The Clement Venue Handbook

1. Our DIY Philosophy

The Clement is a DIY-friendly venue designed to give you the flexibility to create your own event while keeping costs affordable. You’re welcome to enlist family and friends to help with decorating, setup, and cleanup, or you may purchase optional staff assistance services if you’d prefer us to handle some of the work.

Each optional service includes specific responsibilities. Please review the descriptions of any services you’ve purchased so everyone knows what to expect on event day.

2. Your Historic Space

The Clement occupies more than 43,000 square feet across two rehabilitated historic buildings. Your rental includes only those spaces specifically identified in your reservation agreement.

The Main Hall / Sanctuary

Approximately 2,572 square feet, 37 feet by 68 feet, featuring VCT flooring suitable for dining and dancing.

The Stage

A 135 square foot marble platform, perfect for ceremonies, presentations, or a DJ setup.

The Balcony

A 610 square foot carpeted area overlooking the sanctuary, providing additional seating and a unique vantage point.

Restrooms

One ADA-compliant restroom in the main hall, one restroom in the school building, and two restrooms in the basement.

3. Furniture Inventory & Use

We provide modern, matching furniture on-site to save you the cost and hassle of rentals.

Tables

• 12 60-inch round tables, seating approximately 8–10 adults each
• 3 72-inch round tables, seating approximately 10–12 adults each
• 10 8-foot banquet tables, seating approximately 8–10 adults each
• 4 42-inch high-top tables
• 12 matching high-top chairs
• 2 4-foot by 30-inch sweetheart tables
• Various square accent tables

Seating

• 97 wooden chairs
• 54 banquet stacking chairs

The 50-Guest Standard

As a courtesy, the venue is typically pre-set with tables and chairs for approximately 50 guests. You are welcome to rearrange this setup or add additional tables and chairs for guest counts up to 120.

Moving Furniture

You may move tables and chairs as needed, but please lift rather than drag them to protect our historic floors.

Pews & Bar

We have four 12-foot-6-inch wooden pews and a heavy wooden bar. Please use the provided moving dollies located in the kitchen if you wish to reposition these items.

4. Decorating Rules

Help us preserve our 120-year-old woodwork, plaster, carvings, and historic finishes by following these guidelines.

Fasteners

Only low-tack tape is permitted on floors, walls, and ceilings. Staples, nails, screws, or other penetrating fasteners on wood surfaces require prior written approval.

Glitter & Confetti

No glitter or loose confetti is permitted inside or outside the venue. Because these materials are extremely difficult to remove, their use may result in additional cleaning charges.

Fire Safety

No lit candles or open flames are permitted. Battery-operated candles and tea lights are strongly encouraged.

Ceiling Decorations

We offer a specialized suspended balloon ceiling service as an optional add-on. If you choose to install your own ceiling decorations, nothing may be attached to lighting fixtures, electrical outlets, switches, or electrical wiring.

Farewells

Bubbles and birdseed are permitted outdoors only. Sparklers are permitted only in the garden or parking lot. Rice, pyrotechnics, glitter, and confetti are prohibited.

5. Kitchen & Catering

Our commercial kitchen is available for your use or for your chosen outside caterer.

What You Provide

You must provide all cookware, pots and pans, knives, utensils, dishes, glassware, serving trays, serving utensils, and linens. These items are not provided by The Clement unless specifically agreed to in writing.

Caterer Walkthrough

If your caterer is new to The Clement, we strongly recommend they schedule a walkthrough at least 30 days before your event.

Sanitation

All food-preparation surfaces must be sanitized before and after use. Food should remain covered until service whenever possible.

Mandatory Kitchen Cleanup

The kitchen must be returned to its original clean condition.

Clients and caterers are responsible for cleaning all food-preparation areas and washing or removing any cookware, utensils, serving equipment, dishes, food containers, and related items used during the event.

Venue cleanup services apply only to event spaces and do not include kitchen cleanup unless specifically purchased in writing.

If food-related messes are left behind or the kitchen is not returned to clean condition, a minimum $50 cleaning fee may be deducted from your damage deposit.

Venue Property

Many decorative items, furnishings, pipe-and-drape components, signage, tables, chairs, and equipment located throughout The Clement are venue-owned property.

Please ensure that family members, wedding parties, caterers, DJs, photographers, florists, and other vendors do not accidentally pack or remove venue-owned items during cleanup and load-out.

If you are unsure whether an item belongs to the venue, please ask before removing it.

6. Alcohol / BYOB Policy

The Clement is a BYOB-friendly venue, allowing clients flexibility and cost savings.

Your Responsibility

You are the host of a private event and assume responsibility for the service and consumption of alcohol. This is why we require a signed BYOB Waiver and strongly recommend special event liability insurance.

Safe Service

You may not serve alcohol to minors, anyone visibly intoxicated, or anyone acting disorderly. Alcohol consumption in vehicles on the premises is prohibited.

Bartending

The Clement provides the physical bar only. The Clement does not provide alcohol, bartenders, liquor licenses, or alcohol service. Clients are responsible for arranging alcohol purchases and service personnel.

7. Music, Noise & Conduct

To remain good neighbors within our residential community, we enforce the following guidelines.

Music Cut-Off

All amplified music must conclude by 9:30 PM unless otherwise approved in writing.

Volume Control

Our on-site manager may request a volume reduction if sound becomes disruptive to neighboring properties.

Children

Children under 16 must be supervised by an adult at all times. Children are not permitted to wander the grounds, school building, basement, or other areas unattended.

Smoke-Free Facility

Smoking is prohibited inside all buildings and restrooms. Smoking is permitted only in designated outdoor areas.

8. Logistics: Parking & Transit

We regularly and successfully host events with more than 100 guests using a combination of parking options.

On-Site Parking

Our private parking lot accommodates approximately 19–20 vehicles.

Street Parking

Free street parking is available throughout the surrounding neighborhood.

Shuttle Services

For larger events, we recommend professional shuttle transportation.

Nearby Lodging

SpringHill Suites is located approximately 10 minutes away and is often a convenient option for guest room blocks.

9. Historic Equipment & Safety

1903 Church Bells

If you have added bell ringing to your package, please note that the bells cannot be operated when temperatures are below 20°F or when mechanical conditions make operation unsafe.

Our 1903 church bells are historic equipment and are intended for brief ceremonial use as part of your celebration. To help preserve them, bell ringing should be limited to a short celebratory period and is not intended for continuous, repeated, or recreational use.

Children are welcome to participate when directly supervised by a responsible adult. The Clement reserves the right to suspend bell ringing if it is being used in an unsafe manner or in a way that could damage the equipment.

Special Effects

Fog machines, haze machines, smoke effects, and similar devices are prohibited because they may trigger our fire detection systems. If an alarm is activated due to prohibited effects, the client may be responsible for any associated municipal or emergency response costs.

Emergency Access

All fire exits, hallways, stairways, and access routes must remain unobstructed at all times.

10. Setup & Breakdown Procedures

Your reservation window includes all setup, decorating, event time, and cleanup activities.

Additional Labor

Additional setup assistance, room flips, transportation assistance, and other labor services may be available for an additional charge. Please inquire regarding current rates and availability.

Exit Checklist

• Bag all trash and place it in designated disposal bins
• Remove all decorations
• Remove all food and beverages
• Remove all personal belongings
• Pick up debris from outdoor areas, including cigarette butts

Next-Day Pickup

All items should be removed by the end of your reservation. If the venue schedule permits, a morning-after pickup by 10:00 AM may be approved in advance. Availability is not guaranteed.

11. Photography & Tours

Event-Day Assistance

Our staff is available to answer questions, demonstrate venue features (such as the church bell), and assist with venue-related issues during your reservation.

Venue Marketing

The Clement reserves the right to photograph or record events for marketing and promotional purposes. Clients are welcome to take photographs and videos for personal use.

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