Friday's Beautiful Bride at the Hawthorne Hotel

Last night I saw this beautiful bride and her flower girl waiting for her ride to the church, with the rest of her wedding party in the lobby of the Hawthorne Hotel. I asked her if I could take their photo and put in on our blog, and she agreed.

I hope you have the opportunity to come to the Hawthorne Hotel soon. Perhaps you will be the next beautiful bride to be featured on our Wedding Blog.

The Hawthorne offers a combination unique to us -- an historic building with contemporary ideals, the North Shore's premier wedding venue, with down-to-earth sensibilities that show in exemplary service.

We can't wait to help you with your wedding.

Juli

Tracy Ash and Mike Cavalieri Celebrate at the Hawthorne Hotel

Not every wedding cake has to be white. Here is a lovely cake done in a kind of pale pistachio color, accented with ivory, that is simply lovely.

This past Saturday was a busy one at the Hawthorne. We had Tracy and Mike get married during the day, and celebrate in the Ballroom. Here is Tracy with her maid of honor, Jessica Soep. Jessica works here at the Hawthorne Hotel as a Wedding Coordinator. So, was this a busman's holiday for Jess? Yes, indeed, and it looks like she had great fun helping her best friend celebrate such a special occasion right here.
 

This weekend we had a lovely wedding in Nathaniel's and Sophia's

Here are some of the photos we took of our set-up the this lovely couple.
In this first photo you can see how dressed up it makes the table to have chair covers as part of the selection.
Here is a closeup of the flowers. The couple decided to give a gift to the Jimmy Fund instead of favors for their guests.
The ceremony took place in Sophias. 

What our guests tell us about their experiences. . . at the Hawthorne Hotel

A guest from Chicago, Illinois recently wrote to us about their experience in Nathaniel's Restaurant:
"Tony and Ashley were both competent, courteous, friendly and knowledgeable. A real pleasure to have them as servers. The meal and the service was comparable to the finest meals we've had in San Diego (the Del Coronado) and Charleston, S.C. Wonderful ambiance. A four-star experience."

and another guest wrote about eating in the Tavern:
"Allison was an excellent server. Very timely, accommodating & very friendly. The entire staff (Adam & Herson too) were excellent. We will surely return."

and these guests from Danbury, Connecticut said:
"The staff in the Tavern on the Green were wonderful, especially the bartender. He was really friendly and nice. I love the setting & feel of the hotel. The location is great. Will be back."

last but not least are these comments from a recent bride:
"Dear Claire,
I just wanted to write and let you know how fabulously my wedding reception was run on June 4th. I had the absolute best day because of you and your exceptional and fabulous staff.

Everything went so unbelievably smoothly. I really had the best day of my life and felt so spoiled by everyone! Thank you so much for making myself, Leo and our families and friends feel so special!

I had absolutely no stress that night because of you!

With many, many thanks and warm regards,Kristen

P.S. Everyone also raved about the delicious food!!"

These kinds of comments make my work so enjoyable. I hope you will try us soon, and let me hear from you as well.

Juli

An engaging evening

December 20, 2005, Michael and Kristine in front of our poinsettia tree in the lobby.


We always love playing Cupid here at the Hawthorne Hotel. On Friday night, December 16 we got to have that experience in a big way.

Michael Everett called us to reserve a Sweetheart Package and let us know that this was a big surprise, and that he planned to propose to Kristine Ruane that night at their dinner in Nathaniel's. We helped him to keep the secret, and we were so thrilled to learn that she accepted.

When I talk to people about careers in the hotel business, I try to remember to tell them about how much I enjoy my job and the reason is shown in this perfect example. We are almost always dealing with people in what I like to call "occasions of grace". Our guests are usually here to celebrate life-milestone experiences, whether they are engagements, weddings, birthdays, bridal or baby showers, holiday events, or even business meetings.

We all wish Michael and Kristine the very best in their journey through life, and look forward to helping them celebrate many, many of their life-milestone experiences with us right here at the Hawthorne Hotel in Salem.

Juli

Weddings at the Hawthorne and a connection for us all

Carl and Erin Topp, celebrating their 20th anniversary in June of 2006



One of the lovely things about working at the Hawthore Hotel is meeting couples like Carl and Erin Topp, who were married right here, 20 years ago. It is so nice that we are able to be here, year after year, providing a 'touch-stone' for people who want to come and celebrate their fond memories of their special days.

Having the National Trust and HHA to help us market ourselves as part of a group of historic hotels, which in turn helps to keep us all in business, so that we will be here year after year, helping to preserve such memories.

In visiting with the Topps, Marianne Stewart, one of our Dining Services Managers, learned that the place where they were married, within our building, has been changed to another use, but their reception took place upstairs in a meeting room that is still there. She said they were just as happy this evening as they were with their meals and their event, 20 years ago.

Congratulations, Carl and Erin. We look forward to welcoming you back, year after year, at the Historic Hawthorne Hotel.

Juli

A beautiful wedding

The ballroom always looks spectacular with the tall flower arrangements such as these shown here. This kind of arrangement, alternating tall and low styles on the tables is particularly interesting, and shows off both the room and the flowers in a lovely way.

This photo also shows off the 'grandmother windows' at the front end of the room. These windows were originally used for the chaperones to watch over the young dancers, at dances way back when. Now they are a charming part of this historic hotel, often used by brides to throw their bouquets to the assembled young maidens below.

I hope we will be able to do a special event for you!

Juli

How do you combine a Wedding with the Boston Red Sox?

Here is one way. Outfit our servers with Boston Red Sox ballcaps, hawker's trays full of cookies frosted to look like baseballs, and other goodies, and send them around the banquet room passing those treats to the wedding guests.

Have the band play appropriately themed music, and you're there. A summer wedding this year did exactly that, and this was the result.

A big hit with the groom, who was obviously missing one of his favorite things to do on a Friday night!

What a nice surprise from the bride and her family to the newest member of their family.

Having a view into other people's lives here at the Hawthorne Hotel makes our work that much more interesting. We thought you might enjoy seeing this too.

Juli

The "Red Wedding Dress" Wedding

In February of 2006 we had a very unusual wedding here, because the bride wore a red wedding dress. She was absolutely lovely, and the dress was a classic wedding dress style. The red just made it smashing!

We hope you enjoy seeing this and the many other photos on our wedding blog -- all related to weddings here at the Hawthorne Hotel.

Juli