More than 50,000 couples married in New Jersey in 2025, with Ocean County – powered by Lakewood – emerging as one of the state’s busiest destinations for weddings, according to new data obtained by TLS.

The state recorded a total of 50,055 marriages last year, with Bergen County, the state’s most populous county, leading all counties with 4,790 marriages, followed by Hudson County with 4,404, Essex County with 4,246 and Ocean County with 4,128.

Ocean County’s total placed it fourth statewide, narrowly ahead of Union County’s 3,830 marriages and Middlesex County’s 3,780.

The figures reflect Ocean County’s continuing population growth and its unique mix of year-round residents, rapidly expanding inland communities and popular Jersey Shore destinations that draw couples seeking beach weddings and seasonal celebrations.

A major contributor to the county’s marriage activity is Lakewood, home to one of the youngest communities in the Unites States and the fastest growing in the state.

The township has 10 wedding halls, with an average of eight weddings taking place on any given night, from Sunday through Thursday – amounting to roughly 160 weddings each month in Lakewood alone.

Marriage activity in Ocean County followed a pronounced seasonal pattern. December, which is usually around three months after the busy Bain Hazmanim engagement season was by far the busiest month, with 532 marriages, followed by September with 434 and August with 408. June, traditionally one of the most popular wedding months nationally, saw 382 marriages in the county.

Winter months were considerably quieter. January saw 193 marriages in Ocean County, rising gradually through the spring before peaking in the fall.

Statewide, October was the most popular month to marry, accounting for 5,464 marriages, or 10.9% of the annual total. September and May were close behind, each representing nearly one-tenth of all marriages performed in New Jersey.

The data also highlight regional differences across the state. Several South Jersey counties recorded fewer than 1,000 marriages during the year, including Salem County with 417, Warren County with 629 and Cumberland County with 704. By contrast, the state’s largest and most densely populated counties consistently recorded several thousand marriages annually.

Ocean County’s total means that roughly one out of every 12 marriages performed in New Jersey in 2025 took place there, underscoring the county’s growing importance not only as a residential hub but also as a center for family and community life.