Looking for the perfect hair style to suit your big day? No worries, this Central NJ Wedding venue has some tips on how to make your hair fabulous for your wedding.
One of the ways to choose a hairstyle is to determine the shape of your face. The Knot suggests that there are four main shapes to a face that people can work with. The easiest way to determine the shape of your face is to look in a mirror and trace your facial outline using a lip pencil from chin to forehead hairline.
The Heart Shape- The heart shape face should consider an up-do at the top of the head to balance the chin and to accent the eyes. (Ex: Resse Witherspoon)
The Oval Shape- An oval face should consider layering, waves or curls to bring out fullness. (Ex: Drew Barrymore)
The Square Shape- With a square shaped face, allow for it to all hang loose. Off-set parts usually complement this shape. (Ex: Jessica Biel)
The Round Shape- With a round face, elongation is key: a neat up-do at the top of the head, or long hair past the shoulders. (Ex: Selena Gomez)
Hey Central NJ wedding couples, when you are looking for your Jersey Shore wedding venue or picking your event theme this year, the editing staff at Hotels Unlimited needs to issue this 2012 wedding trend alert; Beware of the Proud Peacock. The peacock has a symbolic meaning for immortality which is only appropriate when getting married to the love of your life.
Many of our 2012 NJ brides have chosen this lovely animal for its blue, green, teal, aquamarine, and purple hues. This color combination looks great on many people and also looks fantastic with our matching ballroom Hollywood uplighting! The variety of exotic colors for bridesmaid’s dresses and peacock feathers make a great decorative enhancer. Particularly, we have seen peacock feathers everywhere from stationary, in bouquets, table centerpieces , and hair pieces.
Insider Tips & Staff Favorites: If any bride looking for a wedding venue in Central NJ would like to execute a peacock theme into their event, the Hotels Unlimited staff is here to help. Here are three quick tips on how to make the Proud Peacock pop at your event.
Tip #1: When booking your event at any Hotels Unlimited venue, guests can have their choice of napkin and chair bow colors. These small accents truly pop when setting the table and can pull the room together when taking photos.
Tip #2: Lighting. When taking photos, lighting is everything. It really accents the entire room and wedding venue. Lighting can change the ambiance and the mood of the event and leave lasting impressions in the photos. Although we have in house lighting, some of our brides also take advantage of lighting packages provided by our DJ partners at SCE event group.
Tip #3: The Cake: The cake can be decorated with fondant striping to match peacock feathers. The feathers are a unique, versatile bold statement that can go with many different facets of your day.
What could be worse than losing the backs of the perfect earrings you are going to wear to your dream wedding in less than twenty-minutes? Maybe finding a tear in your hem or losing that crucial bobby-pin? These crises can be averted with a simple fix. Be prepared.
One thing that NJ brides seem to forget about is being prepared for minor issues that could lead to total emotional chaos, like those situations mentioned above. Keeping all the things that could go wrong in mind, we’ve compiled a list of things that should be included in your “Bridal Survival Kit” on your big day at your central NJ wedding venue.
Folding brush with mirror: for those last minute touches in the limo.
Hair spray:for a touch-up to tame escaped tendrils after taking your wedding photos outside (in the unpredictable New Jersey weather).
Tissues: to dab your eyes or to offer to your mother at your wedding reception and ceremony.
Safety pins: just in case the zipper or clasp on your gown decides to be difficult, or one of your bridesmaids didn’t wear the heels she promised she would and her dress is now too long. (Hem tape can help too!)
Mending kit: for situations that a safety pin can’t fix. (Make sure your colors match the thread!)
Super glue: the crystal adhesives that were supposed to decorate your veil are falling off and they need to be reattached, quick!
Static remover: no stand up hair, or stuck-to-your-face veil.
Pain reliever: for that terrible night sleep you got, for the stress you are putting yourself through, and for the member of your bridal party who has a hangover and needs to perk up.
Breath freshener: no groom wants to kiss a bride with bad breath.
Band-aids: standing for pictures and at the altar all day may result in some really attractive blisters.
Bobby-pins: in case your up-do starts to fall!
Stain remover: that little chocolate strawberry that your mom gave you may not just end up in your mouth.
Waterproof mascara: black tracks down your face are not what you want in your wedding photos.
Nail file and nail polish remover: in case the manicurist missed a spot or you nicked your nail on something.
Earring backs: these things go missing all the time, lost in the carpet, the grass, or just disappear.
Straws: so you can stay hydrated without ruining your make-up!
Clear nail polish: in case you have runs in your stockings or pantyhose.
Flat shoes: for the ceremony, as hours upon hours in heels do not look kindly upon feet.
Lint brush: get all the fuzz off your dress, and off your bridesmaids and the ring-bearer who spent the morning crawling under the beds looking for an escape.
Antacid and upset stomach medicine: nerves can sometimes get the best of us.
And just in case, request one of your bridesmaids to carry a back up “Bridal Emergency Kit” because you just never know.
Anxiously awaiting your wedding day, the pieces are slowly coming together. You have set the date, chosen your wedding venue and selected your photographer. One hurdle that is making things difficult is the location of your wedding photos. Where can you go locally in the Jersey Shore that will have an air of dignified beauty and timeless perfection? As a native to the area you think there is not a single place you can go that will measure up to your ideal wedding photos. You are mistaken. There are a dozen of places you can go in Ocean County, New Jersey that will leave your friends and family admiring your wedding photos for years to come. Here are our top 5 wedding photo worthy places for you to consider near your wedding venue.
1. Georgian Court University’s Sister Mary Grace Burns Arboretum
Located in Lakewood NJ, only 10 minutes from the Versailles Ballroom at the Ramada of Toms River and 15 minutes from the Hilton Garden Inn, Georgian Court is a gorgeous campus. With five different gardens, you have your pick of which breathtaking setting you want featured in your photos. The Italian Garden features the Fountain of Apollo and floral urns that bloom with fiercely colored geraniums between mid-May and late September.
The Japanese Garden is home to a quaint teahouse surrounded by pink and white flowering trees in April-May and deep red flowering trees in October-November. The Sunken Gardens features a marble fountain and a great, double staircase in white marble that overlooks the pond. On the opposite side of this garden there is a brick and marble bridge overlooking Lake Carasaljo.
Photos taken at Georgian Court University with reception at the Versailles Ballroom
The Formal garden is at its peak in July with lush green hedges and bronze statues. The stable house is a picturesque location to pose for your photos. Founder’s Grove is full of “unusual trees” including the Weeping Norway Spruce, the Sourwood and many more. The gardens are only open to those who are connected to GCU by either being a student, alumni or family member of a student/alumni. There is a minimal fee of $350 for those who have family members who attended GCU, and $35-$50 for Alumni. Current students can use these spectacular hidden gardens free of charge.
2. The Lavallette Gazebo
Located in Lavallette on Camden Avenue, 15 minutes from the Atlantis Ballroom at the Holiday Inn of Toms River and 20 minutes away from the Versailles Ballroom at the Ramada Inn of Toms River, the Gazebo overlooks the Barnegat Bay. The gazebo is available year round and if your date is available you will receive a two hour time block to take your photos. To use this particular location there is a $200 fee and application process. You can check the availability of the flower surrounded gazebo and download the application.
3.The beach, boardwalk or Island Heights
The beach is a classic setting for wedding photos. No matter what your color scheme or kind of wedding dress, the beach is a setting that fits any bride’s unique theme. Both the groom and bride, and bridesmaids and groomsmen, will look spectacular with the ocean and horizon as your backdrop. If you’re looking for NJ wedding reception facilities near picturesque shore points, our Ocean County wedding ballroomsare 5 to 20 minutes from the Jersey Shore.
Photos taken at the beach with reception held at the Versailles Ballroom
The boardwalks of NJ are also a wonderful place to take photos on your special day. Worried about sand or the water conditions? Then why not take your photos on the boardwalk with the beauty of the ocean still behind you. With golden sands and surf in the background a boardwalk pavilion is a great site for memories to be captured on film.
Photo taken at the Boardwalk near the Merry-Go-Round. Reception held at the Atlantis Ballroom.
For those who do not care too much for bridges but still want to take photos with the surf in the background, Island Heights is for you. With a grand pavilion, open skies, and stunning scenery this is a good option. These locations are all great for any bride who wants photos she and her groom can admire for years to come.
4. Lake Horicon in Lakehurst
Getting married in the fall and worried about a lovely outdoor location to take your wedding photos? Have no fear. Lake Horicon is a gorgeous spot during the fall. Located just 20 minutes from the Versailles Ballroom and the Atlantis Ballroom, the reddish water makes the colors of the trees pop during this time of year and the little strip of beach is a great place for photos as well as the secluded benches dotted around the edges of the lake. A pavilion with a fireplace is also located on the banks of Lake Horicon and would make a great local stop to capture your wedding memories.
5. Huddy Park Gazebo in Downtown Toms River
With a three part gazebo and bridge, Huddy Park Gazebo is a convenient, wonderful spot for photos. The gazebo has one large centered area with two smaller adjoining gazebos on each side. The bridge, surrounded by lush green trees and plants is a romantic spot to share a memorable moment with your partner. This lovely area is only 12 minutes away from both of our Toms River hotel locations. These five locations are wonderful for brides that have booked at local, NJ wedding venues and banquet halls in Ocean County. These wedding photo ideas are great for brides who want outdoor photos that compliment the beauty of the bride and attractive outdoor locations in New Jersey.
Guests attending the event were able to take a sneak preview into the National Conference Center’s new renovations to the amphitheatre and auditorium. These renovations include an update to our technological equipment as well as new carpeting and wall coverings to our Central NJ auditorium. Although the National Conference Center will be making its grand unveiling in May 2012, guests were able to mingle and network in a professional and spacious atmosphere.
The National Conference Center is a proud member of the Mercer County Chamber and The Princeton Regional Chamber. We invite you to take a look at some of the great photos highlighting the Business After Business Event.
Please join the Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce at the National Conference Center for March’s Business After Business Reception. Build your Mercer County NJ networking and business development skills with all the professionals there while enjoying a glass of wine and hors d’oeurves. This corporate event will also feature a sneak peek of the renovations currently taking place at the National Conference Center.
The National Conference Center is a great place to hold many different events. It has a total of 13 conference rooms that can range from 6 to 300 people in the auditorium. These rooms offer flexible set-ups, along with technological amenities such as projection and Wi-Fi. To find out more about the National Conference Center please visit our website.
The Business After Business event will take place on Wednesday March 7, 2012 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. The National Conference Center is located in the Holiday Inn of East Windsor at 399 Monmouth Street, East Windsor, NJ. Early sign-ups will be entered to win a special door prize, and First Choice Bank is giving away a free Nook. To register for this event please visit the Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce website. If you have any questions please contact Kate Stevens, the NCC Sales Director, at (609) 443-8000 x.604 or at kstevens@hotelsunlimited.com.
Since leap year only comes around once every four years, there has to be some sort of special rule for that day, right? Well there is… for women. February 29 is said to be the only day that it is appropriate for a woman to propose to a man.
According to an article on mentalfloss.com, this legend dates back to 5th century Ireland. It is said that St. Bridget of Ireland was frustrated that she had to wait around for a proposal, which may never even come at all. So she complained to St. Patrick who ultimately decided that women could be allowed to propose to a man only once every four years on leap day. This became known as “The Ladies’ Privilege.”
So would you propose to your man, whether on leap day or any other day? If so, how would you stage your perfect NJ engagement? You’d be surprised by some of the women who have proposed to their man.
Some famous women in the past and present are known to have been the person who proposed. In 1839 Queen Victoria proposed to Albert by summoning him to her room and asking him to if he would consent to what she wished for (marriage). Recently, celebrities such as Halle Berry, Pink, and Jennifer Hudson are known to have proposed to their husbands.
So do men want to be proposed to? According to the article, only 56% of men in a relationship would say yes to a proposal if asked today. Make sure if you are proposing that your man is in that 56%. Good luck ladies! If he says yes check out our Central NJ wedding venues.
A wedding is a once in a lifetime event, and with it comes a MOTHER IN LAW monster lurking in the shadows…. Ok, although the reality is not all mothers- in- law and mothers- of brides are terrors. Some moms are quite nothing short of angelic guardians who guide us all through the process of life through their infinite wisdom and unrequited love. (I love you mom!)
As we all know in New Jersey weddings, family is family and no one should be disrespectin’ nobody’s mom and brides are no exception. (So put down the claws Bridezilla). After all, part of the whole marriage process is a joining of two families and our central New Jersey wedding venues celebrate this unity of family by treating our brides as family of our own.
After seeing an article posted by OneWed featuring the What Not to Wear for MOBs and MOGs, Hotels Unlimited decided to take a crack at this (with of course a bit of sensible tongue in cheek and a drawing ability of a fifth grader, since that is how we roll here in Mercer, Monmouth, and Ocean County, NJ)
How does the bride then ask the mother in law about her attire for the big day?
After deciding on a color palette and a theme, it is time to do some dress shopping. Why not make a day of it and enjoy it? Take the mom(s) out to lunch, order a few drinks, and have a fun day of shopping together. Get to know the woman you are intending to dress and imagine what her wedding dress was once like, because she too was once in your shoes.
Some tactful ways to approach this can be covered in conversation and in the right questions:what style of dress mom wore to her wedding?, what were her wedding colors?, who was her favorite fashionista-type celebrities? Somewhere behind that mother -in-law -death- glare- of- love is a woman.
WHAT IF MY MOM…. Says she likes 80s grunge and would like to be dressed out of a combination of a dumpster and Lady Gaga? (and please, no meat dress at my wedding!!)
Although that is a tough combo to salvage, even Lady Gaga has had her classy moments that could make any woman beautiful. Show mom the Lady Gaga-esque styles that you would like and see what she thinks. Fortunately, there are enough styles and variety that it can loosely tie into the bridal theme without making the mother-monster miserable. (yes, pun was intended.)
When all else fails, at least the bride can say she tried. Although a NJ wedding is one of the biggest milestones, one has to ask the important questions of what truly matters: family. After all, remember that the family will still exist long after the wedding is over so it is best not to burn any bridges since you will be with them until death do you part.
As the temperatures outside become slightly warmer outside we are reminded that spring and love are coming into the air, and what a better way to celebrate love than through a wedding? When selecting your central NJ wedding venue, one must consider the value that the venue can provide for their special event. Today, Hotels Unlimited announces its One Day Wedding Sale for our Ocean County wedding facilities: The Atlantis Ballroom & The Versailles Ballroom. With half price enhancers and prices starting at $45-$49 at the Atlantis Ballroom and $49-$59 at the Versailles Ballroom, Hotels Unlimited has not had a better wedding package deal for 2012.
Versailles Ballroom at the Ramada of Toms River
Particularly, Hotels Unlimited already offers in our packages:
-One on one personalized service and a commitment to your vision
-Table linens & centerpieces
-Catering package options
-On-site ceremony space and overnight stay
Atlantis Ballroom inside of the Holiday Inn of Toms River
Both the Atlantis Ballroom and The Versailles Ballroom have won The Knot Best of Weddings awards thanks to our lovely brides who rated us among the best. To see the Versailles Ballroom reviews and the Atlantis Ballroom reviews be sure to check out our pages on The Knot, our website, or on WeddingWire. To see more details on our offer see the
Interested parties are invited to participate in our New Jersey wedding catering tastings during our 2012 Mercer County bridal shows. Here we took a short preview video to allow interested couples an insider’s look into the world of The Windsor Ballroom as part of our Behind the Scenes YouTube Video series.
Our Central NJ wedding venues are available for tours and to schedule a meeting with you. We look forward to hearing from you:
Did you ever think about getting married? Of course, we all have! But now imagine that you are standing at the altar completely 100% naked! This is something not many people envision on their wedding day. Although there were nine couples who decided to do just that in Jamaica on Valentine’s Day. According to an article in USA Today, these couples got married under the hot Jamaica sun in their birthday suits.
Personally, I do not think I would ever be able to do that, but I respect them for doing something they believe in. What is your opinion? Would you ever marry the love of your life completely nude? If your answer is no then you need to start looking for a venue! Look no further than the banquet halls of Hotels Unlimited in Central NJ, including The Sterling Ballroom, The Windsor Ballroom, The Versailles Ballroom, The Crystal Ballroom and The Atlantis Ballroom.
