What is the venue altitude? Will my guests have trouble breathing?

The venue sits just below 9,000 feet in elevation. To prevent altitude sickness, we encourage guests to drink water regularly. We also offer oxygen at the bar if guests are having trouble adjusting to the elevation.

How do I reserve a date?

Reach out to us here to start the booking process! Priority for dates will be based on order of booking request, meaning it’s a first-come, first-serve mode. We cannot hold dates. Your date is reserved once we receive both your deposit and a signed contract and you will then receive an email confirmation, and additional venue details, as well as our recommended vendor list.

How can I visit the venue?

Venue visits are by appointment only. Please book a tour here!

Do you require a day-of-coordinator?

Yes! We require a professional (insured) day of coordinator for all weddings, selected from our list. This person may not be a family member, wedding guest, or member of the wedding party. Your professional planner for day-of services will cover all things related to managing the flow of your day, setting up decor, catering, bartending, music, etc. Trust us, this will be a life saver!

Are there accommodations nearby?

Yes! There are hotels 25 minutes away in Evergreen, 30 minutes away in Black Hawk, 30 minutes away in Golden, 30 min away in Georgetown and 30-40 minutes away in Denver. Some of the hotels our couples block rooms at include the Comfort Inn in Evergreen, the Origin Red Rocks Hotel, the new Wyndham Microtel in Georgetown, or any of the Black Hawk hotels like Ameristar or Monarch. In downtown Evergreen there's a bunch of really cute boutique hotels, and there's quite a few airbnb/vrbo options near the venue on Little Bear Creek Rd and closer to or in Idaho Springs.

How will my guests get to North Star Gatherings?

We're working with several shuttle companies to build working partnerships to make it super easy to book a shuttle for your guests. Once you're booked with us we'll give you recommendations on who to contact, some are even giving our couples discounts right now! We recommend shuttles no larger than 30 passengers.

Do you really run 100% off of solar? Will we run out of power?

Yes we do! We believe in treading lightly and taking care to preserve the beautiful land we live on. We have a 45kwh off-grid PV system and a backup generator so we'll never run out of power. Please note we still need to be very mindful of how we use our power. We can only allow LED lights to be plugged in and we need your DJ/band and caterer to communicate with us beforehand and so they can understand our power limitations.

Because we have a big backup generator, our power is more reliable than the grid and we should never run out of electricity. The Generator is down the hill from our building so you won’t hear it or ever know if it goes on. Our plan is to mindfully monitor our batteries so this doesn’t happen, but if we have several days of clouds and not enough solar charge we’ll always have power!

What is the rental fee?

Our pricing is straightforward and on the pricing page here.

What is included in venue rental?

The rental fee includes the venue for 12-hours, tables for your ceremony and reception, cocktail rounds, and farmhouse tables for reception. Details on all the inclusions are on the pricing page.

Is there wifi or cell service up there?

While the venue does not have wifi, cell service is pretty reliable on the mountain. We have found T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T get the best service. There’s a bit of a hole in reception at the bottom of the driveway, but other than that you should be good!

Will someone from North Star Gatherings be at our wedding?

Yes, we will always have a team member representing us during your event. Our role on your day is to make sure everything with the building runs smoothly. We cannot take on tasks like decorating, flipping the room, etc. but if we aren’t busy and we see a place we can help we will absolutely jump in. We do require you hire a day-of coordinator or professional planner!

Are food and beverage included in the venue?

Food and beverage are not included in venue rental, and can be booked through our Required Vendor List. North Star Gatherings does not allow catering buyouts.

Do you provide linens, dishes, silverware, etc?

We do not currently offer any rental items other than the space, tables, chairs, and propane heaters. For details on what is included in venue rental, check out our pricing page.

Do you provide tables and chairs?

Yes, we provide farmhouse style tables and matte black steel cross-back chairs, as well as brown resin folding chairs for ceremony and high top tables for cocktail hour. We have 20 nine foot tables and three 7 footers of the farmhouse tables and 7 high top tables for cocktail hour. We have more than enough chairs for everyone at capacity.

Can we have mimosas, beer or other alcohol while getting ready?

Yes, however, absolutely no alcohol is to be consumed before the bartender arrives to serve. If you really want to have alcohol prior to your event starting please inquire with your bar service about hiring an additional bartender to arrive early.

Are there two spaces for the entire wedding party to get ready on site?

Yes! We offer the Getting Ready Loft above the main hall, and the Polaris Geodome for wedding-day prep. If you visit our venue page, and scroll down, you will see photos and descriptions of the dome and loft.

Is there a deposit? When are payments due? Do you offer payment plans?

When the contract is signed we take an initial payment of 30% of your booking fee to reserve your date, then 35% is due 6 months prior and the remaining 35% is due one month before your wedding date. You may send partial payments at any time prior to due dates for each payment, but failure to pay the allotted amount on time will result in losing your date. We reserve the right to request a credit card to keep on file in the event of excessive damages. Payment must come from the person signing the contract. If you have a parent paying, please let us know so we can send them the contract.

How can I pay?

We accept payments via check or secure, direct bank transfer. The venue cannot receive mail, so please address all mail to our PO Box.

How many cars can the parking lot hold?

Currently our parking lot holds 45 vehicles total. We can refer you to a shuttle service from nearby lodging, and there are some public parking lots in Idaho Springs. We strongly recommend the use of a shuttle service if you have more than 80 guests, or if guests will be drinking.

Will there be another wedding or event on my date?

Nope! We only host one event per day so you have the space to yourselves. We also do not host tours or venue visits on wedding days. You and your guests will be the only ones on property for your rental period.

Will we be able to come early or the day before for a rehearsal?

We do not offer rehearsals at the venue before your wedding. Our ceremony space is pretty straightforward, what’s most important in rehearsing is the people involved.

Do you allow dogs on site?

Dogs (no more than two) may be present during the ceremony only, must have a designated handler (may not be bride/groom), must be on a leash, and must be removed from the property once food is served. We know how important it is for your furry family members to be a part of your big day, but dogs and food service don’t mix well.

Is there a discounted rental fee for reception only?

At this time, we only allow full-day, 12-hour venue rentals.

Can we have fireworks or sparklers at the venue?

No, never. We cannot allow any fireworks on the property, including sparklers. The fire danger varies greatly in our area, and we all want our beautiful mountains to remain green and safe for many lifetimes.

Can we leave vehicles overnight?

Do not plan to leave any vehicles over night. We encourage you to plan ahead of time to shuttle guests in and ensure all drivers are very responsible. We by no means will allow anyone intoxicated to drive away from our property.

What time does music need to stop?

Music will need to stop no later than 9:45 p.m. so that all guests can be out at 10 p.m. Clean up will be from 10-11 p.m. and all guests, wedding party, and vendors must be vacate the property by 11:00 p.m.

Can we take photos around the property on our wedding day?

Absolutely. There are some beautiful spots on the property for photos, just be advised the terrain is very rocky so you may want to bring more sensible shoes for getting to/from different photo spots.

Do you have decoration rules?

Yes! Glad you asked.
Candles: Candles are allowed if the flame is fully contained (in a holder). Hanging candles are not allowed.
Hanging Lights & Drapery: Go for it! We have eyelet hooks throughout the venue for stringing lighting or other decor through the Great Hall. Please know that any lighting needs to be LED.
Hanging decor from the walls or ceiling: We allow florals/greenery to be hung from our chandeliers, and the use of Command Hooks/adhesives on our fireplace. We provide hooks around the inside of the building for hanging decor on the walls. Nailing into the walls or using command hooks on the walls is not allowed.

Can deliveries be dropped off before my rental time starts?

No. All access starts at 11 a.m., doors will not be open until then. Please advise all deliveries of this policy.

Who is responsible for clean up?

All vendors are responsible for removing any trash they are have brought in, and your caterer will be responsible for final cleaning of the Great Hall. We cannot store food waste on-site because it will attract bears and other unwelcome wildlife visitors. On-site staff will assist in consolidating and storing trash during and directly after the event but vendors must be sure to remove everything. All personal items must be taken away with guests and the wedding party by midnight on the night of the event. We encourage you to consider trash accumulation in your planning, and work to minimize waste at your event because we love the beautiful mountains we live in and we want to preserve the beauty! Every little effort counts.