FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH PALO ALTO, UCC
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  • Home
  • Visit
    • Online Service
    • Season of Lent
    • Easter Service
    • Sacred Grounds
    • Directions
  • About
    • What to Expect
    • What We Value
    • Open & Affirming
    • Denomination
    • History
    • Governance
    • Staff
    • Ecumenical & Interfaith Partners
  • Connect
    • Connect Weekly
    • Our Newsletter
    • Getting Involved
    • Choirs
    • Children's Ministry
    • Youth Ministries
    • Confirmation
    • Women's Group
    • Men's Group
    • Tuesday Fellowship
    • Spring Musicals
  • Events
    • Calendar of Events
    • Season of Lent >
      • Easter Service
    • Vacation Bible School
    • Book Weddings & Events >
      • Weddings >
        • Tours & Booking
        • Rental Information
        • Wedding Venue
        • Wedding Packages
        • Wedding Floor Plans
        • Frequently Asked Questions
        • Wedding Gallery
      • Harmony Hall & Courtyard >
        • Rentals
        • Event Gallery
      • Contact Us
  • Serve
    • Outreach Ministries
    • ​Ecumenical & Interfaith Partners
    • Congregational Foundation
    • Hotel de Zink
    • Shop Fair Trade
  • Watch/Listen
  • Give
    • Ways to Give
    • Legacy Giving
    • Stewardship 2020-21
    • Members

Rental Frequently Asked Questions

Harmony Hall & Courtyard | Rentals | Event Gallery | Contact Us | Weddings at FCCPA

Below are a list of Frequently Asked Questions organized into three categories: General Rental Use, Sanctuary, Harmony Hall, Courtyard, Fellowship Room, and Catering Kitchen. Please contact us if you have any additional questions.

General Rental Use

  • What is your payment and cancellation policy? A non-refundable deposit of $400 is required to reserve the event date. The balance of the fee is due six months prior to the event and is non-refundable.
  • Is there a security deposit? Yes a $1,000 security deposit is required and will be returned upon completion of the event if no damage has occurred.
  • Is there a janitorial fee?
  • Do I need liability insurance? 
  • When can we access the rental space? Access to rented spaces starts when your rental time begins. All participants and vendors, and any equipment brought on site must leave by the time your rental ends. Decoration for the event must be completed and cleaned up within the rental time.
  • What parking is available? The Church has two parking lots, both with ADA accessible parking spaces. The Louis Road parking lot has 87 spaces and 5 accessible spaces. The smaller Embarcadero Road parking lot has 44 spaces, 2 accessible spaces, and a ChargePoint car charging station. Additional parking can be found on nearby residential streets; however, there is no parking permitted on the east side of Louis Road.
  • Is the venue ADA accessible? All parking, walkways, buildings, and restrooms are ADA accessible.
  • Are there restroom facilities? There are four ADA accessible restrooms in the Harmony Hall, and two restrooms near the Fellowship Room.
  • Are there regulations regarding smoking? Smoking and electronic nicotine delivery systems are not permitted anywhere on Church property; this includes parking lots, walkways, and sidewalks.
  • Do you have a recycling policy? Yes, we have composting (green), recycling (blue), and landfill (black) bins on site for waste disposal. Our preference is for compostable, recyclable, and re-useable products to be used.
  • Are pets allowed? Service dogs are welcome, however other pets are not allowed on Church property.
  • When are you allowed to setup? Once your rental time begins you will be able to setup your event.
  • Who is responsible for cleaning up decorations, putting away tables and chairs, and emptying waste?
  • What type of staffing do you provide?
  • Are you licensed to provide alcohol services? We do not provide alcohol services; you will need to have a licensed vendor provide this service.
  • May we serve alcohol? Beer, wine, and champagne may be served in the Courtyard, Fellowship Room, and Harmony Hall; no hard liquor is allowed. No food or beverage is allowed in the Sanctuary.
  • Do you provide coffee makers, linens, flatware, or glassware? The caterer can use the coffee maker if they provide their own filters. Linens, flatware, and glassware are not provided.
  • Do you allow outside vendors such as caterers, photographers, etc.? We welcome outside vendors. We can provide a list of vendors that are familiar with our facility.
  • Are kitchen facilities available for caterers? The kitchen is available as a separate rental. Your kitchen staff must provide proof of insurance and have at least one representative in the kitchen at all times with their California Food Handler Training Certificate. Caterer or kitchen team is responsible for following kitchen guidelines posted in kitchen, cleaning up the kitchen, and removing all waste.
  • Do you provide tables and chairs? Tables and chairs are provided with the addition of a janitorial fee.
  • Are there restroom facilities? The restrooms in Harmony Hall are accessible from the Courtyard, near the entrance to the Sanctuary. There are also restrooms near the Fellowship Room.

Sanctuary

  • What is the seating capacity of the Sanctuary? The Sanctuary can comfortably seat 300 people. We can accommodate up to 350 guests with the addition of banquet chairs set up in the garden wing of the Sanctuary.
  • What are the sound options for the Sanctuary? The sound system can play pre-recorded music (headphone jack provided) and is equipped with two hand-held microphones. Bands and videographers cannot plug into our sound system. A baby grand piano and a Letourneau Pipe Organ with over 3,000 pipes is available for musical accompaniment.
  • Does the Sanctuary have climate control? The Sanctuary has heating but does not have air conditioning.
  • May we serve food and beverage in the Sanctuary? Food and beverage are not permitted in the Sanctuary.

Harmony Hall

  • What is the seating capacity of Harmony Hall? Harmony Hall can accommodate up to 230 people seated, and 350 standing.
  • What are the decorating guidelines for Harmony Hall? Gaffer tape and existing fasteners may be used for decorations. No other adhesives, nails, tacks, staples, or pins may be used. Free-standing decorations may be brought into Harmony Hall, but decorations cannot be attached to any walls, speakers, or other objects that are part of the hall.
  • Is there a staging area or place to store personal belongings? The Youth Room, which is adjacent to Harmony Hall, has tables and chairs, couches, and a foosball table. It can be used as a staging area, a kids activity room, or for a photo booth and lounge for guests. If the room is used for kids, adult supervision is required at all times.
  • What are the sound options for the Harmony Hall? The sound system can play pre-recorded music (headphone jack provided) and is equipped with two hand-held microphones. A screen and ceiling-mounted projector can be used in conjunction with the sound system (HDMI and headphone jack provided). Bands and videographers cannot plug into our sound system. There is a stage with curtains and lighting, and a baby grand piano.​
  • Does the Harmony Hall have climate control? Harmony Hall has heating but does not have air conditioning.​

Courtyard

  • What is the seating capacity of the Courtyard? The Courtyard can accommodate up to 100 people seated, 200 standing.
  • What are the decorating guidelines for Courtyard? Decorations may be draped or hung from trees, but no fasteners can be put into trees or on the outsides of the buildings.
  • Does the Courtyard have lighting? The Courtyard has lighting for walkways and for an outside buffet line.
  • Is the Courtyard heated? The Courtyard is not heated.
  • Is there a rain plan for Courtyard rentals? There is no rain plan for Courtyard rentals.

Fellowship Room

  • What is the seating capacity of the Fellowship Room? The Fellowship Room can accommodate up to 70 people seated, and 145 standing.
  • What are the decorating guidelines for the Fellowship Room? Gaffer tape and existing fasteners may be used for decorations. No other adhesives, nails, tacks, staples, or pins may be used. Free-standing decorations may be brought into the Fellowship Room, but decorations cannot be attached to any walls, speakers, or other objects that are part of the room.
  • What are the sound options for the Fellowship Room? The sound system is equipped with 1 hand-held microphone and can play pre-recorded music (headphone jack provided). A screen and ceiling-mounted projector can be used in conjunction with the sound system (HDMI and headphone jack provided). Bands and videographers cannot plug into our sound system. The Fellowship Room has a baby grand piano. ​

Catering Kitchen

  • What equipment is available? The kitchen is equipped with a refrigerator, freezer, gas cooktop, stove, prep sink, dish washing sinks, dishwasher, counter space, and serving area.
  • ​Do we need to provide any proof of insurance or certificates? Your kitchen staff must provide proof of insurance and have at least one representative in the kitchen at all times with their California Food Handler Training Certificate. Caterer or kitchen team is responsible for following kitchen guidelines posted in kitchen, cleaning up the kitchen, and removing all waste.


​FCCPA.ORG
​

1985 Louis Road Palo Alto, CA 94303
​650-856-6662
We gather as a church, welcoming people of all abilities, backgrounds, ethnicities, and those who are LGBTQ+, to become more aware of the love of God in our lives and to make real that love in the world through worshiping, serving humanity, and seeking to follow in the ways of Jesus.  

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