Century House http://thecenturyhouse.com Thu, 10 May 2012 20:09:06 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 The Century House to Be Honored http://thecenturyhouse.com/blog/2012/05/10/the-century-house-to-be-honored/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-century-house-to-be-honored http://thecenturyhouse.com/blog/2012/05/10/the-century-house-to-be-honored/#comments Thu, 10 May 2012 20:09:06 +0000 blogmaster http://thecenturyhouse.com/?p=489 Continue reading →]]> Latham, NY-  On May 15, The Regional Food Bank of Northeastern, NY will recognize the Century House Hotel and Restaurant as one of their 30 friends in 30 years for their participation in the Enjoy One, Share One Program.

 WHO:  The Century House Hotel & Restaurant and The Regional Food Bank of  Northeastern, NY.

WHEN:           Tuesday, May 15, 2012, 5:00pm – 8:00pm

WHERE:         The Century House Restaurant, 997 Loudon Rd (Route 9)

WHAT:           In 2009, Managing Partner of The Century House, Colin DeMers, created the Enjoy One Share One program. By partnering with The Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York, the program has provided more than 275,000 meals (with the number growing daily) to those in need.

 All guests of The Century House who order an entrée in the dining room, banquet, meeting or wedding, or spend a night in any one of the hotel rooms, The Century House will provide one meal in each guests honor through the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York.

 On May 15th, the Food Bank will celebrate its accomplishments since its inception in 1982 and recognize “30 Friends in 30 Years,” a group of special volunteers and supporters who have helped the Food Bank feed the poor and hungry in our communities. The event costs $50 per person. To purchase tickets, please contact Caitlyn Krug at 518.786.3691.

]]> http://thecenturyhouse.com/blog/2012/05/10/the-century-house-to-be-honored/feed/ 0 Renew Your Vows at the Century House! http://thecenturyhouse.com/blog/2012/05/06/renew-your-vows-at-the-century-house/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=renew-your-vows-at-the-century-house http://thecenturyhouse.com/blog/2012/05/06/renew-your-vows-at-the-century-house/#comments Sun, 06 May 2012 23:49:19 +0000 blogmaster http://thecenturyhouse.com/?p=486 Continue reading →]]> With Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon’s Parisian vow renewal ceremony that took place at the end of April, it got us thinking about the great vow renewals we have hosted at the Century House over the years.  Recommitting to your partner with a vow renewal ceremony, either large or small, has become increasingly popular at the Century House.

 

 

While our vow renewal ceremonies may not be overlooking the Eiffel Tower, we have had many beautiful celebrations full of love and laughter at the Century House.  Why would a couple choose to renew their vows?  To celebrate of course! Whether you’ve made it to 10, 25, or 50 years together or you just want to say “I Do” all over again, a vow renewal is the perfect way to celebrate your love and commitment to one another.

Need some ideas for your ceremony?  We have put together a list of ideas to aid you as you put together the perfect celebration:

Involve Your Family:  As your love has grown over the years, there is a likelihood that your family has grown as well!  Having your family involved in your vow renewal will only add to the uniqueness of the event.  If you want to involve the family, lighting a unity candle during the ceremony signifies the special bond your family shares (as well as a great photo opportunity!).  Instead of the husband walking the bride down the aisle, ask family members to escort.  Your grandchildren (if you have any!) can get involved by ringing hand bells and sprinkling flower petals as you renew your vows.

Make It Personal:   Vow renewals at the Century House have ranged from small, intimate ceremonies followed by a classic dinner to a party that resembles a second wedding complete with a live band and full buffet.  Each couple has their own style and that is one of the things we love about planning these sort of events!  Arrange the date of the ceremony to fall on an anniversary or another important date in the relationship.

Bring the Party Outside:  With spring here and summer right around the corner, it’s a great opportunity to take advantage of the outdoor tent the Century House has set up for the season.  Under the sunshine and in the company of friends and family is a great way to kick off your ceremony.  Over the years, many brides and grooms have enjoyed outdoor ceremonies at the Century House!

Display Your Love:  Whether your celebration is big or small, don’t forget that it’s all about you as a couple!  We love couples who have showed images of themselves together over the years.  Some ceremonies have started with segments of the couple’s original wedding video or a slideshow of wedding pictures.  Include other snapshots of your life together throughout the ballroom.   Gather images of holidays past, pictures with your newborn(s), celebrations at the home you’ve built together or images from your honeymoon.

Get Assistance From A Wedding Professional:  Do you want to have a vow renewal ceremony but don’t know how to begin planning the event?  Luckily for you, the Century House has an in-house wedding professional at the disposal of our clients.  With the addition of Colleen Kestel-Raidmae to our Century House wedding team, couples can feel comfortable knowing they are in good hands as their event approaches.  With event planning experience in major cities such as Santa Fe, Portland, and Las Vegas, Colleen can truly make the vision of your perfect day a reality.

 

If you have any questions about how the Century House can help you plan your vow renewal, contact Colleen at 518-785-0834, x405 or Colleen@TheCenturyHouse.com.  We look forward to having you!

]]> http://thecenturyhouse.com/blog/2012/05/06/renew-your-vows-at-the-century-house/feed/ 0 AKRON PRINCIPAL HONORED BY SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS ASSOCIATION OF NYS http://thecenturyhouse.com/blog/2012/04/18/akron-principal-honored-by-school-administrators-association-of-nys/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=akron-principal-honored-by-school-administrators-association-of-nys http://thecenturyhouse.com/blog/2012/04/18/akron-principal-honored-by-school-administrators-association-of-nys/#comments Wed, 18 Apr 2012 02:24:27 +0000 blogmaster http://thecenturyhouse.com/?p=482 Continue reading →]]> Akron Central High School Principal Mr. Joseph Lucenti was nominated and chosen to receive the 2011-12 James E. Allen Award from the School Administrators Association of New York State (SAANYS).  The award will be presented at the 2012 awards reception and dinner to be held on May 4, 2012 at the Century House in Latham, New York.  The evening’s events begin at 6:00PM.

For more information visit here.

]]> http://thecenturyhouse.com/blog/2012/04/18/akron-principal-honored-by-school-administrators-association-of-nys/feed/ 0 Alexandra and Dino’s Wedding: Modern Elegance at the Century House in Latham, New York http://thecenturyhouse.com/blog/2012/04/11/alexandra-and-dinos-wedding-modern-elegance-at-the-century-house-in-latham-new-york/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=alexandra-and-dinos-wedding-modern-elegance-at-the-century-house-in-latham-new-york http://thecenturyhouse.com/blog/2012/04/11/alexandra-and-dinos-wedding-modern-elegance-at-the-century-house-in-latham-new-york/#comments Wed, 11 Apr 2012 21:12:14 +0000 blogmaster http://thecenturyhouse.com/?p=474 Continue reading →]]> A beautiful June wedding in the Capital Region?  What’s not to love!  Alexandra and Dino wed at the Century House in the summer of 2011 in front of family, friends and a hopping Greek band!  Despite planning their wedding from a thousand miles away in Atlanta, Georgia, they had the evening of their dreams full of tradition and modern elegance.  In this blog, the happy couple explains what made their day so perfect!


What was the overall style of your wedding?
The over all style of the wedding was elegant, but somewhat traditional and simple. I made sure to keep the color scheme simple: The flowers were various types of whites and ivory, with a hint of natural, lime greens. The guys’ tuxedos were traditional black on black, Dino standing out with an ivory tie and vest. The bridesmaids’ dresses were lapis, a color I just happened to come upon during the planning process, and it looked great on all of my bridesmaids (blondes and brunettes). It was a great touch, because it added the right amount of a more modern color to a generally traditional look. I extended this look throughout the wedding by finding matching ribbon to do the favors with, etc. It was a simple color scheme to use throughout.
As you were planning your wedding, what was the most important thing to you and Dino?
The most important thing to Dino and me when planning our wedding was to make sure our wedding was fun, and that every single one of our guests would enjoy themselves. I cannot say that we stressed one specific thing, such as food, music, flowers, or other various aspects, over another. Granted, it was important for me to make sure the flowers came out as I had originally envisioned. Evan, owner of Anthology Studios in Schenectady, made sure that that was the case! I expected the food to be as tasty as it was for our tasting, as of course it was.
Also, given that both families, and in general, friends were all Greek or Greek-American, it was very important for us to find a band that fit our niche. We used Orfeas, a Greek band from Boston, and we would love to have an excuse to hire them again! Photograph was also very important to me.  Evan from Anthology referred me to Tiffany Wayne Photography. To express my overall happiness with the results… there is not a day that has gone by since the wedding that I don’t look at the wedding pictures I have framed in my house, and say, “Wow, I had an awesome photographer.” Again, I would love an excuse to be able to hire Tiffany again for her outstanding talent.
I should note here that I planned my entire wedding from 1,000 miles away, in Atlanta, Georgia. I was not able to move to Albany until one month before the wedding date. While this made things stressful at times, I believe it was the professionalism and experience of my vendors that made the long distance planning process doable.
What other vendors did you use for your wedding?
Aside from the vendors I listed above, I used Ania Hair Studio for hair and makeup for myself and my bridesmaids. They did an amazing job with both hair and makeup and made the morning of the wedding day go by in such a relaxing way. Each bridesmaid’s hair was so unique, and was designed to fit the individual. Most importantly though, everyone’s hair and makeup lasted the entire day… from 10:00 am, until midnight.  We used All Occasions Limousine service, and were very happy with the transportation they provided us.
How did the Century House help you plan you perfect day?
The Century House was very accommodating from the very first moment. They made the planning process simple. We decided to go with the first package that they offered, the Lily. It fit our budget perfectly, and was definitely very impressive for the price it was offered at. Having the package choices made everything much simpler; and I also was happy with how flexible they were with making a few alterations to the package to meet our wants.
My wedding expectations, specifically as far as the Century House was concerned, were surpassed. Everything was perfect, and I couldn’t have asked for a better venue. It was traditional and elegant, yet the atmosphere allowed everyone to let lose and enjoy themselves.   The day went exactly as I envisioned. Were there a few glitches here and there? Sure there were. But nothing that anyone noticed, and nothing that changed the outcome of the day.
What was the most memorable moment of your wedding?
It’s so hard to say what the most memorable moment of the wedding day was… The main snippets of the day that will always be engraved in my memory were waiting to walk down the aisle with my dad, the look on Dino’s face when I met him on the altar, our first dance, the dance with my dad, and then the dance that my parents did. They danced to the same song they danced to for the first dance at their wedding.
What is your advice for Brides-To-Be?
Advice for brides to be… That’s a big one! I guess I could sum up my feelings by saying that you will never believe how fast the time will pass from the moment you’re engaged, to the day of. Everyone says that, and you will shrug in disbelief. But it is so true. So enjoy every moment of it… and try your best to not let the planning get the best of you. Most importantly though, always keep in mind the meaning of your wedding day: At the end of the day, it’s about you and your husband, and having the people that love you the most surround you with that love.
]]> http://thecenturyhouse.com/blog/2012/04/11/alexandra-and-dinos-wedding-modern-elegance-at-the-century-house-in-latham-new-york/feed/ 0 Jill & Caitlin: A Memorable Century House Wedding in Latham, NY http://thecenturyhouse.com/blog/2012/03/27/jill-caitlin-a-memorable-century-house-wedding-in-latham-ny/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=jill-caitlin-a-memorable-century-house-wedding-in-latham-ny http://thecenturyhouse.com/blog/2012/03/27/jill-caitlin-a-memorable-century-house-wedding-in-latham-ny/#comments Tue, 27 Mar 2012 22:34:08 +0000 blogmaster http://thecenturyhouse.com/?p=461 Continue reading →]]> In May of 2010, Jill and Caitlin (also known as CJ), celebrated a very beautiful and intimate wedding at the Century House.  In front of family and friends, Jill and Caitlin shared their love and threw quite a party at the reception!  We spoke to Jill and Caitlin about their day and they have some great advice to share with Brides-To-Be!

What was the overall style or theme of your wedding? 

We didn’t really go for an overall theme or style of our wedding, but we did try to incorporate Jill’s favorite color into it.  We both love the color orange, and as obnoxious as that color can be at times, we wanted to work it in because it is such a bright and vibrant color. The bridesmaids’ dresses were orange, the guys in our wedding party wore orange ties with white vests, and our homemade centerpieces had two shades of orange tissue paper popping out of a white vase with an orange ribbon tied around it to mimic Jill’s dress

 

What was most important to you when planning your wedding (food, music, flowers, etc)?

The thing that was most important to us in planning our wedding was making sure we could give our guests a night to remember!  When we’ve been to memorable weddings, the thing that stands out to us the most is how much fun we’ve had dancing the night away.  We wanted to book a DJ that could keep everyone on the dance floor for the entire night.  Mission accomplished.  Studio 226 knew how to keep people moving and played a wide variety of music that could appeal to everyone.  We never left the dance floor, and there weren’t too many people sitting down by the end of the night.  We had been to the Century House for weddings in the past and knew that they were aces when it came to food and service.  We never had to worry about that part of the planning and it was executed flawlessly.

How did Century House assist you during the planning process?

The Century House made everything so easy.  They have everything laid out in the packages that they offer, but they can work anything into or out of those packages and customize it to your liking.  Everyone is so easy to work with, and they really do focus on YOU and making your day everything that you want it to be.  On the wedding day, they have what seemed like a million people working the wedding from start to finish to make sure everything went off without a hitch.  We were told where to go and when, where to stand, and when to move.  The only thing we had to worry about doing ourselves was breathing.

 

Did you feel all your wedding expectations were met?

All of our wedding expectations were definitely met and far exceeded.  It started with a little relaxation, as we had two massage therapists from the Ivy Spa in North Greenbush come to our Century House suite to give us a couple’s massage.  Then we began the process of getting ready as well as welcoming friends and family into the suite.   We took pictures in the beautiful courtyard before the ceremony and the sun was shining.  Even though we planned for an indoor wedding, it was nice to see a bright blue sky out there.  When the time came, the Century House staff shuffled us off in a van to take us to the ceremony.  The ceremony was short and sweet, and was arranged in the White Ballroom.  Immediately following the ceremony, the doors were opened to the Main Ballroom for the reception.  We’ve heard nothing but positive reviews from our guests on the quality of the reception.  The ballroom was expertly decorated, the food was phenomenal, and the bar was hopping.  Everything was what we envisioned.

What was your favorite part of your wedding?

We both agree that one of our favorite moments was towards the end of the night, when the dance floor was packed, and the DJs slowed it down a little with Jay-Z’s “Young Forever” (featuring Mr. Hudson).  Everyone moved in a little closer to their dance partners and we looked around the dance floor.  We made eye contact with two of our friends, and you could see in their eyes that this was the type of moment where memories are made.  We were all belting out the lyrics and moving to the steady beat, and the moment was so calm and relaxed, but the elation inside everyone on that dance floor was at a level that could barely be contained.  Anytime we hear that song on the radio, we think back to that moment where we felt pure peace and happiness.  That is how everyone should look back on their wedding day.

What other wedding vendors did you use?

We had our friend, Joe Greco, get ordained as a reverend so that he could marry us.  The multi-talented Joe Greco is also one-half of Studio 226, so we got a package deal hiring our friend as both our officiate and DJ.  We are not really flower people, so the idea of spending thousands of dollars on flowers for one day seemed ridiculous to us.  We just wanted a few flowers, not even in an arrangement, so that the bridesmaids could assemble them into small bouquets for the Big Day and Felthousen Florist was who we chose.  Our photographer was a friend of ours, Whitney Payne who graduated from The Sage Colleges as a photographer (where Jill works).  She took awesome pictures, but we also made sure she could enjoy the dance floor too! We didn’t want her working the whole night!

What’s your advice for brides to be?

Our biggest advice for brides is to figure out what is most important to you and keep it simple! We knew what we wanted (a night of fun and dancing) and we told our vendors that was our priority. They made it happen for us that night and we didn’t have to worry about a thing. We’ve said it time and time again without hesitation: The Century House and Studio 226 were they keys! They asked the right questions, took our answers and made our wedding day everything we ever imagined it would be and more.  Oh and if you’re alright with letting go of a little tradition, take all your formal pictures before the ceremony! Don’t waste your time after the ceremony posing for pictures when all you really want to do is celebrate!

]]> http://thecenturyhouse.com/blog/2012/03/27/jill-caitlin-a-memorable-century-house-wedding-in-latham-ny/feed/ 0 2012 Wedding Trends at the Century House in Latham, NY http://thecenturyhouse.com/blog/2012/03/16/2012-wedding-trends-at-the-century-house-in-latham-ny/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=2012-wedding-trends-at-the-century-house-in-latham-ny http://thecenturyhouse.com/blog/2012/03/16/2012-wedding-trends-at-the-century-house-in-latham-ny/#comments Fri, 16 Mar 2012 18:50:39 +0000 blogmaster http://thecenturyhouse.com/?p=460 Continue reading →]]> The weather in the Capital Region has been beautiful this past week and it’s making everyone at the Century House excited for the upcoming 2012 wedding season!  With anxious brides and grooms waiting for their special day to arrive, the Century House would like to give brides and grooms suggestions for how to make their wedding this year unforgettable!

It’s safe to say that Prince William and Kate Middleton’s April 2011 wedding got the ball rolling early for ideas for 2012 and 2013 brides…and that doesn’t even include our suggestions for bride and grooms (B&Gs) at the Century House!  With years of wedding planning and ceremony coordination, we wanted to share some of our favorite things with B&Gs:

Signature cocktails:  Nothing makes a wedding more unforgettable than having a personal touch from the bride and groom incorporated from cocktail hour all the way through the reception.  Having your own personal cocktail helps set the tone for your reception.  At the Century House, we love helping B&Gs design their own signature cocktail for their menu!  What is more special than having a cocktail named after you on your Big Day?  Not only can we help you mix your own cocktail based on your favorite flavors, we can help you match the color of your drink with your reception color scheme.

Late night snacks:  With wedding receptions lasting many hours, guests at the reception tend to get hungry between the time that they finish dinner and when they are done dancing up a storm on the dance floor!  At the Century House, we can help create a “Late Night” menu for guests to enjoy later in the evening.  Late night snacks can range from fun, delicious comfort foods like our homemade popcorn shrimp macaroni and cheese to sophisticated bite-size treats like crab cakes.  Each late night menu can be specifically tailored to your taste!

Centerpieces and flowers:  Centerpieces and flowers are one of the first things guests will notice when they enter your reception and we want to ensure they make a lasting impression!  We love helping B&Gs design personal centerpieces that reflect their own vision for their personal day.

On-Site Wedding Planner:  With the addition of Colleen Kestel-Raidmae to our Century House wedding team, B&Gs can feel comfortable knowing they are in good hands as their wedding day approaches.  The wedding chapel at Mandalay Bay was home to Colleen for almost six years and has been awarded several industry awards including the Knot’s “Best of Weddings” for three consecutive years. With event planning experience in major cities such as Santa Fe, Portland, and Las Vegas, Colleen can truly make the vision of your perfect day a reality.

Haven’t booked your wedding for 2012 yet?  Luckily, we have some fabulous dates still available for B&Gs.

  • New Year’s Eve “Orchid Reception” with the following enhancements:

- 4 Hours of Photography (200-400 images on a disc) from Pure Bliss Photography

- Complimentary Hotel Room for 2 nights

- Breakfast in bed for 2

- Sparkler exit for Bride and Groom

-Minimum 100 guests

 

  • October 19 and November 16– The Lilly Package

- 4 Hours of Photography (200-400 images on a disc) from Pure Bliss Photography

- Complimentary Bridal Suite for one night

If you have any questions about how the Century House can make your wedding the picture perfect day you have always dreamed of, contact Colleen Kestel-Raidmae at 518-785-0834, x405 or Colleen@TheCenturyHouse.com.  We look forward to having you!

 

]]> http://thecenturyhouse.com/blog/2012/03/16/2012-wedding-trends-at-the-century-house-in-latham-ny/feed/ 0 Enjoy St. Patrick’s Day Dinner at the Century House in Latham, NY! http://thecenturyhouse.com/blog/2012/03/07/enjoy-st-patricks-day-dinner-at-the-century-house-in-latham-ny/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=enjoy-st-patricks-day-dinner-at-the-century-house-in-latham-ny http://thecenturyhouse.com/blog/2012/03/07/enjoy-st-patricks-day-dinner-at-the-century-house-in-latham-ny/#comments Wed, 07 Mar 2012 22:01:55 +0000 blogmaster http://thecenturyhouse.com/?p=456 Continue reading →]]> “May the road rise to meet you

May the wind be always at your back

May the warm rays of sun fall upon your home

And may the hand of a friend always be near.”

- A Traditional Irish blessing

Much like this Irish blessing, at the Century House, we always want our guests to feel like they are coming home.  Whether it is good friends or good food, the Century House is always eager to help create a new memory and St. Patrick’s Day is no exception.

With Irish names like DeMers and O’Hearn, it is impossible to deny how much of a rich Irish history the Century House holds and celebrating this holiday is a favorite past time.  Legend has it that St. Patrick banished snakes from Ireland, chasing them into the sea after they attacked him during a 40-day fast he was undertaking on top of a hill.  Today, the Century House uses St. Patrick’s Day as an occasion to celebrate our Irish roots, eat, drink and enjoy the company of friends.

This year, Executive Chef Michael Niccoli, CEC has prepared a specialty menu nothing short of an Irish feast for guests to enjoy from March 12th-18th.  Although potatoes, the basis for many traditional Irish dishes, will be plentiful, we will also be serving Irish staples such as hearty lamb stew and corn beef and cabbage with a twist!  St. Patrick’s Day specialty menus can be viewed by clicking here.

Every time a guest has dinner at the Century House, they are paying it forward to those less fortunate in our community. Through our Enjoy One, Share One program, for every entrée served, one meal is provided to someone through the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York.  Guests who join the Century House for St. Patrick’s Day will be assisting the Century House in continuing to feed those hungry in the Capital Region: to date, we have donated over 254,000 meals.

Call the Century House in Latham NY at 518-785-0931 to learn more about our St. Patrick’s Day celebration and reserve your spot at our table!

 

 

]]> http://thecenturyhouse.com/blog/2012/03/07/enjoy-st-patricks-day-dinner-at-the-century-house-in-latham-ny/feed/ 0 The Century House Welcomes Colleen Kestel-Raidmae as Our New Wedding Coordinator http://thecenturyhouse.com/blog/2012/02/20/the-century-house-welcomes-colleen-kestel-raidmae-as-our-new-wedding-coordinator/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-century-house-welcomes-colleen-kestel-raidmae-as-our-new-wedding-coordinator http://thecenturyhouse.com/blog/2012/02/20/the-century-house-welcomes-colleen-kestel-raidmae-as-our-new-wedding-coordinator/#comments Mon, 20 Feb 2012 23:23:21 +0000 blogmaster http://thecenturyhouse.com/?p=445 Continue reading →]]> The Century House is excited to announce Colleen Kestel-Raidmae as a new and exciting addition to our Latham, NY “Wedding Team”!

Colleen began her career in the Hospitality industry within the complex and dynamic world of Food and Beverage Management.  Originally from Santa Barbara, California, Colleen has had exposure to the top event planning markets and has lived in major cities such as Santa Fe, Portland, and Las Vegas. She is now happy to call the Capital District her home.

After years of managing several high volume restaurants and Food and Beverage Departments, she fell in love with the event planning industry and never looked back.

Colleen has a wealth of experience that she will bring to the Century House.  She has held several leadership positions in many of Las Vegas’ most reputable and high-end establishments. She has worked at the Bellagio, Mirage and most recently Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino where she was named the Director of Weddings in 2006. During her time at Mandalay Bay, Colleen made a name for herself within the Las Vegas wedding industry by planning high profile events to include, the first ever Mandalay Bay Bridal Show, industry mixers and a highly publicized mass wedding on the Mandalay Bay Beach for 07-07-07.

The wedding chapel at Mandalay Bay was home to Colleen for almost six years and has been awarded several industry awards including the Knot’s “Best of Weddings” for three consecutive years. She has also received national recognition through features in World Bride Magazine, Style Me Pretty, Las Vegas Weekly and El Voce’s Italian newsletter as Business Woman of the Month. She has developed a reputation in the industry for being trustworthy, dependable and a resourceful Wedding Planner and is looked up to by many in the industry for her ability to create flawless events.

“I love being part of the complete planning process, from something seemingly small like helping brides choose linens to the bigger choices such as décor and centerpieces.  No detail is too small when it comes to your wedding and I like to help clients feel like they are in good hands when planning their wedding,” Colleen explains.

A consummate professional Colleen obtained a Wedding Coordination and Design Certification through The International School of Hospitality at UNLV- where she also served on the board of advisors and assisted with internships and acted as a mentor for future Wedding Planners.

Managing Partner, Colin DeMers explains, “I am extremely excited to have a world class wedding planner on our team at the Century House. Excited not only for bringing Colleen’s expertise and experience to the Century House team but I am especially excited for the possibilities it brings to our new brides, and our community. The combination of Colleen’s talents and her wonderful personality make her a perfect fit for the Century House Team.”

During her spare time, she enjoys attending industry seminars, baking, reading and spending time with her husband John and their two beautiful children.


]]> http://thecenturyhouse.com/blog/2012/02/20/the-century-house-welcomes-colleen-kestel-raidmae-as-our-new-wedding-coordinator/feed/ 0 Stacie + Brian: A Picture Perfect Wedding at the Century House in Latham New York http://thecenturyhouse.com/blog/2012/02/10/stacie-brian-a-picture-perfect-wedding-at-the-century-house-in-latham-new-york/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=stacie-brian-a-picture-perfect-wedding-at-the-century-house-in-latham-new-york http://thecenturyhouse.com/blog/2012/02/10/stacie-brian-a-picture-perfect-wedding-at-the-century-house-in-latham-new-york/#comments Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:54:38 +0000 blogmaster http://thecenturyhouse.com/?p=439 Continue reading →]]> An outdoor wedding ceremony the weekend after Hurricane Irene?!?  Stacie and Brian have one of our favorite wedding stories of the 2011 season.  Despite the storm the week before, we were able to give Stacie and Brian the wedding they dreamed of.  Under a beautiful tent on the Century House grounds, Stacie and Brian said “I Do” then danced into the wee hours of the morning at their reception.  Read on to learn more about their perfect day!

Photo by Louis Torres

 

What was the overall style or theme of your wedding? 

I think the overall style/theme of our wedding we were going for was a classic look/feel. We went with black and white as our colors in the ballroom with fuchsia as the accent color to pull everything together.

The ladies in the bridal party, and also the flower girls, all wore black dresses but had fun fuchsia shoes along with some really fun flower bouquets from The Floral Garden that had fuchsia roses, crystals and black feathers in them.  I loved the ladies bouquets.

Brian and I are not big flower people, so we did not go crazy with flowers, we used mostly candles throughout the ballroom, along with fuchsia rose petals and small fuchsia baby roses, to accent the table settings/linens and set the mood for the reception.

When I walked inside the ballroom for the first time I got teary eyes because it was so beautiful inside. The Century House went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect

 

Tell us a little about your ceremony. 

The purpose of our ceremony was to be romantic while still being somewhat traditional. It was important to us to be married outside, which was one of the reasons why we decided to get married at the Century House.  Our wedding was a week after Irene and we were fortunate enough to have a picture perfect summer day.  While we decided to not get married in a church, we still had catholic ceremony without mass.

 

Photo by Louis Torres

What was most important to you when planning your wedding (food, music, flowers, etc)?
The most important thing to us was a great venue that allowed us to be married outside, great food for our guests, a Great DJ to keep the party going and making sure everyone was out dancing and having a good time.  It was also important to us to have a photographer that we really liked and were comfortable with.

 

What other wedding vendors did you use? 

- Hair and Make Up: Destiny Bishop-Slover of Lipstik Beauty Lounge did my hair and make-up as well as some of my bridal parties’ hair and make-up.  Barb Mento of East Greenbush, NY did hair and make up for my mother, flower girls and one of the bridesmaids.

- Wedding Dress:  Something Bleu Bridal -  Denise and her staff at Something Bleu are AMAZING.

- Bridal Party Dresses: David’s Bridal

- DJ:   Scott Hemmings, formally with Sound Controls and now on his own (518- 423-9458).   Scott is AMAZING and keeps the party going and everyone on the dance floor.  He came as a recommendation from a friend’s wedding and did not disappoint!

- Photographer:  Louis Torres. We LOVED LOVED LOVED LOUIS – He is amazing to work with and so talented

- Wedding Videographer:  Sean Kane, Sean Kane Productions

- Flowers:  by The Floral Garden, Delmar, NY (518-478-7232).  Some additional flowers were provided by Price Chopper of Slingerlands, NY.

 

Photo by Louis Torres

 What’s your advice for brides to be?    

  • LOTS OF DEEP BREATHS, Relax and try not to get too stressed out or fight with your significant other or family members regarding the planning/wedding process.
  • I never thought I was going to be able to say “Yes” to the Dress!  Finding the “One” was the most difficult part of the entire wedding process for me!  Trust me though, you will know when you find the one.
  • If it’s in your wedding budget, hire a wedding videographer.  The actual day of your wedding goes by so quickly and there are so many things you will forget even happened because the entire day is a whirlwind.  Days after the wedding as people were posting pictures to Facebook, and also sending us pictures, I was like “I don’t remember that happening or having that picture taken.”  When we received our wedding video from Sean Kane, I was in tears watching the video.  It is something that I will always cherish. As a bride, if you cannot afford a wedding videographer, try to have a friend or family member videotape your wedding ceremony, grand entrance, first dance and your cake cutting so you have it to watch.

How did Century House assist you during the planning process?  

Marge is amazing to work with and so helpful from the moment you meet with her right up until the “Big Day.”  Any time I had questions or concerns, she was always available to assist me with whatever I needed.

Another thing that was great about the Century House was that they put together the “Centerpieces” we wanted on the tables – all we had to do was provide all of the items and detailed directions and they put them all together.  This was a great help and ended up being one less thing I had to do the day of the wedding.  They even used additional flowers and other items/accessories I had provided to use as accent pieces throughout the room.

 Did you feel all your wedding expectations were met?  

Absolutely.  We knew from the moment we signed a contract with the Century House we were in great hands.  All of our expectations were met.  The entire day was like a fairytale and all of the staff was amazing  from the moment I arrived the morning of the wedding until the next day when we check out.  They were even nice enough to pack up an extra meal for each of us in case we were hungry when we got back to our hotel room at the end of the night.  Those meals made for a great dinner for the two of us the day after the wedding when we were too exhausted to cook.

  

Photo by Louis Torres

How did your wedding day go?  Was it what you envisioned?

HAPPIEST DAY OF OUR LIVES…IT WAS PICTURE PERFECT

 

What was your favorite part of your wedding?    

Marrying such a wonderful guy, a wonderful wedding ceremony outside on a picture perfect end-of-summer evening and dancing the night away with all of our family and friends!

 

Photo by Louis Torres

]]> http://thecenturyhouse.com/blog/2012/02/10/stacie-brian-a-picture-perfect-wedding-at-the-century-house-in-latham-new-york/feed/ 0 A Romantic Getaway: Valentine’s Day at the Century House in Latham, NY http://thecenturyhouse.com/blog/2012/01/27/a-romantic-getaway-valentine%e2%80%99s-day-at-the-century-house-in-latham-ny/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=a-romantic-getaway-valentine%25e2%2580%2599s-day-at-the-century-house-in-latham-ny http://thecenturyhouse.com/blog/2012/01/27/a-romantic-getaway-valentine%e2%80%99s-day-at-the-century-house-in-latham-ny/#comments Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:43:40 +0000 blogmaster http://thecenturyhouse.com/?p=408 Continue reading →]]> As we welcome February as the new month on the calendar, the Century House is reminded of one of our favorite holidays: Valentine’s Day.

The great poet Alexander Smith once said that “love is but the discovery of ourselves in others and the delight in the recognition.“  Life can too easily become chaotic, with shuttling children to soccer practice, stressing about our taxes and worry about demands at home and work, and it is important to take time to reconnect with those you love and foster those important relationships.  With that sentiment in mind, we delight in helping our guests rekindle that unexplainable love they share for one another at the Century House on Valentine’s Day.

Celebrating Valentine’s Day at the Century House in Latham, NY, is the perfect way to celebrate without getting away.   Couples who join us at the Century House for this romantic evening will be treated to:

  • An overnight stay in one of our rooms.
  • Two 1/2 hour massages Swedish massages at Kimberly’s Day Spa (door-to-door transportation to and from the Century House is provided).
  • A bottle of champagne delivered to your room before dinner.
  • Dinner for two in our award winning restaurant.
  • Dessert and cordials delivered to your room.
  • In-room breakfast the following morning.
  • A late check-out so you can sleep in.

We are pleased to partner with Kimberly’s Day Spa, one of the most prestigious and deluxe spas in the Capital Region, to provide relaxation and pampering for you and your partner as you indulge in a half hour Swedish massage. The Swedish massage is a relaxing and therapeutic massage that incorporates the full body using traditional long strokes combined with kneading techniques to increase your circulation, improve the skin and muscle tone, and soothe tired muscles.  Century House will shuttle you to and from Kimberly’s Day Spa, located across the street from our hotel, for this indulgence before your romantic dinner.

As always, the delicious meals you enjoy at the Century House will be paid forward to those in our community.  For every entrée served, one meal is provided to someone in need to the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York through our Enjoy One, Share One program.  In fact, next week we will be celebrating donating over 250,000 meals to the Food Bank.

All this can be enjoyed at the Century House for $299.00 per couple, advance reservations required.  Call the Century House in Latham NY at 518-785-0931 to book your romantic evening today!

 

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