Weddings on the Prairie

We book events up to one year in advance.

Conner Prairie provides a venue coordinator who works with you leading up to your event to develop an accurate BEO (banquet event order), and ensures the BEO details are executed through the day of your event. The venue coordinator ensures the site is set properly, catering runs smoothly, and any facilities issues that may arise are handled.

We highly recommend hiring a professional event planner to coordinate all vendors (photographers, florists, disc jockeys, etc.) and to oversee your ceremony-day details.

All catering will be provided by one of our four outstanding catering partners. They offer a wide variety of options and price points to create your perfect menu. 

A minimum guarantee must be confirmed with your caterer 14 days prior to your wedding date. We will also need this number for final room setup details.

Ceremonies held away from the contracted reception space may be subject to additional setup and equipment fees.

The ceremony rehearsal is arranged as a courtesy through the venue coordinator. Approximately one hour is allotted, and must not interfere with any other scheduled event. Though not guaranteed, every effort is made to hold rehearsal at the ceremony location.

As a courtesy to wedding clients, rentals typically include six hours of access for decorating and rehearsal the day prior to the contracted event. This is based on availability and not guaranteed. All arrivals for vendors and/or wedding party must be arranged in advance and included in the BEO.

Your wedding party and vendor arrival times are pre-arranged and included in your BEO, which documents access times to prep rooms, ceremony and reception site(s). Some venues may have time limitations based on museum programming. All events must end by 11:00pm, unless otherwise contracted.

Conner Prairie’s historic grounds are available for photography before opening at 10 a.m. or after closing at 5 p.m. Non-historic locations are available all day. A staff member will be provided to escort you and your photographer to all sites. Access to the grounds any date other than the date of your contracted wedding may require an additional fee.

Food safety regulations preclude allowing food to be taken away from the premises, packed in to-go containers or left out longer than the set serving time.

Send-off ideas must be discussed with your venue coordinator prior to the event. Rice, confetti, balloons, Chinese lanterns, bubbles and sparklers are not permitted on the grounds.

Conner Prairie makes weather safety a top priority, while also striving for a successful event. We cannot be held liable for weather or any cause beyond the museum’s control. Refunds are not given for changes due to weather, with the exception of 1859 Balloon Voyage.

Your initial payment of the venue reservation fee confirms your contract. Your contract is revised when the contract details are confirmed and minimum guarantee is given no less than 14 days prior to your event. Pre-payment is due at this time based on this estimate. Any items added after this time on consumption, or an increase in guest count, will be invoiced after the event. Credit cards or other pre-approved methods of payment may be arranged for after-event invoicing.

Food and beverage contracts are assessed an 9% sales tax with a 20% service charge added to the final bill. All consumption-based components and/or "add-ons" to the contract are invoiced within five (5) business days following the event via your pre-arranged method of payment.

All deposits are non-refundable, but your deposit may be transferred to an alternative date. If your event is cancelled fewer than 60 days prior to the event, a cancellation fee of up to 100 percent of the estimated charges on the event agreement may be assessed.

Parking is always free. However, for weddings held on the same day as a Conner Prairie special event, parking for all guests is on a first come, first served basis.