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  • Day-of Coordinator Questions Answered

    At The Balmoral House, we are very excited to have added Day-of Coordination to our offerings for your wedding day. You've worked for weeks or months coordinating people and places and things to design your perfect wedding, but you want to enjoy the day now that it's here. On your wedding day, you're going to be pulled in a million directions. Old friends will want to say hello, you'll want to focus, get ready, and people will be asking you far too many questions. And that's just before the ceremony starts. A Balmoral House Day-of Coordinator can help you avoid chaos and make sure your day runs smoothly so you can truly enjoy your special day. We wanted to answer some commonly asked questions about our service: What services are included in Day of Coordination? Assist On-Site with ceremony rehearsal. Coordinate pre-ceremony food & beverage services. Set up ceremony & reception spaces. Meet caterers, vendors and deliveries & deliver final payments and/or tips. Assist with decor set up. Greet and direct guests. Make sure that the wedding party is on time and in the right places. Wedding party lineup for ceremony. Wedding party lineup for reception grand entrance. Coordinate reception timeline. Tear down and pack decor. Collect personal items for exit. Loading gifts for exit. Coordinate Send Off. Coordinate returning rentals. Ensure space is left clean. Solving last-minute emergencies. How is the day of Coordination different than a Wedding Planner? Full Service Wedding Planning includes assisting in the selection of all vendors, negotiating contracts, and designing the look and feel of your wedding. These services may begin at any point from day of engagement till all decisions for your event are complete. Some planners may or may not include day of coordination. The Balmoral House Day of Coordination starts at your venue selection meeting when you already have selected all of your vendors, signed all contracts and have made your decisions about your wedding. Your day of coordinator is your on-site assistance. Will the Day of Coordinator pick up any items off of the Balmoral House property? The Day of Coordinator provides only on-site assistance. Any running errands or tasks that are outside of the Balmoral House property will need to be handled by someone else. When do I need to determine add this service to my Balmoral House Wedding experience? You can schedule Day of Coordinator when you book your venue or at your venue selection meeting. We request you make your decision at least 2 months out from your wedding. How is the Day of Coordinator selected? Balmoral House Management reviews all wedding dates with our staff and assigns the Day of Coordinator based upon availability of our staff. Can I request my Day of Coordinator? You are welcome to request one of our staff and we will try to meet your request. However, we cannot guarantee that they are available to work your wedding. Will I still have a Venue Manager? Your Day of Coordinator can also be your venue manager based upon your specific wedding needs. What other Balmoral House staff will work with my Day of Coordinator? Depending on your guest count and your wedding specifics, there will be additional event assistants on site working together as a collaborative team. When do I pay for these services? A 50% deposit will be required at the time of your venue planning meeting or no later than one week after your Venue Selection Meeting. This is a non-refundable deposit. The balance will be due at the time of your final payment. What is the cancellation policy if something happens and my wedding is cancelled? The deposit is non-refundable due to the services that started at the venue selection meeting. The balance is refundable only if you cancel the services 30 days before your wedding. If the cancellation is less than 30 days then the balance is non-refundable.

  • Kyleigh & Demos

    Gelopulos Wedding! On November 2nd, 2019, Kyleigh and Demos said "I do" along side 115 of their close friends and family! They enjoyed the warmth of Eaton Hall where the ceremony took place under a handmade arch created by the groom and his father. Kyleigh looked stunning when she walked down the aisle. The couple put their own touch on their day by celebrating with Donuts at the reception! Kyleigh and Demos wanted to share their love for donuts with their guests! After a brief Cocktail Hour in Celebration Hall, Eaton Hall was transformed for dinner and dancing- the reception of their dreams! The Indoor reception was in Eaton Hall where the celebration began! They danced their hearts out! The couple used burgundy and navy throughout their day to accent the spirit of the fall season! We loved being a part of their day! Meet the Vendors Photographer: Rakoteet Photography Donuts: Jacks Donuts Catering: Jonathon Byrds DJ: DJ Rock my World

  • Balmoral 2019 Trends!

    Take a look at all the great trends we have been apart of throughout 2019! We loved seeing all the creativity and personal touches each Balmoral Bride incorporated throughout their day! These are just a few trends we saw from 2019 brides. 1. Romantic & Soft Florals 2019 was the year full of soft and light floral designs. Instead of loud and bold florals Balmoral brides opted for a more calm and romantic feel. These florals add a vintage traditional feel to their big day. Photo: Jennifer Van Elk, Florals: RK Florals, Planner: Magical Moments Event Planning Photo: Alison Mae Photography, Florals: Special Occasions by Chrissy, Planner: Magical Moments Event Planning Photo: Heather Sherrill Photography, Florals: Molly and Myrtle, Planner: Lisa Norris Photo: Beth Wilson Photography, Florals: JP Parker Flowers Photo: Photos by Aubrey Lynn, Florals: Bokay Florist. 2. Ornate Wedding Alters The alter is where the marriage begins! Creating a beautiful space to exchange vows and to become one is a must! Not to mention all the elegant pictures that will be taken. Each bride has the perfect backdrop in mind, whether it be on a grand deck, in an elegant estate, or a scenic pergola. Photo: Alison Mae Photography, Florals: Special Occasions by Chrissy, Planner: Magical Moments Event Planning Photo: Heather Sherrill Florals: Molly and Myrtle, Planner: Lisa Norris Photo: Rakoteet Photography, Photo: Ian Borgerhoff Photography, Florals: Special Occasions By Chrissy, Planner: Magical Moments Event Planning Photo: Beth Wilson Photography, Florals: JP Parker Flowers Photo: Casey and Her Camera, Florals: McNamara Florist 3. Creative Cakes A little slice of heaven on your wedding day! Guests were in awe with these 2019 wedding cakes! Some were simple and elegant, while others were a piece of art. Cake: Classic Cakes Cake: Classic Cakes 4. Meaningful Watercolor Table Numbers Watercolors have been a huge part of 2019 and we expect them to be apart of 2020! This couple used significant locations throughout their relationship. Each table had a beautiful watercolor table number for guests to enjoy. 5. Suits This years trend with groomsmen included blue suits. They added in an extra pop as they walked down the aisle. These suits were the perfect fit for an outdoor ceremony. The 2019 groomsmen went for a more classy look choosing suits over tuxedos. Photo: Photos by Aubrey Lynn Photo: Heather Sherrill, Planner: Lisa Norris Photo: Ian Borgerhoff Photography, Florals: Special Occasions By Chrissy, Planner: Magical Moments Event Planning. 6. Sweet Sweet Treats! 2019 brought many donuts and bundt cakes to The Balmoral House and we loved it! Balmoral Brides chose to treat their guest to their favorite dessert instead of a classic wedding cake. Photo: Rakoteet Photography, Donuts: Jacks Donuts Photo: Ian Borgerhoff Photography, Cakes: Nothing Bundt Cake 7. Bouquets This balmoral bride has created a unique bouquet all of her own. She created each individual bouquet with love. These hoop bouquet have been trending throughout 2019. Photo: Rakoteet Photography. 8. Favors While we have seen a decrease in wedding favors this year, we have also seen unique and sentimental favors done in different ways. Below is a cute little bag of tulip bulbs for guests to plant. This allows guests to remember the wedding in the spring as they watch the love grow into beautiful tulips. The next picture shows the love for chocolate as each guest got to enjoy a pre dinner treat! This bride chose to give chocolates as favors during cocktail hour. These chocolates favors also acted as a seating chart for guests to find their seat! It doesn't matter when you give guests their favors so play around with it and create a personal touch with favors! Photo: Ian Borgerhoff Photography, Florals: Special Occasions By Chrissy, Planner: Magical Moments Event Planning. Photo: Ian Borgerhoff Photography 9. Guest Book The guest book has significantly changed from the old traditional style to a different way to remember the ones they love. Many Balmoral Brides have opted for different guest books by signing hearts, guest writing personal notes, signing wall art and much more. Many of these options allow the couple to remember their loved ones who came to their wedding as it can hang on their wall. Photo: Ian Borgerhoff Photography Photo: Photos by Aubrey Lynn Photo: Heather Sherrill, Planner: Lisa Norris 10. Greenery Lastly, Greenery! We have seen a lot of greenery this year and this won't change for 2020! Greenery is the perfect addition to a wedding day. Bringing a more natural look to such a beautiful day! Brides can put a simple touch of greenery in their own way, as greenery comes in all different styles. Photo: Bailey Smith Photography, Florals: A Basket Full of Flowers Photo: Alison Mae Photography, Florals: Special Occasions by Chrissy, Planner: Magical Moments Event Planning Photo: Photos by Aubrey Lynn Special thanks to all the Balmoral Brides and Vendors that have made this year spectacular! We hope everyone has a great 2020 and we can't wait to see all the trends in 2020! The Balmoral House

  • Erica & Robert

    The Wedding Day On October 12th, 2019, Erica and Robert tied the knot at The Balmoral House! Their day was full of love! Getting Ready Erica and her bridesmaids enjoyed their time in the bridal suite while they were getting ready for the big day! The bridesmaids reaction to Erica was priceless! The Ceremony The couple had a beautiful deck ceremony on a gorgeous fall day! They were surrounded by friends and family as they said "I DO"! The ceremony was charming and intimate; it was hard to hold back tears. The Reception Once they were finally Mr. & Mrs. it was time to celebrate! Cocktail hour took place in celebration hall where guests enjoyed light appetizers and refreshments. The celebration continued in Eaton Hall where dinner, toasts, cake cutting and dance took place. The elegant decor blended so perfectly with the beautiful fall scenery surrounding The Balmoral House. Vendors Photography: Ian Borgerhoff http://www.ianbphotography.com/ Caterer: Jonathon Byrds https://jonathanbyrds.com/catering/ DJ: Event 1 DJs http://eventonedj.com/ Linens: Linen Hero https://www.linenhero.com/

  • An Open House to Inspire your next 2020 Company Event

    For more information, contact: Jennifer Axsom, Digital Sales & Marketing Email: info@thebalmoralhouse.com Cell Phone: 317-681-3461 An Open House to Inspire your next 2020 Company Event The Balmoral House of Fishers, IN showcases themes and trends for the new year Fishers, IN (October 17, 2019)-- The Balmoral House wants to invite surrounding business neighbors to learn more about the opportunities to host a variety of events on their property at 10101 Hamilton Hills Lane in Fishers, IN. The Open House will showcase room setups, themes, food and drinks. “We are fortunate to have gained a reputation amongst brides as being an elegant wedding venue, but there is so much more we can offer,” said Diane Eaton, owner of The Balmoral House. “Our venue offers a flexibility and atmosphere that is rare in Fishers. Businesses can hold a private board meeting, team building retreat, and awards dinner seamlessly all within our venue space.” What to expect at The Balmoral House Corporate Inspiration Open House: ● Fishers Chamber of Commerce will officially open our new venue, The Cottage, with a ribbon-cutting at 2pm. The Cottage is a casual chic venue with the flexibility to meet your corporate or social event’s individual needs, located on the same 20+-acre landscaped grounds as The Balmoral House. ● Each venue space will be staged by The Balmoral House, Atmospheres Indy & A Classic Rentals to provide inspiration for your next event. Planning an Awards Banquet, Sales Kickoff meeting, Theme Night, Team Building Retreat, meeting or fundraiser? Experience a sampling of each event within our space. ● Appetizers and desserts will be provided by our exclusive caterers including: Jonathan Byrd’s, City Barbeque, MBP Distinctive Catering, and A Cut Above Catering. ● The Balmoral House is an ATC licensed facility providing bar and beverage needs for all venues on the property. The Open House will be offering limited specialty wine & beer tastings. ● In addition to special offers for events at The Balmoral House, we have invited our preferred vendors to join us at the event so you can take care of all your meeting and event plans in one place! “We’re proud to be a part of Fisher’s community and make it even more convenient for the surrounding businesses to take care of their meeting and event needs,” said Eaton. ### About The Balmoral House The Balmoral House is a stunning venue, perfect for wedding ceremonies and receptions, corporate retreats and social events! It’s their pleasure to do everything they can to make those memories special for guests. And when it comes to planning and logistics, they’ve got it covered — offering impeccable, seamless service with no surprises! This is a 10,000 square ft. venue complete with a Banquet Hall, Conference Room, exquisite Lounge with mahogany and granite bar, ornate fireplaces, spiral staircase, 3-Room Ladies Suite & Gentlemen’s Quarters, and outdoor Grand Deck and Garden Patio spaces. Surrounding The Balmoral House is 20 acres of lush landscaping, mature trees, walking paths and bridges, and our Beach Pergola overlooking a pond. Conveniently located in Fishers just minutes from hotels, shopping, restaurants and interstates I-69 and I-465. Rental packages include use of the entire house or specific rooms. Begin planning your event, by calling 317.288.8741 or email info@thebalmoralhouse.com. To learn more about The Balmoral House, visit thebalmoralhouse.com.

  • The Balmoral House Opens a New Venue Site - The Cottage

    For more information, contact: Jennifer Axsom, Digital Sales & Marketing Email: info@thebalmoralhouse.com Cell Phone: 317-681-3461 The Balmoral House Opens a New Venue Site - The Cottage Success in Fishers Creates Demand for Additional Event Space Fishers, IN (October 10, 2019)-- The Balmoral House, event center for weddings, corporate and social occasions, has opened a new venue space called “The Cottage” on the same property at 10101 Hamilton Hills Lane in Fishers, IN. This new casual chic venue is the latest of The Balmoral House’s offerings. “With the support of The Balmoral House team and feedback from our guests, we renovated what was our former Golf Pro Shop and believe it will be a perfect addition,” said Diane Eaton, owner of The Balmoral House. “The Balmoral House has been such a popular option for hosting once in a lifetime events, and we’re thrilled to offer a new space with additional flexibility and grow our presence.” The Cottage will offer: ● A casual chic venue with the flexibility to meet your corporate or social event’s individual needs, located on the same 24-acre landscaped grounds as The Balmoral House. ● You will find the interior of this space comfortable for hosting groups of up to 50 people. The Cottage is a large, single room layout with a cozy fireplace, large built-in bar and full windows along three walls providing a beautiful view. ● The Cottage can also be used as an indoor/outdoor facility with access to the large wrap-around deck. Our private deck is a great way to expand the space with outdoor dining tables and chairs or for mingling and taking a break to enjoy the amazing view of our pond and the Beach Pergola. ● While The Balmoral House is a full-service venue, The Cottage can either be utilized as full-or self-service. You have your choice in level of setup, service & staffing. Guests also have the option to use the caterer of their choice or using one of our exclusive caterers! ● The Balmoral House is an ATC licensed facility provides all bar and beverage needs for all venues on the property, including specialty wine, beer and bourbon tastings. “We’re proud to be a part of Fisher’s community and make it even more convenient for the surrounding businesses to take care of their meeting and event needs,” said Eaton. The Balmoral House is excited to announce they will also host an Open House on Thursday, November 14th for the business community. This event will include an official grand opening ribbon cutting for The Cottage. Each of the other event spaces available within The Balmoral House property will also be showcased with special offers for 2020 bookings. Complete details for the event will follow. ### About The Balmoral House The Balmoral House is a stunning venue, perfect for wedding ceremonies and receptions, corporate retreats and social events! It’s their pleasure to do everything they can to make those memories special for guests. And when it comes to planning and logistics, they’ve got it covered — offering impeccable, seamless service with no surprises! This is a 10,000 square ft. venue complete with a Banquet Hall, Conference Room, exquisite Lounge with mahogany and granite bar, ornate fireplaces, spiral staircase, Bridal Suite & Groom’s Quarters, and outdoor Grand Deck and Garden Patio spaces. Surrounding The Balmoral House is 20 acres of lush landscaping, mature trees, walking paths and bridges, and our Beach Pergola overlooking a pond. Conveniently located in Fishers just minutes from hotels, shopping, restaurants and interstates I-69 and I-465. Rental packages include use of the entire house or specific rooms. Begin planning your event, by calling 317.288.8741 or email info@thebalmoralhouse.com. To learn more about The Balmoral House, visit thebalmoralhouse.com.

  • Aunjalee & Joe

    The Wedding Day On Saturday, September 28th, 2019 these two tied the knot at The Balmoral House. The day was full of love, family and beautiful decor. Details It was all in the details at this beautiful wedding! The couples vision for their big day was breathtaking! We love these florals from RK Florals by Robyn Harder. Getting Ready Aunjalee & Joe were surrounded by close friends and family while getting ready! The Spacious bridal suite was the perfect fit for everyone to get ready for their big day! The Ceremony The Ceremony was full of love on a beautiful fall day. The ceremony took place on the grand deck under a elegant floral arch. Family is important to Aunjalee & Joe as many family members were a part of their ceremony. Aunjalee's daughter even shared a reading with her mom and new step dad that left the guest crying! The Reception The Reception was held on the garden patio under the fall sky! The decor was dreamy and the florals were gorgeous. The couple maximized The Balmoral House space by using Eaton Hall and Celebration Hall for cocktail hour and The Retreat was just steps away from their reception for their delicious buffet. Overall, the wedding was a lovely fall wedding shared with the ones they love! We wish Aunjalee & Joe a life as beautiful as this day! Vendors Photographer: Planner: Florals: Venue:

  • What is your Wedding Venue Style?

    There are two questions everyone will ask immediately after you answer “Yes” to the big question: When are you getting married? Where are you getting married? And before you can answer those questions you have to find your special place. Perhaps you are lucky enough to have grown up with the vision of the perfect place. For most of us though picking a place to get married begins a brand new journey, the first of many as a newly engaged couple in the wedding process. This special place will be the background of so many memories and pictures that you will cherish from this day forward. There are really about nine popular wedding venue styles. We will explain a bit about each of them, but at The Balmoral House, we are happy that our venue actually crosses over several styles. This crossover gives our brides versatility to personalize their wedding day and have a truly unique experience. 1. Place of Worship– This is of course the most traditional site option for wedding ceremonies. If you grew up in a church you may already know this will be the site for your wedding. Some churches may also have a space for receptions, but often the reception is held at a separate location either immediately following or later in the day. 2. Hotel– A hotel wedding can be a great choice for larger sized wedding groups. Hotels feature large, versatile ballrooms, in-house catering, options for décor, and plenty of parking. This is also the most convenient option for out of town guests, since they have the option of on-site accommodations. 3. Event/Conference Center– These venues are similar to the hotel experience, except there are no on-site accommodations. They are usually all-in-one venues complete with on-site catering, décor, coordination and a choice of several spaces that can be arranged to fit any size group. 4. Estate/Mansion– If you envision a more traditionally elegant affair, an estate or mansion wedding may be your style. These sites are typically large, ornately decorated homes with lushly landscaped grounds. You have access to indoor conveniences and outdoor space. Many venues also have options on catering and other vendors. 5. Rustic Farm/Barn/Vineyard– The rustic-chic trend continues to gain momentum in popularity. These weddings usually incorporate both indoor and outdoor elements and a more laid-back feel. Usually there are many options for amazing photography with the natural outdoor lighting. You do need to be conscience of your guests needs concerning bathrooms, air conditioning and any wheelchair accessibility with these more rustic sites. 6. Modern/Industrial– On the opposite end of the spectrum from rustic, is the popular industrial trend. Industrial sites are very modern and usually are in converted, repurposed warehouse buildings. This means they are often large enough to host large groups and offer a blank slate for your wedding decor. 7. Golf Course/Country Club– Typically country clubs are a beautiful location for traditional weddings. They have golf course landscaped grounds and elegant interior spaces. The thing to check is membership and vendor requirements. 8. Restaurant– If your concerned more with the food than the location, a favorite restaurant may be a good choice for you. There is ample supply of table and chairs, but you may be limited on space or on choice of day if they do not have a separate space for private parties. 9. Park/Garden– Outdoor weddings are naturally beautiful, plus with nature surroundings there is less required décor. The tricky part to these weddings is the chance of inclement weather does require a backup plan of in indoor site or tenting. As you review your options, know that The Balmoral House has several offerings which are pictured throughout this article. Our Eaton Hall offers a sophisticated, elegant Estate/Mansion, our newest venue at The Cottage or Grand Deck offer Golf Course/Country Club versatility, and our Garden Patio or Beach Pergola are beautifully landscaped outdoor Park/Garden styles. Please call our Venue Sales Coordinator at 317-288-8741 or email info@thebalmoralhouse.comfor an estimate or schedule a tour of our venue and grounds.

  • Be Our Guest

    And Other Seating Chart Inspiration for Weddings We're feeling a little extra inspired today by one of our upcoming couples! We love to see how the details in weddings, like the creativity of a seating chart, can make all the difference in your guests' experiences. Make it an activity, make it a puzzle, make it interesting. Give your guests an opportunity to make some priceless memories! Your wedding day is the perfect opportunity to showcase both of your personalities. After all, whatever makes each of you unique is what drew you two together, and this is exactly what all of the loved ones who are attending your wedding want to celebrate with you! Whether you're wanting to use classic escort cards or a spectacular seating chart display, make sure that this is a detail you don't forget! The Way You Met Your Favorite Hobby to Do Together All the Places You've Travelled as a Couple (Or All of the Places you Plan to Visit!) Make it an Activity! Incorporate Your Love of the Outdoors Or maybe you take a cue from Audrey & Pete, and you base your seating chart off what fandoms you both love, like Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, Sherlock Holmes, or Star Wars, because May the 4th be with you, always (the day A&P say "I do")! We can't wait to see their plans come to life! For more inspiration, check out these articles: https://bridalmusings.com/2014/07/15-unique-seating-charts/ https://junebugweddings.com/wedding-blog/60-wedding-seating-chart-ideas/ And, make sure you check out The Balmoral House's Wedding Inspiration Gallery! https://www.thebalmoralhouse.com/wedding-gallery Written by: Katie Lea, Venue Operations Coordinator

  • "Congratulations on Your Recent Engagement!"

    It's that phrase that all recently engaged couples have heard from the moment your fiancé put a ring on it, but what do you do now? One of our Balmoral House team members, Anna, just got engaged herself! And, in light of this exciting, and maybe overwhelming, time for Anna and Jordan, we thought there was no better time to give a perspective into planning the wedding of your dreams from start to finish--from engagement to honeymoon! Stay tuned as we follow Anna's journey to her June 2020 wedding! I decided to start with a good, old-fashioned interview with Anna to see how she was doing! First things first, we want to hear the entire story! How did Jordan ask you? "We went back to where it all started! In August 2011, I was a manager for my high school's Cross Country Team. During, a practice, I was taking times as the runners ran by, and as the first set of runners stampeded down the hill, I saw my now fiancé for the first time! Now seven years later, he took me for a walk through the woods surrounding the course and we reminisced about our past together. When we got to the top of the hill, he asked if I would spend the rest of my life with him, and I said yes! Afterwards, we drove to the park we always used to picnic at, to trails we run together, and other significant places in our relationship. We ended up getting ice cream in downtown Noblesville where we had our first date! Then we went back to his house where both of our families were waiting to celebrate with us!" That was so thoughtful of him! What were the first things you did that night then? "We kept it quiet at first that evening to enjoy the moment, just the two of us with no distractions, and I'm so glad we did. Once we celebrated with our families and started posting about it, my phone didn't stop blowing up for days!" What was everyone's first question for you two? "Everyone was immediately asking if we had a date set yet! It had only been three hours!" Well, have you started thinking about a date yet? "We plan to have our wedding next summer in 2020, but we haven't decided an exact date yet, no!" What's the vision that you have for you Summer 2020 wedding?! "Well, right now, I'm envisioning our ceremony in the woods, by nature. Maybe an enchanted forest vibe!" That sounds super fun and interesting! Plus, it fits perfectly in with your story of being outside when you two met! What are some wedding planning tasks that you'd like to be working on this month? "This month, I'll be working on putting together a guest list of our loved ones and a budget! Then, we'll start shopping around at local venues to see what fits our guest count, budget, and most importantly, our vision! That's probably all I'll have time for at the moment!" Understandable, I feel like we see this at Balmoral all the time! Couples are always super busy and feel pretty overwhelmed when they first start planning their wedding! Any last advice you'd like to share with these recently engaged couples? "Your engagement is such an exciting time in your life! Definitely try to take it slow and enjoy every moment of this process!" Thank you so much, Anna for sharing! We can't wait to check back in with you next month to see how the search for your perfect venue is going! Congratulations again on your recent engagement!! If you have any questions for Anna, or the rest of The Balmoral House's Wedding Team, send us an email at info@thebalmoralhouse.com or call us at 317.288.8741! Follow Us on Instagram & Facebook! https://www.instagram.com/thebalmoralhouse/ https://www.facebook.com/thebalmoralhouse/ Written by: Katie Lea, Venue Operations Coordinator katie@thebalmoralhouse.com The Balmoral House 10101 Hamilton Hills Lane, Suite 100 Fishers, IN 46038 3172888741 info@thebalmoralhouse.com

  • How to Celebrate a Graduation - Party or Open House?

    First, Congratulations on the upcoming graduation. Whether it is you or a family member graduating, everyone put in a lot of work to get to this point. Now it's time to celebrate! There are two common celebrations - a party or open house. Here are a few differences to help you decide which works best for your graduate: Hosting a Graduation Party A graduation party is a more traditional, formal event. Typically a graduation party will have one guest of honor with a set timeframe of 2-4 hours and specific guest list. Your guests include immediate family, the graduate’s friends, friends’ parents, extended family, favorite teachers or coaches from over the years, coworkers of both the parents and the graduate. The party can be held at your home, local park, a restaurant or special event venue. The Balmoral House is a versatile venue that can offer guests indoor or outdoor dining options. You can reserve the whole house or simply a room or two for your guests. For this event you will want to send out invitations, either mailed or digital with an RSVP request. The RSVP will help you make arrangements for the right amount of food, drinks and seating for the party. Hosting a Graduation Open House A graduation open house is still a party but it's designed to allow guests to come and go as they please. This style event has become more popular for both convenience and cost efficiency. An Open House format also allows a more flexible, free-flowing event. Open Houses still typically have a single graduate as the guest of honor. Typically Open houses will last longer for the convenience of guests. At The Balmoral House, we typically see events scheduled from 3-5 hours for guests. Your guest list at an Open House may also be larger than what you would be able to accommodate with a more formal party where a meal is being served. Guests at an Open House may not stay for as long as a traditional party, but you are able to see more people overall. The Open House can also be held at a home, park or special venue. Our newest venue, The Cottage, even has a DIY option that is an easy and affordable option for up to 100 Open House guests. Sending official invitations is also at your discretion. Often times hosts will send invitations to immediate family and out-of-town friends but verbally invite fellow graduates and friends. During an Open House you will want to food options throughout the event. This means you can have fun with food stations with finger foods, appetizers and desserts for your guests to enjoy and mingle with others. It is also common for friends to hold co-hosted Open Houses honoring several graduates at a single event. This may require a little more preparation but it helps hosts to share the expense of the event and allows friends to celebrate their accomplishments together. What does the host typically provide? What you provide as a host is dependent on the type of party you throw. Every party should at least have some type of light appetizer and drinks. If you’re serving a meal, buffet style is popular because it allows guests to serve themselves. Whether you choose light appetizers or more filling options, make sure that your guests know what to expect. If you want guests to eat before they come, include “drinks and light refreshments” on the invite so that they know not to depend on you for a whole meal. If you are providing a lunch or dinner for guests be sure to include that information on your invitation. Brunch is also a popular choice for weekend celebrations. If you want to provide bar service try writing something like “Cocktail hour 6pm” in your invitations. You aren’t obligated to prepare any entertainment, such as games for your guests, but they could really enhance the party. Providing music in the background or music to dance creates a fun and welcoming environment. Ways to honor your graduate? Sharing graduation stories and school memories is an important component of any graduation party. Now is the time for graduates to sit with family and friends to organize pictures from throughout their school years. Some graduates have an abundance of awards and trophies they’ve received over the years. Select a few that really represents the graduate. Arrange them in one big display or spread them throughout the party space. A continuously playing “video biography” of the graduate from birth through high school set to music is another excellent way to share these memories. Party favors are not obligatory, but they are a nice touch. You can also make the party memorable setting out keepsakes for the grad that guests can sign with advice and wishes. After all of this is said and done, don’t forget to congratulate the graduate, it is their day after all. Celebrate life’s milestones the right way. If you would like to discuss holding your Graduation Party or Open House event at The Balmoral House, please call one of our Venue Managers at 317-288-8741, email info@thebalmoralhouse.com or click here to send us your contact information.

  • What a Perfect Day for an Open House!

    Thank you to everyone who made it out to The Balmoral House's first ever Bridal Open House! And what a perfect Midwest spring day it turned out to be--65 and sunny! Our team had a blast meeting everyone who stopped by on Saturday! But, for everyone else who wasn't able to make it, we wanted to share a little recap with you. First things first, we have to give a shout out to all of the vendors who contributed to make this event not only possible, but fabulous! The list is long, but we had a few go above and beyond to help with the design of the house: Nicole from our Event Sales team, Amanda from A-Classic Party Rentals, Eileen of Noteworthy Expressions, and Chris our go-to linens aficionado. Of course, no wedding is complete without spectacular florals, so we have to send a huge thank you to Bri from Oberer's Flowers Carmel for providing such stunning arrangements! Our goal at The Balmoral House is to provide a seamless event experience, which means that our couples can spend their entire wedding day in one place! What better way to start your big day than in our three-room Bridal Suite? Outdoor ceremonies are the perfect way to incorporate a natural backdrop into the moment you say "I do." We would love to introduce you to our new Wrought Iron Ceremony Arbor, gorgeously topped with florals from Bokay Florist. One of our our favorite head table designs is a sweetheart flanked by farm tables! And what a great use of our unique venue's characteristic room layout! And, don't forget to work with talented, service-driven vendors to create the perfect atmosphere for your perfect wedding day! Here are a few of our favorites: And, finally, we have to give a huge shout out to Caitlyn Brady of Capturing Simplicity Photography for being our phenomenal event photographer! Thank you for sharing all of your talent and your kind spirit with us! Follow her on Instagram: @capturingsimplicity Until next time! And don't get to check us out on Instagram: @thebalmoralhouse Written By: Katie Lea, Venue Operations Coordinator

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