General Info
When will building be complete?
The building will be complete in August 2019 and we’re taking bookings for September 2019.
Are there accommodations nearby?
Yes. There are hotels 20 minutes away in Evergreen, 30 minutes in Black Hawk, 30 minutes in Golden, and in the nearby future the Argo Mine will hold a large hotel just 10 minutes away. A pretty decent hotel to block is the Comfort Suites Golden West on Evergreen Parkway (25 min). In downtown Evergreen theres a bunch of really cute boutique hotels, and the Ameristar in Black Hawk can be a fun with a rooftop pool and casinos in the hotel as well as downtown.
Do you really run 100% off solar?
Yes we will! We believe in treading lightly and taking care to preserve the beautiful land we live on. Please note this creates certain limitations and we need to be very mindful of how we use power. We can only allow LED lights to be plugged in and we need your DJ and band to communicate with us beforehand and use our provided sound system. We encourage you to plan do all hair beforehand as we don’t know yet if our power stores cannot accommodate a full bridal party using curling irons and hair dryers on a cloudy day. If you would really love to get ready in the loft you can easily rent a generator and run a cord to it. We also cannot allow coffee makers to be plugged in-this is especially important for your catering provider. Once the system is up and running and we’ve had a chance to test it we’ll know more about our power capabilities, until then we’ll plan conservatively.
Will you ever run out of power?
Nope! Our power is actually more reliable than grid power because we have a big ‘ole backup generator hooked directly to our building that will monitor our battery charge and just juice it back up if it gets too low. It’s 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?
Please see the pricing page here
What’s included in the fee?
Scroll down in the pricing page here
What is the capacity of the building?
Capacity is 170 guests including wedding party, that’s the the reception space and ceremony (each, not together).
What dates are available?
We are currently booking starting September 2019. Check available dates here. Available dates are kept updated daily.
What happens in case of rain?
You can rent a tent from an outside vendor for the rear deck ceremony space, or we can discuss setting up an indoor ceremony and coordinating a room flip with your caterer during cocktail hour.
Do I need to schedule a tour or can I just stop by?
We kindly request that you schedule a tour. We want to give you our full attention while you’re there and be able to answer any questions you may have. We are not staffed 24/7 so you may not be able to get in if you stop by.
Is there cell service out there?
Yes! In and around the building we have excellent cell service. There’s a bit of a hole at the bottom of the driveway but other than that you’re in good shape!
Is there wifi available?
Unfortunately since we are completely off-grid we cannot offer Wifi in the building. We do have good cell service in the building so you shouldn’t have a problem getting data that way.
Will somebody from NSG be on site during our event?
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’ll absolutely jump in.
Food/Beverage
Are food/beverage included?
No, we currently have an open vendor policy, and we do not provide catering/beverage services. Check out what’s included in the pricing here.
Is there a food and beverage or guest count minimum?
No. We want you to have the flexibility to work with the vendor of your choosing.
Do you have an exclusive vendor list?
We do not currently have any exclusive vendor requirements, but we do require all vendors to be licensed and insured. This includes catering, bartending, DJ/band, and day-of coordinator.
Do you provide linens, dishes, silverware, etc?
We do not currently offer any rental items other than the space but we plan to in the future. Check back for updates!
Do you provide tables and chairs?
Yes, we plan to provide farmhouse style tables and matte black steel cross-back chairs, as well as ceremony seating and high tables for cocktail hour
How can I arrange my tables/dance floor/sweetheart table/etc?
However you like! As long as it makes sense for the event and your caterer is ok with it, you can place your tables and dance floor in whatever configuration speaks to you.
can I purchase my own alcohol and have my caterer/hired bartender serve it?
Ultimately this is up to whomever is serving for you, but our policy is that an alcohol is allowed (other than shots) as long as it’s served by a licensed and insured bartender.
Getting Ready
IS there a space for the bridal party to get ready?
If you scroll down to the “Main Hall Reverse View” here you will see the loft area that will be a getting ready area. We will have plenty of seating and mirrors and a powder room. We will have one dedicated outlet that runs to a generator that must be used exclusively for heat stylers so as not to drain our stored solar power for the evening.
Will There be a second getting ready space?
Yes, we have plans to have a second getting ready area, but they are not solidified yet.
Payments and Booking
Is there a deposit? When are additional payments due? Do you offer a payment plan?
Yes. When the contract is signed we take an initial payment of $2,000 for Saturday peak season, or roughly 30% to hold your date then half is due 9 months prior and the remaining half is due 30 days before your 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.
How can I pay?
We accept Venmo to NorthStarGatherings or check, please note checks must be sent to our PO Box address, do not send them to the property address.
How do I reserve a date?
Send us an email at northstargatherings@gmail.com stating you would like to reserve your date and give a backup date in case your first choice is no longer available. Priority for dates will be based on order of booking request-we cannot hold dates. Your date is reserved once we receive both your deposit and a signed contract.
Can you hold my date?
We cannot hold dates without a signed contract and deposit. Once we have both in hand you are officially booked.
Will there be another wedding on our date?
We only have ONE wedding per day-you and your guests will be the only ones on the property all day.
How many cars can your parking lot accommodate?
Currently our parking lot holds 45 vehicles total. We hope to expand in the future but the steep terrain of the land has made it so difficult to get just the legal requirement of parking that we’re saving a larger lot for a future project. We can help you arrange shuttle service from nearby lodging, and there are some public parking lots in Idaho Springs.
What time will I have access to the venue to decorate?
All contracts are 12 hours, noon to 11:59pm. This gives you and your vendors ample time to decorate and set up. If you are having a winter wedding we can discuss moving your time block an hour or two earlier to take advantage of daylight hours.
Do you provide a “day-of coordinator?”
We do not provide one ourselves, we will have NSG staff on-site during all weddings to assist you with anything you need regarding the space. We do require that you hire a professional planner for day-of services to cover all things related to planning the flow of your day, setting up decor, catering, bartending, music, etc.
Will we be able to access the venue beforehand for a rehearsal?
If you book for one day, we will not be able to accommodate a rehearsal the day before if there is a wedding booked that day. Contact us to find out if that is the case, if the venue is available we’ll do what we can to accommodate a rehearsal, but we can not guarantee it. We won’t know this for sure until 2 weeks prior to your event. If the day before your wedding is booked you will want to hold an off-site rehearsal. Our ceremony space is pretty straightforward, what’s most important in rehearsing is the people involved.
Ceremony
Do you allow dogs on site during the ceremony?
We allow service dogs throughout, and well-behaved pets with some limitations. Dogs (up to two) may be present during the ceremony only, must have a designated handler (may not be bride/groom), and must be removed 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!
What is the capacity of the ceremony deck?
Capacity is 170 guests including wedding party
Is there a discounted rental fee for reception-only?
The rental fee will be the same if you have your ceremony at NSG or elsewhere. While it does cut down on the time you personally spend at the venue, your vendors will still need access for catering and decor for pretty much the same timeline were you to hold your ceremony on-site as well.
General Policies
Can we have fireworks on the property?
Unfortunately 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.
Can vehicles be left overnight?
Please do not plan to leave any vehicles over night. We do allow vehicles overnight because we do not want anyone to feel pressured to drive away who is not in a sober or alert state to do so. However, 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 will music need to stop?
Music will need to stop no later than 10:45 so that all guests can be out at 11. Clean up will be from 11-12 and all guests, wedding party, and vendors must be vacate the property by midnight.
Can we hold our ceremony somewhere other than the rear deck?
As of now this is our only dedicated ceremony space. It’s possible the field below the building could be another option in the future, but we’re waiting to see how it pans out once construction is complete. We do know the deck will have the easiest access for all guests.
How far in advance do you need our final head count?
A minimum of three weeks before your wedding date
Can we take photos around the property during 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.
Decorating at North Star Gatherings
Can we nail or hang decorations to the walls/ceiling ?
No, and yes. Please do not nail or tack anything to the walls or ceiling. We have taken great care to use eco-friendly building materials and we will not be able to make repairs to it for every event. Feel free to hang decorations in any way that doesn’t leave holes or adhesive on the building. We will provide hooks around the inside of the building for hanging decor
Can we hang twinkle lights?
Yes, as long as they are all LED. See decor hanging policy above.
Are candles allowed?
Candles are allowed if the flame is fully contained (in a holder). Tapered candles or hanging candles will not be allowed as they are a safety hazard.
Who is responsible for clean-up?
All vendors are responsible for removing any trash they are have brought in. We do not have a dumpster on site, and since we are a mountain venue we simply do not have flat space on the property to hide a big ugly honker. On-site staff will assist in consolidating and storing trash during and directly after the event but vendors must be sure to remove everything. As well, 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.
Can a rental company drop of rentals before noon?
All access starts at noon, doors will not be open until then. Please advise rental companies of this policy.
Other Wedding Details
How do I obtain a marriage license?
All requirements for obtaining a marriage license in Clear Creek County can be found here. Take all of them to the Clerk and Recorder’s office at 405 Argentine St, Georgetown, CO 80444