Wedding Receptions at the Phipps Mansion Friday Evenings

Procedures | Cancellations | Maximum Capacity | Catering | Rental Periods | Alcoholic Beverages | Dancing & Music | Guest Behavior | Rental Rates | Equipment Included | Tents | Fine Print | Typical Timeline | Return to Wedding page

Following are the policies and procedures, which govern the use of the Phipps Mansion for weddings and wedding receptions. Although somewhat lengthy, they are designed to facilitate the very best celebration and at the same time protect our unique facilities and our local neighborhood.

Procedures

The reservation process consists of three easy steps:

1. If the date your request is available, you will be given a reservation form to complete.

2. Once we receive your reservation form, we will send you a user agreement in the mail. You have 30 days from the date on the user agreement to return it to us with your signature and a deposit of at least 50% of your total rental fees.

3. The final payment is due 30 calendar days before your event.

Please Note - If several clients request the same space for the same time and date, the client who made the first request will be given 24 business hours to sign and return their contracts with a 50% deposit or the space will be given to the client who placed the next request.

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Cancellations

All payments are non-refundable. This includes your deposit and all subsequent payments.

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Maximum Capacity

The total capacity at the Phipps Mansion is 125 persons, which includes guests, children, and the wedding party. This is done in an effort to preserve the elegant furnishings of the Mansion, to accommodate the interests of the surrounding neighborhood, and to provide for the safety of your guests. Under no circumstances can the Phipps Mansion accommodate more than 125 persons. In the event that your guest count exceeds 125, we will not be able to admit the additional guests.

• 125 persons for a stand-up reception.
• 125 persons for an inside seated reception. (guests seated in living room and dining room).
• 125 persons seated theater style in south garden or livingroom for a ceremony
  

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Catering

With the exception of the month of December, you have the option of using either our in-house caterer, Phipps Catering, or any licensed, insured catering firm. In December, the only caterer permitted is Phipps Catering.

Each catering firm is required to sign an agreement with the Phipps Conference Center and the University of Denver which outlines the expectations for catering firms while conducting business on the premises. We can provide you with a list of caterers who have already signed this agreement if needed.

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Rental Periods

The rental period for wedding receptions is a total of seven and one half hours - five hours of guest time for the wedding reception and ceremony (if applicable); one and one half hours prior for set up by caterers, florists, and other reception preparations; and one hour following the reception for caterer and florist clean up.

Wedding Ceremonies and rehearsals

You are welcome to hold your ceremony, at no additional charge, during the four-hour rental period. Due to commitments to either earlier or later events, additional guest time is not available. An optional one-hour rehearsal is available for a small additional charge. Rehearsals for weekday weddings are held on the afternoon prior to the wedding. If you elect to hold your rehearsal at a location other than the Phipps Mansion, we are pleased to provide you with diagrams, which will assist you as you make your plans.

You will be able to arrive one and one half-hours prior to the beginning of your guest time to dress and to have photographs taken. Your catering staff will take the responsibility for the physical setup of the chairs for your ceremony.

Additional Setup Time

Due to logistical issues such as cleaning, staffing, and conflict with previous events, we are unable to provide additional time for setup or photography.

Specific Operating Times

Friday 5:00pm – 10:00pm (guest time) October 16 – April 15

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Alcoholoic Beverages

Alcoholic beverages, which you supply, may be served to guests who are twenty-one years or older as long as they are served by a twenty-one year old employee of Phipps Catering. Under no circumstances will guests under the age of twenty-one be allowed to consume alcoholic beverages. Alcoholic beverages cannot be served during the last one half hour of the guest rental time nor can they be consumed prior to the guest time. When a wedding ceremony is held in connection with a wedding reception, alcoholic beverages cannot be served prior to the ceremony but may be served immediately after the ceremony.

In the event that in the judgment of the Phipps Conference Center staff there has been an inordinate amount of liquor consumed, that could result in either physical injury or property damage while guests are at or driving away from the Conference Center, our staff reserves the right and has the responsibility to stop service of all alcoholic beverages to all guests for the balance of the rental period.

Any alcoholic beverages which you plan to serve must be delivered during the scheduled setup time and removed directly following your reception. We do not have the capacity to store any alcoholic beverages at the Conference Center. Due to potential property damage, the use of kegs is prohibited at the Phipps Conference Center.

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Dancing and Music

Dancing is permitted in the foyer of the Phipps Mansion. RECEPTION MUSIC (with the exception of string quartets) CAN NOT BE PERMITTED OUTSIDE OF THE PHIPPS MANSION DUE TO THE RESIDENTIAL LOCATION OF THE ESTATE. If amplified systems are used in the foyer area, speakers must be placed well away from the doorways and windows. Music must be scheduled to END 20 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE END OF THE GUEST TIME. So as to insure that the firm with whom you wish to contract for your music has in the past complied with our policies, we are forced to require that you receive permission from our offices prior to contracting with your musicians.

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Guest Behavior

It is the intention of the University of Denver that social events at the Phipps Conference Center should be genteel with guests demonstrating a conservative decorum. If you feel that your guests might not comply with that expectation, we would recommend that you not consider our facilities for your reception and allow us to recommend alternate reception sites.

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Rental Rates

125 maximum guest count includes guests, children, and the wedding party.

Wedding Receptions

• May 15th through October 15th - Summer Rates
• January - May 14th and October 16th - November - Winter Rates

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Equipment Included in Rental

• 125 White Folding Chairs
• 15 - 5' Round Tables
• 5 - 6' x 2' Banquet Tables
• 50 - burgundy upholstered chairs - for indoor use only

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Tents

Due to logistical issues relative to the installation and removal of large tents as well as damage caused to automatic sprinkler systems, underground electrical systems, and turf areas, we can not permit large staked tents at the Phipps Mansion - smaller free standing canopies can be accommodated. Canopies must be installed and removed during the normal rental period.

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Fine Print

The Phipps Mansion is a non smoking facility (smoking outside is permitted).

The pianos in the Phipps Mansion can not be moved.

The use of fireworks is illegal in Denver County and they are not permitted on the Phipps Estate.

The Phipps Mansion is decorated in the spirit of the Christmas Season. It will not be possible to remove Christmas decorations during that period of time for individual events. Decorations will be in place between late November and the end of December.

Weed seed (known as birdseed), rice, flower petals, or confetti may not be thrown anywhere at the Phipps Estate. A popular alternative is to provide your guests with small containers of bubbles to be blown at you on your departure (outside only). Additional charges will be assessed for unusually heavy cleaning or damages following a wedding reception.

CHILDREN - Due to the value of the furnishings of the Mansion as well as the delicate nature of landscaping, it is imperative that parents take the responsibility for the CONTINUOUS supervision of their children. Many wedding parties have found that they can both protect the Phipps facilities as well as provide a more worry free experience for their guests, if they hire professionals to supervise the activities of children while at the Phipps Estate.

Your reservation time begins at the time specified on your contracts. No one, including guests, vendors or yourself may be on the property any earlier than that time. We do keep our doors locked prior to events so that there is an opportunity for us to clean and set up tables, chairs, etc. If you feel that early arrivals might be an issue, it would be our suggestion that your wedding invitation states a specific starting time for your reception rather than announcing that the "reception follows the ceremony."

The awnings at the Mansion are not in place between October 16 and April 15.

The formal garden area is available for your guests to enjoy. Generally, flowering plants are not in bloom between mid October and mid April. The garden area is not lit after dark and snow is not removed from that area during the winter months

Person or persons responsible shall and does hereby indemnify and save harmless the University of Denver (Colorado Seminary) from and against any and all claim, loss, damage, suit, or judgment arising out of or resulting from the use and occupancy of the Denver University campus, properties, and facilities by the person or by the person's family, guests, or service personnel, including without limitation any property of the University of Denver which may be damaged or stolen.

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Time Line

To summarize many of our policies, following is a typical time line for a Friday evening wedding and reception at the Phipps Mansion. This time line is presented as illustration, as each wedding and reception, being a most individual celebration, will vary somewhat in the area of the timing of catering and music.

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