GRANGE HALL: WEDDING RECEPTION POLICIES
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General
When renting the Grange Hall for your reception, you have access to the first floor of the Hall, the porch and the grounds. The first floor consists of the Main Hall, entrance foyer, caterers’ kitchen and restrooms.
There are no guest rooms or overnight accommodations at the Grange Hall.
We provide a “space rental” only. You may choose your vendors from our list of recommendations which includes tent and party rental companies, caterers, florists, photographers, etc. Your vendors will provide all needed equipment (tables, chairs, table linens, china, glassware, flatware, etc.) and all food, beverages and decorations.
The installation of tents for guest use is not permitted at the Grange Hall. Kitchen tents may be installed at the rear of the hall and are for the caterers’ use only.
We schedule and incur the cost of refuse removal for all events.
Timing
Most wedding receptions are scheduled on Saturdays. The Hall is the home to the West Tisbury Farmers’ Market every Saturday until 12:00 p.m. As a result, we ask that you schedule your event to start at or after 1:00 p.m. so that we can be sure the parking lot is cleared and the public areas are cleaned. Because the Farmers’ Market does not use the Main Hall, we can offer access during the market for set up, deliveries and decorating. You may have access to the Grange Hall starting at 8:00 a.m. on your Date of Use. Your access to the Hall must be arranged through our office.
Reservations at the Grange Hall are for “day-of” use. Because the hall is in use daily, we cannot accommodate the drop-off of personal items or decorating on the day prior to your event in high season. As well, all personal items and decorations must be removed at the end of the event on the Date of Use.
The service of liquor and the music both must end promptly at 8:30 p.m. and the property dark and vacated by 9:30 p.m. Wedding receptions are typically 5-hours long, so most receptions at the Grange Hall start at approximately 3:30 p.m. Guests depart the property by 9:00 p.m. allowing the final 30 minutes for the caterer to complete clean-up.
Restroom Facilities
There are ample restrooms in the Hall, which accommodate the traffic of up to 200 guests with minimal waiting.
Capacity and Flow
The Grange Hall can accommodate up to 150 guests in the Main Hall for a sit-down meal or 200 guests for a standing reception. The bar is often set up in the entrance foyer with cocktail hour being held on the front “farmers’ porch”. The guests then transition into the Main Hall for the dinner and dancing portion of the celebration.
Upstairs Theater
The Grange Hall has an additional space on the second floor. It is a functioning theater but also can be used for your wedding ceremony or as a foul-weather back-up for your outdoor ceremony or outdoor cocktail hour. There is an additional fee for the use of the Theater. It is equipped with a small, residential kitchen, assisting in the service of food and beverages.
Music
We provide a list of bands and musicians that are approved to play at the property. They are required to play with their instruments “unplugged”, or without amplification. We provide the band with an acoustic piano. Microphones are permitted for vocalists, announcements and toasts. Deejays and digital music devices are not permitted. Off-Island bands or Island bands not included on our list are not permitted.
Our bands are professional musicians and can accommodate most requests; however, musical genres that rely on loud electric guitars such as heavy metal and hard rock do not translate well. We urge you remember that wedding receptions are family events; a time for your extended families to come together to meet each other – sometimes for the first time – and celebrate your love and commitment. Music should be appropriate for all generations to enjoy. You’ll be dancing with your parents and grandparents who will appreciate the thoughtful consideration of your musical choices. We encourage you to plan an “after-party” for your friends and family who wish to continue the celebration. This is the perfect time to crank up the volume and let it rip! We’re happy to recommend locations for after-parties.
Food and Beverage Service
You may choose your own caterer from our list of recommendations. You are not restricted to this list but we require that your caterer be licensed and insured and that they communicate with the Board of Health Agent for the Town of West Tisbury. Your caterer will provide the food and staffing for your event, including servers and bartenders. The catering staff will put furniture in place and complete the entire set up, including the bar. They also will clean up at the end of the event.
The Grange Hall is equipped with a commercial kitchen. Your caterer may require additional space and ask you to provide a kitchen tent and additional equipment. Kitchen tents are installed at the rear of the Hall within easy access to the existing kitchen and the Main Hall.
As the host, you will provide your own alcoholic beverages. We recommend, but don’t require, that you work with one of the Island’s package stores, who will provide delivery service. They will also pick up any unopened bottles at the end of the event so that you only have to pay for what you use. You are free to take with you any bottles that are open at the end of the event. If you choose to bring your own liquor, please check with our office for delivery and removal times. All liquor service must be by “open bar”. “Cash bars” are not permitted.
Temperature Control
The Grange Hall is heated but not air-conditioned. It is a 3-season property available April through November and must be closed down for the coldest winter months. Our staff will turn on the heaters during cooler weather and open windows and turn on ceiling fans in warm weather.
Accessibility
The Grange Hall is fully accessible, including a lift for access to the Upstairs Theater. Three of the restrooms are handicap accessible.
Parking and Transportation
There is ample parking at the Grange Hall. However, since there is little available in terms of accommodations in West Tisbury and Up-Island in general, most of your guests will likely be staying in Edgartown, Oak Bluffs or Vineyard Haven. Many couples arrange for transportation to and from the Grange Hall for their guests in the form of sight-seeing busses or trolleys. It’s helpful for your guests to avoid getting lost and to avoid the possibility of guests drinking and driving.
Logistics and Staffing
We will coordinate all of your vendors’ access to the property for deliveries as well as the removal or rental equipment, leftover liquor and any other items. A member of our staff is on-site throughout the event: during set-up, execution of the event and clean-up. We are behind the scenes, ensuring that your vendors have what they need, that policies are upheld, and making certain that your event is flawlessly executed.
