Shake Up that Company Meeting

Are you looking for a great way to spice up your next company meeting? Changing things up every now and again ensures that your employees pay attention and stay focused. It is also a good way to impress visitors or prospective clients. We have the perfect way to do both: Have your next company meeting at the Tonawanda Castle!

We have plenty of unique and comfortable rooms to accommodate any size function. After the meeting, your attendees can retire to a comfortable sofa and chat informally. The historic ambiance is a great conversation starter and can really help new employees and visitors break the ice. Additionally, you and your party can enjoy delicious treats prepared by our  very own in-house chef.

Interested? Give us a call and start planning the best company meeting you’ll ever have.

 

It’s Bridal Show Season!

There are two great bridal shows coming up in the Buffalo area, both of which are worth attending if you are planning on tying the knot soon!

Brides World is coming to the Buffalo Convention Center on Sunday, January 8th. The show will start at 10:30 and last until 4:30. Some great reasons to attend this event:

* Over 120 wedding specialists

*Numerous fashion shows throughout the day

* Tickets are only $7 at the door, or $5 if you register online.

The Buffalo Bridal Expo will be held at the Seneca Niagara Casino and Hotel in Niagara Falls from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm.

* High-energy fashion runway shows

* Tickets are FREE!

Make sure you arrive ready to experience all that Buffalo has to offer in terms of wedding venues, fashion and entertainment.  Hope to see you there!

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Pilgrims may not have eaten turkey on Thanksgiving, but for most Americans today, the holiday would just not be the same without a bird! However, most of us have eaten the same roasted turkey with stuffing and mashed potatoes each year since we were kids… and switching it up a little might be nice for a change! Here are a few great ways to spice up that Thanksgiving meal without leaving Tom the Turkey out in the cold.

Barbecue it! The weathermen are calling for a sunny Thanksgiving, so why not toss that turkey on the grill with some corn on the cob and grilled sweet potatoes?

Deep fried turkey may not be the healthiest option, but there is a reason why it is becoming so popular… it is so moist and so delicious, you may never want roasted turkey again. This is a great guide to check out if you are a first-time fryer.

If you prefer a more traditional (and probably healthier) approach, and wish to roast your turkey, there are still some great ways to spice it up and deviate from the ordinary.

*Brining your turkey adds flavor and moisture without adding fat.

* Lemon-Pepper roasted turkey is a great way to add lighter, citrus flavors to your meal.

Or, you could completely disregard any sort of health recommendation and wrap your turkey in bacon… (Mmmm…)

So, did we throw you off by not posting about weddings and showers? Good! We needed a break for the holidays and we thought you could use one too.

Enjoy your turkey and have a happy Thanksgiving,

The Tonawanda Castle

 

 

Five Strange Cakes

These days, wedding cakes range from elegant and traditional to far, far out there! Here are the top 5 (as determined by us!)MOST unique wedding cakes we could find on the internet. Yum? Maybe…

Number 5: People joke about wives and husbands arguing all of the time… but depicting his death on the wedding cake? That may be taking it too far!

Number 4: Hello Kitty fans are everywhere. Most have some Hello Kitty pajamas, a few pencils, and maybe a Hello Kitty bumper sticker on their car. This fan has an entire Hello Kitty wedding cake.

Number 3: We really hope they remembered to pack Super Mario in their honeymoon suitcase!

Number 2: This would have been the number one strangest cake… but since we were not quite sure what it was, we decided to place it second.

Number 1:  And the strangest, most unique wedding cake we could find is… Hamburger cake! I wonder what they served at the reception…

 

Jack and Jill Showers

Traditionally, the bridal shower was meant as a celebration for the lady, but many modern couples have embraced the idea of the Jack and Jill Shower- a wedding shower that involves the bride and the groom.  This is a great way to honor these two special people as a couple and gives guests an opportunity to give gifts that both the bride and groom can use.

Think couple’s gifts are hard to find? Think again… grills, kitchen items, furniture, law care equipment, and even home improvement gift cards are all fair game. If you are planning the shower, you can even suggest that single men bring gifts more suited to the the groom, while single women bring gifts more suited to the bride. Couples can bring gifts that the bride and groom can use together.

A Jack and Jill Shower gives the bride and groom an opportunity to celebrate with all of their friends and family, regardless of gender. It also gives the men the opportunity to do some party planning for once! For those seeking a more modern way to celebrate their love, including the groom in the shower is worth considering.

 

 

 

The Champagne Toast

One of the decisions you must make when planning your wedding reception is whether to include a champagne toast. Most couples choose to include a champagne toast for the bride and groom… but who else should be included? It is always thoughtful to serve champagne to all guests, but if you budget does not allow for it, you do not have to feel obligated.

The Bride and Groom are Special. They are, in fact, the reason why everyone has gathered for a reception in the first place. Guests will understand if they are excluded from the champagne toast, as long as they are otherwise included in the festivities.

Consider including the head table. Since these people are near and dear to your heart and have probably put a lot of effort into helping you plan the event, you should consider honoring them by providing a champagne toast, even if you exclude other guests. Also, consider including the parents’ table if you have one.

Consider whether or not your guests even enjoy champagne. If you provide it, they may toast with it and only drink it because they feel obligated. They may not even drink it at all. Do you really want to pay for something your guests do not even enjoy? Talk with your fiance about your guests’ tastes and try to decide whether or not they are collectively a champagne-drinking crowd. If the answer is yes, including them in the champagne toast is a lovely gesture. If the answer is no, save your money to spend elsewhere (custom appetizers, an extra entree choice, and signature drinks are touches that everyone can enjoy!)

Vets H.E.R.D.

As you may have H.E.R.D., the Tonawanda Castle is hosting a Veterans’ Day fundrasier to benefit Vets H.E.R.D. on November 11, 2011. This is a wonderful organization with the goal of raising awareness about the lack of resources for Veterans in our area. H.E.R.D. stands for “Helping Empower Returning and Disabled Veterans”. This group is run entirely by volunteers, most of whom are retired veterans, their family members, and their friends. For more information on the group, check out Vertsherd.com… and don’t forget to come to the benefit on Veteran’s Day!