FAQs

Looking for answers? This FAQ is sure to help….

 

How tall and wide is the arch in the ceremony meadow?

The arch is about 11ft tall by 8ft wide.

How many rows of benches are in the ceremony meadow?

There are 14 rows of benches, with 4 benches in each row (two on each side of the aisle).  Twenty people can fit comfortably in each row.

What are the dimensions of the ceremony meadow?

The meadow is about 40ft did by 70ft long (doors to arch).

How long does it take to walk from the silo to the arch in the ceremony meadow?

It takes about 1min, 10sec to walk from the silo to the arch at an average pace.

What are the dimensions of the tables in the reception area?

All of our dinner tables are rectangular.  The guest tables are 30 inches with by 8 ft long.  The head tables (there are two of these pushed together.  They are each 3.5ft wide by 8.5ft long.

How many dinner tables will there be?

Check out the sample floor plans here. Below is a simple formula to determine how many tables you will have...

1) Take your total anticipated guest count (including the bride and groom and wedding party) and subtract the number of people seated at the head table. If that number is 200 or less, you will divide by 8 (the number of seats at each table). If it is larger than 200, you will divide by 10 (the number of seats at each table).

2) Round up to the next whole number if your total has a decimal. See the example below: 200 anticipated guests - 14 at head table=186. 186/8= 23.25, round up to 24. You will have 24 guest tables, with 8 people seated at each table, plus the head table. ***Did you remember to count in your any of your vendors like, DJ, photographer, videographer, etc., in your head count?

***Special Note, if you are having unassigned tables, we will likely add in an extra table to accommodate guests not completely filling tables.

What are the mantel dimensions?

The mantel on the fireplace is about 8ft long and 6-8 inches wide. It is wide enough to have greenery on it, a sign or two, and some candles.  The mirror that rests on it is permanent and cannot be taken down.

What are the dimensions of the pavilion?

40ft wide by 80ft long

What is a typical timeline fo the wedding day?

Timelines will of course vary for each event. Below are a couple of good timelines to get you started.

***Friday, Saturday and Midnight ending Thursdays/Sundays***

10am-Wedding party arrives to start getting ready (if you need to get ready sooner, we can add that on for you- please let me know if this is something you are interested in)

10am Decorating begins

4:15pm Guest arrive by car

4:10pm Final shuttle drops off guests

4:20pm Ceremony seating begins

4:30pm Wedding party lines up

4:35pm Ceremony begins (this gives time for late guests to get seated)

5:00pm Ceremony ends

5-6pm Social Hour

6pm Guest start to get seated for dinner

6:15pm Grand March

6:25pm Blessing (if having one)

6:30pm Head table starts dinner

7:30pm Cake Cutting/Desert Served

7:35pm Toasts

7:45/8pm First Dance Father-Daughter, Mother-Son Dances Dance floor open

9:45pm First shuttle departs

10pm Late night snack

10:30pm clean up begins in background (centerpieces put away)

10:45pm Second shuttle departs

11:15pm Bar makes last call for alcohol

11:30pm Bar closes, music ends

11:45pm Final shuttle departs

12am Midnight final guests depart

Midnight-1am clean-up finalized, final walk-through done

***Alternate timeline for 10pm end (Thursday/Sunday)***

10am-Wedding party arrives to start getting ready (if you need to get ready sooner, we can add that on for you- please let me know if this is something you are interested in)

10am Decorating begins

3:15pm Guest arrive by car

3:10pm Final shuttle drops off guests

3:20pm Ceremony seating begins

3:30pm Wedding party lines up

3:35pm Ceremony begins (this gives time for late guests to get seated)

4:00pm Ceremony ends

4-5pm Social Hour

5pm Guest start to get seated for dinner

5:15pm Grand March

5:25pm Blessing (if having one)

5:30pm Head table starts dinner

6:30pm Cake Cutting/Desert Served

6:35pm Toasts

6:45/7pm First Dance Father-Daughter, Mother-Son Dances Dance floor open

8:30pm clean up begins in background (centerpieces put away)

9:15pm Bar makes last call for alcohol

9:30pm Bar closes, music ends

9:45pm Final shuttle departs

10pm final guests depart

10pm-11pm clean-up finalized, final walk-through done

When will we go over the wedding day details?

We will start going over your timeline and floor plans 4-6 months from the wedding. We will touch base again at one month out from the wedding. This is when your remaining balance will be due, along with your damage deposit, and copy of your special events insurance policy.  We will provide you with a final floor plan after our last planning session.  If you need your floor plan before then, please feel free to reach out with your final head count, and I’ll send that over for you.

What are my clean-up responsibilities?

Getting Ready Cottages:

  • All personal items must be cleaned up in the Getting Ready Cottages 30 minutes prior to the ceremony. This includes items from the mini fridges.

  • We ask that personal items be packed away in bags to “grab and go” at the end of the night, if they cannot be moved to vehicles or the farmhouse or cabins.

  • All trash must be removed and put in the dumpster.

  • Persons are allowed to stay in the Getting Ready Cottages until the start of the ceremony, as a waiting area as guests are being seated for the ceremony to begin, and will have access to the cottages for the entire evening.

End of night Clean-up:

  • All items brought onto the venue property must be removed by the end of the contracted clean-up time.  This includes any rented items from other vendors, i.e. dinnerware and plates, floral vases, and decor.

  • All boxes must be broken down and placed into the dumpster. All remaining garbage and
    trash inside the garbage receptacles needs to be placed in the dumpster.

  • All remaining food and beverages must be taken with you or put in the dumpster,
    including items in the fridge that are yours or in the walk in cooler.

  • Any flowers or floral arrangements must be removed from the venue and/or deposed of in
    the dumpster.

  • If you use disposable plates and cutlery for dinner, all of those items must be put in the
    trash and consequently into the dumpster at the end of the evening.

  • If using, any sparkler sticks should be properly disposed of.

Final Walk-through:

  • Our staff will do a final walk through with you point person at the end of the evening, where they will sign off that all of the above items have been taken care of. We want you to enjoy your time at The Hidden Meadow and Barn, LLC, but also want to make sure that it is well cared for at each event.  If items are not properly disposed of or there is an excess mess not addressed, you may be charged a portion or all of your damage deposit to cover the cost of the extra hours for our staff to clean up.

Can cars stay overnight?

Yes, they need to be picked up by 9am the next morning. NO CAMPING OR OVERNIGHT STAYS OF ANY KIND ARE ALLOWED OTHER THAN IN THE FARMHOUSE (IF RENTED).

How does the whole marriage license thing work?

You would need to apply for your marriage license at the Pepin County Courthouse in Durand, WI within 30 days of the wedding if you are a non-Wisconsin resident.  Check out the link here with more in-depth information regarding this from Pepin County. If you are a resident of Wisconsin, you can get your marriage license in your home county.

Do you have recommendations for locations for rehearsal dinners in the area?

How many bedrooms are in the farmhouse, and what sizes are the beds?

There are five bedrooms in the farmhouse and 2 bathrooms.  The bedrooms are as follows:

  • Bedroom #1 -downstairs- 1 Queen Bed

  • Bedroom #2-upstairs- 1 King Bed

  • Bedroom #3- upstairs- 1 Queen Bed

  • Bedroom #4- upstairs - 1 Queen Bed, 1 Twin Bed, 1 Twin Pull-Out Trundle

  • Bedroom #5-upstairs - 1 Queen Bed

where do I go to get the special event insurance policy that the hidden meadow & Barn requires?

You can take out the policy anywhere you like, but most couples go to one of the three websites listed below. These companies specialize in this type of insurance and make it pretty streamline for couples to obtain the policy (usually 10 minutes or less). You can also check out your homeowners insurance, but a lot of times, they are more expensive. We require a minimum of $1,000,000 general aggregate policy and the Hidden Meadow & Barn, LLC must be listed as additional insured.

still haven’t found your answer…