When you’ve performed at thousands of weddings across New Jersey and New York, you learn how to pair the entertainment with the venue. At SCE Event Group, we’ve worked in the most sought-after locations, giving us insight on how each space works with the right entertainment. Get the inside guide on entertainment tips for your venue style and a rundown of the top wedding places in NJ and NY.
The SCE Insider Guide: Types of Venues for Your Wedding
Some venues are specifically designed for weddings and events, while others have different “lives” but are also available for rent. Here are some settings where SCE Event Group has performed and how to match entertainment with each style.
Large and luxurious ballrooms reign supreme
New Jersey is home to stunning grand ballrooms. These elegant places are made for big guest lists and offer full-service catering and bar services. They’re large enough to host a ceremony in one location, cocktails somewhere else, and then into the ballroom for a reception.
SCE Insider Tip: These ballrooms are often a white canvas with ornate chandeliers and sconces. Wash the walls in a cascade of color throughout the night. Feature architectural elements with uplighting. And cast an elegant monogram projection on the marble floor.
Historic properties have new purpose with weddings
Historic properties exude a special kind of charm. Count on garden and courtyard ceremony sites at estates and inns. Former factories and warehouses are also seeing new purpose as flexible venue spaces with historic industrial vibes.
SCE Insider Tip: Add a violinist to your outdoor ceremony – the perfect touch to an estate or inn wedding. And industrial spaces are made for special effects, from dancing in the clouds and snowfall to CO2 cannons. Book your live entertainment and special effects with us.
Nothing like a wedding at the Jersey Shore
Beach weddings have their own unique style. Ceremonies are outdoors with the Atlantic in the background. Cocktail hour reflects a certain ease. And after dinner, the dance floor lights up! Jersey Shore weddings are often destination weddings, so they work well at hotels and resorts.
SCE Insider Tip: Lean into a seaside cocktail hour. We’ll put together a setlist of Shore favorites that bring back beach memories. Tie your photo booth into a beach theme with a custom background and props. And give your reception a Jersey Shore nightclub vibe with intelligent lighting.
Other popular wedding venue styles
SCE Event Group entertainment pros are also comfortable with unique venue styles. We’ve worked weddings held in multi-floor spaces like museums and concert halls and even where the ceremony is in one distinct location and the reception in another. Many of our couples opt for a restaurant with incredible waterfront and skyline views. And barn venues and farms still hold wedding day appeal.
SCE Insider Tip: Book your DJ services as soon as you’ve secured your wedding venue. This gives you time to put together a complete entertainment package, work on must play/do not play lists and collaborate with your DJ on a detailed timeline.
The SCE Insider Guide
North Jersey (Bergen, Essex, Morris, Sussex, Warren, Passaic, Hudson counties)
- Felina Ridgewood
- Crystal Plaza
- The Meadow Wood
- The Mansion at Mountain Lakes
- The Grand
- The Park Savoy Estate
- Pleasantdale Chateau
- The Madison Hotel
- Crystal Springs Resort
- Bear Brook Valley
- Perona Farms
- Battello Restaurant
- Maritime Parc Restaurant
- The Conservatory
Central Jersey (Monmouth, Middlesex, Mercer, Somerset, Hunterdon counties)
- The Gramercy at Lakeside Manor
- The Mill Lakeside Manor
- The Hamilton Manor
- The Park Chateau
- The Ryland Inn
- The Ashford Estate
- Shadowbrook at Shrewsbury
- Stone House at Stirling Ridge
Jersey Shore (Ocean & Cape May counties)
- Icona Avalon
- Bonnet Island Estate
- Hotel LBI
- Clarks Landing Yacht Club
Hudson Valley & NYC
- The Roundhouse
- Lyndhurst Mansion
- Carnegie Hall
Check out these sophisticated North Jersey wedding venues
Felina Ridgewood blends modern glamour with a warm, European‑inspired ambiance, making it one of North Jersey’s most sought‑after spaces. Couples love its dramatic ballroom, rooftop terrace, and the kind of culinary program that turns a wedding into a full sensory experience.
Crystal Plaza is the definition of timeless luxury, offering a grand, historic mansion setting that feels both opulent and inviting. Couples are drawn to its sweeping staircase, glittering chandeliers, and the kind of white‑glove service that turns a wedding day into inspired elegance.
The Meadow Wood offers up classic elegance with a bright, contemporary feel, giving couples the best of both worlds. Its ballrooms, manicured gardens, and sweeping photo spots create a seamless flow from ceremony to reception. Every room feels purpose‑built for a great party.
The Mansion at Mountain Lakes provides thoughtful venue design, outdoor beauty, and culinary excellence, from intimate weddings to grand galas. The stunning staircase and tranquil waterfall are perfect locations for first look photos.
The Grand brings together classic sophistication and modern sparkle, giving couples a polished backdrop for every part of their wedding. Its sweeping ballrooms, dramatic lighting, and attentive staff create a cohesive ambience from the moment guests arrive.
The Park Savoy Estate pairs Gilded Age charm with a refined, modern sensibility, giving couples a storybook setting. Its grand mansion interiors, sweeping gardens, and iconic ballroom create graceful transitions for an unforgettable wedding.
Pleasantdale Chateau feels like a European estate, complete with winding pathways, rich architectural details, and a level of opulence that makes every moment feel cinematic. Couples love its grand ballroom, sun‑drenched conservatory, and sprawling grounds.
More incredible North Jersey wedding locations
The Madison Hotel is a boutique hotel with modern glamour for a stylish backdrop. The Conservatory is a standout — all glass, greenery, and natural light — while the grand ballroom brings a timeless feeling.
Crystal Springs Resort serves up a true destination‑wedding, with mountain views, lush grounds, and multiple stunning spaces spread across its expansive property. Couples love the mix of elegant ballrooms, outdoor terraces, and photo‑ready landscapes.
Bear Brook Valley is a dream for couples who want a nature‑forward wedding, complete with rolling hills, wooded trails, and a lakeside ceremony space that feels straight out of a postcard. Its airy reception room, oversized windows, and contemporary design give the day a celebratory energy.
Perona Farms has rustic charm and modern style, giving couples a scenic, personality‑filled backdrop for their special occasion. With multiple distinct spaces — from the airy Refinery to the iconic Barn — every wedding feels custom‑crafted to the couple’s vibe.
Battello Restaurant brings a chic, modern edge to the Jersey City waterfront, offering skyline views that turn a wedding into a showstopper. Its airy, industrial‑meets‑nautical design gives couples a stylish backdrop that feels both relaxed and elevated.
Maritime Parc Restaurant creates a sleek, contemporary waterfront setting with panoramic skyline views that make every wedding reception feel upscale and unforgettable. Its airy event spaces, crisp architectural lines, and floor‑to‑ceiling windows give couples a bright, modern space.
The Conservatory frames your day with a light‑filled, garden‑inspired setting that feels both modern and romantic, making it a standout choice for couples who love an airy aesthetic. Its glass walls, lush greenery, and natural light create a stunning backdrop.
Put these Central Jersey venues on your short list
The Gramercy at Lakeside Manor leans into contemporary style with a welcoming, boutique‑event feel, giving couples a chic setting for their celebration. Its bright ballroom, lakeside photo spots, and thoughtfully designed spaces create an easy transition from ceremony to reception.
The Mill Lakeside Manor centers around a warm, coastal‑elegant setting, with waterfront views and timeless interiors that give couples a beautiful and memorable day. Its bright ballroom, serene lakeside photo spots, and thoughtfully designed spaces create an effortless event flow.
The Hamilton Manor gives rustic charm with modern style, providing a striking backdrop with its barn‑inspired spaces, dramatic lighting, and beautifully landscaped grounds. Its grand ballroom, outdoor ceremony options, and photo‑ready nooks create an inviting atmosphere.
The Park Chateau offers a French‑inspired, storybook setting, with manicured gardens, grand architecture, and interiors that feel straight out of a classic romance. Its chapel, sweeping grounds, and luminous ballroom create beautifully connected moments from vows to reception.
More signature Central Jersey wedding spaces
The Ryland Inn brings together estate charm and a refined countryside backdrop that feels both grand and inviting. Its light‑filled ballroom, manicured grounds, and timeless architectural details create a beautifully paced wedding story from vows to dinner to dancing.
The Ashford Estate showcases a secluded setting, with rolling fields, a stunning barn chapel, and manor‑house interiors that feel timeless and refined. Its sweeping grounds, light‑filled Conservatory, and elegant ballroom create a beautifully connected environment.
Shadowbrook at Shrewsbury reveals a sweeping, mansion‑style spatial experience, with marble details, dramatic staircases, and gardens that feel straight out of a classic estate. Its ballroom, cocktail spaces, and outdoor nooks offer a high‑impact setting.
Stone House at Stirling Ridge pairs contemporary design with natural, earthy textures, creating a warm, architectural backdrop that feels both refined and inviting. Its dramatic stonework, open‑air patio, and sleek event spaces flow beautifully from cocktails to dinner to dancing.
Spend a wedding weekend at the Jersey Shore
Icona Avalon delivers a bright, coastal‑chic atmosphere, with crisp white interiors, ocean‑inspired details, and a modern aesthetic that feels effortlessly elevated. Its rooftop spaces, airy ballrooms, and beach‑adjacent photo spots create a seamless flow from daytime moments to evening festivities.
Bonnet Island Estate welcomes couples with a Nantucket‑inspired waterfront retreat, with breezy coastal views, shingle‑style architecture, and a private boathouse chapel that feels straight out of a seaside romance. Enjoy the sun‑washed ballroom, wraparound porches, and peaceful marina backdrop.
Hotel LBI brings a bright, modern‑coastal aesthetic to Long Beach Island, with crisp interiors, sweeping views, and a relaxed‑chic vibe that feels like an elevated beach escape. Its rooftop spaces, sun‑filled ballroom, and stylish lobby lounge create a relaxed resort wedding weekend.
Clarks Landing Yacht Club sets the stage with a waterfront setting and sweeping marina views that feel both polished and inviting. This private yacht club brings a light-filled ballroom, wraparound terraces, and picture‑perfect docks.
From the Hudson Valley to the Big Apple – NY venues
The Roundhouse provides a dramatic, industrial‑chic setting overlooking the rushing falls in Beacon, giving couples a backdrop that feels both modern and deeply rooted in the Hudson Valley landscape. Take in the brick-and-glass architecture, warm interiors, and panoramic water views.
Lyndhurst Mansion unveils a breathtaking Gothic Revival design, with sweeping lawns, river views, and architectural details that feel straight out of a period film. Guests love the sense of history and the stunning scenery.
Carnegie Hall is an extraordinary, once‑in‑a‑lifetime setting, where couples can exchange vows inside one of the world’s most legendary performance venues. Its soaring architecture, dramatic stages, and historic interiors create a wedding that feels both grand and deeply personal.
Your Dream Venue Deserves the Right Entertainment
With over 5,000 reviews and a reputation built in some of the region’s most sought-after venues, SCE is trusted to deliver at the highest level. From high-energy dance floors to enhancements, live entertainment, and photo booths, every element is designed to elevate your wedding and reflect your vision.
If you’re planning your wedding at one of NJ or NY’s top venues, SCE Event Group is ready to help you bring it all to life. Reach out, and we’ll put together a customized wedding entertainment package that fits your style, your venue, and your budget.
