Client FAQs

Well, a lot of things. ;) To make it simple for you we have created a Wedding Planning Checklist. This will help you take it all one step at a time. Take the timeframe provided to complete the items listed, but adjust the timeline to suit your wedding date.

Emerson Fields may feel remote and private, but we are just minutes from the small town of Macon, MO. There are several options for hotel and boutique lodging in Macon, but the most important tip is: BOOK EARLY. Call now and reserve your lodging for the wedding party and block some rooms for your guests so you can rest assured you've got it covered. Here are a few options we want to highlight for you.

Airbnb: There are Airbnbs in Macon and most of them are around 5 miles from the venue. This charming bungalow linked below is in a quaint neighborhood, sleeps up to 10 guests, comes fully furnished, and has a fenced back yard with fire pit. For more information click here.

Comfort Inn: This wonderful Comfort Inn hotel on the north edge of Macon has a rustic lodge look. It is affordable, super clean and offers a hot breakfast! Ask for a special rate when blocking rooms for you or your wedding guests. Our brides have even utilized the conference room at the hotel for rehearsal dinner. They have an indoor pool and hot tub as well. Call them today to book your rooms and tell them Emerson Fields sent you! 660-395-8000

There is also a Comfort Inn in Moberly, Mo, which is only 17 miles from Emerson Fields to the south.

For more recommendations, email us for the Preferred Vendor Directory for all our booked brides!

No, the wedding reception meal must be prepared and served by a licensed/insured caterer or restaurant. Emerson Fields has a full kitchen for the caterer to work out of and prepare your meal. An ice machine, commercial refrigerator, stove, warming/proofing oven, commercial sink, microwave, and side-by-side refrigerator/freezer is provided for your use, as well as the caterer. The kitchen comes equipped with dish soap, paper towels, trash bags, dish cloths and towels. Utensils and pots/pans are not provided.

If the REHEARSAL DINNER takes place at Emerson Fields on Friday evening, you can have it catered or DIY that small private meal.

It is highly recommended to hire a bartender from our Preferred Vendor Directory. Bartenders must be over 21 years of age and must man the bar for the entire reception. Your bartender/server needs to arrive an hour before the ceremony begins so they are prepared to open the bar for social hour/cocktail hour.

No hard liquor is allowed to be served by itself on the Emerson Fields property (i.e.. no shots). Alcohol shall only be served from the bar area located inside the venue or a designated outdoor bar area in agreement with Emerson Fields management. Coolers are allowed in the kitchen and bar areas of the venue only. No coolers shall be used in any other areas within the venue. Guests cannot bring in any alcohol. We provide a can cooler behind the bar that allows for easy access to cooled beverages. You can refrigerate extra beverages in the commercial refrigerator in the kitchen as well.

Bartenders must remove garbage as needed and leave the trash can empty at the end of the night. All garbage is to be thrown away outside in the dumpster on the north end of the venue. An ice machine is provided and extra bags of ice are in the deep freeze. The loose ice needs to be saved for drinks like tea and water with dinner.

Alcohol is permitted on the premises and can be consumed only after the wedding ceremony takes place. You can serve whatever brands of beverages you so choose. No shots or the like are allowed on the premises. Alcohol shall be served from the bar area located inside the event Venue or an outside bar area designated by agreement of Emerson Fields and Clients. As such, Clients are required to provide at least two (2) professional bartenders to man the bar at all times alcohol is being served. For the purposes of this agreement “professional bartenders” are defined as persons or and entity in the business of providing bartending services or otherwise providing alcoholic beverage services in accordance with all laws of the State of Missouri, and laws and ordinances of the County of Macon, Missouri including all liquor licensing and other alcoholic beverage service requirement, if any. All professional bartenders shall be properly insured, and proof of insurance shall be provided to Emerson Fields.

Alcohol for rehearsal dinner may be served via table service by a caterer that meets the definition of “professional bartenders” as outlined above. No alcohol shall be served on the premises unless served by a professional bartender.

Vendors are allowed to use coolers in the kitchen and bar areas of the venue only. No coolers shall be used in any other areas without the prior written consent of Emerson Fields.

It is the sole responsibility of Clients to ensure Alcohol is served only to those of legal drinking age. It is the sole responsibility of Clients to ensure guests that are consuming alcohol act in an appropriate manner. Emerson Fields shall not be responsible for the actions of those serving or drinking alcohol and Clients shall hold Emerson Fields harmless of any and all acts involving, related to, or concerning alcohol service or consumption.

Not sure how many drinks to purchase? Check out this free Drink Calculator!

Yes! Please review the information in question 3 as it applies to any form of bar service. In an open bar, you provide the beverages and a server is hired to pour/serve what you’ve provided. The server can have a tip jar out, but cannot take money for drinks served. Typically an open bartender is paid by the hour, or a flat rate for the event, and can keep the tips collected.

Yes! Please review the information in question 3 as it applies to any form of bar service. The bartender must obtain a liquor license through the state of Missouri, with written consent from Emerson Fields management, prior to the event. The bartender can be the ONLY source for alcoholic beverages on the property for the duration of the event. Guests are charged a fee for the beverages they order and the bartender profits from those orders. Some bartenders may charge a set up fee and/or minimum for the bar.

Décor is welcome in all of our ceremony spaces! Emerson Fields brides always have the most beautiful weddings! Check out the gallery on our website or our Instagram account for ideas of what your dream wedding can look like at Emerson Fields.

There are a few rules to keep Emerson Fields safe and damage-free. There are permanent hooks in place for hanging decorations inside the venue. Do not use tape or tacks to hang décor. Command hooks cannot be stuck to painted walls. If Clients wish to hang something on any surface or attach decorations to any portion of the Venue, please consult Emerson Fields on how to do so without damaging the walls and surfaces of the venue. Any damage to any surfaces or walls shall be the sole responsibility of Clients. For wedding ceremonies inside the venue, use silk flower petals for the flower girl to toss or to line the aisle with. For outdoor wedding ceremonies, use real flower petals.

Use of confetti and glitter is prohibited anywhere on the premises. Bubbles may be used outdoors only.

Please use flame-less, battery powered candles and lighting. Wax-burning candles may be used only if they are inside an appropriate container. Taper candles may only be used with an appropriate tray and/or surface to catch any wax drips. Emerson Fields shall hold Clients responsible for any damage caused by melted wax. All candles, other than battery powered, shall be extinguished after dinner is served and the special dances (ie. father-daughter) are done. Candles must be extinguished before any open dance floor dancing or other activities in order to prevent accidental fire.

Weddings with over 175 guests need to have two parking attendants to ensure the parking is done correctly and vehicles fit on the gravel lot. Please do not use your ushers as parking attendants. They will be busy seating guests upon their arrival. Emerson Fields staff will happily meet with your parking attendants an hour before the ceremony to instruct them if they have any questions.

No one may park or drive on the grass, the path to the pavilion, or in the fields. A golf cart is provided if needed. When you arrive at the venue if you, your families and wedding party begin parking correctly, then your guests will follow your lead. Please do not park directly in front of the main entrance to the venue and don’t block the lane for others to enter/exit. More parking information is given during your design appointment.

It’s up to you, but ushers or guestbook attendants are often the first people a wedding guest will see when they arrive at the venue. These pivotal attendants watch the doors waiting for guests to arrive so that they can direct them to their seats or escort them down the aisle. Ushers are very important if you have a medium to large sized wedding. These attendants are very helpful to direct guests to the ceremony area, guide guests to the restrooms and be a smiling face when your friends and family arrive. Check out our blog on what these types of attendants do to help your wedding day run smoothly.

It is your responsibility to ensure that the venue is kept safe, clean and secure. You, or your designated party, will be responsible for locking up the venue on Friday and Saturday nights. Turn off all lights and lock all the doors before leaving. You will receive a secure code in order to enter the venue throughout the weekend. You are responsible for any damages and are required to get special event liability insurance for the weekend (more on this in question 19). You are also responsible for completing the cleaning requirements before leaving.

Yes, but please do not set up food on the furniture in the bridal/groom rooms. If you intend to eat meals or snacks while getting ready, extra tables will need to be set up outside or inside the bride/groom rooms instead of using furniture as a buffet in those rooms. Small folding tables are provided in the groom’s room closet and in the storage room next to the bridal room for this purpose. Please be cautious with food/drink on the upholstered furniture and please don’t bring anything in the room that can permanently stain.

If you book the venue for Friday noon through Sunday noon, you can use the venue to host your rehearsal dinner. Please use some of our extra tables/chairs for your dinner so you don’t mess up your reception tables that are already have set up for you. The extra tables can be found in the storage room and must be completely clean and dry when you put them away. Tablecloths for rehearsal dinners are not provided, but we encourage you to bring your own. It’s nice to have the rehearsal dinner tablecloths in a different color so the wedding party isn’t confused about which tables they can eat at on Friday evening.

You are granted access to the venue in sparkling clean condition on Friday at noon. *Please keep in mind that we do not provide another cleaning service on Saturday.* If there are any messes made during rehearsal dinner, it will be your responsibility to clean those. All food is required to be put away and trash to be disposed of into the dumpster before you leave for the evening on Friday.

In order to receive a full refund of your security deposit in the mail within 30 days of your wedding, you must leave the venue in the condition in which you found it, without damages. Cleaning requirements are posted on the refrigerator in the kitchen. You must designate someone to ensure all necessary cleaning is done, as you will be held responsible for anything not completed. Cleaning requirements are:

• You must take everything out you brought in.

• Clear the tables of your décor, shake the debris off onto the floor before you sweep, and then leave the cloths on the tables.

• Leave the tables and chairs where they are but please bring the cocktail tables and chairs in from the patio.

• Sweep all the concrete and wood floors on main level and upstairs.

• Take out all the trash to the dumpster (bathrooms, groom’s room, bride’s room, kitchen, bar and trash cans from the main area). Don’t worry about replacing the trash bags.

• Wipe down bar countertops, kitchen countertops, bathroom vanities, bride’s makeup counter, sinks- any surfaces that are sticky or soiled.

• Double check that you aren’t taking Emerson Fields belongings home with you. (vases, easel, baskets, cake stands, drink canisters, scissors, etc.)

• Clean and wipe out refrigerators, stoves and bar coolers if any spills have occurred.

• Pick up any trash OUTSIDE and place in dumpster.

• Wash any used kitchen items and leave them to air dry.

• Leave used dishtowels and dishcloths in the kitchen sink.

All of the guest tables will be one, or a combination of, the following: 8 foot banquet tables, 8 foot farmhouse tables or 6 foot round tables. Any of these tables can comfortably seat 8-10 people. Take your total number of guests, not including the wedding party if they are to be seated at a separate head table, and divide by the number of people you want seated at tables to give you the total number of tables.

Example: A wedding for 185 guests would require 22 tables of 8 and 1 table for 9. Of those 23 total tables, we would probably recommend setting up 15 tables on the main floor and 8 upstairs. The same wedding of 185 guests would only require 19 tables if you were to seat 10 guests per table. *

It is recommended to seat some of your guests upstairs if your guest count exceeds 150 people. This allows for more floor space on the main level later in the evening when everyone wants to congregate and socialize or dance. We will gladly answer any questions you have on this topic via a phone call or email if you need clarification before your scheduled Design Consultation (10-14 days before the wedding).

If your head table is to be set on the stage area, we can accommodate up to 20 seated at tables. We will work with you on the layout of these tables as well. They are typically a combination of 6 foot and 8 foot banquet tables, 8 foot farmhouse tables (these do not have tablecloths) and our 36 inch cocktail table is often used as a sweetheart table. Check out this blog post about different layouts and head table designs that we’ve seen here at Emerson Fields.

From two weeks to ten days before your wedding you will meet with Emerson Fields staff to go over all the details during your Design Consultation. At this meeting you will finalize the layout of the wedding reception, discuss Plan A and Plan B for the ceremony, walk through the venue, discuss questions, and finalize your guest count. You will receive an email to initiate scheduling this appointment once your final rental payment has been made.

Emerson Fields requires you, your fiancé and your wedding planner/coordinator to be present at this appointment. More details about what to expect at this meeting can be found in your rental agreement. These appointments must be scheduled Monday - Thursday from 9:00AM-6:00PM as we have other clients using the venue Friday through Sunday. We allow 90 minutes for your Design Consultation. Thank you for arranging your schedule in order to attend this important appointment.

No smoking or vaping is allowed inside any part of the venue. Smoking is only allowed outside the north end of the venue in the designated smoking area near the ashtray/receptacle. Ask your DJ to make this announcement a couple of times throughout your reception so your guests know where to go to smoke and properly dispose of their cigarettes/cigars.

You need one or two people keeping an eye on trash cans periodically throughout the reception area, in all the bathrooms, and the kitchen as your event takes place. This includes any rehearsal times or time spent at the venue. It is your responsibility to designate someone to keep the venue clean during your event or wedding and take out the trash. Trash needs to be taken directly out to the dumpster, not piled up inside or outside the venue. Trash bags are provided and they can be found in the lower, kitchen cabinet to the right of the stove. All trash needs to be emptied and taken to the dumpster at the end of the reception.

Please bring large, airtight bags or containers to store your leftovers or cake. Most caterers will need to be informed if you are planning on saving any food. Do not leave food out overnight in the venue reception area, bridal room or groom’s room, bar or kitchen.

Yes! You will be able to access the GUEST network while you are on site. Emerson Fields staff will give access to a separate network for your DJ.

Your proof of special event liability insurance is due to us 30 days before your wedding date and is typically emailed to us from your insurance agent. The information on the coverage needed is in your rental agreement, but I'll copy and paste it below as well. If you need an agent to write this type of policy for you, contact Macon Insurance. They write these policies for our clients all the time and are very affordably priced. (660-385-2724)

Insurance: Clients shall provide, at Clients’ sole expense, Special Event Liability Insurance to insure Clients and Emerson Fields as an additional insured, against bodily injury, property damage, personal injury, and other loss arising out of Clients’ use and occupancy of the Venue. The insurance shall have a single limit of liability of no less than one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) and a general aggregate liability of not less than two million dollars ($2,000,000.00). A copy of the declarations page or other proof of insurance shall be provided to Emerson Fields no less than 30 days prior to your scheduled event.

The complete list of policies is in your rental agreement, pages 11-13. We love children and we want parents/guardians to be very diligent about watching their children to keep them from any harm.

Any and all children on the premises must be supervised at all times. No children are allowed near the lake without supervision. No children or other persons are allowed to climb or stand on any railing in the venue or on the dock at any time. Emerson Fields will not be responsible for the acts of any children, whether or not supervised.

Entering or swimming in the lake is strictly prohibited by any person or pet. Dumping trash, confetti, glitter, beverages or other items into the lake is strictly prohibited. Throwing rocks into the lake is prohibited.

Be clear with your guests and remind them that they are responsible for their children throughout the entire evening. We strongly discourage a designated “children’s table” as it only encourages parents to use that as a babysitter. Markers and crayons are prohibited as well.

If you have a question we didn’t answer here, email us at amelia@emersonfields.com!