Average Base Cost: $19,000
Average base cost for an Elms Mansion and Garden, including tax and gratuity, is calculated by figuring a 150-person guest list, ceremony fee, and 6-hour reception on a Saturday night using the least expensive menu and bar options. They do not include transportation to/from the venue, or any optional fees. Numbers are rounded up to the nearest hundred.
How it breaks down:
Facility Rental Fee: $2,200 for a three-hour reception
Ceremony Fee: Garden ceremony fee is $675
Food: Food packages start at $46.50/pp and go up to $68.50/pp (plus optional additions such as carving stations, soup stations, etc. which run from $2-$12.50/pp). $85 fee for a station attendant.
Bar: Upgrade to the Premium bar (Stoli, Crown, Jack Daniels) is $6.50/pp.
Tax and Service: 20% service charge and 9% sales tax on food, beverage, and any rented equipment
Party On! Each additional hour starts at $1,850. Parties can run from 5 p.m. to 12 a.m.
What’s Included? Tables, chairs, service ware, linen, wait staff, wedding consultant, standard bar, champagne for bridal party photos, wedding “goody” bag and champagne, champagne flutes and cake knife to accent cake table
Extra Options: Tents are available for rental via a separate vendor.
More Stats:
Neighborhood: Garden District
Space Type: Inside/Outside
Size: Inside can accommodate 150 people if no assigned seating. Inside/Outside space combined can accommodate 200-250 people.
Food Service Type: Formal seated dinner is possible, though it’s not their specialty. Opt for the stations here.
Dressing Rooms Available: One
Elevator: Yes
Security Provided: Yes
Valet: No.
How Will Grandma Get There? The mansion is located right in the Garden District, about a 10-minute streetcar or cab ride away from the French Quarter. Streetcars are available for rental, starting from $750.
Things To Remember:
-If you want to have an inside-only event here, keep your # of guests to a comfortable 50
-Guest minimum is 100; Saturday evening guest minimum is 150
The Report:
The mansion is located right in the Garden District, about a 10-minute streetcar ride (or 5 minute cab ride) away from the French Quarter. The streetcar drops you off steps away from the white mansion, which is well-maintained with columns and a wrought-iron balcony There are four rooms downstairs: a decent-sized “music room” where the bands set up if you choose to have them inside, and it also serves as a small dance floor. The room also contains the interior bar. The other three rooms are two parlors (one of which they use for cake-cutting), and the “dining room” where the food stations are set up. The outside area is accessible via a separate door (which does not open for a natural flow from the house), and is large enough to contain a raised deck, garden and gazebo, where most ceremonies take place. An additional room upstairs is for small, seated dinners up to 100.
Woman Getting Married Says:
I like the idea of a mansion for a wedding venue, but one thing you definitely have to consider is the size of your guest list, and how into having your seating be outside. It’s hard to establish a nice flow if you only want to utilize the inside, since there are several rooms instead of one or two big ones. Your only option for a seated dinner inside at Elms Mansion is in the upstairs room, where there is only room for 100 people and no space for a band or other form of entertainment. I think it’s a bit awkward to have to go upstairs to eat, but some people might not mind that. Your best bet in this venue is to go with food stations located inside, and seating outside either with or without a tent, depending how brave you are.
