Hear from the Happy Newlyweds

What made you decide to host your wedding celebration at the Hilton Christiana?

The team at Hilton was accommodating and made us feel comfortable. They were extremely responsive and flexible with all of our needs. The venue was beautiful and we were able to get an affordable package that included food, drinks, decor, lighting, and flowers all in one which made planning seem less overwhelming.

What would your advice be for any future brides, currently searching for their dream wedding venue?

Consider a venue that helps make the planning easier on you! Hilton had several elements included in their package and offered strong recommendations for additional vendors.

How did you make your wedding reception uniquely "you"?

? I made all of the table centerpieces myself and created personalized touches to our decor. Hilton was able to put all of it together to make my vision come to life. We were also able to choose food options that suited our preferences. Instead of a cake, we opted to do a beignet table with ice cream. It was a hit with our guests and an ode to my Louisiana roots!

What wedding vision were you trying to achieve? Where did you look to help create this vision? (i.e. magazines? Specific Websites? Pinterest?)

I looked on Pinterest quite a bit and wanted to play on the idea of a "Fairy Tale" wedding. I am an English teacher and have always been fond of books and the stories that they tell. I wanted our story to be told in our ceremony and reception.

Is there anything you would have wished you would have known going into the planning?

N/A

What parts of the wedding were you glad you had the Hilton Wedding Coordinator for?

On the day of the wedding, KellyAnn and the Hilton team made sure everything ran smoothly. There was a slight chance of rain and our flowers were running a bit behind, but the team made sure that we were comfortable and happy throughout. We couldn't have had such a seamless day without their help.

Why did you decide to host your ceremony at the hotel?

We knew we wanted to have the ceremony and reception at one place for ease of transition. Hilton could offer this to us!

What was your favorite food or beverage element of your wedding?

Everything was amazing! In fact, our guests are still raving about the food options. Both my husband and I loved that we could do a late night philly cheese steak station. After all of the dancing, we all worked up an appetite again. Our signature drink was a Sangria that we named after our two basset hounds- it added to the personalization of our day.

What was your favorite part of your special day?

? It is so difficult to pick out one favorite part. Everything was so seamless. However, at the end of the night, our guests who were staying at the hotel were able to transition to the restaurant bar and outside fireplace to decompress from the day. It was a nice way to end the night and gave us more time to interact with our guests one on one.

Where did you go on your honeymoon?

We went to the Bahamas at Sandals Resort. We had an absolute blast!

What made you decide to host your wedding celebration at the Hilton Christiana? The Hilton Christiana was actually the LAST venue we looked at (after MANY) and I knew from the moment I walked in that THIS WAS IT.

The location was perfect, the atmosphere was exquisite, food was delicious, accommodations were gorgeous, and the all-inclusive pricing relieved so many stressors.

What would your advice be for any future brides, currently searching for their dream wedding venue?

Stop your searching and book at The Hilton Christiana! Seriously! But as far as advice goes, I would say take a moment to sit back and think what is really important to you. To me, knowing that I could enjoy the day was a top priority. I didn't want to have to stress about setting up, organizing, decorating, and cleaning up after. I also didn't want to stress about having a surprise bill at the end (consumption bar, no thanks)! I really just wanted somewhere that I could show up, get married, have a good time, and leave when I was ready! The Hilton Christiana ticked these boxes and so much more!

How did you make your wedding reception uniquely "you"?

I may have had the ideas, but Leah & Alfredo really deserve the credit for making our wedding uniquely us. I am not a fan of cake, but love donuts - Leah went out of her way to find a new bakery/vendor that could provide this for us. We wanted to provide something fun during cocktail hour, Leah & Alfredo arranged for us to bring in our Cornhole Boards. And truly my favorite, for our Unity Ceremony we wanted to do "Pickle Back" shots and they made it happen! Alfredo went above and beyond to make this perfect, he met with our friends who made the "shot ski" and ensured that we would have the perfect size glasses, he spoke with us to determine which sides we wanted, how we wanted to pour them, if we wanted them pre-mixed, etc - he left nothing to chance, and it turned out absolutely amazing.

What wedding vision were you trying to achieve? Where did you look to help create this vision? (i.e. magazines? Specific Websites? Pinterest?)

My wedding vision was pretty much to not be like every other wedding and to think outside of the box! I went to a few Bridal Shows and of course spent hours on Pinterest, but I was really looking for things that I did NOT want, and how I could replace them with unique things that would show who WE really were.

Is there anything you would have wished you would have known going into the planning?

I wish I looked at the Hilton Christiana FIRST!

What parts of the wedding were you glad you had Leah for?

Oh my…. from our very first meeting and even up until today! There really are not words to describe how wonderful she is. From my first appointment, she made me feel as if we had been friends for years. She is kind and friendly, with an open mind and a real desire to make your dreams come true. She was beyond patient with my numerous questions/emails/visits, nothing ever seemed to be too much or a bother. She is truly the best.

Why did you decide to host your ceremony at the hotel?

Have you seen the Courtyard? Enough said. Just kidding, well sort of! I absolutely LOVED the esthetics of the Courtyard. It is blocked in perfectly to give a sense of privacy but still allows so much outdoor beauty! The fresh herb garden and flowers everywhere were absolutely amazing. I chose to not even decorate for the Ceremony as I felt it was perfect just the way it is. It was also an added bonus of the convenience for our family and friends to not have to travel to several locations to participate in our special day.

What was your favorite food or beverage element of your wedding?

Can I say our shot ski  Honestly, all of the food and beverages were amazing. I was blown away how delectable my Flank Steak was during dinner - how do they manage to perfectly cook so many meals at once!?!? Everyone raved about how great the food was!

What was your favorite part of your special day?

I could never pick just one moment. From the moment I woke up, to the moment I went to sleep, it was perfect. I must highlight that Alfredo is truly a gem that made the entire day perfect. Neither myself or my Husband, had a care or worry in the world because we had full faith that Alfredo had everything under control. We were not disappointed.

Where did you go on your honeymoon?

Sandals Barbados!

What made you decide to host your wedding celebration at the Hilton Christiana?

My husband and I are from different sides of the country so our family and friends are from all over. We were searching for a venue that could offer our out-of-town guests comfort and convenience before, during and after our wedding. When we met with Leah we were absolutely floored at all the amenities included in the wedding package. The Hilton Christiana was able to make our wedding dream a reality and offered unbeatable features for our guests throughout the length of their stay.

What would your advice be for any future brides, currently searching for their dream wedding venue?

With so many options for a wedding venue, brides and grooms really need to have a vision of what they want their wedding day to look and feel like. Devin and I agreed on an overall aesthetic we wanted to go for and made a list of venue "must haves". Looking at venues online was a fast way to shorten our list, but what really made the Hilton Christiana stand out was the feeling we got when we walked throughout the wedding space. We knew instantly that we had found what we were searching for.

How did you make your wedding reception uniquely "you"?

My husband is a cinematographer and much more creative and daring than I am. He planned a few surprises for me involving a 72 inch monitor and some help from his groomsmen. He made me a video that became part of our ceremony and part of the introduction to our reception. Both were an absolutely perfect representation of us and our relationship.

What wedding vision were you trying to achieve? Where did you look to help create this vision? (i.e. magazines? Specific Websites? Pinterest?)

We wanted to have a celebration that everyone would enjoy. We knew we wanted live music to dance to, an outdoor space, and a visually appealing space. Pinterest was my go to site for wedding inspiration. I created a Pinterest board and kept my wedding colors at the front of my search. We didn't have a specific theme to our wedding, but utilized the decorative features of the Hilton into the details and personalized touches I brought.

Is there anything you would have wished you would have known going into the planning?

Leading up to the wedding nearly everyone told us that the day was going to be over in the blink of an eye. I had heard it so many times, and yet I was not prepared for just how fast everything it all went by. There were a few details that I had stressed so much about and then in the excitement and mild chaos of the day, I completely forgot to worry about those details.

What parts of the wedding were you glad you had Leah for?

Leah was unbelievably helpful throughout the entire process. From our first meeting to our last, she was available at every step along the way. At our tasting Leah sat with us, explained every food item we tried, and took notes on what we liked and what we didn't. Months later when we forgot which appetizers were our favorite, she had it all written down. The night of our rehearsal I was definitely worried about how it was all going to come together. Leah sat with us and went through our entire wedding day minute by minute.

Why did you decide to host your ceremony at the hotel?

We have both been a part of weddings where we felt like a lot of time was spent just getting from the salon to the pictures, or the ceremony to the reception, or even the reception to the hotel. While the party bus was fun, we knew we wanted to have as much time as possible to celebrate our day. From the beginning we searched for a venue that could do it all, and the Hilton Christiana was that and more! The convenience of not needing to worry about transportation or guests getting around was one major benefit while the other was the incredible wedding package. The food and drink options were seemingly limitless and the package even included the wedding cake and centerpieces. There were a handful of wedding details we didn't have to stress about because the Hilton and Leah took care of it!

What was your favorite food or beverage element of your wedding?

The late night cheesesteak and old bay French fry station was a huge hit with our guests! They could not believe that more food was coming out as part of our reception. Unfortunately Devin and I were dancing and missed the cheesesteaks, but our wedding Butler thoughtfully packaged up cheesesteaks and fries for us. When we got to our room that night, take out boxes were waiting for us!

Devin has not stopped talking about the pork chop he had for his entree since our wedding. I don't think any pork chop will ever come close to being as delicious as the one served at our wedding.

What was your favorite part of your special day?

Definitely the first look. It was such a special moment and time seemed to just stand still for the two of us. There was so much going on throughout the day that it felt like an absolute whirlwind, but the first look was just about us!

Where did you go on your honeymoon?

We took a mini-moon to Boise, Idaho (my husband's hometown) and had a mini 2nd reception with friends and family that were unable to make it all the way to Delaware for our wedding. Our actual honeymoon will be somewhere warm and relaxing in Spring 2020.

* Photographer -Creative Image Weddings

What made you decide to host your wedding celebration at the Hilton Christiana?

It was my Dad's recommendation since some of his customers had their weddings here and they really liked it. It was also the top result on Wedding Wire.

What would your advice be for any future couples, currently searching for their dream wedding venue?

Know your budget and think about what is important to you.

How did you make your wedding reception uniquely "you"?

Definitely the wedding cake and slideshow. The slideshow told the story, and the wedding cake also kind of told a story about us traveling.

What wedding vision were you trying to achieve? Where did you look to help create this vision? (i.e. magazines? Specific Websites? Pinterest?)

I didn't really do any fancy planning since we only had about a month to plan. So the traditional wedding was the easiest.

Is there anything you would have wished you would have known going into the planning?

I should have asked from the beginning about meals for people with dietary restrictions. I was stressing out about what meat entrées to cut just to accommodate a few vegetarians. But it's good Hilton was able to accommodate those few people without me having to make everyone else eat vegetarian.

What parts of the wedding were you glad you had Leah for?

Leah was great at answering any questions we had and also accommodating any requests that we had. She made the planning really easy for us.

What was your favorite food or beverage element of your wedding?

The chicken breast in marsala sauce was great. Salmon was also very good.

What was your favorite part of your special day?

Definitely when we finally got to sit down and eat. That was the only break we really had, lol. Also, it was a nice surprise when we got back to our room after the event was over. The room had some gifts from the staff and the bed had flower pedals on it.

Where did you go on your honeymoon?

We went to New Orleans for vacation after the wedding, but we don't consider that our honeymoon since we promised we'd go to Hawaii. That is still the place we want to go for our honeymoon.

What made you decide to host your wedding celebration at the Hilton Christiana?

The location and the "all in one" package deal.

What would your advice be for any future brides, currently searching for their dream wedding venue?

I would advise other brides to have their ceremony and reception all in one place.

How did you make your wedding reception uniquely "you"?

The little décor that was put out on the card table as well as the favors mixing in with the elegant Hilton style made it match my unique side!

What wedding vision were you trying to achieve? Where did you look to help create this vision? (i.e. magazines? Specific Websites? Pinterest?)

I was looking for a simple elegant wedding. Pinterest was my best friend!

Is there anything you would have wished you would have known going into the planning?

I wished we had a little more time in the bridal suite after the ceremony. But other than that, everything was perfect!

What parts of the wedding were you glad you had Leah for?

I had a LOT of questions for Leah and I gave her my vision and she made it all possible.

Why did you decide to host your ceremony at the hotel?

I really loved the view by the fountain! I also wanted my ceremony and reception at the same place.

What was your favorite food or beverage element of your wedding?

It was all delicious. My favorite was the Lobster "risotto" side dish that came with our entrée - I was able to substitute the risotto with vegetables and it was incredible!

What was your favorite part of your special day?

Reception!

Where did you go on your honeymoon?

Rivera Maya, Mexico

* Photographer -Allen House Studios

What made you decide to host your wedding celebration at the Hilton Christiana?

We chose the Hilton Christiana for several reasons. Upon arrival for our venue walk-through, we were immediately greeted by Leah Markiewicz, who made us feel welcomed. She gave us the tour of the venue and explained how each area of the hotel could be utilized. Compared to other venues we visited, the Hilton offered the most amenities. The main ballroom was large enough to accommodate our guests and there were options for an indoor/outdoor ceremony. We also liked how the Hilton bundled their wedding packages to include necessities such as a custom wedding cake, floral centerpieces, napkins/linens, etc. Additionally, the hotel was recently renovated to look more modern and luxurious.

What would your advice be for any future brides, currently searching for their dream-wedding venue?

When searching for your dream-wedding venue, choose a venue that aligns with your vision and is within your budget. It is important that the venue fits the aesthetic of your big day. In addition, know how much your total budget is and stick to it. It is very easy to lose sight of your budget when selecting venues.

How did you make your wedding reception uniquely "you"?

We put a lot of thought into the personal touches for our wedding. We wanted our guests to feel how much we loved them. Each guest was given welcome bags as they checked into the Hilton. The bags were filled with Philly themed treats that were meaningful to Jonathan and I. During the reception, each place setting had a rose gold acrylic nameplate designed with each guest's name. In addition to the personal touches, we had a surprise wedding ceremony. Our guests thought we eloped and they were attending a reception. We knew we couldn't have a wedding without all of our friends and family.

What wedding vision were you trying to achieve? Where did you look to help create this vision? (i.e. magazines? Specific Websites? Pinterest?)

We wanted our wedding to be romantic and elegant. We looked on Pinterest as well as Etsy and Instagram for ideas. In addition to online resources, we attended several bridal shows. Thankfully, my mom was able to use her creativity to help execute our vision.

Is there anything you would have wished you would have known going into the planning?

We wish we would have known about all of the unpredictable costs associated with planning a wedding. We budgeted for the venue and the vendors, but there were several costs that we didn't anticipate. Save 5% of your overall budget for unexpected costs.

What parts of the wedding were you glad you had Leah for?

We were glad to have Leah for the entire wedding, she was an integral part of us pulling off our surprise wedding. If it were not for Leah, our wedding would not have been as fabulous. Two days before the event we met with her and our butler (Alfredo), and she had 10 pages of detailed notes for our big day. She made sure that all of the staff knew the plan and they executed the vision perfectly. She answered every question and concern. No problem was too big or too small for her. She takes each wedding personally, which is clear from the minute you meet her. Leah is definitely the most caring and dedicated venue coordinator we have ever met.

Why did you decide to host your ceremony at the hotel?

We wanted to have our ceremony and reception at the same venue. The majority of our guests were traveling from out of town and we didn't want transportation to be an issue.

What was your favorite food or beverage element of your wedding?

All of the food was outstanding. However, the highlight was the beignets. They are so delicious and our guests could not stop raving about them. I've had Beignets from New Orleans a few times, but these were even better. Compliments to the chef!

What was your favorite part of your special day?

There were so many elements that were special. However, my favorite part was the look on all of my friends and families faces as I walked down the aisle. Although it happened so fast, the love and joy that filled the room was unforgettable. Not only did I get to marry the man of my dreams, I was able to share it will all of my loved ones!

Where did you go on your honeymoon?

Due to work conflicts, we are going on our honeymoon in August. During our ten-day stay in Thailand, we plan to visit Bangkok, Chang Mai, and Phuket.

What made you decide to host your wedding celebration at the Hilton Christiana?

We decided to have our wedding at the Hilton Christiana after visiting the venue during our search for the perfect place. We immediately fell in love with the outside when we saw the courtyard and knew we wanted to get married with the beautiful backdrop. When we saw the ballroom and cocktail hour area we knew the setup would be perfect for how we envisioned the flow of our wedding.

What would your advice be for any future couples, currently searching for their dream wedding venue?

We would strongly recommend going to visit different types of venues to get an idea of what they truly want. We live so close to the Hilton and never thought that such a beautiful venue was right around the corner.

How did you make your wedding reception uniquely "you"?

We wanted to do a wine theme and we were able to incorporate that into the decorations for cocktail hour as well as the reception. We both love going to wineries and knew with a fall wedding a winery theme would be perfect. This theme also went well with the decor and setup at the Hilton so we knew it would be a perfect choice.

What wedding vision were you trying to achieve? Where did you look to help create this vision? (i.e. magazines? Specific Websites? Pinterest?)

We used Pinterest mostly to get ideas for fall and wine themes. We also took advantage of Michael's, AC Moore, and Joanne Fabrics when they had sales on silk flowers. For the outside, our vision was mainly based around fall colors of red, orange, and yellow. The inside we knew we wanted to keep more on the wine theme.

Is there anything you would have wished you would have known going into the planning?

Yes, now looking back there are a lot of things we wish we would have known. However, we enjoyed the journey of planning our wedding and we learned a lot along the way. A few things that stick out are: don't sweat the small stuff, don't argue over money, and remember that all the planning will be worth it because it will be the best day of your life.

What parts of the wedding were you glad you had Leah for?

Everything. From the bottom of our hearts we are grateful to have had Leah help us along the way. She answered every question we had, any concern we had, and made everything that we wanted happen. She made the planning process go very smoothly and took a lot of the burden off of us.

Why did you decide to host your ceremony at the hotel?

We wanted to keep the ceremony site and reception at the same location to limit travel time and really enjoy ourselves without having to worry about getting all of our guests from point A to point B. The outside ceremony site was beautiful and we knew it was perfect for how we imagined our ceremony.

What was your favorite food or beverage element of your wedding?

We loved all of the amazing food and the Hilton made sure that our guests were very well fed. People still comment on how amazing the food was and it's been almost a year. One of the biggest hits of the night was the cheese steak bar. We also loved our bartenders and the fact that we could select a signature drink for our guests.

What was your favorite part of your special day?

We loved the entire day. If we had to pick a favorite part, we would say the ceremony. The weather could not have been more perfect, the decorations/backdrop turned out beautiful, and with the help of the Hilton staff everything was setup promptly.

Where did you go on your honeymoon?

We went to Aruba for 10 days and would definitely recommend it to any couples getting married.

*Photographer - Enchanted Celebrations

What made you decide to host your wedding celebration at the Hilton Christiana?

The incredible customer service, reviews, and hotel on site for guests.

What would your advice be for any future brides, currently searching for their dream wedding venue?

Focus on customer service, attention to detail, experience of the coordinator, and don't sweat the small stuff! lt all works out when you're in good hands!

How did you make your wedding reception uniquely "you"?

We incorporated our favorite family foods, such as pierogi, panzerottis, etc.

What wedding vision were you trying to achieve? Where did you look to help create this vision? (i.e. magazines? Specific Websites? Pinterest?)

My vision was one of family, fun, and love! I used Pinterest for everything!

ls there anything you would have wished you would have known going into the planning?

Don't get caught up in the small details; guests remember the fun they had!

What parts of the wedding were you glad you had Leah for?

Leah helped coordinate EVERYTHING & always accommodated our requests!

What was your favorite food or beverage element of your wedding?

Signature drink (Lemoncello Mojito), late night panzerotti bar, and pierogi apps!

What was your favorite part of your special day?

The love, the fun, the laughter, and being surrounded by family!

Where did you go on your honeymoon?

Sandals Royal Caribbean in Jamaica!

What made you decide to host your wedding celebration at the Hilton Christiana?

The recent renovations gave the venue a refreshed and modern look that matched our vision. Also, the very friendly and personable staff were a huge reason why we chose the Hilton Christiana and they made the whole planning and day of fun and easy!

What would your advice be for any future brides, currently searching for their dream wedding venue?

The staff truly makes a difference - find a venue with people who are upbeat, friendly, and easy to work with! The Hilton's staff were very attentive and were really committed to making sure the day was stress free for the bride and groom!

How did you make your wedding reception uniquely "you"?

We got married on Cinco De Mayo/Derby Day and we really wanted our day to be fun and not uptight. We had margaritas and mint juleps for our signature cocktails, as well as a taco bar for a late night snack. We decorated each table with mini patron bottles and had a big ‘Q' piñata at our sweetheart table. Of course, there were also big sombreros being passed around during the reception.

What wedding vision were you trying to achieve? Where did you look to help create this vision? (i.e. magazines? Specific Websites? Pinterest?)

Our vision was to create something simple and classy with a few tasteful touches of a Cinco de mayo theme. We used Pinterest a lot to search for ideas.

Is there anything you would have wished you would have known going into the planning?

It's so easy to get wrapped up into all the small details and stress about them. Your vendors are experienced and have seen a lot of weddings. I think asking them for advice and thoughts can be really helpful!

What parts of the wedding were you glad you had Leah for?

Leah was so great in the planning process! It was super fun and helpful to brainstorm ideas with her to make our day unique. She was very flexible and full of personality - if we had an idea, she made sure to find a way to execute it! Leah also made our menu tasting experience great - she was there to answer any questions we had and helped us pick something perfect for our day!

Why did you decide to host your ceremony at the hotel?

We really wanted a venue where we could do it all, involving as little travel as possible. The Hilton was perfect for that! It had a beautiful ceremony space in the courtyard, a great space for cocktail hour and reception. Plus, the Market Kitchen & Bar was the perfect place to hang out after the wedding reception and guests could just walk upstairs to their room after.

What was your favorite food or beverage element of your wedding?

I really loved that we could make the day unique and festive! We had margaritas and mint juleps as our signature cocktails because our wedding fell on Cinco de mayo and derby day! We also got creative and had a taco bar for a late night snack - which was a huge hit with all of the guests!

What was your favorite part of your special day?

This is a tough question to answer, because the whole day was my favorite! But if I had to choose one part, I think walking around the grounds of the Hilton taking our first-look pictures was my favorite. We were really excited to see each other and it was really nice using this part of our day to be with just us. It didn't feel chaotic and it was nice to explore a bit on our own. There were so many different places to take photos too! We got some really great shots of the scenery outside and inside the hotel.

Where did you go on your honeymoon?

Punta Cana - Secrets Cap Cana Resort

*Photographer - CKR Photography