Are you looking for a historic New Jersey wedding venue that gives you a more modern experience? Waterloo Village is an incredible venue in Stanhope. Rustic charm and natural beauty meet modern conveniences for an unforgettable wedding experience. Sara and Mike’s Waterloo Village wedding made the most of everything this venue has to offer.

A Waterloo Village Wedding

Waterloo Village is the kind of place that can charm anyone who went through a bread baking phase. It’s a historically-accurate 19th century village. It includes buildings related to farming, ironworks, railroads, and industry on the canal. They make a charming backdrop for a Waterloo Village wedding.

Waterloo Village is like a piece of history come to life. Its landscaping and surrounding woods are just as charming as the buildings. Native wildflowers grow all over. I love incorporating them into portraits.

You could wander the grounds forever. In the case of rain on the day of your Waterloo Village wedding, though, there are two indoor reception areas available. The pavilion features dark wood beams and long tables where your guests can gather for a good meal. Benches sit around firepits by the meeting house. It’s a great spot for cocktail hour, especially in the fall.

Since you have an entire village as part of the venue, Waterloo Village can accommodate many guests. Indoor and outdoor events have a capacity of 200 guests. Packages that include rental fees and catering start around $24,000.

The New Jersey State Park Service operates Waterloo Village as a historic site. They host education events about the village and Winakung, the native forest on site. The orange and gold leaves are stunning in the fall.  

Despite being on a historic site in the woods, a Waterloo Village wedding isn’t a rustic experience. Caterer Jeffrey A. Miller provides beautiful meals with freshly grown herbs and vegetables. The cuisine is perfect for the surroundings.

Waterloo Village is just over an hour west of New York City and two hours north of Philadelphia. Considering it’s so close to New York City, Waterloo Village feels remote. Allamuchy Mountain State Park is just across Highway 604.

Colorful Details and Historic Charm

Sara and Mike’s Waterloo Village wedding incorporated so many of the venue’s best locations. Sara got ready in the wedding suite. The simple room was well-lit by the sun pouring through the windows. It was a lovely place to start the day.

For their first look, Sara and Mike met at the end of the wooden bridge. The unique bridge over the stone-lined canal was ideal for this heartwarming moment. From there, we headed to the old mill. Sara and Mike exchanged private vows in the field of clover. 

We couldn’t have asked for better weather for portraits before the ceremony. The sun shined the whole time with big puffy clouds blowing across the sky. It looked like a classic painting of the countryside. Sara and Mike enjoyed exploring with their wedding party too.

For your Waterloo Village wedding, you can hold your ceremony in a gazebo, indoors, or simply beside the forest like Sara and Mike did. The lush woods made a beautiful backdrop for the ceremony. They didn’t need an arch or any decor to make it feel celebratory. If you wanted to go big on flowers, though, an installation would be right at home here.

Since they got married in early July, Sara and Mike chose a bold palette for their decor. The florals included pink, blue, yellow, and white blossoms. They popped against the greens of the fields and forests as well as the emerald bridesmaids dresses.

Sara and Mike’s Vibrant Reception

After the ceremony, Sara and Mike joined their guests for cocktail hour outdoors. The white cafe tables and chairs gave the space the feeling of a garden party. I love that Sara and Mike chose to spend this time with their people. It’s not often all of your family and friends get together in one place like this!

Sara and Mike spent most of their Waterloo Village wedding connecting with their guests. Heartfelt speeches followed the dances. Then Sara and Mike’s guests joined them beneath the strings of lights and greenery on the dance floor.

After the formalities were over, I snuck away with Sara and Mike for some golden hour photos. This set of photos has that just-married romance. I love how the sun glows over them as they spin across the lawn. It’s a perfect representation of the day’s energy.

Would you like me to photograph your wedding? I’m a New Jersey photographer specializing in colorful and eclectic images. Inquire with me!