In South Jersey we have a unique situation because we have all kinds of sites," Ambrosius said. "The number of guests is usually very important." Most sites should be booked 18 months to a year out to avoid disappointment, she said. And the ceremony location should be secured first.

Who's invited?
The first thing that will dictate possible reception spaces is the general number of guests. A very small wedding party can happen most anywhere, but fewer sites will be able to accommodate 500. Take advantage of country club and alumni club memberships. Some sites will rent space to nonmembers, but members get first consideration. If you plan your wedding for any day other than Saturday the number of available sites will be much greater. "A lot of couples are getting married at the same site as the reception," said Isis Petrie, owner of PureNSimple Productions in Cherry Hill. If you'd like to hold your reception somewhere unusual to make your day more memorable, that's great. Just keep in mind that the more creative the space, the more details you'll have to tend to yourself. More traditional and established reception locations have the infrastructure in place to pull off such events and that will make planning easier.

"Couples are more willing to travel a little bit to get something different," said Ambrosius. It's romantic to dream about getting married in your childhood home, but really think this one through: You'll have to rent everything for the reception, which can translate quickly into big, big bucks, and, unless your childhood home has many bathrooms, it's not an ideal location for a large number of guests. It might seem silly to consider or discount a location because of decor, but if it's not in keeping with the style of your wedding, you won't get the right overall effect. Also, be sure to scout spaces at the same time as your planned event. Rooms and views look very different during the day and at night. Cape May retains its popularity as a location, said Petrie.

"Cape May is popular for wedding weekends," she said. "Guests usually stay Friday and Saturday and even Sunday." And some couples are heading to Adventure Aquarium on wedding day.

"The aquarium is definitely a spot for non-traditional ceremonies, especially if they want to do something different," she said. "They look to give their guests a little more." Is there enough space?Consider spaces that are designed for flow. No, you don't want all the groomsmen holed up in a separate bar, but guests should have the option to whoop it up on the dance floor or to catch up with friends and family in a quieter space. It's a lovely thought, getting married on a beach or in a park, but make sure you make alternate plans in the event of bad weather. It's a boring detail to consider, but it's also one of the most important: You'll need a place for your guests' cars, or you'll need to arrange an alternative form of transportation to shuttle guests from place to place. It's romantic to dream about getting married in your childhood home, but really think this one through: You'll have to rent everything for the reception, which can translate quickly into big, big bucks. Content That Works contributed to this article. Reach Michael T. Burkhart at (856) 486-2474 or mburkhart@courierpostonline.com