NJWedding.com often receives news of happenings in the world of weddings in New Jersey, whether it's a special event of interest to future New Jersey brides and grooms, industry news and information, new reality television shows that are in production or producers looking for participants, and much more. This space below will contain information on the latest news for your viewing pleasure - please feel free to spread the word (through email, facebook, Twitter, or any other social networking sites) about things you see here! If you have any news to share, please email us at info@njwedding.com.

Here's what's been happening...

July 10, 2010 - NEW! Winning couple to marry aboard NJ's Official "Tall Ship" A.J. Meerwald in LBI - NJWedding.com contest winners Nicole Monahan and Christopher Parks will be married on the schooner A.J. Meerwald during a summer visit to Beach Haven, Long Beach Island on Saturday, July 24th. This is the second annual contest where NJWedding.com has had the opportunity to work with the Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce, New Jersey Division of Travel & Tourism, Reclam the Bay and many other organizations, along with local wedding professionals who have graciously donated their services and time to make this couple's wedding dreams come true. For more info, visit the above link or http://www.njwedding.com/lbi.

July 10, 2010 - NEW! Roman Jewelers teams up with Frungillo Caterers & New Jersey Bride magazine for charity wedding contest - New Jersey couples invited to register to win a free wedding in contest that helps various charities. Auditions set for Saturday, July 17, 2010 for brides and grooms to-be to present philanthropic initiatives. Last year's contest, created to celebrate Roman Jewelers' 20th Anniversary and help area charities raise funds and awareness in tough economic times, raised nearly $100,000 for charity in 6 short weeks.

October 26, 2009 - TLC serves up a new season of "Cake Boss" on October 26th - This popular TV series, which quickly became one of the hottest shows on cable during its first season, continues to take viewers behind the scenes of Carlo's Bakery in Hoboken, NJ, run by Buddy Valastro and his big Italian family. See what's in store for Season 2 at this New Jersey landmark about to turn 100 years old next year, including unique wedding proposals, sweet candy cakes, and much more!

October 11, 2009 - New Jersey boasts first, only nonprofit wedding flower shop in the USA - Owned and operated by Community Options, Inc., Vaseful Flowers and Gifts in New Brunswick, NJ runs successful entrepreneurial non profit business, empowering and helping people with disabilities.

September 22, 2009 - Brides and Grooms engage in Kissing Contest at Glenpointe Marriott in Teaneck for chance to win free Honeymoon - New Jersey/New York Metro Bridal Expo to feature Kissing Contest, Live Band & DJ Entertainment, Fashion Show, Prizes

August 26, 2009 - "Running of the Brides (and Grooms)" comes to Hamilton's Septemberfest in Veteran's Park on Sunday, September 13th - Move over Filene's basement! Hamilton Township's annual Septemberfest plays host to a spirited competition of brides and grooms! This event is a fun-filled competition and relay race of local, engaged couples. Women will wear tuxedos, while men will wear bridal gowns - all supplied by The Bridal Suite – for this relay race.

August 3, 2009 - New Jersey Newlyweds Find Opportunities in Current Real Estate Market - New Jersey Association of REALTORS® (NJAR®) promotes $8,000 tax credit incentive for first time home buyers on wedding planning web sites like NJWedding.com to reach engaged and recently married couples in NJ.

July 28, 2009 - NJ couple marry aboard NJ's official Tall Ship A.J. Meerwald during summer visit to Long Beach Island. NJWedding.com contest winners Tara Meacham and Rick Clapper were married in a one-of-a-kind ceremony on July 25th, becoming the first non-crew members to get married on the schooner A.J. Meerwald in Barnegat Bay.

July 21, 2009 - New Jersey couple to wed aboard NJ's official Tall Ship A.J. Meerwald during visit to Beach Haven, LBI this Saturday. NJWedding.com contest winners Tara Meacham and Rick Clapper to become married at 6 pm on July 25th as highlight of A.J. Meerwald's weekend trip to the Long Beach Island region. New Jersey media invited to attend...

June 22 , 2009 - Tie the Knot on a Tall Ship contest winners to be announced at the Jersey Shore Store on June 24th. As the contest winds down, almost 100 entries have been received into this unique contest for a couple to be married aboard the A.J. Meerwald, New Jersey's Official Tall Ship. Now the winner will be chosen and announced on Wednesday at the Jersey Shore Store in Manhattan, located at 813 Broadway in NJ!

June 2, 2009 - TLC Plans a Wedding with Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos: MASTERS OF RECEPTION, featuring the Frungillo family's New Jersey catering and wedding business, to air Friday, June 12, 2009 at 10PM A "behind the scenes" look at the Frungillo family and wedding receptions at their New Jersey catering business locations, including The Castle at Skylands Manor and The Villa at Mountain Lakes in Northern New Jersey.

June 1 , 2009 - Win A FREE Wedding Ceremony on the A.J. Meerwald, New Jersey's Official Tall Ship, this summer in Long Beach Island. Information about a unique contest where a couple can enter to win a chance to be the first to get married on the A.J. Meerwald in Barnegat Bay. Many organizations involved, including Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce, New Jersey Division of Travel and Tourism, ReClam the Bay, The Museum of NJ Maritime history, Tuckerton Seaport Museum, BBSRP, Alliance for a Living Ocean and Ocean County Culture and Heritage Commission. The A.J. Meerwald's visit is part of a sensational eduational weekend to learn about Barnegat Bay, it’s heritage, and the shellfish ecology that supported the economy.

May 27, 2009 - 1010 WINS News Radio - Wedding Trends...and the "s" stands for "savings" - Reporter Alice Stockton-Rossini interviewed Erik Kent to discuss how the down economy is affecting the plans of New Jersey brides and grooms, if and how they are cutting back on what they're spending, and if they are postponing their weddings until 2010 or 2011 (which mean there will be more openings in 2009 for wedding venues and services at a discount). Other questions included if the New Jersey shore is seeing an increase in weddings from couples choosing to have their destination weddings along the beach towns (instead of locations like Aruba). The radio report featured Sara Perlman-Smith, a bride working within a small budget in order to pay for her wedding. Three clips were aired throughout the day: listen to audio clip #1 - listen to audio clip #2 - listen to audio clip #3

April 30, 2009 - Southern Ocean County Chamber announces Wedding Road Show on LBI Grand Prize Winners - features information on the couples who won the Grand Prize and First Prize from this recent wedding planning event and tour of the Long Beach Island region, as well as winners from media sponsors New Jersey Life Magazine and NJWedding.com

April 26, 2009 - WCBS Newsradio 880 - Jersey Shore towns marketing themselves as "wedding destinations" - Reporter Zayd White interviewed Erik Kent to discuss how the down economy is affecting weddings in New Jersey and how the Jersey shore region is attracting brides and grooms to various beach communities as an alternative to exotic destination weddings. Two clips were aired throughout the day: listen to audio clip #1 - listen to audio clip #2

April 25, 2009 - MaryAnn Spoto, The Star-Ledger / NJ.com - Jersey Shore towns target increase in wedding business: during recession, beach area markets self as enticing alternative to pricey weddings - MaryAnn Spoto interviewed Erik Kent for an article about how the economy is affecting how couples make wedding decisions and how New Jersey shore regions like Long Beach Island and The Wildwoods are targeting brides and grooms-to-be. Also includes a Photo Gallery of pictures taken by Star Ledger photographer Andrew Mills at the Wedding Road Show on Sunday, April 19, 2009.

Above article by MaryAnn Spoto also appeared in the Bergen Record / NorthJersey.com on Sunday, April 26th entitled "Wedding bells and sounds of the sea"