How many guests does the event venue fit?
The Event Center can seat up to 160 guests at tables inside the reception space and seat another 140 guests at tables outside on the uncovered and covered patios.
The amphitheater can seat 300 guests in chairs.
Can I have my wedding ceremony inside if the weather is rainy or cold?
Our Event Center has interior ceremony space for up to 130 guests only. If you are planning a wedding with more than 130 guests, it would be good to plan on having tents available that can be placed on our patios in case of inclement weather. We do not have tents available. You would need to rent tents from a third-party vendor.
Can I use the Tasting Room or Tasting Room Patio for my wedding or event?
The Tasting Room is available for exclusive rental use only when it is not open to the public. That means it is only available for private paries on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. You can also rent the Tasting Room in the mornings before we open at noon or after we close at 6pm during winter/spring hours.
The Tasting Room seats up to 45 guests inside. The Patio can seat up to 60 guests outside.
Do you offer catering?
Yes. We do offer in-house catering. Click HERE to see our catering brochure.
Do we have to use your catering or can we use an outside caterer?
You do not have to use Aurora Colony Vineyards' catering service, but we'd love it if you did! We do not require use of any particular caterer and do not charge a fee for using outside vendors.
Is there a kitchen available for my caterer to use?
The Event Center has a sink and refrigerator that can be used by you and your caterer. It does not have a stove or oven. Outside caterers will need to bring their own heating/warming equipment.
What alcohol are we allowed to serve at our wedding or event?
You can serve wine, beer, cider, or hard alcohol at events. If you only serve wine, beer and cider, the Aurora Colony Vineyards staff can serve your alcohol. If you choose to serve hard alcohol, you will have to hire a third-party bartender to serve all the alcohol because Aurora Cololny Vineyards' servers are only licensed to serve wine, beer and cider.
Is there a minimum amount of wine that must be purchased if I have my wedding here?
No. You are not required to serve wine if you rent our event venue for your wedding or event. If you do choose to serve wine, however, it must be our wine. No outside wine (except for champagne) is allowed. You may purchase any amount of wine that you would like.
Do I have to purchase other alcohol through you?
No. You may bring your own beer or cider, and our servers can serve it to your guests. If you choose to serve hard alcohol, you will have to hire a third-party bartender to serve all the alcohol because Aurora Cololny Vineyards' servers are only licensed to serve wine, beer and cider.
Does the Event Center and Amphitheater have sound equipment available for use?
No. All sound equipment would need to be brought by a DJ or rented from a third-party vendor. There are many power outlets inside and outside the Event Center as well as power near the Amphitheater.
What time does music need to end?
All venue rentals must be end by 11pm. Generally, music ends by 10pm so you have one hour to clean up before the site is closed at 11pm.
What is included when I rent the Event Center and Amphitheater?
Your rental includes 9 hours of use of the Event Center, Amphitheater and Get-Ready Suites (which are located in our winery building). In the Event Center, it includes 5-foot round guest tables, chairs, 6-foot & 4-foot rectangle tables, cocktail-height tables, two movable bars, and a metal ceremony arch. In the Amphitheater, it includes guest chairs. We do a one-time set up and takedown of all your tables and chairs in both the Event Center and Amphitheater.
How much does it cost to rent the Event Center?
It depends on the day of the week and the time of the year. Click HERE to see our current rate sheet. Page 1 has rates for the Event Center/Amphitheater and page 2 has rates for the Tasting Room.
Are there any other fees associated with renting the venue?
If you wish to rent the Event Center/Amphitheater for more than the standard 9 hours, the rate is $250/hour.
If you purchase wine to be served at your event, we will provide one server for free for your first 100 guests. If you have more than 100 guests, you will need a second server, for which we charge $45/hour.
If you would like to schedule an event on a holiday, there is a $500 fee added to the rental price. Holidays include: New Year’s Day, Easter, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day. No events will be scheduled on Thanksgiving or Christmas.
If you choose to have us cater your event, all catering will be done with a separate contract.
Do I need event insurance?
Yes. We require a Certificate of Insurance (COI) for events. This COI is for liability purposes and will cost you between $50-120 depending upon what insurance company you purchase it thorugh. Event insurance protects you if you or your guests damage the property or gets injured on site. You can get this insurance through your insurance agent or an online agent like Event Helper or eWed Insurance.
Are you pet friendly?
With prior approval, yes! Our concrete floors and grassy amphitheater are pet-friendly, we just ask that any messes are cleaned up. Dogs also need to be on leashes for the duration of the event.