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.
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.
Valentine’s Day is all about spending time with the person you love. If you have been caught up with work and wedding planning, take a break. Here is some advice from our Central NJ wedding planners. You deserve a date night. Keeping a relationship strong can be hard at times so make sure to spend special moments with your significant other. This will help create a long and healthy marriage, and no one knows this better than Fred and Sue Miller.
Fred and Sue Miller are the couple we all want to be like when we grow old. They have been married for seventy years, and Sue says that she loves her husband more today than when they were first married. According to lehighvalleylive.com, Fred and Sue’s marriage is based on a mutual respect for one another and taking time to spend together. If they’ve been together this long, it had to have worked.
So go out to dinner for Valentine’s Day, enjoy each others’ company and share your love. However, don’t wait for the next holiday to go out on a date, do it on a regular basis. This will help keep your love alive and build an enduring marriage. Remember don’t just celebrate your love today, but every day.
When it comes to selecting your perfect Central NJ wedding destination, one has to consider their options, and plan out all the details. Today, Hotels Unlimited decided to share our insight for the hottest 2012 wedding shoe trends.
Shoes, one word that makes almost every woman smile. So why not take the time to pick out the perfect pair of shoes to match the wedding dress? There are plenty of styles to choose from, whether it’s flats, low-heels, high-heels, open-toe or closed-toe, a perfect wedding shoe can be found for every bride. So don’t just settle for a shoe that makes you content, find the shoe that will look perfect with your dress and makes you happy!
One hot 2012 wedding shoe trend that seems to be taking off quickly is colored bridal shoes. According to an article on HubPages.com, many brides are choosing colors such as red, green, blue, orange, and bright pink for their shoes. Usually, the color of the bride’s shoes will either match the bridesmaids’ dresses or the colors of the wedding. Some brides have also paired a colored shoe with a black bridesmaid’s dress.
So brides, why not take the chance with a colored shoe? Stand out, it is your day!
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?
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!
“Santa baby did I forget to mention one little thing? A ring.” Although Christmas and the holiday season is a popular time to propose, there are many different styles of rings that can reflect the style of the bride. This cute article by bridal guide, gives some cute insight into cuts of diamond engagement rings.
Round
The look: Also known as brilliant-cut, this tried-and-true shape reflects more light than any other, and is the most popular. Avril Lavigne showed her traditional side by wearing a round diamond engagement ring.
This choice says you’re: Trustworthy and easygoing.
Emerald
The look: Inspired by the Asscher, this glamorous choice is also a rectangular step-cut shape. It has fewer facets than some of the other shapes, so look for an emerald-cut that offers maximum brilliance.
This choice says you’re: Efficient and straightforward.
Cushion
The look: Rectangular with curved sides, the cushion-cut first hit big in the 18th century. A recent resurgence in popularity has given it a modern-meets-vintage feel. Ben Affleck gave Jennifer Garner a cushion-cut rock.
This choice says you’re: Organized and daring.
Princess
The look: This relatively new square shape, with a modern, understated feel, combines a sparkly, brilliant effect with a geometric step-cut. You can attribute its spectacular glitter to extra faceting around the rim.
This choice says you’re: Decisive and fun-loving.
Heart
The look: This century-old shape, symbolizing love and devotion, should be well proportioned for optimum sparkle. Kid Rock proposed to Pamela Anderson with a yellow heart-shaped diamond.
This choice says you’re: Sentimental and dreamy.
Pear
The look: Resembling a teardrop, a pear-shaped diamond has the fire and beauty of a round shape, but with a less conventional look. This shape can also make a wide finger look slimmer.
This choice says you’re: Even-tempered and adaptable.
Oval
The look: If you love the gorgeous sparkle of a round, brilliant-cut diamond but still want something unique, consider an oval. A fresh take on a timeless style, this new shape came about in the early 1960s. Actor Jerry O’Connell recently gave his betrothed fashionista, Rebecca Romijn, an oval-shaped sparkler.
This choice says you’re: Risk-taking and creative.
Asscher
The look: Square with angular corners, this shape dates back to the late 1800s. If you look closely, you’ll see that it’s step-cut, meaning the facets are rectangular and seem to descend into the stone.
This choice says you’re: Feminine and meticulous.
Diamonds by the Numbers
73: Percentage of brides who help choose or affect the choice of engagement ring.
4: Average number of jewelry stores those brides visit.
$2,600: Average amount spent on an engagement ring.
50: Percentage of diamond engagement rings that include round diamonds. The runner-up: square shapes like princess and emerald-cut. The biggest rise in popularity has been in vintage-inspired shapes like cushion and Asscher.
Welcome to the Atlantis Ballroom of the Holiday Inn of Toms River. This Central NJ wedding destination is an ideal location that is ten minutes to the beach but without the banquet catering prices found with venues on the water.
This behind the scenes wedding video shows the Atlantis Ballroom features including:
Veranda cocktail hour space
Ice Sculptures included in our packages
Wedding Food Displays
The Ceremony Space
The Dance Floor/ Reception Space/ Sweet Heart Table
Be sure to leave us a comment. Thanks for watching.
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have your wedding at the Windsor Ballroom in East Windsor NJ? We have an insider’s perspective of a wedding that took place at our Central NJ wedding facility. Here our catering coordinators Tara and Jason will show you everything from our cakes, catering, linens, chairs, lighting, and our award-winning staff that is there to ease your mind and fill your every wedding wish. Enjoy our Windsor Trilogy series as we take you on a journey.
Part 1: The Wedding Ceremony at the Windsor Ballroom
Part 2: Transitioning the Ceremony to the Reception
Hotels Unlimited is proud to showcase Nicole and Adam’s central NJ wedding at the Radisson in Freehold’s Crystal Ballroom. This gorgeous wedding is sure to inspire along with the wonderful photography courtesy of Creative Unlimited. This wedding features a Jewish wedding ceremony and reception with traditional chair dance leaving us only to say Mazel Tov!
Thanks for watching.
