Merchant's House Museum

Ceremonies & Receptions

The Museum's stunning Greek-Revival double parlors or 19th-century style "secret" garden are the perfect site for a wedding ceremony. Either location will seat up to 50 people.

The cozy ground floor family room and rustic 19th-century kitchen are ideal for standing cocktail receptions or intimate seated dinners and buffets. The garden is also a frequent choice for warm weather receptions. Each space accommodates up to 50 people for cocktails, or 30 people seated.

All Ceremonies & Receptions include:

• Use of the Museum's public rooms
• Use of the caterers kitchen, with sink, refrigerator, and convection oven
• Chairs & serving tables**
• Museum representative to assist you before and during the event
• A bottle of 'Cuvée Musée' bubbly, suitable for anniversary toasting
• Complimentary year-long Museum membership for the happy couple

* Prices listed are per hour. Minimum 2 hours for ceremony, 3 hours for reception (includes set-up and clean up). Additional $100 per hour after 11 p.m.

** There is a $250 surcharge for seated receptions (includes the use of dining tables and chairs).

Note: the fragile nature of our historic building and its furnishings requires us to place certain restrictions on events. Please read our rental guidelines for details.

Rental Guidelines

To protect the Museum's historic and irreplaceable building, furnishings, and other collection items on display, all renters must adhere to the following guidelines:

Room Usage
Food and drink may be served on the ground floor (original kitchen and family room) and in the garden. The double parlors may be rented for seated dinners only.

Smoking is prohibited in the Museum, but permitted in the garden.

Objects in the collection may not be touched, nor may the furniture be sat upon. Only trained Museum personnel may move objects in the Museum’s collection.

Staff
At least two staff members of the Museum must be on site during the event. Docents are available for $12/hour to give tours or provide information about the house and its collections.

Catering and Deliveries
Supplies and portable furniture for special events must be delivered as close to the date of the event as possible and retrieved as soon as possible following the event. Storage is not available. Upon request, the Museum will provide a list of recommended caterers.

Decorations
Decoration of the Museum is allowed only under the direct supervision of the staff. The use of nails, stickpins, tape, paint, or any other material that could have irreversible effects on the Museum building or its collections is not allowed. All decorations must be removed from the Museum at the end of the event.

Fires in the fireplaces are not permitted. Lighted candles are permitted only in certain areas and must be approved by the Museum staff.

Approval
All applications for special events are subject to approval by the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors, at the recommendation of the Executive Director.

A signed Rental Agreement and a non-refundable deposit of 30% is required to confirm your date. A Rental Agreement is available by request.

A damage deposit of $500 is due at time of deposit and will be held for one week after the event.

Payment of balance (by check or money order) is due on the day of the event.

Insurance
In the case of an event sponsored by a corporate or non-profit entity, the Museum requires coverage of your activities at the Museum by general liability insurance. A proof of insurance must be submitted prior to the event.