The James Ward Mansion 169 East Broad Street • Westfield • NJ 07090


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Why You'll Love This Place

A Here Comes The Guide Wedding Venue Review
  • With a cheerful orange façade embellished by ornate ironwork, this striking mansion calls to mind the colorful homes of the French Quarter. Welcoming to couples of all faiths and orientations, this gracious manor feels positively made for celebrations.
  • Inside, you’ll find sumptuously appointed rooms dripping with dreamy period details, like soaring 24-foot ceilings, gilded woodwork, brocade wall coverings, and polished wood flooring. Delicate spiral staircases lead from the lower floors to the upper mezzanines, which boast wraparound balconies overlooking the festivities.
  • For an indoor affair with an outdoor flair, consider the Garden Atrium, with its massive glass-domed roof, exposed brick accent walls, and marble tile floor. An opulent, three-tiered fountain, beautifully lit at night, mingles French and Spanish vibes in a uniquely New Orleans style.

Video

Video by Live Picture Studios.


PRICES: What's this going to cost?

Package Prices
  • $135/person and up
  • Package pricing includes the rental fee & catering.

COUPLES ARE ASKING: We've got answers

What's included when we book The James Ward Mansion, and what will we still need to pay for separately?

Booking The James Ward Mansion in Westfield gives you the whole mansion to yourselves, since it hosts just one event a day. The rental includes 60-inch round tables, white Chiavari chairs, and separate private suites with restrooms for each side of the wedding party, open to you 2 hours before your event. Catering is billed separately through T&L Catering, and linens, china, high-top tables and other chairs come through your caterer. Valet parking is optional, and extra getting-ready or setup time is $100 an hour.

Can we have both our ceremony and reception at The James Ward Mansion, or will guests need to travel between them?

Yes, you can do both at The James Ward Mansion without anyone leaving the building. Ceremonies happen in the white Chapel, with its stained glass windows and a 300-year-old gate from Cairo, while guests watch from the surrounding balcony, or in the crimson Grand Salon with 24-foot ceilings. Cocktails can move to the glass-domed Garden Atrium & Cocktail Lounge, with its lit fountain and its own cocktail bar. The mansion is primarily indoors, with two balconies for photos.

If we already have vendors we love, can we bring them to The James Ward Mansion or do we have to use yours?

You can bring almost any vendor you love to The James Ward Mansion without pre-approval, but catering is the exception: it's handled by T&L Catering, and outside caterers generally aren't permitted. Alcohol is BYO. If you'd like help, the venue's partner list includes Bovella's Pastry Shoppe, Halo Delights and Rudy's Pastry Shop for desserts, plus two valet companies. Service stairs at the back make load-in easier for your vendors.

How long do we get at The James Ward Mansion, and when does the music have to stop?

Most events at The James Ward Mansion run 4 to 5 hours, and the party can go as late as 11pm. Your event can start at any time of day, and each extra hour is $1,000. You and your vendors can arrive 2 hours before the event begins, with extra early time at $100 an hour. Amplified music is allowed indoors only, and everything you bring has to be cleared out by the end of the event.

What makes The James Ward Mansion different from the other venues near it?

The James Ward Mansion is a downtown Westfield mansion that hosts just one event a day, so the whole house is yours. You can say your vows in a white chapel with stained glass and a 300-year-old gate from Cairo, then celebrate under 24-foot ceilings in the Grand Salon and the glass-domed Garden Atrium with its lit fountain. It welcomes weddings from 30 to 150 guests with no minimum, there are private suites for both sides of the wedding party, and the party can run until 11pm. The mansion is fully accessible with a guest elevator, pets are welcome, and the Westfield NJ Transit station is a 3-minute walk away.

Can we tour The James Ward Mansion, and what should we ask while we're there?

Yes, The James Ward Mansion holds regular Open Houses on Wednesdays from 4:30pm to 7:30pm, and private showings are available during the week and on selected weekends. While you're there, see the Chapel, the Grand Salon and both getting-ready suites. Ask about T&L Catering's menus, the $1,000 rate for each extra hour, and parking, since there's no dedicated lot and guests use downtown public lots or optional valet.

Does The James Ward Mansion work for a small wedding or an elopement, and what would that look like?

Yes, The James Ward Mansion works well for small weddings, with no minimum guest count and events from an intimate 30 guests up to 150. You'd still have the mansion to yourselves, since it hosts one event a day, along with private getting-ready suites for both sides. A smaller group could marry in the Chapel, with guests watching from the surrounding balcony, then move to the Grand Salon for dinner.

GUEST COUNT: How many people can we have here? What’s the max capacity?

Indoors Outdoors
Ceremony Seated 120 0
Cocktails, etc. Standing 120 0
Reception Seated 120 0
Meetings Total meeting capacity for this venue is 120.

Venue Info & FAQs

OPTIONS: What kinds of events can we have here?

  • Ceremony
  • Wedding Receptions
  • LGBTQ+ Friendly
  • Small Wedding
  • Rehearsal Dinner
  • Special Events / Parties
  • Business Functions / Meetings

POLICIES: What are the food, alcohol, music, and other rules here?

Price

$ • $$ • $$$

Catering

Preferred list

Alcohol

BYO

Amplified Music

Indoors

Wheelchair Access

Wheelchair accessible

Availability

Year-round, daily.

STYLE: What’s the style and overall vibe of this venue?

Buildings & other settings available:

  • Mansion
  • Unique
  • Chapel / Church / Temple

VIEWS: What kind of views does this place have?

Peep the views you’ll enjoy from this venue!

  • Cityscape
  • Fountain / Water Feature

Wondering what CBA or BYO means?
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