V20 N47

The Activity Column
Catherine Dugan’s guide to getting out there... this week, celebrate your love!
If you’re a thalassophile, or lover of the
sea, a salt-scented wedding is a dream
come true. Cape May offers options,
from the simple beauty of a wedding
picnic to a fairy-tale extravaganza.
If you’d like to be close enough to have
a mermaid be your bridesmaid, choose a
beach wedding. Being a barefoot bride can
be a budget-friendly option, especially if you
pay only for the permit, forgoing chairs and
decor. (If you want chairs, do yourself a favor
and rent — you don’t want to be stacking
chairs in your wedding dress.) You can do
a 30-minute ceremony on the beach, with
advance planning and permission from the
City. Remember, photos of your beach wedding
will include strangers in the background.
The beach is public, so you can’t ask people
to leave. However, you’re telling the whole
world you’re in love, and passersby will be
offering their best wishes. If that’s not for you,
consider Convention Hall, overhanging the
sand, or the top of the Cape May Lighthouse.
For a simple reception, consider a picnic at
Cape May Point State Park — their reserved
area has a shelter and restrooms and can
accommodate 60 people. Friends of the bride
and groom have to take the garbage away, and
the fee is $80 for New Jersey residents. Visit
nj.gov/dep/parksandforests for information.
Exit Zero’s Ferry Park, with its panoramic
views and abundant parking, offers an intimate
“Mini-Matrimony Package” for up to
20 guests starting at $3000. They can also
host huge outdoor events. Flip through this
paper for more ideas — the Chalfonte offers
a pretty garden area for your ceremony, gorgeous
porches and gracious service. Beach
Plum Farm offers farm-to-table fare and their
rooster “alarm clock” to get you to the church
on time. A Congress Hall wedding offers the
chance to keep the party going in the Boiler
Room or the Brown Room. The Southern
Mansion’s Downton Abbey vibes can feel like a
family estate. The Grand Hotel has experience
with receptions for beach weddings and offers
the sundeck for ceremonies or an al fresco
cocktail hour. Peter Shields is a great choice
for couples seeking a BYOB option.
Many of Cape May’s fine dining restaurants
will accommodate a small wedding, as
will Willow Creek and other vineyards. Most
also offer planning advice. Look into accommodations
— Cape May is likely a destination
wedding for most of your guests, and hotels
may require a three-night stay for some weekends.
Rent a trolley to transport your wedding
party and avoid parking hassles.
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December 29, 2022 EXIT ZERO Page 43