We Welcome Your Vendors!
The Barn allows third party vendors to service your wedding. All vendors will need to adhere to our Vendor Guidelines. Most vendors will need to provide a Certificate of Insurance or day-of insurance prior to the event date. Blackberry Farm wedding staff will assist with securing the certificate so that you can focus on your wedding details!
Looking for a vendor?
We can recommend vendors that have proudly served our Blackberry Farm couples. To request a copy of our list, please Inquire Now.
Venue Staff vs Wedding Coordinator: What’s the Difference?
Blackberry Farm provides dedicated on-site venue staff for the entire duration of your wedding day. Their job is to maintain the physical space of the facility. Wedding Coordinating is an entirely different skill set & profession. Wedding coordinators work for the couple (not the venue) assisting with planning, vendor coordination/communication, day-of orchestrating, and more!
We recommend every couple hire a wedding coordinator. Their contribution to your wedding is truly priceless!
Vendor Guidelines
All vendors that will be used for your event will need to be submitted to Blackberry Farm in order to determine insurance requirements. Meals are required to be supplied by a professional insured and licensed caterer. Alcohol must be served by a licensed, insured, and basset certified bartending service vendor. Self-serving is prohibited.
Catering
Caterers must discuss requirements with and provide the following to Blackberry Farm
- Certificate of Insurance with the following requirements:
- Fox Valley Park District (101 W Illinois Ave., Aurora, IL 60506) must be listed as the certificate holder
- Fox Valley Park District must be listed as additionally insured, with proof of general and auto liability
- A minimum of $1,000,000 of coverage
- Copy of Health Department license (if food is being prepared on-site)
- Current liquor license (if serving alcohol)
- Day-of schedule (arrival time, serving time, service duration, etc.)
- Space requirements, special needs, and serving layout
- Adequate amount of staff (including bussers) based on guest count
- Caterer will have access to the wedding site beginning at the start of the couple’s reservation.
- During the event, catering staff are responsible for the provision and set-up of all tableware at the start of the couple’s reservation and clearing all surfaces of plates, trash, and glasses.
After service is complete, caterer is responsible for breaking down buffet tables and serving stations, left in the same condition as found.
A catering representative must remain on-site until all meal and drink service is complete and all related items are removed from the venue.
Bartending
Bartending services must discuss requirements with and provide the following to Blackberry Farm
- Certificate of Insurance with the following requirements:
- Fox Valley Park District (101 W Illinois Ave., Aurora, IL 60506) must be listed as the certificate holder
- Fox Valley Park District must be listed as additionally insured, with proof of general and auto liability
- A minimum of $1,000,000 of coverage
- Dram Shop/Liquor Liability coverage
- Bartenders must be BASSET certified
- Day-of schedule (arrival time, serving time, service duration, etc.)
- Space requirements, special needs, and serving layout
- Adequate amount of staff (including bussers) based on guest count
Alcohol
- All guests must adhere to state and local laws governing alcohol use.
- All alcohol must be served by a basset trained and insured bartending service.
- No alcohol self-service, shots, or open bottles at tables. All toasts must be poured by bartending staff.
- Alcohol brought in outside the rental time will be removed from the premises by Wedding Staff.
- Alcohol service must end 30 minutes prior to the end of the scheduled event.
- Alcohol is only permitted to guests ages 21 and older.
- The renter assumes liability for alcohol service and consumption.
- Renters/couples are responsible for providing all of the alcohol for the event, either purchasing it themselves or having their caterer/bartender provide it.
- At any time, if the bartender or venue representative deems alcohol consumption to be excessive, the Fox Valley Park District staff has the right to close all alcohol service and/or evict any intoxicated guest from the premises.
- All alcohol must be removed at the conclusion of the event. Any items left will be disposed.
- Alcohol is not allowed to be consumed during open park hours.
After service is complete, bartending service is responsible for breaking down the bar area, and should be left in the same condition as found
A representative from bartending service must remain on-site until all meal and drink service is complete and all related items are removed from the venue.
