FAQs

Answers to our most frequently asked questions…

General Questions

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96 guests seated including the bridal party or go against traditional trends and have a cocktail
reception with up to 140 guests.

What is the rental fee for Venue 290 and what’s included?

Please inquire here to receive our wedding pricing pamphlet.

What is the building capacity?

96 guests seated including the bridal party or go against traditional trends and have a cocktail
reception with up to 120 guests.

When are the payments due? Do you offer a payment plan?

Once you have decided to book, we require half of your total rental fee at the time of your booking (contract signing). The balance is due six months prior to your event. You are always welcome to send smaller, partial payments of any amount prior to the specified due date, so in effect creating your own payment plan on your own schedule. Please include the last names of the couple and the wedding date in the memo line if you are mailing a check. Full payment is due by the specified due date established at contract signing.

Do I need to schedule a tour or can I just stop by?

We kindly request that all tours are by appointment only. 

What is the average budget of a couple getting married at Venue 290?

That is a great question! In general, we believe the average budget of a couple getting married at Venue 290 is between $18,000-$25,000 for all wedding expenses (venue, food, dress, DJ, photographer, etc.). We have had some creative couples with smaller guests lists host beautiful weddings in the $10,000 – $14,000 range, and we have had several lovely events here spending significantly more than the average.

Is there a food and beverage, or guest count minimum?

No. Many venues have minimums because they make a 10 – 15% commission from the caterer based on how much you spend on food and drinks. We choose NOT to make a commission because we want our food and beverage options to be as elegant or affordable as your budget allows, and therefore we don’t have a food and beverage or guest count minimum. Some caterers may have a reasonable minimum for specific dates.

Do we have to utilize your caterers and bar service?

Yes, but please read on to learn why. Initially we allowed outside catering, because honestly most venues don’t and we didn’t understand why! It seems like a great benefit to allow outside catering. The truth is, after two years of allowing any caterer to operate here, we realized that’s not a workable business model, if quality food and a quality experience is important to our couples and their guests. Some caterers were amazing, but some were clearly in it for the money and not the couple (like when we asked, do you help with XYZ and the caterer responded “they didn’t pay for that.” Once you get to know us, you’ll know that attitude doesn’t sit well with us.) We had issues with caterers showing up hours late and unprepared. We had caterers run out of food. We had caterers who routinely sent three 16 years olds to be the event staff. Although we had many great experiences with caterers who were new to us, when it was a bad experience it was really bad, for us, the couple, and their guests.

We selected the caterers on our list after having many come through our doors because we thought they had good food, good service, because they had very affordable options along with a variety of upgrades, and honestly because we thought they were nice people. Don’t discount the fact that all of the vendors that you choose you’ll work with a lot leading up to the big day. It’s important to actually like your vendors! Additionally, we have purposely selected small business owners, because although no one is perfect, and none of our caterers claim to be, when you work with a small business owner they are personally invested in the success of your wedding day.

Will there be another wedding the same day?

At Venue 290 we only host one wedding each day to ensure that each couple’s event is special and receives our full attention.

Are there overnight accommodations nearby?

The Holiday Inn Express is less than 1.5 miles away and offers bulk room rates around $100 per night. We also have The Baymont Inn and several Bed and Breakfast/Air BNB locations within a mile or two.

How many cars will your parking lot accommodate?

50 cars in our lot, and multiple spaces on the street in front of the venue.

Do you offer straight tables instead of round?

We have a limited number of straight tables onsite. We have a few extras that can be mixed in with reception seating, but most of your guests will be seated at round tables.

Do you provide table linens, cups, silverware, etc?

Venue 290 provides an awesome venue, tables, comfortable reception chairs, black linens with black or grey coverlets, and lots of decor. You are always welcome to bring your own linens if you want a different look. We can get you the name of a great company if you want different table coverings. We do not provide any table service items, so they will need to be brought in by you or by the catering team you choose.

We plan to have our ceremony offsite, or only plan to have our ceremony at Venue 290. Does your fee change?

Because we only host one event per day, our fee structure remains the same whether you hold your ceremony, reception, or both onsite.

Do you allow dogs onsite to play a part in our wedding day?

We are dog friendly, with some specific stipulations. Dogs are allowed (only with pre-approval by us) at the ceremony and pictures. Animals, other than service animals, are NOT allowed to hang out during the reception or near the food. Dogs must be on a leash and someone must be responsible for them other than the bride and groom. They must be taken home immediately following the ceremony and photos.

What form of payment is accepted at Venue 290?

Cash, check, Venmo, PayPal and all major Credit Cards. Please note, any Credit Card payments will be assessed a 5% handling fee.

What time will I have access to the venue to decorate?

You will have access to the venue at the time listed on your contract, not earlier. Please plan accordingly.

Do you include a "wedding day coordinator?"

This is such a great question! If you’re trying to compare venues “apples to apples” we feel like this is a tricky question. Our answer is no. We think it’s possible for the job duties of a “day-of wedding coordinator” to mean something different to you than it does to us, and the last thing we want is the opportunity for miscommunication.

Catering Questions

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What are our catering options at Venue 290?

After a couple years of a variety of caterers onsite at our venue, we have selected our favorite five to work with exclusively. These caterers include Center Stage Catering, Bella Events Catering, Pumpernickel Pickle Catering, 3112 Catering Company, Adell’s Catering, and Rocky Mount BBQ Please see the catering page for more information including menus and pricing.

How much should we expect to spend on catering?

It is possible to have an open bar and delicious meal for 100-140 people for under $3,500 with several of our caterers when you make careful food and beverage decisions. (Disclaimer: we are sure you could spend more than this, but if your looking for awesome budget friendly options, they definitely exist with these great caterers.) Please see the question above for links to each caterers pricing.

Does Venue 290 handle the catering orders for these caterers, or do I work with the caterer directly?

In our experience, it’s most efficient and most cost effective for couples to work directly with the caterer. Simply book your big day with Venue 290 and reach out to the caterers of your choosing to schedule a tasting and get the ball rolling! Contact info for each caterer is on this page.

Planning Questions

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96 guests seated including the bridal party or go against traditional trends and have a cocktail
reception with up to 140 guests.

If we choose the one-day option, will we be able to access the location early to rehearse our ceremony?

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, or, if we have availability the week of your wedding, we will allow for a one hour rehearsal Mon-Thurs free of charge.

Can we have fireworks on the property?

We don’t want to scare the neighbors and also want to keep the fire department happy, therefore, fireworks are not permitted. We also only allow sparklers for non-alcoholic events. 

Can vehicles be left overnight?

No vehicles can be left overnight. Please advise your guests of this policy. We often have multiple weddings and events spanning a weekend; therefore, we need our spaces for their events.

What time does the music need to end?

Music and bar service on Saturday’s must conclude by 10:00 p.m. to ensure that you, all of your items, and all of your vendors are off property by closing time. Music on Fridays, Sundays, and weekdays must conclude by 8:00 p.m. to be off property by 9:00 pm.

We are using a rental company. Can they drop items off or pick them up outside of the rental period?

Unfortunately, no. all deliveries must happen during the standard rental period. Please advise your vendors of this policy.

Are candles allowed?

No, candles are not allowed for safety and fire prevention reasons. We do allow battery operated flameless candles.

Is it possible to seat 9 to a table?

In a pinch, yes if one is a child, but we would not recommend it for your guests comfort.

How far in advance do you need our final headcount?

Three weeks

Setup and Day-of Event Questions

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Are outside snacks and trays permitted?

Outside food and drink is permitted prior to the ceremony. It is not allowed after the start of the event. Please no drinks in glass bottles.

What is the event clean-up process?

Venue 290 staff will handle all standard clean up and trash removal throughout and following the wedding reception. You are responsible for general clean up and getting trash in the cans. Our caterers will bus tables throughout the evening, but anything left after they leave is your responsibility to throw away.

Are coolers allowed inside the venue?

No, we do not allow coolers due to our beautiful/historic wood floors. We have a beverage refrigerator located in the bar area for you to use. We have a cooler for you to use to hold clean ice for drinks.

Can we nail decorations to the walls or hang things like streamers or lanterns from the beams?

Venue 290 is a historic property, therefore we request that holes are not placed in the walls or columns. We will have areas where hooks are already placed that you are welcome to use for any additional decorations. If you want something to be hung, you must purchase 3M Command Strips, and we will work with you on hanging them. We hope that you will find the venue beautiful without any extra work.