The Mainland at Holiday Inn Manahawkin Reviews
Reviews
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Awards
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![John]()
John Sent on 08/11/2025Our Wedding Reception at the Mainland
Everything went exceptionally well. Our Maitre D, Maria, and her staff did an excellent job decorating the room. It was picture perfect. Our cocktail hour was fantastic with the servers always making sure our guests were constantly being offered many types of delicious Hors d' Oeuvres. The bar was well stocked and the bartender made awesome drinks. The buffet was mouthwatering and everyone commented on tasty everything was. We also opted for the ice cream bar and that was very well received. Throughout the entire reception, the service was outstanding with every guest being well attended to. All in all our reception at the Mainland was worth every penny as it was truly an unforgettable experience.The Mainland at Holiday Inn Manahawkin's reply:
The pleasure was ours! Thank you for trusting us with your very special day. Congratulations and we hope to see you again soon! -
Sam Sent on 07/02/2025
06-28-25 Wedding
We originally picked The Mainland because of the attached hotel and the go-karts. Most of my husband’s family lives 8 plus hours away so having an on-site hotel was a huge plus. In addition, we are both children and loved the adventure park and figured it was an additional thing yo entertain our guests before, after, and even during our wedding.
Our guests LOVED The Mainland and raved about how incredible the staff was, how good the food was, how nice the venue was, how great the hotel was, and how amazing the overall area is.
We honestly can’t say enough good things about The Mainland. We not only had a blast at our wedding, but before and after it too!
The Mainland at Holiday Inn Manahawkin's reply:
Thank you for having trust in us on your very special day! We were so happy to be there for you every step of the way. Congratulations and we can't wait to get to see all of your photos! -
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![Jessica]()
Jessica Sent on 03/05/2025Worth Every Penny
I cannot recommend the Mainland Weddings Team enough. They were phenomenal. Mel and her team were exceptionally prompt at answering questions, giving us all the information we could possibly need and all with a smile on their faces, even after random questions! They have their wedding process down to a science and I felt so comfortable in their hands with everything. Kim, the day of coordinator, was so exceptional at what she does that I couldn't be more pleased with how everything turned out. She was also a massive support when I fell ill with food poisoning the day before the wedding, making sure I had nothing to worry about at all. Lauren was so delightful to work with regarding the hotel block and helped us with last minute bookings we didn't expect to have to make, but she got it done! We couldn't be more grateful for everyone there. THE FOOD. Every single thing they served for our wedding was well received by all our guests and I am still getting praises for the mini hot dogs with spicy onions, the white cheddar mac and cheese, and the taylor ham egg and cheese sandwiches that we served at the end of the night. Our day was perfect and it wouldn't have been without the staff at the Mainland.The Mainland at Holiday Inn Manahawkin's reply:
Thank you for having trust in us and sharing your special day!
Congratulations and come back to visit us! -
![Ali]()
Ali N. Sent on 11/13/2024I was the happiest Bride!
I am so happy we chose The Mainland as our venue. The staff were so accommodating, helpful and kind! It's so important to work with a venue where you feel comfortable and taken care of but thats exactly what The Mainland has to offer. The event staff and Maitre D made me feel at ease and excited. We had the absolute best night and I will never forget how special our venue was. I'd highly recommend!The Mainland at Holiday Inn Manahawkin's reply:
Thank you for having trust in us on your very special day! We were so happy to be there for you every step of the way. Congratulations again and please stay in touch!
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Billy Sent on 10/26/2024
Ani & Billy's Wedding
The Mainland was everything we asked for with a wedding venue. To begin Mel and Tyra accommodated all of our needs straight from the start. They were with us every step of the way from start to finish. Lauren was also amazing making sure the hotel side was taken care of and our wedding block worked out. The Venue itself was perfect for what we wanted. They have a ballroom but our personal preference was the terrace room. Beautifully laid out with great long tables and a great fireplace that served as out center for our ceremony and then later turned into our dance floor. All of our guests talked about how great the food was. Also the staff there that helped during our night such as our maître d, Kim and all the wonderful waiters and waitresses really all put the emphasis on making sure the bride and groom were happy. We ended the night at the bar and then outside at the firepit. We had the night of our lives!The Mainland at Holiday Inn Manahawkin's reply:
Thank you for having trust in us for your special day, especially being so far away! We were so happy to be there for you every step of the way. Congratulations again and please stay in touch!
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![Jill]()
Jill Sent on 10/14/2024Perfect Wedding!
I would not have wanted to get married anywhere else. The Mainland did an absolutely amazing job for our wedding day. We were supposed to get married on the beach, but it rained all day and we had to last minute change our ceremony location to The Mainland - Terrace Room. Not only were they able to accommodate, but the Terrace Room looked absolutely stunning for our ceremony! And for the reception, the ballroom is enormous, so it was very spacious and plenty of room for dancing. And of course the ballroom is gorgeous. I left all of my decor with The Mainland team with very little direction and they setup everything so beautifully - better than I had pictured in my head. Thank you Mainland team - you are top-notch! Also, the food was fantastic, service was wonderful, and the team is very responsive. You will not regret booking your wedding at The Mainland, I promise!The Mainland at Holiday Inn Manahawkin's reply:
Thank you for having trust in us for your special day! We were so happy to be there for you every step of the way. Congratulations again and please stay in touch! -
![Marissa]()
Marissa Sent on 10/05/2024Best All-In-One Venue!
The Mainland provided us with the absolute best day of our lives!! Tyra and Mel are so friendly and accommodating with all questions and booking arrangements. Kim the maitre'd is absolutely incredible... so helpful, professional, and kind. Our guests loved the food, wait staff, and bartenders!! The Terrace Room is so beautiful and speaks for itself. This venue is perfect for the modern couple looking for a non-traditional venue space with everything on-site! We got ready in the Holiday Inn hotel bride and groom suites, we did our first look and photos at the Manahawkin Lake, we had our ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception all in the venue space, we had the after party at the restaurant & fire pits outside, and walked right upstairs to the hotel for bed at the end of the night. That was just the best!!!! Book this if you want the all-in-one dream wedding spot!!! No regrets!!The Mainland at Holiday Inn Manahawkin's reply:
Thank you for having trust in us for your special day. It was wonderful getting to see your vision come to life and getting to know the both of you!
Congratulations to you both and stay in touch! -
![Cheryl]()
Cheryl Sent on 10/03/2024Perfection
Our wedding reception at the Mainland could not have been better I'll use the word perfection. From our initial introduction to the facility to the patient planning from the qualified staff, delicious and abundant cocktail hour food as well as the main courses served with professionalism. Highly RecommendedThe Mainland at Holiday Inn Manahawkin's reply:
Thank you for having trust in us for your special day. It was wonderful getting to see your vision come to life and celebrate! -
![Jessica]()
Jessica Sent on 09/28/2024The best wedding weekend!
We had the BEST experience with The Mainland! Kim, Tyra, Maria (and Mel before she went out on maternity) are absolutely amazing and go above and beyond. Tyra happily answered every one of my many emails and advocated for my wishes; Kim is YOUR GIRL- she takes care of everything including your decor and makes the day go smoothly and hypes you up; Maria is fantastic and has your food and drinks waiting for you (and our cocktails handed to us immediately as we left the ceremony space which was perfect!). The food was delicious and my guests raved about it. The Terrace Room, while seemingly a smaller space, was the perfect vibe and space was not an issue at all for our 120 guests. I can’t recommend this venue more, you will not regret it!
Photos by Chris Bray PhotosThe Mainland at Holiday Inn Manahawkin's reply:
Thank you for having trust in us for your special day. It was wonderful getting to see your vision come to life.
Congratulations to you both and we cannot wait to see your photos! -
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Robert Sent on 04/19/2024
Our wedding
Our wedding was a hit thanks to the Mainland crew. The staff is very knowledgeable and professional. They are very accommodating, responsive and always willing to give suggestions and answer questions.
If you are planning a wedding or any celebration the Mainland will not disappoint.The Mainland at Holiday Inn Manahawkin's reply:
Thank you for having trust in us for your special day! It was wonderful getting to see your vision come to life.
We were so happy to be there for you every step of the way! Congratulations again and please stay in touch! -
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![Stacy]()
Stacy Sent on 12/11/2023Surpassed Our Dreams!
I almost don’t know where to begin, except to say, this venue made all of our dreams come true, and then some. The entire process from booking to cleaning out everything the day after our wedding could not have been easier and it was all because of the event staff and our regards to all of the staff from event staff to catering staff, the chef, housekeeping, hotel and management! We and our guest were absolutely Blown away by how incredible the staff was; Attention to detail the hospitality, the organizational programming, the professionalism, and just friendliness. It honestly felt like the staff were guest at our wedding, because we got to get so close to them throughout the planning process. The coordinators everything that made me anxious and put it on their own plates. It was like they were reading my mind. If I give them all 10 stars I would.The Mainland at Holiday Inn Manahawkin's reply:
Thank you for having trust in us for your special day. It was wonderful getting to see your vision come to life and were able to put your mind at ease.
Congratulations and stay in touch! -
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![Courtney]()
Courtney Sent on 10/07/2023Exceeded every vision I could’ve had for my day
My husband and I pick the Mainland for
Our wedding the moment we toured it . The room is absolutely stunning and food is amazing . The day of the wedding I couldn’t have asked for a better experience . Kim , my day of coordinator , was prob the most helpful and kind person in the world . She was there the entire time ready to help and make sure everything myself or my husband needed was provided . She and the rest of the stuff truly went above and beyond . Every single guest still talks about how gorgeous they decorated and how amazing the food was . I can’t recommend them enough!The Mainland at Holiday Inn Manahawkin's reply:
Thank you for having trust in us for your special day. It was wonderful getting to know the both of you and being able to help you along this journey. Congratulations to you both and stay in touch! -
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Samantha Sent on 09/25/2023
Perfect Wedding
There are no words to describe how perfect our wedding day was. From Saturday night before with the arcades, fire pit, go karts, and restaurant, to our beautiful day on Sunday, from the venue and food and everything in between, it was a dream. I cannot recommend this venue enough!The Mainland at Holiday Inn Manahawkin's reply:
Thank you for having trust in us for your special day. It was wonderful getting to know the both of you and being able to celebrate all weekend!
We hope to see you back in the future! -
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![Holly]()
Holly Sent on 07/12/2023Most EPIC Event!
While not a wedding, we hosted our daughter’s bat mitzvah on May 20, 2023. We always knew we wanted the Mainland due to proximity to our home and that it had sleeping rooms for guests so we began meeting with the hotel in 2020, just before COVID. From the very first meeting to the final closing details after the event, the staff and property did not disappoint. Mel, Kim, and all the event and catering staff were so wonderful and particularly patient with all of my details and questions and Alycia and the front office were equally as amazing to ensure I had the right amour of rooms for all of our guests even with 5 other room blocks that evening. We had a hiccup with some rooms being cancelled the morning of and the front office staff quickly worked to resolve to ensure I didn’t even know there was a problem. We also hosted a send-off breakfast on Sunday which was spectacular. If you’ve ever been to a bat mitzvah you know it can be quite like a wedding but really two events in one as we were creating an event for adults and children. They worked with us on every little detail to ensure it was the event of our lifetime. Attendees cannot stop raving about it as well. The food, the ambiance, the service, I can’t say enough about the Mainland.The Mainland at Holiday Inn Manahawkin's reply:
Thank you for having trust in us for those few years we were able to work with you. It was wonderful getting to know you and your family and assist you during your planning journey.
We hope to see you back in the future! -
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11C5B788035322D165F5Edecaa9F8D74B0Ee69F0 Sent on 01/17/2023
What an awesome venue!
My husband and I got married here on 10/14/22 in the Terrace Room - I seriously can’t express enough how absolutely awesome the staff at the Mainland were for our wedding! From the very beginning when we booked it, through the whole planning process, and through the entire event, the whole team was so attentive!
For starters - Mel the Catering Sales Manager is just amazing! Throughout the entire planning process, she was always so quick to respond to any of my questions or requests, and was always so accommodating, kind, and helpful - and when you’re planning your special day, it’s nice to feel at ease and trust the staff who’s putting it all together for you! Alycia who handled our wedding block was super helpful, accommodating, and great to work with as well!
On the day of, we had Kim as our Maitre D’ and she was awesome! So attentive, on top of everything, and knocked it out of the park with our decorations-she took what I had in mind and worked her magic and it looked beautiful! We had several guests tell us afterwards how great the service staff were (herself, the servers, and Maria included). If there was an issue with a guests dinner, they made sure it was corrected quickly! The wedding day is a crazy busy day and can be overwhelming at times and Kim was always there at the right moments to make sure we enjoyed some food and had time to just take it all in for a moment, made sure we and the wedding party were ready for whatever moments we needed to be ready for, and gave us guidance through the whole process to make sure the day went smoothly so that we could just enjoy our special day and have fun with our guests!
All in all, we really had a blast here for those two nights (the arcade is a great bonus, especially if there’s kids in your party!), and our guests were raving about how great the food was, how beautiful the venue was, and how much fun they had all night! Would totally recommend the Mainland to anyone looking for a great venue to have their wedding, you definitely won’t regret it and you’ll make the best memories for your special day!The Mainland at Holiday Inn Manahawkin's reply:
Thank you for having trust in us for your special day. It was wonderful getting to know the both of you and being able to help you along this journey.
Congratulations to you both and the photos are stunning!
We hope to see you back in the future! -
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Erin Sent on 01/07/2023
Best decision!
Our wedding at the Mainland on 12/17/22 was hands down the best day of our lives. We booked the venue in January of 2022 after meeting with Mel & seeing the terrace room, we knew this was our venue! Throughout the entire process both Mel (catering coordinator) & Alycia (hotel coordinator) were very responsive and helpful with any questions. We had so much fun planning our wedding, booking our vendors etc. A week before we met with Kim (Maitre d') and I knew we were in great hands, she was absolutely phenomenal. Our ceremony & reception were both being held in the terrace room, and seeing how she took my vision and turned it into reality was so special. It was absolutely breathtaking. Kim made sure that we were taking care of all night, she made sure we were able to eat but still enjoy our cocktail hour with our guests by reserving a table for us to stand, eat and mingle. My bridesmaids had some trouble with my bustle and Kim stepped right in to help! Our family and friends are still raving about “that room” and “that food”! I cannot recommend The Mainland for your wedding!! We have absolutely no complaints!The Mainland at Holiday Inn Manahawkin's reply:
Thank you for having trust in us for your special day. It was wonderful getting to know the both of you and being able to help you along this journey.
Congratulations to you both!
We hope to see you back in the future! -
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![Natalie]()
Natalie Sent on 10/18/2022Amazing everything
I had my wedding at The Mainland October 1st, 2022 and we had booked it two years prior. Everything about it was amazing! I was telling my husband the next day "If people didn't enjoy our wedding, they are squares." The food was delicious and everything was beautiful. If my husband and I could do it all over again, we wouldn't change a thing. I wouldn't be surprised if we came back to use the terrace room for other events!The Mainland at Holiday Inn Manahawkin's reply:
The pleasure was ours! Thank you for trusting us with one of the most important days in your lives! We were honored to share this experience with you and can't wait to share other events with you!
Congratulations! -
![Cathleen]()
Cathleen Sent on 09/29/2022Best Wedding EVER!
My daughter got married at this venue on September 24th.
From our first meeting with Mel to see what the Venue looked like and what it had to offer we were sold. The venue was beautiful and Mel made us feel so comfortable. She was knowledgeable and friendly. She gave us a confidence that if we chose your venue we wouldn’t be disappointed. So with excitement we set the date and booked it.
Next was getting our guests to book their rooms early. This is where Alycia comes in. Her and I were in constant contact with each other. She would keep me updated on who booked and I would keep her updated on the amount of rooms we would need. She was so awesome that we became friends. She went beyond the call of dutie making me a Mother Of The Bride Bag and my Daughter a Bride Wine Glass. She was amazing!! We weren’t just clients, she cared about us.
Then the final meeting with Mel and Kim. I thought we were organized, but I was mistaken. Kim had everything covered from delivery to execution. She walked us through every pre step dotting every I and crossing every T. And that was nothing compared to the actual day of the wedding. We NEVER had to ask a question or requesting anything. Everything was taken care of exactly how we envisioned it to be. Or hoped it would be!!
I can’t leave out Jill. When our guests checked in, everyone kept telling me what a great job Jill did. How friendly and organized she was!! What a pleasant experience they all had.
My daughters wedding was Magical!! It was everything she could have asked for!! And that magic was due to the knowledge and commitment of your staff. We can not thank them enough. They gave my daughter the wedding she dreamed of.The Mainland at Holiday Inn Manahawkin's reply:
Thank you for having trust in us for your daughters special day.
Congratulations to you and your family!
The pleasure was ours and we hope to see you and your family back in the future! -
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![Alexandrea]()
Alexandrea Sent on 07/06/2022Mainland Wedding April 2, 2022
I came across The Mainland on Instagram and from a friend who got married there. The minute I saw the Terrace room I knew this was the perfect venue. Mel, Kim, Krista and Marie were all super helpful. Mel and Krista would respond to all of my questions and concerns I had during the entire planning process. They were great in providing me with different vendor options as well. Everything was very professional, helpful and supportive to make my day absolutely perfect. You are truly in good hands with this team. The venue itself is stunning and accommodating. We had approx 125-130 guests with plenty of space for dancing and sitting areas as well. The vision I had came to life with this team and venue. As far as drinks and food, we have gotten so many compliments on how great everything was. We upgraded a few things as well, which was well worth it. It is in a hotel, which was actually very convenient for our guests especially out of town. Everything was in one place and made the day much smoother. There are a ton of perfect spots for photographs too so you get all different backgrounds, the fireplace, twinkle lights and the wooded area. Overall it was such a perfect day, great team and I am glad I picked this venue. You can tell this team enjoys what they do and cares about their clients. I highly recommend this venue.The Mainland at Holiday Inn Manahawkin's reply:
The pleasure was ours Alexandrea! Thank you for trusting us with one of the most important days in your lives! We were honored to share this experience with you!
Congratulations! -
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Rebecca Sent on 03/19/2022
Perfection
All I can say is wow. We got married at The Mainland on 1/22/22 and it was the most beautiful, perfect day of our lives! Working with Mel & Krista was seamless. They were both very responsive, kind, patient, knowledgeable, and helped every step of the way. I also worked closely with Alycia at the front hotel desk, to set up room blocks & our bridal suite. Again, very responsive, patient, and helpful, and a seamless experience. Come to our wedding rehearsal & wedding day, the staff truly went ABOVE & BEYOND. Mel, Krista, and Kim, our maitre de, set everything up beautifully. When I walked into the space, I almost started crying. The attention to detail & setup was perfection, as they made our vision come to life. Our ceremony and cocktail hour were flawless. At the reception, Kim was by our side all night, and made sure we were taken care of with absolutely everything, and that the night went seamlessly - it did! Between Mel/Krista/Kim/Alycia, the staff, the drinks, the food, and the venue, everything was literal perfection. Friends & family are still raving about our wedding & how it was the best they’ve ever been to, with the best food! Everyone went above and beyond to accommodate us and made my husband & I feel like a true king & queen for the day. We are forever grateful to this staff & venue. Not only are they true professionals, but everyone is so kind & genuine. Because of them, our wedding day was truly the best day of our lives. It’s hard to put into words when something is so perfect. Thank you for making our dream a reality. Highly highly recommend The Mainland!The Mainland at Holiday Inn Manahawkin's reply:
The pleasure was ours Rebecca! Thank you for trusting us with one of the most important days in your lives! We were honored and very happy we were able to share that day with the both of you. Please come back to visit us and Congratulations! -
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![Kathleen]()
Kathleen Sent on 03/14/2022Absolutely Perfect!
My husband and I could not have been happier with our wedding at the Mainland. I have never been to an event that has been run so smoothly. Kim and Mel had everything handled perfectly, which let my husband and i enjoy our beautiful day! From day one of booking our wedding they were so organized with everything and were in constant contact with me. Alycia handled our room block and was so accommodating with our reservations. We even had two guests who had to get rooms the day of the wedding and she made it happen! We would love to give a huge thanks to all the staff for making our wedding a night we will never forget! Im looking forward to having other events here in the future!
Thanks again,
Kathleen & Anthony IadonisiThe Mainland at Holiday Inn Manahawkin's reply:
The pleasure was ours Kathleen! Thank you for trusting us with one of the most important days in your lives! We were honored and hope to see you both in the near future! -
![Kelly]()
Kelly Sent on 03/13/2022Beautiful Venue
I love everything about The Mainland … truly a naturally beautiful venue & the staff is amazing! Our wedding day was perfect, and the food was delicious! Highly recommend.The Mainland at Holiday Inn Manahawkin's reply:
The pleasure was ours! Thank you for trusting us with one of the most important days in your lives Kelly! We were honored and hope to see you both in the near future, here at the Mainland! -
![Dana]()
Dana Sent on 01/03/2022Beautiful, memorable, professional
We fell in love with The Terrace Room at The Mainland upon touring it. Leading up to the wedding, Mel and Krista were wonderful to work with - super responsive and answered all my questions. At our wedding, Kim and her team did a wonderful job of managing everything. We had a medical emergency during our reception (everyone is ok!) and the staff handled it all well, and still managed to keep the night on track. Our guests were all from out of town, so 80 of our 95 guests stayed overnight in the hotel. We all gathered for breakfast in the restaurant the next morning, which was wonderful. It's been almost two months since our wedding and we have received nothing but compliments from our guests on the food, location, venue, decor, everything. Huge thank you to the Mainland team for giving us the most perfect wedding!The Mainland at Holiday Inn Manahawkin's reply:
Thank you for trusting us with your special day. We are very happy to hear you had a wonderful wedding that everyone will remember.
Congratulations and stay in touch! -
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![Christina]()
Christina Sent on 12/20/2021YES! To the mainland!
Our wedding at the mainland was absolutely perfect!! The team made sure the day went along smoothly! We planned our wedding out of state and Mel our sales representative was always in constant contact and had an answer to all my questions. Kimberly our day of coordinator put together our decorations absolutely perfectly. I was blown away when I saw how everything was put together. If you want a stress-free day I HIGHLY recommend having your wedding at the mainland!!!!The Mainland at Holiday Inn Manahawkin's reply:
Christina the pleasure was ours! Thank you for trusting us with one of the most important days in your lives and being accommodating while living out of state! Congratulations and we hope that you visit us again when your back in New Jersey! -
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![Amanda]()
Amanda Sent on 10/26/2021Wedding at the Mainland
All I have to say is WOW! Mel & Maria we’re not only extremely accommodating but they were extremely kind! The food was out of this world! 10/10 would recommend having your wedding hereThe Mainland at Holiday Inn Manahawkin's reply:
The pleasure was ours! Thank you for trusting us with one of the most important days in your lives! We hope to see you in the near future. Congratulations! -
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![Nicole]()
Nicole Sent on 10/17/2021The perfect choice for our wedding venue!
Kim, Mel, Krista and the rest of The Mainland wedding team truly exceeded our expectations for our wedding day. They went above and beyond with every single part of the day. All of our guests stayed at the Holiday Inn, and my bridesmaids and I used the bridal suite for getting ready, there was so much space and it was a lovely setting to get ready for our big day. The wedding itself was beyond anything I could have imagined! Every single guest said it was one of the best and most beautiful weddings they’ve ever been to. The Terrace space is gorgeous, and the team decorated the space even better than I had dreamed. They took my wedding vision and brought it to life for us. We would recommend using this venue to anyone!The Mainland at Holiday Inn Manahawkin's reply:
The pleasure was our Nicole. Thank you for trusting us with your special day, we were honored to help you along the way. Congratulations to the both of you! -
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![Deirdre]()
Deirdre Sent on 09/29/2021My wedding day was everything I dreamed of & more thanks to The Mainland!
We got engaged in November 2018, and visited The Mainland in December 2018. This is the only venue we actually toured - it was love at first sight and we booked our wedding date the same evening we visited. The Mainland was extremely accommodating when we had to reschedule our wedding due to COVID not once, but twice, and honored all of our original prices. One pleasant surprise was that they updated the ballroom during summer 2021 and we were able to utilize the beautiful new room for our reception, while keeping the ceremony in the STUNNING Terrace Room (seriously - no decor is needed for such a beautiful space). There were some staff changes in the almost three years that I was planning my wedding, but communication was always open and clear. I mainly interacted with Mel, our event coordinator, who was an actual angel. She was very quick to answer any questions I had. Closer to our date we also worked with our maître d Kim, who was wonderful. She was able to handle our large family and wedding party with ease and ensured that everything went flawlessly leading up to & including our wedding day. Thanks to Kim, my husband and I always had a drink in our hand and got to try at least one of everything during cocktail hour and dinner. Speaking of the food, it was PHENOMENAL. I received so many compliments from guests about both the quality and quantity of food - the mashed potato bar and mac & cheese were both HUGE hits during cocktail hour. I would also recommend the pork roll, egg, and cheese to go station at the end of the night - it was a lifesaver LOL. Overall, I cannot say enough good things about The Mainland. They made our wedding day more perfect than I could ever envision.The Mainland at Holiday Inn Manahawkin's reply:
The pleasure was ours. Thank you for trusting us in your special day and it was wonderful to work with the both of you. Congratulations and best wishes! -
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![Katie]()
Katie Sent on 07/05/2021Perfect Day! Highly Recommend
My husband and I got married at the Mainland Manahawkin on 6-11-21. I cannot recommend this place enough! The terrace room is absolutely gorgeous (sliding barn doors, string lights, wood barn tables, beautiful fireplace). We had about 75 people and room was a very comortable fit with plenty of room to move and dance. The night was amazing. The food was amazing, our guests are still talking about the cocktail hour! The venue provides all catering and open bar as well as a cake package so it was very convenient to have a one stop shop for everything. Mel and Kim helped us the entire way from planning through a pandemic, to food tastings, to final details. They both were super attentive and made the decor and layout look better than I every could imagined. They were both super accommodating and flexible for every request we had and the night went off without a single bump in the road. They are both great at what they do.
My husband and I didnt have to lift a finger and were able to fully enjoy our night. The hotel itself is also extremely clean and accommodating. I had a friend who had a last minute room switch and they were able to assist seamlessly. I highly highly recommend hosting your future rustic wedding here!The Mainland at Holiday Inn Manahawkin's reply:
We were honored to help you plan your wedding through the pandemic. Thank you for choosing The Mainland and trusting us with your special day. You both were wonderful to work with. Congratulations to the both of you and come back to visit! -
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Jeanne Sent on 06/09/2021
Amazing !!
We had such an amazing time on our wedding day and the experience leading up to it was flawless. From the top down to the bottom everything went amazing. Mel was great at responding and very helpful. She and our maitre d Kim decorated our room BEAUTIFULLY with little direction of the vision I wanted - I kind of just handed them boxes ( and boxes and boxes ) of candles and some other decorations and told them to just make it look pretty - and they knocked it out of the park. Brian the chef was amazing to work with. Our food was out of this world - and the appetizers were delicious. The servers were so attentive and professional. We really couldn’t have asked for a better day - all thanks to them !!!The Mainland at Holiday Inn Manahawkin's reply:
Thank you for trusting us Jeanne.
We were honored to help you along this journey.
Congratulations to the both of you and best wishes! -
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![Theresa]()
Theresa Sent on 05/25/2021Great venue and experience!
What a wonderful experience having our wedding at the Mainland. From the initial meeting through the day after the wedding, our coordinator Mel was terrific. She was patient, accommodated our requests, made suggestions and did everything she could to ensure the day was perfect! And the Terrace Room is absolutely beautiful!The Mainland at Holiday Inn Manahawkin's reply:
The pleasure was ours! Thank you for trusting us with one of the most important days in your lives! I was honored and hope to see you both in the near future, Congratulations! -
![Kristen]()
Kristen Sent on 04/03/2021Perfect from start to finish
I couldn't be happier with our wedding at The Mainland. From start to finish, Mel and Kim were both amazing. Mel was extremely responsive to all questions/emails during COVID-19. Mel and Kim were super flexible during the whole entire process. Kim was an excellent Maitre d - she put all of our worries to rest. She set up all of our decor in a picture perfect way and made sure that my husband and I were well fed and hydrated throughout the entire night. The venue itself is beautiful. Our guests couldn't stop commenting about how unique and different the Terrace Room was. It truly made for a beautiful backdrop for pictures. The food was delicious - the cocktail hour was amazing and the dinner itself was really great. Service is A+ as well - the servers were kind and attentive. We really had an amazing wedding experience and it couldn't have been achieved without Mel and Kim at The Mainland. I highly recommend this venue and would use them again for parties, baby showers, etc.The Mainland at Holiday Inn Manahawkin's reply:
The pleasure was ours! Thank you for trusting us with one of the most important days in your lives! You both were wonderful to work with and I am so happy we were able to help along the way! Best wishes and Congratulations! -
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![Cassie]()
Cassie Sent on 02/17/2021Everything was amazing!
Everything for our wedding and my bridal shower turned out amazing at the Mainland! Mel was so easy to work with and made planning a breeze for me! Even with the little decor I provided, the room looked absolutely beautiful. All of our guests raved about the food and the wait staff and bartender were very attentive. Kim the mater d went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect!The Mainland at Holiday Inn Manahawkin's reply:
The pleasure was ours! Thank you for trusting us with your shower and one of the most important days in your lives!
It was an honor and we hope to see you again soon. -
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![Amanda]()
Amanda Sent on 12/28/2020Our wedding at The Mainland -Terrace Room
We got married on Wednesday, December 23, 2020! This day was the most beautiful day of our entire lives. My husband and I highly recommend the mainland for your wedding!
I remember emailing the mainland inquiring about having the wedding there and at the same time emailing a few other places but Mel responded within literally 10 minutes... And it was at that moment that she and the mainland were number one on our list!
Mel, you are truly so wonderful! Thank you so much for making our wedding planning so easy and relaxing!! You answered every single question within no time! Thank you for being kind and dealing with all my emails and calls, it was in those moments of my stress that you made me feel extremely calm and for that I will be Forever grateful!!! You are so great!!!!
We had the pleasure of having Maria be our maître d’ at our wedding and let me just tell you something.....she was the BEST!!! Maria you made Ryan and I feel like a king and queen just as a bride and groom should feel on their wedding day! You never missed a beat for us even though we were being pulled in 1 million different directions!! You always made sure we knew what was going on and that we were having the best time and that we ate LOL! Thank you for being on our side for the most important day of our lives! You are truly one of a kind and wonderful woman!
I also want to add that the Holiday Inn was amazing! We got ready in the suite And spent our wedding night there as well! After our wedding we sat around the fire pit outside which was beautiful! The room was clean and the hotel is very very accommodating thank you for making our stay so wonderful!
We had a station reception at our wedding which was a lot of fun for our guest. Having a wedding during Covid was a little bit different than your typical type of wedding. We celebrated with our closest family and everyone truly loved the ambience of the room and the extremely fun and delicious food! From the deepest part of our hearts there is nothing we would change!
Thank you to Mel Jessica Maria and Andy and everyone else at the mainland and the Holiday Inn For making our dream wedding a reality!
Again I highly recommend the Mainland for your upcoming wedding!!!!The Mainland at Holiday Inn Manahawkin's reply:
The pleasure was ours! Thank you for trusting us with one of the most important days in your lives! We were honored to be able to be a apart of your special day. We hope to see you both in the near future, Congratulations! -
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![Jessica]()
Jessica Sent on 11/19/2019Amazing food, service, and ambiance
We had our welcome dinner party and our morning after brunch for our wedding at The Mainland at Holiday Inn and both were absolutely perfect. The staff was so responsive and helpful the entire time leading up to the event. Our wedding weekend was in early August, during the height of the busy summer season, but Mainland / Holiday Inn bent over backwards making sure everything was perfect. The food was beyond our expectations - so fresh and delicious - and they continuously refilled the buffet. The bar had plenty of bartenders and they were personable and great at their jobs! The space was beautiful and comfortable. We didn't even need to get any decorations - they have beautiful table settings and centerpieces and the room itself feels like a private living room with tons of light, couches, and space for everyone to eat, lounge, and visit. All of our guests commented on how fantastic the space, food, and service was. Mainland was an amazing addition to our wedding weekend! -
![Christina]()
Christina Sent on 01/27/2019Dream Come True
September bride here, this review is long overdue but certainly well-deserved:
We had the most incredible experience with Donna and her staff at the Mainland! We had our Wedding reception in the terrace room. This room is recently renovated and absolutely gorgeous. Working with Donna was a special treat, she is a ray of sunshine and made the planning process so effortless and fun. This venue is the whole package; we really loved how much it had to offer even outside of where the banquet was held—the clean hotel rooms and guest block, beer garden, fun games, fire pits, and the restaurant that is perfect for breakfast the morning after the big day. It is so easy to forget that you’re on 72—this place feels like a destination spot! The terrace room is elegant and all of our guests were blown away. The fireplace, farm tables, and fountains make the reception space feel inviting and like a perfectly executed vision from a Pinterest dream-board. My husband and I have food allergies and the staff was great about making sure that we were well taken care of. They made every detail special. Our wedding day felt like something out of a fairy tale all thanks to Donna and her wonderful team! -
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Erin Sent on 09/25/2018Our entire wedding experience was very personally and professionally delivered by Donna and her team at The Mainland! From our first visit to the morning after our wedding day the success was in the details! Donna walked with us through our journey with a clear vision and and sincere interest in providing the best possible experience for us along with our family and guests. We would highly recommend The Mainland for anyone seeking a venue for their special day!
Warmest wishes,
Ken and Erin Bailey
9-22-2018
The Mainland at Holiday Inn Manahawkin's reply:
The pleasure was ours! Thank you for trusting us with one of the most important days in your lives! We were honored and hope to see you both in the near future, here at the Mainland! -
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Kate Sent on 09/03/2018We had the most amazing experience with Donna and the staff at the Mainland! I highly recommend having an event here. We had our Wedding ceremony and reception in the terrace room. The room is newly renovated and stunning! All of the details from the farmhouse tables, lanterns, chiavari chairs and the beautiful fire place with waterfall fountains on each side is breath taking. They were overly accommodating to our dietary restrictions and our quests thoroughly enjoyed the hors d’oeuvres dinner and drinks! Working with them to plan the event felt effortless and stress free. They thought of everything to make it run smooth. They also have a great restaurant and beer garden with yard games, fun for the whole family! The hotel rooms were very clean and convenient for us and our guests after the reception. Thank you Donna + Staff!!!
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Susan Sent on 07/11/2018Donna & staff were so friendly, efficient and attentive to us & our guests. Their attention to detail
was so appreciated and made for a perfect wedding day! We were truly treated like Royalty!!
Thank you all so much for your quality care you put into making our wedding day so special.
Definitely 5 star venue and staff. Susan & Sean Devlin 4/28/18
The Mainland at Holiday Inn Manahawkin's reply:
HI, Susan and Sean!!! Thank you for your kind words! We were honored to be part of your special day! Wishing you health, happiness, love and laughter......from all of us here at the Mainland at the Holiday Inn! -
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![Lanie]()
Lanie Sent on 08/24/2021The BEST day of our lives!
I cannot say enough good things about Kim, Mel, Maria, Petra, and all of the other wonderful staff at The Mainland! From the beginning or selecting our venue, Mel was extremely kind and helpful in the planning process, and was always a call or email away. Kim was with us the whole entire reception, and made sure the whole evening ran seamlessly for everyone! Even with what little decor I had provided, the room looked AMAZING, and all we've heard for days after was that it was the best wedding anyone has ever been to. Thank you for making our special day one we will never want to forget!The Mainland at Holiday Inn Manahawkin's reply:
The pleasure was ours. It was wonderful being able to help you plan your special day!
Congratulations again and best wishes! -
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Maureen Sent on 10/24/2022
Fabulous stress free beautiful
Everything was great. The staff was very responsive anytime I had a question. Kim and Maria were amazing. Kim made sure to make comfortable and went over everything step by step with me bc she knows I’m a little ocd which really helped with my stress. The day of Kim and Maria did not disappoint they were there anytime I needed them and did not have to ask for anything bc they already had it. It was great!The Mainland at Holiday Inn Manahawkin's reply:
The pleasure was ours! Thank you for trusting us with one of the most important days in your lives! We were honored to share this experience with you and can't wait to share other events with you!
Congratulations! -
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Jessica Sent on 01/19/2020A Beautiful place!
Loved getting married here. Only downfall was the planning process- have a lot of changeover so meetings don’t mean very much until the end. We only had a minimum of 75, which worked beautifully for the space. I can’t see fitting more than 100 people in that room comfortably. Kim was amazing with our decor, and trust me I brought LOADS of stuff. Only negative we had was that Kim went and got the contract from the sales office when my husband (totally sober) forgot is was only a 4 hour open bar. Little awkward. -
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![Corinna]()
Corinna Sent on 10/12/2021Beautiful wedding!
Venue was absolutely beautiful! My only complaints were that I had to keep correcting them on my contract with certain things and the morning of they almost gave me a heart attack that they had lost my guest book sign and marker. So my mom went down to look and found it thank god. Also, that AC was broken in the one area of the venue and it was so hot all my guest were complaining and disappointed that they couldn’t dance because they were so hot one said “I will pass out I have to sit I can’t go out there”. Those are the only complaints. Other than that, beautiful venue and everything was the way it was suppose to be. I had the best wedding I could have wished for and would recommend the venue to anyone!The Mainland at Holiday Inn Manahawkin's reply:
Congratulations on your special day.
Thank you for choosing The Mainland for one of your special days.
Please keep in touch and best wishes to you both! -
![Lisa]()
Lisa Sent on 11/21/2019Our Wedding Day
We had our wedding ceremony and reception at the Holiday Inn (The Mainland) in October 2019. Our initial meetings went great with Austin he was responsive, energetic, and organized. The Terrace is a beautiful space, with a newly renovated rustic feel, which is used for both the ceremony and reception. The only downfall is they have your reception tables pushed to the back of the room during the ceremony, and blocked out by (not enough) fake tree/plants. The room really becomes a beautiful space when it is set up for the reception (uplighting from my vendor Fresh New Angle really made this space come to life).
A few weeks prior to my event Austin quit and was no longer the event coordinator, and my event was transferred to other employees who seemed to be sharing the roll. The venue highlights their wedding package to have a Maitre D, who also shares the roll of being the day of coordinator. At our first meeting, Kim was personable and seemed to be on the same page as us for what we wanted our big day to look like. Unfortunately, from the minute Kim and I spoke on the morning of my wedding day, she seemed to be annoyed and agitated. Throughout the day, Kim was very short tempered with myself and my bridal party, and seemed to be demanding orders to my guests and vendors. Initially, she was upset that my florist and my DJ arrived (in her opinion) too early. Following that, she rushed my guests out of the ceremony space, to the cocktail hour space, by demanding, "Everybody out, the bride wants you out of this room" as re-quoted by one of my guests. The absolute biggest concern of mine is Kim allowed guests (who were at least 15 minutes late) to WALK DOWN THE AISLE to sit DURING MY PRECESSION. She was standing at the entrance of the room, timing the bridal party to walk down the aisle, and allowed guests to interrupt my ceremony to take a seat. (If you can imagine Mother of the bride, the groom's parents, bridesmaids, GUEST WHO IS NOT IN THE BRIDAL PARTY, groom, ect to walk down the aisle in that order). I still watch my wedding video and cringe at this. The worst part is, she is on video watching that unfold without doing anything. Finally, she did not work well and was not flexible at all with my other vendors who were helpful and friendly the entire night. After the fact, I had determined that the staff was short by 3-5 servers the day of my wedding and the serving of dinner ran very late. My other vendors offered to help serve to allow dinner to be served faster but that offer was turned down. On the flip side, Maria was a server who was pleasant and friendly the entire night. I adopted her as my Maitre D, and she received multiple compliments from my friends and family for her service. THANK YOU MARIA!
Aside from the unfortunate details above, the Holiday Inn offered a wonderful package for the cocktail hour food choices and the dinner and cake were delicious (we took a chance as they do not offer tastings). We had about 80 guests and used 10 tables. I would NOT recommend trying to fit more than 10 people per table. The staff who were setting up the tables for an event a few nights prior recommended no more than 8 people per table which I agree with. The facility states you can fit up to 12 people per table but that would really be uncomfortable. The space offers great pictures indoors, but the outdoor space is pretty limited. It rained the entire day until the reception so we weren't able to get many pictures outside anyway. Most of our photos are taken with the same background of the fireplace. I booked the hotel room the night before to have the suite to get ready in which was okay, nothing fancy.
In all, I am a pretty low key person and booked the venue on convenience. It served its purpose and was a wonderful day to celebrate our marriage with our close friends and family. I do hope they address the concerns stated above so another bride does not have a similar experience! -
![Lisa M]()
Lisa Sent on 11/20/2007the manahawkin holiday inn was a disaster, they screwed up on forgotten centerpieces to forgotten care packages for the bride and groom, they closed the bar down early and forgot italian pastries that i paid for. They charged my brother for his canceled reservation and the matorD yelled at my DJ in front of my guests. and these are just a few of the errors madeby the Manahawkin Holidy Inn, all in all they were very disappointing to my me and my husband.
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