frequently asked questions about the cadre building in memphis

The team at The Cadre Building does not coordinate or plan event specifications, however, we work directly with your event coordinator/ planner to ensure all details of your event are executed to your unique specifications.

Yes – While The Cadre Building does not charge additional fees to also hold your ceremony, we strongly recommend renting drapery to temporarily divide the space and hide your preset reception tables. After your ceremony is complete, your guests will move to the Mezzanine for a cocktail hour while your vendor team “flips” the ballroom into a stunning reception area.

The Cadre Building has its own pool of friendly and experienced TABC-certified bartenders who will work your event. You will, however, have to select your own caterer, who will be required to provide proof of licensing, insurance, and health score 30 days before your event. The Cadre Building only accommodates full-service catering and does not allow drop-off service. Should you need recommendations for a local caterer or another vendor, The Cadre Building is happy to assist you.

Being centrally located in downtown Memphis, The Cadre Building is surrounded by convenient parking structures. We personally recommend the One Commerce Parking Garage at 120 Union Avenue, and we sell pre-paid parking passes to this garage for you and your guests to use the day of your event.

Before your event is officially booked and your date reserved, The Cadre building requires a 50% deposit, a signed contract, and a credit card on file. The remaining balance will be due 30 days before your scheduled event. Please note that there is a 3.5% convenience fee added to all credit card charges.

Your rental fee covers 10 hours, broken down into five hours of pre-event preparation and five hours for the event itself. We also allow your vendors access for an additional hour and a half of clean-up time, and wedding parties are given one hour of rehearsal time on a scheduled day before the wedding. We do charge hourly overtime fees for events that last longer than expected.

The ideal event at The Cadre building hosts between 150 and 750 guests, but we can host up to 950 people at full capacity.

Yes! The Cadre Building is open for all types of events 365 days a year, although public events and holiday bookings do have higher booking rates.

The Cade Building is available for rental 7 days a week, with different rates depending on the day of your event.

Booking The Cadre Building for your event gives you access to three unique spaces – the grand ballroom, the landing, and the mezzanine level. All three areas are included in every rental, and the layout of these spaces can be customized based on your event and your requests. We also have separate spaces downstairs for getting ready.

The Cadre Building was built in 1928 and has been open for events since the 1990s. That’s nearly a century of history, glamor, and elegance!

There are countless walkable hotels near The Cadre Building. Some of the closest ones we recommend are: Peabody Memphis, Canopy by Hilton, Hotel Napoleon, Residence Inn by Marriott, Hotel Indigo, and Hilton Garden Inn. Some other great options that are just a little further are: Hyatt Centric, Central Train Station, and Arrive Hotel. We recommend that our wedding clients book two to three hotel blocks for their guests to offer a variety of options and different price points.

 If you need to transport guests to and from hotels to the venue and other surrounding areas we recommend working with Mid-South Concierge or Tennessee Limousine Company. We work exclusively with Mid-South Concierge for valet for the venue if clients book that as an added on feature.

The Cadre Building is an historic venue that is exceptionally unique due to the ballroom’s grand columns, elegant chandeliers, beautiful mirrors, twenty foot ceilings, and grand staircase. No other venue in town compares!!

 The Cadre Building has three different levels available to guests: The Ballroom, The Landing, and The Mezzanine. Cocktail Hour may take place on whichever level the client prefers, but the majority of our events choose to host cocktail hour on The Mezzanine.

Clients are able to book coat check through us for an additional fee. The fee includes the coat check attendant, rolling racks, hangers, and coat tags. Typically, we see this service added December-March during our colder months.

The Cadre Building offers three different getting ready spaces: our “Green Room” for your band or DJ, a Bridal Suite, and a Groom’s Suite. Each of these rooms includes comfortable seating, bar carts, large mirrors, clothing racks with shelves, several plug-in sockets, steamers, and fans/heaters for your comfort.

 Vendor deliveries are easily made from our Second Street entrance, which requires no stairs. Vendors are able to pull up directly onto our 42 South Second Street sidewalk with their flashers on and may use The Cadre Building’s flatbed carts to load- in their items before pulling away to leave or to park in a nearby garage. The Cadre Building allots five hours prior to the event start time to load in and set up.

We do allow real candles in the venue. All candles must be in a fireproof container. The flame must not reach higher than 2” below the height of the glass. We often see floating candles in water or the newer battery-operated ones to prevent risk of fire.

Should you wish to use outside rental items, you must go through The Cadre Building. The Cadre Building works exclusively with White Door Events, Mahaffey Event & Tent Rentals, and Curtain Call for drapery items. Should you also wish to rent other items such as lounge furniture, custom linens, etc. we work exclusively with White Door Events or Mahaffey Event & Tent Rentals.

 Sparklers are permitted outside of our venue only and may not be lit inside the building under any circumstance. We do not allow rice, confetti, bird seed, food items, wish lanterns, potpourri, or glitter as exit items.

The Cadre Building’s standard contract is for a 10-hour rental.  We only book one event per day and no other events will be coming in during another clients booked rental period.

A non-refundable deposit of 50% of the venue rental price is required to reserve the event date. The remaining balance is due no later than 30 days prior to the event date. The payment for any add-ons is not included in the deposit (bartenders, bar packages, rentals, additional security guards, etc.).

Other fees beyond the venue rental rate include: bar package, bartenders, rentals items, additional security, or additional staff. There is a 3.5% credit card processing fee added to any credit card transactions.

Absolutely!  We love all of our local vendors so choose whomever you would like for band/DJ, photography, catering, cake, etc. We just highly recommend that you verify they are licensed and ensured. The Cadre Building only maintains exclusivity for bartending services, bar packages (no outside alcohol product allowed), and rental items.

Unless you have booked a public event with us at the higher venue rental rate, The Cadre Building handles all bartending services internally while offering flexible packages for customers based on timing and budget.

 The Cadre Building has accommodated hundreds of DJ’s and bands over the last 30 years of events. Please carefully review your contracts with these performers with regard to their stage requirements. We currently include a 16 x 16 stage with the space.

 Your vendors will have access to the building for setup at least five hours prior to your event start time, unless additional time has been purchased by the customer or unless the venue has notified you otherwise.

Absolutely! The Cadre Building does not permit any decorations to be delivered and/or stored prior to the contracted rental period unless given prior approval. No decorations may be hung by nails without express approval by Cadre Events, LLC. Decorations may not be hung using tacks, staples, screws, masking, duct, electrical, transparent, double-sided tapes, command hooks or glues. The only adhesive material allowed on the walls, floors, or wood pillars is stage/drafting/painters’ tape or gaff tape. All other decorations must be freestanding. No furniture or items that sit on the floor may be brought into the venue without the prior approval of The Cadre Building