With no idea when traditional weddings can resume in New Jersey, a Salem County wedding venue is now offering so-called “mini weddings” to help couples tie the knot.

The Red Barn in Carneys Point was set to open this spring when the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

“We were so excited. We had everything done. We had couples excited to come out and wanting to get married, and then the pandemic happened,” says manager Chelsey Schatzan.

Many weddings that were scheduled to take place these past few months had to be canceled or rescheduled due to social distancing protocols. So, the staff at Red Barn decided to create a way to help out.

“They don’t have to plan out wondering where they’re going to do it. How they’re going to do it, ‘Is my yard nice enough?’ ‘Do I want to have it in my yard?’ “I don’t have the space, I have a one-bedroom apartment,’” says Schatzan.

For $300, couples can get married at the Red Barn. The package includes an officiant, music and first dance. The ceremony is livestreamed so that friends and family can watch. Photographs will also be provided.

 

“They’ve already spent some money, so we’re just going to try to help them out and keep their costs low, because it’s not just weddings that can be expensive. A lot of people are going through hardships now, so we want to try and give them some relief with that,” Schatzan says.

To follow with the governor’s 10-person limit, couples will only be able to bring two witnesses with them. But Schatzan says that her goal is to make it feel as real as she can for the couple.

“It’s not exactly what they wanted, but at least it’s some kind of normalcy of a wedding,” she says.

The venue has already booked six mini weddings in the next six months. They say that they may keep this style of wedding as an option even after the pandemic ends.