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Wedding and Special Event FAQs

For easy reference, download a PDF of these common wedding questions & answers

 
Q: What are the hours for weddings at the Gazebo?
A: From early April until early September, the daytime event-which is usually entirely in the Gazebo Garden-begins with an 11am Ceremony and continues with the Reception from 11:30am until 4pm. From mid-September until the first of April, start and end times will be earlier due to sunset time. Gazebo rental is $850, and the Garden is $1700 plus tax for the Reception.

From early April until early September, the evening event begins with a 6pm Ceremony. From mid-September until the first of April, start times will be earlier (generally about 1½ hours before sunset to allow plenty of time for post-Ceremony photos). Gazebo rental is $850, and the Peacock Room is $1700 plus tax for the Reception.

The Gazebo Garden can also be used for a post-Ceremony cocktail hour while wedding photos are being completed; since this lengthens your Reception by an hour, we’ll add $200 plus tax to the site rentals. If your Ceremony is at another location, Garden cocktail hour rental is $300 plus tax.


Q: What are the hours for weddings in the White Garden?
A: From early April until early September, a White Garden Ceremony usually begins at
4:30pm in order to avoid the activity in the Gazebo Garden (see above). White Garden rental is $500. Receptions for White Garden weddings are in the Sycamore Room (downstairs-$500 rental) or the Treetop Room (upstairs with no elevator-$500 rental).


Q: What is the “minimum purchase” for food and beverage?
A: The minimum purchase is the lowest amount that you need to order as a total of any combination of hors d’oeuvres, lunch, or dinner entrée(s), and any beverages, including alcohol, that will go on your bill. Although we always hope that a group will exceed the minimum purchase amount, we do realize that many people are on budgets; we will do everything possible to help you stay within your budget while still meeting the minimum purchase requirement for your event.

Q: What is the minimum food and beverage purchase amount for my event?
A: For a Saturday daytime event, the minimum purchase is $3000 plus tax and 20% service. If your Wedding Ceremony is at another location, the minimum is $3500. Fridays and Sundays carry a $2000 minimum. The state does require us to add tax to the service charge. A Saturday evening event carries a $6500 minimum purchase ($7000 if your Ceremony is at another location), while a Friday or Sunday evening requires a $5000 minimum purchase. Call for exceptions to these amounts.

Q: Is there an extra charge for my Wedding Rehearsal?
A: No. We usually allow about 45 minutes for Rehearsals.

Q: Who is in charge of the Wedding Rehearsal?
A: Your minister or officiant will run the Rehearsal.

Q: How do I schedule the Rehearsal?
A: After confirming a time with your officiant, call your Cambria Pines Lodge contact to find out if your Ceremony location is available for the Rehearsal. If it’s not, we’ll schedule you in another available location in our Garden.

Q: Can my florist decorate the Gazebo?
A: Yes, the Gazebo can be decorated any way you like as long as you don’t leave a permanent mark (no nails or staples, please). There are two nails at the top of the doorway to which your florist can attach a garland or swag. Your florist can deliver flowers at least one and a half hours before your ceremony, depending upon other events scheduled that day. The Lodge does not have space to store flowers.

Q: What are the dimensions of the Gazebo doorway?
A: The doorway is 89” inches (2.26 Metres) high on each side, and 65” (1.65 Metres) across the top of the doorway.
Total length of a garland that starts at the bottom left and ends at the bottom right would be 20’ 3” (6.17 Metres).

Q: May I have a unity candle in the Gazebo?
A: Yes. You’ll need to use a “clicker” lighter to keep the flame from blowing out.

Q: May I use candles in the Peacock Room?
A: Yes, as long as all flames are surrounded by glass (i.e., tall candles need a hurricane glass, and votive candle flames need to be down in the holder). Our staff will light three candles per table if you arrange this at least two weeks in advance.

Q: Is an outdoor sound system available for my Ceremony?
A: Although we do not have an outdoor sound system, your band or DJ can probably provide one if ordered in advance.

Q: Can we have dancing at our Garden or Peacock Room event?
A: Yes. You may hire a band or DJ, or provide your own CD player for dancing. Music for dancing needs to stop half an hour before your rental time ends so the party will conclude on time. If you are having an evening event in the Peacock Room, you may have the option of extending your time ($200 per hour). Ask your Lodge contact about details relating to your party.

Q: Can we dance in the Sycamore or Treetop Room?
A: Unfortunately, we do not have a dance floor for these rooms, and space does not allow for a band or DJ. However, if you bring in your own CDs or iPod, you can do an ad hoc first dance on the carpet.

Q: Are gift, guest book, and cake tables included?
A: Yes. We will put cloths and skirts on these tables. If you have an evening event, we will provide a guest book and gift table outdoors as well as in the Peacock Room, and you will need to assign a friend to move the guest book and gifts indoors.

Q: Is there a cake cutting fee?
A: The cake fee is $2 per person for a daytime (luncheon) event. Since all banquet dinners include dessert, we will skip the dessert and not charge the cake fee for an evening event.

Q: When should I have my baker deliver the cake?
A: One hour before the Ceremony. The Lodge cannot store wedding cakes.

Q: How many chairs will be on each side of the aisle for Gazebo Ceremony?
A: The Gazebo Garden is irregularly shaped, so the more people you have, the more the number of chairs per row will differ. The average number of chairs is 8-10 on each side of the aisle.

Q: Does Cambria Pines Lodge have chair covers for the Peacock Room?
A: No. Please see our referrals page.

Q: Can I borrow an easel for pictures or a master seating chart?
A: Yes, if you order it in advance from your Lodge contact person.

Q: Can I taste banquet food items in advance of my wedding?
A: While we do not have formal tastings, many of the items on our restaurant menu are also on the special event and wedding menu. Our restaurant and banquet staff share the same kitchen and management team, so you will have a good idea of the taste and presentation of your food. Our food is excellent; we regularly receive rave reviews on all banquet and dinner items.

Q: Can menu items on the “Banquet Luncheon Selections” menu and the “Banquet
Dinner Selections” menu be plated?
A: Yes. There is a $1.50 plate charge for plating a meal.

Q: May we choose more than one entrée for a plated meal?
A: Yes. You may choose two entrees if you will provide an entrée card for each guest to put in front of his/her place setting so our staff will know which entrée to serve. We can also provide a vegetarian choice and a choice for children 3 to 11 years. When you call in your guest count, you’ll need to specify how many of each entrée you need, so the two main choices should be on your invitations.

Q: Are children’s meals priced lower than adult meals?
A: Yes. Children’s meal prices are usually a little more than half of the adult price.

Q: Should I order hors d’oeuvres?
A: Yes. It’s a nice touch to give your guests something to nibble on while they’re waiting for pictures to be finished.

Q: How many hors d’oeuvres should I order?
A: For a daytime event, we suggest 3 to 5 different items, with 4 to 6 pieces per person.
An evening event calls for 4 to 8 different items, with 6 to 10 pieces per person (depending upon whether you have an average group or a lot of heavy eaters).

Q: When should my RSVPs be due?
A: At least three weeks before your wedding day, since you’ll need to call those who do not respond in order to give your Lodge contact an accurate count 11 days in advance (for a Saturday event).

Q: How does the bar work in the Garden or Sycamore Room?
A: You may order either a full hosted bar (you pay for all cocktails, beer, wine, etc.) or a hosted beverage table with beer, wine, and/or sodas. We do not set up a cash bar in the Garden or the Sycamore (or Treetop) Room. We can provide a server at the beverage table for $30.

Q: How does the bar work in the Peacock Room?
A: If you order a full hosted bar (you pay for all cocktails, beer, wine, etc.), you’ll need to choose one of the tiers on the Banquet Bar menu, and you’ll be charged for each drink ordered by you and your guests. We will add a 20% service charge and the appropriate tax to the total bar amount.

If you order a full cash bar, your guests pay for all cocktails, beer, wine, etc.

If you order a full cash bar with hosted beer, wine, and sodas, your guests will pay for all cocktails, and we will add beer, wine, and sodas (plus tax and service charge) to your bill. The bartender will pour all hosted and cash beverages.

Q: Is there a charge for the bartender?
A: There is no charge for a bartender with a hosted or a cash bar if you or your guests purchase at least $200 in cocktails. If you order only beer, wine, and sodas, we can provide a server at the bar for $100 ($50 labor + $50 service).

Q: May I bring in my own wine or champagne?
A: Yes. Our corkage fee is $10 per 750ml bottle (plus tax and service charge). Although we’re happy to allow you to bring in your own wine or champagne, please consider the last-minute hassle before making a final decision.

Q: Can the Lodge block rooms for my family and guests?
A: Yes, we’ll be happy to set aside a variety of rooms and suites for you and your guests. The group discount on Fridays and Saturdays is 10% off the regular rate. There is a two-night minimum if one of the nights is a Saturday; we make an exception for the Bride and Groom, who may reserve a room for Saturday night only.

The room block is set up under the Bride’s and Groom’s last names and includes several different types of rooms and suites, some at lower rates, and some at higher rates. These rooms are held until 30 days in advance of the arrival date, at which time any rooms that have not been individually reserved by you and your guests will be released to the general public. Your guests should call our Central Reservations
office at 800-966-6490 in order to make their reservations, and they will need to mention the name of the wedding in order to get the discounted blocked rooms.

We block rooms on weekends only for groups having their events here at the Lodge.

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