Revitalizing Elegance: Crystal Plaza

In Livingston, New Jersey lives the custom wedding venue gem, Crystal Plaza. The over 100 year old venue hosts only one event at a time, giving guests graciously accommodating service and a one-of-a-kind experience for any event. 2020 was a transformative year for Crystal Plaza with their new 13,000 square foot event space addition and make-over of multiple spaces throughout the venue. With the help of interior designers, Judi Schwarz and Jennifer Lewicki, Crystal Plaza has undergone a jaw-dropping transformation, while still highlighting the history and traditionalism of the venue.

Family-owned and operated, Crystal Plaza pays extra special attention to guests by providing them with a completely customizable event experience. With multiple rooms to choose from and endless decor possibilities, unique creations are always delivered with white-glove service from start to finish. Crystal Plaza has been redesigned to provide their clients with everything they need, all on the property, so their special day can flawlessly come together. Each of the venues at Crystal Plaza has the space to host up to 400 people and there are three elevators on the property, making the space fully handicap accessible. 

Judi Schwarz of Judi Schwarz Interiors and her partner Jennifer Lewicki were the designers responsible for the stunning transformation that Crystal Plaza recently underwent. Judi Schwarz Interiors has been in business for 40 years, 30 of which Schwarz and Lewicki have spent working together. While they typically specialize in residential interiors and office design, Schwarz and Lewicki hit every mark on their Crystal Plaza make-over. They conceived a clean and modern design with an edgy flair to create memorable spaces for guests to spend their special day. Using mixed metals, eccentric materials and customizable lighting, the spaces are curated to be adjusted to fit the exact vision of the client. 

The Penthouse is where a bride having their wedding at Crystal Plaza will begin her day. The Penthouse features everything from a full-service nail and hair salon, to photo-taking areas and organized wardrobes. The bride and her bridal party have access to multiple changing rooms, steam showers and even a massage area to prepare them for the big day. A butler will be present for any food and beverage needs so there is no need for anyone to lift a finger. All of the furniture in the Penthouse is movable, making it easy to arrange to the taste of the client. 

Across the hall from the Penthouse is the Chandelier Suite, a place for the bride to decompress and take a moment for herself before her big day. Equipped with a couch for anyone who wants to escape for a quick nap, and an ensuite bathroom, this room is the perfect place to take a few moments to yourself before festivities begin. The lovely flower arrangements accenting each room are courtesy of Dalsimer Spitz & Peck.

Coming in Summer of 2021 is The Vault. The Vault is the men’s version of the Penthouse and it includes everything the ideal man-cave would have. A full-length bar, fully-ventilated cigar lounge, a golf simulator and even a barber shop can be found in the vault. Serving as the ultimate men’s lounge, The Vault is a definite selling point for the groom. 

The Atrium is Crystal Plaza’s new indoor ceremony location. This space can be used for wedding ceremonies, bar and bat mitzvahs, after parties and truly any occasion a client is interested in. Featuring a stunning clean and white base and a large open ceiling, The Atrium certainly has a “wow” factor to it, making for an ideal place to kick-off a celebration. The room is super bright and has unique details including the intriguing silver-speckled wood floors by Kuche+Cucina. All of the lights in this room are able to change color, making it versatile and easily adjustable to fit different moods. The wall boasts icy glass panels, by Galaxy Glass, that also have the ability of changing colors. Schwarz and Lewicki teamed up with West Essex Lighting Studio for the Crystal Plaza project and effectively elevated and modernized the spaces with their exceptional lighting fixtures. The windows looking out onto the property are able to be blocked by a moving screen door for photo-taking and can also be used as a projector during celebrations.

The Grand Ballroom is where the main celebration typically takes place. Built in 1995, this room has aged into a beautiful gem with its renovations throughout the years. Space was added on to the Grand Ballroom to accommodate more guests and make a better use of the large area available. The chandeliers were raised, the lighting was updated and the window dressings were removed to expand and brighten the space of this room from all angles. Each of the detail pieces was repainted in a 14 Karat yellow-gold, giving off a palatial aura. In the center of the room is a 30-foot round mahogany dance floor that looks out into the almost 2-acre manicured garden outside. All of the stone and lighting in the garden has also been updated and has never been used before.

Custom designing the offices at Crystal Plaza was also on Schwarz and Lewicki’s list for this make-over. Lighting updates and revamped furniture, including a stunning restoration of a 100-year old desk which was a family heirloom, are the highlighted renovations to these stunning offices. Unique custom pieces and beautiful carpets by Starr Carpet were put together to make a sleek and refined space for the Crystal Plaza team to work. 

From head to toe, Crystal Plaza is a dream wedding venue. The historic charm mixed with the contemporary updates has created a place that truly has it all. Moving as far away from cookie-cutter as possible, Judi Schwarz and Jen Lewicki proved that you can create versatile spaces without taking away from the enchantment of significant space.