Some venues make you choose between gardens and grandeur. The Estate at Florentine Gardens in River Vale, New Jersey refuses to, manicured grounds that swallow a ceremony whole, then a white-and-gold ballroom under crystal chandeliers for everything after dark. Here are three of our favorite weddings at the estate, each with its own vendor team.

Yarden & Joel: A Late-Summer Evening

At the end of August 2025, Yarden and Joel showed the estate at its most romantic: a first look on the garden path, portraits at the black iron gate and the wrought-iron doors, a chuppah under the trees as night fell, and a ballroom hora that never slowed down. With 275 guests, it’s a great look at how the estate carries a bigger wedding.

Yarden and Joel kiss on the garden path with the white Florentine Gardens manor behind them
Yarden walks toward Joel on the garden path for their first look
Yarden and Joel kiss in front of the tall black iron gate
Yarden and Joel at the wrought-iron doors, her cathedral veil pooling on the steps
Yarden with her bridesmaids in black gowns under the white pergola colonnade
Guests line the garden aisle as the wedding party walks toward the chuppah under the trees
Yarden and Joel beneath the lush green and white floral chuppah at night
Yarden and Joel silhouetted through her veil against a single warm light
Joel leads Yarden into the hora in the ballroom
Yarden and Joel laugh as they cut their wedding cake

Yarden & Joel’s Vendor Team

See the full story of Yarden & Joel’s wedding.

Noa & Nate: Blush, White and Green in July

In July 2025, Noa and Nate brought 300 guests and a palette of blush pink, white and green: pastel bridesmaids, a garden chuppah wrapped in white roses in the late afternoon, and golden-hour portraits right after the ceremony before a packed ballroom.

Nate turns to see Noa in the gardens at The Estate at Florentine Gardens
Noa laughs in the gardens holding a bouquet of white and blush peonies
Noa with her peony bouquet against the black iron gate
Noa and Nate at the estate’s wrought-iron doors, her train spread across the steps
Noa with her bridesmaids in soft pastel gowns in the gardens
Noa, veiled, stands with Nate in his kittel under the chuppah
Noa and Nate under the rose-covered chuppah after the ceremony
Golden hour in the gardens, the sun glowing behind Noa and Nate
The hora seen from above, circles of guests dancing around Noa
Noa and Nate share their first dance in the white ballroom

Noa & Nate’s Vendor Team

See the full story of Noa & Nate’s wedding.

Sara & Gabriel: A September Garden Wedding

Sara and Gabriel married here on a warm September evening with about 170 guests, an outdoor chuppah wrapped in white blooms, and a dance floor that did not stay calm for long.

Their day moved through every tradition with intention, a tisch, a badeken in front of everyone they love, a garden ceremony as the light turned gold, and then let loose completely. Here's how it unfolded.

Getting Ready

Sara's morning was quiet in the best way: a white suite, a gown with sleeves of embroidered lace, and a letter from Gabriel that stopped the room for a few minutes. Gabriel dressed with his brother and friends close by, by early afternoon both sides were ready, and the gardens were waiting.

The bride sits on a white tufted sofa in the bridal suite at The Estate at Florentine Gardens, reading a letter from the groom, her lace gown spread around her.
Portrait of the groom in a black tuxedo and bow tie in the gardens before the ceremony.

First Look in the Gardens

They chose a first look, and the estate's grounds gave it room to breathe, stone paths, hydrangeas, September light coming through the trees. We had time for unhurried portraits: Sara alone among the blooms, the two of them by the climbing roses, and one frame in black and white that ended up saying more than the rest.

The bride stands in the gardens of the estate in a long-sleeve lace ball gown, sunlight filtering through the trees behind her.
Black and white photo of the groom kissing the bride's forehead beside a wall of climbing roses, her veil catching the breeze.
The groom laughs as his groomsmen wrap him in a group hug in front of the stone columns.

The Tisch & Badeken

Before the ceremony came the tisch, songs, toasts, and the signing table, and then the badeken. Gabriel was danced in to veil Sara in front of both families, one of those moments where a room full of people goes completely silent at once.

The groom reviews the ketubah with the rabbi and a witness at the tisch before the ceremony.
Black and white photo of the groom lowering the veil over the smiling bride during the badeken.

A Chuppah in the Garden

The ceremony sat in the middle of the gardens: a chuppah built from white roses and greenery, strands of white blooms hanging from the trees overhead, and baby's breath lining the aisle. They married in the early evening, which in mid-September means the whole thing ran straight into golden hour, the blessings, the rings, the glass, and a garden full of people on their feet.

The outdoor ceremony space at The Estate at Florentine Gardens: a white floral chuppah, a white aisle runner lined with baby's breath, and white blooms hanging from the trees.
Black and white photo of the groom drinking from the kiddush cup under the chuppah.
The bride and groom hold hands laughing as guests dance around them in the garden right after the ceremony.

Into the Ballroom

Inside, the estate turns formal: a crystal chandelier over the escort-card table, white florals on dark wood, and a sweetheart table framed by an arch of white roses in front of the ballroom's arched windows. And then the hora, chairs up, confetti in the air, an hour of shtick that the schedule politely labeled and completely underestimated. Cake, speeches, and a send-off at eleven.

A large crystal chandelier hangs over the round escort-card table topped with white roses and greenery in the estate foyer.
The sweetheart table framed by a full arch of white roses in front of the ballroom's arched windows.
The bride is lifted on a chair during the hora, her gown sweeping across the ballroom under gold chandeliers.
Confetti fills the air as guests celebrate around the seated bride and groom during the reception shtick.

Sara & Gabriel’s Vendor Team

Planning a Florentine Gardens Wedding?

The Estate at Florentine Gardens is one of northern New Jersey's most complete wedding venues, garden ceremonies, a dramatic ballroom, and staff who run a Jewish wedding timeline without missing a beat. If you're considering it, see the full Sara & Gabriel gallery, browse more of our New Jersey weddings at The Rockleigh, or inquire about your date.