Ceremony Questions:
We offer three different areas on the grounds to host your wedding ceremony:
- Upper Lawn
- Lower Gardens
- Front Lawn by Pool
White Garden Chairs (with set up and breakdown) are included. A Wooden Ceremony Arbor is available (added pricing will apply).
The ceremony fee is $1,500-$1,750.00, including set up and breakdown of the chairs.
We offer up to 200 white resin, padded, folding, garden chairs for the ceremony.
Actual flower petals may be thrown for the ceremony. Bubbles are also allowed at the ceremony. Artificial flower petals, rice, and bird seed are not allowed.
Neither balloons nor lanterns may be released on the property.
Yes, there is. All three ceremony areas have electricity.
Yes. We usually schedule your wedding ceremony rehearsal on Wednesday or Thursday before your wedding, based on availability. Please contact us at events@connemarahousefarm.com to plan your rehearsal.
Yes. Two Wedding Party Suites are included in your Ceremony Fee, available for 4 hours prior to your ceremony until the end of the evening at 10:00 p.m. Hourly rates apply if you want to access the house sooner for wedding preparation. The premises are available at 8:00 a.m.
Tent Questions:
The tent is 78 feet long x 59 feet wide, approximately 4,602 square feet. It comfortably accommodates up to 200 guests.
The main Sperry tent is accessible. It has concrete flooring. An outdoor accessible bathroom is equipped with a ramp. The areas for the ceremony and the cocktail hour are grassed.
Yes. It is a 20’ x 20’ dance floor.
Beautiful bistro lights surround the main tent’s interior, traveling upward to the ceiling. Your DJ may provide up lighting for more dramatic effect.
Yes, glassware is allowed. Bare feet are not allowed under the tent. Flip flops are a strongly encouraged alternative to bare feet.
Yes, we have parking for 85 cars, which is sufficient for most events. If you expect more than 150 guests, we recommend hiring a transportation company to shuttle guests to and from their local hotels.
Yes. School buses, trolleys, sprinter vans, and limousines are all allowed on the property. Large coach buses are not allowed because they are unable to navigate driveway turns. Please contact us at events@connemarahousefarm.com with questions.
As an outside tented venue, we offer fans for warmer months and heaters for cooler months. High hat heaters are available for outside areas during cocktail hour. Portable air conditioning is available in the estate house while you prepare for your event.
The hydrangeas around the property and the tent’s exterior perimeter usually bloom the second week of July.
Yes, we provide signs that direct your guests to the parking lot, the ceremony area, and the restrooms. You are also welcome to bring your own personalized signage if you prefer.
We do spray, if needed, prior to caterer and guest arrival. You may offer your own bug spray for your guests, as well.
QUESTIONS ABOUT CATERERS AND BARS/ALCOHOL
Yes. We offer a list of ten full-service, pre-approved caterers for you to choose from.
No. You must select one of our catering partners.
Clients have two great event alcohol options. Your caterer may provide alcohol if the caterer has an active 12C license. Otherwise, Gordon’s Fine Wine & Liquor or Kappy’s must provide all alcoholic beverages for your event.
Yes, you may buy your own alcohol directly from one of our listed vendors. The caterer will handle the bartending/bar service. The caterers can also buy alcohol and offer alcohol and bar service.
Regardless of an event’s duration, the bar can be open for a maximum of five hours. The bar must close one half hour before the event ends.
Yes. Every guest that appears to be under 35 years old must present proof of age. This rule applies to the bridal party. Without an ID, we are unable to serve you alcohol.
Cash bars are not allowed.
We do not allow vendors to consume any alcohol while working. This applies to hair stylists, make-up artists, band members, DJs, photographers, videographers, etc.
QUESTIONS ABOUT DÉCOR AND MUSIC
Any candles used on-site under the tent must be glass enclosed. We recommend battery-operated candles outside the tent.
All personal items and decorations must be removed at the end of the event, as the venue typically conducts another event on the following day.
Linens, tableware, barware, and custom furniture will all be secured and managed by your chosen caterer, or a contracted wedding planner. Each of our exclusive caterers will coordinate your rentals, streamlining that planning part for you.
Vendors are allowed to begin setup 3 hours prior to the event start.
Yes, for caterers and liquor suppliers. Otherwise, no, but we recommend that you select vendors from our collection because they are more familiar with the venue and are well endorsed by our previous clients.
We do not allow sparklers, fireworks, or any type of pyrotechnic.
Live music is allowed for ceremonies and cocktail hours only. Live bands are not allowed for receptions under the main tent.
Yes, we enforce a strict decibel limit. Please refer to the vendor guidelines for details.
Such specialty items must be coordinated with the Director of Sales and Wedding Day Coordinator to ensure that delivery, installation, and removal of these structures occur within our designated event schedule. We strongly recommend getting such items from your florist. They should be installed immediately before the ceremony and removed immediately thereafter.
- Five hours of exclusive use of the tent, lawns, and grounds. The tent is a custom, handcrafted Sperry tent with a natural sailcloth canopy. The flooring is smooth concrete.
- Bistro lighting at the tent’s interior perimeter, ascending to the tent top
- Floor-length, clear tent side panels for inclement weather
- Fans for warmer weather, and tent heaters for cooler weather
- Spacious wooden dance floor
- White portable bars
- Luxury heated and air-conditioned restroom trailer.
- Covered walkway connecting the tent and the restroom trailer for inclement weather.
- Round dining tables and Chiavari chairs for the reception
- High and low cocktail tables with white garden chairs for the cocktail reception
- Parking capacity for up to 85 vehicles
- Convenient circular driveway in front of the tent for car, bus or shuttle passenger drop offs.
- Adirondack chairs
- Lawn games
- Wedding party’s exclusive use of two private dressing room suites inside the estate house for the reception’s duration.
- Wedding day coordinator services
- For added pricing, we offer farm tables, cross-back chairs, lounge seating, outdoor high-hat style heaters, and whiskey barrels with wooden tabletops.
Yes, a wedding coordinator is included in your wedding rental package. Our experienced team of coordinators is available to help with all your venue and event related details during the 6-8 weeks leading up to your wedding. Your coordinator will create your day-of event timeline for everything at the venue, will arrange the final CHF/catering meeting to review your wedding day details during the final month, and will be on site with you the entire event day. The coordinator helps to set up your decor and ensures that everything runs smoothly.
You can rely on your coordinator to direct your vendors on-site, to help your family and wedding party know where to be and when, to line up your processional and oversee your ceremony, and to manage your reception so all aspects (food, music, etc.) flow seamlessly.
Your wedding day coordinator is assigned six months before your wedding date. The coordinator’s contact information is included with the Connemara House Questionnaire that is sent to you. Before you receive that, you may contact us for any venue or contract-related questions at events@connemarahousefarm.com.
Yes. Our coordinators are skilled and experienced wedding planners, able to help you with all aspects of your wedding day. They offer a range of services, such as consulting sessions, wedding design, vendor sourcing, and even full wedding planning if you’d like hands-on support throughout the entire process. If you’re interested in added services and don’t yet have your coordinator’s contact information, please contact us at events@connemarahousefarm.com so we can connect you.
Yes, you may bring small personal décor items. Adding any décor to the tent poles requires installation by a florist or an insured event installation company. We suggest all décor items are stored in plastic bins for easy storage and transport to the tent. All décor must be removed at the end of the night. It is not possible to leave items at the venue for pick up the following day. Other events may then be underway.
Please consult us about your potential DIY wedding. There are time limitations and some restrictions to consider.
We can conduct both the ceremony and reception under the main Sperry tent for events with 100 or fewer guests. For events with more than 100 guests, we recommend reserving the extra ceremony tent if inclement weather may be predicted.
The added tent is reserved with a $1,000 non-refundable deposit. You have up to 48 hours before your wedding to decide if you will need the added back-up ceremony tent. If you need the tent, an added $1,000 payment is due.
All music must end by 10:00 p.m., a firm rule required by the town.
Smoking and vaping are allowed only outside in the designated areas. Neither smoking nor vaping is allowed under the tent or in the house.
The security deposit is $1,000.00 for a day rental. Overnight stays have a $2,000-3,000.00 security deposit.
Personal items/decor drop-off must be scheduled along with your rehearsal. You or your designee must take all your personal items from the venue at the end of the night.
We offer a one week “soft hold” following an in-person tour.
Yes. Vendors must be licensed and insured. All vendors must review and sign the vendor guidelines document. Signing the vendor guidelines document signifies agreement with the terms.
A kitchen trailer and catering tent are available for the caterers. The estate house kitchen is not available for caterers. Wedding party members and wedding guests may not use the estate house kitchen unless the couple has rented the house.
Connemara’s team will deliver all the furniture, tables and chairs to the tent. The catering team will complete the set up and will remove the furniture after the event.
Venue rental fees are consistent, whether you have 50 or 200 guests. Caterers, however, may have such minimums.
Yes, you must schedule a tour. We look forward to hearing from you!
The estate house has six bedrooms and a wedding suite. We allow up to fourteen overnight guests. Options include one night stays and weekend stays. Please see our House Rules for overnight stays. You may review our list of hotels in the area. Please email events@connemarahousefarm.com for more information and pricing.
Yes. If you have your wedding secured with us, we waive the photography fee. If you do not yet have an event secured, please visit our website.
We gladly allow your well behaved dog to join you for outdoor portions of your event, including your picture session prior to the event, throughout the ceremony and for cocktail hour. Dogs must be leashed. Retractable leashes are not allowed. Dogs must always have a designated caretaker, ensuring dogs are not in water or garden beds, or digging anywhere onsite. Dogs must always be picked up after the event. Dogs are allowed 0n the porch, but not allowed in the house.
You will work with Connemara’s Director of Sales at the time of your event booking. She will continue as your primary contact until about 3-6 months before your event, when you will then be introduced to your Wedding Day Coordinator. The coordinator manages your final logistics, plans your onsite walkthrough, and develops your event day timeline.
TIMING QUESTIONS/VENDORS
For added cost, we can adjust a vendor schedule for 30-minute increments that may be needed beyond the standard three hour set-up/installation (before) and/or one hour removal/breakdown (after) windows.
Please consult with our Director of Sales as far in advance as possible if you are considering more time. We will have to confirm availability and the rate for your specific date. Time changes are subject to prior approval and may be made up to 30 days prior to the event. Time adjustment may include, but is not limited to, vendor arrivals; deliveries; setup; installations; bridal party, personal, or vendor access; pickups; and breakdowns. Final rate is based on the function date and time needed.
WEDDING QUESTIONS
The cost to host your ceremony and wedding reception at the tent ranges between $9,000 and $13,750. Factors include the year, the month, and the day of the week. For availability and details please contact us.
Caterers will send you proposals with their cost estimates for food, beverage, and service. Catering prices range from $80 to $280 per person.
We host one wedding per day.
We allow couples who are preparing for their event in the estate house to bring their own water, coffee, alcoholic drinks, snacks, Bluetooth speakers, clothing, and make-up. All alcohol must be stored away when the ceremony begins. It must be picked up the next day with the other
reception alcohol. If you have questions, please contact us at events@connemarahousefarm.com.
Wedding ceremonies and receptions may begin at 11 a.m. and must end before 10 p.m. A sample timeline is:
12:30 p.m. House arrival to get ready.
4:30 p.m.- 5:00 p.m. Ceremony
5:00 p.m.- 6:00 p.m. Cocktail Hour
6:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. Dinner and Dancing
Weekend weddings include a 5-hour reception, usually beginning with cocktail hour that immediately follows the ceremony.
Clean-up and removal of your decorations may be done following the end of the reception.
FOOD QUESTIONS
We do not cook or serve food. Wedding clients choose a caterer from our list of exclusive pre-approved caterers who use our dedicated prep kitchen trailer and catering tent to prepare food for serving your guests. Please visit our vendor information for more details.
All our exclusive wedding caterers offer gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options. Our caterer list includes Kosher caterers.
All wedding food must be provided by one of the exclusive caterers, all of whom are well experienced in catering at Connemara House and offer a wide selection of cuisines at different price points. Desserts and any other food consumed during the event must be prepared at a licensed and insured establishment.
A friend or family member may bake your wedding cake/desserts if they run a bakery or other fully licensed and insured food service establishment. Connemara House requires them to give proof of the license and a Certificate of Insurance (COI) to ensure the safety of your guests.
BILLING, PAYMENT & CONTRACT
A $2,500 non-refundable deposit for day rental or a $3,500-$5,000 non- refundable deposit is due for overnight stay is due at contract. Detailed terms, including a payment schedule, are outlined in your individual contract. Final payment is due 30 days prior to your event.
We accept Visa, MasterCard, or Discover credit cards. We do not accept American Express.
Yes. We require a $1,000 security deposit for day rental or $2,000-$3,000.00 security deposit for overnight stays. Security deposits are refundable one week after the wedding, according to your contract’s security deposit terms.
You cannot change your wedding or event date after booking. If there is an emergency, please contact events@connemarahousefarm.com.
No, there are no administrative fees, taxes, or service fees for the venue rental. Caterers will have added fees.
OTHER QUESTIONS
No. We do not allow any campers or any type of tents on the property.
Sure! Please contact us to schedule a tour.
Cars may be left in the event parking lot overnight but must be picked up before 10 a.m. the following morning.
A backup generator is available for power outages.