Sheldon, Iowa — On Wednesday morning, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds listed some types of businesses that had been ordered closed due to the pandemic, that can now be reopened. One type of business being allowed to reopen is wedding venues.
Sheldon’s Crossroads Pavilion general manager Tricia Meendering says they are making preparations to reopen the facility under Governor Reynolds new guidelines.
(As above) “We read through the proclamation, and the understanding of the limited seating capacity, etc. What we plan to do is actually physically set up our tables and chairs so we have a true understanding of what exactly our capacity is in the building. For different scenarios we have different seating capacities now, and knowing that we have to be at fifty percent we want to see how true that is. So we want to get a physical understanding by setting up the tables and chairs and seeing what that’s gonna look like.”
Meendering says that with the size of the tables used at the Crossroads Pavilion, folks should have plenty of elbow room.
(As above) “Our tables accommodate up to ten people, but obviously with the new group limit is six, so they’ll be plenty of elbow room, and that’s why we want to get the true understanding. Because if we set up at fifty percent capacity that still does not follow the guidelines of six per table and six feet apart as the tables are supposed to be set. So that’s why we want to do the actual physical set up, to get a true understanding of what that new normal for the time being will be for us here at the Pavilion.”
She says food service will also be affected by the governor’s guidelines.
(As above) “Whatever the guidelines will be, thankfully most of our restaurants and caterers will be understanding of that as well. Obviously any self-service is prohibited, so we’ll work with our clients and with the caterers as far as whatever food they are bringing in, that it gets served. It will not be buffet style, salad bar style, it will be brought to the table. It won’t be like it used to be, but at least we have some guidelines to work with for what it will be.”
Meendering says most of the weddings that had been booked on dates that later fell into the span of time that the Pavilion was closed, have been rescheduled for this summer and fall, and she says she has been in contact with those wedding parties throughout the spring.
She says the first wedding to utilize the Croassroads Pavilion event center after it’s reopening is scheduled for June 12th.
