FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Amenities, Policies + Important Information 

See below for answers to FAQs about our venue

Amenities Provided

  • We have a beautiful contemporary barn that seats up to 200 guests.

  • The tables we provide for indoor dining are 96” x 40” rectangular elm wood tables. We have enough tables to seat 200 people. Outdoor dining tables are 96” x 30” plastic banquet tables, which require linens. 

    There are 30 x 8ft, 10 x 6ft and 1 x 4ft plastic tables for you and your caterers to use for buffets, DJ, welcome tables, memory tables etc. 

    We have 10 elm wood cocktail tables which can be placed on the outdoor patios around the property. 

    There are 4 whiskey barrels that can be used for cabaret tables on the grass.

    Our dining chairs are cross-back antique black wood. Our ceremony chairs are dark brown wood with cream colored cushions. 

    We highly encourage you to rent wooden tables for outdoor dining from our wonderful local vendor Harvest Table Company.

    Tables and chairs will be stacked and available for use. The caterer or hired staff is responsible for setting up and breaking down all tables and chairs at the end of the event.

  • Cottage: Our newly refurbished cottage has electricity, a fridge, new furniture and flooring, a dressing room, bathroom, mirrors and vanity. There is a flagstone patio and koi ponds attached to the cottage, with umbrellas, heat-lamps and outdoor furniture for a tranquil escape during the day. 

    Barn: Within the barn there is a lofted get-ready space. 

  • Outdoor: Our built-in cedar based and red flagstone topped bar is located under a majestic blue spruce tree. It has lighting and electricity, plus spacious functional storage space for your bartender.

    Indoor: There is a second bar area located within the barn.

  • Lighting: We have cabaret string lighting throughout the property. 

    Power: We have electricity for all your needs.

  • We have a large fire pit surrounded by Adirondack chairs. We provide the wood and will light it for you unless there is a fire ban.

  • We have ample parking for your guests. The parking area is well lit at night. We do recommend a shuttle service for larger guest counts.

    Recommendations for shuttle services can be found on our vendor list. If you or any guest needs to leave a car overnight, they must be picked up the following morning by 9:30a. We would much rather a guest leave a car overnight than drive while impaired. There is no camping at the venue. 

  • Venue Manager: We provide a venue manager who will communicate with you in the months prior to your wedding and answer any questions regarding the venue, policies and amenities. Our venue manager will be onsite the entire day of your event. More information about the responsibilities of our manager, your coordinator and your catering staff are listed below. 

    Walkthrough: You will have a walkthrough 4-6 weeks from your event to meet with your venue manager, coordinator and caterer to discuss the timeline and details of your event. 

    Rehearsal: You will have a rehearsal that is scheduled the day before your event between 10:00a and 11:00a in the morning. They are limited to an hour and please limit guests to ceremony participants ONLY. Pets, games and picnics are not allowed at this time. This will be scheduled through your venue manager.

  • RiverBend is relatively flat and easily accessible to guests in wheelchairs or walkers.

Directions & Parking

  • River Bend is located at 501 West Main St, at the western end of Lyons, just beyond the intersection of US 36 and US 7. It is a private property, so please make an appointment before visiting. 

  • Take Hwy. 36 to Hwy. 66. Turn left and continue through the town of Lyons to the intersection of US 36 and US 7. Veer right onto US 36 and take the first possible left into River Bend.

  • Take 1-25 north to exit 234 for Lyons/Estes Park. Continue for 15 miles through the town of Lyons to the intersection of US 36 and US7. Veer right and take the first possible left into River Bend.

  • Chris and Sarah Legh
    PO Box 1972
    Lyons, CO 80540 

    *Mail will NOT get delivered to the venue. 

Important Things To Know

  • You are required to hire a wedding coordinator and they must come from our list. It may be a ‘day-of’ coordinator or full-service. They cannot be a friend, family, or guest at your event.

  • Your caterer and bartender must come from our vendor list. Most catering companies provide bartending services. If not, you must choose a bartender from the list. You can bring your own alcohol but cash bars aren’t allowed. All alcohol must be served from a bartender to your guests hands. No wine bottles set out on dinner tables or bins of beer or other alcoholic drinks that guests can serve themselves. Bar service ends at 9:45p sharp.

    RiverBend has chosen not to acquire a liquor license, as a huge cost benefit to our clients. However, ALL alcohol MUST be served by your chosen bartenders.

  • I understand that I must use a required caterer from your list for my event. However, can we bring in snacks for the bridal party while we are getting ready?

    Yes. But please remember, you will also need to provide utensils, plates, glasses, wine bottle openers, etc. Our bridal cottage and groom lounge are not stocked with these items. Absolutely no hard liquor will be allowed before the bartenders arrive. If found it will be confiscated.

  • We strive to be a “green” venue. Our venue has potable drinking water so we prefer no plastic water bottles. If you choose to not rent plates, flatware and glassware, then we prefer you to use recyclable goods.

  • Indoors: There will be no restrictions on music within the barn structure, but the volume must be no more than 95dB.

    Outdoors: Music may be amplified outdoors for ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner and first dance until 8PM at the very latest. All amplified music MUST be moved indoors after 8PM. This is a town zoning ordinance. 

    No drum kits (electric are ok), cymbals or brass horns will be allowed outside.

  • Noon until 11:00p. Bar and music must end at 9.45p and all guests must exit the property by 10p. The last hour between 10:00p and 11:00p is for your coordinator and caterer to clean up. 

    We are offering after-parties for a fee of $950 per hour, until midnight. 

    We are unable to allow access to the venue any earlier than noon. Mornings are busy with rehearsals, showings, cleaning, maintenance and preparation for that day's events. Thank you for understanding.

  • We don’t provide linens, plates or glassware etc. Those items will usually be provided by your caterer and bar service. If not, they will need to be rented and there are a number of rental companies recommended on our vendor list. You can inquire with your venue manager if you have questions or need recommendations. 

  • Candles are allowed but they must be fully enclosed in a glass one piece hurricane vase with a base to collect dripping wax. We do NOT allow sparklers or Chinese lanterns. 

    Smoking is prohibited on our property except in our designated smoking area. Cigars are allowed near the fire pit or smoking area. Your venue manager will point the smoking area out to you at your walkthrough. Absolutely no cannabis use is permitted.

  • Dogs are allowed for the ceremony and for photos only. After the ceremony they will need to be taken off the property, or there are dog minding services recommended on our vendor list for dog care at our venue. 

  • Unfortunately, neither service is easy to get in Lyons, especially at 10:00p at night. Please let your guests know that there aren’t reliable options for transportation from the venue. If your guests would like to Uber, we recommend pre-ordering one.

  • We don’t require wedding insurance but highly recommend it. Eventsured, Markel Insurance and Wed Sure are some great companies to inquire with. They offer both liability and cancellation coverage. 

    We do carry liability insurance on our venue. 

  • RiverBend is not responsible for lost or stolen items. You and your guests, along with your coordinator need to collect all personal belongings at the end of the event. Items left at the venue are kept in a lost and found area but are not held indefinitely. Please email us if you or a guest has left something behind. We strongly recommend that you don’t bring irreplaceable family photos or heirlooms. 

    • Cannabis and illicit drugs

    • Sparklers/Confetti and glitter 

    • Karaoke outdoors 

    • Rented dance floors on the grass or inside the barn. 

    • If you would like a stage inside the barn, there is an extra $300 fee - which covers the flooring that is required for underneath the stage. 

    • Bouncy Houses 

How Do I Make a Reservation?

  • We don’t add any taxes or service fees to the rental fee of the venue.
    We do require a $1,000 damage deposit which is due one month prior to your event. 
    This damage deposit is 100% refundable within the week after your event, if no damages above normal wear and tear occur.
    There is a damage waiver that will be signed when you sign your rental agreement and secure your date.

    • Our contemporary barn, ceremony space, cottage and lofted get ready space. 

    • 11 hours of venue use from noon-11pm.

    • Venue manager.

    • Dining tables and chairs, ceremony chairs, cocktail tables, heat lamps and lawn games.

    • 1 hour rehearsal.

    • Set up and clean up.

  • We require 50% deposit to secure your event date.

  • The final payment and damage deposit are due one month prior to your event.

  • Yes, we can accept a credit card payment, but the bank does automatically charge a 3% fee. 
    If you would like to avoid the fee, we can accept a check.

Staffing

  • All events require staff. Details will be discussed at your walkthrough with your venue manager. Staff responsibilities include: 

    • Attend walkthrough.

    • Set up chairs for the ceremony. 

    • Set up dinner tables. 

    • Busses and cleans throughout the event. 

    • Cleans catering area and dinner area at the end of the event. 

    • Puts away tables and dining/ceremony chairs away at the end of the event. 

    • Cleans the venue of all trash. 

    • Attends walkthrough & rehearsal. 

    • Creates timeline, ceremony and table layouts. 

    • Manages timeline on day of event. 

    • Organizes and manages vendors. 

    • Coordinators, along with the caterer are responsible to load all personal belongings, decor, leftover food and alcohol into a designated vehicle at the end of the event. 

    • Must arrive at least 2 hours prior to the ceremony and stay until the last guests have left.

  • PRIOR TO THE EVENT: 

    • Communicates with and answers any venue related questions. 

    • Schedules and attends the walkthrough. 

    • Schedules the rehearsal (venue managers don’t attend rehearsals). 

    DAY OF THE EVENT: 

    • Turn lights on. 

    • Make sure the restrooms are clean, stocked and are in good working order and checks throughout the day. 

    • Set up the PA system if the couple is using it. 

    • Lights the fire in the fire pit (unless there is a fire ban). 

    • Communicates venue policies with vendors. 

    • All vendors must check out with the venue manager before leaving.