When it comes to amenities, Heritage Hills is top-notch.  In addition to the usual fair of nice tables, chairs and linens Heritage Hills also offers a complimentary dance floor, 12” square mirrors and/or votive center pieces and discounted rates on any audio / video equipment rentals you may need.  But one of the best parts is that Heritage Hills does not charge you to set up or clean up for your event, nor do they charge you fees just to pop a few corks on champagne bottles!

Getting to the Heritage Hills Golf & Conference Center is pretty easy as it sits in very close proximity to Interstate 83 and U.S. Route 30 on Mount Rose Avenue.  The facility offers plenty of off-street parking as well as 100 guest rooms for your family and friends who may be traveling long distances to be with you on your special day.  Last but far from least, in addition to the golfing facilities on site, you can also enjoy some downtime at one of their on-site restaurants which include Ironwoods Restaurant, Knickers Pub and Bogey Macaw’s.

Heritage Hills Golf Resort & Conference Center
2700 Mount Rose Avenue
York, PA 17402

For more information about Heritage Hills Golf Resort & Conference Center, please call their phone number at 877.782.9752 or visit their website at www.hhgr.com/events.html.

How Much Should Your Wedding DJ Cost

Particularly, I truly appreciate the fact that Stacie has taken the time to really do her research with this article.  She talked to brides and grooms, other wedding vendors and even a few DJs too; so be sure to take a few minutes and read this article thoroughly.

It should also be noted that Stacie’s article is in fact one of the many topics the book ‘Wed Without Regrets‘ tackles in great detail.  Way to go Stacie!

The next step is taking a look at all of your funding sources, totaling them up so that you know how much you have to work with.  Sources of funding may be your own income, savings or dedicated accounts, credit cards and so on.  Other sources may include parents from both sides of the family.  The caveat is if someone else is helping to foot the bill, be sure to include them in your budgeting and planning activities too. 

The average total cost of a wedding in the Harrisburg – Lancaster – York region of Pennsylvania is about $26,175 with the majority of spending falling somewhere between $19,600 and $32,7181.  These figures are slightly less than the national average which in 2008 was approximately $28,000.  This average includes attire & accessories, beauty & health expenses, entertainment, flowers & decorations, gifts & favors, invitations, jewelry, photography & video, planner/consultant, transportation, venue & catering and of course the marriage license.  It does not include the honeymoon, lodging, meals, travel or any other expenses outside of the actual wedding ceremony or reception.

Just keep in mind that these wedding costs figures are based on averages.  In other words, there are a lot of weddings that cost less than $20,000 and there are some that cost a whole lot more!  The other thing to keep in mind is that these figures are based on average wedding vendor costs; more experienced and/or talented services will cost more.

In any case, as was discussed in the priorities article, your next step is to start allocating portions of your wedding budget to your prioritized list.  So if your top priorities are to have a visually stunning reception, you of course need to dedicate more of your budget towards location, flowers and décor.  Your lower priority items should command less of your budget and little of your initial planning efforts.

Over the years, I have seen far too many couples run out of money before they had all of their planning details covered.  Often this is a result of couples having little or no formal plan and the spending quickly overruns their monetary limitations.  Of course this becomes a major source of friction between couples and their families as credit card balances spiral out of control, but the bills keep coming in. 

However, in recent years, I have been urging my clients and couples who attend my seminars or workshops in the Harrisburg, PA region to create a plan and stick to it.  The biggest part of that wedding plan is setting your priorities.

Setting your priorities is simple in concept, but has far reaching implications that I will touch upon in future articles.  The biggest thing that you need to do though is figure out what kind of wedding and reception that you want to have.  For example, if you want a fun wedding reception, then you priority needs to be on securing the wedding entertainment first and should command a significantly larger portion of your budget.  If stunning pictures are what you really want, then you will of course need to look at photographers first.

Once you know what your top priority is, then you will need to think about what is next most important, working your way through all aspects of the wedding planning, until you have set your priorities for all services.  This includes your photographer, videographer, entertainment, master of ceremonies, caterer, florist, cake, attire, décor, and so forth.  When you have that completed, then you know where you need to dedicate more time and resources to get the wedding you always dreamed of.

WARNING: If you are easily offended, please DO NOT watch the following video clip – the content is inappropriate for minors!!! 

Be sure to note that this particular incident involved a DJ company based in Ohio that provides DJ and Videographer services for less than what the American Disc Jockey Association recommends as the standard price for just a DJ performing for four hours at a wedding reception! The following two videos are TV news reports about just one of many so-called DJs companies across the U.S.

I loved the fact that we did not have too many grooms in each session, which allowed for much more time for each groom to discuss his questions and ideas or to add his feedback for someone else’s comments.  I was also pleasantly surprised by the level of interest that each groom showed with making his wedding better and more unique.  I was completely overwhelmed by the positive feedback I received from each and every groom at the end of the sessions!

While I was certainly there to promote my services, my primary goal was to get grooms thinking about their brides before they say or do anything.  I believe that I have accomplished that goal because every groom came up to shake my hand and requested a business card at the end of both sessions.  I know now that their weddings will be much more memorable and their brides will be happier too!

As a follow-up to the Groom’s Workshops, I am getting the details lined up for a Wedding Planning Workshop to be open for engaged couples sometime after the 1st of the new year – stay tuned for more details!!!

Look no further!  Here are my Top 5 tips for grooms to make the most out of every moment during their wedding day. 

Tip #5 – Be On Time

Being on time for your own wedding may sound like common sense, but I always recommend that the grooms arrive at least an hour ahead of time.  By getting there at least an hour before, you have plenty of time in case there is an emergency such as mechanical problems with your transportation, unforeseen traffic or detours or even tuxedo “malfunctions.”  In more than 25 years of performing wedding ceremonies and receptions, I have seen all sorts of scenarios cause delays – plan ahead and be prepared with alternative plans, your bride will greatly appreciate it!

Tip #4 – Get Plenty of Sleep

This may also seem like a no-brainer, but time and again I have seen grooms run out of steam long before their special day is a memory.  Whether it was a late night out with his groomsmen and best man or simply could not sleep from excitement or anything in between; your wedding day will test your levels of mental and physical endurance from the whirlwind of activities.  Fight fatigue and enjoy your special day more thoroughly by being well rested because you deserve to get the most out of your wedding!

Tip #3 – Be Sober

One of the biggest complaints I have heard from brides is that their groom showed up “lost in the sauce” or hungover from the night before.  This coupled with lack of sleep and not eating properly can lead to the groom fizzling out long before the festivities or worse yet, going down for the count during the ceremony.  This is made even worse by heat as it can be quite stuffy in a tux while you slowly simmer in the summer and after a night of liberal libation, your body will dehydrate in a matter of minutes.  Sometimes this leads to everything “going dim” for the groom as he goes down like a sack of potatoes, but it may also lead to serious injuries from the fall, dehydration as well as the heat.

Tip #2 – Eat Well

This may sound like the obvious, but I am always surprised by the brides as well as the grooms that skip meals or only eat lightly due to the butterflies or time constraints.  Be sure to eat a good, full dinner the night before and eat a hearty breakfast too; you will need the reserve energy long before the last guest has left and it is often six or more hours before you can sit down at your reception to refill.  Starchy foods such as pasta and bread at dinner will build up your reserves for the next day and eating a healthy breakfast will give you the additional boost that you will need to carry you through the day.

Tip #1 – Relax and Enjoy

The number one concern that I have addressed over the years has been that of anxiety, anxiousness, nerves and fretting over the minor stuff.  When it comes right down to it, hopefully you have hired professionals that you trust to handle the details not the cheapest; relax and let them worry about the small things.  One of the biggest things that will dampen the spirit of any celebration is the presence of a few wet blankets.  If the bride and the groom are unhappy, your family and friends will be too!  So smile, have fun and enjoy yourself – you have spent a lot of time putting your wedding together as well as the considerable financial investment that you have placed into too.

It’s your day, make the most of it!

Charles E. Snyder III
Certified Master of Ceremonies
Extraordinary Weddings
717.718.5218