SPACES AND RENTAL FEES
Several venues on campus are available for wedding receptions. Great Hall is
the most popular venue, but more intimate celebrations may be held in the
Bovay Terrace or the Dahm Heritage Room. The Main Dining Hall of Pickard
Commons presents a larger option. Discounted package rates also are available when booking rehearsal dinner, reception and gift opening.
Wedding
Receptions
Capacity and fee schedule:
Great Hall (includes MLK Lounge & Rotunda), seats 100 to 300...............$650
Main Dining Hall, Pickard Commons, seats 300 (minimum) to 600..........$700
Dahm Heritage Room, Pickard Commons, seats 20 to 100.......................$100
Bovay Terrace (rehearsal dinners, gift openings, etc.), seats 20 to 100.......$50
All rooms are subject to availability. Deposits and contracts will be made/
signed with Ripon College to confirm space and dates. Payments for food
and beverage will be made 10 days in advance of the event based on the
client’s projected number of guests. Any additional charges will be due the
day of the event. The food and beverage minimum for Great Hall and Pickard
Commons Main Dining Hall is $4,000. If the minimum is not met, a facility
fee will be applied to reach the minimum.
Conference Services
300 West Seward Street
Ripon, Wisconsin 54971
920-748-8164
ripon.edu/conference
Great Hall
Catering Director
920-748-8170
Main Dining Hall
Dahm Heritage Room
Ripon College is an ideal location in Central
Wisconsin for celebrations of all kinds. From its
rolling hills and historic architecture to the Palladian
windows and elegant setting of Great Hall, it is no
wonder that Ripon College is a popular choice.
We’re here to serve your wedding weekend needs
from the rehearsal dinner to the reception to the gift
opening.
The pairing of this setting — beautiful in any season
— with professional catering by Sodexo Inc. provides
clients with options for food of any type, from casual,
down-home cooking to elegant or custom menus.
FOOD AND BEVERAGE SERVICE
Sodexo Inc. is the exclusive caterer for Ripon College and must be used for
all food and beverage needs. With the exception of a wedding cake, food or
beverage of any kind brought in by the client, guests or outside vendors is
strictly prohibited. All prices quoted to clients include an 18 percent service
charge and 5.5 percent sales tax. We believe that the food served on your
special day should be an extension of the couple, and we would love to
create a customized menu with your favorite foods. The Catering Director
will sit down with the bride and groom to create the perfect menu for their
special day.
Meal pricing includes standard white, ivory or black tablecloths, colored
napkins, silverware, glassware and china. Prices are guaranteed for one year
prior to event.
PARKING
There is parking adjacent to most areas near the various campus venues. All
parking is free of charge.
An interactive map, as well as a download, can be found at map.ripon.edu.
Great Hall is located in Harwood Union (no. 5 on the map); the Main Dining
Room and the Dahm Heritage Room are located in the Pickard Commons
(no. 9 on the map); and the Bovay Terrace is located in Bovay Hall (no. 21 on
the map).
WEDDING CAKE
Sodexo has an in-house baker who will create an exquisite cake that
will impress your guest with its moistness, not-too-sweet buttercream
frosting and beautiful design. You may order your wedding cake from an
outside baker if you prefer, however the bakery must be a pre-approved,
professionally licensed bakery in the State of Wisconsin with all required
paperwork on file with Sodexo. Sodexo will assume no liability for the
quality or condition of another bakery’s product.
FLORAL SERVICES
Floral arrangements may be ordered from the vendor of your choice. Be sure
to give the Catering Director the name of the florist or decorator working on
your event.
FACILITY EQUIPMENT
Ripon College has sufficient equipment (i.e. tables, chairs, etc.) to support
the usual needs for events and room capacities. Should equipment
requirements exceed or differ from our inventory, rental from an outside
vendor will be required. Equipment for outside events must be rented. The
Director of Conference Services can provide a list of local, outside vendors for
additional equipment needs. Sodexo also may rent out these items, in which
case the cost will be added to the final bill and subject to the 18 percent
service charge and 5.5 percent sales tax.
The following equipment is included in the base room rental:
Chairs and 60-inch round tables for guest seating
Full place setting for each guest
Topped and skirted tables for cake, gift, head and place card tables
Corded microphone, projector and screen, if desired
DÉCOR
The client may bring in their own centerpieces. If you are using candles
in your room décor, each candle must be placed inside a non-flammable
container, and the flame of the lighted candle must be below the rim of the
container.
BOOKING EVENTS
From the time you book your event until its joyous conclusion you will have
the personal services of our professional event staff. The Ripon College
Director of Conference Services can be reached at 920-748-8164, and the
Catering Director at Sodexo can be reached at 920-748-8170. Please contact
the Director of Conference Services with date availability questions, to set up
a meeting to view the space and speak with the Catering Director, or with
any other questions.
PROHIBITED ITEMS
Not allowed at any time are: glitter, confetti, Silly String, adhesive stickers
or decals, gum, fireworks, rice, fog machines or any tape other than blue
painter’s tape.
Photo by Flohr’s Photography of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. Reprinted with permission.
WALL AND CEILING DECORATIONS
No decorations can be affixed to the walls, floor or ceiling of the facility. If
there is a decoration you would like to hang, please work with the Director of
Conference Services on an acceptable means of display.