Wedding & B’nai Mitzvah Celebrations Guide
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The Pearlstone Conference & Retreat Center is a non-profit facility affiliated with The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore. Our primary mission is to provide a welcoming hospitality environment that facilitates a broad range of Jewish experiences and programs, both formal and informal. These are typically sponsored by local, regional and national Jewish organizations. On a space available basis we also welcome other non-profit groups at our site and host a limited number of Bnai Mitzvah ceremonies and weddings.
We fully support the religious institutions within the Baltimore Jewish Community. To host your event we will need a letter from a Baltimore area Rabbi indicating that this will be a Jewish wedding and that all ritual requirements have been met.
Whether your ceremony takes place in our beautiful outdoor setting, or indoors overlooking 164 acres of gently rolling hills and our tranquil lake, we offer a spectacular backdrop for this significant event. Pearlstone offers a relaxing setting, delicious kosher cuisine and a lovely venue to make this a very special day. It is also possible to incorporate an entire weekend Shabbaton into your wedding plans using the variety of overnight accommodations we can provide.
Thanks for your interest in holding your special event at Pearlstone. If you have any questions, or there is any other way in which we can assist you, please don’t hesitate to call.
Rebecca Copeland Event Coordinator
410-429-4400 x204
WEDDING INFORMATION
The minimum number of guests we require for a contract is 80. The maximum capacity in our reception hall (room 100) is 120 with dancing and 150 without. With the addition of a tent on the deck, this can be increased to 150 with dancing and 180 without. If the reception is held in an outdoor tent, which can be erected either on our center island or behind the conference building, we can serve a maximum of 225 guests, with or without dancing. If you are planning for a large number of guests to drive and park for your function; our parking lot has 55 lined parking spaces and 3 handicapped accessible spaces as well. Additional parking can be accommodated by parking nose first onto our center circle. If you anticipate a large number of cars we advise you to secure a parking attendant to assist your guests.
FOOD & BEVERAGE SERVICE
The Pearlstone Conference & Retreat Center is responsible for the Kashrut, quality and freshness of food served to our guests. We are supervised by the Vaad HaKashrus, Star K and the Maryland State Department of Health. Food may not be taken off the premises after it has been prepared and served. No outside caterers may be used and outside food may not be brought in except for an approved kosher wedding cake. Pearlstone is not licensed to serve alcohol. You must supply any alcoholic beverages or mixers you intend to serve your guests and they must be approved in advance by Star K. In most cases the earliest time you may begin a meal for a Sunday wedding is 1 PM. All food can be served buffet style or plated, and hors d’oeuvres are presented at stations or passed by wait staff.
PRICES, SERVICE CHARGE & TAXES
Prices are subject to change without notice. All charges such as those for food and beverages are subject to a 20% service charge and all applicable Maryland state sales taxes. The charge per guest attending your wedding (ages 6 and above) will be $94.00/ $109.00. Meals for children ages 2-5 and musicians, will be $29 per person. First floor Conference Center rental is $1000.00 for a 6 hour period beginning no earlier than 12:30 PM or no later than 4:30 PM on Sunday (unless agreed to in writing by Pearlstone). Additional hours will be charged $300/hour. There may also be charges for extra options (see below). All Weddings are subject to a Mashgiach Charge on the following scale: 0-100 guests $375.00; 101-250, $750.00 (additional Kosher supervision for added function hours will be billed at $50 per Mashgiach per hour)
GUARANTEED GUEST COUNT
The exact number of persons to be in attendance must be given no later than fifteen (15) business days prior to the event. This number is not subject to reduction and is considered a financial commitment. We will be prepared to serve 5% above the number specified. If no final guarantee is received we will consider the number indicated on the original contract to be the correct guaranteed number of guests and we will bill according to that number.
BARTENDERS
Bartenders, if required, will be charged at the rate of $25 per hour with a 4 hour minimum. The number of bartenders needed will be based on one bartender for every 50 guests. One hour is required for set-up and one hour for breakdown of the bar.
ROOM RENTAL
The first floor of the Pearlstone Conference Center (Weinberg Conference Hall) is included in your rental fee. This encompasses the main lobby, dining room, room 100 (reception hall), room 101, room 103, and the rear deck. If second floor space is required, there will be an additional charge of $750. Also included is one Lodge Room for the bride to use in preparation for the wedding. It will be available three hours prior to the scheduled start of your event. Room 101 and or Room 103 are both appropriate for holding a “tisch”, if desired.
PAYMENT
A non-refundable deposit of $2,000 is required to reserve a date. This cannot be done earlier than one year in advance. A second non-refundable deposit equal to 50% of your anticipated final billing must be received 90 days prior to the event. Your balance must be paid in full, by check or credit card, ten (10) days prior to the day of the wedding.
DÉCOR
All floral arrangements, and other decorations including the Chuppah, are your responsibility. Your price includes dishes, silverware, flatware, glassware and standard linens with your choice of available colors. If your affair is held inside our building your price also includes tables and chairs. Otherwise, these items will incur an additional charge for rental (see below). An outdoor ceremony will also require the rental of chairs for seating guests.
GUEST ROOMS
It may be possible to accommodate guests at Pearlstone for your affair. Please contact us to determine the availability of rooms. The rate for lodge rooms, without meals included, is $52 per person for a shared double per night, $117 per person for a single per night and $42 per person in the family center and cabins. Lodge rooms have two Queen sized beds and private baths. Family Center rooms are dormitory style and sleep up to six on bunk beds with either detached or attached private bathrooms. There are also two rooms with twin beds and a private bathroom. Cabins sleep up to five or ten people with a shared bathroom. There are one or two bedrooms and a loft in each. If a couple is interested in a Shabbaton weekend, separate accommodation/food pricing will apply.
CEREMONY
The actual wedding ceremony may be held outdoors in a beautiful natural setting, or in Room 100 with appropriate seating. Other locations on our site may be utilized as well, including covered pavilions and a barn, which are some distance away. The reception is held in Room 100 or a rental tent.Wedding Menu
WEDDING MENU
$94 per person – Buffet Style (Meat or Dairy)
$109 per person – Plated with wait staff (Meat or Dairy)
In keeping with our sustainability and Jewish environmental mission, all of our menu items are locally sourced and organic based products whenever possible. All meats are from pasture raised, grain fed non antibiotic anti hormone sources. When you come to Pearlstone for your special event, we want you to know that we take great care for the highest level of Kashrus, terrific service and commitment to a better environment.
Hors d’oeuvres (choose 3)
Placed at Stations. A maximum of 1.5 hours is included.
- Vegetable Crudités with hummus and babaganoush (included)
Plus Choice of three (they must be either meat or dairy and match with your entrée):
- Herbed Stuffed Mushrooms (parve)
- Mini spring Rolls (parve)
- Spanakopita (parve)
- Curry chicken with Cashews served in a Phylo cup
- Beef or Chicken Satay (choose one)
- Bruschetta
- Grilled Skewered Vegetables
- Mini Knish ( sweet potato, spinach, or potato)
- Beef Wellington (miniature)
- Mongolian Beef skewers
Soup or Salad (Select one)
- Choice of seasonal soup
- Salad of Mixed Greens
- Caesar Salad- plated
Entrée (Choose one plus vegetarian/vegan option)
V = Vegan; F = Fleishig; D = Dairy
- Portobello Napolean V
- Acorn squash stuffed with Quinoa and herbed tofu V
- Japanese Eqqplant stuffed with tofu and sautéed peppers V
- Quinoa Timbales on a bed of fresh sautéed Spinach V
- Beef Medallions in Burgundy Mushroom Sauce (Fillet Mignon sliced and roasted in a rich burgundy mushroom sauce) F
- Salmon Ala bella F/D
- Atlantic Salmon with Sesame Ginger F/D
- Asparagus Stuffed Flounder accompanied by a Lemon Beurre Blanc Sauce F/D
- Chicken Tuscano (Pan Seared breast of chicken stuffed with our own basil pesto and sun dried tomatoes) F
- Beef Italiano (thin beef strips stuffed with fresh herbs and panko crumbs, slow roasted in a tomato garlic sauce F
Starches (select 1)
- Sweet potato praline
- Garlic mashed potatoes
- Vegetable fried rice
- Dijon roasted potatoes
- Sunset rice
- Twice baked potatoes
- Assorted Kugels
- Orzo florentine
- Vegetable cous cous
- Wild rice risotto
- Pasta alla olio
Fresh Fruit Display – chef’s choice of market fruit
Vegetables (select 1)
- Market Fresh Stir-fried vegetables
- Mixed Grilled vegetables
- Roasted vegetables in balsamic oil
- Braised cabbage
- Italian pesto vegetables
- Maple glazed baby carrots
- Hericot verts almondine
- Steamed Broccoli Rappini
- Baked stuffed tomatoes with blended vegetables and seasoned panko crumbs
Dessert (select 1)
- Chocolate Hurricanes
- Chocolate and fresh fruit parcels
- Assorted wedding cookies
- Pearlstone’s Chocolate Pound Cake
- Strawberry or Chocolate Mousse
- Cherry Cheesecake Squares (parve if meat is served)
- Key Lime Tarts
- Petit Fors
- Chocolate fondue with a cascade of cut fresh fruit
Wedding cake, if desired, is supplied by client and must be approved by Star K.
Drinks
- Water, Assorted Beverages, Coffee, Tea are provided complimentary
- Sodas and Sparkling waters on request
OPTIONS
Rental Equipment:
- Tent (10’ x 40’) for deck. Adds seating for 40 guests. (Outside pricing prevails)
- Tent (70’ x 60’) for 200 guests. (Outside pricing prevails)
- Dance floor (400—700 sq. ft.) Approximately 3 sq. ft./guest $4/guest
- Chairs (white wood) $3.75 each
- Tables (Round, 60” seats 8 or 10) $9.00 each