10 Reasons To Get Married In New Jersey

What's NOT to love about the idea of getting married in the Garden State? With a variety of locations for the event and some of the most creative and talented wedding professionals in the world, NJ has everything on a couple's must-have list. Here's just a sampling of great reasons to get married in New Jersey:

1. Being located in a geographic region with four unique seasons, New Jersey offers couples the opportunity for winter weddings (sometimes even at a discount), wedding celebrations during the spring renewal, beach or garden weddings in the summertime and colorful fall foliage for memorable photos at one of the many country clubs and golf resorts or local wineries for winery / vineyard weddings.

2. Having your wedding closer to home is more green and eco-friendly than planning a destination wedding: you can reduce your carbon footprint by using less gas and tolls, using locally sourced foods, flowers and wedding service providers.

3. With 127 miles of shoreline, New Jersey offers some of the most beautiful beaches and shore towns around, so couples can have their Jersey shore wedding ceremony on the sand with a reception following on or near the beach.

4. Cape May, New Jersey ("Exit 0" on the Garden State Parkway) is known as the third most popular destination in the United States to get married, and you can have your wedding on the beach or in one of many Victorian locations from a bygone era.

5. The Long Beach Island region is one of the fastest growing wedding destinations in New Jersey, with over 40 venues and wedding services to serve couples that want to have their wedding weekend in this resort area.

6. You can have a New York style wedding at New Jersey prices (and without the traffic!) since sales tax in New York City is 8.375 percent compared with 7 percent in New Jersey. Still want that backdrop of New York City? Have your wedding at one of the many venues along the Hudson River or charter a boat and cruise past the Statue of Liberty and other landmarks.

7. Wedding TV reality shows love New Jersey, too! Some of the NJ's top wedding locations and experts have been featured on TLC, Bravo, WeTV, Style Network and more (in past shows like Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?, My Fair Wedding with David Tutera, Jerseylicious, Real Housewives of New Jersey, Masters of Reception, Say Yes To The Dress, Four Weddings, Jersey Shore, Snooki and JWoww, Manzo'd With Children, etc.) and of course ... we have the Cake Boss (and the Next Great Baker)!

8. New Jersey's history is rich with numerous historic locations and landmarks, places where George Washington has lived or slept or fought during the Revolutionary War. You can find many locations in the Garden State that have served as a backdrop for movies and television, like The Sopranos and several reality TV shows mentioned above. One of the most popular places in the state to pose for an engagement or wedding picture is Woodrow Wilson Hall at Monmouth University, better known as Daddy Warbuck's mansion in the movie Annie.

9. New Jersey is one of the most culturally diverse states in the nation, with large populations of Italians, Pan-Asians, Asian Indians and much more. You can have ANY type of catering you wish for your multi-cultural celebration ... just name it and you can find it in New Jersey.

10. Looking to attend a bridal show, showcase, trunk show or wedding expo? In New Jersey, you'll be able to find a bridal event going on almost any day of the week. You will meet local wedding professionals who will give you advice and direction on your wedding plans, see the latest bridal fashions, and even maybe take home some fabulous door prizes or a free honeymoon.

BONUS REASON #1 -> New Jersey was hit with Superstorm Sandy on October 29, 2012, which impacted several regions of the Garden State, especially the Jersey Shore. Many beachfront wedding facilities and businesses were affected, and and several have been rebuilt or are currently rebuilding. New Jerseyans are "JERSEY STRONG" and we want you to know that the JERSEY SHORE IS OPEN and remains a popular destination for weddings, events and very special memories. View our Beach / Shore Weddings section to find venues and local services.

BONUS REASON #2 -> On Friday, September 27, 2013, a Mercer County Superior Court Judge ruled that the state must allow same-sex couples to marry, and same-sex marriages officially began on October 21, 2013. And the United States Supreme Court made Same-Sex Marriage legal across the nation on Friday, June 26, 2015. At NJWedding.com, we are thrilled to feature a Same-Sex / LGBT Weddings category, where couples can find banquet facilities / reception sites around New Jersey to celebrate, along with Clergy / Wedding Officiants, photographers, entertainment companies and much more!

Erik Kent is the Co-Publisher of NJWedding.com. This article was previously featured on AOL's Aisledash in August 2010.

Photo by Ambient DJ Service: A New Jersey bride having fun behind the DJ booth at her wedding.