Hotel Information Update

HOTEL INFO UPDATE!! (5/4/2016)

To our knowledge the hotel block at Minerals Resort & Spa is now closed for Saturday night. However, based on feedback I had from a couple of people, you might still be able to call them and get a room, but we cannot guarantee the group rate. There are still rooms available for Friday night and the group rate will be honored.

If you still looking to book a hotel, call Minerals Resort & Spa first and give it a try!

If you don't have any luck with Minerals, it might be worth it to book for Friday night and get on a waiting list for Saturday to see if something opens up.  If you would like to be put on a waiting list, you need to let us know and we will contact the hotel for you.  With the activities we have planned and the shuttle to and from the reception, we think it is worth the effort to try to get into this hotel.

Sorry of this seems a bit confusing.  We too are confused by the varying reports we have received from the hotel versus what some people have told us that booked a room in the last few days.


If Minerals is really no longer available, the options for hotels for the weekend are:

1)  The next best option is the Appalachian Hotel:

http://www.mountaincreek.com/lodging/lodging-options/

200 NJ-94, Vernon Township, NJ 07462

Phone:(973) 827-2000

It is right up the road from Minerals Resort & Spa.  It is in the same hotel family as Minerals and that means there is a free shuttle between the Appalachian and Minerals which will be very useful for attending events.  We are also looking into making the Appalachian a stop for the reception shuttle.

Please be aware that the Appalachian has hotel rooms and  condos.  The condos will require a a 2 night stay and a deposit, the hotel does not.

2)  Book a room at any of the hotels in the surrounding area.  We will do our best to help you out with utilizing the shuttle, but do understand that it becomes logistically more difficult.

Let us know where you book your room if you are not at Minerals Resort & Spa.  We will do everything we can to help out with your travel between events.

Engagement Party Details

Welcome to our wedding blog!  On this blog/website, you should be able to find most of the information you need for the up-coming Engagement Party on Saturday, April 16, 2016, in Ann Arbor, MI.  I know that some of you have probably already checked this site out (special shout-out to Bill, Steve, Paul, Cheri and Sandy!! Woot woot!) and are probably already familiar with this site/blog; but, if you have not been to this website before, then this blog post and the tab at the top titled “Other Parties” should contain all the information and details you need for the party. 

Just for a little bit of background, we created the Engagement Party as a fun and informal way to celebrate with our co-workers and my family in Michigan (…and, because Mom wanted excuse to party. Hahaha).  We probably could have been more creative with the name since Chip and I have been engaged for about eight (8) months now…but who really cares as long as there’s a party, right?! lol!

If you received this invitation, you probably already got “the run down.” But in case you have not received “the run down” ;), then here it is (also, for more details see photos and comments below):

Date: Saturday, April 16, 2016
Time: 7:00pm - 11:00pm
Invited: Everyone and their family!
Attire: Casual
Food: Hor'doeuvres only (see photo)
Drinks: Non-Alcoholic beverages, beer, wine, and champagne (more details below).
Other: Music for dancing by a DJ.
Location: Chapel Hill Clubhouse, 3350 Burbank Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48105 (also see photos below).
Directions: After you make a right on to Burbank Dr, go over the first speed bump and park along the curb or in an UNNUMBERED parking spot.  Then go to the very end of Court N (past the pool on the right), make a right and walk up the sidewalk until you reach the double doors entrance of the club house which will be on your right.

The wine we will have at the party is Robert Mondovi Cabernet Sauvignon (red), Merlot (red), Pino Grigio (white), and Chardonnay (white).

The family had a small Champagne tasting party at Mom’s house (Yay!!!)) to choose the champagne (see photo above) ...and below is the aftermath... Hahaha:

We chose Martini & Rossi Asti and R.S.V.P. Brut. 

The beer we will have is shown in the photo above. There will also be Sam Adams Cold Snap bottles (not shown above).

 Hor d’oeuvre notes from the caterer with love... 😍 YUM!!

Chapel Hill: The venue is Ok, but has sentimental value as so many friends and family events have taken place here…it has a special place in our hearts.

We are REALLY looking forward to celebrating, partying and hanging out with everyone!!  See you there!! 😃😃😃

Cake Tasting Time!! (woot woot!!!) ;)

Palermo's Bakery, Pastry Shop; Ridgefield Park, NJ

Chip & I have been looking forward to our "cake planning" meeting at Palermo's Bakery for a while! When we first arrived at Palermo Bakery's Ridgefield Park shop, we were confronted with a wall of incredibly fantastic cakes.  Some looked like Louis Vuitton & Chanel bags, others like Cinderella's castle, all the way down to the most extravagant wedding cakes with rhinestones and feathers....it was amazing! After we picked our jaws up off the floor, we got down to business. *wink wink*  Our first task: decide on a cake design.

We looked through a ton of designs.  Eventually, we decided on one that would match the feel and style of the wedding.  The one we picked (see photo below) is traditional and elegant.  Instead of the cream background with white trim, we will have a white background with light blue trim (we avoided dark blue to avoid blue tongues at the wedding! haha). The flowers will be white and light blue with green leaves to match the blue and green color theme of the wedding, as well.

After the design came the hard part: taste testing!!! Woot woot! The part we were looking forward to the most!  For the cake tasting they served us ten (10) pieces of cake.  Five (5) were vanilla and 5 were chocolate cake, each filled with different things. I could only imagine that this was how Charlie must have felt in Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory! :). It was SO great!  The owner of Perona Farms (the reception venue owner) told us that all we needed to do was to try all 10 pieces, then tell them that "we didn't like any of cake we tried" and then have them bring out 10 more! Hahaha Well, we tried, but after 10 pieces of cake we couldn't eat any more.  Instead of Charlie in the Chocolate factory, I felt more like the blueberry girl that blew-up and had to be roll-out of the store. hahaha

Anyways, enough with Willy Wonka! hahaha  After we tried all 10 pieces, we decided on the vanilla cake with vanilla buttercream frosting on the outside and French Cream with fresh raspberries between the layers on the inside... It should taste perfectly refreshing and sunny in June.

Below are pictures of our cake design and the tasting.... Mmmm! :)

Palermo's Bakery Store Front, Ridgefield Park, NJ

Palermo's impressive wall of cakes!
(I forgot to take pictures of the Louis Vuitton/Chanel bags & Cinderella cakes. :(  )

Cake Tasting Time!!
(Our cake will look like the vanilla piece in the center of the front row. Only we have replaced the raspberry preserves, with fresh raspberries. Yum!)

We couldn't eat all 10 pieces of cake!! So we brought the chocolate pieces home for Chip's family to try.
John devoured the chocolate Oreo cake piece in one fell swoop! lol! Reminds me of another brother I know ... :D

Our wedding cake design ...only not the correct color (except for the leaves)...

Let me know if you love cake like we do!!

Tah tah for now...

Immaculate Conception Mass

Inside Immaculate Conception Church, before Mass, decorated with Christmas cheer!

Over the Winter Holiday break, I went to visit Chip & his family in New Jersey.  I always love visiting and hanging out with his whole family.  While there, Chip and I had a chance to attend Sunday Mass at Immaculate Conception church (the church where Chip & I will be married).  It was just two (2) days after Christmas when we attended and was still decorated with Christmas cheer.  It was gorgeous!  The red in the decorations really brought-out the red in the stained glass windows. The  church was built in1902 & has the most beautiful stained glass. I cannot wait for everyone to see it when you come to take part in our wedding day.

Here are the pictures We took... It's too bad Christmas  decorations do not stay up all year!

Father Bogie (our Priest for the wedding) preparing communion.

Stay tuned for more! :)!!!

Tuxedos & Martinis

This weekend Chip & I went to the Men's Wearhouse to pick out tuxedos for everyone.  We were introduced to Shannon who helped us pick which combinations and styles would look best in the wedding.  She dressed and undressed (whoo hoo!) the dummies - adding vests, ties, shirts, "pocket stuffers," fabric boutonnieres, etc... as we picked out ensembles for the Groom, Best-Men, and Families.

Finally, after the table was littered with all kinds of garments, we had our looks! The best part?! They have coattails!  Below are the tuxedos we picked and how they proceeded to torment Chip afterwards in order to get his sizes (lol!):

ps.  If you are a groomsman or family and would like more, please scroll down to the end of this post where we have provided more information.

Grooms Tuxedo Combinations.  Which one do you think Chip picked?! :)

The tuxedo combination Chip's groomsmen & family will wear.

Green/Gem will be the color Whitney's Family will wear.

Tux swatches: White, Gem & Marine.

Chip looks so sophisticated!!! I just love it!!!...but his face is saying "What are you doing to me?!" lol!

If you will be renting a tuxedo from the Men's Wearhouse for our wedding, you will need to be fitted before the end of January (2016). Please find the closest Men's Wearhouse and walk-in to be fitted (no appointment is necessary). 

For the closest store to you, please click here and enter your zipcode: http://www.menswearhouse.com/store-locator

The cost includes everything down to the shoes, suspenders and cufflinks (but not socks,  underwear, or undershirts).  It can be picked-up at the mall near the wedding in New Jersey.  Chip will drop it off after the wedding to make it easier for everyone. 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Chip or I.

And now...time for a martini! :)

Breakfast At Tiffany's

About a month ago, Chip and I had breakfast at Tiffany’s.  Like most people, I really like the movie “Breakfast At Tiffany’s” starring  Audrey Hepburn, but I didn’t think it was real.  I thought it was something they made-up in the movies. Haha So, as you can image, when we first received the invitation I thought I was dreaming. lol (See the photo below for the Tiffany & Co Invitation).  I had no idea what to expect...

When the day finally arrived, Chip & I hopped in his car and drove to the Tiffany & Co store located in the Somerset Collection.  Luckily, we RSVPed, so when we walked in they checked us off their list and we were allowed to enter.  Inside it was like a dream!  (Did I say that already?! Lol). There were servers in tuxes walking around with silver trays full of Tiffany & Co. crystal champagne glasses with Mimosa’s and Prosecco.  Hors-d'oeuvres were floating around also, with little pastries and bite size morsels to eat.  They were delicious!  We were able to talk with one of the attendants who re-sized my engagement ring for free, sized Chip's finger, had us try on wedding rings, and told us about their registry… they made everything so easy for us. 

At the end, they gave us an engagement present.  I restrained myself from opening it all the way until I was back inside Chip's car! :)  When I was seatbelted in, I opened the box with Chip. ...Inside were two crystal champagne glasses!  They were SO beautiful!  I think we will use them at the wedding for our first toast during the reception.  

We had such a great time!  Thank you Tiffany & Co. for all your help & the beautiful engagement present.  Below is the Tiffany & Co. invitation and are photos from the breakfast:

Tiffany & Co. Invitation

Chip's Presecco at the Tiffany & Co. breakfast.

Chip & Whitney having "breakfast at Tiffany's"

Engagement present from Tiffany & Co. ....What do you think it is??!!...

Crystal Tiffany & Co. Champagne glasses!  Thank you Tiffany & Co!  They are beautiful!!!

Mini photo-shoot with our new Tiffany & Co. champagne glasses. :)

So romantic!

As, usual, stay tuned for more to come....

XOXO

PLEASE RESERVE YOUR HOTEL ROOM SOON

 

Hi Guys!  We just reserved a block of rooms at our hotel, Minerals Resort & Spa.  Even though Save-The-Date or invitations have not been sent, yet, we strongly recommend – and it would be a big help to us – if you reserved your room as soon as possible.  Even if you have not decided that you are coming, if you could please still reserve your room as you can cancel the reservation all the way up to 72hours before the check-in day.  We have 25 rooms reserved but are anticipating that we might need more, so by reserving your room now, we will be able to reserve  another block if necessary, before there are no vacancies.

Please call this phone number: (855) 977-6473

Ask for the: “FIELD/ROBERTS WEDDING BLOCK”

We hope you can stay both Friday, June 17, 2016 and Saturday, June 18, 2016.

In addition to helping us out, events have been planned at the hotel Friday evening and Sunday morning.  Also, on the big day, we have arranged transportation to and from the reception at Perona Farms.  It is very important for us to provide this to our guests and this plan works best if you are staying at the hotel.

We have Deluxe & Luxury rooms available in our block.  For more information about the rooms and hotel, please click here:  http://www.crystalgolfresort.com/stay/minerals-hotel/

 

Freebies include sports club access and the use of 7 indoor/outdoor heated pools, hot tubs, tennis courts, a sauna and a steam room.

Address:

Minerals Resort & Spa
1 Stonehill Dr,
Vernon Township, NJ 07462

For more information & photos of the hotel please click on the “HOTEL”tab here or above.

Seven (7) In-Door/Out-Door heated swimming pools.

All rooms (Deluxe & Luxury) have balconies.

There are a lot of free activities to choose from, like the "bumper scoccer" game shown above, when you are not at the wedding.

Basketball Courts are free to use.  As well as a free sauna & steam room.

Kites Bar/Lounge located just above the lobby.

Cliff jump into one of their many pools.

A photo I took of the hotel, one of the pools, and the beautiful view from Kites Bar/Lounge.

If you have any questions, feel free to call either Chip or I.

Come back soon for more updates!

XOXO,
Whitney