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October, 2011

  1. Central NJ Halloween Wedding Ideas & Inspiration

    October 31, 2011 by jcoppock

    Happy Halloween everyone! As a reminder, today is the last day to book for our Halloween 2011 wedding deal, our Treat or Treat wedding special. In the spirit of Halloween, we are offering some fun tips of how to make a Halloween wedding timeless and classy without looking cheesy with plastic bats and ghosts hanging everywhere.

     

    Color palette:

    Halloween has one of the most brilliant color contrasts of any holiday in the calendar year. Purple and orange are a very bold color contrast (as they are both located at opposite ends of the color spectrum). If one would like to include a tertiary color to soften the palette a light green is usually used to calm this color palette down. Of course white can also be used if a bride desires to have a white flower in the bouquet.

     

    Themes:

    There are all kinds of fun classic themes that Central NJ brides can choose from when trying to include Halloween into their wedding. Here are a few fun ideas.

     

    1. Phantom of the Opera- This 1988 classic Broadway musical featuring the music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, features the love story that still continues to run on Broadway today. Featuring aged parchment scrolls of sheet music and red roses, this theme is sure to leave guests bringing down the house, but hopefully without the chandelier.
    2. Victorian Masquerade Ball- If a bride plans to have her wedding on Halloween, one might as well embrace the concept of masks. The masquerade ball can bring a dress-up element of fun for your guests, as well as a fun favor for them to take home. If younger children are involved or invited to the wedding, you can also have a craft table where your younger guests can design their own masks.

    Photo courtesy of our friends at:  http://www.SuccessCreations.com

     

     

    These are only a few of the thousands of ideas out there. Feel free to leave us a comment with your fun Halloween-inspired event ideas.

     

    Category alternative wedding ideas, Autumn, banquet facility, banquet hall, bridal shower, brides, Catering, Central NJ, culture, Doubletree Hotel, events, Fall, Fall Weddings, fashion, Halloween, Holiday Inn, holidays, hotels, Jersey Shore Wedding, Mercer County, Monmouth County, Music, NJ, Ocean County, Radisson, Ramada, Seasonal Trends, Strange & Unusual, Tinton Falls, Toms River, Uncategorized, wedding accessories, wedding fashion, weddings | Tags: ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, | 1 Comment

  2. Going Behind the Scenes: Bettse Birnbaum

    October 26, 2011 by jcoppock

    Today Hotels Unlimited continues its Behind the Scenes series as we proudly introduce Bettse Birnbaum, our promotional items consultant. Bettse is the owner of  All That Jazz a premiere promotional marketing company specializing in customizable items that people can use to personalize their NJ sweet 16, Bar/ Bat Mitzvah, NJ weddings, or corporate events. For example, when guests book their wedding at any of our facilities, inside their thank you gift bags are promotional items from All That Jazz.

     

    HU: How long has All That Jazz been working with Hotels Unlimited?

     

    BB: All that Jazz has been working with Hotels Unlimited for at least six years, and has been in business for more than 22 years.

     

    HU: What kinds of items can people personalize for a social gathering such as a NJ Bar/ Bat Mitzvah?

     

    BB: We have balloons and banners, sweatshirts and t-shirts. Most Bat Mitzvahs have a theme that we can always work with. For example we can create personalized CD covers, and aluminum key tags with event information to create a Broadway theatre themed event. We can create products to match any theme.

     

    HU: What kinds of items can people personalize for a NJ wedding?

     

    BB: All that Jazz can order favors and gifts for bridesmaids and the entire wedding party. We have done picture frames, chocolates, and mints with pictures of the bride and groom. We also have  fortune cookies, with custom fortunes and flavors including Oreo flavored cookies. We can do edible cookies and chocolates with an imprinted logo which is good for both corporate and social events.

     

    HU: What items are popular for a corporate gathering?

     

    BB: Corporate items are our specialty. We can do pens, badges, folios, high tech computer accessories, journals, or totes depending on the type of corporate event. We can produce a myriad of promotional products including print and packaging services.

     

    HU: What are your most popular bridal items?

     

    BB: Some of our most popular items include: t-shirts, chocolates, purse hooks, picture frames, candles, wine accessories, bride and groom mint containers, and spa kits for weddings. For children-based events such as Bar/ Bat Mitzvahs and Sweet 16s, some items we have included pajama pants with a monogram logo and t-shirts, sports paraphernalia and more.

     

    HU: What are your most popular corporate items?

     

    BB: Our popular conference items are pretty much ordered on a client to client basis and are based on theme., exhibit stands are popular right now for the corporate realm.


    HU: What hot trends do you foresee coming up for the holiday season?

     

    BB: People are going back to basics. Commonly we have sold a lot of baskets with gourmet food. We have packaged mugs with treats and gourmet coffees and teas. Some other hot products for the season include desk products, umbrellas, computer bags, flash drives, and digital picture frames which can come pre-loaded and link back to the company website or the bride and groom’s website.

     

    HU: Which of the items available are your personal favorites?

     

    BB: I really like the picture frames. I will put in a piece of parchment with a card or invitation inserted into a picture frame.  I also like giving out food in special packaging that can be used later for other purposes.  Holiday cards that come packaged with music are a nice gift.

     

     

    Category bar mitzvah, Central NJ, Christening, Christmas, corporate meetings, events, fashion, gay weddings, Mercer County, Monmouth County, NJ, Ocean County, promotion, Strange & Unusual, Uncategorized, wedding accessories, weddings | Tags: ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, | No Comments

  3. Wedding Feature at Versailles Ballroom

    October 24, 2011 by jcoppock

    Today Hotels Unlimited is happy to introduce Lauren and Matt who were married on September 17th. Lauren and Matt like some of our Toms River couples held their Jersey Shore wedding ceremony on the nearby beaches and took pictures there. Then when it came time to celebrate the reception, they brought elements of the beach back with them to the Versailles Ballroom inside the Ramada Toms River. This is a great way to bring the beach into your special day without paying through the nose for a venue on the water. This locally inspired wedding features photographs from Georgian Court University, Ocean County Beaches and of course the Versailles Ballroom.

     

    Enjoy!

     

    Category banquet facility, banquet hall, bridal shower, brides, Catering, Central NJ, culture, discounts and deals, events, fashion, Holiday Inn, holidays, hotels, Jersey Shore Wedding, Monmouth County, NJ, Ocean County, Ramada, summer, The Knot, Toms River, travel, Uncategorized, venue, wedding accessories, Wedding Channel, wedding fashion, wedding history, wedding venue, weddings, WeddingWire | Tags: ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, | No Comments

  4. Some Interesting Facts about NJ Brides:

    October 18, 2011 by jcoppock

    Today Hotels Unlimited would like to present some interesting research that we found courtesy of The Knot. Each of our Central NJ Ballrooms and Banquet Halls have pages on both The Knot and WeddingWire and have received awards from these sites. Here brides can review our facilities and rate our services.

    According to some of our research from The Knot we found some interesting facts and highlights about NJ Brides.

     

    Did you know?

    - 83% of North/ Central NJ Brides are working full time

    - on average spend 15 months engaged

    - 54% of brides began planning more than a year in advanced

    -73% of ceremonies are held indoors

    - 43% of brides invite more than 150 guests

    - The most popular seasons for a NJ Wedding were summer–39% and fall–34%

     

     

    Category Facts and Figures, gay weddings, Holiday Inn, Jersey Shore Wedding, Mercer County, Monmouth County, NJ, Ocean County, promotion, Radisson, Strange & Unusual, The Knot, Tinton Falls, Toms River, travel, Uncategorized, venue, Wedding Channel, wedding history, wedding venue, weddings, WeddingWire | Tags: ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, | No Comments

  5. The Vows; a pledge to a lifelong commitment?

    October 12, 2011 by jcoppock

    The groom stands at the altar. The bride comes marching down the aisle and the father gives her away. Suddenly it happens and one can barely speak to open their mouths to say the words “I do.” And we all know the script: “I, ____ take you ________ to be my lawfully wedded husband/ wife. To have and to hold…in sickness and in health… for better for worse… for richer for poorer… until death do us part.”

     

    But today we ask our audience are these immortal words.. well, immortal? With the marriage success rate being what it is, one has to wonder if the meaning of these words is changing or if they still have the same powerful resonance as they did back then. Of course language and its meaning is subject to personal interpretation and cultural norms, which is why today we ask should couples getting married write and recite their own vows at their ceremony?

     

     

    What do you think?

    Category banquet facility, banquet hall, bar mitzvah, brides, Central NJ, Christening, Doubletree Hotel, events, gay weddings, Holiday Inn, holidays, hotels, Jersey Shore Wedding, meeting, meetings, Mercer County, Monmouth County, NJ, Ocean County, Radisson, Ramada, Strange & Unusual, Tinton Falls, travel, Uncategorized, venue, wedding accessories, wedding fashion, wedding history, wedding venue, weddings | Tags: ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, | No Comments

  6. Wedding Feature of the Month: Jessica & Patrick

    October 5, 2011 by jcoppock

    Here at Hotels Unlimited we like to share with everyone some photos from some of our favorite weddings. This particular central NJ wedding feature has a fun Irish motif and playful flare featuring the talents of Sean Patrick Photography, and the Sterling Ballroom inside the Doubletree Hotel Tinton Falls- Eatontown, NJ.  Enjoy these great wedding photos.

     

    Congratulations to Jessica & Patrick, wishing you both endless happy years.

     

    Category banquet facility, banquet hall, bridal shower, brides, Catering, Central NJ, culture, Doubletree Hotel, events, fashion, holidays, hotels, Jersey Shore Wedding, Monmouth County, NJ, travel, Uncategorized, venue, wedding accessories, wedding fashion, wedding venue, weddings | Tags: ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, | No Comments

  7. Wedding & Large Event Insurance?– Is it worth it?

    October 3, 2011 by jcoppock

    According to a recent article found on Business Insurance, event planners are showing a trend of NOT insuring their events. According to research, the article suggests that many of the 50,000 event planners across the country are independently operated and will only get insurance for an event at the client’s request.

     

    Of course here at Hotels Unlimited and at all of our NJ Banquet Halls, we will always work to make sure that every last detail and “what if” is covered when hosting any event from corporate events at the National Conference Center, elegant Central NJ weddings at the Atlantis Ballroom or Versailles Ballroom, a sweet 16 at the Crystal Ballroom, or a Bar/Bat Mitzvah at the Sterling Ballroom or Windsor Ballroom.

     

     

    Photos of some of our outdoor ceremonies & nearby beach weddings

     

    But like anyone else, we are only human and cannot control everything. For example in last August, Hurricane Irene had ruined more than 6,000 weddings across the east coast according to a report from CNN Money.  The average cost of a wedding is about $30,000 and about a whopping $70,000 in New York City.. ouch!

     

    So would you consider insuring your wedding or large gala event? As we all have learned throughout life, poop happens and so does the weather. Although we always can hope for the best for anyone’s big day, we can only do just that. Hope.

     

     

    Category anniversary, baby shower, banquet facility, banquet hall, bar mitzvah, bridal shower, brides, Central NJ, Christening, Christmas, corporate meetings, culture, Doubletree Hotel, events, famous wedding planner, gay weddings, Holiday Inn, holidays, hotels, Jersey Shore Wedding, meeting, meetings, Mercer County, Monmouth County, NJ, Ocean County, Radisson, Ramada, Strange & Unusual, summer, Tinton Falls, Toms River, travel, Uncategorized, venue, wedding accessories, wedding venue, weddings, winter | Tags: ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, | No Comments