Choosing the perfect wedding venue is one of the most important, but also one of the most nerve-wracking decisions prospective newlyweds must make while planning for their big day. Generally speaking, engaged couples tend to fall into one of two categories: team destination wedding, wherein the couple wants to celebrate their big day with their friends and families somewhere new and exciting; and team local venue, wherein they want to keep things simple, intimate and allow their loved ones to join in the celebration without much logistical hassle. Fortunately, it’s possible to compromise by choosing a venue that combines the convenience and tradition of a local wedding venue with the amenities and escapism of a destination wedding. The Reeds at Shelter Haven, one of the best wedding venues in Stone Harbor – and indeed, in all of NJ – is one such places.
Located at the southern Jersey shore, this luxury boutique hotel offers 58 guest rooms and suites – enough to accommodate the both bride and groom and their guests. Decorated in a style that can only be described as coastal chic, the rooms exude a quiet, rustic elegance that is in perfect harmony with the beachside landscape. Moreover, the rooms are also fully equipped with first-class amenities such as Frette bathrobes and triple-sheeted, Fretted 100% Egyptian cotton bed linen, premium bath products, petite living rooms with pullout sofa beds and fireplaces, kitchenettes with Keurig coffee machines, microwaves, and cabinet refrigerator, and flat-screen TVs – in essential, with all that is needed to make their rooms a temporary home away from home for their guests.
Of course, neither the bride, the groom nor their guests will spend their entire stay in their rooms. Fortunately, there is plenty to experience at The Reeds and in the surrounding Stone Harbour. To begin, The Reeds offers full beach service during the summer season: guests are ushered to the beach in an electric car packed with hotel-provided chairs, towels, umbrellas, and beach badges, and are then able to enjoy the warm sun and the cooling ocean breeze while attendants serve food and beverages throughout the day. For those who wish to explore Stone Harbor, there are plenty of fun and exciting things to do, from visiting the Stone Harbor Museum or going on a tour of the Stone Harbor Salt Marsh to partaking in some outdoor fun at the Island Water Sports water park. The bride and groom might even want to explore Stone Harbor on a nice, quiet and romantic bike ride around the town.
And if the bride and her party want to indulge in some pre-wedding pampering, they can visit The Reeds’ very own Salt Spa, which debuted earlier this year. The full-service salon and spa offer a private bridal studio where the bride, groom, and their wedding party can enjoy a number of exclusively curated services such as a Brine Lounge and Turkish Bath, a blow-out bar and makeup application studio, a nail care with a manicure and pedicure studio, waxing and tanning services and a fully-equipped fitness center designed, all of which are specifically designed to provide a relaxing and rejuvenating experience. What’s more, wedding photographers are welcome in the bridal studio, where they can capture the bridal party in action, primping, pampering, and sipping champagne in style.
Indeed, guests at The Reeds will be positively spoiled for choice of photo opportunities. Whether it be on the roof garden, on the sun deck, on the beach or while enjoying cocktails in the picturesque bayfront cocktail lounge, all guests will be able to grace their photo albums and social media accounts with photos of the breathtaking Stone Harbor landscape. And when it is time for the wedding bells to finally ring and for the beautiful bride to walk down the aisle, The Sweet Grass Ballroom at The Reeds awaits. An open-air ballroom with a floor-to-ceiling glass panels, this unique ballroom provides a full view of the beautiful harbor to the up to 220 guests that can dine, dance, and celebrate the union of two people in love.
Beyond being one of the best wedding venues in Stone Harbor, the Reeds has also been named a World’s Best Hotel by Condé Nast Traveler three years in a row and New Jersey’s Best Hotel in 2019, attesting to the high quality of its services and its unique, elegant charm. In other words, The Reeds at Shelter Haven in Stone Harbor is the perfect place to make all of your wedding dreams come true.
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