Nestled off a country road with views of fields and forest any which way you turn, the property offers a space of quietude and communion with nature and with the time honored tradition of growing crops and raising animals. More than a business, Black Sheep Shelter captures a way of life that its owners cherish and wish to share with others.
A way of being that values humility and simplicity, and praises playfulness. Black Sheep Shelter provides a rustic venue with modern and minimalist tones and connects its guests to a hyper local food experience and a zero waste business. We are farmers by trade, and keeping our hands in the dirt has been a priority from the outset of this endeavor.
A way of being that values humility and simplicity, and praises playfulness. Black Sheep Shelter provides a rustic venue with modern and minimalist tones and connects its guests to a hyper local food experience and a zero waste business. We are farmers by trade, and keeping our hands in the dirt has been a priority from the outset of this endeavor.
Services
Not just lovers sealing their commitment in a wedding, but all those wanting to drink deeply of this life, . So it is only proper that we seek out spaces and carve out times to feast and to fast. Whatever your feast looks like we invite you to enjoy it here in The Shelter. It could be a bluegrass festival to an intimate show, an art exhibit to a theater production, a work, anniversary, or birthday party, or some kind of foodie extravaganza!
We at Black Sheep Shelter have sought to make this place a reflection of our own ideas and values as well. A desire to help couples keep a steady focus on the heart of what is taking place- a sacred, public, and personal covenant that unites couples in holy matrimony. Weddings signify a time of Benediction, or God's blessing.
You get to select who you want to cater your wedding. You work with a licensed caterer to select the food and beverages you desire. If you are planning to use the pews in the Shelter instead of the area outside for your ceremony, your caterer will need to arrive and set up before the ceremony as the reception space is contiguous with the ceremony space and you will not want to hear that in the background.
The flowers grown at Black Sheep Shelter reflect our palate and the designs we enjoy creating. We fancy tone-on-tone arrangements, and asymmetrical explosions, high on one side, low on the other, with a degree of negative space in the middle. We are not growing all the hues of the rainbow or color wheel.
IMPORTANT NOTE: In 2022 there will be a new capacity of 130 guests (not including vendors). As a part of our zero waste policy we strongly encourage renters to chose traditional glasses, plateware, and silverware for their dinners, as washing and reusing traditional dishware has the smallest environmental impact.
Reviews (13)
Mallory Boes
Nov 11, 2021
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My husband and I got married here in September and used the venue for both our ceremony and reception. The Black Sheep Shelter is absolutely gorgeous and the venue itself has so much to offer! The owners are amazing to work with and are really great at communicating with you. They truly go above and beyond to make sure everything is perfect for you! We highly recommend!
(Photos taken by the one and only Tylee Shay. Also highly recommend her for all your wedding photography needs!)
(Photos taken by the one and only Tylee Shay. Also highly recommend her for all your wedding photography needs!)
Kayla Trevino
Oct 26, 2021
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From the moment we met with Melissa, we knew this was the venue for us! Melissa was so welcoming and personable, we felt right at home, and we absolutely fell in love with the setting. 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
Taylor Wyatt
Oct 14, 2021
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The best wedding venue!! Jeff and Melissa were so helpful throughout the whole process (including letting an indecisive person like me scope out the landscape multiple times as I continued to change my mind… about the layout I wanted for my wedding)! The venue is beautiful and I received so many compliments about it from all of my guests. I couldn’t have asked for a better venue or better people to coordinate with :)
Billy Bentley
Oct 01, 2021
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Positive: Professionalism, Quality, Responsiveness, Value
September 25 my daughter married her forever love. They picked the best place to do so. The owners are just wonderful people, helping us the entire way. The property is old, rustic and just beautiful. So many small touches made this venue perfect. Thank you so very much for hosting this special day for my baby girl.
September 25 my daughter married her forever love. They picked the best place to do so. The owners are just wonderful people, helping us the entire way. The property is old, rustic and just beautiful. So many small touches made this venue perfect. Thank you so very much for hosting this special day for my baby girl.
Abbey Matthiesen
Sep 30, 2021
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My husband and I got married here in August and it was a dream. Our experience at Black Sheep Shelter was nothing short of exceptional. Melissa & Jeff were responsive and helpful in the months leading up to our… day and on the day of. The venue was beautiful and magical and our guests raved about it. I could not recommend this venue enough! We are from the Lansing area and toured many venues closer to home but my heart kept coming back to this one regardless of the distance. I’m so glad we chose it! Thank you for creating and maintaining such a beautiful space Melissa and Jeff
Nancy Pleune
Sep 12, 2021
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Abbie Hewett
Aug 02, 2021
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I can't speak highly enough of our experience at Black Sheep Shelter! Jeff & Melissa were so gracious as we navigated our wedding plans amidst the Covid craziness. They are constantly working to make the space and their guest's experiences better, and it shows in the beauty of the venue and their hospitality.
We got to celebrate our 1 year anniversary with family & friends, and are so glad for the awesome venue and wonderful hosts!
We got to celebrate our 1 year anniversary with family & friends, and are so glad for the awesome venue and wonderful hosts!
Kelley Ziomkowski
Jul 24, 2021
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We got married at Black Sheep Shelter in July of 2021 and I CANNOT recommend it enough. Not only is the space absolutely gorgeous (guests were coming up to me and my husband all night asking how the heck we found this gem) but Melissa and Jeff were incredible to work with. They are exceptionally kind, accommodating, and truly want you to have the best wedding. They provided us with so much helpful information beforehand that made wedding planning much easier. I can’t imagine having a wedding anywhere else. It was the perfect venue!
Jeremiah Kruithof
Jul 18, 2021
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What's not to love about the Black Sheep Shelter? For smaller weddings, this is an incredible venue at an incredible price! Beautiful scenery for pictures, a rustic feel without being run down, and Jeff and Melissa are just the absolute best! They cater to your every need, and their passion for what they do is unmatched. We cannot say enough about this place- if it's available, book it!
Adrianne Fogg
Jun 24, 2021
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Positive: Professionalism, Quality, Responsiveness, Value
Melissa and Jeff are wonderful to work with. They consistently responded in a timely fashion and went above and beyond to allow us to have the date we wanted. I have always wanted a garden wedding, and the setting could not have been better. Perfect for someone looking for a quaint gathering space surrounded by natural beauty!
Melissa and Jeff are wonderful to work with. They consistently responded in a timely fashion and went above and beyond to allow us to have the date we wanted. I have always wanted a garden wedding, and the setting could not have been better. Perfect for someone looking for a quaint gathering space surrounded by natural beauty!
Greta Zwyghuizen Maat
Jun 21, 2021
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When I dreamed of my wedding as a little girl, this venue is exactly what I had in mind. It is a beautiful, dreamy space that made our day so so special. The space perfectly accounts for fun, joy, and beauty.
… The rental of the venue included nearly everything, which was such a blessing during the planning process (especially as a COVID bride). On top of this, Jeff & Melissa are absolutely wonderful people to work with. They created such a calming presence not only on my wedding day, but also leading up to it. This venue encompassed all of my wildest wedding dreams from when I was young
… The rental of the venue included nearly everything, which was such a blessing during the planning process (especially as a COVID bride). On top of this, Jeff & Melissa are absolutely wonderful people to work with. They created such a calming presence not only on my wedding day, but also leading up to it. This venue encompassed all of my wildest wedding dreams from when I was young
Lauren Diepenhorst
Mar 12, 2021
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I got married at Black Sheep Shelter in 2020 (during the COVID-19 pandemic). This venue is extremely COVID-19 friendly, we were able to keep our original date, which is not something every COVID-19 bride can say. We loved our experience with the owners. And our wedding day was more then I could have imagined it would be! I really loved the open concept, the bride and groom suites, along with the entry way into the venue area. We got married in July - our guests did not complain about heat or bugs (which were concerns that we had). The venue provided sound equipment, chairs + tables, along with
Savannah Hoffman
Sep 18, 2020
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Positive: Professionalism, Quality, Responsiveness, Value
Awesome venue! It's a beautiful space with a lot of love put into it and it's surrounded by lovely landscaping and lush gardens. Jeff and Melissa are very responsive and care deeply about making sure the space is just right. Absolutely recommended for a wedding or any event!
Awesome venue! It's a beautiful space with a lot of love put into it and it's surrounded by lovely landscaping and lush gardens. Jeff and Melissa are very responsive and care deeply about making sure the space is just right. Absolutely recommended for a wedding or any event!
