Frequently Asked Questions
Do you host receptions? We do not. Trellis is exclusively a ceremony only venue. Having your ceremony and reception at two different locations has a lot of benefits! You're able to provide a greater variety of experiences and atmospheres for your guests - more variety for your photos too! It can eliminate the need to 'flip a space' allowing your guests to celebrate with you here at Trellis and seamlessly transition right into your cocktail hour/dinner. Couples have been hosting their ceremonies in churches followed by receptions off site for years - same idea! If you need ideas for reception or dinner locations – we have a list of awesome local options were happy to share 🙂
Will there be other weddings on site with mine? No, we only have one special wedding at a time.
Can I bring someone in to marry us? Yes, you will need to bring your own officiant. Let us know if you need suggestions!
When do we take pictures? We suggest working closely with your photographer to develop your timeline for the day. Will you be doing a first look? If so, we suggest a later ceremony time to allow for photos prior to guest arrival. Otherwise, we suggest leaving time after your ceremony to allow time for photography. This timeline is different for everyone – so let's chat about it!
Is there enough parking for my 250 guests? Yes, our parking lot was made for a guest list of 250. We do encourage carpooling for all events over 180 guests to minimize parking congestion.
What if I don't want to see my partner until ceremony time? The time of the ceremony can be adjusted within your rental time frame to allow for this to happen. An earlier ceremony time will allow you ample time for photos following your ceremony.
Girls! Do I do my hair and makeup before I come or wait until I get there? You would come in your comfy clothes with your hair and make-up done. Your wedding attire would be put on here, with the last minute prep and details. This allows you to maximize your time utilizing the grounds.
Guys! Do I come in my tux/wedding attire or should I get ready there? Whatever works best for you. Are you traveling far? Do you want to take wedding party photos right when you arrive while the girls are getting ready? Both options can work great!
Can my furry friend be part of my wedding ceremony? Yes! We are dog and cat friendly. All we ask is that you keep them leashed, clean up after their mess if needed and a pet attendant is recommended. Sometimes the cutest flower girl or ring bearer has four legs!
Are you LGBTQ+ Friendly? Absolutely! We support all love and are excited to be a part of anyone’s love story. Our restrooms are not gendered and we have a few gendered decor items we are happy to remove for your celebration.
How long does the actual ceremony take? Average time is 20 - 30 minutes. We suggest always planning on ONE hour for your ceremony. This includes waiting for the last minute guests to arrive, recognizing family members and bridal party as part of your processional, then departing with your recessional music.
What if we have really large families and we are worried about getting all of the pictures we want? You are welcome to add additional time to your rental (if available) 60 days out from your wedding date. You can also start your images before arriving to Trellis or continue after. We are only 5min from downtown Stillwater, the St. Croix River and Pioneer Park. All of these places offer beautiful backdrops for wedding day photos.
Is Trellis handicapped accessible? Yes. Every season we have guests that attend via wheelchair, motorized scooters etc. We suggest assisting those friends and family members when they arrive to ensure they are comfortable on our gravel pathway. We do have a handicap accessible restroom as well.
Can I bring in my own decorations? Sure, we find that most guests will bring in items to personalize their wedding but keep it simple. You are required to set up and take down any decor that you bring within your rental timeframe. We suggest that you put someone in charge of this set up and take down.
Can we bring in food and drinks? Yes, ONLY for your wedding party and it must remain in the Cottage. Hydration is very important, and snacks are definitely recommended. If you would like to serve your guests non-alcoholic beverages – we can provide this for you! We require you purchase these items through us if you would like to provide them to guests.
What time do I tell my family to come? Immediate family, that you would like to get pictures with, should come within 1/2 hour of you arriving.
What about music for the ceremony? If your imagining live music, feel free to bring in any musicians you would like! We can hook them directly into our sound system. If you choose to use prerecorded music, you would bring in an ipod, iphone, computer or any other electronic device you like. You would then need to designate someone that is not in your processional to be your ‘music person’. We can teach them how to fade the music nicely during rehearsal so that it sounds professional for your ceremony.