Frequently Asked Questions
VENUE AMENITIES – Harvest Moon Pond has heat and A/C so guests will be comfortable no matter what the weather is like. We have restrooms on the main level with a baby changing station and additional restrooms in the lower level. Find more information about our Wisconsin wedding venue cost.
PARKING/OVERNIGHT VEHICLES – We have ample paved on-site parking plus an overflow parking area. We want everyone to be safe, so we do allow guests to leave their car parked overnight at the property. All vehicles must be removed by 9am the following day or could be subject to towing.
ALCOHOL – No Client (s), guest, vendor or other person (s) is permitted to at any time bring alcoholic beverages onto the Harvest Moon Pond property (venue/parking lot/etc) as this is a direct violation of Wisconsin Law. Violations of this law subject Harvest Moon Pond to having it’s liquor license suspended or revoked so we take this very seriously.
BAR SERVICE – Harvest Moon Pond holds a beer, wine & liquor license and provides all bar services for guests. Enjoy the beverages provided by the couple, or purchase from our wide array of other beverages to enjoy. We accept debit/credit cards and cash for purchases. Sorry, there is no ATM on site.
VENDORS – While Harvest Moon Pond does operate the bar services, all other vendors providing services during an event are contracted by our clients. If you really enjoyed your experience with or have feedback about a specific vendor, we would love to hear about others’ experiences. The best way to let us know is to email us at [email protected]
SMOKING & VAPING – Designated smoking & vaping areas include out the main building entrance and on the north side of the barn near the silo. Smoking and vaping are prohibited on the back deck or patio. Smoking and vaping is not permitted anywhere inside the venue, including but not limited to the dressing rooms and restrooms.
PETS – We are pet lovers here at Harvest Moon Pond, however to ensure a clean venue, kept grounds, safety and comfort to all your guests, we do not permit guests to bring pets in the venue, on the grounds, or to be left in vehicles. Special exceptions are made for wedding couples to bring pets once approved.
OUTDOOR CEREMONIES – Harvest Moon Pond is known for our outdoor ceremony locations we offer May-October. If the couple chooses an outside ceremony, please be prepared to bring an extra layer if the temperature is a little cool. Our most popular ceremony locations are held in the grass, so please be prepared with proper footwear. In the case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be moved indoors and can be held in our upper loft area accessible by stairs only.
NURSING/PUMPING – If you have a little one you’d like to feed or pump for in private, please discuss with your host about using one of the dressing rooms in our lower level. Please come prepared with your own insulated storage for milk as we cannot store this in our beverage coolers.
LOST ITEMS – All items left at the venue are sent home with the event hosts at the end of the evening, so please check with your event host for any missing items. If any items are found after the conclusion of the event, we reach out to the event host to notify them the following morning. Left items that are not picked up within 7 days will be donated to a local Goodwill/St. Vincent de Paul.
LODGING/HOTELS – There are 3 hotels within 10 miles of Harvest Moon Pond and several others within 20 miles. Check out our blog post on the top hotels near Poynette, WI.
THINGS TO ENJOY IN THE AREA – Welcome to Poynette, WI! We are a quaint little town just 20 minutes north of Madison. Enjoy a quiet pace in our neck of the woods while supporting other small businesses. Check out our blog on the best things to do in Poynette, WI.
DIRECTIONS – From Madison: take State Rd. 22 North towards Poynette & turn right on Allen Drive. to access our main entrance. Please use our main entrance and NOT the entrance near the white farm house.
General Information:
What are the Vendor Insurance Requirements?
All vendors must be insured and provide documents to Harvest Moon Pond prior to being approved. Exceptions include: officiant and vendors who will not be on site (e.g., floral that is being picked up from the floral shop, hotels, dress/tux shops, etc). Any vendor providing food shall provide their license and insurance regardless if they will be onsite or not. Please pass the insurance requirements below on to your insurance agent so they can send us your COI.
Any VENDOR of goods and services: must maintain a minimum of $1 million in General Liability Insurance
Such insurance shall include the name of the business who is insured.
Such insurance shall include a waiver of subrogation.
Such insurance shall name Harvest Moon Pond as an additional insured.
Such insurance shall include the date you are providing services.
Since we do not have a contract with you as a vendor, please make sure no language is included regarding that.
View a sample COI: Click here
Do I need to schedule a tour or can I just stop by?
We kindly ask that all tours are by appointment only as the barn is not open to the public. In addition to your private tour, couples who book at Harvest Moon Pond are invited to attend any of our quarterly open houses.
What is the building capacity?
225 guests including the wedding party for reception. 200 for ceremony. Sunday, weekday and off season capacity is 150 guests.
What dates are available?
Please see the available dates on our calendar. We do not keep a cancellation waiting list because cancellations are unpredictable.
What is the rental fee and what does it include?
Find all the details you need about our transparent Wisconsin wedding venue cost.
When the contract is signed, to secure the date, we require a 50% 1st payment. The final payment will be required 6 months prior to the event. For all venue rental fees, decor packages, and pre-paid bar minimums we accept cash or check
We plan to have our ceremony offsite or only plan to have our ceremony at Harvest Moon Pond. Does your fee change?
Because we only host one event per day, our fee structure remains the same whether you hold your ceremony, reception, or both onsite.
What is the average budget of a couple getting married at Harvest Moon Pond?
We believe the average budget of a couple getting married at Harvest Moon Pond is between $20,000-$40,000 for all wedding expenses (venue, food, dress, DJ, photographer, etc.). We have had some creative couples with smaller guest lists host beautiful weddings in the $20,000 – $25,000 range on Fridays/Sundays and we have had several lovely events here spending significantly more than the average.
Do we have to choose vendors from your list?
A DJ and Caterer must be chosen from our list. All of your favorite outside wedding vendors are welcome here as long as they meet our insurance requirements.
How far in advance do you need our final headcount?
We will need your final guest count 30 days prior to your wedding day to staff accordingly.
How do I obtain a marriage license?
Please check your County Clerk of Courts Office for the required fee amount & documents needed.
Effective July 1, 2022, a marriage license can be obtained from the County Clerk of any county in Wisconsin, and further allows the marriage ceremony to be performed in any county in Wisconsin.
Applications must be made at least 3 FULL DAYS before a license is issued. The 3 day waiting period begins after the date of application and ends on the 4th day, which is also the issuance day. Keep in mind that we do not issue licenses on weekends or holidays, so plan accordingly. The ceremony may take place on the date the license is issued or any time within 60 days thereafter. The 3 day waiting period may be waived for an additional fee. However, the waiver is only granted for a good cause that is approved by the County Clerk. This waiver MUST be requested NO LATER than 3 FULL days in advance of the marriage date. If you believe you may qualify for a waiver, call our office as soon as possible.
When you apply, you will have to tell them the date and location of the ceremony (the county and city, town or village the ceremony will take place in). In addition, they need the officiant’s name, address and phone written on paper. (Harvest Moon Pond is located in Poynette, WI and in Columbia County)
Planning Questions
Can we nail decorations to the walls or hang things like streamers or lanterns from the beams?
Since our barn was built in 1865, we want to preserve the history and do not allow for additional nails. We will have areas where hooks are already placed that you are welcome to use for any additional decorations. We hope that you will find them beautiful without any extra work!
What time do you suggest we start the ceremony?
HMP ceremonies must take place at 4pm or later. We suggest starting Friday & Saturday weddings between 4:30- 5:30 pm, and Sunday weddings at 4:00 pm. Please consider the time of the year for first look photos and the time the sun sets.
Can we have fireworks on the property?
Fireworks are not permitted. This includes sparklers. We don’t want to scare the neighbors/farm animals and we want to keep the fire department happy!
What time does the music need to end?
Music on Friday’s/Saturday’s must conclude by 11 p.m. to ensure that you, all of your items, and all of your vendors are off-property by midnight. Music on Sunday’s/Weeknights must conclude one hour before contract end time.
Are candles allowed?
Yes, candles are allowed as long as the flame is completely contained in a glass candle holder. They are also only allowed on the tables and NOT around the exterior of the barn, the stairs, etc. due to the old barn wood. Tapered candles and any type of hanging candles will not be allowed for safety reasons. Many couples use battery operated candles which are a great option.
What is the event clean-up process?
Harvest Moon Pond staff will handle all standard clean up and trash removal throughout and following the wedding reception. All decor, gifts, personal belongings must be removed from the venue by the end of your contract time.
