Making Your Wedding Memorable in Moorestown
If you have religious affiliations, there are three absolutely stunning historical churches in Moorestown that you might consider. Our Lady of Good Counsel Roman Catholic Church is located at 42 West Main Street (856/235-0181). The beautiful stone church seats at least 300 guests, has a (relatively small) parking lot with other parking within a reasonable distance, and has a new pastor this year, Father Damian. The site of a blushing bride exiting the church with her new husband following their wedding is quite a spectacular site on Main Street, uusally drawing quite a crowd of those kindly Moorestonians who just want to wish a new bride – stranger or not – well! Architecurally, the church is stunning, with lots of stained glass windows and massive stone structures. Another church that has been the site of generations of Moorestonian weddings is the First Presbyterian Church, located at the intersection of Riverton and Bridgeboro Roads. This church draws a very large attendance from the town, and the massive brick and columned building is sited perfectly on several acres of land. It is not uncommon for several weddings to take place there during the spring and early summer months; bridal parties pose for wedding photos on the beautiful, lush grounds of the church while another ceremony is taking place inside. It is a favorite location for wedding photographs really within all of Burlington County itself, with its warm, inviting church interior, huge parking lots adjacent to the grounds, and picture-perfect site for some incredible wedding photography. (Telephone 856/235-1688). (It is rumored that many families in town join First Presbyterian just so that their children can be married within the church itself, so beautiful is the setting.)
Looking for a more secular venue? The ‘hidden gem’ of the township is the Moorestown Community House, located up the street from Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, at 16 East Main Street (telephone 856/235-0326). The Community House is one of the oldest structures in Moorestown; formerly a private palatial residence, the all brick and stone facility has two meeting rooms which might suit your needs. One of the rooms is quite large and overlooks Main Street; the room can seat up to 100 comfortably. The genial director of the Community House, Bill Newborg, will readily assist you in any way possible to address your specific needs and wishes. There is also a smaller room in the back of the House, seating 50 people, as well. One of the best reasons to host your ceremony at the Moorestown Community House is its grounds on the front lawn. Over a half acre of trees and gently sloping lawns make it another wonderful site for those all-important post nuptial photos. There is limited parking directly attached to the Community House itself, but plenty of street parking available nearby. The Moorestown Community House annually hosts dozens of weddings, wedding showers, birthday, confirmation and christening parties, and has the real flavor of what makes Moorestown so special a town. Dates fill up quickly, so if you’re enchanted by the idea of hosting your wedding at the Community House, set up a meeting with Newborg at your earliest convenience.
Another site you should consider is the Historical Society of Moorestown’s Smith-Cadbury Mansion. Dating back to 1738, this small but charming former residence and now home to the township’s historical society can accommodate 50 or fewer guests. There is no parking lot for the Smith-Cadbury Mansion, but again plenty of on-street parking located in close proximity. The Mansion is located at 12 High Street, directly off of Main Street (telephone 856/235-0353). It is a beautiful structure typical of the many well-preserved historical homes and buildings within the township. Listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places, it also serves as the repository for archives and locally-made tall case clocks, samples, quilts and photographs of the town. There’s not much of a lawn per se for wedding photos, but enough room for a small, intimate wedding group.
Looking for something a little bit more ‘splashy’ for your wedding ceremony? While Moorestown is not the place for a lot of glitz and glitter, you might want to consider holding your ceremony on the grounds of Moorestown’s Strawbridge Lake. The Lake, which has been the recipient of several large county and state grants over the past five years, boasts several acres of land and directly abuts the busy Route 38 section of Moorestown. There is, however, more than ample room to host an outdoor wedding by the lake itself, and plenty of room to shoot some amazing outdoor wedding photos. There is a limited amount of parking spaces allotted to the lake itself, but again, tons of street parking. You’ll need to speak with the township manager, Jack Terry, at Town Hall (telephone 856/235-0912) to obtain a permit to hold your ceremony at the Lake. Set up a dozen or so airy white canopies, and you’ll have yourself a once-in-a-lifetime wedding to remember. The lake has a huge amount of space, so take your time, stroll the grounds, and select exactly what spot you’d like to reserve. Perhaps the area by the stone bear and puppy, installed for the playing pleasure of the youngest lake visitors, might be the one!
