Frequently Asked Questions
Venue & Location
Where is the venue located?
4 miles west Cambridge, Minnesota and one hour north of Minneapolis on HWY 65.
Our address is: 33262 Palm St NW Cambridge, MN 55008
What is the max capacity?
Our maximum capacity is 225 guests. All guests count toward this total number including the wedding couple, wedding party, and any children who will require their own seat at the table for dinner. We have a few booster seats and high chairs available if needed. Vendors and venue staff don't count toward the max capacity guest count unless they require a seat in the reception hall for dinner. Our vendor room can accommodate any vendors needing a spot for dinner.
What are the hours of operation?
Friday & Saturday 9am-11pm, Sunday – Thursday 9am-9pm
What else is nearby?
Cambridge is a very accommodating town. Below is a list of some of the businesses in town that may be convenient during your time here.
Supplies/grocery:
Walmart, Target, Menards, Fleet farm, Cub foods, Aldi, Wallgreens
Restaurants:
Leader, Applebee's, Perkins, Taco Johns, Culvers, Jimmy Johns, Arby's, McDonald's, PizzaHut (delivers to Pinewood), Subway, Wendy's, Sidelines, Dairy Queen
Coffee:
Caribou, Starbucks, Leader
Golf:
Purple Hawk, Sanbrook, K&A Mini Golf
Where is the nearest hotel and accommodations?
The Grand Stay hotel is located 4 miles away in Cambridge. The next closest is the Best Western Hotel in Isanti, 8 miles away. Find more info and several other options on the Lodging page of our website, and in the "The Area" section of your wedding dashboard.
Please note that Isanti County hosts a number of community events througout the year where lodging in the area books up quicker than normal, so be sure to reach out right away to check availability with the hotels nearby for your wedding date!
Is the venue wheelchair accessible?
Yes it is! We have wheelchair accessible parking spaces, bathrooms, and an elevator to access the upstairs. There are also wheelchair accessible spots at the outdoor ceremony site.
Is there on-site parking?
We have 110 parking spots in our private lot on-site. Street parking is not allowed.
Please carpool and let your guests know this as well! We highly recommend a shuttle if your guest count is over 200.
Overnight parking is okay, with pickup before noon the following day.
Rental Details & Policies
What’s included in the rental cost?
The rental cost includes the use of the entire building, including ceremony room, reception room, all common areas, bathrooms, outdoor patio, and two private suites for the entire day. Tables and chairs for up to 225 guests for reception and ceremony. You will also be able to access and use the 10 acre property with beautiful towering pines. We will never book more than one event at the same time, so you get the whole space for the whole day!
Can we add onto our rental time?
This might be possible depending on your event date and chosen package. Our hours of operation are set by the city, so we have certain rules that we must comply with depending on day of the week. Please inquire for more details around your specific date + package.
How do we reserve a date?
Head on over to our Inquiry page and fill out the form! Once we finalize details, we will send you a proposal containing the contract and invoice for you can put a retainer down to reserve the date. The retainer to book is $1,000.
Do we need to hire a security guard?
No. There will be a facility manager on site to ensure safety during your event when the bar is open. This is complimentary of the venue and there will be no additional charge for this service!
Do we need event insurance?
Yes, as of November of 2022, we do require event liability insurance for all events taking place at Pinewood. Please reach out to our team if you have any questions or need help finding the best option.
Do you allow smoking?
There is a designated smoking area which is the only place smoking is allowed on the property. It is located on the north side of the building where the reception room doors lead to the parking lot. All butts must be disposed of inside the provided canisters.
No smoking or vaping is allowed indoors at all. Our venue is a tobacco-free and drug-free building. If guests, invitees, or other individuals are found to be engaging in illegal activity such as smoking marijuana on the premises, the venue reserves the right to call the authorities.
The Facility Manager will be checking on compliance and operating on a 1 strike policy.
Do you allow pets?
We LOVE having your furry friends! Pets that belong to the couple getting married will be allowed at the venue on the day of the event — just not on furniture. Pets must be kenneled in suites if unattended .Please inquire with us for further details :)
Setup, Décor, and Equipment
Will your staff help with setup and tear-down of my décor?
When you arrive at Pinewood, our Venue Manager will set up the tables and chairs in the ceremony and reception for you, so all you have to do is decorate them.
Our Venue Manager will be on site all day to answer any questions you and your vendors have, but they will not be involved in set up or tear down of personal decor, executing your timeline, or coordinating your wedding party/family throughout the day.
Your Day of Coordinator will handle all of those more personal tasks while our Venue Manager will be working more behind the scenes to get everything ready on the venue side of things!
Can we choose the layout for tables and chairs?
Yes, we have a few options for table and chair layouts and can help you plan your table layout whenever you're ready!
When can vendors arrive to set up?
All vendors are allowed to arrive at the start of your rental time. If a vendor is requesting to come early to set up, it will be included in your rental time and invoiced accordingly.
What time can we arrive on the day of our event?
Your event package specifies a designated arrival time when our staff will unlock the venue for access. If you'd like to arrive earlier, you or your vendors may access the venue starting as early as 8:00 AM, provided additional hours are purchased in advance and approved by our staff.
Can we have our rehearsal dinner or start setting up the night before our event?
If there is not an event the day before yours, you will be able to rent the space for your rehearsal dinner or set up at an hourly rate! However, hourly reservations cannot be made until 3 months before the desired date and until then, will remain available for full-day rentals.
Do you provide sound equipment and speakers, or will those need to be rented or provided by the entertainment?
We do not provide sound equipment, video screens, or projectors. We recommend you hire a third-party company like a professional DJ for all audio/visual needs.
Can we get married outside in the winter?
Winter weddings are hosted primarily indoors due to the weather we experience in Minnesota between November and April.
However, if there is no snow or ice on the benches, aisle, or ground, we can host your ceremony outside free of charge! When there is snow and ice on the outdoor ceremony site, you have the option to pay the $500 cost of having our snow removal team come out to clear the site to the best of their ability.
If this request is arranged in advance, we can be flexible in allowing an outdoor ceremony in the winter (pending safe conditions for your guests).
Do you rent outdoor heaters?
On our patio we have heaters connected to the outside of the building that can be turned on upon request to keep your guests comfortable on a cold night. We will also have an outdoor fire pit for additional warmth. If you'd like additional heaters to put away from the building, these would have to be rented from a 3rd party.
Do you allow candles?
Yes, enclosed candles are allowed but open flames are not allowed anywhere on the property. Candles may only be used inside of the building if they're contained inside a glass container a few inches taller than the wick to protect the flame from any decorations.
Absolutely no candles of any kind are allowed outside of the building or anywhere else on the property. Pinewood is located in a forest, and pine needles are extremely flammable. We want to keep our trees safe! In the same respect, we do not allow sparklers.
Vendors, Catering, and Coordination
Can we bring in any vendors we’d like?
The only requirement is that we have an exclusive bartender to ensure you are provided with the best service from a staff who works at Pinewood frequently.
We do have a list of preferred caterers for dinner that you can choose from who have spend a lot of time at Pinewood and we know will serve you well! We highly recommend choosing a caterer from our list but do not enforce it.
For all other vendors, you're free to bring whomever you'd like! If you’re looking for some advice, please see our list of preferred vendors that we love working with on the Vendors page! We've worked with hundreds of vendors over the years and suggest only the very best. If you are looking for additional help with vendor selection please feel free to reach out to us!
Can we choose any caterer?
We have a preferred vendor list for our catering and exclusive bartending to ensure you are provided with the best service for dinner. While you are not required to use our preferred caterers, we highly recommend them for their outstanding service.
Please note, all caterers will be subject to a 10% venue service fee on food only (on or off the preferred list). All caterers must be licensed, provide full-service catering, and also fill out a catering contract with Pinewood before they‘re able to serve on-site. Find more info on the Catering page.
Why do we need a professional day-of coordinator?
We require that all wedding couples hire a professional Day of Coordinator. While our Venue Manager would be more than happy to lend a hand throughout your event, there are many facility-related tasks throughout the day that we must attend to to keep your event running smoothly.
We've learned that our clients have the very best experience when they hire a professional DOC who can be there to take charge of all the details on the day of!
They will take all of the details you've planned and execute them on the wedding day. They work closely with your vendors, wedding party, and family to fulfill your timeline by making sure everyone is where they need to be when they need to be there. They can also assist with set up or tear down of your personal decor as needed, will line up everyone to get down the aisle, and cue you for grand entrance, speeches, first dances, etc.
With a Day of Coordinator, you can rest assured knowing that you (AND your family + friends) can sit back, and enjoy your wedding day!
What are the responsibilities of the venue manager?
Our venue manager will be on-site all day to prepare the building and execute all venue-related tasks. They are responsible for tasks such as opening and closing the building, setting up and breaking down the tables and chairs according to the floor plan, ensuring the cleanliness of the venue, restocking the bathrooms, adjusting the temperature, answering any venue-related questions you and your vendors have throughout the day, and overseeing the facility side of things throughout the event. They will not be involved in decor set up or tear down, executing the timeline of your events, or coordinating your wedding party/family. These tasks will be handled by your professional Day of Coordinator!
STEP INTO stress-free EVENT PLANNING
EVENT PLANNING
Reach out to our team to discover how Pinewood can make your special day unforgettable.
