Frequently Asked Questions

Emerson Fields is located just a few miles south of Macon, Missouri on 34 acres with direct access to Highway 63. Emerson Fields is only 50 miles straight north of Columbia, MO. It is also equal distance to Kansas City or St. Louis, so it makes for an excellent meeting place from the east or west side of Missouri.

Our couples live all over the state, and country, but most of our couples come to us from central Missouri. It’s very typical to have brides book with us from Columbia, Centralia, Fulton, Kansas City, Gladstone, Blue Springs, Jefferson City, Lake of the Ozarks, Boonville, St. Louis, Troy, Hannibal and Kirksville (just to name a few).

When couples book their wedding at Emerson Fields, we offer them a curated directory of boutique and hotel lodging. The majority of the lodging recommendations given are within 8 miles of the venue and most couples, and their families, make a mini-destination out of their weekend here in Macon county. All of these lodging options are priced affordably and most offer discounts for our clients and their guests. Let them know that Emerson Fields sent you and they will take good care of you!

At Emerson Fields, our venue is large enough to comfortably accommodate 300 guests, including the wedding party. The seating arrangement and layout of the reception tables can change the capacity limit depending on the arrangement chosen. Our indoor main floor’s maximum capacity is 180 guests and the balcony level capacity is 120 guests.

Emerson Fields pricing structure is unique and more client-friendly than other venues because we wait for your final guest count before customizing your reception layout and that's all included in our rental fee!

Yes! Tables and chairs are provided and included in the rental fee. Here is a breakdown of what is provided and included in your rental.

We provide:

• 25- 6ft. round tables (seats 8-10 guests comfortably)

• 21- 8ft. banquet tables (seats 8-10 guests comfortably)

• 6- 8ft. white farmhouse tables (seats 8-10 guests comfortably)

• 5- 6ft. banquet tables for desserts, appetizers or serving tables

• 10- 36in. cocktail tables (can be 30” seated height or 42” standing bar height)

• Specialty tables include: white farmhouse table in foyer for guest book or gift table, wooden spool table on casters for cake or appetizer table, 2 wood-top serving carts

• 300 gold Chiavari chairs with ivory cushions for inside the venue

• 300 white padded folding chairs for outdoor ceremonies and patio

• Set-up and tear-down of all of the tables and chairs for ceremony and reception

• A lovely cedar arbor that you can use as a backdrop for your ceremony

• 9ft tall wood cross that you can use as a backdrop for your ceremony

Fine white table linens can be added on to your rental for an additional fee.

Absolutely! Your ceremony and reception tables and chairs will be set up prior to your arrival on the day before your wedding. Your planning team will just need to add décor to give it your personal touch! Emerson Fields staff will also take down the tables and chairs after your departure. Learn more about what the Emerson Fields venue staff are responsible for in this blog post.

Yes - a thousand times yes! Emerson Fields staff will be on site on your wedding day to manage anything related to the building, property, and tables or chairs. They do not manage your wedding details, wedding party, or your vendors. You’ll need someone in charge of all of the inner workings and details of your wedding day to make your big day run smoothly. This blog post shows you how to think of a professional wedding coordinator, or planner, like an insurance policy protecting your wedding day. Once you book at Emerson Fields, we’ll happily recommend some professionals to make your day everything you want it to be! Your wedding planner or coordinator must be a professional who carries their own liability insurance.

You’re welcome to choose a licensed and insured wedding and event caterer of your choice! We don’t allow homemade food or “friends” who want to cater your wedding reception. Allowing you to choose the caterer that fits within your budget and is suited to your liking is just one of the ways Emerson Fields makes your day more about you!

Emerson Fields does not operate with a liquor license, so you may stock our bar with beverages for your bartenders to serve if you’re planning for an open bar. You can also host your reception with a cash bar if you hire a bartender with a liquor license. Guests under 21 years old may not be served under any circumstances. You may opt for an open bar or cash bar, but all beverages must be served to your guests through the bar. No outside alcohol, coolers, or kegs allowed. No hard liquor is allowed to be served on its own (ie. shots). Special alcohol liability insurance is strongly encouraged. Recommendations for bartenders or servers is given upon request. Bartenders must carry their own liability insurance and provide proof to Emerson Fields.

Yes, a $500 damage deposit is required at booking. The damage deposit is to cover costs of cleaning should the cleaning requirements not be met after your event and to make repairs or replace tablecloths if need be. You will lose $75 per damaged tablecloth if any of our house linens are damaged. This damage deposit is refundable within 30 days after your wedding cleanup has been completed to the satisfaction of Emerson Fields.

The deposit may be withheld in full or part if the cleaning requirements are not completed properly.  Should cleaning or repairs exceed the deposit amount, an additional amount shall be charged to the Client for any and all additional damages. Should you cancel your event or fail to adhere to the terms of your rental agreement by failing to make payments with the schedule set by you and Emerson Fields, the damage deposit shall not be refunded.

An additional damage deposit of $500 is due to rent Emerson Suites, our onsite lodging for up to 14 guests.

Emerson Fields staff will take care of tearing down all tables and chairs, collecting our tablecloths for laundering (if rented from us) and performing a final sanitizing and cleaning. Your caterer should have the personnel to clear tables and take out the trash during dinner. You’re responsible for collecting your décor, rental items and personal items. Assign individuals to sweep, take the trash to the dumpster and leave the venue, and it’s surroundings, in the same order you found it when you arrived.

Your guest count number will be finalized at the Design Consultation, which is typically held at Emerson Fields about two weeks before your wedding day. We do offer a final stages call about 3-4 months before the wedding date to help you customize a reception layout that will aid you in final planning decisions.

We strongly recommend you have Special Event Liability Insurance. We can add it to your rental fee for $200 or you can check with your own insurance carrier.