Common Questions
Can I bring Beer & is there a charge?
As a licensed ABC retailer in Virginia, you are not able to bring
your own beer or any other alcohol on our premises.
Should I come visit on a weekend or weekday for my appointment?
We will be happy to meet with you on any weekend as long as there is
not a banquet in progress. Please call ahead of time to set an
appointment any time from 11AM-5PM.
After I sign your contract, what should I do next?
All banquets are custom-tailored for our clients. We encourage you to
provide your own cake maker, DJ or band, and florist.
Ask us for a list of recommended vendors. All food and
alcohol are provided by Heritage Park.
May I have a Cash Bar?
Yes .
Can I bring other wines from Virginia or wines from other states or
countries?
No… Only Belle Mount Wines may be used. You will note that our wine
prices are not caterer prices (i.e. restaurant price) and we offer you
an additional
20%
discount on our wines for your Wedding
.
Can I bring my own Tent and/or Rentals?
Yes, we will be happy to provide you with a local rental company. We
have used them on several occasions and can highly recommend their
professionalism.
Can I use my ceremony chairs and move them afterwards into the
pavilion for the reception?
No… This ends up looking tacky and does not lend to a smooth
transition. If your ceremony and reception are both at Belle Mount, you
should expect to rent additional white chairs for the ceremony portion
of your wedding. You will be glad you did.
Can I bring our own Soft Drinks?
No…VABC State Code requires Belle Mount to be responsible for
Designated Drivers, thus it is our responsibility to carry refreshments
in accordance to VASAP (Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program)
Who caterers your events? & When do you need the final numbers?
Belle Mount is a full service event site. We have menus available
online to view. Our preferred caterers have been pre-screened and meet
Federal, state and local Insurance and safety codes. These caterers are
professionally experienced at Belle Mount and know how to conduct an
event smoothly. Our experience has shown to go with a caterer that knows
our site well. Belle Mount needs your final head count at least 7
working days prior to your event
. A $500.00 non-refundable deposit will be
required upon signing your
agreement with Belle Mount. Then, the remaining
balance will be due
as follows:
50% of the entire catering fee is due one month before you event; the
balance, along with the final headcount, is due one week before your
event.
When can we decorate?
Due to the number of events at Belle Mount and the fact that we are
open to the public everyday -- this varies with each and every event. In
most cases we allow Wedding Parties & Large Corporate Events to decorate
the day before during our normal operating Hours. Should you need
staffing after hours in order to decorate we will bill you accordingly.
Please be respectful when you do decorate as to our other guests and
other events at the winery.
Do you provide consultation?
Belle Mount serves as a site only, however we are able to provide you
with a full service venue, we can also provide additional staff assigned
only to you as a full time consultant on your event.
Is free parking provided?
Yes…we have parking
accommodations to handle approximately
500 vehicles. If
you need valet parking, we will provide this for you. You may not bring
outside valet parkers onto the Belle Mount Site.
Do you have any recommended DJ’s or Live Bands?
Yes…we do. We can refer you to
DJ's or live bands, however, if you secure your own entertainment,
please note that Heritage Park has the right to approve of your
selection.
Who do I contact in order to proceed with a Custom Wine Label for my
event?
Contact us to discuss any
private wine labeling.
What about a wedding stylist/florals/ bridal consultant?
Contact Heritage Park at
804-333-4038
Are there are toys or play area for Children?
We do not provide toys, nor do we provide a
supervisor. Your children must be supervised, as we are not responsible
for them. We also highly recommend only "well behaved children" at Belle
Mount, as we have a large number of expensive wine bottles that can
easily be broken, and you are ultimately responsible for any and all
damages.
Can we provide Welcome Bags and or Departure Gift Bags?
Yes ..feel free to discuss
these bags and their placement with us.
Can I provide my own limousine? Who provides Transportation?
Yes,
Belle Mount
does not provide this service.
What time should our music/noise shut down?
When
do you stop serving alcohol? The contract timeline serves for music/noise shut down.
Richmond County
requires all alcohol service to end at 1AM.
And What happens if a guest of mine is Intoxicated?
Belle Mount staff is "TIPS" trained, (Training for Intervention
Procedures) and we stop serving alcohol diplomatically to any individual
we deem is intoxicated or the guest behavior of the individual is
unacceptable for his or her personal safety and the safety of your
guests, our guests, staff and the general community. If you guests are
intoxicated and our trained staff determines they are unsafe, Belle
Mount will then call a taxi, limousine or van for your personal safety
to take them home or to their Hotel - however you are ultimately
responsible for these transportation charges for you and all your
guests. This is why we highly recommend designated drivers or motorcoach
transportation! Furthermore, we stop serving alcohol 45 minutes prior to
the end of your event and offer Soft Drinks, Coffee, and other
non-alcoholic beverages during this time period. Again, you are
responsible for the costs of these non-alcoholic beverages if a guest is
ill or intoxicated and requests such beverage.
Is there a local Hotel or Bed & Breakfast?
Yes…there are many. We will provide you with our list, or
visit the Northern Neck Tourism Council at http://www.northernneck.org
How do we handle the gratuity/tipping and how much is expected?
Our normal rate is 20% - Please do NOT
tip the staff directly, a
gratuity has already been included in the billed price.
Outdoor Ceremonies -
DO'S & DONT'S
• DO: Be aware of special needs of older or disabled guests.
• DO: Keep the decor simple...pre-decorated arches and aisle markers.
• DON'T: Keep guests waiting without seats in the sun. Start the
ceremony on time.
• DON'T: Plan a ceremony longer than 20 minutes.
