Frequently Asked Questions
Pricing and Payments
Q: How much does a wedding cost at your venue?
A: The price of your wedding depends on a variety of factors, such as:
Will you wed your beloved on a Tuesday or a Saturday? (A Tuesday would be much cheaper.)
How many guests will you invite? (When your guest count goes up, so does the price.)
Which of our packages will you choose, and how will you customize it? (The price depends on the services you want to include.)
What we can say is that we’ve done $5,000 weddings and we’ve done $50,000 weddings—it all depends on your desires and your budget.
Q: Will you hold my wedding date?
A: Our available dates are booked on a first-come, first-serve basis. We’d love for you to schedule an appointment for a tour and discuss your needs, and then we can help you select your perfect date—which we will absolutely hold for you once you make your first payment: the space reservation.
Q: How much is the first payment?
A: A non-refundable deposit is $2,000. The minimum amount to hold your date is $1,000. (If full deposit of $2,000 is not paid up front). Your next payment of $1,000 is due 30 days after first payment of $1,000. We accept cash, checks or cashiers checks. You can make the payment in person during your site visit, by mail or drop off box. Never fear! All payments you make are credited to your final balance.
Q: How do the rest of the payments work?
A: A payment schedule can be made at the first planning meeting. Venue balance must be paid 60 days prior to your event. Your final payment for all additions must be paid in full within 10 days prior to your special day in cash, checks or cashiers checks.
Q: What is the cancellation policy? Will my deposit be refunded?
A: Space reservation fees and all payments made, regardless of due date, are non- transferable and non-refundable if you cancel the function. If the event is cancelled within 45 days of the date, the full amount of all estimated charges will be due to the venue.
Q: What is the service charge?
A: Any service charge is only applicable to a catering package from our in-house caterer. Service Charge is an industry standard for all service items such as catering and bar packages (almost every venue you will see during your comparison shopping will charge a minimum of 15% -20%). Your catering quote will show a breakdown of the menu and their costs, including food tax and service charge.
Q: Can our final guest count change?
A: We totally get that your guest count may fluctuate in the weeks before your special day, so we don’t need to know your final count until 10 days before your event—the same time your final payment is due (your minimum guaranteed final guest count will influence your final cost for your catering and added).
If your final count suddenly increases less than 10 days before your event, let us know immediately so we can make the necessary adjustments to accommodate and to avoid extra charges on your contract. If your guest count goes down, you will still be held to your previous final guest count price.
Q: Is there a price difference for children?
A: Venue cost is not determined by guest count.
Q: Does the venue carry liability insurance?
A: Yes, we carry our own liability insurance policy.
Q: Do you require security?
A: If you plan on including a hosted bar in your package, and you invite a large number of guests, we will require EXTRA security services for safety purposes. You will be made aware of any security fees that must be added to continue with your desired package.
Q: Do you require event insurance?
A: Yes, we do. Wedding Liability Insurance is required by wedding venues. You can either go through your homeowner’s insurance policy or many others have gone through the insurance experts, Wedsure.
The Wedding Day
Q: How long can my event be?
A: How it works, is you get a 10 hour block of a time. This includes 4 hours of set up time for your vendors to get prepared, 4 hours of event time and also another hour to gather your belongings at the end of the event If you would like to add additional time (or a ceremony: 1 hour) you absolutely can—just ask your sales coordinator for pricing.
Q: Who will be my main contact the day of the event?
A: You’ll have your very own venue captain to manage your event. He or she will be available to you for the entirety of your wedding to ensure everything goes exactly as you planned!
Q: Can I bring my own decorations?
A: Sure! We love when couples bring in personal touches and DIY projects—just make sure you run everything you plan to use by your wedding coordinator to ensure all elements are venue-approved. (For example, please don’t bring confetti or devices that create open flame.) We can even advise you about what sort of décor would work well with your vision and theme! Ask about our DECOR store!Q: Where can I get my wedding pictures taken at the property?
A: Each of our properties possess unique and breathtaking photography backdrops! Our photography vendors are very familiar with these areas and can capture the perfect shots. If you use an outside photographer, please ask them to check with your venue captain to make sure they steer clear of the restricted areas for safety reasons.
The Planning Process
Q: What is the max guest count to be able to do my ceremony and reception at Loft. 84?
A: Because of the space and time it takes to “flip” a room, your guest list will need to be under 150 to be able to have both your ceremony and reception in the Citrus Ballroom. It is a 200 max capacity to have reception only.
Q: I booked my wedding date with the venue—now what do I need to do?
A: Don’t freak out—booking with us means wedding planning without the stress! The first thing we do is set up formal meetings that will keep you organized and on track until the day you say I do. This also includes a finishing touches sit down to make sure we review your event start to finish—giving you complete peace of mind.
Q: Can I customize my package?
A: During your site visit, we’ll build your perfect wedding package. We’ll start with the basics, closest to your desires, and then customize it however you’d like! We can add or remove any service, just keep in mind every change and/or upgrade will impact the overall price. Try to decide on exactly what you want during your site visit, as it might be more difficult to make changes as we get closer to your wedding date.
Q: How do your vendors work?
A: The beauty of working with us is the fact that you can book your caterer, florist, baker, invitations, DJ, photographer, etc. all through us! When you use our trusted vendors, you’re guaranteed quality and professionalism. Just contact them to discuss your design ideas so you’ll get exactly what you want!
Q: Can I bring in my own vendors?
A: Absolutely! You can remove services from your package and bring in an outside vendor of your choice, you just can’t keep a service in your package and use your own vendor for the venue’s price. Just keep in mind that we have already done the legwork and negotiating with our vendors on your behalf to get you the best value in our packages.
Q: How many hours in advance of my wedding will I have access to the facility?
A: You can definitely have access to the venue 4 hours before your event. Anything earlier than that is based on availability.
Q: What AV equipment do you provide?
A: You can rent equipment from a trusted vendor or bring your own additional equipment if you’d like.
Q: Is my Venue Representative the same as a Wedding Coordinator?
Not exactly. Your venue reprentative will help with all related aspects of your event such as booking your event space, and so on. Your venue representative can also assist you by referring other preferred event resources such as florists, bakers, event rental companies, entertainment and more. Now this is different than a Wedding Coordinator, whom assists you in table set up, timelines, decorating, dressing and so on during your special day. At our venue, we REQUIRE a day of coordinator whose main role is to ensure that your plans are carried out smoothly and to discreetly handle any problems that may arise. This also means you can arrive to a perfectly set up ceremony and reception, since your coordinator will have already arrived in advance to make sure it is set up properly. Entrust your special day to a wedding professional with the experience and flexibility to handle any last-minute changes that may come up, so you can enjoy your celebration.
Food and Beverage Service
Q: How does the catering work?
A: Unless you will be receiving catering from a licensed and insured outside caterer, our in-house caterer will be taking care of all your delicious meals. When Gourmet Catering host’s your event, you get to treat your guests to our award- winning food and beverage services! We offer plated and buffet options, including
vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and other special meal options for those with special dietary needs. We do not allow anyone to take home leftovers for health and safety reasons.
Q: Can I bring in my own catering?
A: Yes, at a $350 outside catering fee and as long as the caterer is licensed and insured.
Q: Can I bring in my own alcohol?
A: Yes, the venue does allow you to bring in your own bar with minor restrictions. We do offer a full stocked bar, bartender and a variety of affordable hosted bar options that you can add to your wedding. Also, if you have a special beverage request let us know and we will try to accommodate you.
Q: Can I have guests come after the meal service?
A: We charge a per person price no matter when your guest arrives or leaves. We will do a head count at various times of your event to ensure the most accurate number. The pricing of the packages and services are per person and not based solely on consumption of food and beverages.
Q: Is there a price difference for children?
A: Kids menu available upon request.
Q: Can we take home the leftover food?
A: Possible liability consequences prohibit any food or beverages to be taken off the premises.
Alcohol
Alcohol may only be served in limited areas at venue by licensed bartender.
Q: What types of bars are there to choose from for my wedding?
A: (1) Open Bar
This bar is paid for by the host and guests are welcome to drink whatever they would like the entire night in any amount. Open bars have two terms of payment. Bar service can be purchased in advance on a per person basis allowing you the freedom as host to take care of the financial commitment up front and work off a set price, regardless of how much guests consume. Each of our bar packages have an open bar built into the package to bring an ease in planning.
Q: Why an open bar?
The obvious appeal of an open bar is that your guests will be thrilled. Providing free access to drinks is a means of keeping your guests cheerful. Enjoying a drink or two can mean the difference between someone being a silent wallflower and
being the life of the party on the dance floor. The joyous mood fostered by an open bar may make the opportunity worthwhile.
In many cases couples may think the downside to an open bar is the expense, but each of our bar packages offers a different level of bar service (each package having the option to upgrade to a more premium bar experience for a small per person fee) included in the per person costs for the food and beverage of your reception. Not only does this help keep costs at a more manageable level, but it also provides you with great selections to offer your guests.
(2) Cash Bar
The second type of bar in the wedding beverage conversation worth mentioning is a cash bar. Paid for entirely by your guests, the host will only be responsible for payment if bar minimum ($1,500.00) sales are not met. A cash bar is not at all the party killer that you may have been led to believe. Defraying some of your expenses by asking that everyone pay for their own drinks is perfectly acceptable, and your guests will understand. They’re your loved ones, after all! If you are worried about your guests’ beverage consumption, this is one way to keep things manageable by putting the responsibility to purchase drinks on your guests.
Have more questions? Give us a call at (951) 858-9962 or email us at loft84downtown@gmail.com