Frequently Asked Questions
Now that your mind is buzzing with all the exciting possibilities, we’re sure you have about six hundred and one questions. We’ll cover the biggest ones here, but if anything else is on your mind, feel free to email us—we’ll make sure you’re all set for an unforgettable experience.
Yes!!
Cinderwood is happy to work with any licensed caterer. If you don't have a caterer, we have some great ones to recommend. If you have booked an event with us, we will need to be in touch with your caterer to ensure they understand our policies.
Indiana liquor laws are very particular.
We have a Banquet Hall Liquor License. This means three important things for your event:
1) Absolutely no outside alcohol is allowed in the venue. All alcohol on the premises must be procured by Cinderwood through distributors.
2) Your cousin is not allowed to volunteer as a bartender to save you money.
3) Our liquor license only supports private events. That means events where the guest list is defined. If you have questions about this, please tell us about your event and we'll help make sure everything is kosher.
Now, we do have a lot of flexibility in our bar service and packages and if you are a non-profit with alcohol sponsors, we are able to work with them and have an amazing party! Be sure to check out The Bar page to get details on how we can provide top tier beverage service for you.
Short answer, yes.
You and your vendors should all carry insurance. If you are a company or non-profit, your liability insurance should cover everything and any reputable vendor will also have their own coverage already in place.
If you are hosting a social gathering or a wedding, you are still required to carry 'Event Insurance'. These policies cover you and your guests, as well as giving you extra coverage, should something go wrong with one of your vendors. This type of insurance is typically less than $150 to give you some major peace of mind. We recommend EventSured and getting a quote takes 10 seconds.
That depends.
The nature of the event drastically impacts our capacity. We can play with these numbers a little bit, but this will give you a good starting point.
150 - Wedding (ceremony and reception)
200 - Wedding (reception only with a dance floor)
300 - Banquet
400 - Cocktail Party
A lot.
Furniture
250 white, padded chrairs
25 sixty-inch round tables (6-8 people)
10 six-foot banquet tables
1 six-foot by nine-foot stage
Audio/Visual
basic sound system
2 wireless microphones
background music
2 seventy-five inch mobile televisions
Event Support
a Canva file to help customize your floor plan
furniture will be setup for you and ready when you arrive
an event manager on site for the duration of your event
one bartender for every seventy-five guests
Vibe
stellar lighting system ready to brand or theme specifically for your event
one-of-a-kind view of Monument Circle
the smell of fresh pine from the moment you walk in
Transparency is key
We strive to be as transparent as possible throughout the process. There are a few things to keep in mind as you budget. Some of these are situational and prices may vary, so be sure to provide all information you can and ask questions if something doesn't make sense.
Add-Ons
A one-time bar setup fee applies when providing a staffed bar, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic.
A/V technician if you need the technical support
Taxes & Gratuity
County Food and Beverage tax of 2% applies to all drink packages
Gratuity of 20% is added to all beverage related items on your event
Right next tot he building (most of the time)
Cinderwood does not own the lot adjacent to our building, and as with most downtown venues, parking may depend on what else is happening in the area. For most events, your guests will park right next to the building, just steps away from the front door. If there is a large event happening at Lucas Oil Stadium during your event we will discuss parking options for your event, specifically.
Whoever brought it sets it up and tears it down.
Our general policy is that whoever brings something is responsible for our from start to finish. This means that Cinderwood will setup our tables and chairs according to the floor plan we help you create. If a caterer brings food, they are responsible for it, including the removal of the trash generated. If you bring decorations, you are responsible for setting it up and cleaning it up.
When additional furniture is brought in, you will be given the option to set it up on your own, or have the furniture company or Cinderwood set it up for you with additional fees.
50% of rental cost
A 50% first payment is required on the space rental fee in order to secure a date. You don't need to have numbers or bar packages or anything else figured out and we can help sort that and get it paid for as the event nears.
Cinderwood accepts checks, cash, and ACH payment at no cost.
Cinderwood accepts all major credit cards with a 3.5% processing fee.
