Table of Contents / Quick Links
Venue Overview
Wedding Cost
Wedding Spaces
Wedding Photos & Portrait Locations
Nanina’s in the Park Wedding Timeline
Tips from NJ Wedding Planners
What’s Included
Wedding Menu
Nearby Hotels
Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re considering a Nanina’s in the Park wedding, you probably want to know more than what the venue looks like in a few carefully selected photos. You’re probably wondering about the cost, the ceremony options, what’s included, and what the venue actually feels like during a real wedding day.
As a New Jersey wedding photographer, I’ve photographed weddings throughout the state and beyond. After capturing Kelsey and Brian’s wedding here, I knew Nanina’s in the Park deserved a closer look. The variety of spaces, beautiful gardens, and tons of natural light make it such a beautiful setting to photograph.
Throughout this guide, I’m sharing an inside look at the venue through real wedding photos. You’ll also find helpful information about the spaces, menu, pricing, timeline possibilities, and what couples should know before booking!
Nanina’s in the Park at a Glance
Location: 540 Mill Street, Belleville, New Jersey
Website: Nanina’s in the Park
Instagram: @naninasinthepark
Phone: 973-751-1230
Venue style: Tuscan-inspired estate, ballroom, chapel, and garden venue.
Guest capacity: Up to 400 seated guests.
Ceremony options: Indoor chapel or outdoor garden ceremony.
Reception space: Grand Ballroom.
Catering and bar: Provided in-house.
Parking: On-site parking and uniformed valet service.
Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Best for: Couples who want traditional architecture, gardens, a large ballroom, and an all-in-one wedding venue.
How Much Does a Nanina’s in the Park Wedding Cost?
If you’re wondering how much a Nanina’s in the Park wedding costs, the venue doesn’t currently publish one standard price because the final investment varies on your date, season, guest count, menu, and any upgrades you choose.
As with many New Jersey wedding venues, a Saturday or peak-season wedding may cost more than a weekday or off-season wedding. You can find estimates through third-party wedding directories, but those numbers may not reflect current pricing or everything included in your package.
Public estimates can still give you a helpful starting point. For the most accurate information, I recommend contacting Nanina’s directly with your preferred date, season, and estimated guest count.
Wedding Spaces at Nanina’s in the Park
Something I love about Nanina’s at The Park is how much variety this venue has, the gorgeous outdoor gardens, and tons of natural lighting! You can move from getting ready to your ceremony, portraits, cocktail hour, and reception without spending a large part of the day traveling from one location to the next.
The Bridal Suites | Getting-Ready Spaces
The balcony suite: Nanina’s in the Park offers two Bridal Suites, and honestly, they are some of the best getting-ready spaces I’ve photographed. Kelsey began her morning in the suite with the salon-style beauty area, individual mirrors, plenty of seating, and access to a private balcony. The balcony gave her and her wedding party a beautiful place to take portraits and pop champagne together.
The window-filled suite: When it was time to get dressed, Kelsey moved into the second suite. Its large arched windows brought in beautiful natural light for those final getting-ready moments. Having access to both spaces gave us so much variety without ever needing to leave the venue.
The Groom’s Suite | Getting-Ready Space
The groom’s suite is a private space to spend the morning before the ceremony. It includes leather seating, a fireplace, a television, and its own private bathroom, with plenty of room to relax and get ready alongside your closest people.
The suite has a moodier, lower-light feel, which worked well for candid moments while Brian was getting ready. For a little more light and variety, my second photographer brought him into the library for his individual portraits before the ceremony.
The Grotto | Flexible Event Space
The Grotto is located beneath the chapel, and it’s a newer space that has a slightly moodier feel with stone details, rich wood, soft lighting, lounge seating, and a pool table. It can be used as a separate getting-ready area, a location for portraits, a rehearsal dinner space, or an after-party spot.
The Chapel | Indoor Ceremony Space
Another one of the newer additions at Nanina’s in the Park within the last few years is The Chapel. It gives couples a beautiful indoor ceremony option right on the property. It’s bright and airy, with tall vaulted ceilings, arched windows, and crystal chandeliers. Outside, the chapel is surrounded by greenery and seasonal flowers.
Kelsey and Brian held their ceremony here, and I loved how the natural light filled the room while they exchanged vows. It’s a beautiful first choice, but it also gives couples planning a garden ceremony peace of mind. If rain or inclement weather changes your plans, you still have a dedicated ceremony space that feels intentional and special!
The Gardens | Outdoor Ceremony Space
The gardens at Nanina’s in the Park is another gorgeous outdoor ceremony option. It’s surrounded by greenery, seasonal flowers, and the venue’s classic architecture. Couples can hold their ceremony outside, then use the surrounding grounds for wedding-party, family, and couple portraits without needing to travel elsewhere.
One of my favorite things about photographing Kelsey and Brian here was how many beautiful backgrounds we could reach within a short walk. It gave us plenty of variety while still allowing them to spend more of the day celebrating with the people they love!
The Grand Ballroom | Indoor Reception Space
The Grand Ballroom at Nanina’s in the Park was renovated in 2018 and has a bright, elegant feel with high ceilings, arched windows, chandeliers, and a big dance floor. A raised area near the fireplace is perfect for the couple’s table, and the neutral design works well with everything from soft florals to more colorful wedding details.
Kelsey and Brian held their reception here, and Kelsey wanted a taste of Puerto Rico brought in with island colors, themed tables, and it looked so good! I loved how the room changed as the night went on. Natural light filled the ballroom earlier in the day, then candlelight and warmer reception lighting made the space feel more intimate once dinner and dancing began.
Nanina’s in the Park Wedding Photos & Portrait Locations
Beyond the ceremony and reception spaces, the grounds at Nanina’s in the Park offer so many beautiful options for wedding photos. The gardens, pathways, the bridge, greenery, chapel exterior, and architecture give the perfect mix of natural and more editorial backdrops without you needing to leave the property.
While photographing Kelsey and Brian, I loved how much variety we could create within a short walk. We could move between garden portraits and more architectural images without taking them away from their guests for too long.
The Grounds | Outdoor Portrait Locations
The Grounds at Nanina’s in the Park give you so much variety for wedding portraits without needing to leave the venue. You have the gardens, tree-lined pathways, the bridge, chapel exterior, greenery, and Tuscan-inspired architecture.
While photographing Kelsey and Brian, I loved how quickly we could move between the beautiful garden settings to the more architectural backdrops. We were able to get plenty of photos without taking them away from their guests for too long!
The Library | Indoor Portrait Location
The library is another gorgeous option for indoor portraits at Nanina’s in the Park. My second photographer brought Brian here to finish getting ready and individual photos before the ceremony, giving his getting-ready gallery a different look from the darker atmosphere of the groom’s suite.
We also came back to the library later that night after Kelsey changed into her shorter reception dress. Using flash gave their portraits a more playful, editorial feeling and showed how the same space can look completely different as the wedding day unfolds!
A Real 10-Hour Wedding Timeline at Nanina’s in the Park
Because the getting-ready suites, ceremony spaces, portrait locations, and ballroom are all on the property, you can spend less of your wedding day traveling, which is definitely a plus.
Kelsey and Brian had 10 hours of photography coverage, beginning with both sides of the morning and continuing through their reception. Since everything took place at Nanina’s in the Park, they had time for several first looks, portraits around the property, and plenty of reception coverage without traveling between locations. Below is their real 10 hour wedding timeline.
Bride Getting Ready
1:00–1:30 PM | Bridal details
1:30–2:15 PM | Final hair and makeup touches, candid moments, and pajama photos
2:15–2:40 PM | Bridesmaids and mother of the bride get dressed
2:40–3:20 PM | Kelsey gets into her wedding dress
3:20–3:30 PM | First look with the bridesmaids
3:35–3:45 PM | First look with her dad
3:50–4:00 PM | Final preparations before the couple’s first look
Groom Getting Ready
1:00–1:30 PM | Groom’s details and venue photos
1:30–2:00 PM | Jackets, ties, and candid moments with the groomsmen
2:00–2:20 PM | Brian’s final getting-ready touches
2:20–3:45 PM | Time with the groomsmen
3:45–4:00 PM | Groom portraits
4:00–4:10 PM | First look with the groomsmen
First Look and Wedding Portraits
4:15–5:00 PM | Couple’s first look, portraits, and bridal portraits
5:00–5:45 PM | Full wedding-party photos and individual groupings
5:45–6:00 PM | Ceremony detail photos
6:00–6:30 PM | Guests arrive while the couple takes a break
Chapel Ceremony
6:30–7:00 PM | Wedding ceremony
7:00–7:30 PM | Family portraits
Cocktail Hour and Ballroom Reception
7:00–8:00 PM | Cocktail hour and reception detail photos
8:00–11:00 PM | Entrances, first dance, parent dances, dinner, speeches, and dancing
Every wedding timeline should reflect the couple’s priorities, but this gives you a real look at what can fit into 10 hours at Nanina’s in the Park. For a more detailed planning breakdown, you’ll want to see my blog ‘A Wedding Timeline Example That Leaves Room for Real Moments‘.
Nanina’s in the Park Wedding Tips from NJ Wedding Planners
To give you an even more helpful look at planning a Nanina’s in the Park wedding, I asked Margie and Stephanie, owners of Modern Fêtes, to share their advice. As the planners behind Kelsey and Brian’s wedding day, they experienced the venue firsthand and know what can help a wedding day here come together smoothly.
What should couples know before booking?
Nanina’s in the Park is a wonderful choice for couples looking for an elegant, full-service venue with beautiful gardens, a grand ballroom, and exceptional hospitality. Before booking, we recommend understanding exactly what the venue includes and what can be customized to fit your vision.
Be sure to ask about setup and breakdown times, vendor access, décor guidelines and limitations, weather contingency plans, and preferred vendor policies. If possible, visit the venue while another event is being set up so you can see the spaces in action and get a better sense of the guest experience.
Are there any important timeline tips?
We recommend finalizing your timeline 6–8 weeks before the wedding and building in extra buffer time for getting ready, transportation, and family photos. Couples often underestimate how long transitions take, so allowing extra time helps keep the day relaxed and on schedule.
The grounds offer so many beautiful photo opportunities that it’s worth allowing enough time to enjoy them without feeling rushed. Whenever possible, we also encourage completing as many family portraits as possible before cocktail hour so you can fully enjoy that time with your guests.
What additional rentals or vendor needs should couples expect?
Nanina’s includes many of the essentials, so couples typically need fewer rentals than they would at a blank-canvas venue. Additional rentals are often design-driven, such as upgraded linens, specialty chairs, custom signage, statement florals, lounge furniture, or enhanced lighting.
We also recommend investing in a wedding planner or day-of coordinator. While the venue team expertly manages venue operations, a planner oversees your vendors, timeline, décor setup, and all the behind-the-scenes details ensuring your vision comes to life and allowing you and your loved ones to simply enjoy the day. We are here to advocate for your special day.
Are there any transportation, parking, accessibility, or guest-experience details couples should plan for?
Nanina’s offers complimentary valet parking, making guest arrival easy and convenient. If many guests are staying at nearby hotels, shuttle transportation is a worthwhile investment to create a seamless experience and ensure everyone can enjoy the celebration safely. A helpful tip is to include parking, valet, shuttle, hotel options, and arrival information on your wedding website or invitation details so guests know exactly what to expect before they arrive.
Meet the Planners Behind Modern Fêtes
Margie Puente and Stephanie Flores are the co-founders of Modern Fêtes, a New Jersey luxury event planning company. Their friendship began after a chance meeting in Ocean City, Maryland, and eventually grew into a shared vision for creating celebrations that feel beautiful, thoughtful, and personal.
Margie brings a love for creative storytelling, while Stephanie has an eye for design and details. Together, they plan everything from intimate gatherings to large celebrations, shaping each event around the couple’s style and priorities. They also planned Kelsey and Brian’s Nanina’s in the Park wedding and kindly shared their advice for this guide!
Planning a wedding of your own? Inquire with Modern Fêtes about their services.
What’s Included in a Nanina’s in the Park Wedding?
Nanina’s in the Park handles a lot of the practical details that help the wedding day feel easy for both couples and guests. Based on the venue’s current wedding information at the time of writing this, inclusions may cover:
Guest Experience
- Valet parking
- Guest welcome service
- Coatroom assistance
Getting Ready
- Access to the bridal suite
- A dedicated bridal suite attendant
Reception Details
- Linens and tableware
- Glassware and silverware
- Votive candles
- Select floral accents
- Place cards and personalized menus
*Wedding packages and inclusions may change, so be sure to confirm everything included in your proposal directly with Nanina’s in the Park.
The Nanina’s in the Park Wedding Menu
Food is a big part of the wedding experience at Nanina’s in the Park, and having the catering and bar handled in-house can make planning feel much simpler.
The venue’s current dinner menu includes a salad course, champagne toast, wine and cocktails during dinner, and multiple entrée options. Chicken and vegetarian choices are available as well. Wedding cake and coffee or tea are also included to finish the meal.
Menu Highlights
- In-house catering and bar service
- Multiple dinner entrée options
- Chicken and vegetarian choices
- Champagne toast and dinner drinks
- Wedding cake with coffee or tea
- Optional food and dessert stations
Couples can also personalize their menu with specialty additions. Current options range from seafood and sushi to brick-oven pizza, fresh mozzarella, gelato, zeppoles, and made-to-order desserts.
*Menu options and upgrades may change, I recommend looking through Nanina’s current menu and asking the venue what is available for your wedding date.
What It’s Like to Photograph a Wedding at Nanina’s
From my experience as a New Jersey wedding photographer, Nanina’s is a venue that gives you variety and convenience.
There are bright indoor spaces, gorgeous architecture, gardens, shaded outdoor areas, and a ballroom that looks completely different once the reception begins. That variety helps create a wedding gallery that feels full without asking you to spend hours traveling between locations.
For the best photography experience, I recommend:
Considering a first look: A first look gives us more time to use the gardens and architecture before guests arrive. It also allows us to get a majority of portraits done before cocktail hour so you can actually spend that time with your guests.
Leave at least 30 minutes for couple portraits: The property has so much variety that rushing through portraits would mean missing some of its best locations!
Build in a few minutes after sunset: The exterior at golden hour absolutely stunning, which is perfect for more romantic and cinematic portraits.
Keep family photographs organized: Creating a list before the wedding allows us to move through combinations efficiently.
Protect the candid parts of the day: You don’t need to spend your entire cocktail hour taking photographs. A well planned timeline should leave space to experience the celebration with your guests!
Hotels Near Nanina’s in the Park
If you or many of your guests are traveling for your Nanina’s in the Park wedding, choosing one hotel as a home base can make the weekend feel a little easier. It gives everyone a clear place to stay and can simplify transportation to and from the venue. And you could potentially save a little money by doing room blocks.
Nanina’s currently recommends these three Meadowlands-area hotels:
- Fairfield Inn East Rutherford Meadowlands
- Renaissance Meadowlands Hotel
- Courtyard Lyndhurst Meadowlands
Nanina’s in the Park Wedding FAQ
Nanina’s in the Park is located at 540 Mill Street in Belleville, New Jersey. It sits within the historic 360-acre Branch Brook Park.
The venue states that it can accommodate up to 400 guests for a seated wedding.
Yes. Nanina’s offers outdoor garden ceremonies as well as an indoor chapel.
Yes. The venue uses its own culinary team and mixologists for food and bar service. Menus can be customized, and several additional cocktail-hour and dessert stations are available.
Yes. The venue has on-site parking, and uniformed valet parking is listed among its wedding inclusions.
Yes, the property is wheelchair accessible.
Yes, you can have an after-party in its lower-level lounge as an additional-cost option. The lounge overlooks the grounds.
Kind Words From Kelsey & Brian:
“Sari is the best photographer ever point blank, period. She has been with us since 2023, and after our very first photo shoot, we knew she was something special. From the beginning, she made us feel so comfortable in front of the camera and captured moments that felt natural, genuine, and full of emotion.
Our wedding photos were nothing short of perfect. Every single photo tells a story, and looking through our album brought us right back to our wedding day. We smiled, laughed, and even teared up because she captured every little moment so beautifully. Sari made sure she got the perfect shots, paid attention to every detail, and took her time to make sure everything looked just right. You can truly see how much passion and care she puts into her work.
I honestly can’t think of anyone better than Sari when it comes to photography. She is truly one of a kind. Thank you, Sari, for giving us memories that we will cherish for the rest of our lives. You made our big day even more unforgettable, and we will treasure these photos forever!”
Looking for a Nanina’s in the Park Wedding Photographer?
Hi, I’m Sarai, but most people call me Sari, pronounced like “sorry.” I’m the photographer behind Sari Photography and a New Jersey wedding photographer whose passion is creating images that bring you back to how your wedding day felt.
My love for photography began long before I photographed weddings. Some of my earliest memories are of looking through family albums with my grandpa and asking about the people in them. Those photographs showed me how important it is to preserve the way people lived and loved.
When I photographed Kelsey and Brian’s wedding at Nanina’s in the Park, I focused on more than the beautiful setting. I paid attention to the nerves before the ceremony, the emotion during their vows, the laughter between guests, and the way the ballroom came alive once the celebration began.
My approach blends candid storytelling with editorial portraits that still feel natural. I’ll offer guidance when it helps, then step back when a moment is meant to unfold on its own. Your wedding day isn’t something you need to perform, but something you should be fully present for!
Outside of weddings, I’m a mom, a lifelong Backstreet Boys fan, and someone who will always choose the beach over snow. I was born in Cuba, and Spanish is my first language. After living in Colombia for several years, I now get to call New Jersey home!
If you’re planning a Nanina’s in the Park wedding and want photographs that feel timeless and true to you, I would love to hear more about your plans!
Sari Photography | New Jersey Wedding Photographer
Vendor Team:
Venue: Nanina’s In the Park | Photographer: Sari Photography | Wedding Planner: Modern Fêtes | Florist: Garden of Cyn | Decor: JCsArtDesigns | DJ: DjSolo | Makeup/Hair: Pizzano Beauty Company | Dress: Seng Couture | Shoes: David’s Bridal | Tux Rental: The Tux Guys | Spider Man Box: Nugamanov Fidail | Cake: Palermo’s Italian Bakery | Custom Shirts: Karen Garcia Adorno
