We have the pleasure of hosting multiple weddings every year and wanted to share with the world what a typical wedding day looks like from start to finish here at Edgewood. The timeline chosen reflects what we see most often but it can be altered to be earlier in the day. This blog will be broken up into 3 categories; getting ready & set up, ceremony & cocktail hour, and reception & clean up. The below portion goes over the start of the day.
7:45am: Our wedding coordinator arrives to turn on the lights and air conditioning/heat in the bridal suite and begin to prepare the water, sodas, and mimosas that were added on by the bride for the morning while they get ready.
8am: Bride, Bridesmaids, and Moms all arrive along with the Hair and Makeup team to begin getting set up in the bridal suite. Elaine greets the bride and her bridal party and then heads into the ballroom to continue set up of the wedding.
12pm – 2pm: Vendors arrive at Edgewood to begin their set up and to start photos.
1pm: Elaine begins set up of ceremony site and cocktail patio.
2:30pm: Our serving staff and bartenders clock in and begin going through their checklist of items (set up coffee station, count out salad and dinner plates, prepare dressings and dipping sauces for cocktail hour, etc).
3:15pm: Elaine has a meeting with the serving staff to go over the wedding details and timeline.
3:30pm: Gentlemen arrive and we assist them in storing their belongings and getting them settled in the ballroom.
Welcome back to our wedding day recap blog. Below is the next segment of this running blog topic, ceremony and cocktail hour. Once again, this helps to give you an idea as to how a wedding day goes at Edgewood.
4pm: Guests begin arriving and staff direct them to the outdoor ceremony location.
4:15pm: Elaine’s assistant heads outside to get the parents and gentlemen ready for the ceremony; Elaine heads to the bridal suite to check on the ladies and give them a 5-minute warning.
4:20pm: Elaine begins leading the ladies to the front porch area to line up in proper order for ceremony procession; Elaine’s assistant gets the groom, groomsmen and parents lined up and ready to process into ceremony
4:30pm: DJ starts the first song of the ceremony processional. Once the parents, groom and his groomsmen are at the pergola, Elaine starts sending the bridesmaids and flower girl. Once it is only the bride and her father left, we wait for the song change and Elaine straightens the bride’s train for her entrance to the ceremony location.
4:35pm: Ceremony Begins
4:50pm: Ceremony concludes, and the new Mr. & Mrs. make their way back down the aisle followed by their bridal party. They immediately go into family photos and the serving staff finishes last minute preparation on hors d’oeuvres trays and bar set up.
5pm: Bar opens, serving staff begin passing the hors d’oeuvres and signature drinks.
5:10pm: Bridal party and photographers all get into golf carts and are led out onto the course by a staff member to take additional photos.
5:50pm: Elaine’s assistant and the serving staff start directing guests to the main entrance of the ballroom. Guests are directed to the place card and guest book table. Bridal party returns to the bridal suite to enjoy some hors d’oeuvres while the guests find their seats.
6pm: Cocktail Hour and Bar Service closed outside and any remaining guests are directed to the ballroom entrance.
In our last segment of the wedding rundown blog, we discuss the reception and clean up portion of the wedding day. This covers introductions, dinner and dessert, and concludes at the end of the evening with the staff cleaning and headed out the doors. We hope you have enjoyed the run down of a wedding day to help you get a glimpse of what it looks like at Edgewood.
6:05pm: Elaine and the DJ start to get the bridal party lined up for introductions while the serving staff take laps around the room to check on empty waters or plates that can be cleared.
6:10pm: Introductions begin followed by the couple’s first dance as husband and wife which is then followed by the parent dances and then the toasts and the blessing.
6:30pm: Serving staff clears any remaining salad plates and Elaine and kitchen staff prepare for dinner service.
6:40pm: Dinner service begins. Each server is assigned to a section of tables in the ballroom to make dinner serve go smoothly and efficiently. Bride and Groom provided a meal document to further assist the servers by listing who gets what meal at each table.
7pm: Dinner service concludes and the bar opens again. Servers attend to their tables to clear any plates or glasses and to refill any water carafes that have emptied. Elaine checks on the bride and groom to see if anything is needed. A few more minutes are given to allow people the opportunity to finish their meals before dessert is served.
7:10pm: Bride & Groom cut their wedding cake. After this, the lights in the ballroom are dimmed to set the mood for a night of dancing and fun! The cake is taken to kitchen to be plated and served with the couples chosen dessert.
7:30pm: Servers continue to clear dinner and dessert plates, as well as empty drink glasses from the tables. Elaine periodically checks in with bride and groom to ensure they are happy and do not need anything. She also checks in with the DJ, photographer, and any other vendors to see if they are in need of anything.
7:45pm: Elaine says her good-byes to the bride and groom and their parents. She checks on the bartenders before heading back to the waitress station to discuss any last details with her assistant and the staff.
9pm: Elaine’s assistant helps the photographer in gathering the bridal party and parents of the bride and groom to go out to the front of the ballroom to do sparkler photos.
10pm: The send-off station gets set up in the ballroom. Chicken Fingers with dipping sauces and jumbo pretzels are all out with napkins and plates for the guests to help themselves to.
10:50pm: Servers put out a few small to-go boxes on the send-off table, as well as the cake and any extra/unserved meals by the card box for the bride and groom to take with them upon their exit.
11pm: DJ’s song fades to an end and the lights are turned on in the ballroom. Staff starts clearing any items that are left on the tables for them to be washed and begin blowing out any candles and collect all centerpiece items to one table.
11:15pm: All guests have headed home or to hotels after a fantastic night celebrating the beautiful couple!
Here at Edgewood, we have had the opportunity to host hundreds of bridal showers! No two showers are alike, and we absolutely love seeing them all come together. Below we listed a few of the most frequently asked questions to help you plan an upcoming bridal shower.
When should the shower take place?
Typically, the shower occurs 2-3 months prior to the wedding. This allows the couple ample time to celebrate at the shower as well as organize their gifts! You want to take the time to enjoy other events like the bachelorette/bachelor party and rehearsal dinner without everything being crammed into a short time frame. Now this is not to say that you can’t have it earlier/later than 2-3 months prior. Schedules are hectic and not everyone lives in the same area so sometimes it is hard to get together. No one will be upset if you have your shower in May when your wedding is in December. It’s your shower, have it when you want!
Who organizes/pays for the shower?
Traditionally it was the maid/matron of honor who planned and paid for the shower, but nowadays that has changed a lot. Many showers are taken care of by the bridal party and even the bride’s mother or mother-in-law. There is no right or wrong answer here.
Who should be invited to the shower?
As long as the shower isn’t a surprise for the bride, it would be best for her to put together the guest list and then pass it along to whoever is hosting so they can handle it from there. Typically, only women are invited to the shower, unless you plan on having a coed shower. This has become a very popular choice, seeing as the men in the family frequently come in to help set up the event. Often the men will eat with everyone, and then go hang out and drink a few beers or get in a round of golf while the ladies are playing games or opening gifts. It is also customary to only invite people who will be invited to the wedding as well.
When should the invitations be sent out?
We suggest mailing your invitations 6 weeks before the shower to maximize your attendance. If your shower is being held during the holidays or another busy time of the year, consider sending them 8+ weeks prior. You want to give your guests ample time to make travel arrangements if they live out of town, purchase their gifts, etc. You also want to leave enough time to call any guests who didn’t RSVP.
Does the bride have to open the gifts at her shower?
This depends on the bride-to-be. Opening gifts can be fun, but if the guest of honor does not like being the center of attention for long periods, this might not be the best option. Having a display shower allows everyone to look at the gifts and save some more time to play games or just mingle. There are plenty of fun options to display your gifts aesthetically.
Fall 2020 Wedding Recap
This Fall was like no other. As we all know, 2020 has been a whirlwind with the added stress of a global pandemic on top of the natural wedding planning stress. We were able to host 3 weddings this Fall even if they all could not be inside our beautiful Bliss Ballroom; we made the best of it!
Charelle & Brett celebrated their love on Friday, September 25th and was one of our outside, tent weddings! Even though Charelle & Brett had to deal with the added stress of the pandemic. Charelle & Brett made sure that all their wedding guests felt safe from having hand sanitizers & home-made masks as their guest favors as well as opting to have a tent wedding! Big Top Rentals provided the clear top tent as well as been an amazing & loyal vendor throughout the whole pandemic! The centerpieces were mini succulents which were another gift for the guests to take home! The Sprau’s opted out of a traditional wedding cake but instead offered a Donut Bar from Electric City Bakehouse & a separate Dessert Bar from Whipped Sweet Shoppe! We loved seeing their fur babies represented at the wedding as their signature drinks names [the Lily & the Lenox]! We had the wonderful opportunity to work with LG Photography, Timmypricefilm, & DJ Rockin’ Ray as their vendors! We wish Charelle & Brett a long happy life full of love & joy!
Marissa & Dillon were blessed to be able to hold on to the precious wedding date of October 10th! We were in contact with Marissa & Dillon throughout last few months updating them on the Pennsylvania guidelines since they were travelling in from New York! We had the pleasure of working with magical vendors to make their day happen; Scarinzi Media as the Photography team, Uranko Productions as the DJ & entertainer, PLUS Shabby Sisters for providing the linen & décor rentals & Painted Petals for decorating the arch & providing their floral arrangements. The table design was so gorgeous! Marissa was a big texture girl & could not say no to velvet tablecloths & napkins with gold napkin rings! The table was topped with a blush sequin table runner with a blush chiffon table runner bunched on top. The centerpieces consisted of round mirrors topped with a greenery wreath finished with geometric gold candle holders with an additional geometric votive! To finish the table design they had a gold flower like charger plate! Even though they had to struggle planning the last 6 months of their engagement & living through the unknown if their wedding was going to happen, Marissa said that their wedding day was more than she ever dreamed it would be & that’s all that matters! Congratulations to Mr. & Mrs. Affatato!
Lauren & Joe had their wedding celebration on Saturday, October 24th but were actually married on Thursday, October 15, 2020. The Chesla’s knew they wanted their wedding anniversary to have a special meaning & what is more special than having the same anniversary as Lauren’s grandparents. Hearing their story & how special that date was to them was magical. The couple truly tied in the Fall with their wedding theme! From glitter pumpkins to fall leave accents to glitter acorns spread around! They even brought in their own napkins with alternating orange, red, brown, & tan colors in a leaf fold! One unique thing that caught our eyes were the place card holders being used shot gun shells with a creative sign saying ‘This ain’t no shotgun wedding, Ya’ll have proper seats’. That was not the only sign displayed! They also had adorable additions for guests to leave them messages to read on their 1st anniversary & share your best date idea for the new Mr. & Mrs. We were so happy to be able to host their wedding day! Best wishes to Mr. & Mrs. Chesla!
With the current uncertainty and worry caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, we want to bring our planning brides and grooms some peace of mind on what you can be doing to continue planning at this time. Know that even in a quarantined state there is always something, even the smallest detail, that you can continue to do to make your wedding day perfect!
Talk with your venue & vendors– We at Edgewood, are here for you! Any questions that you may have our team is always here to answer and help you along in the process and to be a shoulder to lean on. There are no silly questions and we are always happy to help! Speaking with your other vendors about implementing a backup plan in case of a date change and what they can do to accommodate for any long term or short-term changes.
Have a backup date– Choosing a tentative back up date will ensure you have a Plan B going forward. Confirming open dates with your venue first but always make sure to check with your other vendors before committing to a new date. Already sent out invitations? Check with the company you went through to see if they are doing discounts for new date cards because your original date was affected by COVID 19. If your date is important and sentimental to you, consider getting legally married on that day if you are still able to and choose a date at a later time to celebrate.
DIY Décor– Any centerpieces, accent table décor or favors you were planning to make, take this time to get creative and crafty while at home! Any small details you can continue to make take advantage of the time.
Keep everyone in the loop– If you are planning any changes to your original wedding day set up a time to video chat with close family and your bridal party to keep them up to date on all of the changed details. This will not only give you a chance to catch up but will also help everyone who may have been anticipating to make travel plans or take vacation time from their job. Keep everyone informed on what steps your taking and if there is a new possible wedding date to keep in mind.
Don’t panic!– It is one of our core values to make your wedding day as spectacular as you dreamed it, so we will work with you on everything and continue to be flexible with daily changes. Weather your wedding day is on the date it was originally scheduled or a new date we ensure everything will work out and that it will be unforgettable!
With so much planning leading up to the wedding day, some simple yet important tasks can easily be forgotten. Here is our 5-item check list to make sure you don’t forget finishing touches or leave something undone, the week of your wedding.
At our full service venue, we do have readily available amenities for our couples and our on-site certified wedding coordinator is happy to help with any week of wedding questions you may have!
Toasts and speeches never go out of style at weddings, from a thank you from the bride and groom to the best man telling his most embarrassing stories, the toasts are a staple to wedding formalities. Complimentary champagne toasts are always included for the guests at Edgewood weddings but you may ask, who normally does toasts or speeches? Traditionally the best man (or men) and maid of honor (or maids-of-honor) are expected to do a toast but others should never be counted out either. The parents of the bride and/or groom, siblings of the couple and pastors, priests or officiants all make the list of those who can formally give a toast. Who do you choose? Keep it simple. Think about your bridal party and who is willing to write a speech and actually speak in front of all of your guests. I would be considerate of the fact that maybe your best man is too nervous to make a speech instead consider asking another groomsmen, possibly the one who has known the groom the longest, to step in instead with the same going for the maid of honor.
How long is a toast and what goes into it? It is an unspoken rule of thumb to notify your best man and maid of honor of how many minutes you’d like the toasts to stay within. Normally a typical toast takes about 3-5 minutes of time, not to exceed the 5-minute mark and should be told to those making speeches ahead of time. Not only if this important to keep guest’s attention but it is important for us as a venue to stay within a timeframe for any formalities done prior to dinner service. As a wedding coordinator, I have seen all types of speeches and unfortunately there is no structure to follow but keeping things short and sweet is always the best way to go. Consider adding your first memory of the bride or groom, tell a short story from each phase of life you’ve known them, recall how you met the bride or groom and be sure to add in something funny and something heartfelt.
In lieu of speeches- If your bridal party does not want to do a short toast or speech, there are always different ways to implement a tribute to the bride and groom in other ways. In the past we have had some pretty outstanding occurrences in lieu of a toast including the groomsmen singing acapella, the best man and maid of honor doing a rap where they infused the bride and grooms name into the lyrics, slideshows and surprises such as mascots of a favorite sports team or a video from a loved one who couldn’t make the wedding. All of these can be put in place of a toast, be creative and feel free to make this portion of the day your own!
This spring we hosted 6 amazing couples in our Bliss Ballroom and each of them had their own unique wedding day with us! Our couples were able to utilize our onsite bridal suite, ceremony site overlooking our lush golf course, take golf carts out onto the course for their pictures, hold their cocktail hour on our outdoor patio and dance the night away in our Bliss Ballroom!
Jaclyn & Michael celebrated with us on May 18th and filled our ballroom with silvers, grays and hints of shimmer. We absolutely loved your single red rose centerpieces and your personalized shot glass favors! Thank you to Flying Penguin Photography for being a great photographer to work with and for the beautiful pictures of Jaclyn & Michael!
Nicole & Brett kicked off June with a sunny wedding day and utilized all of the amenities that Edgewood has to offer. Our onsite pastry chef created the couples’ blush pink shimmer wedding cake, and our preferred photographer Diane Kivler Photography took amazing pictures on our ceremony site and golf course. Not only did Nicole & Brett have their wedding with us but we were also so happy the chose Edgewood to host their rehearsal dinner the night before as well. Thank you again to Mr. & Mrs. Hansen!
Cierra & Tom were a very crafty couple who personally made their own PSU cornhole boards and accent signs plus more! We will never forget the beautiful backdrop handmade by this fun couple or their alcohol infused Rita’s Italian Ice as their signature drink! Cierra and Tom’s entrance was a first, as the bride came in on a mini VW bug that “broke down” and her groom pushed her safely to the dance floor for their first dance. Thank you to Cierra and Tom for doing so many firsts at Edgewood!
Amie & Adam planned their wedding with us from out of state and everything came together beautifully! We loved the rose gold and sequin color scheme and especially enjoyed your cookie buffet and customized Mr. & Mrs. dinner plates. We all got to learn who takes the longest to get ready, and who said “I love you” first during the “Shoe Game” and your guests really enjoyed your Bride and Groom signature drinks, Summer Lovin’ and Punch Drunk Love. We hope to see you both soon!
Heather & Stephen had a beautiful Disney themed wedding complete with a Cinderella’s carriage card box and Beauty & The Beast inspired centerpieces. We loved all of the purples and silvers in our ballroom and your signature drinks, “The Mad Hatter” & “The Glass Slipper” tied right in with your theme! We had such a great time planning your wedding and an even better time getting to see everything come together so beautifully. We hope you both enjoyed your honeymoon & hope to plan another event for you soon!
Melecia & Jonathan came to us from Stroudsburg, PA and worked with some amazing vendors to transform our Ballroom into their dream wedding. Talana Maria was their decorator and florist who brought bright flowers and real grapefruit to add to their elegant centerpieces. Melecia and Jonathan also had a 5-person band who played for the ceremony and reception and their guests loved our stations menu consisting of a pasta bar, stir fry station and build your own macaroni and cheese. Melecia & Jonathans Sunday wedding was one for the books and we are so happy we were able to celebrate with them!
Clarissa & Marcus planned with us all the way from Massachusetts for their June 29th wedding day. With the help of their local families, their wedding day came together flawlessly. Your pastry buffet and cake from Whipped Sweet Shoppe were a huge hit and we loved your tree centerpieces with mini lanterns, they really made the ballroom glow. Thank you to one of our preferred DJ’s Tony Piazza for being such a great DJ and for providing Clarissa & Marcus’ “Dancing on the Clouds” experience. Congratulations to the new Mr. & Mrs. and all of our Spring couples!
If you are searching for a wedding venue that has everything you need in one location, your search ends with Edgewood! Planning your big day can be stressful, but all of our amenities provided to our brides and grooms, take the stress out of planning because we are a one stop shop. From the early hours of the morning until the very last dance our venue is your home for the day.
Bridal Suite- Our bridal suite is the perfect place to make a space of your own to get ready in. Our bride and bridesmaids are welcome to bring in hair and makeup artists to begin the day or join us in the afternoon in the bridal suite to get those finishing touch pictures of the girls getting ready. Our bridal suite menu is a collection of delicious wraps and sandwiches delivered right to the bridal suite for your bridal party to enjoy. Don’t forget the mimosas!
On Site Ceremony- Our beautiful ceremony space sits on our scenic golf course with picturesque backdrops. Our space seats up to 200 guests and includes 3 pergola and a gazebo. Your ceremony is within a short walking distance of your cocktail hour making it easily accessible for your guests and an easy transition to the next part of your day.
Golf Course Pictures- You don’t need to leave our property to get beautiful wedding pictures. Edgewood provides golf carts for the bridal party and our staff guide will take you on our course to beautiful locations such as our bridge and pond, just to name a few! Sunset and evening pictures are also trending so why not sneak away for a few on our patio or in front of our lighted fountain.
Outdoor Cocktail Hour Patio- Edgewood has that indoor-outdoor feel! Our patio overlooks the golf course and is complete with full bar service and our delicious hors d’oeuvres for cocktail hour. Some weddings have used our grassy areas for lawn games and have even brought in vintage lounge furniture!
Bliss Ballroom- Our reception space seats up to 300 guests and is the perfect place for dinner, dancing and so much more! Our stone display bar will catch your guests’ eye as they walk in from cocktail hour and our neutral color pallet allows you to completely make the room your own. Take your wedding décor to the next level with your choice of upgrades including but not limited to, chivari chairs, our comfy loveseat, donut wall or S’mores bar.
Who to invite to your wedding can be as simple as immediate family and as complex as coworkers and spouses. So, who do you invite? First and foremost, begin by consulting your budget and consider each person as a dollar amount, making sure you have enough room within your budget to invite everyone you’d like to. Starting with your immediate family including siblings, grandparents and godparents and your in-laws to be, and working your way through aunts, uncles, first cousins, bridal party and their significant others, seeing where this number leaves you. If you have room for more guests, you can continue through any additional family members and friends then lastly, coworkers and friends of parents. When compiling your guest list, not all these guests are necessary but will be dependent upon your budget and who you deem necessary to be there.
Friends, coworkers and family friends- this group of guests needs its own consideration for a few reasons. Family friends may be people who are friends of your in-laws that you have only met once, or can be lifelong friends who are like family, as well as personal friends. Have you been friends since childhood, or did you just meet because of a similar hobby? As for coworkers, this group of guests can be quite the gray area, some brides and grooms will run into a situation where you invite one person then you must invite all of them. If you are tossing around the idea of coworkers, it can be easier to keep them to those you have worked with the longest and created a bond or exclude them in order to avoid any awkward situations. All groups of guests should be thought about carefully regarding your budget and can always be edited or added to depending upon your wedding time frame.
Our Bliss Ballroom can accommodate up to as many as 275 guests comfortably or if you are looking for a smaller, more intimate wedding we also host weddings as small as 50 guests. Every guest list, all sizes, are special and tailored to the bride and groom, their budget and who they want to be surrounded by when they say their I do’s!
Do you remember your Quinceanara or Sweet 16? Of course you do! They are once in a lifetime! With all of the wonderful ideas your son or daughter is finding on Pintrest and from friends’ parties, the planning process can be a bit overwhelming! Well not to worry, because Edgewood has everything that you will need!
First…The Food!
A central focus of every event is the food. There are many different acquired tastes and picky eaters in every crowd, so why not please them all! We offer an array of different menus here at Edgewood. Our top pick amongst the younger guests is our “Celebration Stations” menu. This menu offers a Salad Bar, Taco Bar, Boneless Chicken Bites Station, French Fry Station, and the “cherry on top” of this menu is the Ice Cream Toppings Bar. This menu allows each guest to customize their plate to their specific taste. Check out our Events Menu page for many other menu options or contact us to customize a menu to fit your tastes or party theme!
Decor
There are so many great party themes out there and we can help you make each one of them a reality. The neutral color palate of our Bliss Ballroom provides the perfect backdrop for any color scheme or theme! With various color linens and chivari chairs (available in silver, gold, or mahogany), we can take your ideas to the next level!
A popular trend we are currently seeing is DIY photo booths/backdrops. The beautiful backdrops pictured below were made with some simple piping and sheer curtain draping. You can add lights to the back and really make your backdrop pop. Perfect place for the perfect selfies!
Gifts
The most common gifts that I see given at would be gift cards. This allows the birthday girl/boy to mingle more with friends and family, and not have to worry about opening gifts during the event time. It also alleviates the pressure on the gift giver to buy that perfect gift. The fun thing about receiving gift cards besides being able to pick out your own gift, is you get to make a card box designed for this event! Check out this beautiful one below!
Add On Something Extra Special
Mentioned above, a Quinceanara or Sweet 16 Birthday only comes ONCE, so why not have everything you’ve dreamed of! We offer various upgraded items that will sure to enhance your vison of your event. In addition to specialty linens or chivari chairs, we offer a variety of other event upgrades guaranteed to make your party one to remember! Why not add on a Donut Station, Candy Bar, S’mores Bar, or Popcorn Bar. These little touches are what will add that special touch to make your party perfectly SWEET! Call or e-mail Abby today to start planning your unforgettable party!