Frequently Asked Questions
When can we access the property for the event?
This can be found in your contract. To navigate to your contract, you can refer to the original email at booking, or if you click “view conversation’ at the bottom of any email sent by Alden Orchards, it will bring you to your project dashboard. You can find the contract under “files.”
When is the damage deposit collected?
The damage deposit is a $500 retainer for any mishaps or excessive cleaning as outlined in your contract. We do not want to hold onto your money, so the deposit is collected 7 days before the event and returned within 2 days after the event.
What happens if it rains?
In the event of poor weather, the ceremony is placed within the pavilion. There can be panels added as walls if extreme weather, but we try to avoid them due to aesthetics and the noise of flapping in the wind. After the ceremony, the chairs are then broken down by our team and the cocktail tables are brought into the space for happy hour.
The bar is either positioned at the back of the pavilion (before ceremony starts) or inside the barn.
Dancing can still occur in the pavilion if desired.
Confirmation to set-up the ceremony in the pavilion is required two days prior to event by noon.
What chairs are provided?
We have two sets of the brown, wooden chairs, one for the ceremony, and the other for the reception. There are also chairs available with arm rests and extra support for handicap or weight considerations.
What support is provided on the day of the event?
You can expect parking assistants who direct traffic as guests arrive, and to flip the pavilion from ceremony to happy hour when rain occurs. Along with that, an attendant is present for the entirety of the day to make sure vendors are set-up properly and their needs are met. The attendant also clears trash cans, moves the appetizer/buffet tables once they are no longer needed, and tidys the bathrooms during the event.
What are the clean-up expectations?
We ask that food and beverages are properly disposed of the day of an event, regardless of the venue package. Many caters handle disposal of food and beverage and we provide trash dumpsters for anything else. Anything you bring is to be taken offsite at the end of the night (decor, yard games, alcohol, boxes, yard signs, ect.). For overnight stays, the trash from the inn is to be placed in the dumpster outside of the inn.
We handle emptying and replenishing the trash cans and some light tidying of the spaces throughout the entire event.
When is the rehearsal and what is provided?
The Full Weekend package and Intimate package allows for the rehearsal to occur the day prior to the event and can be scheduled anytime in the afternoon or evening (most opt for 5:00 p.m.).
The Best Day Ever packages occur the Thursday prior to the weekend. The typical schedule is as follows but please refer to your contract to confirm:
Friday wedding rehearsal is Thursday at 3:30 p.m.
Saturday wedding rehearsal is Thursday at 5:00 p.m.
Sunday wedding rehearsal is Thursday at 6:30 p.m..
We do not direct the rehearsal, but rather the officiant is expected to provide instructions to the bridal party. It is good to note that most rehearsals meet in the pavilion and then go to the ceremony location together. For walking down the aisle, the bridal party often gathers at the small set of trees near the beginning of the aisle. Bridesmaids and groomsmen then walk down the aisle in pairs. The bride and father often waits in the house until closer to time, and some weddings have even had the bride come from a car to further disguise until walking down the aisle.
What is allowed? Sparklers, confetti, petals, pets?
The venue does allow for a sparkler exit, positioned on the barn driveway at least 20 feet from the barn.
The property does not permit fireworks, Chinese lanterns, or glitter.
We do not support silk flower petals unless properly cleaned by the client and is subject to additional cleaning costs.
The property does allow for pets for the ceremony and photos, but the following must be met: there must be a designated caretaker, all droppings must be properly disposed, and the pets are not to enter the inn. The caretaker is to take the pet offsite after ceremony/photos (no leaving it in the car, inn, or bringing to the reception). We have had a wedding that a dog ran away and ruined the day for the couple, so we are sensitive about the treatment of pets during an event to avoid issues.