Black Sheep Shelter

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!!

he 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.

Tons of areas make for great photo ops. So grateful!

acks saying you can only serve liquor for the first hour. Then told him to stop serving at 7 pm, they was not discussed with us. Made comments about how it’s our responsibility to make sure no one is drunk and get home safely. Felt like I was paying to be employee not a guest to enjoy my day.

er, 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.

liments from guests about what a great spot it was.

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!!

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.

f 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!

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.

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!!!

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!

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.❤️

as a magical space that needed little addition from us to achieve our dream ceremony and dinner party!