faq

PRICING

All prices are subject to change without notice. Prices is definitively confirmed once your contract is signed and the initial booking fee is received. Bar prices are subject to change without notice.

Any last-minute additional guests are permitted at the discretion of the venue and catering company, with all associated costs being charged to the final invoice.

Venue Hire Premiums apply for holidays and long weekends.

For the purposes of the Gem, a child is classified as being between the ages of two and twelve years old. Highchairs can be provided for under twos.

All prices are subject to 5% GST.

All food and beverage costs are subject to an 18% gratuity that is charged to the final invoice.

Food + Drink

Catering must be chosen from one of our preferred catering vendors. The venue coordinator oversees this booking on your behalf once decided.

There is an additional catering staffing fee which is dependent on guest count and service style chosen.

No outside food is permitted inside The Gem, including homemade wedding cakes (sorry, Nonna). Wedding cakes made in a commercial kitchen are the only exception. 

All beverages are to be provided by The Gem only, through which a customizable bar menu is available.

Cake cutting services are available for a charge of $2.50 per person, which includes cutting, plating, and serving. 

Please note that there must be food available with liquor service in order to comply with AGLC regulations. This includes cocktail hour.

Transportation + Parking

There are more than fifty parking stalls available to guests of The Gem, as well as space for bus parking and a number of planned Tesla Supercharger stations. The Gem can also arrange taxi or add on a late night shuttle service for guests needing transportation to Banff or Canmore.

Accessibility

The Gem features two levels - a main floor and a loft area. Guests may use the available elevator for easy access to the loft space.

Rehearsal

Rehearsal times and arrangements can be confirmed up to two weeks in advance of your event date, during, which clients will be given a one-hour time slot (pending availability). Access to The Gem the day before and the day after your event cannot be guaranteed. Only the couple,  coordinator, wedding party and officiant are permitted to attend, numbers limted to less than 20 people. 

Bookings

Three non-refundable deposits amounting to 50%, 30% and 20% of the venue rental fee plus a $1000 refundable damage deposit is due in three instalments -upon contract signing, 30 days after and 60 days after. 

All payments can be made by e-transfer to events@thegem.ca or by credit card with a 2.9% fee.

A contract must be signed and the booking fee paid in order for the event date to be confirmed.

Event cancellation fees apply and are detailed in the event agreement.

In a non-payment scenario, Gemstone Event Centre Inc. reserves the right to cancel the event. There will be no refund of any previous monies paid.

Bookings can be made up to eighteen months in advance of the event date. The Gem features a seating capacity of up to 160, with any guest over the age of two counting towards this total.

An additional 40 guests can be accommodated for standing-only events. bringing the total venue capacity to 200.

A credit card pre-authorization form will be required for all bookings. Any outstanding balance not paid 24 hours after the final invoice is sent will be automatically charged to this account.

The marriage license and commissioner are the responsibility of the clients; The Gem will provide a preferred vendor list upon booking confirmation.

IN-HOUSE RENTALS

All in-house rental items provided by the Rocky Mountain Wedding Collective require a 50% deposit and 10% damage protection fee. Final rental costs are charged two weeks in advance of the event date.

Accommodation

There are currently ten onsite short-term unit rentals available; please contact The Gem for a booking link. New nearby short-term accommodation options are slated to start accepting guests shortly in 2025 - enquire for more details.

Damages and Loss

The Gem is not responsible for damages to or loss of any article left in the venue prior to, during, or after any function by the couple or guests.

Should damages occur in the venue space (bathrooms, floors, walls, etc.) due to negligence of members of the group, an assessment for damages will be added to the final bill, and will result in the partial or full forfeit of the damage deposit plus any additional costs.

Set Up + Decor

The Gem is responsible strictly for items provided by the venue. All other décor and rentals must be taken care of by clients or their chosen vendors at the end of the event.

Nothing is permitted to be left at the venue overnight without prior permission, including food items.

The use of confetti, rice, petals, glitter, bubbles or birdseed is not permitted. Any items that are left requiring teardown by venue employees or that create scenarios requiring heavy-duty cleaning will incur additional charges.

    Please note that The Gem does not allow anything to be hung from the walls or the ceiling of the event space except for items that are supplied by The Gem and installed by either venue staff or a pre-approved vendor.

A professional day-of coordinator is recommended for setup and teardown of all décor with the exception of decor packages booked through the Rocky Mountain Wedding Collective.

Any additional setup or teardown services required from The Gem staff will incur additional fees. 

Audio-visual

There is a sound system onsite complete with Spotify account access. A Bluetooth microphone is also available for indoor use.

SOCAN charges apply for all events booked at The Gem. These fees will be on the final invoice. 

A projector is available for rent upon request.