Frequently Asked Questions
How do we book?
Booking is easy. We handle all contracts and payments right online. We do require a 50% non-refundable retainer to hold your date. The remaining 50% will be due one month before your wedding date. The next step? Shoot us an email and we will put together a proposal for your review so you can lock in your desired date!
How many people can you accommodate?
The Lincoln Loft can accommodate up to 150 seated guests for a ceremony and dinner reception with a flip. Please note - Although our space is large enough to accommodate 150+ we think the sweet spot for a ceremony & reception is 100-125 guests.
What is included in our space rental?
- a 12 hour space rental from 10am - 10pm
- 24 handmade farm tables and 200 classic wooden bentwood chairs
- a custom built bar & five french cocktail tables
- an all-inclusive specialty rental décor package with PLV to include displays, lounge, sweetheart table
centerpieces and more (see what that looks like - here)
- a warehouse meeting with PLV to select specialty rentals
- one hour of complimentary studio time to use before your wedding
(can be used during engagement photos + is a great way to scope out potential photo spots with your photographer for the big day!)
- use of our styling kit on wedding day - your photographer will thank you.
- simple white china to include silver flatware & water goblets
- a day-of coordinator & final details meeting (usually scheduled one month out)
- a bridal suite with styled lounges, natural light, dress racks & more
- setup & breakdown of tables & a customized floor plan for your wedding
- an on site kitchenette prep area & dishwashing station for your caterer
- heating & air conditioning
Can we bring in our own vendors?
Yes, but they must be licensed and insured. We do have a list of preferred vendors that we have worked with before and highly recommend. We do require any new vendors provide us with a certificate of insurance. See our preferred vendor list here.
Is this space handicap accessible?
Yes and the building just installed a new ADA certified elevator that pops up right on our floor.
Where do we park?
The JB Wise Parking Lot behind our building is the best spot to park!
What dates are available?
You can see our available wedding dates here.
Do I need to schedule a tour or can I just stop by?
Our days off vary from week to week depending on our weekend schedule! While we are often here, we would hate to miss you. Please send us an email to book a tour with us or fill out our tour request form here.
What is the average budget of a couple getting married at The Lincoln Loft & Studio?
Budgets can vary but we believe the overall budget for a couple getting married at The Lincoln Loft & Studio is between $16,000-$20,000. This would include all vendors (venue, dress, photographer, catering, dj/band, florals, etc). We have had creative couples with smaller guest counts host beautiful events in the $12,000 - $15,000 range and have had plenty of stunning weddings that exceed our average budget.
Do we have to utilize your caterers and bar service?
The Lincoln Loft & Studio holds our own liquor license and will provide your bar service. We do require you to choose a caterer from our pre-approved catering list to ensure the best service in our space. You can see our pre-approved catering options here.
Are there overnight accommodations nearby?
You bet! See our favorite options here.
Do you provided china, silverware & glassware for dinner service?
We do. Some of our catering partners do not require our dishware and prefer to use their own dishware or high end disposables. Our items are included with your space rental but the dishwashing service is not included. Use of our china, flatware and glassware is dependent on your chosen caterer and if they provide dish washing service in our space or not.
We plan to have our ceremony offsite, or only plan to have our ceremony at The Lincoln Loft & Studio. Does your fee change?
The Lincoln Loft & Studio only hosts one wedding per day. Because of that -our pricing structure does not change.
Do you allow dogs onsite to play a part in our wedding day?
We are a pet friendly venue! We ask that you get pre-approval from us before bringing your dog on-site. We do ask that your furry friend attends for the ceremony only and than heads outside for some photos before their departure. Your pup must be on a leash at all times and you must have a dedicated person to watch your dog (other than you.) We do not allow dogs in the cocktail hour area / where food is being served and ask that they arrive 15 minutes or so before the ceremony.
My preferred dates are unavailable. Do you have a cancellation waiting list?
Yes, we do! Please note that cancellations are rare but do happen. Please email or give us a call to get on the cancellation list. If you can be flexible with your date, you can see other options here.
Where can I find pictures of the rentals & décor available?
You can see included rentals and the PLV inventory here. Please note that you will need to set up your warehouse meeting with Pretty Little Vintage Co. after booking.
What time will I have access to the venue to decorate?
You will have access to decorate at 10:00am the day of the wedding. Please make vendors aware and plan accordingly.
What does the "day-of coordinator" do on wedding day?
Our day-of coordinator will be on site the whole day of the wedding to open up the loft and suite, coordinate setup of vendors, answer any questions, setup bridal suite upgrades and make sure the day goes smoothly. Our day-of coordinator will act as an extra set of hands if you're bringing in your own décor and will line up the bridal party for the ceremony.
What are our catering options at The Lincoln Loft & Studio?
After letting anyone cater in our space the last few years, we have decided to narrow down the options to best serve you. These caterers have been in our space before and provide a great level of service to our guests. Please see our pre-approved catering options here.
Does The Lincoln Loft & Studio handle the catering orders for these caterers, or do I work with the caterer directly?
We don't want to get in the way! Booking your caterer is easy though. We recommend reaching out to them after booking with us to get the ball rolling. You will directly work with your caterer to book your date, plan your menu and finalize any details but we will be here if you have any questions along the way.
What time do you suggest that we start the ceremony?
We suggest a ceremony start time of 4:00! If you are getting married in the late fall / winter - we suggest a 3:00 ceremony start time to ensure enough sunlight for photos.
Do you include an on-site rehearsal for our ceremony?
We do not include rehearsals on site. We cover a lot of the details / questions you may have in our questionnaire and at your final details meeting. The Lincoln Loft & Studio will likely be booked the day before your wedding. We recommend an off site rehearsal to practice the lineup. If your dj or officiant would like a better understanding of our venue and the layout, we would be happy to hop on a call with them.
What time does the music need to end?
Our end time is 10:00pm. We suggest last call at 9:30.
We are using a rental company. Can they drop items off or pick them up outside of the rental period?
We do ask that all deliveries are within your rental timeframe.
Are candles allowed?
We do allow real candles in tealight form or in glass protected vessels. We do not allow tapered candles.
Is it possible to seat more than 10 to a table?
Our handmade farm tables seat 8-10 guests comfortably for dinner service. We do not recommend squeezing in any more than that.
How far in advance do you need our final headcount?
We would love to have your final guest count a month out or at your final details meeting.
Are outside snacks and trays permitted?
We do allow outside food before the ceremony BUT - to make it easy for you, we have put together a lot of great in-house options and it's one less thing to worry about / carry in on the day of. See our bridal suite upgrade options here.
*We do NOT allow outside alcohol.
What is the event clean-up process?
We ask that your caterers handle trash removal during their time on site. The Lincoln Loft & Studio staff will handle cleaning of the space, trash removal after dinner service and gathering of your personal décor items. Please note that all personal décor items, leftovers and vendor equipment must be taken out the night of the wedding.
Where do I get my marriage license?
You can get your marriage license at the Watertown City Clerk's Office at 245 Washington Street, Watertown, NY 13601. You can call ahead to 315-785-7780 to set up a time or stop in Monday through Friday between 8:30 am to 4:00 pm.
* Please Note: New York State requires a full 24-hour waiting period before the marriage license can be used for a wedding ceremony.
It's $40 payable by cash and you can read more from their website here.
How do I obtain my one day event insurance?
What you're looking for is a one-day special event insurance policy. Most insurance companies can provide this -- just tell them you're having an event and need one day event coverage for your venue -- We typically recommend going through an insurance company that you already have a relationship with but you can also use services like theeventhelper.com
The policy should include commercial general liability for no less than $1,000,000 combined single limit for bodily injury and property damage and Host Liquor Liability. Be sure the policy lists "The Lincoln Loft & Studio" as additionally insured and send us the certificate of coverage at least a week prior to the event.
Are gratuities included in our rental fee?
We do not include gratuities in our rental fee at The Lincoln Loft & Studio.
Please note, if you choose to have an open bar at your event, there will be an 18% gratuity applied to any open bar package invoice.
Additional tips are never expected but always greatly appreciated and that we LOVE to see our loft manager / day-of coordinator's hard work recognized by our amazing couples.
Do I need to tip all vendors?
This is a "use your best judgement" kind of question. We believe that all vendors should do their job (and do it well) before tips are distributed. We often see them handed out before the reception even starts. Please note: It is customary to tip most vendors! There are a lot of helpful tipping etiquette articles online. If you have further questions on this, please inquire within!
Did we miss anything? We are happy to answer any questions you might have about our space. Ask us anything here.