Pre-Event: “A cool idea for a pre-wedding event would be for the bride and her bridesmaids to take part in a cooking class, given by the on-premise caterer at the historic Hermitage, in Ho-Ho-Kus (201-447-1216; thehermitage.org),” says DeLisi, which can be held in a large reception room in another building on site. Another possibility, says DeLisi, is for a food and wine pairing rehearsal dinner, where the caterer offers a special menu, designed with a different wine served with each food course.

The Ceremony: This gothic revival museum home, once visited by the likes of George Washington and Aaron Burr, is surrounded by several acres of land, and can easily accommodate a large tent for the actual reception. Other venues for a country wedding include Skylands Manor, in Ringwood, to the Farm House at Crossed Keys, in Andover.

Favors with Pizzazz: For the food and wine theme the couple could produce a personalized cookbook, complied with recipes from the two families and the bridal party—a perfect favor gift! (DeLisi suggests Kinko’s as a great lace to handle assembly of the book.) For a touch of “WOW,” add a split (half bottle) of one of the wines served at the rehearsal dinner.

Activities: Try a drive to nearby antique shops in town, or shopping in downtown Ridgewood. Other interesting historic venues are nearby, and for the adventurous set there’s horse back riding, or a self-guided walking tour through a spectacular wildlife preserve, the Celery Farm, in nearby Allendale.

Post-Wedding: Try brunch in another historic venue, the Ho-Ho-Kus Inn, another less formal catered affair on the grounds of the Hermitage, or rafting down the Delaware River, for the folks staying in the area of Panther Valley (near Green Township).