Thank you for considering The Virginia Cliffe Inn as the location for your wedding, reception, or special event. This information is designed to answer our clients most frequently asked questions. Please feel free to call or email with questions or call and set an appointment to see the grounds first hand. We want to help you put the "special" in that special day.

RESERVING THE INN

At the Inn, we offer packages depending on your desires and the size of your event. Once you have made your decision to have your event at The Virginia Cliffe Inn, a deposit of one-third will be required to secure the date and time you select. All contracts are based on a first come, first serve basis.

WHAT ABOUT CUSTOM PACKAGES?

The Virginia Cliffe Inn offers "by the hour" rates for small weddings and receptions during off-season times and/or when coordinated with other scheduled events. Hourly rates do not include our white chairs or round tables. The majority of additional factors, such as chairs, tables, prep/set-up time are charged separately in order to "create" the perfect package for your special event. The Inn requires a minimum rental time of 2 hours for events including no more than 10 guests while all other events require a minimal rental time of 4 hours. Virginia Cliffe charges different rates depending on the location (Inside the Main House vs. the Outdoor Garden Events) as well as the number of guests attending.

WEDDING PACKAGES

The Virginia Cliffe Inn offers three different wedding packages, all designed to fit your needs!  Ceremonies either take place in our Garden Gazebo, or front porch of our plantation style home, and include use of the Clifton Cottage and the garden area for a reception. We have a beautiful bride's room for dressing on the day of your event.

 

Weekend Wedding Package:
This package allows guests to reserve the Inn from a given Friday at 4 pm until Sunday at 11am.  The package includes lodging for up to 10 guests, use of the Clifton Cottage (1st floor only) and garden area for a rehearsal dinner on Friday (foodstuffs not included), and of course a wedding on Saturday.  Chairs, round tables, and banquet tables are included for no more than 225 persons.  A traditional Virginia Cliffe breakfast is served on Saturday and Sunday morning for the 10 lodging guests.

Large Garden Wedding Package:
Our large garden wedding package allows 7 hours for your event and also includes chairs, round tables, and banquet tables for no more than 225 persons.  This package can be purchased for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday weddings.

Medium Garden Wedding Package:
Our medium garden wedding package allows 7 hours for your event and also includes chairs, round tables, and banquet tables for no more than 175 persons.  This package can be purchased for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday weddings.

Small Garden Wedding Package:
Our small garden wedding package allows 5 hours for your event and also includes chairs, round tables, and banquet tables for no more than 75 persons.  Small weddings are designated for Fridays and Sundays during our prime time season (April – November) unless otherwise coordinated. Packages are individually negotiated to custom tailor your event to the satisfaction of both parties.

ADDITIONAL TIME
Most brides, decorators, florist, cake delivery etc. arrive up to two hours before the wedding.  Please note that the time of your event starts when your vendors/wedding party arrives.  Most ceremonies last approximately 30 minutes while professional photographers usually take pictures up to 30 minutes after the ceremony.  Large receptions typically last 3 hours and additional reception time can be purchased at $100 per hour PRIOR TO THE EVENT.  Include an hour after the reception for your caterer to remove food, trash, and equipment from the area.  The Inn offers additional time for decorating and clean-up at a reduced rate of $50.00/hr.  This time will need to be purchased and contracted for prior to your event.  You do not need to include The Virginia Cliffe Inn chair and table setup and removal in your contracted time as this is taken care of by our staff.

INCLENMENT WEATHER
The majority of weddings and receptions at The Virginia Cliffe Inn take place in our outdoor garden area which includes our 40 ’X40’ permanent tent. You may wish to consider renting additional tents.  Several local tent companies allow you to reserve a tent that can be erected a day before the event if the weather forecast is for rain.

 
WEDDING REHEARSALS
If your wedding ceremony will take place at The Virginia Cliffe Inn, we encourage you to have a rehearsal prior to the event.  We do not charge you for a one hour rehearsal and it does not take away from your contracted hours.  We make every effort to schedule the rehearsal at your convenience; however, we must work around other events scheduled at the Inn.  Rehearsal scheduling needs to be agreed upon no more than 3 weeks before your wedding.

REHERSAL DINNER
The Cottage at The Virginia Cliffe Inn is a fun and special place for rehearsal dinners.  Please reserve the Cottage as soon as you can as it books very fast during the wedding season.

EQUIPMENT
The Virginia Cliffe Inn does not supply items such as plates, silverware, glasses, linens, or decorations.  Most caterers include these items within their prices.  Tables and chairs can be rented based on youe individual needs if not included in the Wedding Package that you have selected.

FOOD AND PREPARATION
The Virginia Cliffe Inn allows you to choose a professional caterer of your choice for your event, unless you have chosen our "Inclusive Sunday Package". Special arrangement can be made in our Cottage  for you to cater your own event with permission from the Innkeepers.  We have facilities for the warming and cooling of pre-prepared foods only.  For events taking place in the main house, Caterers are required to submit a $100 fee for use of the Virginia Cliffe Inn kitchen equipment, utilities, and kitchen-cleaning fee.   Please inform your caterer of this information.  We will be happy to recommend several professional caterers that have served events at the inn.

ALCOHOL
The Inn allows you and guests to drink responsibly, however, we can not be held liable for alcohol misconduct.  If you or your caterer purchases alcohol for your guests, you are required to obtain a one day banquet license through the (VABC) Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control agency.  The Inn requires the one day banquet license to be in plain view during your event. 

MUSIC AND DANCING
The Virginia Cliffe Inn wants your event to be “just the way you want it!”  Brides often select DJs, bands, string quartets, harp players, keyboard players etc. to enlighten their guests at both the wedding and reception. The garden gazebo, front porch, and pavilion include outlets for electrical equipment.  All amplified music is limited to 10 pm due to Henrico County policy.

Don't forget to make arrangements to amplify the ceremony as the outdoors limits the distance in which your guest can hear and video cameras can record those cherished moments.

DRESSING FOR THE EVENT
The Virginia Cliffe Inn provides a bridal dressing room with a full bath and full-length mirror which is decorated in a Victorian fashion. The groomsmen dress in the downstairs of the Cottage.

RESPONSIBILITY OF SUPPLIERS
Catering, florist, photographers, etc. are your responsibility.  We will share names and telephone numbers with you of any we recommend.  Please encourage your florist or professional caterer or anyone involved in your wedding to make an appointment to come by and see The Virginia Cliffe Inn.  We are more than happy to answer questions but we prefer appointments because we may have other events going on.

BRIDAL PORTRAITS
Brides often request to use the Inn for their bridal portraits.  We are happy to have you and your photographer come out and shoot the pictures on location.  Appointments can be made with the Inn for inside and outside location shots.  The cost of the service is $55.00 per hour.  The Brides room will be available for you to dress at the Inn.

DECORATIONS
We encourage you to make your day as special as possible with decorations but know  that The Inn does not supply décor.  Decorations need to be approved by The Virginia Cliffe Inn and are your responsibility to clean up after the event. The use of false flower pedals is not allowed.

Allow enough time in your contract to decorate before your event on the day of your event.  All candles are required to be encased in globes, bird seed and bubbles may be thrown outside, however, the net or covering needs to be cleaned up after the event by your assigned representative.   The Inn prohibits the use of flares, fireworks, sparklers, and confetti.

CLEANING
The facility will be ready for your event.  Most caterers understand the expectation to dispose of trash from your party as part of their services to you.  If you are catering the function yourself, please assign someone in your party responsible for checking the grounds and buildings for trash before they leave.  Cans and debris left from your wedding party are your responsibility.  Trash needs to be in tied bags and deposited in the designated receptacle behind  the Cottage.

PARKING
You and your guests may park head-in to the left of the paved driveways directed by the parking attendants.  Please do not park sideways, on the front lawn or rear lawn, or in the main driveways.  Parking at the fence near the cottage is reserved for your wedding party and your suppliers.

CHILDREN 
Parents are required to maintain close supervision of all children during the event. The Virginia Cliffe Inn has many attractions that can be hazardous to an unsupervised child.  Parents are required to be present with children on the immediate grounds at all times, also, no children are allowed on the bridge or near the pond without immediate adult supervision.  Virginia Cliffe Inn is full of prized possessions that would have to be replaced if broken or damaged.

PAYMENT 
A deposit of one-third the contracted price is submitted with the signed contract.  Ninety days preceding the event the second payment of one third is due. Payment is to be made by check or cash.  The balance and security deposit will be due thirty days before the event.  A credit card number is required for the security deposit. Payment plans can be made by special arrangements.

CANCELATIONS
At The Virginia Cliffe Inn it is important to us that you are extremely happy and excited about your event.  If for any reason you need to cancel or postpone your plans we offer a full refund of your deposit up to 190 days before the scheduled event.  Up to 90 days before your event we offer a 50% refund.  

LODGING
The Virginia Cliffe Inn has four rooms in the main house.  When planning your event you will need to check to see if the rooms are available.  A full breakfast is provided for all overnight guests.  We have a Master Suite, which includes use of the private balcony.  The Richmond area has many lodging accommodations available if the Inn is booked. One popular hotel is less than a 5 minute drive away.

WHO DO I CONTACT?  
Please contact Margaret Clifton (Innkeeper) or Dorothy Ann, for all special event, wedding, and/or lodging inquiries.  Appointments are required for person to person contact due to other events taking place. 
(804) 266-7344 Local
(877) 254-3346 Toll Free
innkeeper@vacliffeinn.com

 

FINALIZING DETAILS
We want your event to be perfect!  Twenty days before the event we arrange an appointment with you to finalize the details.  It is our goal to make this important day for you as special and memorable as possible.  Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns that you may have, we’re always here to help!

 

Copyright©2009 Virginia Cliffe Inn