Frequently Asked Questions

          How do I reserve a date?

In order to reserve your date we need you to fill out and sign our rental agreement and venue rules along with paying our booking fee, which is ½ of the rental or package you select, plus sales tax.   We do run on a first come first reserved basis, so get your paperwork filled out, signed, and turned in if you want your dream date before it's gone!

When can rehearsal be done?

Rehearsals usually happen during the same day as your rental.  Many couples choose to hold a rehearsal right away in the morning or directly after family pictures before the ceremony.  We do offer our Friday couples the chance to reserve a 5 hour block on Thursday night to hold their rehearsal, groom's dinner, and for decorating  for a fee of $850 (this is included in some of our packages).   

What happens if it rains?

Emerald Pines Barn was built to hold ceremonies both outdoors and indoors.  If it rains we have an option to move the ceremony indoors.  For scheduled indoor weddings we include a standard flip after the ceremony free of charge.  

Does an offsite ceremony change the price?

Emerald Pines is rented by the day and the price is the same for holding a ceremony on site or offsite.

When are payments due?  What form of payment does Emerald Pines take?

The booking fee (which is ½ of your rental price plus tax) is due at booking and the remaining amount is due 60 days before your event.  We happily take cash and checks for all payments, but also accept card payments for a small fee.  

What is your cancellation or postponement policy?

Unfortunately all events that are cancelled or postponed forfeit their booking fee.  If the event is cancelled less than 60 days before the event there is no refund on the entire amount paid.  Emerald Pines may consider special serious circumstances on a case by case basis to move a date to an open off-season day with no loss of deposit for the postponement.  

Planning Questions:

How will the reception be arranged?

The reception will be arranged per the custom layout designed by our manager and the couple.  All tables will be set and ready for you to decorate when the doors open at 8am.

How and when do we decorate the tables for an indoor ceremony?

If you are planning an indoor ceremony, the tables will be set against the walls of the venue so you can decorate them during the day.  The staff will move the decorated tables into the reception layout after the ceremony.  This “flip” usually takes 20-25 minutes.

What time should the ceremony be?

On Friday most ceremonies begin between 4:30 to 5:30pm.  Saturday ceremonies usually begin between 4 to 5pm.

Do you allow real candles?

We do allow real candles, but they need to be enclosed on the sides and bottom so no wax gets on our tables, even for candles you do not intend to light.  Fines can be assessed if wax is discovered on the tables or floor.   Flames need to be at least 3 inches below the top of the glass. And all tea light candles need to be battery powered.   We require all candles to be clean-burning/smokeless and dripless.

How do we hang our decorations?

We recommend hanging items inside the venue with fishing line.  You may not adhere any items to the windows, doors, or walls.  We have provided hooks throughout the venue to help with hanging.  If you want to hang decorations from our railings you can wrap the items around or use fishing line.Zipties are only allowed to hang decorations on the outdoor arch.

What decoration restrictions are there?

There are no helium balloons, glitter, confetti, crayons, or bubbles allowed at the venue.  If you want to have flower petals during your ceremony we only allow fake petals inside the venue.  Real or fake petals are allowed for outdoor ceremonies.  All petals need to be picked up by the renters after the ceremony, fines may be charged if not picked up.

Can we have fireworks on the property?

We allow renters to have sparkler send-offs at night, but do not allow any other fireworks to be shot off on the property.

What time does the dance and music need to end?

We want you to have as much time as you can to dance.  Our venue rules are that all music and dancing need to end at 11:30pm.  Consult with your DJ as sometimes their contract ends at 11pm.  Also, the bar closes at 11:30pm.

What is expected for the end of the night clean up?

When you leave at night you need to remove all personal items, decorations, and remaining food items from the venue.  Nothing can be stored at the venue overnight after your event.  We have a commercial cleaning company that cleans the venue overnight  from top to bottom after every event.   Renters have until midnight to clean up and exit the property.  

Food Questions:

Can we bring in outside food?

We allow you to bring in breakfast and lunch for your wedding party and immediate family.  The main meal must be catered by a caterer on our preferred list.  You are welcome to bring in any sealed non-perishable snacks, candy or desserts from a store for the reception.  No homemade food is allowed to be served to guests.  If your snacks/appetizers or desserts require heat or refrigeration they must come from your caterer. 

What are your catering requirements?

To give your guests the best experience we require the main meal must be catered by a caterer on our preferred vendor list. 

Can we have a food truck?

Unfortunately, food trucks are not allowed for the main meal on your event day.  If you want a food truck for the groom’s dinner or desserts we need their liability form on file six weeks ahead of the event and written confirmation from the vendor that they agree to our food truck rules.

Alcohol/Drink Questions:

Is there a minimum bar fee? 

We have a $850. bar minimum. This can be met by guests ordering drinks at the bar and/or by hosting alcohol for your guests.  All hosted alcohol has a 15% service charge/gratuity added on.

What is your dry bar policy?

A dry bar is an option if you do not want alcohol served at your event.  There is a dry bar fee of  $850.

When does the bar open?

The bar can be available for your entire rental.  The manager on staff is also a bartender during the daytime.  Specific wishes for when the bar is available to your guests is discussed at your 8 week meeting.  

Can I bring in outside alcohol?

No, you may not bring in any alcoholic beverages at any time.  All alcoholic beverages need to be purchased from Emerald Pines Event Barn.  Additionally, there is no alcohol consumption in the parking lot.  If outside alcohol is discovered you may be charged per occurrence so discuss this with your bridal party and family.

Can we host/sponsor the bar for a dollar amount or number of hours?

Yes, you can prepay for what you want to spend on an open bar (usually between $1,000-$5,000) and then add money to it the day of the event.  There is an automatic service charge of 15% added to open bar amounts. 

What are your average prices of drinks?

 $5-$6 for beer, ciders, or seltzers.  $7.00 for glasses of wine.  $7-$8 Mixed Drinks. Soda & coffee $1.00/glass (no refills) Please refer to our Bar and Drink Pricing for specific offerings and pricing.  Prices are subject to change unless booked and paid for.

How many bartenders will be at my event?

Bartenders are staffed per final guest count.  There will always be at least 2 bartenders at your event from the ceremony time until close, additional bartenders will be staffed between the ceremony and end of dinner depending on guest count. Additionally, the manager is also a bartender and can lend extra help when needed. 

Vendor Questions:

Do you have a preferred vendor list?  Are we required to use them?

We have a preferred vendor list that we share with couples during tours.  All the vendors on this list are highly sought after in their fields and do not pay or get any reimbursement to be on our list.  You are only required to use a caterer from our approved list.  All other vendors can be selected outside of our list if preferred.

Do you have certain requirements for DJs?

Since we are a large venue, DJs need to provide 3 speakers which they spread out around the venue. If you are wanting indoor sparkler fountains or a dry ice machine as part of your DJ experience, you have to select a DJ from our preferred list.  All music ends at 11:30pm.

Are there hotels that shuttle?

We are fortunate to have 6 different hotels nearby that offer shuttling services to Emerald Pines. It is the renter's responsibility to set up the shuttle with their chosen hotel.

Are there overnight accommodations nearby?

We do not provide overnight accommodations on site but we are only ½  mile from Sioux Falls and have several hotels very close by.

Bar & Drink Options

 We offer a great selection of Beers, Wines, Seltzers, and Mixed Drinks.  Our mixed drinks contain a wine-based liquor, which is an  alcoholic beverage that uses fermented grapes as its base instead of distilled spirits. We have all the traditional kinds of liquor like vodka, tequila, spiced rum, gin, coconut run, whiskey, cinnamon whiskey plus many other options to make your favorite mixed drinks. Some of our clients’ favorites are:  Moscow Mules, Long Islands, Peach Crush, Mojitos, Gin & Tonic, Whiskey & Coke, Colorado Bulldog, Screwdrivers, Tequila Sunrise, and many more. 

Emerald Pines Barn includes all bartenders at the main bar in your rental price.  If you would like drinks served at a different location in the venue there is an additional fee.  Examples are: a mimosa station for guests, a champagne wall or exit, outdoor kegs, and/or outdoor signature mixed drinks.  Sponsoring alcohol for your guests is very customizable, including sponsoring kegs, drink tokens, wines, 3 gallon signature drinks, champagne toast, etc. We discuss alcohol sponsoring options with couples at their 8 week meeting. 

Open Bar Options

The most popular Open Bar option is setting a certain dollar amount, with the option to add to that amount during the event.  Another option is having a specific time frame for the Open Bar.  You can set restrictions on your Open Bar like: Beer, Wine, and Seltzers only, or no shots included.  All Open Bars have a 15% gratuity automatically added to the total. 

Drink Tokens

Drink tokens can be purchased in increments of 50.  The more you buy the cheaper they get!  Currently, you can get 50 tokens for $300 or 100 tokens for $575. Drink tokens can be used for any individual drink at the bar, except for double and premium mixed drinks.

Cash Bar

A cash bar means that your guests will pay for their drinks.  Many events do a mixture of sponsored drinks, open bar, and cash bar.  Guests can start tabs at the bar if their credit card is on file.  All tabs need to be paid before the bar closes at 11:30pm. We accept cash or card payments at the bar.  All major credit cards, apple pay, and tap to pay are accepted.  

Beer & Seltzers

We stock a variety of different bottle and tap beers including: domestics, imports, crafts, and seasonal.  Kegs are available for sponsoring starting at $400 for domestics. We have a huge selection of seltzers and ciders including Trulys, White Claw, Twisted Teas, Angry Orchard, Smirnoff and many more.   You can sponsor a seltzer keg too.

Wine & Champagne

We offer a variety of house wines by the glass. You can also sponsor wine or champagne for your guests by purchasing cases of your chosen kinds from our bar menu list.  Open Bar would include our house wines by the glass.

During your tour we provide a copy of our full bar menu and pricing.  

Prices are subject to change unless booked and paid for.