Property Rental * Home

Policies & Guidelines

We at Piatt Castles pride ourselves in our hospitality and ability to accommodate you and your guests. However, the Castles are historic sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places and we must set down a few guidelines in order to protect the buildings and artifacts.  We take these policies very seriously; please contact us if you have any questions or concerns.

Use, Preservation & Access

• Staff members from Piatt Castles shall be present at all functions to oversee the program or function and answer questions, to supervise the house and grounds, and to close the property. It should be clearly understood that the duties of the Castle staff only concern the security and interpretation of the property and its collections.
• Access to the interior of the Castle begins at 5:30 (4:30 spring and fall).
• No setup or decoration is allowed inside before 5:30 (4:30 spring and fall)
• Setup and decoration for outside weddings can be done at any time provided that Castle visitors are not inconvenienced or annoyed.
• No food or drink (including bottled water) is allowed in the Castle buildings without specific permission of Piatt Castle staff. Wedding guests should be reminded that no liquids are allowed in the Castle.
• Smoking in the Castle buildings is also prohibited.
• Lit candles are not permitted in the Castle.
• Guests and outside service staff should not touch woodwork, textiles or furniture.  Cooperation of visitors is essential in order to preserve the furnishings and decoration of the house.
• Nothing may be placed on top of any of the museum furnishings, window seats, or mantels.  This includes gifts, cameras, video equipment or anything else brought into the building.
• Guests must not go behind the roped off areas in the Castle and may not handle the collections. Guests must not sit or place objects upon items of furniture or other objects in the collection.
• Guests must use broad heeled shoes to protect the historic parquet floors and because of gravel, grass and stone walkways. 
• Groups of no more than fifty (50) individuals can be accommodated in the Drawing Room of Mac-A-Cheek. Piatt Castles does have a limited supply of chairs (50) available for use inside the Castle, and the Castle staff will be responsible for set up and removal.
• Designated event areas only may be used; other parts of the home are open only for tours (tours of the Castles are available for an additional fee. Call to schedule and for pricing) or for staff use.
• Any and all decorations must be approved in advance by the Piatt Castles. 
• No tape of any kind, wire, nails, screws, and other fasteners may be used in decorating Mac-A-Cheek for a function.
• Chairs, tents, arbors, or any other equipment for lawn functions will be the responsibility of the client.
• At the conclusion of the function, all trash must be removed from the site and the rooms and/or grounds are to be left in the same condition as found.
• No sign, notice or advertisement may be placed in the building or on the site without the permission of the Piatt Castles.
• The throwing of rice, bird seed, confetti or any other similar items is prohibited inside or outside the Castles; however, bubbles may be used outside the Castles.
• All inside decorations must be removed immediately following the event.
• Children under 12 must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

Photographers:

• Indoor photography must be limited to one designated still photographer and one videographer. These individuals must abide by and respect these Guidelines.
• Video equipment is limited to hand-held cameras or rubber-tipped tripods.
• No moving of objects or posed photography behind roped off sections is permitted without Piatt Castle staff approval.
• The designated photographer and videographer must contact the Piatt Castle staff and confirm their arrival and break down times.

Music:

• Music should be appropriate to the environment.
• The client must advise the Piatt Castles of the name, address and phone number of any musician engaged for their event and must instruct the musicians to contact the Castles - in advance - to discuss their needs and these Guidelines.
• Because amplified music and dancing shake the building, they cannot be permitted in the Castle. The only exception is for instruments (small keyboards, for example) that have their own amplification.
• Clients are responsible for advising musicians to supply all necessary extension cords.  These cords cannot be secured with the use of any kind of tape.

• Florists / Caterers must advise the Piatt Castles of intended time of arrival and must coordinate their set up.
• Live flower arrangements are permitted in the building only if adequately potted to prevent spilling of water. Floral arrangements without water are encouraged whenever possible.
• Piatt Castles is not responsible for items left on the property.
• Everything must be removed from the property no later than opening the day following the event.
• All food and food waste must be removed from the property immediately following the event.

Parking:

• Clients are responsible for orderly parking of vehicles in the designated area(s). Piatt Castles staff will provide signs and guidance.

Et Cetera:

• No alcoholic beverages may be consumed on, or brought to the property without specific written permission of Piatt Castles. It is illegal to buy or sell any alcoholic beverage in Monroe Township.
• Piatt Castles reserves the right to remove from the premises anyone behaving in an objectionable or destructive manner.
• Rental furniture must be removed from the property in a timely manner. Piatt Castles is not responsible for any equipment, rental or otherwise, that is left on the grounds or in the building.
• Rental agents must arrange with Castle staff a date and time for tent raising and removal and / or other deliveries.

Return to Weddings