Finding the Perfect Wedding Venue

Finding the perfect wedding venue is one of the most important decisions you'll make when planning your big day. With so many options to choose from, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. But fear not, engaged couples! We're here to help you navigate the process and find the venue of your dreams.

First things first, start your search early. Popular venues can book up quickly, so it's best to start your search at least a year in advance. Once you have a few potential venues in mind, schedule a tour to see the space in person. This is your chance to ask all the important questions and get a feel for the atmosphere.

Here are some of the top questions to ask while on a venue tour:

What is the maximum capacity for the space? You'll want to ensure that the venue can accommodate all of your guests comfortably.
What is included in the rental fee? Some venues include tables, chairs, linens, and other essentials in the rental fee, while others may charge extra.
Do you have in-house catering? If so, what is the cost per person? If not, do you have a list of preferred vendors?
What is the alcohol policy? Some venues have restrictions on what types of alcohol can be served, while others require a licensed bartender.
What is the rain plan for outdoor ceremonies? If the venue has an outdoor option, it's important to know what the backup plan is in case of inclement weather.
What is the noise policy? If the venue is located in a residential area, there may be noise restrictions that could affect your music choices and overall ambiance.
What is the deposit and cancellation policy? Make sure you're clear on the financial aspects of the contract before signing on the dotted line.

By asking these questions, you'll have a better understanding of what to expect from the venue and can make an informed decision about whether it's the right fit for your wedding day.

Remember, finding the perfect venue takes time and patience, but it's worth it in the end. With these tips in mind, you'll be one step closer to saying "I do" in the wedding venue of your dreams.

Altum’s Garden Center looking into move next door to Finley Creek Vineyards

Altum’s Garden Center is temporarily closing later this month to begin the huge undertaking of moving from their present location to larger quarters.

They are hoping for a permit to move next door to us here at Finley Creek – and are currently working through this permitting process. If all goes well and the move is approved, this could mean much more space for Altum’s Garden Center, plus more room to grow in the future.

Finley Creek Vineyards if hopeful that they and Altum’s Garden Center may soon be neighbors, knowing both of our organizations share a passion for sustainable gardening, respect for the earth, and a mutual appreciation of nature. If the move is approved, we’ll be tapping our wonderful new neighbors on the shoulder to help us beautify our perimeter gardens and perhaps add a little new landscaping in the near future.

We’re also looking forward to having the Altum’s Garden Center folks as occasional event partners along with Jacquie's Gourmet Catering. With their open public gardens and our large event space, we hope to be able join forces to co-host events.

And of course, the Jacquie's Gourmet Catering team hopes to be catering Altum's grand re-opening this fall. Stay tuned!

For more information, checkout the Altum’s Garden Center online or on Facebook. And of course, come out and visit Finley Creek Vineyards as the destination for your next event.

Jacquie’s own Finley Creek Vineyards is the ideal setting for your 2021 event

If Finley Creek Vineyards, located north on Michigan Road (795 north on US 421) in Boone County, Zionsville, isn’t on your radar screen yet, allow us to introduce you to this charming property.

Not only is it spacious and picturesque, but it allows for both inside and outside celebrating. But perhaps most importantly, it’s the place to welcome mouth-watering Indiana-grown food from an award-winning caterer to your celebration!

Let’s begin with the Wedding Barn. Holding an event at Finley Creek’s rustic, yet completely renovated barn can be as casual or chic and artsy as you want. The barn has high-beamed ceilings festooned with electric lights, draped swag curtains at the tall, airy windows, and ornate crystal chandeliers overhead.

Moving to the lovely treed and wild-flowered grounds of Finley Creek, your celebration can be outside as well as inside, depending on your preferences. Outside, there is a large bricked fireplace and fire pit – great for gatherings of friends. There are also large areas for outdoor seating. Even a lovely arched latticework arbor for weddings and celebrations. So if the temperature dips or rain drips, your guests are covered, literally by heading into the party barn without missing a beat.

As the owner of Finley Creek, Jacquie’s Gourmet Catering is more than up to the task of keeping your party deliciously happy. Jacquie’s sustainably sourced, organic meats and produce are just the beginning. Be prepared to be wowed by her pulled pork sliders, paired with Asian slaw, or Chicken Piccata with Nicoise Olives, or Whole Roasted Tenderloin en croute with Wild Mushroom Duxelle. Every course is exceptional, made from scratch, and served at the ideal temperature (from the state-of-the-art kitchen Jacquie designed herself.)

So whether you go all out or low-key, you can’t go wrong with the perfect pairing of Jacquie’s Gourmet Catering at Finley Creek Vineyards.

Give us a call (317-283-2776) to take a tour and begin to plan your 2021 event.

How to plan a safe catered holiday event during COVID

With holidays just ahead, you can absolutely plan a safe corporate or private holiday event. We have been doing this very thing over the past several months at Finley Creek, and we know the rules.

We also know what works and what doesn’t. We want your guests to feel safe while following all applicable state and CDC guidelines.

The first order of business, say experts, is to make sure your guests feel safe enough to attend. Towards that end, here is our protocol:

Jacquie’s Gourmet Catering will:

Have staff wear gloves and masks during all prep and serve
Keep food covered and at ideal temperatures after prep and before serving
Display food under protective shields to prevent contamination
Food will be served with tongs and utensils handled by masked server at all times
Individual-sized appetizers available as much as possible
Use single-use disposable dishware and glasses unless otherwise asked.

Finley Creek will:

Be set up to assure maximum space between tables and each guest
Common areas (such as bars, restrooms and coat check) will be marked with 6-foot guide icons to keep patrons from unintentional exposure to others
Barware and alcohol handled by gloved and masked bar managers only.
Outdoor areas, entrances and exits marked for safety of guests.

Of course, we know there really are no hard and fast answers, and serving alcohol to those enjoying a holiday party makes guest behavior slightly riskier. With that in mind, we recommend:

Asking several good friends to help talk to guests engaging in behavior that puts others at risk
If you have an MC or DJ, ask them to periodically remind guests to keep safety a priority.
We make sure the setting at Finley Creek is right for your crowd. We want your guests to be able to safely distance.
Using available outside space at Finley Creek is always a good idea for an extra measure of safety.

Even during a pandemic, some catering rules will always be paramount for us:

Guests will forgive an event that could have had another restroom or two, but they will always remember how good the food was -- or wasn’t. That’s why we never skimp on food quality.
We never run out of food. This is a cardinal rule at Jacquie’s Gourmet Catering.
Presentation of food matters. A lot. Food should always look (and taste) luscious, fresh, and be served at the right temperature.
Planning how bar and appetizer table traffic flows at an event is especially important now. Nobody wants to stand waiting for a drink at a crowded bar for 25 minutes.

The holidays are coming up fast. So if you have a holiday party in mind, there are still plenty of open dates in November, December and New Year’s Eve. We're ready to book your next event safely.