Beach Weddings: Jersey Shore Weddings and the Weather

Have you noticed the weather this Spring? Almost every weekend has been a rainy one. It’s been very frustrating trying to plan outdoor events. We recently had a Nor’easter that flooded the streets of Sea Bright and Monmouth Beach. More evidence of the storm could be seen as we traveled on South along the Jersey Shore. A spokesperson for the town said they didn’t think all the beaches would be ready for Memorial Day weekend.

Well, as it turned out, Saturday was fantastic…sunny, warm in the 70’s…not a trace of rain in the forecast…until the next day, that is. After a hibachi dinner at the Kanji Steakhouse and Sushi in Tinton Falls (offers a private 4-hibachi grill dining room that seats 36 ideal for a rehearsal dinner), we drove over to Pier Village in Long Branch to see what events were happening. It was relatively quiet, but that will soon change with the Jersey Shore summer season starting soon.

The romantic moonlight glowed as it stretched from the horizon to the breaking waves. As we strolled along the promenade beginning at the south end of Pier Village, we passed people dressed for a wedding reception - they were probably on their way to one of the upscale restaurants that are available for private parties. A short way down the walk, there were two celebrations happening on the beach in front of the Ocean Place Resort Hotel. One looked like a Sweet Sixteen with teens dancing to the DJ’s music and the other a wedding reception “after party” with a beach bar and bonfire blazing on the beach. The weather was clear and a bit chilly but a light jacket, sweater, shawl, or sweatshirt seemed to be enough for the guests. The teens didn’t seem to notice, though.

We’ve visited Pier Village many times during the warmer months since it first opened and have witnessed many beach wedding receptions from our vantage point on the promenade. Holding a wedding outside, especially on the sand, can often lend to the unexpected. Last year a DJ was leaving an earlier reception (as a wedding was about to take place at the next wedding beach site) in a small pick up truck which he had driven down on the beach to load his equipment. As he was leaving, the truck became stuck in the sand. Apparently, someone forgot to tell him to drive where the sand was packed down. His only solution was to have a tow truck pull him off the beach up the ramp, and onto the road. The tow truck arrived, drove down onto the beach, hooked up the small pick up, and proceeded to help the DJ save his truck. What do you think happened? If you guessed the tow truck got stuck in the sand, you’re correct!

So now we have a comedy of errors. The tow truck had to call another tow truck which could pull both the large and the small truck off the beach and up the ramp. There was no other way out. The second tow truck driver was the smartest one of all, he stayed on the ramp, hooked the cable to the smaller tow truck which was then hooked to the pick up truck. During all of this, bathers were sitting on the beach just past where the truck’s cable was being stretched and the path where, hopefully, the trucks would be traveling to freedom. They didn’t have enough sense to move until the police told them they had to get out of the way for their own safety.

Well, this went on for quite a long while so we strolled further down the way to Rooney’s Oceanfront Restaurant. Rooney’s has a great reputation and is a lively place any night of the week once the weather warms up. They have three oceanfront rooms for private parties of 25 - 125 people and will accommodate you whether you are planning a cocktail party, buffet brunch, sit down or buffet dinner. Their delicious menu provides a variety of choices that will please even the fussiest guess. Enjoy the view, enjoy the food, enjoy the moment.

So, back to the topic of the weather. It is impossible to plan around the weather a week in advance, let alone a year or more. Surprisingly, the Farmer’s Almanachas a pretty good prediction record. So, if you’re planning an outdoor, Jersey Shore wedding ceremony or reception, it’s advisable to consult the Almanac and have a plan B. Rooney’s outdoor rooms are open yet covered. The Ocean Place Resort has indoor banquet rooms to accommodate your guests should the weather change unexpectedly. The other restaurants in Pier Village and along the Jersey Shore have rooms with an ocean view which is the safe way to go and lends itself to less worrying about the unpredictable Jersey Shore weather.

Memorial Day weedend is on its way…weather prediction? Sunny and in the 70’s!!! Enjoy the Jersey Shore and congratulations to all the couples celebrating their Jersey Shore wedding day!