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‘Strange & Unusual’ Category

  1. Leap Day Wedding Folklore

    February 29, 2012 by jcoppock

    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.

    Category 2012, Advice, alternative wedding ideas, anniversary, banquet facility, banquet hall, brides, celebration, Central NJ, culture, DIY, events, Facts and Figures, Famous, fashion, holidays, New Jersey Weddings, NJ, promotion, Strange & Unusual, venue, wedding accessories, Wedding Advice, Wedding Channel, wedding fashion, wedding help, wedding history, wedding venue, weddings | Tags: ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, | No Comments

  2. Naked Wedding?

    February 17, 2012 by jcoppock

    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.

    Category 2012, Advice, alternative wedding ideas, banquet hall, brides, celebration, Central NJ, culture, events, fashion, hotels, NJ, social events, Strange & Unusual, summer, travel, Uncategorized, wedding fashion, weddings | Tags: ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, | No Comments

  3. Revenge at the Radisson: Death By Democracy

    January 24, 2012 by jcoppock

    Today, Hotels Unlimited would like to invite you to a different kind of Monmouth County NJ event to shake things up…

    -NOT a central NJ wedding.

    -NOT a corporate meeting.

     

    The staff at the Crystal Ballroom and the Radisson of Freehold, are proud to present Revenge at the Radisson: “Death By Democracy” murder mystery dinner. When the governor begins to run for re-election, some dirty laundry airs into the room. Can his campaign manager and wife save the governor from his demise? Dinner guests vote in this fun suspenseful evening complete with dinner and light fare.

     

    This thrilling murder mystery dinner will be open for February 25, 2012 at 7:00PM. The Radisson of Freehold has tickets for $55 including dinner and the show.  Overnight room packages are available.

     

    For more information please see our RHF Revenge at the Radisson Flyer 2012 or call:

    Radisson of Freehold

    50 Gibson Place

    Freehold, NJ 07728

    Phone: 732-780-3400

     

     

    Category 2012, Central NJ, culture, discounts and deals, murder mystery dinner, NJ, promotion, Radisson, social events, Strange & Unusual, travel, Uncategorized, venue | Tags: ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, | No Comments

  4. DIY Wedding engagement Rings

    January 11, 2012 by jcoppock

    In a down economy, it is no surprise that people are turning to new alternatives to subdue the cost of their Central NJ wedding. After all, with all the components to a wedding the average cost is around $40,000 in New Jersey. This is why many wedding experts have projected 2012 to be yet another popular year for do-it-yourself projects (see our post for hot 2012 wedding trends.)

     

    According to a new article featured in the New York Times, this trend is only going to increase as 2012 progresses. People are now looking into making their own wedding ring as both a sentimental symbol of their love and a unique mark of this major lifetime milestone. Although making a wedding ring isn’t a walk in the park, some welding shops such as The Wedding Ring Experience will guide couples along their journey to make their own personalized wedding rings using gold or platinum. Some couples can bring their own precious metals and materials or the shop can purchase the raw materials needed at the current exchange rate.

    This can also make an excellent idea for a NJ engagement ring, because what woman wouldn’t want a custom piece to call her own?

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Category 2012, Advice, brides, Catering, celebration, Central NJ, culture, discounts and deals, DIY, Facts and Figures, fashion, gay weddings, Help, Mercer County, Monmouth County, New Jersey life, New Jersey Weddings, NJ, Ocean County, Seasonal Trends, Strange & Unusual, Uncategorized, wedding accessories, Wedding Advice, wedding fashion, wedding help, wedding history, weddings | Tags: ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, | No Comments

  5. Wedding trends for 2012: A new year of DIY brides

    January 5, 2012 by jcoppock

    Happy New Year everyone! There are some great opportunities and great deals to be had when planning your NJ wedding for 2012, and here at Hotels Unlimited we have some exciting news to tell you about. Looking forward to the new year, we are excited to see what the latest trends for 2012 will be for weddings. Here are some popular trends for the upcoming year.

     

    The Dress

    According to Brides.com, some really popular dress trends for 2012 include the invisible neckline that would allow for additional support for any bride. This also includes lace sleeves.

    Although some consider it taboo to not have a white dress, the wedding industry is slowly starting to break from the 200+ year Victorian tradition and is starting into blush, lavender and green accents into the dress.

    Finally the other significant change is the double skirt look. Rather than bunching and gathering, a double layered skirt can accent a bride’s curves.

     

    Flowers… or perhaps not?



    With the high cost of flowers, many brides are getting craftier and going the DIY route on their bouquets. This can mean using non-traditional accents such as small berries, fruit, buttons, fabric, broaches, gems, wire and more. This is also a more eco-friendly option as flowers wilt and die within hours of the wedding. However, brides that opt for an all floral bouquet can choose locally grown options for the season as it is a more cost-effective option than ordering flowers and paying for shipping.

     

     

    Vintage Themes

    Looking to save some money on the big day? Many brides are looking towards the vintage route to include being crafty and incorporating the family theme. Some brides have done this by including old marriage photos from the family, incorporating older elements into their wedding.

     

     

     

     

     

    Category 2012, alternative wedding ideas, anniversary, banquet facility, banquet hall, bridal shower, brides, celebration, Central NJ, culture, events, Facts and Figures, Famous, famous wedding planner, fashion, gay weddings, holidays, Jersey Shore Wedding, Mercer County, Monmouth County, New Year's, New Year's Eve, NJ, Ocean County, Seasonal Trends, Strange & Unusual, travel, Uncategorized, venue, wedding accessories, wedding fashion, wedding history, wedding venue, weddings | Tags: ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, | No Comments

  6. Champagne—black tie affair only?

    December 28, 2011 by jcoppock

    Champagne, the perfect accessory to any party celebration: holidays, birthdays, New Year’s, and of course any Central NJ wedding. After all, what is a New Year’s resolution without making a wish at the bottom of a toasting glass at midnight?  Today Hotels Unlimited asks our audience: is Champagne really limited to only black tie affairs? This particular blogger (and aficionado of Champagne) thinks not. A good Champagne, ( like any other type of fine wine) is not just limited to one kind of occasion, but rather a key ingredient in some delicious recipes to be shared with good friends and family at any time.

     

     

    The Mimosa

    A classic drink of Champagne and orange juice, the mimosa serves great versatility and is also a classy twist for any Sunday brunch. For a more flavorful twist, try adding some lychee for a sweet delight.

     

    Champagne Sangria

    What girl doesn’t love a good chat with friends while enjoying a pitcher of Sangria? Although Sangria is traditionally made with a wine base, Champagne can add a light bubbly flair for your cocktail by simply adding your favorite fruit to your champagne. For a refreshing holiday twist, try using orange slices and some sprigs of fresh mint.

     

    What are some of your favorite Champagne recipes? Comment and share!

     

    Category 2012, alternative wedding ideas, anniversary, Catering, celebration, Central NJ, Christmas, culture, events, Facts and Figures, gay weddings, holidays, hotels, Jersey Shore Wedding, Mercer County, Monmouth County, New Jersey life, New Jersey Weddings, New Year's, New Year's Eve, NJ, Ocean County, Seasonal Trends, Strange & Unusual, travel, Uncategorized, wedding accessories, wedding fashion, weddings | Tags: ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, | No Comments

  7. Fruitcake: a Wedding Cake option?

    December 23, 2011 by jcoppock

    Yes folks, it is two days away from Christmas Day which is why today our topic of inspiration here is Fruitcake: the good, the bad, and the misunderstood.

    please don't judge.

    Like any other type of food or delicacy, Fruitcake has its good and bad varieties. Although sources indicate that Fruitcake has historical dates as far back as Ancient Egypt & Rome, it wasn’t until Victorian England in the 1800s that would dictate the Fruitcake that we have come to know it by today. The English had created fruitcake as early as the 1600s using dried fruit when they discovered that fruit could be preserved using sugar. Instantaneously becoming a hit in England, fruitcake began to emerge as a contender for any major celebration and holidays. So popular in fact that the Church had deemed it “sinfully rich” and made Fruitcake illegal. (literally).

     

     

    Despite its reputation, fruitcake still represents an iconic food of the holiday season and still maintains its popularity in England to this day. -Proof you ask? Well, talk to Fiona Cairns, wedding cake designer for the English Royal Wedding. Kate Middleton and Prince William had enjoyed an eight tier wedding fruitcake during their celebration in April 2011. That’s right folks. According to the Los Angeles Times,  the Royal Wedding Cake was made with 17 individual fruitcakes with 12 of those cakes serving at just the base alone.

    Kate Middleton & Prince William's wedding fruitcake

     

    So next time some one offers a fruitcake, at least attempt to try a piece as it could easily be the most misunderstood confection of the baking world.

     

     

     

    Category 2012, alternative wedding ideas, brides, Catering, celebration, Central NJ, Christening, Christmas, culture, events, Facts and Figures, Famous, famous wedding planner, holidays, NJ, Strange & Unusual, travel, Uncategorized, wedding accessories, wedding history, weddings, winter | Tags: ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, | No Comments

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. 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

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