Event Rental Frequently Asked Questions
We’re thrilled you’re considering the Putnam Museum & Science Center for your event – whether it’s a birthday party, a class reunion, or a wedding. We know you have a lot of questions, and we’d love to hear from you. You can book a tour right now!
If you can’t wait, feel free to take a moment to learn how we handle some things!
TIMELINE
We’d love for you to book a tour to see all the various options we offer. You can do that here.
Once you decide you love us, you will sign a rental agreement and pay half of the room rental to secure your date. Then, we will connect you with our Events Manager to coordinate your event.
If it’s a large event, like a wedding reception or gala, the Events Manager will help you fine tune your vision and support you as you figure out all the details. Usually, you’ll meet with our Events Manager 6 months prior to event to brainstorm and again a month prior to the event to finalize your plan.
DECORATIONS
Our space is beautiful as is, but we want you to make it your own! We have very few limitations when it comes to creative decorations!
We ask that you appoint a decorations point person who knows your decorating plan.
Putnam staff will set up tables and chairs according to your plan, but does not decorate the venue, unless items need to be hung from the ceiling. If any decorations will hang from the ceiling, we need those three days before the event. Putnam employees must hang them due to OSHA guidelines.
We can provide black tablecloths and chair covers for your event. They are a stretch material and quite lovely. The fee is $5 for each tablecloth and $2 per each chair cover. We have beautiful white draping that can be hung from our ceiling. There is a fee depending on design.
For children’s birthday parties, you will can start decorating one half hour before guests arrive, and you will have one half hour to clean up.
For larger events, like weddings or galas, you and your team can start decorating the day of the event as early as 8:30am.
If you would like to decorate the day before the event (and the Putnam does not have a scheduled event), you may do so between 10am and 5pm for a $350 fee. An additional fee is added for decorating after 5pm the night before an event.
As for cleanup for larger events, we ask guests leave the event by 11:00pm. You will need to remove all food and decorations by midnight.
Note – there is a fee for time spent past midnight. If you require additional tear down time, you can pay the fee or you can collect decorations the following day during business hours.
REHEARSAL
You can hold a wedding rehearsal the day before the wedding (and the Putnam does not have a scheduled event) during operating hours for no fee. We recommend you book this time when you book your rental. If you would like to have a rehearsal after 5pm, there is an additional fee.
BAR
All alcohol must be purchased through the Putnam, because we hold a liquor license.
We have a wide variety of beer, wine, and liquor – just like any other bar! We specifically serve Coppola and Menage Trois brands for our wine:
Reds: Cabernet, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Red Blend
White: Moscato, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay
If you want a bar, no matter who pays for the drinks, the renter will be charged a bar set up fee and for our bartender’s time.
We can source kegs and other specific alcohol per request. Price will be determined based on the request and the Putnam must be notified one month prior to the event.
We can provide Pepsi products, including Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Sierra Mist, Root Beer, Dr. Pepper, Pink Lemonade, Mountain Dew at $2 a drink. You can choose to host soda or have your guests pay per drink. If you would prefer, you can bring in your own non-alcoholic drinks.
At the bar, you can choose to cover the snack bar tablecloths or not. There is no fee either way. You can also choose to cover the Pepsi machines. You have the option of putting up a 11×17 sign of whatever you’d like (bar menu, pictures of you, etc)
FOOD
The Putnam does not have a required caterer. We ask that the caterer provide their license number and information in a form we will provide.
MUSIC
Please let us know if you are using a band or a DJ. We do not have any requirements but would like to contact the vendor to discuss details.
MUSEUM ACCESS
If you would like to give your guests access to the museum, it is $7 per guest with a minimum of $300 and a maximum of $750. Number of guests will be determined one month ahead of the event.
CLOSE THE MUSEUM
The museum is open Monday through Saturday 10am-5pm and Sunday from noon-5pm. If you would like to hold an event during operating hours, you have the option to shut down the museum to the public. During peak season, the fee is $750; off-season is $500.
