Frequently Asked Questions
Melissa McKean Photography
Capacity
What is the maximum # of guests at the farm?
Our Columbus barn wedding venue can accommodate a maximum of 250 guests (including your wedding party)
For your ceremony, the stable barn seats up to 150 guests, and the barnyard seats up to 250 guests.
For your reception, the long barn seats up to 175 guests. If you’ll have between 150-175 guests, we recommend adding a tent to the open side of the long barn for more space. If you’ll have between 176-250 guests, we require the addition of a tent. For more info on tent rental, click here.
What happens in case of rain?
If you have less than 150 guests, your ceremony can be moved to the stable barn.
If you have more than 150 guests, your ceremony can be held in the long barn with your guests seated at tables (referred to as a California-style ceremony, or an Oscar-style ceremony).
Banks Photography
Access to the farm
Could there be another wedding at the farm on the same day?
No, you will have exclusive access to the farm during your rental period!
What time will we have access to the farm to begin decorating?
You will have access to the farm at the times listed on your contract, and we do not offer an option to add additional hours. In general:
If you rent the farm on a Friday, the farm will open at 9:00 a.m. on that day
If you rent the farm on a Saturday, the farm will open at 10:00 a.m. on that day
If you rent the farm on a Sunday, the farm will open at 10:00 a.m. on that day
What time does the music have to end, and what time do we have to leave the farm?
Last call for alcohol must happen no later than 10:30 p.m. and music must conclude no later than 11:00 p.m., to ensure that by 12:00 a.m. midnight everything is cleaned up, all of your items are packed, guests and vendors have left the farm.
Is there an extra fee to have our ceremony on the farm? Is the rental fee less if we have our ceremony offsite?
Your onsite ceremony is included in the rental fee, however if you choose to have an offsite ceremony your rental fee will not be reduced. The rental fee includes use of the farm for the hours specified, whether you hold your ceremony on or offsite.
Maggie Lawler Photography / Moments into Memories
Booking your big day!
What dates are available?
Check this page for available dates. Please note that we do our best to keep this page updated but can not guarantee availability until you have fully reserved a date.
How do we reserve a date?
Email us at natalie@altonfarmstead.com saying you are ready to book your preferred date. We recommend you include backup / alternate date(s) in the email, in case your preferred date is no longer available.
After receiving your email, we will check that your preferred date is still available, and then we will email you a contract to be signed and returned. We will hold your date for 7 days to give you time to sign and return the contract and make your first rental payment. After those 2 things are complete, your wedding date will be fully reserved for you!
Note that an in-person tour is not required, prior to booking a date.
Victoria Waters Photography
Payments
What is the rental fee and what is included?
Check this page for what is included with farm rental, and pricing.
Is there a deposit? When are the additional payments due? Do you offer a payment plan?
Your first rental payment, which is required in order to fully reserve your date, will be 33% of your total rental fee. Nine (9) months prior to your event, a second rental payment of 33% will be due. Finally, three (3) months prior to your event, your final payment of 34% will be due, along with a $500 security / damage deposit.
If your wedding will be in six (6) months or less, your first rental payment will be 50% of your total rental fee. Three (3) months prior to your wedding, your final payment of 50% will be due, along with a $500 security / damage deposit.
You are welcome to create your own payment plan by making smaller, partial payments of any amount prior to the 2nd and 3rd payment due dates. However the full amount due will still be due by the specified due dates.
Are rental payments refundable?
Your first rental payment is refundable until 365 days prior to your wedding, after which it will no longer be refundable. Any and all rental payments made within 365 days of your event are non-refundable.
What form of payment(s) do you accept?
Cash
Check (there is a $100 fee for any bounced checks)
Electronic transfer (i.e. Venmo, Cash App, Zelle)
Credit / debit card (a 3.5% fee is applied to any credit/debit card payments, to cover merchant fees)
Courtney Glispie Photography
Alcohol
Are we required to have a bartender?
For events with more than 50 guests, all alcohol must be served by a fully-insured bartender. Your caterer might be able to provide bartending service, or we can provide recommendations for reasonably-priced, quality bartenders. We ask that you do not hire friends or family to bartend for your event.
Do we supply our own alcohol? Are there any restrictions?
Yes, you supply all alcohol for your event! This will save you a lot of money, versus purchasing directly from a venue.
We ask that you discourage guests from bringing their own alcohol, but if a guest does bring their own alcohol, we require that it be given to the bartender and served to the guest by the bartender.
Glass bottles, alcohol shots, alcohol sales and cash bars are all expressly prohibited on the farm.
Victoria Waters Photography
Catering
Do you provide catering? Can we use any caterer we choose?
Alton Farmstead does not provide catering services. You can choose-your-own caterer, provided that caterer is both licensed and insured.
We prefer that you utilize a full-service caterer with staff who will set up the buffet, replenish food as guests go through the buffet line, clean up plates, tables, and the buffet, and package leftovers.
If you choose to have catering dropped off without service staff, we require that you either hire someone or assign specific guest(s) to be responsible for the catering and to do all of the activities that a full-service catering staff would do (as described above).
Can we do our own catering?
We do not allow self-catering for events with more than 50 guests. If your event has less than 50 guests and you will be self-catering, we require that you either hire someone or assign specific guest(s) to be responsible for the food and to do all of the activities that a full-service catering staff would do (as described above).
Are we allowed to have food trucks?
Food trucks work perfectly here at the farm, and many couples have had food trucks for their wedding here! If you will have more than 80 guests, we strongly recommend that you have more than one (1) food truck to ensure that your guests will be served in a timely manner. This also gives your guests more than one option for dinner!
Are outside snacks and drinks permitted?
Outside food and drink is permitted for family and the wedding party prior to the ceremony. It is not allowed after the ceremony has begun.
Decor
Do you provide linens?
Linens can be rented through us, but are an additional charge and are not included in your rental fee. Your are welcome to bring your own linens, or your caterer might provide linens. For info regarding our linen rental packages, click here.
How will the tables, chairs, etc. be arranged for my sized event?
We will work with you prior to your wedding to determine your preferred layout. Click here to download a sample Alton Farmstead farm and table layout.
How many guests can be seated at your tables?
With 60-inch round tables and our mis-matched wooden chairs, 8 can be seated comfortably, 9 cozily.
Are candles allowed?
The farm’s historical buildings are not replaceable, therefore we only allow flameless battery-operated candles at the farm.
Portia’s Photography
Renee Freeman Photo + Film
Miscellaneous
Are there overnight accommodations nearby?
Yes! There are more than a dozen hotels located 10 minutes north of the farm at I-70 and Hilliard-Rome Road. There are even more hotels located 15 minutes southwest of the farm at I-71 and Stringtown Road.
Can we do our engagement photos on the farm?
Yes! You can do a 1 hour photo session, and we will work with you to schedule a time based on the farm’s availability.
Can we do our ceremony rehearsal on the farm?
Yes! You can have a 1 hour rehearsal either on Thursday prior to your wedding, or the morning of your wedding. We will work with you to schedule a time based on the farm’s availability.
Do you allow dogs onsite to play a part in our wedding day?
Yes! The farm is pet-friendly. We do require that you either hire someone, or assign a guest (other than yourselves) to be responsible for the dog(s) before, during and after the event. We also require that all feces be picked up and disposed of, out of respect for your guests, future couples and their guests.
Courtney Glispie Photography
Can vehicles be left overnight?
Yes! We want you and your guests to all reach your destination safe-and-sound after your wedding! Vehicles must be picked up no later than Noon the next day.
What is the event clean-up process?
During and after your event, Alton Farmstead staff will handle all standard clean up and trash removal. At the end of your event, you and/or your designated representatives will dispose of all trash, plates, drinks and cans, pack up your decor and belongings (and linens if not rented through Alton Farmstead). All of this must be completed by 12:00 a.m. midnight.
You will not be responsible for moving tables, chairs, benches and large decor owned by Alton Farmstead. Smaller decor borrowed from Alton Farmstead is to be packed in containers as specified by Alton Farmstead (with assistance from your Venue Host). Note that you must remove all belongings and decor, leftover food, drinks and alcohol by 12:00 a.m. midnight.
Do you include a “wedding day coordinator”?
There is a wide interpretation of what a day-of coordinator includes. We do not include a traditional wedding day coordinator, however you WILL have an Alton Farmstead Venue Host onsite for the duration of your day - from the time you or your first representative arrives, until the time that you or your last representative leaves. The Venue Host will be there as an extra ‘set of hands’ to help however they can, for example assisting whomever is doing your decorating, directing your vendors and answering their questions and needs, emptying trash, cleaning up any spills, solving or fulfilling any of you and your guests’ needs, refill non-alcoholic beverage containers, adjust lighting, fans and heaters, assist with clean up … the list goes on. Be assured that your Venue Host will do everything within their power to ensure your day is as stress-free and smooth as possible!