Hi Brides, Grooms & Planners,
Below is our venue FAQ to answer all your questions.
Nothing matched that one. Try a different word, or reach us directly at (805) 617-1669 or Marketing@1880union.com and we will get you an answer.
Frequently Asked
The property
Where are you?
362 Bell Street, Los Alamos, California 93440, in Santa Barbara Wine Country. We are 45 minutes north of Santa Barbara, 35 minutes south of San Luis Obispo, 2.5 hours from LAX, and about 2 hours 20 minutes from Hollywood Burbank.
What is the venue?
A California Registered Historic Landmark, built in 1880 as a stagecoach stop and rebuilt in 1915. Today it is a boutique hotel and private event venue with nine guest rooms, a bunk room, and a historic western saloon.
What spaces are available?
| Space | Indoor or outdoor | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Union Lawn | Outdoor | Up to 300 guests |
| The Ballroom / Lobby | Indoor | 150 standing, 80 seated, available year-round |
| The Brick Terrace | Outdoor | Up to 300 guests (overflow onto Lawn) |
| The Saloon | Indoor | Up to 50 guests, booked separately |
What is the guest capacity?
The property holds up to 300 guests. Up to 21 guests can stay overnight.
Are there restrooms for guests?
Yes. There are six event restrooms on property: three between the Lobby and the Ballroom, one in the Saloon, and two more on the second floor.
Those are in addition to the nine en-suite bathrooms in the guest rooms.
As a planning guide, we recommend one restroom per 75 guests.
Is there parking?
Yes. Street parking is readily available on Bell Street and around town. We do not have a parking lot or driveway on the property itself.
Frequently Asked
Buyouts and dates
What does a buyout include?
Private, exclusive use of the historic hotel and the grounds. Nothing else is booked around you for the length of your buyout.
Do we have to buy out the whole property?
For Friday and Saturday weddings, yes. Those are a two-night, two-day full property buyout. Single day buyouts are available for Sunday through Thursday weddings only. Accommodations cannot be provided for Thursday weddings.
Is Friday night included with a Saturday wedding?
Yes, at no additional venue fee, as long as food or beverage is done with us. Most couples use it for a rehearsal dinner or welcome party. Rentals are included only when you are using the applicable in-house food and beverage services.
A planner is required for any additional events.
What about Thursday or weekday dates?
Thursday dates have no overnight accommodations. Sunday through Thursday dates have different terms than a weekend buyout. Ask and we will walk you through what applies to your date.
How far in advance can we book?
Our booking window is 24 months out. If your date falls outside that window, let us know and we will reach out as soon as it opens.
What are the event hours?
A standard wedding day runs 4pm to 2am.
Frequently Asked
Accommodations
How many people can stay on property?
Twenty-one. We have nine guest rooms, all with full en-suite bathrooms, plus a bunk room (two twin beds and a trundle) with a shared bathroom across the hall. The Presidential Suite includes a bridal dressing room.
Upstairs you also have The Poker Room, the Game Room, a lounge, and a kitchenette as shared common space.
Is there a minimum stay?
Two nights for weekends, Friday and Saturday. Overnight accommodations are required with the full weekend buyout.
Can we add additional nights?
Yes. Additional nights can be added pending availability, and require a full buyout of all rooms.
How does the room release program work?
Your wedding party and family can book and pay for their own rooms directly, the way they would at any hotel, and those bookings offset your accommodation cost. Standard room rates are listed in your contract.
Two things to know:
- We need your rooming list, meaning which guests are in which room, at least 30 days before your event.
- If a guest does not pay for their room, that cost falls back to you.
What about guests who are not staying on property?
We keep a hotel guide of nearby options and room blocks in and around Los Alamos. Read the hotel guide.
Frequently Asked
Music, curfew, and noise
What are the rules on music and noise?
- Outdoor and amplified music ends at 10pm per Santa Barbara County ordinance. This is not something we can extend.
- Live bands are welcome outdoors until 10pm.
- At 10pm, music and the party move inside and can continue until 2am, with last call at 1:30am.
- Outdoor spaces close at 10pm.
- Noise ordinance: 60 dBA measured at the property edge.
Frequently Asked
Food and beverage
Who handles catering?
All catering is in-house, handled by our culinary team. Every menu is customized. Outside catering requires our prior approval.
Can you accommodate dietary restrictions?
Yes. Our culinary team handles individual dietary plates including gluten-free and vegan. We will collect those with your final guest count 30 days prior to your event.
Can we bring our own alcohol?
No. All bar service is in house and we are the sole licensed provider on the property. Outside event beverages require prior approval and must be serviced by a licensed Union staff member.
Clients are allowed to keep certain beverages in the second floor accommodations area, but they cannot be brought outside of the designated area.
How is bar staffing handled?
We staff one bartender per 50 guests. You may request additional bartenders up until 30 days prior to the event date for an additional fee.
What is included with food and beverage?
- Dinner service includes standard china, servingware, silverware, and staffing
- Bar service includes standard glassware, ice, and bar equipment
- Set-up, strike, and trash service for applicable catering are also included
Does the Union provide staffing, ice, and trash service?
Yes to all three. Staffing comes with dinner service, ice comes with bar service, and trash service is included with catering packages.
Are there kids meals?
Yes, for children under 13 years old. Let us know your count with your final numbers at least 30 days prior to your event.
Do we need to pay for alcohol packages for all guests?
If we are providing open bar services, clients are required to pay for all adults 21 and over regardless of whether they drink alcohol or not.
Children and adults under 21 are excluded and have separate soft drink packages.
How does the dessert table or cake cutting fee work?
The Union charges a flat $250 fee for a dessert attendant. That covers assistance with dessert table setup or tray passed cake service, plates, silverware, trays, cake cutting, and storage of your dessert items prior to the event.
Frequently Asked
Your tasting day
What happens at a tasting?
Your tasting day is included as part of your event package. It's your chance to see exactly what our culinary team can do, so you leave confident in your menu and in the people behind it. We recommend scheduling your tasting three to six months before your event.
Ahead of time, we'll ask about any preferences you have on spirit, style, flavor, or food, as well as any dietary restrictions or allergies. The tasting includes the couple and your planner, and runs 60 to 90 minutes.
You'll start at the bar for 20 to 30 minutes, where our mixologist walks you through building your two specialty cocktails and the culinary team introduces your hors d'oeuvres. From there, you'll sit down with the team to taste a selection of entrées and sides. This is more about experiencing our approach, getting to know the people cooking your dinner, and finalizing your menu selections together. You're welcome to choose the exact dishes you taste for your final menu, or opt for a different dish. Either way, you'll leave with a sense of what to expect.
Who can come to a tasting?
Two people per tasting, plus your planner or coordinator. Additional guests are $75 per person.
Can we tour the property the same day?
Yes. If you'd like, you can schedule a walkthrough with your coordinator or planner one hour before your tasting time.
Frequently Asked
What we require from you
Do we need a planner or coordinator?
Yes. We require a month-of coordinator from our Preferred Vendor List, or a full-service planner if you are working with someone outside that list with prior approval. We will send you the list.
To be clear about what we do and do not do: we do not provide in-house event coordination or planning. What we provide is flexible setup and breakdown coordination with your vendors.
A planner or coordinator is required for all events on property including but not limited to rehearsal dinners, welcome parties, and brunches.
All planners are required to attend tastings with clients unless previously arranged.
What does our planner need to send you, and when?
Planners are required to provide the following on behalf of their clients, in draft or final form, at least 30 days prior to the event date:
- Event timelines: guest arrival, ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner service timing by course, cake cutting and dessert, afterparty, rental pick-up and drop-off, outside vendor arrival timing
- Names of all important attendees: bridal party, immediate family members
- Floorplan layout with list of required Union rentals and outside rentals
- Seating chart with any allergens. For plated dinner service, please include meal orders
- Example tablescape layout, including placement of all tabletop items and napkin fold
- Certificates of insurance (COIs) for all outside vendors, uploaded into your event drive folder. We will share the folder ahead of your event
What do vendor COIs need to include?
Every COI must contain the following:
- Name 1880 Union Hotel, LLC as both certificate holder and additional insured, at 362 Bell Street, Los Alamos, CA 93440
- Show general liability coverage of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence
- Include workers' compensation coverage for any vendor with employees
- Include auto coverage for delivery vehicles
What are the delivery and pick-up windows for outside rentals?
Delivery and pick-up by outside rental companies must take place within the venue buyout period. Exceptions may be possible with prior written approval.
Your planner or coordinator is required to be on site for both drop-off and pick-up.
Can vendors drive onto the property?
No. We have no parking lot and no driveway, so vehicles are not permitted on the property at any time. Everything is unloaded from the street and carried in, so build the extra time into your load-in and load-out plan.
Talk to us ahead of your date about where your vendors should unload.
Do we need to provide table linens?
If you are using our in-house rental tables, tablecloths and napkins are required and come from you or your rental company.
Does the Union steam linens before the event?
No. Our team does not steam linens or any other items prior to the event. Steaming is the responsibility of the client, the planner, or the vendor supplying them.
When is our final guest count due?
30 days before your event, including vendor and kids meal counts. Please note that only vendors receiving vendor meals are included in the vendor meal guest count. Check with your vendors or your planner to confirm.
When is the room release list due?
30 days before your event, if you are using the room release program. We will need the first and last name of the guests in each room, plus a phone number and email address.
Frequently Asked
What is included
What does the site fee cover?
- Private, exclusive use of the hotel and grounds for the length of your buyout
- Event insurance with $1,000,000 coverage
- Chairs and tables for wedding event day
- Outdoor string lights
- Flexible setup and breakdown coordination with your vendors
What is included in set-up and strike?
Our team handles the set-up and strike of tables, chairs, linens, plates, and glassware.
Planners and florists are responsible for the set-up and strike of all florals, decor items, and paper products.
What will we need to bring in ourselves?
Outside of what is listed above, you will be sourcing your coordinator or planner, linens, florals, photography, and DJ or AV. These are the same at any venue you would consider. We are happy to point you to people we trust.
One practical note: we would start with your planner first as they will help guide you and have preferred vendor lists of their own.
Do we need to bring in a generator?
Usually not. The Union has several 15 amp outlets throughout the property, which cover normal wedding and music requirements.
Large production events, including stages, additional lighting, and a live band, may require an additional generator. If you are planning anything at that scale, have your production team talk to us early.
Frequently Asked
Decor and care of the property
What are the rules on candles and open flame?
No open flame indoors, anywhere on the property.
Outdoors, candles are welcome as long as every flame sits inside hurricane glass. Cold flames are allowed.
What decor is allowed?
Nearly all of it. Bring what you love. There are two limits: nothing that damages the property, and nothing that is discriminatory or offensive by nature.
Beyond that, we ask that the building be treated with respect. The Union is over a hundred years old and it deserves all the love. If you are not sure whether an install or a material will work here, send it to us and we will tell you.
Can we move the furniture inside?
Furniture cannot be moved without a prior request to our team. Approved moves may carry fees for moving and storage, plus a 10% administration fee.
Can we bring in a dance floor?
Yes. Dance floors are welcome as long as they come from a licensed vendor.
If you are putting a dance floor on the grass, appropriate precautions have to be taken to protect the lawn. Any damage is charged back to the client at the cost of repair plus a 10% administration fee.
What happens if something is damaged?
Damage to the property is charged back to the client at the cost of repair plus a 10% administration fee.
Frequently Asked
Smoking
What is the smoking policy?
No smoking indoors.
Smoking is allowed in designated areas outside. Contact our team for the exact locations so you can share them with your guests.
Frequently Asked
The Saloon
Is the Saloon part of the buyout?
No. The Saloon is a separately licensed venue attached to the hotel and it is not included in the property buyout. It can be added to your event as a private afterparty.
How does the afterparty work?
A private Saloon buyout runs three hours, generally 10:30pm to 1:30am, and holds up to 50 guests. Late night food is a popular addition.
If your afterparty is larger than 50 guests, we open overflow into the Lobby. Above 75 guests, we add another bartender and open the Lobby Bar.
Can we have a DJ or band indoors for the afterparty?
Yes. DJs and live music are both allowed indoors for afterparties.
We also have Sonos speakers in the Saloon and the Lobby that are available for afterparty use, if you would rather run a playlist than bring someone in.
Is the Saloon open to the public?
Yes, Thursday through Sunday. Thursday 4pm to 9pm with live music from 6pm to 8pm, Friday 4pm to 9pm, and Saturday and Sunday 11am to 4pm with brunch. We are closed Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. All ages are welcome.
If you are touring on a day the Saloon is open, save a little time before or after to grab a drink or bite with us.
Frequently Asked
Guests, children, and dogs
Are children welcome?
Yes.
Can we bring our dog?
Your dog is welcome and can stay overnight with you. We are not able to accommodate guests' dogs.
Frequently Asked
How a booking comes together
What are the steps from first call to event day?
- A call and a custom proposal. A short conversation about your date, guest count, and the shape of the weekend. We build the proposal from there.
- A tour. About an hour. Walk the lawn, the ballroom, and the rooms.
- Sign and reserve the date. A signed agreement and deposit hold it. Payment schedule is laid out in your proposal and agreement.
- Plan the weekend. Tasting with our culinary team, vendor approvals, floor plan, and final guest count 30 days out.
Still have questions
We are here
Anything about rehearsal timing or your specific floor plan is easier to handle directly. Call or email and we will get you an answer.
Kylie McCarthy, Creative Director, Head of Sales and Marketing
(619) 825-2641 · Marketing@1880union.com
Sara Djerf, Director of Operations, tours and day-of logistics
(805) 617-1669 · sara@1880union.com
1880 Union Hotel · 362 Bell Street, Los Alamos, CA 93440 · (805) 617-1669