Planning Your Event
Frequently Asked Questions
We have compiled answers to the most common questions about hosting an event at Meredith College, covering everything from venue details and booking policies to catering and technical services. If your question isn't answered here, please don't hesitate to contact our events team.
Here you will find answers to our most common initial questions, covering everything from venue specifics and availability to the first steps in the booking process.
Meredith is first and foremost an educational institution, so space use is prioritized in the following order:
- Academic programs
- Students
- Organizations or individuals outside of Meredith
Our Events team works with all clients to identify a location that meets their needs. In most instances, we can locate a space that will work for your meeting or program.
Meredith strives to make its campus accessible to the entire campus community and visitors to the College.
The Accessibility at Meredith site provides detailed information about parking, accessibility resources, contact information, and more.
No, you don’t have to be an alumna to rent our facilities, though we do offer our alums, as well as our current students, a discounted wedding rental fee.
In addition to hosting weddings and other important life moments, Meredith seeks to engage the community through events that relate back to the College’s mission. If you would like to discuss use of college facilities, please contact the Office of Events at +1 919 444 2272 or bookings@meredith.edu.
Every event is quoted individually based on the venue, the date, the hours you need, and services like AV and staffing. Every booking also includes a refundable damage deposit. For exact numbers, request a quote through our inquiry form and we will put a custom proposal together for you.
Every event needs a certificate of insurance with general liability coverage of $1,000,000 per occurrence, naming Meredith College as additional insured. The certificate is due at least 30 days before your event date. Outside vendors you bring, such as caterers or production companies, each provide their own certificate.
If you do not carry event insurance, you can purchase an affordable single-event policy online in minutes through our insurance partner, The Event Helper. The application comes preloaded with our venue details, and we receive your certificate automatically when you purchase.
Our largest venue is the McIver Amphitheater, a 5-acre outdoor space that seats up to 2,500 guests. Indoors, Jones Auditorium is our biggest space with 650 seats, ideal for performances and conferences.
Yes. Our outdoor wedding and ceremony spaces include the McIver Amphitheater, the Jones Chapel Garden Gazebo, Faw Gardens, the Lake Gazebo, and the Front Lawn, set across our historic 225-acre campus in Raleigh.
Yes. On-site parking is included with your venue rental and is free for your guests. Please note that spaces marked Reserved at All Times are not available for event parking.
Yes. We offer AV equipment and on-site technicians, including projectors, microphones, and sound systems, priced per event. Share your AV needs and we will include them in your quote.
Absolutely. We are happy to arrange a tour so you can see the spaces in person before booking. The easiest way is to start with our inquiry form and mention you would like a visit.
Our venues host weddings, corporate events and conferences, performances and recitals, ticketed shows, parties and celebrations, and film and photo shoots. With more than 30 spaces, from intimate parlors to a 2,500-seat amphitheater, there is a fit for nearly any event.
Meredith College is located at 3800 Hillsborough St in Raleigh, North Carolina, just minutes from downtown Raleigh and convenient to the wider Triangle area.
Yes! We are proud of our heritage that includes our founding as a women’s college by North Carolina Baptists, but today, our Chapel is nondenominational and we welcome those of any or no faith to our campus for weddings and other functions. You will have the flexibility to contract with any officiant of your choosing to preside at your wedding ceremony. You will also make arrangements independently from Meredith for your choice of florist, musician(s), photographer, wedding director, etc.
Yes, with advance approval. Alcohol must be approved in writing ahead of time, served by a licensed caterer or licensed vendor, and a security officer is part of the event staffing. Please plan for at least one month of lead time.
Oak Leaf Catering, our in-house caterer, is the exclusive caterer for Belk Dining Hall, the Oak Room, and Dogwood. In all of our other venues you are welcome to bring in the licensed caterer of your choice, and food trucks are an option for outdoor spaces. Outside vendors carry their own insurance certificate. You also have full flexibility on florists, musicians, photographers, cake vendors, and similar services.
Absolutely! If you get married at Meredith, you are entitled to one free photography session. If you are getting married elsewhere, brides may schedule bridal portraits to be taken on Meredith’s campus for a small fee and proof of liability insurance. All appointments must be scheduled with the Office of Events prior to the bridal portrait session.
Every event runs with an on-site representative who oversees the venue during your rental. Performances and events using lighting and audio in our auditoriums also include a qualified technician, and security staffing is set per event based on attendance. All staffing is itemized in your quote, so you see exactly what your event includes.
Мeredith College offers post-event custodial services to handle the cleanup for you. This service is available at an hourly rate of $35, allowing you and your guests to depart without worry after your event concludes. We recommend discussing your specific needs with our event coordinator.