Let’s Get Started!

Before you dive into wedding planning, let’s make sure you’ve got all your resources organized.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

Our most up to date list. Consult your contract for your specific agreement.

PLANNING PORTAL

FOOD + UPGRADES

CAKE INSPIRATION

Tablescapes + other decor

Policies

Locked Barn 

The barn is only open during set appointments. Our staff comes in especially to meet you and are otherwise very busy getting the property fully prepared for your event. Keep in mind that getting into the barn is for urgent matters, like bringing in extra decorations or cookies. It takes the full week before your wedding to clean and set up the barn. We can’t risk that getting disturbed only hours before your wedding. If you need in the barn for anything before your wedding, please let us know so we can make the necessary arrangements.

Kitchen Access 

In general, we cannot let anyone into the kitchen except our staff. The kitchen is a hustle and bustle of activity and preparations. We cannot take the risk of someone getting injured (ex. 450° ovens) or accidentally bumping the cake. If you need to speak with the kitchen staff, you can communicate with your Day-0f-Coordinator, and they will relay information for you.

Rain Plan 

If it rains on your wedding day, we will move your ceremony to the upper deck. We will always aim to have your ceremony outside, and we’ll advise you in the days and hours before your wedding on all our thoughts. We are good at this. We monitor the radars, we know how to adjust timelines, and we know how to interpret the weather for our unique valley. We often don’t make a final decision until 30 minutes before the ceremony. Sometimes we consult with you but sometimes we make a decision based on guest safety.   

Parking 

We are very strict on parking at Chanteclaire. We have to keep certain areas open in case of an emergency, as well as keeping cars out of photographs. After your rehearsal make sure to move your cars to our main parking lot. No vehicles may ever park beyond the barriers in the main parking lot. You may keep up to two cars at the Farmhouse. Make sure these cars are parked in the correct spots or they will be in photographs of your ceremony. We reserve the right to hold your ceremony until they are moved.  

Vendors 

Make sure you list any vendor who will be on the property on your vendor form inside your portal. We need to know what time they will arrive and depart, if they have worked at Chanteclaire before, and that they have proper insurance and they know our policies. We have a list of vendors we love to work with because of their professionalism and quality of work. Don’t hesitate to get our advice before signing any contracts.

Cookie Table

Outside food is not permitted at Chanteclaire (except in the farmhouse and cabin for overnight guests). If you want to bring your own cookie table you must tell us, so it can be reflected in your contract, as an assumption of liability for all food related illnesses. We ask that all cookies are brought to us the day prior to your wedding. We will keep them safe and put them out for you. 

Lodging 

The farmhouse and the cabin rentals are required in your final contract. The farmhouse has five bedrooms, three bathrooms, and sleeps up to 12 people. The cabin has three bedrooms, one bathroom, and sleeps up to 8 people. Between the two properties we can accommodate 20 guests. For your out of town guests we can recommend our favorite off-site lodging.

Decoration & Design

Decorations must be approved and hung by Chanteclaire staff. Decorations can be hung with ribbon or fishing line. The use of tape, nails, or glue is prohibited. Please have all your decor items to the Chanteclaire team at least 30 hours before your wedding.  Picking up all your decorations will happen the morning after your wedding. All meeting times will be reflected in your contract. 

When working with Farmhouse Fete for your florals, all rentable items are available to you free of charge.

Payments 

Included in your contract will be payments, and a schedule with specific dates. Your final guest count will be due three weeks before your event, and that will then be reflected in your final invoice. Your final payment will be made two weeks prior to your wedding. There are two ways that you can pay: online through the invoice, or by mailing a check.

Seating 

Three weeks prior to your wedding, you will receive a dining room layout based on your final count. You will receive a helpful guide to assigning guest to tables. Our recommendation is to not assign your guests to a specific seat, but to a table. Also, keep in mind that tables look best with five or more people. We have 17 48” tables that must be used for the first 85-136 guests (5-8 guest per table). Remaining guests will be placed at 60” tables seating 7-10 guests. 

Alcohol 

We highly recommend McHenry Beverage Shoppe for your alcohol. They are a superb vendor and are very knowledgeable about alcohol choices and quantities. Their staff will help you decide what and how much to purchase of everything. McHenry will deliver and pick up, saving you significant hassle and adding an important degree of professional organization. We ask that your beer come in quarter kegs. These are easy to store and easy to move, resulting in less foam and faster service. We do allow you to bring bottled or canned beer, but please know that those cans and bottles will be prominently visible in every wedding photo. Kegs force guests to use glassware, and result in better photographs.

Kids 

We recommend that you hire a babysitter who can watch the children in either the farmhouse or cabin. Children can never be unsupervised at Chanteclaire. It is a large property and can be dangerous for children to be alone. We currently own one highchair, but do not guarantee its availability.

Insurance 

Clients are required to provide us with a Certificate of Liability Insurance.  This is something you get added-on to your homeowners or renters’ insurance policy for the date of the event and you are required to show limits of at least 1 million dollars. Chanteclaire Farm LLC must be listed as a secondary insured on the liability insurance.  We also suggest you consider purchasing Event Insurance from a third party to cover you and your families’ investments in this event.