Can I choose my own caterer?
Absolutely! Client’s must provide load in/load out times for caterers, advise caterer of contractual agreement to avoid penalty to client if contract is not followed.
What kitchen facilities are available?
Each warming kitchen includes a commercial refrigerator & freezer, two six-foot warming towers, counters/cupboards and a large and small sink. No food prep or dish washing is allowed on site.
What is your venue’s capacity?
The Black Pearl on the Columbia holds a total of 1,050 people (585 on the upper level & 465 on the lower level. 500 seated at tables with 230 on the main level, 270 on the upper level). Utilizing the outside decks & patios creates more people space.
What is your policy on alcohol?
***$1,000 Premium Alcohol Fee for Spirits/Beer/Wine or $500 Premium Alcohol Fee for Beer/Wine.*** Alcoholic beverages may ONLY be served by a licensed and insured bartender and all serving must stop at 10 pm. Bartender’s MAST permit is required to be on file with the Black Pearl. If alcohol is served at the event, the client will need to carry additional event or liquor liability insurance. Bartenders’ IDs will be verified on the day of the event. Over serving guests is prohibited and will result in loss of Security Deposit. The Black Pearl strives for every client & guest to truly enjoy their time with us and to leave with wonderful memories. To help avoid overconsumption and events from getting out of control, we have an alcohol policy available upon request.
Banquet Permit may be required for your event and may be purchased here: https://lcb.wa.gov/licensing/online-banquet-permit Bartenders ID will be verified the day of the event.
Please note: Insurance for your bartender is not the same as your required Event Insurance. Bartender’s are typically covered through your catering companies insurance and we always recommend using their bartender if they have one available. If your caterer does not have a bartender available, your bartender MUST be insured. They are welcome to purchase an insurance policy through FLIP, at this link: https://fliprogram.com/policy/buy/ai/MTY0Mg== . If you use the code “BlackPearl10” this will give you a $10 discount at checkout.
How is set up and clean up handled?
The client must load in/load out during the times specified in the contract. (Additional Pricing Sheet available upon request with rates for additional hours. Additional days will be charged per current rates.) The client will be responsible for the setup and clean-up of tables and chairs. The client will be responsible for returning the property to the state that it was provided to you. This includes putting tables and chairs away, placing all trash in designated containers, cleaning and taking with you all personal items at the end of the evening.
What are your venue’s insurance requirements?
Commercial general liability insurance with a limit of at least One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) per occurrence and Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000) in the aggregate, and, if alcohol will be served at the event, liquor liability insurance with a limit of at least One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) per occurrence and Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000) in the aggregate. Policy must include a minimum of Five Thousand ($5,000) Medical Expense.
Additional insureds:
Needs to Read:
Black Pearl on the Columbia, LLC
Barrett Share Trust u/w of William W. Sherertz
56 S First Street
Washougal, WA 98671
Is the primary insurance with respect to any claim. Waives all rights of subrogation against the additional insured parties. (Must include a Waiver of Subrogation.)
We are set up with the following companies so they have the above requirements all ready for you.
The Event Helper
https://www.theeventhelper.com/#5JkteG
Eventsure
Will anyone be on the property the day of for questions?
Owner representative will provide guidance and answer questions from the appointed Day of Coordinator. An Owner Representative will be on site during your event.
is the venue handicapped accessible?
Yes. We have a ramp to get into the building and we also have eight bathrooms that are ADA accessible. There is an elevator in the building if your event is upstairs.
Are there dressing quarters for the wedding party?
We do not have dressing quarters per se for the wedding parties. Many guests have used the mezzanine. The Best Western Plus across the street is another option for wedding party prep.
WHAT TABLES AND CHAIRS ARE AVAILABLE TO BE USED?
20 •Bistro - (32” across & 44” tall)
60 • 60” Round
2 • 48” Round
10 • 8’ Rectangle (30” x 96”)
10 • 6’ Rectangle (30” x 72”)
15 • Black/white folding screens
2 • 8’ Bar topper & table (Table: 30" x 96" Topper: 12"W x 12"H x 96”L)
500•Chairs •Mahogany color resin folding chairs (30.5"H x 14.75"D x 15.5"W • Seat Height: 18")
ARE LINENS INCLUDED WITH MY RENTAL?
The Black Pearl does not provide linens. The following are the sizes that work best for the tables we have available on site:
Table Linen Size
60” Round 120” Round (to the floor) 90” Round (halfway to the floor)
48” Round 108” Round
Bistro 120” Round
6’ Rectangle 90" X 132"
8’ Rectangle 90” X 156”
8’ Bar Tables 90” X 156” (this goes on the lower table) and 60” X 126” (this goes across the top of the bar and covers the sides as well)
Do you provide security?
We have a staff member on site during all events to help monitor the building as well as security cameras 24/7.
Do you have an ice machine?
No, typically clients will utilize our freezer for ice storage.
Do you have a PA system or A/V system?
Our preferred vendor list has AV options.
Can I have a food truck for my event?
Yes! All food trucks must be fully self contained.
Do you do any discounts?
We do discounts for clients who are Active Military, Men & Women in blue, and Veterans upon request.
How much is the deposit?
To book & secure your date we require a $1,000.00 nonrefundable deposit that is applied to your total fee. Also, a $2,500 damage & excessive cleaning deposit is required just prior to your event, that will be refunded within 30 days, if the building is left how you found it. (5 hour Corporate time blocks will have a $1,000 Damage Deposit.)
When is my Security Deposit refunded and how?
Any portion of the deposit that can be returned will be refunded within 30 days of your event. We make every effort to return this 3 weeks after your event has ended. The money is returned to the same card that the payment was made from, or via check if paid by cash or check.
How do the rest of the payments work?
After the initial deposit we break the balance up into a couple payments with the refundable deposit due 2 weeks before your event.
WHAT IS THE CANCELLATION POLICY?
If the event is canceled within 90 days of the date of the event, no portion of the fees paid to the owner will be returned.
are candles allowed?
Battery operated candles only. You may have real candles for decoration, they must remain unlit.
WHAT OPTIONS ARE APPROVED FOR A WEDDING SEND OFF?
LED Balloon lights
Ribbon wedding wands
Fiber-Optic LED wands
LED Foam sticks
Bubble machine
Personalized flags
Butterflies
Doves
Smokeless Wedding Sparklers (ONLY allowed when there is no burn ban!) We also require that you have a designated person in charge of collecting all of the “sticks” and making sure they are properly extinguished, before being thrown away in the dumpster.
UNAPPROVED OPTIONS
- Sparklers with “no smoke” option or during burn ban
- Paper Lanterns
- Fireworks
- Confetti (including the bio-degradable options)
- Colored Smoke Bombs
- Rice
- Bird Seed
- Flower seeds
- Flower Petals
- Silly string
Can we bring pets?
Certified service animals are always welcome. We welcome dogs to be part of your wedding ceremonies, but ask that they only stay for that part of your event. Please remove any pet by products from the property.
is there a designated smoking area?
We recommend smoking at the end of the sidewalks where posted. NO smoking on the front entry, patios, parking lot or upper outside decks. All materials must be placed in smoke approved containers.
can we have a cigar tent?
You may bring your own tent and set it up on the eastern most edge of the parking lot. All cigars must be disposed of by the client and removed with your personal items.
MAY I DO A MOCK SET UP OF MY EVENT?
We ask that you utilize our interactive floor plans on Allseated.com. It’s free to sign up and a great tool for planning your event. We ask that you not set up our tables and chairs out during our open houses. This adds wear and tear to our inventory, as well as being noisy and distracting for guests trying to explore the space. If you need a better visual of where tables and chairs will fit, we have had guests bring string/yarn and painters tape to mark the floor for a little better idea.
What is typical weather in Washougal?
We are in the beautiful Columbia River Gorge! Our incredible views come with typical Gorge type weather. We get a fair amount of wind throughout the year. In the winter it tends to be a bit colder with the wind typically coming from the East and if there is snow, it does create drifts. During the Summer, due to the wind and dryness we are not able to allow the use of sparklers. If you are planning to use the outdoor areas around the Black Pearl, it’s important to take into account the wind as well as possible extreme weather.