FAQ
CEREMONY
Outdoor wedding location- what décor (arch and chairs etc) is included, and is there a speaker for music?
Included in the ceremony package cost is the site booking and required insurance, white folding chairs, a signing table, a Bluetooth Bose S1 speaker, a cordless microphone, delivery to site, setup of our items only, and pickup following the ceremony. No additional setup or teardown is included by our staff. If a rental arch is added from our rental inventory, delivery and setup of this will be included in the ceremony price. One hour of ceremony coordination is included.
Where are the outdoor ceremony venue options located?
Rundleview Parkette in Canmore (capacity 120 seated), Tunnel Mountain Reservoir in Banff (150 seated capacity), Quarry Lake in Canmore, and Banff Gate Mountain Resort in Canmore. All outdoor ceremony options are a 10–20 minute drive from The Gem. However, The Gem’s weather backup ceremony option has a total seated capacity of 150 people.
Is there parking at the ceremony location?
No. All outdoor ceremony sites in Banff and Canmore have extremely limited parking and are mostly resident permit only. Private transportation will need to be booked externally by clients to get guests there and back. We can provide our recommended vendors for this for external quotes. Alternatively, you can add on our new party bus for the wedding party to go towards your minimum collective spend. Seats up to 24 guests.
If the weather is bad can we use the indoor venue option, and will we get a refund on the off-site ceremony cost?
A backup ceremony at The Gem is already included in the fee to book the outdoor site. Once the off-site ceremony is booked, this fee is non-refundable (we pay the Town of Canmore/Banff for the site and reserve the rental white ceremony chairs for your day).
If moved indoors, there will be no additional charge on top of the fee you paid, as the venue backup plan is included. The venue chairs would be used instead of the white folding ones.
Any additional décor booked externally is the responsibility of the client/coordinator to transport to the venue and handle setup/teardown in the case of bad weather.
Does the venue allow access to the space the night prior to the event for rehearsals?
We can accommodate rehearsals free of charge for a one-hour window. However, these will be confirmed 14 days in advance with other bookings in mind. No setup the night before is permitted unless prior permission is granted. Access is from 10:00am on the day of the event.
How long does the ceremony last for?
When you book a ceremony at any location, the slot is for 3 hours. Please inquire for a potential timeline.
ENTERTAINMENT
Are there any other costs associated with music?
Additional SOCAN fees will apply to all events with no licensed vendor providing music.
All of our house DJs have upgrade options available, such as booth choice, additional lighting, extended playing time beyond the 6 hours provided by this add-on service.
Do we need to rent a DJ or sound system?
There is a built-in house system to allow 'plug + play' for events, but all licensed DJ's and entertainment are welcomed.
What is the cost for your in-house DJ?
Our in-house DJ option is $1800 for reception only, $2000 for on-site ceremony + reception, $2200 for off-site ceremony + reception (all + GST). This service is subject to availability, and if our house DJ options are already booked elsewhere, client will need to provide own entertainment option.
All DJ bookings require a 50% deposit at time of booking.
All DJ bookings require a 50% deposit at time of booking.
DECOR
What’s included in the venue rental for your reception set-up?
This includes options of 6ft or 4 ft dark walnut tables matching hightop tables and black chairs options to upgrade to dark vinewood or ghosts chairs.
Do we need to let you know exactly how many guests we will be having now in order to reserve the decor package?
Just an estimate count! We balance numbers with your final RSVP's 30 days from the event date and charge the difference remaining. Final payment is due at the 30 mark.
Do we do rental packages (the decor) through you, or do we only deal with Rocky Mountain Weddings and Events?
All decor packages and additional rentals for the venue are booked through your venue coordinator. These options are subject to availability and do get booked well in advance. If you have booked on-site coordination through our planning team at RMWE and they oversee the decor setup/teardown, we waive the $500 setup and teardown fee for the decor package. All RMWE services count towards your Minimum Collective Spend.
I saw the decor package section of the website, can you give me pricing for florals as well?
Florals are not included in any of our decor packages, our in-house florist Alpine Blooms can create custom quotes based on inspiration or budget. There are decor package floral add-ons available at each budget range, please inquire for further information. All Alpine Blooms services count towards your Minimum Collective Spend.
What is included in the reception essentials package?
Setup and teardown of all dining and service areas,
Professional service staff for dinner and reception,
Cover additional bartending staff if required,
Water and wine service during dinner,
Plate clearing, glassware resets, and end-of-night cleanup,
All SOCAN + Re:Sound Music Licenses Fees
Dedicated team member to manage food service and oversee BEO execution,
Use of The Gem’s plateware, glassware, barware, and dishwasher.
What is the reception essentials package?
This is a flat rate staffing fee to help give a clean and professional service for your event. Does not count towards your MCS.
SERVICE
Are the vendors and children included in the final guest count? Do children's meals cost the same as adults?
Your vendors such as photographer, DJ and coordinator will all likely require vendor meals as part of their booking contract, please confirm numbers with your chosen caterer. We can set a vendor table and these will not count towards your final seating numbers.
There is a kids menu available from all our catering partners. Kids between 2-12 years of age will count towards final numbers for seating. We have high chairs available at request for infants under 2.
Do any of your caterers carry Vegetarian, Pescatarain, Halal etc, options?
Avi's Kitchen also known as Axis Bar + Kitchen is our recommended caterer who is experienced with Halal cuisine. For all other dietary restrictions please reach out to your chosen caterer directly.
What is the catering menu?
We have all 2026 catering menus linked on our Investment Guides for 2026/2027. Please inquire for details directly with your chosen caterers.
What would the cost range be for catering and drinks?
We advise budgeting ~$120/person for food and ~$70/person for beverages. This is an average cost for wedding venues in the Bow Valley, prices may fluctuate based on the options you select and guest consumption. Please talk to your chosen Caterer about Cake Cutting Fees.
Please see our Preferred Catering List for Menu Options and Prices. This is a great to build out a budget based on your menu choices and guest counts. Our bar menu prices range between $8 - $16 per drink.
What if our caterer does not require the prep kitchen? Can we bring in our own food in for cocktail dinner or late night snack? (Pizza, charcuterie, cake) etc. etc.
Items that do not require our prep kitchen for preparation or storage, we require 30 days notice and a signed outside food waiver with no additional fee. For further information please contact us.
Can we bring our own catering?
You are welcome to bring an outside caterer. However, we will not provide service staff from The Gem or cutlery + plateware. Your caterer or you must arrange this separately. We require a $1,500 Kitchen Rental Fee to use our prep kitchen. The caterer must have all the proper Food Safety Certifications and an AHS License.
Are your dinner reception catered from a specific catering company?
For catering, we have quite a few Preferred Catering Partners, and they are all local restaurants in the Bow Valley Area! I always suggest visiting their Happy Hour if you are in the area, as it is the best way to try a few of them out! Catering does not count towards the Minimum Collective Spend.
Besides selecting meals or add-ons are there any additional charges for staff, bartenders?
Here at The Gem we have created a flat rate fee that covers all of your service staffing charges under Reception Essentials. This is required anytime your book one of our preferred caterers in our venue and it does not go towards your MCS. You can inquire more about this package with your event coordinator. (Service staff includes servers, dishwashers, and additional bartenders.)
All rental items require a $500 Setup and Tear Down Fee, unless you have booked a RMWE coordinator for your event day.
MISCELLANEOUS
Is the 2028 calendar open?
We are actively booking for 2026/27, and can schedule venue tours anytime that you plan to visit the Mountains! Our 2028 calendar won't be open until the end of 2026.
Do we need a wedding planner or coordinator?
This is not something we require, however highly advise! The venue takes no responsibility for setup or teardown of any external items that are not booked through us. Any ceremonies booked with us do not include cueing of music, decor/floral setup, seating arrangements, or guest logistics.
If you are interested in adding coordination services, this can be provided by Rocky Mountain Weddings and Events. Please inquire for pricing and availability.
When can we access the venue?
Each booking runs from 10:00am to 2:00am. Early access can often be accommodated and is charged by the hour.
Is the venue accessible for someone mobility impaired? Can someone with a cane or walker move easily between the indoor area and outdoor?
The venue space has an accessibility elevator to access both levels of the building easily. The outdoor patio are easily reached at the front of the venue without any stair access.
Can we push the closing time to later?
Closing time is firm at 2:00am as per town bylaw and cannot be negotiated. Last call is 1:00am, all guests have to be off site at 2:00am latest so the cleaning team can come in. With prior permission, we can allow certain items that are packed up to be left overnight and collected by 9:00am the following day as long as it doesn't prohibit or limit the post-event clean. No food items can be saved on site.
Is it possible to get some pictures from inside the venue?
Check out out instagram account for up-to-date photos and videos, our highlights reel is full of past events! http://instagram.com/thegem.ca. Please reach out to sales@rmwc.ca to request additional photos. In-person venue tours can be scheduled for any day of the week ahead of time during business hours.
ACCOMMODATION
TRANSPORTATION
How do the shuttles into Banff and Canmore work? Would it be one shuttle at the end of the night or would it be available more often?
We have a partnership for a late-night shuttle - Up to 4 Hours (10pm-2am) = $800 Flat rate. 1 evening shuttle, up to 120 guests
Evening/night Shuttles:
Up to 4 Hours = $800 Flat rate. 1 evening shuttle, up to 120 guests
Up to 4 Hours = $1,600 Flat rate. 2 evening shuttles, Over 121 to 220 guests
Usually, our evening shuttles operate from 10:00pm to 02:00am, these runs back and forth unlimited times, between the reception to multiple hotels/airbnbs within the Town of Canmore. Extra fees may apply for Banff.
What about ceremony logistics? Do you provide transportation to off-site ceremony locations?
We do not currently offer this package, however recommend reaching out to Banff Sedan, Patagonia Chauffeur or Three Sisters Taxi for a quote. There is no parking permitted at either outdoor ceremony location we offer and private transportation must be booked.
Is there a getting ready area on site?
There are 10 condo units available for rent adjacent to the venue and we highly recommend booking these for yourself, guests and designated wedding party rooms. There are two suites on location called Ruby and Jade Suite for getting ready rooms in the attached accommodation. These accommodations are called The Gem Stays!
Could they be included in a package or are they separate?
All accommodation is separate from our corporate and wedding packages. We do provide exclusive booking links with both our onsite accommodation and our third party accommodation partners in the Bow Valley.
How do your onsite rental rooms work?
We connect you directly to The Gem Stays sales team, who oversee the onsite accommodation. All the booking are made through them and they work on a first-come-first served basis for booking. Full buyout options are available.
