Frequently Asked Questions
Photo Credit: Amelse Photography
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Avalon Manor require a room rental?
No, we go off of Food & Beverage spending minimums that depend on the date, time & space.
Can I have my wedding ceremony on-site?
Yes! Weddings at Avalon Manor are one of the most beautiful options in Northwest Indiana for an outdoor ceremony, and very convenient for you and your guests. Our West Gazebo seats up to 200 guests and is only a $500 rental. Our East Gazebo seats up to 100 guests and is $250 rental. Both Gazeboes are surrounded by lush, natural landscaping with little to no need for your own decorations. However, you do have the ability to decorate it on your own! Your wedding rehearsal is included with your gazebo rental. We also accommodate indoor ceremonies. Gazebo rentals are first come first served.
Is there a cake cutting fee?
No! We will cut, plate, serve your cake for no additional cost!
What is the difference between “Dinner Pricing” vs. “Package Pricing?”
Your “Package” includes five hours of our standard brand bar, a sparkling wine toast for every guests, and a centerpiece for each table. “Dinner” pricing includes coffee, water, iced tea, hot tea only. Any other beverages can be added a la carte. We have three tiers of bar packages: Standard, Call and Top Shelf. We offer a 5%-10% discount package pricing on a Friday and Sunday!
Do you include linens?
We provide complimentary white standard length linen table cloths, white skirting and white linen napkins. We also have a large variety of colors at an additional cost to suit any color scheme!
How many guests the venue hold?
Our East and West Ballroom seat 250 guests max. Our Somerset Ballroom seats up to 300 guests max. Our ballrooms are connected with walls that can be adjusted to fit whatever size you need, ultimately maxing out at 900 guests.
Do you offer tastings?
Yes! Although, we are known for preparing the best banquet food in the region, you are more than welcome to schedule a tasting with us after contract signing. You would let us know what you’d like to try and the pricing would be half of our regular dinner pricing and added to the final invoice. It is a full sit-down meal, so treat it as a date night and arrive hungry!
Do we have to use your vendors or can we hire our own?
We do have a preferred vendors list for your convenience with people we highly recommend, but yes you may use your own vendors. We do require all vendors to be insured. The only vendors we require to go directly through us is for chair covers, linens, ice sculptures, and champagne fountains. Use any photographer, bakery, or DJ that you like! Keep in mind all events must use Avalon Manor’s food & beverage.
Should I hire a wedding coordinator?
We don’t have an on-site wedding coordinator for the ceremony; however, most officiates will walk you through that portion during your rehearsal. Your Sales Coordinator works with you directly during your planning stages for the reception. We assist you selecting the right menus, linens, room layouts, and will discuss everything detail needed to make your day stress-free. On the day of your event, your lead server will be your go-to person for any questions or assistance and help keep everything on schedule.
When is the earliest I can set up?
We allow access to the Ballroom, Personal Suite and Gazebo (2) hours prior to the event. If you are in need of more time to set up & get ready we offer an All Day Room Hold which allows access at 9am the day of for an additional cost.
Are there nearby hotels?
Being on Highway 30, many hotel options are just ½ to 1 ½ miles away. The Hilton Garden Inn, Courtyard and Fairfield by Marriot are a few of the closest and newest. We are also located in a major shopping area for those last minute necessities.
Do you offer incentives for Friday/Sunday or Off-Season Weddings?
We offer a 5%-10% discounts on packages for Friday and Sunday wedding receptions throughout the year. We also lower spending minimums and discount pricing for packages for events booking with shorter notice or that fall in our off-season, typically January through March. It’s always recommended to speak with a Sales Coordinator so they can offer the best deal.
What is the back-up plan in case of bad weather for my gazebo wedding ceremony?
Unfortunately, this is something to think about for an outdoor wedding in NWI. If you rent one of our gazeboes for your ceremony and the weather takes a turn for the worse, we will move your ceremony inside to your ballroom. The good news is that your back-up plan will be easy and not confusing for the guests, since it all takes place on-site.
What can we do for kids attending my wedding?
Children between the ages 4-12 are half price and no more than $12.00 plus tax & service charge. If your dinner is plated, children may have chicken tenders, fries and fresh fruit. If your dinner is family style, children will have what the adults are having, since the family style items are very kid-friendly, but they will still only be charged the lesser price. Any children ages 3 and under are complimentary, unless they want their own plate of food then they would be included in your children’s count.
Your food is delicious, but I am booking another facility. Do you offer Offsite Catering?
Yes! We can definitely still assist in making your day amazing, even if you select another wedding and reception venue. We cater off-site to any location that allows outside food and beverage. We can deliver pans of food a la carte starting at just $4.00 plus tax per person per item with servers to set up, assist the guests, clear tables, and clean up afterwards. We can arrange for linens, china, glassware, silverware, and and other items to make your day simple! Delivery charges vary based on distance. All offsite catering requires a minimum of 20 people.
Is there a bartender fee?
Our package pricing has a 5-Hour open bar that includes one bartender for every 150 guests. We only charge bartender fees for cash bars, tab bars or if you feel the need to hire an additional bartender at $100 each.
How much is the deposit and what other payments are due?
Our deposits start at $250 for morning/afternoon events and $1000 for evening events, but they go up from there based on the amount of event space you book. The deposit is due upon contract signing. Your next payment is not due until (6) months prior, being 20% of your spending minimum. Nothing else is required until the final payment due 14 days prior; however you can make additional installments throughout your wedding planning.
What is the minimum number of guests?
We do not have guest minimums. You can have a small, intimate wedding, meetings, or social gatherings with as few as 20 of your closest friends and family or as many as 900. As one of the largest event venues in Northwest Indiana, we host wedding receptions of almost any size. Instead of guaranteeing a certain number of guests, we base our minimum on food and beverage. Depending on the season, time of day, and ballroom size, these spending minimums range from $1,200 to $22,000.
Are there any advantages to book my wedding shower, as well?
We offer a 10% discount for your wedding shower, baby shower, and rehearsal dinner when you book your reception with us. You can click here to visit our standard menu to view luncheon options, which start at only $15.00 per person plus tax and service charge, but we also offer specialty shower packages for a more customized menu.
Will I hear other events happening at the same time?
The ballrooms can be divided into as a many five separate rooms by collapsible walls that are a sound barrier. We scheduled our all events for the same time frames to avoid any potential for noise conflicts. For example, evening events are schedule from 6pm to midnight with a cocktail hour from 6pm-7pm and dinner from 7pm-8pm. During this time, DJ’s or bands are playing background music, soft enough for noise does not carry over. From 8pm through the rest of your reception, your DJ is loud enough to hide the music coming from other events. Other events’ music is loud enough to cancel our yours. Guest won’t even notice other events happening at the same time.
Where is the getting ready suite and how private is it?
Each ballroom has its own personal suite with a private restroom, large beautiful mirrors for pictures and primping, and ample space to relax before starting your evening.
Do you charge clean-up or set up fees?
There are no fees for setting or cleaning up; however, you would be responsible for taking home anything you would like to keep in a timely manner after your event has ended. Anything left behind will be discarded. Avalon Manor is not responsible for any lost or stolen items.
Are shuttles available?
We do not have a shuttle service of our own; however, we do recommend arranging a limousine service for the last hour or two of your reception to shuttle guests back to their hotels. We have limo service recommendations on our preferred vendor list.
How many guests can your venue hold?
Our East & West Ballroom seats up to 250 guests. Our Somerset Ballroom seats up to 300 guests. Our ballrooms are connected with walls that can be adjusted to fit whatever size you need, ultimately maxing out at 900 guests and closing it off for as few as 20 guests.
Plan Your Next Event at Avalon Manor
Interested in planning your event at Avalon Manor? Fill out the form below to give us a little more information about your event. Otherwise feel free to give us a call at:
219-945-0888
3550 E. Lincoln Hwy, Merrillville, IN 46410