No wonder it’s one of the first places that springs to mind as a romantic location for your dream wedding.

“You don’t have to leave New Jersey to have a destination wedding,” says Erik Kent of njwedding.com. “LBI offers beach ceremonies, bayside sunsets, seaports, even a lighthouse—all within a three-hour drive.” Kent helped promote LBI’s Wedding Road Show this past April, which featured tours of island venues, from luxury estates to B&Bs, plus samples from local florists, bakers, and other wedding vendors. Hundreds of brides came to see what the island has to offer. “With LBI’s top-notch venues and the economy, brides are looking to stay closer to home now,” says Kent. Beyond the natural beauty of a beach setting, LBI’s proximity makes it likely that more of your friends and family can attend.

Lori Pepenella, destination marketing director of the Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce (609-494-7211; sochamber.com), estimates the LBI region, from Forked River to Little Egg Harbor and the island itself, hosts up to 600 weddings a season, now stretching from April to November.

“Bonnet Island Estate and Mallard Island Yacht Club offer settings second to none,” says Pepenella. More venues are opening year-round for off-season weddings. In fact, she estimates that one-third of LBI businesses are wedding-related. Most brides hail from Philadelphia, New York, and New Jersey, all within an easy drive. “LBI does celebrations well; we enjoy helping people enjoy themselves,” says Pepenella.
Wedding planner Julia Erlichman of Julia and Friends in Philadelphia (215-490-8222; juliaandfriends.com) is known for her fabulous “island” parties. “If the bride has a home here, vacations here, or met her beau here, she’ll have soft spot in her heart for LBI,” she says.

Erlichman encourages brides to keep the fun rolling, with a morning-after brunch, beach volleyball and bonfire, or a chartered fishing trip. With the formalities over, newlyweds get to unwind, check everyone’s digital photos, and actually visit with out-of-town guests. “The wedding day flies by so quickly,” she says. “LBI weddings are absolutely weekend-long affairs; that’s the fun of it.” Some couples rent a beach house for after-parties or book a weekend-long package at an LBI resort. Because more logistics go into a destination wedding, Erlichman recommends hiring a planner who knows the ropes on the island.

Considering an LBI wedding? Your very first stop should be the Chamber of Commerce’s official wedding guide at weddingsonlbi.com or 800-292-6372. It offers prospective brides a wealth of information about churches, beach permits, venues, and vendors.

“LBI has its own vibe,” says Pepenella. “At an LBI wedding, the first thing you notice is that everybody’s so relaxed. The second is that the newlyweds are starting their marriage with a vacation. What could beat that?”