Wedding Receptions at the Phipps Mansion Saturday Evenings and Sundays

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 you 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 outside seated 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.
• 80 persons seated theater style under West portico area for a ceremony (summer).

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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

Wedding Receptions

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

For an additional $500.00 fee, a one-hour rehearsal is available which will be scheduled according to our availability. When your final payment is made 30 days prior to your wedding, we will inform you of the scheduled date and time for your rehearsal. Ceremonies must still be conducted within the reserved 5 hours of guest time.

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

Saturday Evening - Ceremony begins at 5:00 pm; Reception immediately follows and event is complete with all guests gone by 10:00 pm.

Saturday Morning - Ceremony begins at 9:30 am; Reception immediately follows and event is complete with all guests gone by 2:30 pm.

Sunday - Ceremony and reception may begin at any time. Your event is still limited to five hours and must end no later than 7:00 pm.

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Alcoholic Beverages

Alcoholic beverages, which you supply, may be served as long as they are served by an employee of your catering service. 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.

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 night 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

Wedding Ceremonies and Rehearsals

An additional fee is charged for a ceremony and rehearsal. The fee provides for one half hour additional guest time for ceremony, one hour on Friday afternoon for your rehearsal, and one and one-half hour to dress and do photography prior to your ceremony.  Please contact our office at 303.871.3442 for ceremony and rehearsal costs.

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Equipment Included in Rental of Phipps Mansion

• 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 are not allowed on the Phipps Estate.

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.

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.

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, is would be our suggestion that your wedding invitation states a specific starting time for the reception rather than announcing that the "reception follows the ceremony."

The awnings at the Mansion are installed on approximately May 15th and removed on approximately October 15th depending upon weather conditions and sub-contractor schedules - please check with us for specific dates.

The formal garden areas between the Phipps Mansion and Phipps Tennis Pavilion are for the enjoyment of all Estate guests and are not exclusively included in the rental of either the Mansion or the Tennis Pavilion. The Conference Center will do its very best to maintain this area in good order; however, since weather conditions can greatly affect the day-to-day condition of outside garden areas, no guarantee is made either implied or expressed as to the condition of the garden area on any given date.

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 Saturday afternoon wedding and reception at the Phipps Mansion. In the event of a reception only, in this illustration, the building and grounds would open at 3:30 for caterer and musician setup, with the guests and wedding party arriving at 5:00. 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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