Frequently Asked Questions

 

Can I visit the club?

Yes. If you are interested in renting our venue, please fill out our Rental Inquiry From on our website and someone will contact you to schedule a tour.

Where can we park during an event? 

  • We only have on-street parking (2-hour limit on weekdays from 8am to 4pm; no limit on weekends). Our driveway, designated for use by caterers, can accommodate  2 vehicles.

  • There are public parking garages within a few blocks (up to 3-hour of free parking on weekdays from 8am to 4 pm; no limit on week-ends; one-day permits available)

    • Day permits may be purchased on the 1st level of the Cowper/Webster garage, or Bryant/Lytton garage, or at City Hall (ground level, Revenue Collections). Cost is $15.00/day (September  2024). We do not have access to any discounts.

    • Below are some local Valet Parking companies that serve Palo Alto. Contact them to inquire about rates

Can we rent the Woman's Club for event honoring minors such as a Bar Mitzvah, Quinceañera, or Birthday?

Sorry, the Club rules do not allow renting for any occasion where the guest of honor is younger than 21. Children and teenagers are of course welcome to attend wedding receptions, memorial services, and birthday parties of relatives or family friends.

How late can we play music?

We are located in a residential neighborhood. Per City of Palo Alto Noise Ordinance, no loud music is allowed after 10:00pm.

 Do you provide audiovisual equipment?

As part of your rental package, you have access to:

  • Two handheld wireless microphones

  • Ceiling-mounted projector with HDMI connection

    • Bring an HDMI adapter if your device (laptop, iPad, tablet) does not have an HDMI port. The Club does not provide any HDMI adapters.

  • Ceiling-mounted retractable motorized screen (128" diagonal)

  • Audio jack cord

  • Amplifier

Instructions on how to use the AV equipment will be provided at entry time.

Can I place a hold on a date?

If you are considering renting our venue but need some time to decide, we can place a 7-day courtesy hold if you are planning to rent our venue. Holds expire after seven days unless you’ve requested a rental contract. 

Can I visit the Club for planning purposes or rehearsals after I sign the contract?

We allow one free visit of 30-45 minutes before your event. Extra visits before your event can be scheduled and will be charged at the rate of $100/hour (full hours only). All visits have to be scheduled by contacting our Rentals Manager. 

Visits cannot be used for early entry and setup.

Do you supply linens and china?

No. The renter is responsible for getting all the table setting supplies. See our Rental Information page for details on what is included in your rental package.

Do you recommend caterers?

We do not recommend or endorse any caterers but could provide a list of caterers who have done events at our clubhouse upon request.

Can I bring in food and prepare it for my event?

The Club prefers and recommends that you hire the services of a professional, licensed caterer. We may allow you to have food delivered but it must be discussed and agreed to at least 30 days prior to the event. Food can be heated in the warming oven but cooking using the stovetop is not allowed. At the end of the event the kitchen must be left clean and all garbage must be sorted and taken out.

Can we use candles?

Use of open flame candles is not permitted. You can use battery powered candles, or hurricanes that contain the flame.

When and how do we pay the rental fee?

Payment of 50% of the rental fee and the full security deposit is due upon signing the Rental Contract. The remaining 50% of the rental fee and all other fees must be paid no less than 60 days before your event. If the event is less than 60 days away, the full rental and all other fees are due along with the signed contract. Failure to pay in full may result in the cancellation of your event

  • Please note that rental fees are subject to change. The rental fees for the second installment will be at the current rental rate at the time of payment. You may choose to pay in full if you would like to secure the rental rate effective at the time of signing the contract.

  • Payment can be made by check, Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) or Credit Card. A 4% service charge will be added to Credit Card payments.

Why do I need event insurance and how do I get it?

For your protection and ours, the Woman's Club of Palo Alto requires all renters and catering companies to provide a general liability insurance for the day of the event that names the Woman's Club of Palo Alto as co-insured. The Certificate of Insurance must be received no later than 30 days prior to the event.

  1. The Woman's Club of Palo Alto must be named as co-insured on the policy

  2. The Event Date must be listed on the policy

  3. The policy must have the following coverage

    • General Liability - $1,000,000

    • Personal/Advertising Injury - $1,000,000

    • General Aggregate - $2,000,000

    • Damages to Premises -$100,000

    • Alcohol Endorsement* - $1,000,000

* Alcohol liability coverage must be included if alcohol will be served at the event

How to get coverage:

  1. Purchase special event policy online. Many of our renters have found this approach to be the most convenient and least expensive way to get coverage. We do not recommend or endorse any specific insurers but below are two companies that you may want to consider:

  2.  (OR) Contact your homeowner's or renter's insurance company to see if you can add event coverage (including alcohol) to your existing policy.

What are your cancellation terms and conditions?

  • Full refund (rental fee and security deposit) if cancellation notice is received within 10 business days after the contract execution and first payment

  • Refund of 50% of the full rental fee and full refund of security deposit if cancellation occurs 61 days or more before the event

  • No refund of rental fee and full refund of security deposit if cancellation occurs 60 days or less before the event

  • Expedited processing fees are not refundable

 

Click here to return to our Rental Information Page