Black Sheep Shelter Reviews

Black sheep review
My husband and I got married here at Black Sheep shelter over Labor Day weekend 2023, and had an absolutely fantastic experience. Jeff, Melissa, and all of the black sheep staff were incredibly supportive and responded quickly to every question and request my husband from the day we booked them 18 months before our ceremony up until and after our wedding day. They were upfront about what their venue offered, which was especially helpful since we booked them before the construction of the beautiful glass house, and we’re collaborative when it came to requests we had for our special day. Their staff was extremely quick thinking and creative when helping my family set up on our wedding day and was prepared for any hiccups that inevitably happen when planning a wedding. Their venue is absolutely stunning, when planning decor we didn’t need to plan anything extravagant because Jeff and Melissa own the most gorgeous farm, garden, and wedding venue in Michigan. This venue is so much more than your standard michigan barn wedding venue. Not only that but the bathrooms were on par with every indoor venue I’ve been in, despite this being a primarily outdoor venue. And I wouldn’t let it being a primarily outdoor venue scare you away, because they do have burlap curtains on the shelter to keep the elements out.

When my husband and I were interviewing our wedding vendors, every single one we spoke to spoke so highly of Black Sheep and Jeff and Melissa, which really reassured us in our decision. And because our vendors loved working at and with Black Sheep, it created such a light happy effortless energy that made that day even more special for us. Every vendor we worked with understood Black Sheep’s zero-waste policy and took any waste their services, meaning bar and catering, generated. If you are working with Black Sheep Shelter for your wedding and are still looking for a photographer, we can’t recommend Christopher Deau enough. He let us know that he, jeff and Melissa were actually looking forward to our event, which really made us feel special, and that they had ideas for photos that frankly ended up being art.

There aren’t enough words to describe how integral and incredible black sheep when it came to our wedding. If you are on the fence about them, I encourage you to at least go and tour with them. We toured multiple venues and no one was as kind and as understanding as Jeff and Melissa were. They offer such a unique venue at such a great value, you won’t regret celebrating at Black Sheep.

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!

Our daughter's wedding was scheduled for December 2020. In September we realized that due to co-vid we probably needed to move it up and outside. We heard about Black Sheep Shelter and Jeff and Melissa were great in allowing us to visit the next day. It was the "look" the bride and groom envisioned. Not a barn, but outdoors, the setting was idyllic. Earthy and elegant as they say. Leading up to the wedding Jeff and Melissa were prompt in responding to our emails with questions.
It was a cold, rainy fall day but the rain didn't take away from the beautiful setting. The trees, and landscaping were vibrant with color. The sound of the rain on the roof created a cozy environment. The burlap sides helped with the wind.
Black Sheep Shelter was our Plan B but after experiencing it it would be our Plan A for another wedding.
Thanks Jeff and Melissa for creating this beautiful space!

We got married at Black Sheep Shelter in Sept 2020 and it was everything we could have imagined (even with the rain we had)! The venue and property surrounding is so beautiful and 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!

Jeff and Melissa were amazing to work with! With their help our wedding ran so smooth. They thought of every little detail and potential scenario so we didn’t have to stress! The black sheep shelter is a very unique place that guests will continue to talk about for years to come!

The Black Sheep Shelter provided us with an elegant, warm, natural setting to spend the best day of our lives. The owners treated us like family and made sure that every detail and request was taken care of. They've created a chic, comfortable venue that provided a fun day for everyone. You had to walk all of 4ft. in any direction for stunning photo locations too. I would get married here over and over again! You are getting a LOT of bang for your buck.

Breathtaking venue & awesome owners

Like so many couples, we had postponed and re-planned and gone back to the drawing board for our wedding plans during the pandemic. Black Sheep Shelter was exactly what we needed to 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.

Loved the venue! The most perfect property full of natural beauty, plants, and the perfect covered space. The owners were so helpful and kind, and put so much work into making our day be special and run smoothly! Perfect spot for a outdoor wedding (& for covid regulations). Would totally recommend this venue to anyone looking for something unique, dreamy, with a touch of rustic farm.
Thanks so much Black Sheep for an awesome wedding day!

We could not have dreamed of a more beautiful space to host our daughter’s wedding day .
Jeff and Melissa @The Black sheep shelter have a very sweet way of connecting through kindness, honesty, knowledge and meeting needs from the moment you inquire until your event is over.
The beautiful grounds and facilities are very telling of a family that truly cares and finds great joy in making others dreams come true !

A month out from our wedding, we had to scramble to relocate to an outdoor venue due to COVID-19 restrictions. We stumbled on Black Sheep Shelter and loved it! From the start, Melissa was amazingly responsive, incredibly friendly, welcoming, and flexible. The Roessing's have clearly put a lot of love and work into their unique venue space and it shows. It's a beautiful blend of hand-crafted details, rustic charm, and modern, industrial cleanliness. Coupled with their beautiful landscaping and garden, you hardly need decorations. It was a wonderful experience and we honestly are glad we had to change locations. It was perfect, highly recommended!

My fiance and I booked the BSS in the winter, and we were SO lucky that even with COVID-19 we could have the wedding of our dreams. Jeff & Melissa have done amazing things with their 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!

Where do we even begin.....

Jeff and Melissa are some of the kindest, most generous people we have ever met! Our original wedding was completely cancelled due to Covid, but we still wanted to get married on our 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.❤️

The Black Sheep Shelter was an unbelievable venue. The space is beautiful and the couple that runs it is incredible! They are so responsive, accommodating, and you can feel their love and passion for the place. We are so thankful to have been able to have our big day there! I would highly recommend this venue to any couple looking!

The Roessing’s were incredible hosts! Every detail was thought out with care, and the venue exuded purity, joy, simplicity, and holiness. We couldn’t have asked for a better location or better hosts! Would absolutely recommend Black Sheep Shelter for ANY event.

Jeff and Melissa were incredible to work with for our fall wedding. They put so much care and attention into their space, and it's truly reflected in the process of reserving your date all the way through 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!

This venue overall provided a wonderful experience! The location was beautiful and the owners were wonderful to work with. One downside was that there was no heating/cooling in the bride/groom rooms and the lighting was poor for doing makeup and getting ready. The ceremony and reception venue is beautiful though.