FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Planning Your Event @ WithinSodo?
You're in the Right Place.
We’ve gathered our most frequently asked questions to help you feel confident, informed, and inspired as you plan your celebration at WithinSodo. Whether you’re hosting a rooftop wedding, a stylish dinner party, or a full venue buyout, this guide covers everything from booking policies to bar service, décor rules to vendor access.
Looking for info on bar minimums, ceremony setups, or what’s included with your rental? We’ve got you.
Pro tip: Most couples find this page super helpful before their tour, at the time of booking, and again in the final planning stretch.
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WithinSodo is a flexible, à la carte venue—meaning you rent the specific rooms you need for your event, and you’ll have access only to the spaces included in your rental. On Fridays and Saturdays, we require a three-space minimum rental. Other days of the week are more flexible.
Keep in mind: some rooms are physically connected, while others require additional spaces to be accessible to your guests. For example, the Rooftop is only accessible through the Ballroom.
Here’s what each space includes:
The Rooftop Deck (3000 sq ft)
One of our most iconic spaces, featuring a Seattle skyline view, outdoor gas fireplace, built-in sound system, heat lamps, and partial coverage. It also includes a fully enclosed penthouse bar and single-stall restroom.
*Available only when the Ballroom is rented, as there’s no street-level access.
The Ballroom (1400 sq ft)
A highly configurable space with a full caterer’s kitchen (multiple ovens, sinks, refrigerators, and freezers), built-in bar, small sound system, and restroom. It connects directly to both the Rooftop and Lounge and can be opened into one large space with the Lounge via an accordion wall.
The Lounge (1400 sq ft)
Known for its house sound system hub, a 10x16 screen, and a 640-gallon koi fish tank. It also includes two fully furnished dressing suites and a two-stall restroom. Can be opened up into the Ballroom to create a “great room” or used independently.
The Gallery (1000 sq ft)
Features the Mirror Room, statement lighting, and a small sound system. A favorite for indoor wedding ceremonies and cocktail mingling. It sits between the Lounge and Parlor and must be paired with one of them for guest access.
The Parlor* (1100 sq ft)
Located at street level with its own entrance from 1st Ave S, the Parlor includes a built-in bar, casual cocktail-style seating, two single-stall restrooms, and a small sound system.
*Available until 9pm only on Fridays, Saturdays, and select holidays.
The Ballroom and Lounge can be opened into one large space using a wooden accordion-style wall. When retracted, the rooms flow seamlessly for larger ceremonies, receptions, or dance parties.
Note: two structural posts remain in place when the wall is open. You can see this setup on our Photos page.
We’d love to meet you in person—but all tours are by appointment only so we can give you our full attention. You can book a tour here or reach out directly to find a time that works!
Yes—we’re happy to offer a soft hold after you schedule your tour(on-site or virtually).
This gives you time to explore your options without the pressure to commit right away. If another client requests your date, we’ll give you a chance to confirm first before releasing the hold.
Do note that your date is not confirmed until we have received your signed contract nd deposit payment!
Your rental deposit is typically split into two parts: half is due at signing, and the remaining balance is due two weeks before your event date.
Because our pricing depends on which rooms you choose, we’ll send a custom link to your contract and invoice after your tour. Once that’s sent, your selected date is automatically placed on a soft hold—which means you’ll have first right of refusal for that date for up to 24 hours after being notified of any other interest.
Bar deposits are handled separately—see Bar & Catering Policies for details.
A Certificate of Insurance (COI) is required for all events. You may purchase a one-day policy (we are happy to provide suggestions) or add to your existing insurance.
No. WithinSodo is the exclusive provider of all alcohol and bar services on-site. Outside alcohol is not permitted under any circumstances, in accordance with Washington State liquor laws and our venue policy.
Our team offers a full-service bar program with curated drink packages, staffing, and flexibility to match your event style. From craft cocktails to non-alcoholic options, we’ll work with you to design a bar experience that fits your vibe—and your budget.
Learn more in our Bar Program Guide
Yes! We’re all about flexibility here.
Hosted Bar: You cover the cost of all drinks (most popular for weddings)
Cash Bar: Guests pay for their own drinks. You're only responsible for staffing costs and any difference if the bar minimum isn’t met.
Hybrid Bar: A mix of the two. For example, you might host beer and wine, but guests pay for cocktails.
Our team can help you model out what each scenario might look like cost-wise, and is a focus at our 60-day bar + timeline meeting.
We offer per-drink pricing, and each event has a minimum beverage spend based on your day and bar setup:
Friday: $2,000 (up to 2 bar locations, 2 bartenders)
Saturday: $3,500 (up to 3 bar locations, 3 bartenders)
Sunday: $1,500 (1 bar location, 1 bartender)
Monday–Thursday: $1,000 (1 bar location, 1 bartender)
Each additional staffed bar or bartender is +$1,000 toward the minimum.
All bar tabs include garnishes, non-alcoholic options, cups, ice, mixers, and cleanup—but do not include staffing, gratuity, or sales tax. Those are calculated separately on your final invoice.
A $500 bar deposit is due at your 60-day planning meeting and is applied to your bar tab.
Absolutely. All of our hosted bar packages include high-quality NA options (sparkling water, sodas, juices, etc.), and we also love creating signature mocktails that feel just as special as their spirited counterparts.
Let us know what you have in mind—we’re happy to help design something custom.
Yes—you’re welcome to bring in any licensed caterer or food truck of your choice. We do not provide food in-house, and there are no exclusivity requirements outside of the bar.
Since we don’t offer food service ourselves, we also don’t provide staffing for catering, bussing, or table service. Most full-service caterers include staffing in their packages, or you’re welcome to hire support separately.
We’ve created a list of recommended staffing providers here to make things easy—these are teams we’ve worked with often and trust to keep your event running smoothly.
Prefer a caterer who knows the space well? You can also check out our full recommended vendor list for recommendations on full-service and drop-off options.
All food must be prepared by a licensed and insured professional in accordance with public health regulations. No homemade food, please!
While we exclusively provide alcohol and all bar services, there are no restrictions on any other vendors as long as they are properly licensed and insured.
If you’re looking for suggestions, you can view some of our favorite vendors here.
Our caterer’s kitchen comes with rental of The Ballroom, and includes: *
Concrete countertops
Plenty of shelf space
Kitchenaid convection oven with broiler
Six-burner gas cooktop, oven, and hood
Three sinks (one triple-basin)
Side-by-side residential fridge/freezer
* all other kitchen instruments, cookware, and dining ware need to be provided by the client or caterer.
Please refer to the PHOTO GALLERY for additional photos of the Kitchen.
We include light, lounge-style furniture in the Rooftop Deck and Parlor. These pieces are included as-is and may not be moved between rooms. You’re welcome to supplement with furniture rentals for tables, dining chairs, ceremony setups, or soft seating.
Need help sourcing? Many of our preferred caterers offer bundled rentals, or you can work with one of our favorite rental companies.
We love seeing our space personalized—and we’re pretty flexible when it comes to décor! You’re welcome to use fine-gauge fasteners (like 16-gauge nails or smaller) in raw surfaces like exposed wood or the grout between bricks. You can also hang items from the wood ceiling using the smallest gauge fastener that can safely support your décor.
That said, please avoid interfering with fire suppression systems, electrical panels, or permanent fixtures. All items must remain safely installed throughout the event.
At the end of the night:
You may leave nails in grout or raw wood
Screws may be left in wood surfaces
All strings, wires, tape, zip ties, florals, and adhesives must be removed
We provide a 13' ladder for your use, but please bring your own tools and supplies. (If you forget something, there’s a Home Depot right up the road.)
All candles must be in containers that will catch wax and used with safety in mind.
Use on the Rooftop requires a fully enclosed flame.
Sparklers are allowed only outdoors and must be fully extinguished in bucket with water or sand to fully extinguish them prior to placing the wire handles into the dumpster!
Confetti and glitter are not allowed anywhere onsite, even biodegradable or “easy clean-up” types. We don't want anything that will leave debris behind that is difficult to clean or cause environmental harm
We do not allow any décor that includes breaking glass, sand, hay, smoke bombs, or loose powder
If you have something unique in mind—just ask! We’re happy to review any custom installations or special effects during your walkthrough.
Yes—all main-level spaces are ADA accessible, including the Lounge, Ballroom, Gallery, and Parlor.
The Rooftop Deck is not ADA accessible, as it is only reachable by stairs.
Each space has dedicated restrooms or restroom access. If accessibility is a top priority, we’re happy to guide you to the best configuration during your tour.
A full commercial-style caterer’s kitchen is included with any Ballroom rental. This space is equipped with:
Convection ovens
Prep sinks
Refrigerators and freezers
Stainless steel prep surfaces
Note: We do not include hot-holding equipment or provide tableware, plates, or flatware. Caterers are responsible for all food service equipment and cleanup.
Monkey Loft, located at 2915 1st Avenue South, is an eclectic nightclub celebrated for its energetic atmosphere, featuring talented DJs and live music that bring the community together through themed parties and events. In contrast, WithinSodo specializes in hosting beautiful weddings, brand launches, and milestone gatherings, with both venues sharing a commitment to quality and a unique industrial-chic aesthetic that enrich Seattle's vibrant cultural scene.
Parking is usually very easy in our neighborhood! We have seven spaces at our Utah Street address for you use as you see fit. There is a Diamond Parking lot 1/2 block down from us that offers all-day secured parking. Outside of Seahawks game days, street parking is ample on the weekends and after 5pm. Let your guests know that they can park anywhere on Utah St. except in front of a garage door after 5pm or all day on the weekends. The No Parking signs are only enforced Monday-Friday from 9-5pm by the businesses themselves.
Yes! You can explore our spaces visually here and during your tour we’ll walk through floor plan options using our preffered planning software, Prismm. We’ll help you build a setup that flows beautifully for your guest count and event timeline!
Google image search of "WithinSodo" and you will find many images and links to photographers' blogs and event pages of weddings at WithinSodo. Our Instagram also has lots of examples, including the “tagged” page.
In a word: unforgettable.
WithinSodo is designed for couples who want something a little different—a venue with character, flexibility, and room to play. With exposed brick, moody lighting, skyline views, and a seamless indoor-outdoor flow, our space blends industrial edge with laid-back luxury.
Whether you're planning a rooftop ceremony, a candlelit dinner, or a dance party that goes late, we’re here to help you bring it all to life. No hotel ballroom energy here—just thoughtful spaces and a team that genuinely cares about making your event one-of-a-kind.
Rehearsals are booked no earlier than 60-day prior at our scheduled consultation, as to not interfere with an event. In the summer months we often have events scheduled Wednesday-Sunday, so having a rehearsal within a few days of your wedding is sometimes not possible.
Also, a quick reminder that rehearsals count as an additional time and are $200 for 1-hour.
A few things worth highlighting:
All weddings must have a licensed day-of coordinator (your planner or ours preferred planner VEVENTS—either is great)
All alcohol must go through our bar team—no BYOB, but lots of flexibility!
All décor must be removed at the end of the night, unless arranged in advance
Events end by 2am, with 10 hours of rental time included and extra hours available if needed
Oh, and pets? We love them. Special animals are more than welcome—just let us know so we can help plan accordingly.
Our total venue capacity is 625 guests, with room for 455 guests downstairs and 175 upstairs.
Depending on how you're using the space—ceremony, dinner, dancing, or cocktail-style mingling—your ideal capacity may vary. Here’s how it breaks down:
The Parlor is a street-level space available until 9pm on Friday & Saturday (and some holidays). It works beautifully for welcome cocktails or more intimate receptions and comfortably fits 100 guests standing.
The Gallery seats 120 ceremony-style, 70-90 at tables, or hosts 100 guests for a standing cocktail-style event. This room includes the Mirror Room and has great flow between the Lounge and the Parlor.
The Lounge mirrors the Ballroom in size and flexibility, seating up to 200 for a ceremony, or 90-120 at tables. With access to two dressing suites and our house sound system hub, it's a popular choice for receptions and dance floors.
*There is an accordion-style wooden wall that can fully open into the Ballroom, increasing overall capacity.
The Ballroom also seats up to 200 for a ceremony or 90–120 at tables. It’s most often used for seated dinners due to its proximity to the kitchen and connects directly to the Rooftop Deck..
*The Lounge & The Ballroom are often used together, as they can open up into one “great space” where we can accommodate up to 400 guests for a standing reception, or comfortably seat 200 at banquet tables, 160 at rounds, or 300 theater-style for a ceremony.
The Rooftop Deck holds up to 140 for a ceremony or 200 for a cocktail-style gathering. With views of the Seattle skyline, it’s one of our most iconic features—but please note, it’s only available when renting the Ballroom, as there is no street-level access. Stairs are the only way to reach the Deck.
If you’re not sure which rooms to rent or how best to set up your event, we’re happy to walk through layout options during your tour or planning meetings.