Frequently Asked Questions
Below, we’ve answered common questions about hosting a wedding at Twin Gables. If you have more questions, please contact our team – we’re happy to help!
General FAQs
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Please see the details here of pricing and what is included.
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Two hundred guests, including the bridal party. We can go up to 250 with additional cost.
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$1000
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See the available dates here.
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You can schedule a tour here.
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Yes! Click here for details.
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When the contract is signed and emailed back, 50% is due. (This can be in one payment or spread over two months.) The other half is due four months before the wedding date, and the refundable security deposit is due six weeks before the wedding date.
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To reserve a date, email us at twingableseventcenter@gmail.com and let us know the ready-to-book date(s) you want to book so we can confirm it is available. If you have not toured and want to, you can request a tour (or a Facetime tour if you live out of the area) on our tour request page. An in-person tour is not required before booking a date. Brides do book sight unseen. Dates are reserved on a first-requested basis. Whoever has requested to start the contract process from us by email for a specific date will be first in line.
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Yes. This is for your safety and the safety of the guests. All bartenders will be licensed and properly insured.
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Clients are required to obtain a “day-of” insurance policy through Nuptial (no substitutions or exceptions permitted) covering the Event Date(s) in the minimum amount of the following: $1,000,000 per occurrence/$2,000,000 general aggregate in a form and amount satisfactory to Venue. This shall include host alcohol liability as well. A certificate of insurance naming Twin Gables Event Center, LLC and Mark and Debra Schrock, and their respective members, officers, directors, employees, independent contractors, subcontractors, agents, volunteers, heirs, successors, assignees, and owners as additional insureds with a waiver of subrogation and primary non-contributory endorsement are required at least six weeks (42) days before Event Date.
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You can use fake candles. Our insurance does not allow flame. This is for your safety and your guests.
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The barn and courtyard are a non-smoking/non-vaping facility— a designated outdoor smoking area by the pond and the end of the drive. Marijuana and Cannabis are not allowed.
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The venue is handicap accessible, including the restrooms.
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Vendors must have a signed waiver that will be provided. Proof of insurance from your vendors must also be provided six weeks before the event. When emailing them, please email them in bulk email with all your vendor’s waivers and proof of insurance. Kindly put the bride and groom’s name and wedding date. Minimum coverage should be 1 million per occurrence & 2 million aggregate. In addition, our venue must be listed as additional insured on the policy.
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See a list of hotels within 10 miles here.
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Guest tables are 60-inch round tables that seat eight. We have a limited number of 8-foot and 6-foot rectangular tables for the head table, buffet, gift table, dessert table, etc. For a beautiful look, we have two barrel tables that are similar to an 8-foot rectangular table that can be inside or under the big arch outside where guests enter.
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In the case of rain, we have a beautiful backdrop indoors with the glass door or barn doors. Guests sit at their tables. Sometimes, close family members, around 20-50, will bring their chairs to the dance floor as an option. (The dance floor is always open.) The TGEC team might have to move the few (usually 3 - 4) tables down the side of the venue if needed. We set up for rain if it’s calling for it, so there are choices in aisles. Our couples have loved this option because it’s a stunning ceremony and doesn’t require the room flip other venues require.
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We do not provide a wedding coordinator. However, we do have a team leader onsite. Someone on our team will answer questions from your vendors and direct them as necessary, etc. They are there to answer your questions, too.
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We have broadband. Its a free thing you will have access to.
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We do have a generac.
Catering Questions
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Yes, we have a large commercial catering kitchen. It sits in the back of the building, so catering can park right next to the kitchen door. There is also a large cement pad behind the building if any grilling needs to take place. Outside caterers love our kitchen.
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Catering can provide this. TGEC can provide servers in the buffet line as an added option. Pricing is based on how many servers you would need in the line.
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Yes, Twin Gables Event Center is a wedding venue that allows outside catering in Michigan. Food must be fully prepared off-site unless there is a food truck, and vendors must be licensed and insured. Catering must leave the kitchen how they found it.
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Yes. We have a beautiful table setting if you choose to use ours. For details, click here. We don’t allow other vendors to bring in real table settings. You are more than welcome to bring paper products.
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TGEC staff for a $500 fee and we do the washing.
Planning Questions
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Team members from Twin Gables Event Center handle the cleaning after the event.
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Please do! We want your personal touch. Decorations may not be nailed, glued, screwed, stapled, pinned, or taped to the barn or the floor. DJ.s are also not allowed to tape cords to the floor. Painters tape works great. We have eye hooks throughout the barn and pergola for hanging. Confetti, paint, hot glue, and glitter are not permitted. Natural flower petals are. You will find that not much decor is needed at this venue. We do have limited decor for your use. The decor can not be hung from the ceiling. It is unreachable by ladder.
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It would be best to ask your photographer because they have an eye for lighting. What’s typical is starting Friday weddings at 5:00 pm, Saturday weddings between 4:00 - 5:00 pm, and Sunday weddings earlier between 3:00- 4:00 pm.
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10:00 a.m. You can also choose to come earlier.
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TGEC team members place the tables and chairs. They are spaced around the center dance floor so everyone has a good seat. We will reach out to you at a later date to determine your preferred layout before the big day! We have an awesome online wedding planner that will assist you with layouts.
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If you elect the one-day rental, our venue will likely be reserved by another couple the night before. For that reason, one day rentals should plan for an offsite rehearsal. You are also welcome to bring anyone who would feel more comfortable (such as your DJ or coordinator or decorator, or any little ones in the wedding) to one of our monthly open houses. Rehearsals are also done at open houses for booked brides.
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Fireworks are not permitted; however, a sparkler exit is as long as it’s not abused. There are a few spots outside where we do this to get those beautiful photos. They are off the cement. We love those like you do.
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We accept payments via cash or check. Additionally, we offer the option to use credit cards for expedited transactions. Credit Cards have fees.
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Yes. The rental fee remains the same whether you hold the ceremony and reception or just your reception at TGEC. This is because we only host one event per day.
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We are dog-friendly. Dogs are allowed (only with pre-approval) for the ceremony and outside pictures. Other than service animals, they are NOT allowed inside or near food. Dogs must be on a leash, and someone must be responsible for them while they are here.
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TGEC only allows our golf cart and side-by-side. Our barrels have a rubber protective coating on the bottom to protect where they are placed. For that reason, whiskey barrels can not be brought in.
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For your and your guests' safety, we allow overnight parking to those who feel it is best not to drive. Vehicles must be picked up by 10:00 a.m. the following day. We are flexible if there is no wedding the next day.
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Music and the bar stop at 10:00 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays to ensure that your items and vendors’ items are off the property by 11:00 p.m. On Sundays, it’s 8:00 p.m. to provide a 9:00 departure.
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Yes, we have power in both places. There are two places for DJs to plug in by the ceremony site. There is one spot by the pond that has power. We don’t supply extension cords. DJ’s wont need them at the ceremony site.
