Hampton Inn - Farifield
This hotel did a really nice job. I stayed over the night before the wedding with my friends and we stayed in a large suite. Everything was clean and check-in was quick and easy. The next morning my friends and I enjoyed a good breakfast, and the hotel let me check into our free honeymoon suite before we left to get ready for the wedding. This was great cause I was able to bring all of my stuff right into the room, so I wouldn't have to worry about it after the wedding. They actually ended up sending shuttles at 2 different times to the wedding so that my FMIL could take it there before pictures. I think at the end of the night there were 2 shuttles to bring us back. My shuttle (with the bridal party) ended up leaving later so that we could gather all of our stuff. When we got back to the honeymoon suite, we found goodies left by the hotel. There was a bottle of champagne, chocolate covered strawberries, and a bag of water and snacks. We actually REALLY enjoyed this because we were hungry and ate some of the snacks while we went through our gifts before joining everyone back by the bar in the lobby. ~ Mishie
RAVE: Hampton Inn - Fairfield
Just wanted to let you ladies know of the Hampton's courtesy. We used them for our July 2 wedding. Being as it was a Thursday, they close the bar weeknights at 11pm. They informed us we would need to pay $75 to keep the bar open until 2am. We assumed we were the only wedding. Of course, no problem!
We returned to the Hampton at midnight only to find the bar (which is fairly small) 3 deep in hotel guests and waited 10 minutes before deciding to head upstairs to party (our older guests who wanted to socialize at the bar were unable to do so as there was no seating).
We didn't complain, however we received a survey in the mail from them and I filled it out and sent it in. Most of their marks were very positive and then there was a section for "other comments" and I explained here my displeasure with having to pay $75 for a bar we were unable to use.
I just got a call from the General Manager at the Hampton telling me how sorry they were and that they were going to refund me the $75! I wasn't even looking for it but it was a nice gesture on their part and I wanted to share.
If your going with them, it really is the best hotel in the area and you won't be disappointed. ~ loralei24
We returned to the Hampton at midnight only to find the bar (which is fairly small) 3 deep in hotel guests and waited 10 minutes before deciding to head upstairs to party (our older guests who wanted to socialize at the bar were unable to do so as there was no seating).
We didn't complain, however we received a survey in the mail from them and I filled it out and sent it in. Most of their marks were very positive and then there was a section for "other comments" and I explained here my displeasure with having to pay $75 for a bar we were unable to use.
I just got a call from the General Manager at the Hampton telling me how sorry they were and that they were going to refund me the $75! I wasn't even looking for it but it was a nice gesture on their part and I wanted to share.
If your going with them, it really is the best hotel in the area and you won't be disappointed. ~ loralei24
RAVE: Making Chocolate - Dumont
We went there today to get all of the supplies for our favors. We are doing chocolate hockey pucks and hockey sticks. This lady has more chocolate molds than you can imagine. The chocolate is delicious and her prices are very reasonable. I was able to get all the supplies: molds, chocolate, bags, and personalized ribbons for 200 favors for less than $200. If you are looking to make chocolate of any kind go there, the lady that runs the shop is awesome! The only negative is that she has VERY limited hours during the summer. ~ goaliegirl
RAVE: Natasha Ylana Designs
Natasha is super talented and creative. I was all over the place with what I wanted but I gave her very few ideas and she took off on them. She designed a bunch of wedding jewelry for me. First, she made 2 bridesmaids necklaces ...beautiful purple crystals.. looked great with their black dresses. I had 5 flowergirls and she made them super cute and delicate pearl bracelets. THey had a silver charm on them too! Easy to work with and reasonably priced Check out her etsy site! ~ mena
RANT: Holiday Inn - Tinton Falls
errible, terrible, terrible! My wedding day was magical until I got to the hotel. I found out that my guests who checked in directly after the ceremony at 3pm were not given their OOT pails unless they knew about them and requested one (like my mother and MIL). There were missing items from them……bags of chips, cans of soda…. (I am guessing the workers there decided to help themselves). I was told by the wedding hotel coordinator, Margot, that the bar would stay opened until 2am with a last call at 130am because there were 4 weddings staying there and re-confirmed this info with her on Thursday when I dropped off the OOT buckets. Needless to say, all of my guests went back to the hotel to find the bar closed at 12am. I felt terrible and many of them took a cab back to the Point Pleasant area to go bar hopping. The following morning, breakfast was scheduled between 930am and 1130am in the hotel restaurant. I was told that there would be one large table set up for 30 guests. I arrived to the restaurant at 930am to find that nothing was set up and the hostess said to wait one more minute. My guests then all congregated in the lobby. We were not seated until 1015am and the tables were scattered all over the restaurant ……they did not even push them together. It was so disappointing. And to top it all off, I had packed my OOT buckets in large laundry baskets and they were not given them back either. Stay far away from this hotel! ~ Heater020780
RAVE: Koriann @ Sunsations Tanning - Lyndhurst
I went to see Koriann at Sunsations tanning last night for an airbrush tan and it looks great! People all day have told me how good it looks I am so happy because now I think I am definitely going to do it for the wedding. And she is so sweet! ~ jen629
Sunsation Tanning & Airbrush on Stuyvesant Ave in Lyndhurst (201-939-8717) the cost for a full body airbrush is $45. We also do upper body only for $25 and Face only for $10
Sunsation Tanning & Airbrush on Stuyvesant Ave in Lyndhurst (201-939-8717) the cost for a full body airbrush is $45. We also do upper body only for $25 and Face only for $10
RAVE: Hotel Sierra in Parsippany
So my family stayed at the hotel to check it out before the wedding..all I can say was awesome!....We didnt get them there until 1am but they had the crib ready for my niece the room was great full kitchens in each room including dishwasher,stove, full fridge,pots, pans utensils,plates toaster,coffee pot and sink. They said the beds were outstanding. They had breakfast every morning which was eggs, hash browns, omelettes,pancakes,yogurt,starbucks coffee,fruit ceral,bagels..etc. I went there and had breakfast yesterday and they said they had more stuff on Mon then the weekend but it was still great and included!. They have a nice pool a grill outside that you can cook your own food (gas I might add)...The girl who set up our reservations for the wedding came out and gave us a tour of each of the 3 rooms and even fixed the rate because when we checked in he gave us a $129 rate and she promised me the $119 rate because she was giving me the wedding rate for them. All in all A+ I cant wait to stay there that night. Also the shuttle is free with 10 booked rooms and they can fit up to 28 on the shuttle and will come back if there is more than that. ~ jen629
RANT: Embassy Suites in Parsippany
I DO NOT recommend the Embassy Suites - Parsippany. I had so many problems they ended up giving myself and my parents vouchers for a free night stay after I had to file complaints with corporate who in turn had us speak with the general manager for the hotel. If you do book there stay on top of them, be a bridezilla.
Problems:
1 - Our guests were told that all of the rooms in the block were sold out - impossible since we had not even sent out invites.
2 - Thought the above was corrected but I had to keep calling and fixing it.
3 - They did not give out our out of town bags. Some people got them, others did not including myself. I went up said I was here for the wedding and nothing, said I was the bride and nothing. Finally I said you are supposed to be giving me a bag to which they said "oh".
4 - I left a dress there, remembering under 2 hours from us checking out, and had such a horrible time with them finding it that 2 weeks after it was finally located. Numerous reasons given - it was thrown out, it was never there, not in lost & found, and finally oh they sent it to the dry cleaner who in turn lost it for another week.
5 - There were a few other issues (including the manager pretending she wasn't the manager on duty) but those were the big ones.
Good things:
1 - Hotel is beautiful
2 - Highly recommend the presidential suite if you are having you hair and makeup done there as this room has a dining room table.
3 - Breakfast buffet was nice in the morning
4 - Bar area had plenty of room and you get coupons for a free drink during happy hour along with nachos, salsa, and popcorn. ~ caketime
Problems:
1 - Our guests were told that all of the rooms in the block were sold out - impossible since we had not even sent out invites.
2 - Thought the above was corrected but I had to keep calling and fixing it.
3 - They did not give out our out of town bags. Some people got them, others did not including myself. I went up said I was here for the wedding and nothing, said I was the bride and nothing. Finally I said you are supposed to be giving me a bag to which they said "oh".
4 - I left a dress there, remembering under 2 hours from us checking out, and had such a horrible time with them finding it that 2 weeks after it was finally located. Numerous reasons given - it was thrown out, it was never there, not in lost & found, and finally oh they sent it to the dry cleaner who in turn lost it for another week.
5 - There were a few other issues (including the manager pretending she wasn't the manager on duty) but those were the big ones.
Good things:
1 - Hotel is beautiful
2 - Highly recommend the presidential suite if you are having you hair and makeup done there as this room has a dining room table.
3 - Breakfast buffet was nice in the morning
4 - Bar area had plenty of room and you get coupons for a free drink during happy hour along with nachos, salsa, and popcorn. ~ caketime
