Hamilton Events: Wedding Planning-Reception Venue-Lancaster PA

A Wedding Day at The Eden

2009-11-05T08:42:00.008-05:00

It's that time of year again...wedding shows are here! This past Sunday, Janelle (our newest member of the events team) and I represented both Hamilton Ballroom and our new event facility, Cork Factory Hotel at the annual "A Wedding Day at The Eden" bridal show. It was quite the turn out, and we were very excited to see all of the newley engaged, as well as many of our currently booked clients with both Hamilton Ballroom and Cork Factory Hotel.

This year our booth was located in the Presidential Ballroom and featured Cork Factory Hotel on the left side and Hamilton Ballroom on the right side. Linens from Special Occasions draped both high-top tables and our serpentine, coordinating with each ballroom's distinctive decor.

Cork Factory's rustic candelabra and the silver candelabra provided at Hamilton Ballroom were displayed on our front table along with marketing material for both venues.

Photo books were displayed for brides-to-be to browse through, showcasing past events at both venues. Our fabulous poster featuring the split ad for Cork Factory Hotel and Hamilton Ballroom was the focal point in the center of our booth.

Janelle and I before the rush!

Thank you to all who attended "A Wedding Day at The Eden" and we look forward to having the opportunity to host your special wedding celebration!

Linens: Special Occasions - http://www.specialo.com/

Our Apology for the Lack of Posts

2009-09-22T16:11:00.002-04:00

Hello blog readers! I just want to apologize for our lack of posts lately! We have been busy meeting with couples, planning Lindsey's wedding (we're down to the final week!), opening our new venue and more.

However, the good news is that we'll be hosting a lot of fun events at Hamilton Ballroom and Cork Factory Hotel in the next few months that we can't wait to share with you! Stay tuned!

In the meantime, be sure to visit our facebook pages (listed below), and please feel free to open up conversation on the "Wall" with other brides and vendors!

Hamilton Events Facebook Page

Cork Factory Hotel Facebook Page

Congratulations Adeli & Jonys!

2009-09-22T15:57:00.003-04:00

Hamilton Ballroom congratulates Adeli and Jonys! This wonderful couple held their wedding ceremony and reception at Hamilton Ballroom over Labor Day weekend. Their families came together on this special day to produce a beautiful event. Here are photographs from their big day:

An Intimate Friday Wedding

2009-08-01T12:27:00.004-04:00

Congratulations to Margarita and Edwin! Below are photos higlighting the details of their intimate wedding reception at Hamilton Ballroom on Friday, July 31st:

Vendors:

Catering by Enck's Catering

Chair Sashes by Special Occasions

Silver Candelabras by Hamilton Ballroom

Music by Complete Music

Communications

2009-07-08T21:42:00.002-04:00

Hello! We just wanted to let everyone know that we will have little access to email and voice mail until Monday, July 13th. We hope to return all your calls and emails on Monday. Thank you for your patience, and we apologize for the inconvenience.

Congratulations Melissa & Eric!

2009-06-30T21:14:00.004-04:00

The wedding season was in full bloom this June! On June 20th Melissa & Eric's guests gathered at Hamilton Ballroom to celebrate their marriage. Here is a quick glance of their wedding details:

The bride and groom adorned each table with photos of

themselves at the age corresponding to each table number.

The Toss Bouquet

Placecards were placed on the side table in Wheatland Place's LobbyM&M FavorsVendors:

Florist: English Garden Florals, 717.898.8387

The Launch of Cork Factory Hotel

2009-06-30T07:25:00.011-04:00

Where in the world have we been? We haven't blogged in almost a month! We apologize, followers, and we're going to share what we've been up to...

Lindsey and I been busy launching our new event venue and hotel--Cork Factory Hotel at Urban Place. The new rustic chic ballroom opens this fall with Lindsey's wedding, and the hotel will then open in March 2010. The 5225 square foot ballroom features brick walls, exposed wood rafters, large brick fireplace, wooden dance floor, black chiavari chairs, rustic chandeliers and a large covered terrace overlooking the restored cork factory. Below we give you a sneak peak, and I encourage you to check out the Urban Place website for more photos and details (Cork Factory Hotel's independent website is coming soon):

As you can see, we can now offer an event space for both the vintage chic bride at Cork Factory Hotel and the modern chic bride at Hamilton Ballroom.

Once again, check out Urban Place's website for more photos of the hotel and ballroom, and you can also visit Cork Factory Hotel on Facebook.

Good news Hamilton Ballroom Brides... we're offering you discounted group rates for our hotel rooms with complimentary shuttle from Hamilton Ballroom to Cork Factory Hotel beginning March 2010. Call us for details!

Cheers,
Jill

April 25th - 50th Wedding Anniversary

2009-06-10T10:37:00.004-04:00

Back in April we had the privilege of hosting a double-event weekend. Saturday, April 25th started the weekend with a 50th wedding celebration for two wonderful people - Joan and Hubert.

Photos of the happy couple, including the one below from their wedding day, were displayed with the cake.

The cake and floral arrangements were created by the family - what a fabulous surprise!

Congratulations on fifty wonderful years!

Vendors:

Caterer: Rettew's Catering - http://www.rettewscatering.com/

April 26th Wedding

2009-06-10T09:56:00.005-04:00

Part Two of our double-event weekend: Alanna and Matthew's wedding reception on Sunday, April 26th! The bride created and crafted the majority of the decorations and details that went into their black and white reception.

The bride found this great photo frame to display her seating chart in.

The table numbers were a great touch to their black & white theme.

Hamilton Ballroom's silver candelabras served as the elegant centerpieces on guest tables.

Rettew's Catering assembled the appetizing hors d'eouvres display on the ballroom's dance floor, and a delicious served meal to the wedding guests.

The three-tiered wedding cake was the featured dessert of the evening.Congratulations Alanna and Matthew! Best wishes!

Vendors:

Caterer: Rettew's Catering - http://www.rettewscatering.com/

A Stately Affair

2009-05-30T14:39:00.012-04:00

Last Saturday night we hosted Jillian & Kyle's wedding reception; a wedding reception centered around one extraordinary theme...bicycling across the country! Kyle and Jillian, both teachers, were hard at work over the months leading up to their wedding, training on their tandem recumbent bicycle towards their ultimate goal - bicycling across the country on their summer-long honeymoon! Here are some photographs from the memorable evening:

All Things Beautiful placed flowers on our lobby's coffee table.In lieu of a guest book, guests were asked to sign a USA map and sketch their favorite landmark.

Map inspired escort cards were displayed in the lobby.

Each table was named a different state, and the escort card's

map actually corresponded to their table's state.

No detail was left behind for this wedding!Teal runners ran across the center of each guest table to mimic bicycle spokes.The Sweetheart TableElegant candlelight lined the edge of our stage.Centerpieces by All Things BeautifulThe Table CardsMenus were placed at each table setting. Olde Greenfield Inn catered the buffet.

The delicious candy bar placed on the coffee display.The couple's bike was displayed on the stage with a "Just Married" sign.

Thank you, Jillian, Kyle and family for choosing Hamilton Ballroom. Congratulations!

Vendors:

DJ: Stardust Entertainment, http://www.stardustdjs.com/

Caterer: The Olde Greenfield Inn, http://www.theoldegreenfieldinn.com/

Florist: All Things Beautiful, http://www.urpro.com/

Congratulations Ashley and Cory!

2009-05-30T14:07:00.008-04:00

Hamilton Ballroom had the pleasure to host the wedding reception of Ashley and Cory last Saturday night! Here are photographs from the evening:

The Favors

Hamilton Ballroom's Silver Candelabras Topped Each TableHors d'oeuvres Waited for the Bridal Party in our Bridal SuiteThe bride was prepared with comfortable shoes!

Thanking, Ashely and Cory, for choosing Hamilton Ballroom! Best of luck in your future together!

Cheers!

Jill

Vendors:

Caterer: Enck's Custom Catering, www.enckscatering.com

Cake: Colebrook Bakery, http://www.cwbakery.com/

DJ: Rodger Campbell of Top Hat Entertainment, http://www.tophatdj.net/

Spring Fig is on the Streets

2009-05-19T13:09:00.010-04:00

Get your copy of the latest fig at Hamilton Ballroom. This quarterly publication is great for out-of-town guest bags.

Check out our chic new fig ad below debuting our new website, www.lancastereventvenues.com, which links guests to our new ballroom at Cork Factory Hotel and Hamilton Ballroom:

You can visit fig at www.figlancaster.com and also become a fan of their new facebook page HERE. Enjoy!

Linden Hall Prom

2009-05-19T11:44:00.008-04:00

Last Friday evening, Hamilton Ballroom hosted our first prom for Linden Hall (Lititz), the oldest girls' boarding school in the United States. Not only was it our first prom, but it was their first prom as well! The prom coordinator, a Linden Hall student, did a fabulous job putting this event together.

Gibraltar catered the event with sushi, egg rolls and a beef lettuce wrap buffet. The food was amazing!
Lucky Bamboo was placed along the buffet to bring good fortune to their futures. Three cakes were displayed congratulating the senior class.

DJ Freez kept the crowd on their feet with his mixes.

DJ Freez ended the evening with the Graduation song by Vitamin C (click for the music video on youtube if you're feeling nostalgic). What a great song--I couldn't help but think back to my own prom:

"As we go on...

We remember

All the times we

Had together

And as our lives change

From whatever

We will still be

Friends Forever"

la la la la ... Good times!

Thank you Linden Hall for choosing Hamilton Ballroom for your special night. Best of luck to all of you in your future.

Cheers!
Jill

Vendors:

DJ Freez, www.djfreez.com

Gibraltar, www.kearesrestaurants.com

New Facebook Page

2009-05-19T10:54:00.002-04:00

Out with the old, in with the new! We have moved our location on facebook from a group to a page. Become a fan of our new page today by visiting the following link:

Hamilton Ballroom at Wheatland Place Facebook Page

Wedding Season is Here!

2009-05-08T10:30:00.009-04:00

Saturday, April 18th we kicked off our busy wedding season with the wedding reception of Anna and Andrew. The weather was ideal for this spring reception, with the ballroom dressed in ivory linens with green accent linens and decor.

Guests were welcomed into the ballroom with an appetizing display of hors d'oeuvres situated on our centralized black and white dance floor. The soft sounds of live music carried throughout the room courtesy of a jazz duo.

Sweets of the evening included guest favors -- personalized green and white M&M candies with the couple's wedding date and names wrapped in tulle. The wedding cake incorporated the bride's flower of choice - the Calla Lily, on each layer of the creamy white cake.

Congratulations Anna and Andrew!

ONE Lancaster is on the streets!

2009-04-15T09:08:00.002-04:00

ONE Lancaster has hit the streets! Hamilton Events is in it, and we have one for you! These are perfect city guides for your out-of-town guests.

Floral Inspiration

2009-04-07T17:52:00.009-04:00

Several weeks ago I had the luxury of some free time, so I headed down to the annual flower show in Philadelphia. It was the first time I have ever attended the show, and I was amazed at all the beautiful displays. The flowers all encompassed an Italian theme, and I have a few of my favorite displays posted below:A picture perfect arrangement--notice the frame?Can you imagine getting the quote for this arrangement--yikes!

Wouldn't this arrangement would be perfect for Easter?

Natural is in! There were many arrangements with a rustic feel--perfect for our new ballroom at Cork Factory Hotel!

Unfortunately my picture doesn't really give this display the attention it deserves, but I thought it would be perfect on the back table of a bar:

The flower show also showcased these fabulous floral fashions (I can totally see the shoes used for a bridal shower!): I really enjoyed the day and being inspired. If you have an opportunity to go next year, I encourage you to go!

Cheers!

Wedding Stationary Blog Offer!

2009-04-01T12:36:00.007-04:00

Is your wedding draining your wallet?

Well, we have an offer for you! During the month of April, receive 20% off our elegant and unique Carlson Craft wedding invitations and save the date cards. Call us today to set up an appointment to view our extensive collection, and be sure to mention this special blog offer! Your order must be placed by April 30, 2009, so let's get started!

Cheers!
Jill

Extra! Read all about it!

2009-03-29T08:49:00.004-04:00

Many of you have been asking us, "Where is Lindsey (event manager at Hamilton Events, Inc.) having her wedding reception?" Well, we'll give you a sneak peak of our newest event facility and hotel with this Sunday news article, "Urban Place's hotel a real corker".

We will post more details soon about our newest ballroom, along with details of the hotel accomodations that will be offered to Hamilton Ballroom's wedding guests in 2010. Stay tuned!

Cheers,
Jill

The Wedding Salon NYC

2009-03-24T12:21:00.020-04:00

Hamilton Events headed to the Big Apple on March 23rd to attend The Wedding Salon, a luxury wedding showcase hosted by the president of 4pm Events, Tatiana Byron. We got the opportunity to mingle with the nation's finest wedding vendors and roamed the floor to bring home the latest event trends. Let me recap our fun day...

Lindsey, my mom and I met up with Kelly Steadman (All Things Beautiful), Jonnaysa Kirkham (Planned Perfection), Leslie Gilbert (Leslie Gilbert Photography), and Kris McElligott (KM Photography). We all met up at Rockefeller Center, and to our surprise Mario Lopez got out of a cab to tape an Extra segment! What a way to start off our day in NYC! We then headed to lunch at Saks Fifth Avenue for good food and conversation (mostly relating to weddings).

Now on to the show and wedding related photos... It was then time to walk to The Roosevelt Hotel for The Wedding Salon event. Brides were lined up out the door!

Once we finally registered and got our "industry" ribbons around our wrists (Lindsey got to wear the "Bride" ribbon), we were greeted by a live tree handing out fortunes.

Hmmm... not sure if Lindsey and I are available to act like a tree at your event, but we might consider it. We then traveled down the long hall of beautiful wedding gowns leading us into the ballroom.

We soon had our first celebrity vendor encounter with cake designer Sylvia Weinstock. We also had the pleasure to taste sweets from many other fabulous confectioners. And now for the moment we are all waiting for... the table tops:

What event is complete without entertainment?
We then made our way to the ice bar featuring Hpnotiq liqueur.
Lindsey and tried Hpnotiq's drink "Roq Candy", which is made with 2 oz. Hpnotiq, 1 oz. Ciroc Vodka and a splash of Pineapple Juice. The drink is poured over ice in a martini glass and garnished with a rock candy stick. I loved the rock candy stick idea! We also had a taste of Hpnotiq's "Bubbles 'n Blue" which contained 2 oz. Hpnotiq and 2 oz. Champagne... yummy! It's the perfect something blue for a wedding in my opinion!

They also had rock candy swizzle sticks at the coffee station:
We loved the way this photography company showcased their work:And to top the night off... Lindsey and I met Carley, co-founder and Editor in Chief of The Knot, Inc.

What a great time we had in New York City at The Wedding Salon with our friends, and we even left with fabulous (but very heavy) goody bags to prove it!

Back Row: Jill, Jonnaysa, Kelly Front Row: Lindsey, Linda, Leslie, Kris

We can't wait to put these great tips and trends that we took away from the show to use, so let us know what you'd like to see at your wedding and we'll make it happen!

Cheers!
Jill

Cry Baby Ranch

2009-03-19T18:39:00.009-04:00

Happy Birthday, Son! This past weekend I had a birthday party for my son with a cowboy theme--Cry Baby Ranch. Here are some photos from the big event:

The Birthday Boy in his Cowboy Shirt from Amazon.com"Wanted" signs were posted all over the house with photos of the birthday boy.

I handmade these signs using cardboard boxes and the "magnum" marker.

I don't even let the "outhouse" remain untouchedHandkercheif print goody bags and cowboy party hats from Birthday in a Box Lanterns I already had -- it's amazing what you can find around the house!
I also had the cow print vinyl tablecloth from our family's annual pig roast.
The Spread
One more fabulous cake from House of Clarendon--it was exactly what I wished for!

This is my husband in the awesome cowboy shirt I found at Harry Goods in Blue Ball. I asked him to smile, but he replied, "Cowboys don't smile."
Childrens' Cowboy Hats from Oriental Trading

I was so thrilled with how everything turned out, and I'm already thinking of themes for next year!

Cheers!

Jill

Resources:

Themed Tableware: Birthday in a Box, www.birthdayinabox.com
Birthday Cake: House of Clarendon, www.houseofclarendon.com

Special Occasions' Seminar

2009-03-18T17:43:00.009-04:00

Don’t you also find spring so inspiring and motivating? We do. Along with the spring flowers, our imagination is sprouting at Hamilton Events. Lindsey and I are using this event down time to inspire and educate our minds with the latest event trends, and today we had the pleasure to attend Special Occasion’s annual linen seminar held at F&M. I couldn’t wait to rush home and share with you all the great ideas that Claudia, Suzette and Cynthia had shown us, so here we go…

Get Inspired with Nature

Special Occasions' "Coral Reef" Linen

Hot Trend: Chair Covers

Special Occasions announced their new chair cover perfect for the sweetheart table!

Hot Color Combos

Top Photo: This look was inspired by a Tiffany vase that Suzette saw at a museum.

Bottom Left: Inspired by nature's sunsets

Bottom Middle: "Poppy" paired with "Citron"

Bottom Right: Give your guests a happy feeling with their new yellow linen, "Daffadil" as a base. Table topped with "Buchanan Crush" and "Gold Organza".

Ruffles, Ruffles and More Ruffles!

Claudia, Owner of Special Occasions, explaining the ruffle technique

This was a table at the entrance of the seminar... what a first impression!

1930's Glam Imagine this GLAM look at Hamilton Ballroom... wow!

This is a new linen in Special Occasions' inventory--"Turkish Sheer". Feathers outlined the chargers and rhinestone frames held the table number and placecards. Also notice the fabulous chair cover!

If you’re interested in any of these looks, let us know and together with Special Occasions we will make it happen! As Claudia, owner of Special Occasions, said at the seminar, “It is those final touches that make your guests feel you want them there.” So let’s make those guests leave your event feeling special and saying “WOW!” with the above looks.

Thank you Special Occasions for the wonderful tips and trends! We love working with Special Occasions, because their linens are always "Pressed. Straight. Tucked In... just like a wardrobe," as Claudia says. The seminar was very helpful and inspiring, and we can’t wait for the next one!

Cheers,
Jill

P.S.: After the seminar, Lindsey and I headed over to the train station to get our tickets to a special bridal show in NYC. The show is next week, and I’m sure we’ll have a lot to share when we return! Stay tuned!

Check out Special Occasions at http://www.specialo.com/!

The Knot's 2009 Wedding Trends

2009-03-12T14:04:00.003-04:00

Wondering what is in style this year? Be sure to visit The Knot's 2009 Wedding Trends to be in the know!

And... because everyone is into facebook these days, became a fan of The Knot today to get their updates on articles and more!

Style Me Pretty

2009-03-02T19:45:00.003-05:00

Need inspiration for your upcoming wedding? We just heard about this fabulous blog, Style Me Pretty, and wanted to share it with you! Enjoy!

Zazzle Me

2009-02-25T08:57:00.004-05:00

I am currently getting ready for my son's first birthday. (Has it really been a year already?!) The theme is "Cry Baby Ranch", which was a store in Denver that I visited last summer. I just loved the name of the store and thought it was the perfect theme for a first birthday party.

I just bought the birthday boy's cowboy shirt at Amazon.com . Isn't it perfect?

Anyway... I was at the party store yesterday just checking out the western decorations they had, and I didn't find a thing. I noticed that other party themes had so many fun things for a baby to wear, such as pins, bibs, favors, hats, etc. Instead of getting jealous of the other party themes, I thought of making my own pieces of flair for my guests online at Zazzle. They have hundereds of items to create, such as t-shirts, hats, stickers, magnets, keychains, bags... even neckties, ked shoes and skateboards. You must check it out!

I must now get going on creating customized items for the party, but before I go I'll show you a photo of the little party boy that I took and used for the invite...

Cheers!

What a Lovely Luncheon

2009-02-24T17:49:00.008-05:00

Today Lindsey and I had the opportunity to dine with the following six fabulous ladies in the wedding business that we love working with at Hamilton Ballroom:

Kelly Steadman of All Things Beautiful

Leslie of Leslie Gilbert Photography

Renee of Bella Manse

Kris of KM Photography

Rosie of Rosie's Creative Cakes

Jonnaysa of Planned Perfection

Kelly hosted the luncheon... she is not only a fabulous floral designer, but also a great cook! We had a great time talking about weddings and events, and Lindsey and I can't wait to get together with them again. Check out a picture of us at Leslie Gilbert's Blog!

Thanks, Kelly!

Cheers,
Jill

Blog Question Answered

2009-02-18T10:46:00.002-05:00

We recently received a question on our blog referring back to the January 17, 2009 ceremony and reception we hosted, asking where the centerpiece vases and LED lights can be found. Our January 17th bride Whitney - the creator behind the festive centerpices was eager to pass along the following information:

The glass vases and glass marbles can be found at The Flower and Craft Warehouse (http://www.flowerandcraft.com/) in Blue Ball, PA as well as from a website called "Flowers and Supplies" (www.flowersandsupplies.com/24-Clear-Pilsner-Vase_p_384.html).

The LED lights as well as submersible LED lights can be found on a website called "Save-on-Crafts" (www.save-on-crafts.com/floralytes5.html).

Thank you. Happy planning!

The Jones' 50th Wedding Anniversary

2009-02-18T10:17:00.004-05:00

Donald and Sandra Jones celebrated 50 years of love and marriage at Hamilton Ballroom on Sunday, February 8th. The couple began the day by renewing their vows at the same church in which they were married 50 years earlier, then continued to Hamilton Ballroom to delight in the company of family and friends.

Two framed photos from their wedding day were displayed in the lobby for guests to sign, along with their original guest book and photo album.

Their passion for pink and black - colors Sandy said were a popular combination when they were married, were seen everywhere from the favor boxes to the linens, the cake and flowers, and even the happy couple were outfitted in shades of pink with black.

Rettew's Catering provided a wonderful buffet meal and The House of Clarendon confected the whimsical three-tiered pink and black Swiss-dot cake - even the inside of the cake was pink with strawberry champagne as the featured flavor!

Congratulations Don and Sandy!

Vendors:

Caterer: Rettew's Catering - http://www.rettewscatering.com/
Linens: Special Occasions - http://www.specialo.com/
Cake: The House of Clarendon - http://www.houseofclarendon.com/
DJ: Dennis Wanner
Florist: Hendrick's Flower Shop

Hamilton Events on Facebook

2009-02-17T09:36:00.003-05:00

Hamilton Events is now on Facebook! join our group page at HERE to share photographs, ideas and more!

Cheers!

Photographer Brooke Courtney

2009-02-03T20:25:00.002-05:00

We would like to introduce you to Brooke Courtney (www.brookecourtney.com), a local photographer and also a future Hamilton Ballroom bride. She photographed Stephen & Lizzy's big day on December 21, 2008, and you can view a few of her photographs HERE from the fabulous wedding.

Cheers!

Hamilton Events Receives a 2009 Bride's Choice Award!

2009-02-03T10:00:00.005-05:00

Hamilton Events, Inc. has been chosen to receive a 2009 Bride's Choice Award through the WeddingWire Network. The Bride's Choice Awards are determined exclusively by recent newlyweds through surveys and posted reviews on http://www.weddingwire.com/.

Thank you to all of our past brides for your wonderful reviews! We're looking forward to a great 2009!

January 10th Wedding Ceremony and Reception

2009-01-27T14:37:00.006-05:00

Saturday, January 10th the messy winter weather predicted for the weekend held off for Jennifer and Ray's wedding celebration, creating only a slight dusting of sleet and snow.

Jennifer and Ray recited their vows in the dimly lit Hamilton Ballroom, as floating candle centerpieces and an iron screen full of votive candles displayed behind the couple, created a warm subtle glow throughout the room.

The bride created the table centerpieces which consisted of tall glass vases filled with water, champagne and bronze-colored beaded garland submerged inside, accented with a floating candle – placed on a mirror and surrounded by votive candles.

Rosie Rohrer of Rosie's Creative Cakes confected the beautiful three-tiered square wedding cake, repeating some of the beaded garland found in the bride's centerpices.

Hamilton Events wishes the happy couple a wonderful life together!

Vendors:

Caterer: The Olde Greenfield Inn – http://www.theoldegreenfieldinn.com/
Cake: Rosie’s Creative Cakes – http://www.rosiescreativecakes.com/
DJ: Top Hat Entertainment – http://www.tophatdj.net/
Photographer: Frank E. King - http://www.frankkingphotography.com/

January 17th, 2009 Wedding Celebration

2009-01-22T16:17:00.007-05:00

Saturday, January 17th Whitney and Isaiah shared their marriage vows before family and friends behind closed doors at Hamilton Ballroom. The decor carried out their winter-theme, complete with ice blue linens topping off the cake table and sweetheart table, and blue ice lit vases containing the willow branches for table centerpieces.

The couple shared their first meal as husband and wife together at a sweetheart table, with their closest family and bridal party members on either side at larger round tables.

Oregon Dairy Bakery provided the whimsical four-tiered snowflake wedding cake, complete with a fondant icing bow. The white cake looked gorgeous displayed on stage making the perfect backdrop during their special ceremony.

Best wishes Whitney and Isaiah!

Vendors:

Caterer: Wedding's by Hess's - http://www.hessbbq.com/
Cake: Oregon DairyBakery - http://www.oregondairy.com/
DJ: Midnight Rebel

Additional Photos for Buckwalter/Risk Wedding

2009-01-19T14:34:00.007-05:00

A special thank you to John Hornberger, the photographer from the Buckwalter/Risk wedding we hosted back in December. He was kind enough to share some of his professional photos from their wedding with us; so, naturally, we decided to blog about it.

Photographer:
John Hornberger - 717.898.3016

December 21st Wedding

2008-12-23T15:57:00.011-05:00

While the weather Sunday afternoon was cold and blustery, most of the icy/snowy mess fell early enough in the morning that it had disappeared in time for a beautiful wedding day. The bride loves all things nature, so naturally her centerpieces and escort card holders were created from tree branches and willow twigs.

Shumaker Plan Design and Transform created red up-lighting on the columns along the ballroom walls, as well as on either sides of the doors, contributing to the holiday feel.

In lieu of guest favors, the bride and groom presented each guest with a small box containing information on a donation they made on behalf of each guest to Project Red - which assists in the fight against AIDS in Africa.

Flour Power Bakery out of Lititz constructed a beautiful four-tiered wedding cake which featured sugared branches on every tier as well as a pair of cardinals sitting proudly on the cake's top. The bride's father crafted the tree-trunk base for the delicate cake to be displayed on.

The happy couple who are moving across the country in the New Year, provided guests with their new address tied to candy canes, which sat in a basket at the coffee and hot chocolate station provided by Rettew's Catering.

We wish you both a wonderful holiday and a safe and happy move!

Vendors:
Caterer: Rettew's Catering - http://www.rettewscatering.com/
Cake: Flour Power Bakery - 717.626.6520

DJ: Complete Music - http://www.cmusic.com/
Florist: Carmen Horst
Lighting Design: Shumaker Plan Design and Transform - http://www.shumakerpdt.com/
Photographer: Brooke Courtney - www.brookecourtney.com

December 20th - Buckwalter and Risk Wedding

2008-12-23T15:13:00.004-05:00

This past weekend we hosted our last two weddings of 2008. Kyle and Sara's holiday wedding kicked off our busy weekend and was full of cozy holiday details which set the mood for their guests.

The couple named their guest tables after Christmas cookies and displayed the escort cards on the coffee table in the lobby with the appropriate cookie on display next to the guest names. A plate overflowing with delicious cookies served as part of the centerpiece representing that table's cookie name.

Red-velvet covered jingle balls were available on each table for guests to ring whenever they wanted the happy couple to smooch away!

The cake table was draped in a "Juniper" linen from Special Occasions Linens and the color was continued throughout the room with Juniper linen table runners on all guest tables. Two matching sheer linens decorated the head table rounds and the sweetheart table was dressed in a sheer gold organza, with white lights illuminating the base of the table.

The couple sat at one of our bistro tables adjusted to high-top height on two bar chairs from their home. This encouraged their guests to approach their table to chat away with the couple, without having to bend down to a low level table.

Two stockings were hung from the head table which later were creatively used to collect money for the dollar dance.

Best wishes Sara and Kyle! Have a wonderful Holiday!

Vendors:
Caterer: The Olde Greenfield Inn - http://www.theoldegreenfieldinn.com/
Linens: Special Occasions and Queen Street Linens - http://www.specialo.com/
DJ: It's Showtime! DJ Entertainment - Chris Poje - http://www.itsshowtimedj.com/

Holiday Office Schedule

2008-12-16T15:13:00.006-05:00

As they tend to do every year, the holidays have crept up on us and are now right around the corner (next week - eeeek)! We will be out of the office all day on December 25th and January 1st. We wish our blog readers a wonderful holiday and a very happy New Year, and we look forward to the many weddings and special events we have the pleasure of hosting in the New Year!

NSI Nursing Solutions Holiday Party - December 6th

2008-12-15T16:39:00.009-05:00

Last Saturday evening NSI Nursing Solutions hosted their company's annual holiday party at Hamilton Ballroom. The ballroom was adorned with our traditional silver Christmas trees on opposite sides of the stage and festive greenery decorated the welcoming lobby area.

Our silver candelabra centerpieces provided a subtle glow throughout the ballroom, while green and red linen napkins and table linens provided by The Olde Greenfield Inn added that special holiday touch to the guest tables and dinner buffet.

A three-piece band nestled on stage between the Christmas trees entertained the guests with traditional holiday classics.

The front walkway was illuminated with star-shaped luminary bags, and burned brightly throughout the evening despide the light snowfall.

Thank you for choosing Hamilton Ballroom for your company's holiday event! Happy Holidays!

Vendors:
Caterer: The Olde Greenfield Inn - http://www.theoldegreenfieldinn.com/

Not just wedding invitations...

2008-11-20T10:09:00.003-05:00

Hamilton Events, Inc. does not just offer wedding stationary! We can also provide you with your special event invitations. Check out the fun magnet style invite below we ordered for an upcoming high school reunion:

Jamie and Jeremy's Special Day - November 8, 2008

2008-11-18T15:00:00.007-05:00

Jamie and Jeremy's love of autumn made for a gorgeous wedding reception at Hamilton Ballroom at Wheatland Place. Crisp fall colors created the focal point for the table centerpieces, created by the bride's mother. Special Occasions linens in coordinating colors added the perfect touch to the guest tables, sweetheart table and cake table.

Creative personal touches were included in many aspects of the reception, including the couples' table numbers, beverage menu, seating chart and pumpkin whoopie pie favors.

Congratulations Jamie and Jeremy!!

Vendors:

Caterer: Enck's Custom Catering - http://www.enckscatering.com/
Linens: Special Occasions - http://www.specialo.com/
DJ: Stardust Entertainment - Ellen Wascou - http://www.stardustdjs.com/
Cake: Rosie's Creative Cakes - Rosie Rohrer - http://www.rosiescreativecakes.com/

What do your flowers say?

2008-11-12T11:25:00.004-05:00

Who knew flowers have their own language? According to EMILY POST'S WEDDINGS (Third Edition), flowers convey the following messages:

acacia, friendship

agrimony, gratitude

ambrosia, love returned

anemone, expectation

apple blossoms, hope

aster, elegance

azalea, temperance

baby's breath, innocence

bay laurel, glory

calla lily, beauty

camellia, loveliness

carnation, devotion

chrysanthemum, abundance

daffodil, regard

daisy, gentleness

forget-me-not, remembrance

freesia, innocence

gardenia, purity

heather, future fortune

heliotrope, devotion

ivy, fidelity

larkspur, laughter

laurel, peace

lilac, humanity

lily, majesty

lily of the valley, happiness

myrtle, remembrance

orange blossom, purity

orchid, rare beauty

parsley, beginnings

peony, bashfulness

Queen Anne's lace, trust

rose, love

rosemary, remembrance

sage, immortality

stephanotis, marital happiness

thyme, courage

violet, modesty

zinnia, affection

Bridal Expo Photographs

2008-11-12T10:50:00.006-05:00

We would like to share with you photographs from the Bridal Show from October 26th! In case you missed our purple and silver inspired display, here you go...

The silver candelabras are our very own centerpieces, which are included in the rental of Hamilton Ballroom at Wheatland Place.

The menu cards, table number, and invitations samples are also from our very own collection of Carlson Craft invitations. Be sure to contact us to pick out your wedding stationary!

Florist: The Petal Company, Kim McNabb, 717.394.6423
Linens: Special Occasions, 717.299.4642

Cheers!

2008-10-26T18:16:00.003-04:00

What a fun day! Today was the wedding expo at Eden Resort, and we had a blast. It was so great to meet all of you, and we can't wait to talk to you one on one about your big day. Email us at info@hamiltoneventsinc.com or call us at 717-354-5096 to set up a time to discuss your wedding details!

Cheers,
Jill

Reminder: The Rose Wedding Day at The Eden

2008-10-21T16:42:00.002-04:00

Do not forget to visit us at The Rose Wedding Day at The Eden on Sunday, October 26th. The doors are open at noon until 4pm, and admission is free! For more information about the bridal show, visit www.roseradio.com/wedding08.htm.

Here Comes The Bride...

2008-10-20T14:08:00.007-04:00

This blog goes out to all of our engaged blog readers.....I AM NOW ONE OF YOU!!!!

My boyfriend of a little over two years - Brad - popped the BIG question while down on bended knee Saturday at “Hershey Park in the Dark”, from atop the revolving Kissing Tower. I was completely and utterly surprised, rendered speechless that I actually forgot to say “Yes!” Once I finally fumbled out my answer, the gorgeous ring was shakily put onto my finger. After making some important family phone calls, we made a special stop and had a caricature done of our unforgettable day.

It couldn’t have been a more perfect day, and I look forward to planning the upcoming wedding – which may prove to be difficult after witnessing first hand so many amazing ideas that I’ve seen at past events!

(Unfortunately the artist "envisioned" the ring on my right hand -- but we still love it)!

The Dennis Wedding

2008-10-17T11:46:00.012-04:00

This past Saturday, one of our favorite and quite possibly most devoted blog readers ever - Amanda - celebrated her marriage to Kevin. The unseasonably warm weather gave way to the perfect day for the couple to engage in celebration with family and friends at Hamilton Ballroom.

There were so many great personal touches used throughout Amanda and Kevin's reception, it was hard to choose the exact images to blog about! As soon as guests entered into the lobby, eyes were instantly drawn to the enormous “D” made completely out of flowers. Escort cards lined our 60” round table in the couple’s signature colors – green and pink.

Once inside the ballroom guests found their seats among the guest tables draped in linens from Grand Events with sheer green runners down the center provided by Special Occasions Linens. Floral centerpieces of varying sizes were intermixed throughout the room on the guest tables, head table and stage.

Menu cards carefully tucked inside green linen napkins gave guests a sneak peak at the dinner options to come. Olde Greenfield Inn created a gorgeous spread of hors d'oeuvres on our 60" round in the center of the dance floor during cocktail hour, and served up delicious fare for a stations-style dinner featuring a carving station, live pasta station, vegetable and sides station, a salad bar station and dessert and coffee station.

For favors, a candy bar consisting of pink and green colored candies was available for guests to indulge in their sweet tooth either at the reception, or they could fill a favor baggie for goodies on the go. A popular choice among guests was the "Strawberry Milkshake Whopper" Malted Milk Balls - who knew such a fun flavor even existed?!

As the evening went on, the couple shared a few intimate moments with guests as they played a video slideshow on the projection screen with their collection of special photos.

The happy duo and guests indulged in the four-tiered wedding cake decorated in green and pink scrolls by The Cakery.

Congratulations Amanda and Kevin! We hope you have a wonderful honeymoon!

Vendors:

Caterer: The Olde Greenfield Inn - http://www.theoldegreenfieldinn.com/
Linens: Grand Events & Party Rental - http://www.grandeventspa.com/ and Special Occasions Linens - http://www.specialo.com/
DJ: CD Disc Jockeys - http://www.cddiscjockeys.com/
Cake: The Cakery - http://www.lindascakery.com/
Florist: Personal Floral Design by Darlene - 717.285.5229
Photographer: Saba Studios - 717.355.9854

The Brunozzi Wedding

2008-10-16T10:13:00.004-04:00

October 4th was the perfect autumn day for David and Danielle's wedding! Their festive fall color palette and decorations beautifully captured the feeling of warmth that comes in every year with the arrival of autumn.

The couple's three-tiered wedding cake, provided by Colebrook Bakery, was elegantly displayed on the stage set atop one of our 36" round tables. Guest tables were decorated in autumn hues with small pumpkins and greenery displayed in the center, surrounded by votive candles. The couple's signature favor was the "Brunozzi Bar" - personalized chocolate bars with their name and wedding date printed on the wrapper.

Vendors:
Caterer: Enck's Custom Caterering - http://www.enckscatering.com/
Cake: Colebrook Bakery (through Enck's Catering)

Heather and Alan Tie the Knot!

2008-10-14T15:03:00.007-04:00

Sunday, September 21st was an exciting day at Hamilton Ballroom. We had the honor of hosting Heather and Alan's wedding reception - and I had the special honor of attending the wedding as one of Heather's bridesmaids! Unfortunately, being involved in the action gave me little opportunity to shoot photos of the ballroom prior to guests arriving - so please enjoy the few descriptions and photos taken.

Heather and Alan chose an alternate option in lieu of the traditional rectangle head table. The bride and groom enjoyed their special seats at their sweetheart table, and a 60" round table flanked their table on either side seating the bridal party.

Bella Manse created the gorgeous three-tiered ivory wedding cake, which was just as delicious as it looks! Catering was provided by Rettew's Catering, which ended the evening with an ice cream sundae station - a fun addition to any wedding cake!

The party continued into the evening hours as guests sang and danced along to music provided by Ellen Wascou of Stardust Entertainment and Events.

Congratulations Heather and Alan!

Vendors:
Caterer: Rettew's Catering - http://www.rettewscatering.com/
Cake: Bella Manse - http://www.bellamanse.com/
DJ: Stardust Entertainment & Events - Ellen Wascou - http://www.stardustdjs.com/

Jessica and Greg's Wedding Celebration

2008-10-14T12:01:00.008-04:00

Jessica and Greg celebrated their big day at Hamilton Ballroom on September 19th. The couple incorporated vibrant colors into their decor with splashes of blues in the table linens, bridesmaid dresses and cake, and a rainbow of colors available in the form of flip flops for the guests to change into.

Our 60" round guest tables were dressed in white and blue linens provided by Olde Greenfield Inn. Greenfield set up various food stations along the perimeter of the room, offering guests a scrumptious variety of dinner choices.

Jessica wanted her guests to “kick off their shoes and get comfortable" and what better way to do so than by sliding into a pair of colorful flip flips!

Congratulations Jessica and Greg!

Vendors:

Caterer: The Olde Greenfield Inn - http://www.theoldegreenfieldinn.com/

Barb and Ross Tie the Knot!

2008-09-23T18:30:00.009-04:00

Saturday was a perfect day a wedding! Barb and Ross, a very sweet couple, tied the knot at the groom's parents' home, and then celebrated their nuptials with 125 friends and family members at Hamilton Ballroom.

A fabulous photo book was waiting to be signed by guests in the lobby of Wheatland Place. I love this idea! Your photographer could create a book for you, unless you are feeling crafty and want to create your own. We use PhotoWorks to create our books at Hamilton Events (http://www.photoworks.com/).

Guests found their table by the seating chart shown below:

Gorgeous flower arrangements by All Things Beautiful adorned each table. Great job, once again, Kelly Stedman!

For this event, we used a 60" round table to create a head table for the bride, groom, best man, maid of honor and the bride and groom's parents. Kelly Stedman, from All Things Beautiful, created a beautiful head table arrangement, which included several sparking crystals.

A rose was tied to the bride's chair and the groom's chair with our black chair sashes.

In lieu of favors, the couple made a donation to St. Judes Children's Research Hospital.

The cake from Byer's Butterflake Bakery sat on our 36" round table near the stage, which was lined with candles.
Elvis even attended the wedding! (I believe we had a huge Elvis fan on the guest list... the fan even took Elvis on the dance floor at one point... what a fun crowd!)

Guests dancin' the night away:

Congratulations, Barb and Ross! It was such a pleasure to be a part of your special day.

To view more pictures from this event, check out Leslie Gilbert's blog (the wedding photographer for this event) at www.lesliegilbertphotography.com/blog.cfm.

Vendors:

Caterer: The Olde Greenfield Inn, www.theoldegreenfieldinn.com

DJ: Occasions DJ, www.occasionsdjs.com

Florist: All Things Beautiful, Kelly Stedman, www.urpro.com

Cake: Byers Butterflake Baker, www.byersbakery.com

Photographer: Leslie Gilbert Photography, www.lesliegilbertphotography.com

Mr. and Mrs. Fisher

2008-09-10T14:01:00.005-04:00

It was a few weeks ago when Sara and Alex said "I Do" and held their beautiful reception at Hamilton Ballroom. The ballroom was decorated to the nines with floral arrangements and festive fern displays created by The Petal Company.

Guests were treated to personalized bottles of wine, which served as both their escort card and favor.

Artificial ficus and palm plants were used to divide the bar area from the remainder of the ballroom, creating an intimate area for the cocktail hour.

A four-tiered wedding cake designed by Rosie Rohrer of Rosie's Creative Cakes was displayed in front of the stage on an iridescent blue satin linen which topped our 36" round table.

Vendors:

Caterer: Boscov's A'La Carte Catering - Steve Bonner - 610.370.3718
Florist: The Petal Company - Kim McNabb - 717.394.6423
Cake: Rosie's Creative Cakes - Rosie Rohrer - http://www.rosiescreativecakes.com/

Out of the Office

2008-08-22T16:44:00.003-04:00

Hello Callers & Emailers!

We will be out of the office from 8.22.08 until 9.2.08 with limited access to voice mail and email. We will try our best to return your calls and emails during the week, and we thank you for your patience.

Cheers!
Jill

Save The Date: The Rose Wedding Day at The Eden

2008-08-19T16:18:00.002-04:00

Save the date for The Rose Wedding Day at The Eden on Sunday, October 26th. The doors are open at noon until 4pm, and admission is free! For more information about the bridal show, visit www.roseradio.com/wedding08.htm.

Below are pictures from our 2007 display, and stay tuned for this year's display!

Sean and Anita's Wedding on Wiebner's Blog

2008-08-13T10:50:00.003-04:00

We were all so excited to see that The Wiebners posted Sean & Anita's wedding photographs on their blog. Be sure to check out their amazing talent at http://thewiebners.com/blog.cfm.

Groom's Involvement Poll Results

2008-08-11T15:12:00.002-04:00

We asked, "What is your groom most involved with as you plan your wedding?" The winning answer is "Honeymoon"!

All Things Beautiful has a new website!

2008-08-04T15:31:00.003-04:00

We're a fan of All Things Beautiful's new website. Check it out at http://www.urpro.com/!

Cake Smashing Poll Results

2008-08-04T14:28:00.002-04:00

In our last poll we asked, "How do you feel about cake in the face?" We have a tie! Half of you don't care and the other half prefers not to have cake on their face at their wedding.

Be sure to vote on our next poll regarding you guy's involvement with the wedding plans. Thank you!

Anita and Sean's Citrus-Themed Wedding

2008-08-04T14:23:00.007-04:00

Last Saturday we had the honor of hosting Anita and Sean’s wedding reception. We had been working with Anita and Sean over the past year and it was hard to believe how quickly their big day came upon us. Citrus fruits and colors was the major inspiration behind their “lemons and limes” theme, which was evident everywhere you looked.

The table centerpieces alternated between floral arrangements (containing sliced lemons and limes nestled in the water) created by All Things Beautiful and the ballroom’s silver candelabras. The head table was displayed in front of the stage and was decorated with greenery, votives and of course – lemons and limes.

Guest tables were dressed accordingly – each guest’s water glass was adorned with both a lemon and lime slice. Printed menu cards rested atop each place setting, providing a glimpse of the dinner selections to come. Olde Greenfield Inn created an hors d’oeuvres table on the ballroom’s centralized dance floor for cocktail hour, and then began serving the dinner, consisting of fresh garden salad, and the guest’s choice of Chicken Oscar, Prime Rib, or Seafood Newburg.

The delicious wedding cake was not the only thing for dessert that evening; after the cake was cut and the end of the night was nearing, Anita and Sean surprised guests with lemon and lime flavored Rita's Water Ice. Now that’s a “cool treat!”

Congratulations Anita and Sean! Best wishes!

Vendors:
Caterer: The Olde Greenfield Inn - www.theoldegreenfieldinn.com
Florist: All Things Beautiful - http://urpro.com/
Cake: Rosie's Creative Cakes - www.rosiescreativecakes.com
DJ: Stardust Entertainment, Ellen Wascou - www.stardustdjs.com
Photographer: The Wiebners - www.thewiebners.com

Friday, July 25th Wedding

2008-08-04T11:59:00.007-04:00

Photos from last week's double-wedding weekend are finally up! July 25th we hosted Mindy and Gordon's wedding reception, catered by Enck's Custom Catering. They chose to accent the ballroom's silver candelabra centerpices with peach and orange toned rose petals. The beautiful four-tier square wedding cake was displayed on the stage behind the couple's sweetheart table, creating the perfect backdrop for photos. Congratulations Minday and Gordon!

Vendors:
Caterer: Enck's Custom Catering - http://www.enckscatering.com/
Cake: Byers Butterflake Bakery - http://www.byersbakery.com/

Hamilton Events Email is Back!

2008-07-21T15:06:00.005-04:00

Emails are now able to be sent and received at the following addresses:

info@hamiltoneventsinc.com
jillfanning@hamiltoneventsinc.com
lindseydukeman@hamiltoneventsinc.com

Thank you for your patience. Look for our blog from this past Saturday's wedding being posted this week, and we've got a busy weekend planned with back-to-back Friday and Saturday weddings!

Designer Poll Results

2008-07-21T10:32:00.002-04:00

Badgley Mischka is the popular designer amoung our blog readers!

Be sure to vote on our next poll, "How do you feel about cake in the face?". We would love to know how you feel about the issue!

Email Difficulties

2008-07-17T08:53:00.002-04:00

Good morning readers! Unfortunately, as some of you may have already noticed, we are experiencing a few difficulties sending and receiving emails at hamiltoneventsinc.com. We are looking into the problem and hope to have it resolved soon. For the time being, emails can be sent to lindsey.dukeman@bjbaldwin.com or jillfanning@bjbaldwin.com.

Thank you for your patience while we work out the technological kinks!

Congratulations Kristina and Tony!

2008-07-15T11:01:00.005-04:00

Hamilton Ballroom welcomed Kristina and Tony on Saturday for a beautiful evening reception full of vibrant summer colors and delicious foods. The dinner was one of the most important features to this couple’s special day, especially since the groom is a chef. Various food stations serving wonderful selections of Italian, Mexican, Asian and New York style cuisine were set up around the ballroom, providing guests with an endless array of choices throughout the evening.

Special Occasions linens dressed all guest tables in black with a creamy white runner, while the food stations popped with sunny summer hues. Each guest received a homemade bar of soap preciously wrapped with an origami crane decoration.

A three-tiered cake beautifully incorporated the couple’s orange and green colors.

Thank you for sharing your special day with Hamilton Ballroom!

Vendors:
Caterer: Jim Switzenberg
Linens: Special Occasions - http://www.specialo.com/

Photographs from Jeremy Hess Photography

2008-07-08T14:27:00.002-04:00

Be sure to visit Jeremy Hess Photography's blog, which features a May wedding at Hamilton Ballroom at Wheatland Place! The pictures, taken by Daniel, are great! Here's the link:

www.jeremyhessphoto.blogspot.com/

Our New Look!

2008-07-07T12:32:00.004-04:00

Everyone needs a new look from time to time, right?! We think so!

Therefore, Hamilton Events just got a face lift with a new website design (www.hamiltoneventsinc.com) and blog design. We'd love to hear your comments of what you love and dislike about the new site, so please click on the comment link below and tell us your thoughts!

Cheers!

Cocktail Reception - Friday, June 27, 2008

2008-07-02T15:05:00.005-04:00

Lea and Eric celebrated their cocktail-style reception at Hamilton Ballroom on Friday evening. The couple, who was married out west earlier in the summer at a small and intimate ceremony, shared this special night with family and friends over great food, conversation, a little Frank Sinatra and stunning decor.
Kelly Steadman of All Things Beautiful created vibrant floral arrangements set on display throughout the ballroom and lobby. Hamilton Event's silver candelabra centerpieces created a soft glow against the "Mango" linens from Special Occasions.

Thank you for sharing your special day with Hamilton Events!

Vendors:

Caterer: Rettew's Catering - http://www.rettewscatering.com/
Linens: Special Occasions - http://www.specialo.com/
DJ: Diane Dayton - http://www.daytoncommunications.com/
Florist: All Things Beautiful - Kelly Steadman - http://www.allthingsbeautiful.urpro.com/

Ice Cream, Get Your Ice Cream!

2008-07-02T09:43:00.003-04:00

I stumbled across a great summer wedding idea today when checking out The Wiebner's blog (http://thewiebners.com/blog.cfm)... have an ice cream truck visit your wedding reception!

Check out the pictures from the Wiebners June 27th post! I can picture it now... the ice cream truck parked in front of Wheatland Place playing a catchy little tune with the bride and groom at the window.

Poll Results are in!

2008-07-02T09:09:00.004-04:00

We asked readers, "What part of your wedding are you most looking forward to?" The first place answer was "The Ceremony" with "The Food" coming in a close second.

Be sure to vote for your favorite wedding gown designer in this week's poll in the right column!

"Life's a Beach"

2008-06-24T13:55:00.008-04:00

Like the entry title states, "Life's a Beach" for happy couple Tom and Ruth who held their reception at Hamilton Ballroom on Saturday evening. With a mutual love of all things ocean and beach related, it came as no surprise that the theme for their reception centered on the beach.

Guests found their place cards on a ribbon-strung board, adorned with beach-related cutouts. In lieu of table numbers, the couple chose to name their guest tables after beaches they’ve spent time at throughout their years, including photos and descriptions of their significance.

Other special touches included the centerpieces – a fishbowl complete with live goldfish and floating candle surrounded by a collection of sea shells. Three scrapbooks and a digital photo frame were also on display in the corner of the ballroom for guests to admire throughout the evening. "It's a shore thing" playing card sets were given as favors to guests.

A beverage menu was created and displayed on a vintage-style easel next to the bar, featuring the bride’s favorite drinks, the groom’s favorite drinks, and a few of their shared favorite drinks.

What wedding is complete without a wedding cake? To follow with the couple's theme, Bella Manse created an amazing three-tier cake, complete with white chocolate edible sea shells and imitation sand made of crushed cookies and sugar sprinkles. Gorgeous!

It's a shore thing - this is one happy couple. Congratulations Tom and Ruth!

Vendors: DJ: Penguin Productions - http://www.penguinproductionsllc.com/
Cake: Bella Manse - http://www.bellamanse.com/

Did You Know...?

2008-06-23T15:23:00.004-04:00

We are often asked the following question from many of the couples we work with – “What do we do when we’re being toasted?” Many couples are seeking the perfect answer in how to respond to a toast, especially during their wedding reception. We like to refer to one of our favorite sources for etiquette - Emily Post’s “Etiquette” book by Peggy Post, which states the following:

The person being toasted does not rise or drink the toast. Instead a man rises and drinks to his toasters in return, either saying “Thank you,” or proposing his own toast to them. While a woman is perfectly free to make toasts if she wishes to, her reply to a toast may simply be a smile and nod in the direction of the speaker. She may also raise her glass toward the toaster in a gesture of “Thanks, and here’s to you, too,” after the toast to her has been completed.

If anyone has any etiquette-related questions, or any questions for that matter, please don’t hesitate to contact us at info@hamiltoneventsinc.com. Maybe one of your questions will be the topic of our next post!

The Junior League of Lancaster Wants YOU!

2008-06-19T21:41:00.002-04:00

I joined the Junior League of Lancaster last year, and it has been a very rewarding experience. It gives me the chance to give back to my community and the opportunity to meet many great women that I now call friends. Therefore, I wish to share the experience by passing on the following information on how to become apart of this great organization:

Who is the Junior League of Lancaster?
The Junior League of Lancaster is an organization committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.

So, how do you join?
The Junior League of Lancaster is accepting applications for the Fall New Member Training Class to be held on Saturday, September 27th, 2008. The session will run from 8:30 am – 5:00 pm with additional training meetings to follow in October, November and December. Interested women should visit our website at www.jllancaster.org for more information about the organization and membership process. The deadline for applications for the fall class is September 19th. If you would like someone to contact you, please either call 392-2415 or email membership@jllancaster.org.

All Creatures Great and Small

2008-05-29T21:03:00.006-04:00

I apologize to all our blog fans for the lack of posts lately! As Lindsey mentioned in the recent posts, wedding season has taken off. However, my main excuse is my new role as a mother. It is a lot of work!

My son entered to world in March, and this past weekend we celebrated his baptism. I believe every party must have some sort of theme or focus, but I was challenged when determining a theme for this party. I used most of the typical themes planning my nieces' and nephews' baptisms, so I had to get creative. The result was planning an event around "All creatures great and small, the Lord God loves them all."

Below are some pictures from the celebration:

I ordered inflatable animals from Oriental Trading and picked up packs of little jungle, farm and forest animals from a toy store. They will be a perfect addition to my son's toy chest!

Each child guest received one of the inflatable animals and these fun masks from Pottery Barn Kids. They were a hit with the kids!

House of Clarendon made a great cake for the celebration encompassing the theme. Not only do their cakes look wonderful, they taste so good!

And lastly, how can I end this post without showing off the little guest of honor? Here he is...

I better get started on his first birthday party, because he's growing so fast!

Cheers!

Jill

You are now pronounced...Husband and Wife

2008-05-29T15:31:00.005-04:00

Dawn and Michael were married this past Saturday, May 24th behind the doors of Hamilton Ballroom in front of family and friends. The ceremony was held in front of the stage with guests seated at surrounding tables and chairs. After the ceremony, the ballroom and guests transitioned into the cocktail hour while the bridal party was swept away for photographs.

Upon returning to Hamilton Ballroom, the bridal party was formally announced and the new Mr. and Mrs. Michael Burkholder made their way into the reception. Guests were served dinner courtesy of Rettew’s Catering, and danced to the sounds of Stardust Entertainment and Events.

Vendors:

Caterer: Rettew's Catering - http://www.rettewscatering.com/
DJ: Stardust Entertainment and Events - http://www.stardustdjs.com/
Cake: Bird-in-Hand Bakery - 1-800-524-3429
Photographer: Saba Studio - http://www.sabastudio.com/

Leadership Lancaster's Annual Celebration and Graduation

2008-05-29T15:00:00.008-04:00

Wednesday, May 21st Leadership Lancaster celebrated "25 Years of Leadership" along with their annual small-class graduation. The room was accented in gold and black hues, showcasing linens from Special Occasions. Guests and graduates dinned on a delicious array of buffet dishes provided by Rettew’s Catering. The event concluded with a small ceremony for the graduating class of approximately 40 graduates.

Vendors:

Caterer: Rettew’s Catering – http://www.rettewscatering.com/
Linens: Special Occasions – http://www.specialo.com/

A Montage of May Events - May 16, 2008 Wedding Reception

2008-05-29T14:23:00.004-04:00

This month has been a frenzy of weddings and special events, providing us with a small glimpse of what is yet to come over the upcoming summer months. On May 16th, Sheri and Scott shared their reception with family and friends on an unusually chilly and rainy May day; however, the rain certainly didn't stop their day of celebration.

Fun Websites

2008-04-27T16:23:00.003-04:00

I am in the midst of planning my son's baptism celebration, and it was my goal today to buy the party supplies online. I had such a great time during my hunt, and I stumbled upon several great website that I wish to share with you all. Here they are...

Children's Parties
If you're looking for themed decorations and party favors for a child's party, be sure to check out www.birthdayinabox.com. They have many unique theme party ideas and everything you need to carry out the theme.

Plates & Napkins
Looking for plates and napkins for your next event? This next site, www.platesandnapkins.com, should give you plenty of elegant options!

Taking Cupcakes to Another Level
Tired of using the boring cupcake wrappers that you find in the grocery store? Check out www.fancyflours.com for beautiful cupcake wrappers that I guarantee will impress your guests!

Decorative Tissues
Not sure what to get Mom for Mothers Day? Check out The Tissue Store at www.thetissuestore.com! You can give that special Mother a box of twelve assorted decorative tissues for $24.95. You'll be amazed at how many patterns tissues come in these days!

Enjoy!

Jill

April 19, 2008 Wedding Reception

2008-04-24T16:27:00.002-04:00

Jeremy and Jennifer celebrated their wedding reception this past Saturday on what proved to be yet another gorgeous April day. The entire bridal party was decked out in black and white checkered sneakers ready for their grand entrance into the ballroom. Personalized CDs were displayed in the lobby for guests, doubling as both their favors and place cards. Hors d'oeuvres were placed in the center of the ballroom for guests to mingle around as they enjoyed the video slideshow of the couple.

Congratulations Jeremy and Jennifer!

April Showers Bring....An Abundance of Weddings

2008-04-16T13:47:00.010-04:00

This past Saturday Erin and Anthony hosted their wedding ceremony and reception at Hamilton Ballroom. It was a gorgeous spring day for this glowing couple who exchanged vows in the center of the ballroom on the dance floor, as guests enjoyed the ceremony from their tables.

Immediately following the ceremony, the bridal party took advantage of the amazing weather and posed for pictures on the front lawn.

Guests dined on a delicious buffet dinner, courtesy of Enck's Custom Catering, and topped off their meals with dessert featuring wedding cake, ice cream, and personalized M&M favors.

Thank you for allowing Hamilton Events to be a part of your special celebration. Congratulations and best wishes!

Vendors:

Caterer: Enck's Custom Catering, http://www.enckscatering.com/

DJ: Lynn Sheely - 717.764.4794

Cake: Colebrook Bakery - 717.314.0694

Photographer: Artistic Difference

A Sweet Sixteen Celebration

2008-04-16T09:54:00.009-04:00

On March 20th we had the special honor of hosting a fabulous sweet sixteen birthday party. Megan celebrated her birthday in style with her family and a ballroom full of friends dressed to impress. DJ Freez provided the latest music hits that had the room dancing well into the night.

Grand Events and Party Rental provided lantern lounge lighting in the birthday girl's favorite color - green. The linens, from Special Occasions, also followed the green theme and reflected the lounge lighting perfectly.

A Shirley Temple bar was featured in the back of the room at the built-in bar, and was a huge hit with the guests, along with other teenage-friendly foods such as cheese quesadillas, mini hot dogs and boardwalk-style french fries among other items, all provided by Enck's Custom Catering. A petite green polka-dot cake with coordinating ribbon looked almost too good to eat.

Thank you for choosing to celebrate your special day with Hamilton Events; we hope it was a very happy birthday!

Vendors:
Caterer: Enck's Custom Catering, http://www.enckscatering.com/
Linens: Special Occasions, http://www.specialo.com/
DJ: DJ Freez, http://www.djfreez.com/
Specialty Lighting: Grand Events and Party Rental, http://www.grandeventspa.com/

March 15, 2008 Wedding

2008-04-02T10:49:00.014-04:00

It's been a few weeks since a new blog has been posted, so we're treating you to three new blog posts over the next two days! Exactly one month ago, Rebecca and Kevin celebrated their wedding reception at Hamilton Ballroom with close family and friends.

Beautiful floral arrangements by All Things Beautiful were displayed throughout the lobby as well as the table centerpieces. Each table had a different centerpiece created with coordinating flowers and colors to pull together the black, white and red theme.

The favors, homemade cookies in the shapes of "K"s and "R"s with a heart in the center, were frosted in the couple's signature colors and placed at each guests' place setting for a delicious reception snack.
Congratulations Kevin and Rebecca!

Vendors:

Caterer: The Olde Greenfield Inn, http://www.theoldegreenfieldinn.com/
Florist: All Things Beautiful, www.allthingsbeautiful.urpro.com/
Cake: The House of Clarendon, http://www.houseofclarendon.com/

The Knot Joins PhotoWorks

2008-03-10T13:15:00.004-04:00

Out of all the photo sites in the enormous world wide web, I am a huge fan of PhotoWorks. They have the best photo books, cards and other goodies. In March's newsletter from PhotoWorks, they have announced their partnership with The Knot to create very unique photo cards, invitations and even programs! The designs are beautiful! See for yourself by clicking on the following link:

The Knot Boutique at PhotoWorks

Enjoy!

Cheers,
Jill

The Oscars at Hamilton Ballroom

2008-03-04T13:40:00.008-05:00

Hamilton Ballroom at Wheatland Place hosted the Junior League of Lancaster's 2008 Celebrity Waiter Dinner on Saturday, March 1st. This fundraiser was a very dynamic and exciting event, and as a member of the Junior League of Lancaster, I was honored to be on this event's planning committee.

This year's Celebrity Waiter Dinner was planned around a theme--The Battle for the Oscar. Local business owners and other individuals purchased tables and acted as a celebrity waiter for their table. By using their creativity, the waiter earning the most tips at the end of the night won the Oscar!

The entrance of Wheatland Place was lined with stanchions roped in red satin to welcome guests to Hollywood!

The event's registration table was set up in the lobby of Wheatland Place adorned with a "Welcome to Hollywood" sign.
SHUMAKER supplied color changing luminaries for the grand entrance of Hamilton Ballroom. As the guests entered the ballroom, Junior League members posing as paparazzi greeted the guests on the red carpet.
Hollywood stars lined the red carpet with names of the evening's waiters and other patrons.
The evening's winning Oscar sat proudly on a high top at the end of the red carpet, along with the David Yurman raffle bracelet donated by VanScoy, Maurer & Bash. Red vases filled with vibrant red tullips from The Petal Co. created a backdrop for the Oscar and the bracelet. The tables were dressed in Special Occasion's newest additions--Fiesta! This red iridescent linen with gold swirls looked amazing in the ballroom and coordinated perfectly with the theme.

Popcorn tubs were used as tip jars and placed next to Hamilton Ballroom's silver candelabras. To inform guests about the Junior League of Lancaster, informational cards about the League were folded in the black dinner napkins. Silent auction displays were set up throughout the room, which SHUMAKER lit with spot lights. This allowed us to dim the ballroom's chandeliers to create a dramatic atmosphere yet still allow guests to view the auction items. The evening's caterer, The Olde Greenfield Inn, created a served dinner fit for the stars! Their menu offered a six leaf lion of March salad, hand carved beef tenderloin and all lump crab cake, whipped yukon gold piped potatoes sweetened with a touch of candied yams and julienned root vegetables in a smoky succotash style presentation. The dinner was complete with a creme brulee dessert. We are still receiving emails and calls from guests about the delicious dinner!

The event was a huge success, and I wish to thank all the vendors that contributed to this fabulous affair:

Certified Carpet for the Red Carpet

Grand Events & Party Rental, Stanchions, http://www.grandeventspa.com/

The Olde Greenfield Inn, www.theoldegreenfieldinn.com

The Petal Company, 717.394.6423

SHUMAKER, www.shumakerpdt.com

Special Occasions, www.specialo.com

Cheers!

Jill

A Grand Affair to Remember

2008-03-04T10:53:00.013-05:00

This past Friday evening one of our friends from Grand Events and Party Rental, Nicole, held her winter-themed wedding reception at Hamilton Ballroom. With the assistance of the team at Grand Events the ballroom was transformed into an icy blue winter wonderland.

Blue lighting illuminated the walls and sparkled through the crystal chandeliers that dangled from the ceiling. Each guest table was directly lit with pin spotting, highlighting the colorful iridescent table linens and beautiful floral centerpieces.

Guests were welcomed into the lobby by two unique and inviting features; a handmade tree of orchids towered atop of the escort card table, and a life-like dog made completely out of artificial flowers greeted the guests before they entered into the ballroom. Scrapbook cutouts were scattered across the coffee table for guests to sign.

The bridal party, eager to be announced, lined up in the lobby with the bride and groom for a few last minute photos before they were announced as the new Mr. and Mrs. Benedict.

The evening continued with a wonderful dinner buffet catered by The Olde Greenfield Inn, dancing, and a delicious cake featuring edible sugar snowflakes.

Congratulations Justin and Nicole!

Featured Vendors:

Caterer: The Olde Greenfield Inn - http://www.theoldegreenfieldinn.com/

Cake: The Cakery - http://www.lindascakery.com/

Lighting and Rentals: Grand Events and Party Rental - http://www.grandeventspa.com/

The Stork Club

2008-02-14T15:47:00.009-05:00

Several weekends ago, my family and friends surprised me with a baby shower at our very own Hamilton Ballroom. It was a wonderful event full of surprise, good conversation, great food and fabulous decor. There were so many people involved creating this big event, and I wish to share the memories will all of you!

The Surprise

Little did I know, there was no wedding at the ballroom the evening of January 19th! Lindsey was working at the "wedding" that evening, and she called me in a panic... "Jill, the bar lights went out! I can't get them to work, and my key does not open the supply closet... please come immediately!" I grabbed my keys, and my husband and I drove to the ballroom.

When I entered Wheatland Place, everything was silent. "Wow, quiet wedding," I thought. As I turned the corner into the ballroom a loud "Surprise" bursted through the room!

It was my baby shower! The room was filled with my friends and family. It was even a couples shower, which is a concept I love.

Lindsey with her sister... probably sharing the story about her fake panic phone call!

The Theme

My mother wanted to recreate the look and feel of The Stork Club in New York City, which was a famous club during the fifties. In the center of the ballroom's dance floor stood the most amazing stork ice sculpture.

Rod Shumaker and Lisa Wood (Shumaker: Plan, Design, Transform) hung childhood photographs of my husband and I near the stage of Hamilton Ballroom, along with placing speciality lighting along the peremiter of the room. The lighting really created the nightclub feel!

My mother, sister and sister-in-law looked to Special Occasions for dressing the tables. All the tables were adorned with white organza and shimmering fabrics.

The Food

Rettew's set up two wonderful food stations, and the passed hors d'oeuvres were amazing!

The Cake

What can I say? This was one beautiful and great tasing cake! By the way, you can even save the baby topper as a momento!

The Games

My sister and sister-in-law put together a great line up of games! There were two action packed games held up on stage for everyone to view. The most entertaining game was when the guys had to drink beer out of their baby bottles. Many would think that guys wouldn't get into baby shower games, but I must say the guys were really getting competitive!
The Gifts

I must point out the gift, the "Diaper Cake", that my brother and sister-in-law gave me... what a wonderful idea for a baby gift!
The Photographs

My mother knew how important photographs are to me, so she hired Jeremy Hess Photography to capture the evening. Nicola did a wonderful job shooting the event, and all the photographs featured in this blog entry were taken by her. It was truly my favorite gift of the evening.

The End

My family kept asking me, "How did we do planning the party for the family's party planner?" Well folks, I'm speechless. This baby shower was beyond anything I dreamed of, and I know a tremendous amount of work went into the planning. It is such a great feeling to have such a wonderful group of family and friends come together to plan this for my husband and I. They all put so much effort into the planning, and it was truly the shower of a lifetime. This baby is already surrounded by a lot of love. Thank you!

The Vendors

Photographer: Jeremy Hess Photography, www.jeremyhessphotography.com
Linens: Special Occasions, www.specialo.com
Cake: House of Clarendon, www.houseofclarendon.com
Catering: Rettew's Catering, www.rettewscatering.com
Lighting & Design: Rod Shumaker & Lisa Wood of Shumaker, www.shumakerpdt.com

Not so Black & White

2008-01-25T17:12:00.001-05:00

Hello Readers! First off, Lindsey and I would like to apologize for not blogging in ages. Since the holidays, we have been very busy meeting with many newly engaged couples. However, that is still not a good excuse.

Last week we did a small photo shoot with Jeremy Hess Photography for an upcoming ad, so we set up a black and white table for the shoot. We just have to show off the beautiful black and white floral linen from Special Occasions, as well as the small floral touches Kelly Stedman provided from All Things Beautiful.

Cheers!

Jill

A New Year of Celebrations - January 6, 2008 Wedding

2008-01-07T15:05:00.002-05:00

This past Sunday Hamilton Ballroom had the honor of hosting Steve and Richelle's special wedding day celebration; the first event to kick off our 2008 year of events! Guests were encouraged to leave special messages for the bride and groom on lose scrapbook pages, to later be added to their wedding scrapbook.

The ballroom was dressed in shades of chocolate and espresso brown, green and ivory. The colors were carried throughout in the couple's cupcake tower, floral decorations and creative favors displayed at each guest seat. In lieu of table numbers, the couple used downtown Lancaster street names. To continue with their Asian-inspired dinner, guests found fortune cookies nestled inside their favor boxes as part of their dessert. The main dessert, however, was the 4-tier cupcake tower, with alternating green and brown frosted cupcakes - which the groom set up with the help of his groomsmen!

Congratulations Steve and Richelle! Thank you for sharing your special day with Hamilton Ballroom.

Vendors:
Event design and rentals: Grand Events - Dustyn, http://www.grandeventspa.com/
Flowers: Royers Flowers, http://www.royersflowers.com/

December 29, 2007 Wedding

2008-01-07T14:50:00.002-05:00

Last weekend Hamilton Events was busy with back-to-back wedding receptions on Saturday and Sunday. First came Saturday's celebration with Al and Michelle. The couple arrived at the doors of Wheatland Place by limousine, as their guests waited anxiously inside the ballroom for the new Mr. and Mrs. Llorens to arrive.

Congratulations Michelle and Al!

Vendors:

Caterer: The Olde Greenfield Inn, http://www.theoldegreenfieldinn.com/

Cake: Bella Manse, http://www.bellamanse.come/

Finding the Perfect Dress

2008-01-04T14:52:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year, and congratulations to all the special couples that got engaged over the holiday! Let the fun begin for all of you lucky couples! Where to begin?!

Besides setting the date and choosing your wedding location, it is time to search for the perfect dress. However, many of you are probably thinking, "Where do I start?". Lucky for you, we have a wonderful nationally known designer right here in town--Janelle Berte. The Janelle Berte Studio is located on Liberty Street in Lancaster and her gowns are shown by appointment. Visit her website below to learn more about the designer and to view her gorgeous gowns:

Janelle Berte

There are also great gowns on the web from our favorite clothing shops--JCrew and Ann Taylor. Both stores have fabulous bridesmaids' dresses that fun and vibrant... and most importantly, you can easily wear them again and again! Their wedding gowns are also beautiful and affordable with styles coordinating with the bridesmaids' dresses. Visit the links below to view their great selections:

JCrew's Weddings & Parties Shop
Ann Taylor Celebrations

Once again, congratulations to all the newly engaged couples! Be sure to call Hamilton Events today to reserve your wedding date... the phone is ringing constantly and we're quickly filling up for 2008!

Cheers!
Jill

Additional Photos from "60 Years of My Life" Birthday Celebration

2007-12-21T10:59:00.000-05:00

Please enjoy some additional photos from the December 8th birthday celebration - "60 Years of My Life". The birthday girl arrives and is immediately greeted by "Joan Rivers" for her interview.
Guest photos taken from the red carpet were then used to create these fabulous favors - personalized People Magazine covers mailed to each guest after the event. We love it!

Get Your FIG!

2007-12-14T15:06:00.001-05:00

Do you find yourself sitting around the house wondering what you're going to do this weekend? Why not head on downtown for a little holiday shopping excursion?! If you're not familiar with downtown Lancaster, pick up the "fig" to guide you through the city. This 8" square booklet will give you the hippest places to check out! You can also visit their website at www.figlancaster.com for more information.

You'll also find our ad in this winter addition of fig, which is shown below:

The fig is also a great piece to give to your wedding guests from out of town. Contact us at info@hamiltoneventsinc.com to find out how to recieve your copies today!

"60 Years of My Life" ... A Very Special Birthday Celebration

2007-12-11T14:44:00.000-05:00

Saturday was an evening full of "Hollywood Glamour and Glitz" as Hamilton Ballroom at Wheatland Place was transformed into a Hollywood setting for an Oscar-themed birthday celebration. "Paparazzi" lined the red carpet entrance leading from the lobby into the ballroom, snapping shots of guests as they arrived for the event.

The paparazzi showered guests with comments and questions as they strut their stuff down the red carpet, making them feel like stars. "Tell us who you're wearing!" - "I adore your shoes!" - "Who are you here with tonight?"The Hollywood inspired event would not have been complete without the fabulous Joan Rivers positioned on the red carpet, armed with her witty questions and commentary.

Thyme and Seasons catered the award-winning dinner spread for the event, consisting of three stations of various cuisine. Rosie Rohrer of Rosie's Creative Cakes created the gorgeous three-tiered birthday cake, featuring a dramatic red carpet cascading down the center with a golden Oscar statue resting on top. An Oscar award was presented to the birthday girl for her performance in "60 Years of My Life", the theme and title of the birthday celebration.

Happy Birthday Mrs. Allison!

Vendors:

Caterer: Thyme and Seasons - 717.394.5554

Cake: Rosie's Creatieve Cakes - http://www.rosiescreativecakes.com/

DJ: Class Act DJS - 717.285.2544

"Paparazzi": In the Spotlight Casting - 717.509.3890

December 7th Holiday Party

2007-12-11T14:21:00.000-05:00

The MRI Group, LLP hosted their annual Holiday Party at Hamilton Ballroom on Friday evening, kicking off a busy weekend for Hamilton Events.

Colorful poinsettia arrangements were used for centerpieces at each guest table, and the focal point of the room was the 3 foot lit Christmas tree surrounded by employee Christmas gifts - Godiva Chocolate Gift Boxes. Thyme and Seasons catered the event, creating festive dinner and dessert stations for guests to sample from.Happy Holidays MRI Group!

Vendors:
Caterer: Thyme and Seasons - 717.394.5554

November 23rd Wedding Continuation

2007-11-28T13:00:00.000-05:00

More photos are posted from Noelle and Joe's wedding last Friday evening!

The bride and groom shared a special bistro-style sweetheart table complete with bistro chairs adorned with red sashes.. A subtle red glow from the lanterns lining the walk lit the path for guests to the entrance of Hamilton Ballroom. Best wishes Noelle and Joe!

November 23, 2007 Wedding

2007-11-27T10:57:00.000-05:00

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Joe Kenneff! The couple celebrated their wedding reception last Friday evening surrounded by friends and family gathered at Hamilton Ballroom for a cocktail style reception. Vibrant shades of red and gold filled the ballroom, complete with Chinese lanterns of varying sizes and decorated trees.
The caterer - Culinary Creations created a platter of chocolate-dipped strawberries, a favorite indulgence of the couple, which was displayed atop their sweetheart table. Guests migrated from one hors d'oeuvres station to the next sampling on various creations.

In lieu of a traditional-style wedding cake, the bride's friend/reception designer crafted a beautiful hand-made cupcake tower, which also featured a festive holiday tree sprouting from the center. Guests also sampled from the large array of sweets that remained available throughout the reception at the couple's candy station. Bags of pre-wrapped goodies were given as favors.

Congratulations to the happy couple! More photos from Noelle and Joe's special celebration to come.

Vendors:
Caterer - Culinary Creations, 717.854.4937

Florist - Floral Designs by Heather Ann, 717.575.7819

Cupcakes - Oregon Dairy, 717.656.2856

Mr. and Mrs. Joel Lehman

2007-11-14T11:54:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to the new Mr. and Mrs. Joel Lehman!

Ivory, copper and hints of autumn colors filled the ballroom for this past Saturday's wedding celebration. A beautiful framed calligraphy art piece created by one of the guests was set on display in the lobby showcasing the union of the couple.

Guests were tempted with hors d'oeuvres by The Olde Greenfield Inn and enjoyed an elegant served dinner after the arrival of the bridal party.

The tables were dressed with ivory linens and kissed with a subtle hint of color brought out by the copper table runners and autumn floral arrangements.

Once again, congratulations. We wish you a very happy future together!

Vendors:

Caterer - The Olde Greenfield Inn, http://www.theoldegreenfieldinn.com/

Photographer - Jeremy Hess Photography, http://www.jeremyhessphotography.com/

Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Mel Carwile

2007-11-05T14:31:00.000-05:00

Hamilton Events had the pleasure of hosting the wedding reception for Mel and Abbie Carwile on Saturday. Guests arrived Saturday evening to begin the cocktail hour, with hors d'oeuvres provided by Thyme and Seasons, followed by a station-style dinner featuring delicious food stations serving carved meats, sides and salads, and a live pasta station.

The lobby was a buzz of activity as entering guests found their table numbers paired with their favors, a pair of heart-shaped cookie cutters, complimented by a green ribbon carrying out the couple's sage green theme.

Congratulations Mel and Abbie. Thank you for allowing Hamilton Events to be a part of your special day!

Vendors:
Caterer: Thyme and Seasons, http://www.thymeseasons.com/
DJ: Roger Campbell of Top Hat Entertainment, http://www.tophatdj.net/
Photographer: Edwin Huddle, http://www.edwinhuddle.com/

October 27, 2007 Wedding

2007-10-31T13:56:00.000-04:00

What started off as a wet and soggy Saturday soon turned into a day of sunshine for Rachel and Shawn's special wedding reception at Hamilton Ballroom. The couple currently live in Colorado and used different locations and favorite places throughout Colorado as inspiration for their table names.

Guests found their escort cards displayed in the lobby which directed them to their uniquely named tables within the ballroom. The Olde Greenfield Inn displayed hors d'oeuvres on the dance floor for guests to nibble on before the main course buffet.

The beautiful three-tiered cake, created by a relative of the family, was positioned on the stage to serve as the couple's backdrop to their sweetheart table.

After dinner, guests danced the night away to the sounds of Ellen Wascou with Stardust Entertainment and Events. Congratulations Shawn and Rachel!

Vendors:
Caterer: The Olde Greenfield Inn, http://www.theoldegreenfieldinn.com/
DJ: Ellen Wascou of Stardust Entertainment and Events, http://www.stardustdjs.com/

Tips & Trends Debut

2007-10-30T09:31:00.000-04:00

Hamilton Events, Inc. is debuting its premier issue of Tips & Trends, a newsletter offering you planning advice and the latest buzz in the wedding industry. You can now download your pdf version below:

Fall 2007 Tips & Trends

Check it out and give us feedback on what you would like to see in the next issue! We would also love to include a question & answer feature in future newsletters, so email us your questions at info@hamiltoneventsinc.com.

Enjoy!
Jill

The Rose Wedding Day at The Eden

2007-10-29T16:07:00.000-04:00

What a fun day!

Yesterday we set up shop at The Rose Wedding Day at The Eden Resort. Lindsey and I began our day at the ballroom gathering items that would best describe Hamilton Ballroom in an 8' by 10' booth. It is always a challenge, but we had a plan! Once the car was packed full of black chiavari chairs, tables, silver candelabras, enlarged photographs, and many other goodies, we made our way to the show.

After we arrived, we went to visit our friends from Grand Events, because they had a high top table, a 48" round table and their beautiful silver-rimmed china reserved for our booth. Their team was in the midst of setting up a beautiful tent in the outdoor courtyard, which covered several creative table tops. Well done, Grand Events!

We headed back to our booth with our tables and china, and we continued to set up our space. Special Occasions supplied our linens for the day, which included our favorite linen, Tiffany Satin. We also used their brand new silver linen!

Tables, check! Linens, check! Our florist, Kelly Stedman of All Things Beautiful, then arrived with our arrangements. Kelly did such an amazing job with the arrangements! She always listens to what you want and then takes it one step beyond!

Below are photographs of our completed booth:

Kelly Stedman created a floral base for the silver candelabras that is included in the rental of Hamilton Ballroom. What a great way to combine flowers with elegant candlelight!

Kelly Stedman also has a great inventory of napkin rings, and we are a huge fan of the napkin rings below. They are actually small bud vases. Brides were coming back to the booth with their cameras to capture this idea!
The brides entered in full force, and it was so enjoyable talking with every one of them. We served a signature drink, Something Blue, which was a hit! You can find our recipe in our first newsletter called Tips and Trends, which made its debut at the show. (I will work on getting the newsletter on our website for you to download... we'll update you when it is up!) We saw new faces as well as brides and grooms currently planning their weddings at Hamilton Ballroom. It was also nice to see our favorite vendors in the world of weddings, such as The Knot, The House of Clarendon, and Amanda and Ray of Olde Greenfield Inn.

We hope all the attendees had a wonderful time! I wish there was more time to spend with each of you, but please contact us if you want to set up an appointment to come see the ballroom for yourself rather than crammed into an 8' x 10' booth! We can then get into more details of your event!

Cheers!
Jill

Participants of the Hamilton Events Booth:
Grand Events, http://www.grandeventspa.com/
Special Occasions, http://www.specialo.com/
Kelly Stedman of All Things Beautiful, http://allthingsbeautiful.urpro.com/

October 20, 2007 Wedding

2007-10-24T14:26:00.000-04:00

Love was certainly in the air for our two Villanova sweethearts this past Saturday. Sarah and Andrew, who met during their college years at Villanova, celebrated their wedding reception behind the doors of Hamilton Ballroom with close family and friends.

Guests were welcomed into the lobby with photographs of the happy couple and found their place cards displayed under a warm autumn wreath tying in the colors used throughout the day.

The Olde Greenfield Inn created a delicious hors d'oeuvres display featured on the ballroom's centralized dance floor for guests to enjoy before they were served dinner.

The tables were dressed with crisp white linens from Olde Greenfield, accompanied by coordinating cranberry linen napkins. Hamilton Ballroom's elegant silver candelabra centerpieces created a warm glow that carried throughout the evening.

"Love is Brewing." Guests were treated to personalized favors - petite bags containing all of the goodies necessary for a great cup of tea, with a favorite drink recipe of the couple's tucked away inside.

It has been a pleasure working with Sarah and her family towards her special wedding celebration. Best wishes for a happy marriage!

Vendors:

Caterer: Olde Greenfield Inn, theoldegreenfieldinn.com/