Black Sheep Shelter

make it just right for our event. They helped us to stay on track, and gave us freedom of personalization. The venue itself is of course gorgeous and they even allowed us to cut some fresh beautiful flowers from their gardens when we were slightly short on centerpieces. The guests had several spots to roam around and were able to explore on their own which was great. It was the PERFECT spot for us and our family to celebrate.

for adding to our decorations and having onsite suites for the bridal party was a huge plus! We highly recommend this shelter if you’re looking for a laid back setting with beautiful scenery!

ng in a completely outdoor wedding with no protection from elements. Dressing rooms on site too which was awesome!

property. We had our wedding on October 20 and took a chance with the weather. Let me tell you, it was perfect. Do not let the possibility of poor weather or being a more outside venue deter you. Jeff & Melissa are the most down to earth, kind people you could ever meet and work with. I want to be their best friends, seriously. They are kind and intentional. They made everything a breeze, and we enjoyed their suggestions for vendors (huge shout out to Moonlighting for our DJ- he could not have been any better!!!!). Also, I have gotten SO many compliments from my friends and family, saying they had never been to a more FUN wedding before. It is a day I wish I could relive over and over and I truly believe it was all because of Jeff and Melissa. My husband's review: Black Sheep Shelter’s (BSS) biggest selling points are the owners Jeff and Melissa. Down to earth and authentic in who they are, they they helped relieve anxiety and gave us the resources to create our day exactly the way we wanted. Speaking of down to earth, their venue was not shy of beautiful plants and gardens which they do themselves. Their “leave no trace” is something we also appreciate and to keep in mind when picking them. For us, They only had the Friday of their last weekend of the season available which was mid to late October. Risky as it was, the colors of the flowers and trees did not disappoint and BSS put out their tower heaters which is recommended. To note, their bridal suites, bathrooms, and glass house are controlled with heating and cooling. Their glass house was created in attempt not only contain the noise of the dancing to follow but it created yet another beautiful space where it gives modern minimalist feel in their garden. We had another venue as our top choice initially, but in touring the venue and meeting Jeff and Melissa, it was an obvious choice that this was where we were going to have our wedding. Our guests loved our wedding and everything ran seamlessly. We loved having the freedom to choose our own vendors. We did use one of their recommendations, Moonlighting DJ, as our DJ and we could not have been happier with that recommendation. The glass house was perfect for dancing, and many guests said it was the must fun wedding they had been to. Dancing was one of my “must-haves” for our wedding, and I also didn’t want an awkward dance floor only to be stared at by those not participating. The glass house was beautiful and perfect in size. We also loved being able to have our ceremony and reception on the same site. There was no shortage of beautiful spots for our photos, as well! Once sorting through our gifts after the fact, we found we had been given a Timothy Keller book with a handwritten note from Jeff and Melissa. I (Paige) cried from their thoughtfulness. I could not have asked for a better venue, or venue owners, and cannot recommend Black Sheep Shelter enough!!! We loved Jeff and Melissa and wish we could be their friends, as fellow old-farmhouse owners :)

ts and the beautiful flowers and grounds all around. Jeff and Melissa have put so much heart and soul into this venue and their love and care show--there is so much attention to detail. They were wonderful to work with--so kind and caring, lots of good ideas and advice if we asked for it, and answered every email within hours. There is just a great vibe all the way around--we couldn't have asked for a more wonderful venue and people to work with!

nds of marriage. My husband and I felt so blessed to be able to have our wedding there. I would suggest this venue to anyone and everyone. They have put so much love and dedication into the land and you can feel it radiating into your mind, body, and spirit! Thank you again Melissa and Jeff!!

p shelter was OUR venue. The entire process went smoothly and Jeff and Melissa were even happy to accommodate and possible move our wedding date when my now husband was in a horrible accident just 5 weeks prior to our wedding. We are so thankful to have found BSS.

ing. They have put so much care and attention into every little detail, from the restored barn, to the dressing rooms and flower gardens. Everything was lovely, and we got SO MANY COMPLIMENTS on our venue! Melissa was so kind and helpful on our wedding day, communication was great, and we loved the little extras they included (like the sweet gift to us they put in our card box!). We had no issues coordinating with any of our other vendors either and the sound worked perfectly. We cold not have been happier with this choice of venue. Thank you so much Jeff and Melissa!!

rd work and gardening. From the ceremony, to cocktail hour, to the reception, this place had a nice flow. It was ideal to have everything in one place. Melissa was very responsive and easy to communicate with via email. She was also very organized with their "60 day checklist" outlining what they still needed from us and from our vendors. A few things I wish I would have thought of / known before hand: 1) There are no cocktail tables, so it was a little difficult for guests to hold their drinks and eat appetizers during cocktail hour. 2) YOU are responsible for alllllll of the cleanup. I did not anticipate how much of the cleaning we would be doing at the end of the night. All of the chairs had to be re-stacked (specifically 10 chairs high, and moved to the side of the building), floors had to be swept, and all of the trash had to be taken home with us - all while still wearing your wedding attire. This was less than ideal. Although the contract did specify that we would need to take the trash, the rest of the cleaning requirements were not clear. 3) This point is NOT Jeff and Melissa's fault, but I feel that other couples should know that Black Sheep Shelter does have a neighbor who does not support their endeavor to have a wedding venue. During our ceremony, I opted not to have our officiant use a microphone because this venue is in a very peaceful area and we did not have a large guest count. But, this neighbor purposefully started up his loud lawn mower during our ceremony, making it very difficult for our guests to hear. Once again, not Black Sheep Shelter's fault at all, but something unfortunate that happened during our big day. 4) Lastly, the bridal room has pretty limited lighting. If you are thinking about doing your makeup here, you may need to bring a ring light. BUT - overall, we loved this wedding venue! We loved working with Jeff and Melissa, both of them were friendly and down to earth.

r property is stunning and our guests fully enjoyed themselves. Tons of areas make for great photo ops. So grateful!

tly working to make the space and their guest's experiences better, and it shows in the beauty of the venue and their hospitality. Jeff & Melissa are easy and quick to communicate with, and the space is so flexible that you can really make it the day you want! The grounds are absolutely beautiful and we couldn't have dreamed of a better venue and hosts.

ortable and enjoyed the beauty of the space. We got endless compliments from guests about what a great spot it was.

g! I would highly highly recommend this venue to anyone looking! It was absolutely a blessing to have our wedding there! Also, the venue is stunning! Our photographers Instagram is @marinawphoto if you want to see some pictures from it to give you and idea of how beautiful it is!!

and weren’t feeling very hopeful. Little did we know it was the best thing that could have ever happened to us! Jeff and Melissa (the owners) responded right away with words of encouragement and positivity. They told us all about their venue, values, and story. A few emails back and forth and a phone call later we had scheduled a time to come visit and we were blown away! Not only by the incredible venue itself but by Jeff and Melissa’s kindness and excitement for us. They made everything so easy, were always so prompt in responding to us, and walked us through everything we had questions about. If you’re an easygoing couple, down to earth, ready to have fun, and looking for an amazing outdoor venue that doesn’t need much decoration due to its amazing minimalist beauty you have found the right spot. We could not have been happier with how our wedding day turned out and feel so lucky to have found the perfect place to say “I do!” surrounded by close friends and family. South Haven and Black Sheep Shelter will forever hold a very special place in our hearts.

requires very little extra decor thanks to the wonderful work of the owners, Jeff and Melissa. They were absolutely amazing throughout the whole process and very accommodating to changing plans due to COVID-19. One of my favorite things about the venue/owners is their commitment to sustainable practices. From having our flowers grown on site and picked that morning, to their policy of zero waste left on-site, it's really great to see a venue that prioritizes sustainability! They will even compost food waste for you!

o make our day happen and Jeff and Melissa were so accommodating for us to have our mini-ceremony day (total of 3 beloved guests.) Our goal was to have something intimate, a place to exchange vows, have a first dance, and capture our day in photos with a natural backdrop. They have an introduction video on their website (definitely check it out!) and I was captivated by the beautiful scenery in the video but most of all by Melissa and Jeff’s words about who they are, who Black Sheep Shelter is, and what type of safe space of love and appreciation for life and the earth they’re creating there. They’ve created more than a wedding venue, it’s a space where you feel accepted and they exemplify their belief that “life is so much more than occasions and that it’s grand ordinariness must never go unsavored.” The Location: Black Sheep Shelter is beautiful in all the ways that make simplicity majestic. There are some epic drone-footage shots in their intro video and in person it is beyond captivating. Melissa gave us a tour of the grounds to include dressing rooms and on-site lavatories, a bar space, bountiful gardens, and of their incredible open-air barn with repurposed church pews and gorgeous lighting. The property is surrounded by other farms and across the road from a ravine and safe in nature’s quiet comforts. We both were completely enthralled by the craftsmanship, the history, the thoughtful repurposing of elements to create their spaces, and the relief that we wouldn’t need to imagine or plan for more than this. “Natural art” with a keen design eye overseeing its integrity if you will. There is so much more space than we needed for our micro-ceremony, but it didn’t feel “empty” as one may think it would be having just 5 people - everything looked and felt like we wanted. The rustic elegance was perfect. So whether you need the tiniest of ceremony or something vast - I’d encourage you to visit because it has all of the things you need to create a picturesque day. Communication: We felt respected and genuinely listened to and they communicated clearly and were available to answer any questions. During our tour Melissa covered the bases of any questions we could think of and then some things we hadn’t thought yet. The most important thing I want to convey is that their hospitable approach took away any concerns or anxiety of planning a day. Of all the little things I needed to organize, the venue was not on my concern list in the slightest. Tiff’s 2 Cents: We selected it as a place for our special day, but you’ll see that it is already a very special place of its own right before you plan something there. They’re a growing independent business and we cannot wait to see their progress over the years as what I predict will be one of Michigan’s most sought-after outdoor venues. Check out their website, TheKnot/Wedding Wire, contact them, and take a tour to see what I mean. Share your ideas with them and request more information, you’re sure to be glad that you did.

as amazing to work with, very responsive, kind, and welcoming. She and her husband Jeff were very flexible and helpful and we really loved working with them. The venue itself is gorgeous; it's very obvious that they've put a lot of work and care into it to make it a unique and lovely place to be. It was even more perfect than our original plan and I can't help but be grateful. From the hand-crafted, rustic details to the clean, modern touches, all surrounded by beautiful landscaping and lush gardens, there is nothing I would change. Highly recommended!!!

ir property - and every time we go back there is something else phenomenal that they have created. This venue is such an amazing option for an outdoor wedding. Jeff and Melissa were very responsive and were open to trying different things and helping us work through the issues! I would 100% recommend this venue for ceremony and reception - its absolutely beautiful! One of the technical issues that we ran into was finding a caterer that could travel to South Haven and provide plates, utensils, and cups. We used Gettin' Fresh Catering and it worked out perfectly!

ur original date and have at least just family there to attend. Through a couple of mutual friends, we were introduced to Jeff and Melissa. Just like our wedding, the wedding that was originally booked at Black Sheep Shelter on 6/13 was postponed, so we were able to book that day! From the very beginning, Jeff and Melissa made a lasting impression on us. They were so kind and welcoming and were so excited to show us around their home. You could tell how much love and hard work has been put into this place in just a short period of time! They were also EXTREMELY flexible with us. They were just as saddened about our circumstances due to covid and they wanted to help in any way they could. As we came closer to the wedding date, things were still so up in the air. Stay-at-home orders were still in place, and gatherings of more than 10 people were not allowed. Plans went from having a ceremony and reception with 150 people there, to just 20 people, then just a ceremony with 10 people. Then finally, the WEEK BEFORE the wedding, Michigan’s stay-at-home order was lifted and gatherings of up to 100 people were allowed. A lot more family members decided that they would go, so we basically had to plan an entire wedding in one week! With Jeff and Melissa’s help, though, we ended up having the most beautiful ceremony and reception with 40 of our closest family members! It was a stressful process, but Jeff and Melissa really took a lot of that stress off of our shoulders by being so understanding and flexible. You can tell that it’s not about the money that brings them joy, but the amazing memories and moments they can help others create! The venue was absolutely stunning, and every guest that was there was blown away! The weather was warm and beautiful so it was nice to be outside. It was also nice to know that there was a roof over our heads just on the slight chance that it rained. One impact that covid had on Black Sheep Shelter was the postponement of the restrooms. Due to the shutdowns, the materials needed for the functioning restrooms were delayed by a few months. Jeff and Melissa did not hesitate at all to open up their home to us and our family, though! They allowed us to use their restroom and even put up signs to help guests find their way to it! Just another example of how kind and generous these owners are! After our wedding, we were able to talk to Jeff and Melissa about some of their future projects they had for their venue, and I got to say, this place is going to be booking up quick! The venue is already gorgeous, but the extra little additions are going to make it a truly remarkable place. Jeff and Melissa, thank you so much for all of your help during our crazy wedding planning. It seemed like every other day we were telling you about our “change in plans” but you guys were so patient and just wanted our day to work out for us. Although we didn’t get the original wedding we were planning for, this was 100x better than what we could have ever imagined! If you are looking for an amazing outdoor wedding venue with even better owners, Black Sheep Shelter is the place for you! Our day was simply magical.❤️

ough your big day. The venue itself is absolutely gorgeous. It was a magical space that needed little addition from us to achieve our dream ceremony and dinner party!