F R E Q U E N T L Y A S K E D Q U E S T I O N S
VENUE HOURS & BOOKING
Q: How do I book your venue?
A: Please submit an inquiry through this link for Venue 308. Our team will be in contact shortly thereafter to set up tours or get you booked in! We look forward to hearing from you!
Q: What is the capacity of the space?
Q: What is the square footage of the space?
A: 130 guests seated, 200 guests standing/cocktail.
A: Venue 308 has just over 5000 square feet with a ceiling height of 10.5 ft (from the floor)
Q: What are the hours that I can book the space for?
A: Weddings: Receptions are 10am until 1:30am (12:30am last call, music off at 1am, exit venue by 1:30am).
Q: Can I add on extra hours?
A: Yes! If you are not doing a ceremony we can add extra hours to the beginning of your booking, and charge per hour. This must be done ahead of time.
Q: Is my dog allowed in the venue?
A: Your dog is allowed in the venue for your ceremony only, and must remain on a leash and be supervised at all times.
Q: Are we required to provide insurance?
A: Yes, you are required to provide special event insurance with a minimu coverage of 2,000,000. It can be obtained from PAL or DUUO.
Q: What is the Ceremony cost for?
A: Adding a ceremony does have a fee; which is the cost for time and extra staffing to FLIP the set up, from ceremony to the reception. It also provides 8am access to the venue (no credit is given if early access is not required)
Q: Is set up/clean up included?
A: We have different levels of included service for different rental types.
Q: Do you have a preferred vendor list?
Q: Will there be staff present at my booking?
A: Yes we do! Please contact us for a list of our preferred vendors.
A: We will have a team lead present during your booking to coordinate our bar team, and your needs from the venue space.
Q: What is the amount due at the time of booking?
A: A non-refundable, non-transferable deposit of fifty percent (or a minimum of $250) of the rental fee is due at the time of booking and is required for confirmation of your booking. The remainder of the rental fee is due 30 days prior to the date of the rental. NSF cheques will result in an additional charge of $75.00. We accept e-transfer payments to hello@venue308.com or by credit card.
Q: What is the cancellation and refund policy?
A: Cancellation notification received in writing 30 days or more before the date of the rental event will receive a refund not including the non-refundable rental deposit.
If a cancellation notice is received 29 days or less prior to the date of the rental, the full rental fee will be charged. Please refer to your contract for further details.
LOCATION & PARKING
Q: Is there parking available?
A: Paid street parking M-F from 9am until 6pm only. There is also a controlled pay lot directly across the street from our venue.
A: Venue 308 is located on 11 Ave SE, on the corner of Northbound Macleod Tr.
Weekends: Free street parking and $5.00 daily in the IMPARK lot as well as the PARKPLUS lot adjacent to the Louise Block building
Q: Is there a place to have our caterer park?
A: There is room for a catering/cooking truck at the back of our venue - behind the kitchen area. Please have your caterer contact us.
BAR & CATERING
Q: Do we have to provide a liquor license?
Q: Do you provide glassware?
A: No, we are fully AGLC licensed.
A: We have bar glassware available. We do NOT provide glassware for tables (water, nor wine) unless under 50 people. You can rent glassware through your caterer or on your own (see our preferred vendors list for rental companies)
Q: Are you flexible on toonie bars, host and then cash combinations, etc?
A: Yes!
Q: If we use your bar, can we make changes?
A: Yes, we will make up to three substitutions for free. If you have special requests beyond that, just ask!
Q: Do you have specialty cocktails?
Q: What if we have our own recipe that we would like you to make for our signature drink(s)?
A: Yes, we have a list of seven for you to consider.
Q: Can we bring our own alcohol to the lounges while getting ready?
A: Absolutely. Cost will depend on complexity.
A: No This is in contravention of our AGLC license. Just let us know what you would like stocked there and we will have it iced and ready.
Q: Do you have a standard gratuity?
A: Yes, we have a standard 18% gratuity added on to the bar.
Q: Do you allow us to bring our own alcohol?
A: No. Our venue is an AGLC licensed establishment but we will certainly help you "customize" your bar.
Q: Do you provide a water station, coffee, and tea?
A: We provide the water station at no charge! Coffee and tea can be provided through your caterer of choice.
Q: Are we allowed to do shots?
A: This is at your discretion! We can do whichever you choose.
Q: What are your rules around food at your venue?
A: Due to the rules surrounding our Food Handling + Safety Certification, we only allow food into the venue that is prepared/packaged by professional service vendors. Further, as a venue, the City of Calgary requires that we ensure that the caterer you hire carries insurance, licensing and their own Food Handling + Safety Certification, which is current at the time of your event. This keeps everyone safe!
Q: What are your thoughts if we were to hire a restaurant to do our catering?
A: We strongly recommend the use of a full service event caterer. Unlike a restaurant or delivery service, an event caterer will manage the set up, service, take down, clearing and cleaning at your event. Of course, some restaurants have a catering background and experience...below are tips for them/you!
Food cannot be reheated and must meet the safety temperatures outlined by the Food Safety rules. The venue does NOT have a stove, oven, nor induction burners
We do not supply tableware of any kind - this is the responsibility of the caterer or renter Any pick ups or deliveries must be cleared with the venue.
We are not responsible to rinse and repack rented tableware items that the caterer or renter have arranged
We do not set out or clear food, dishware (including paper plates), or cutlery.
All garbage is to be disposed of in garbage bags (supplied by caterer or renter)
The kitchen area must be left clean and wiped down and garbage bags in the kitchen must be tied Cleaning fees will apply for kitchen or venue cleaning ($250 or, in extreme circumstances, forfeiture of damage deposit)
All guest health or allergy concerns must be cleared by renter for each guest and any resultant death or illness, is the sole responsibility of the renter
Above applies to guest cocktail or reception food as well as any late-night snacks/food
FURNITURE & DECOR
Q: What size are the tables that you provide?
A: 17 - 8’ X 3’ Farm Tables (max 10 people each)
17 - 6’ X 30” folding rectangular banquet tables (require linens to be rented)
Gift/Couple Table: 5' X 3'
Q: What chairs do you provide and how many?
A: 14” White folding ceremony chairs, with cushions. We have 150 available (if you need more they will have to be rented).
Q: Can we attach things to the walls or furniture at the venue?
A: Neither the walls nor any furniture of the venue are to have any use of tape. All items must be approved and managed with our staff. There are mechanisms for hanging items from the ceiling so let us know your vision!
Q: Do you provide additional decor?
A: We have a storage room filled with items that are rentable on a package basis (this is an add-on option with a cost per item). The Decor room is shared by both venues and is growing - with updates every 6 months on stock!
Q: Can we use real candles?
A: Bare, open flames and sparklers are in contravention of our lease with the building. Flames simply need to be in a glass vase (psst - we have these for rent!). This goes for tea light candles as well; open if enclosed, battery operated if not.
Q: Is it okay to have rose petals down the aisle/thrown??
A: Absolutely. Please give us a heads up and bear in mind that we will need time to sweep up after the ceremony exit so please build an extra 15 minutes into your timeline for that.
TECH & AV
Q: Can we use your sonos system for our ceremony music?
A: Yes! Bring a spotify playlist and assign a friend, family member, or Emcee, to run that through our system.
Q: Is live music allowed?
A: Yes - DJ’s or licensed musicians are allowed at this time. Please be sure to make room allowances and talk to us about positioning. Our elevator can be used to deliver larger equipment or instruments.
Q: If we decide not to have a DJ, can we use your sound system for dancing?
A: We find that the Sonos system is too low to handle a crowd of people. Renting a speaker from a local company like Long & McQuade or Big Guy Productions can work, if your group is less than 100 Otherwise, we do recommend hiring a DJ.
Q: Can we do a slideshow or photo presentation?
A: Yes of course! You can provide us with a USB and your presentation can play on our 58” TV in the bar area, which is included in your package with us. We also have a projector and screen available for an add on cost of $125.
Have
another question or two? Just write us at hello@venue308.com