Typical Charges and Billing

 

At Mélange, our goal is to provide you with a cost layout that is transparent and simple to follow so you can easily estimate your expenditures for the wedding ceremony and reception. There are three different factors that determine the cost: rental fee for the exclusive use of all venues, facilities and amenities; food and beverage costs for the reception including gratuity; and accommodations in the five guest rooms which you and/or your party rent so your big day is truly an intimate affair without the presence of non-wedding guests in the inn.

 

1- Site Rental Charge

The site rental charge for wedding receptions or for rehearsal dinners is $11 per attendee with a minimum of $900 and maximum of $1800. If the ceremony is also hosted on the premises, there will be an additional charge of $150.

* Site Rental Charges for a rehearsal dinner or brunch will be $7.50 per attendee with a minimum of $400 and maximum of $800. There is no duplicity of site rental charges for special events in connection with a larger wedding.

* Small weddings or other special events up to 25 guests will pay a combined $750 for the ceremony and reception.

* Included in the site rental charge is the exclusive use of all grounds and facilities for the wedding ceremony and reception, chairs and tables for the dinner seating, all linens, bone china plate ware (several patterns to choose from), flatware and tabletop decorations like mirrors, table numbers, floating candle or tea candle bowls and vases. Serving and supporting tables will have table skirts and matching toppers. The use of candle stands, an easel for the portrait and an ornate cage for special gifts in an envelope are complementary.

* Live music, dancing and all beverage services are concluded by 9:30 PM. All other activities end by 10 PM.

* Not included are the chairs for the ceremony, which can be rented from a local vendor.

* The duration of the wedding ceremony and reception is 5 hours, for any other special event, it is 3 hours. Extra $200/hour will be charged for receptions lasting beyond the allotted duration.

* Additional $75/hr will be charged if the Tile Pavilion is heated.

Example: If your guest size for the wedding ceremony and reception were 50, the facilities rental costs would total $1050, with 100 attendees, $1250. If, additionally, the rehearsal dinner is hosted for, e.g., 30 guests, there is no extra charge for site rental. If only the rehearsal dinner is hosted at the Melange for 30, facilities cost will be $350. Rental chairs for the ceremony are in the order of $2 per chair for delivery, set-up, breakdown and pick-up by other vendors.

2.a. Catering Cost

Food costs vary with the type of food service, with menu selections and with the number in attendance. Menu price is favorably calculated for you based on all selections put together, i.e. not individually itemized.

* A separate set up for a social hour with extra food and beverage service will cost $10 to $15 depending on the guest size.

* The presentation style would range from butler passed petit fours to stationary light and heavy hors d'oeuvre platters and to a formal buffet set-up manned by staff and to a pre-plated banquet service.

* A menu may be customized around a theme. Vegetarian dishes and menus for children are also available.

* Catering charge includes food manager and buffet and bar décor.

Example: If the menu you have chosen is calculated at, e.g., $35 per person, food cost for a 50-guest reception will be $1750 and for a 100-guest event $3500.

2.b. Serving of Non-Alcoholic Beverages & Coffee and Cake Cutting and Service

This fee includes formal display of the wedding cake or desserts with fine linens and skirt, cake servers, ornate flutes for the bride and groom for a toast, cake cutting or dessert plating by the staff, coffee station set-up and service of sodas, water and iced tea (or herbal teas) or hot cacao or lemonade or a non-alcoholic punch.

* With receptions up to 50 guests, minimum charge is $200,With receptions up to 100, the minimum charge is $250, over that it is $2.50 per person .

Example: Non-alcoholic beverages and coffee station set-up and cake cutting and plating cost for a 50-guest reception will be $200 and for a 100-guest event, $250.

2.c. Serving of Alcoholic Beverages and Stemware Cost

All fine glassware including dedicated wineglasses and flutes, iced tea and other beverage glasses and mugs, napkins, ice, coolers and disposal of bottles are included with this charge.

* Stemware Cost for wine, champagne and beer that the event holder provides will be calculated based on actual consumption.The cost breakdown is: $5 charged per 0.75-lit bottle of wine and champagne; larger bottles are charged at $7.50 (per 1 liter bottle) or $10 (per 1.5 liter bottle). Beer is charged at $25 per case or $80 for party kegs.

* The event holder may take back all of the un-corked and un-opened bottles that they provide at the end of the event.

* With a full bar where cocktails and mixed drinks are also to be served, there will be an additional charge of $4 per attendee. Cordials and mixed drink glassware are included in this charge. A temporary special permit may be necessary.

* The minimum stemware charge is $125. The event holder pays whichever the higher amount is, i.e. stemware fee based actual consumption or the minimum charge.

* The event holder pays for the services of bartender(s), extra. Bartender wages range $15 to $22 per hour and shall include a minimum of one hour for set-up and also one hour for clean up.

* A portion of the estimated Stemware Cost is paid in advance. The final tally will be calculated after the reception based on actual consumption.

Example: If 50 guests enjoy 12 bottles of wine and 1 case of beer, then the Stemware Cost will be $125. If 100 guests consume 3 cases of beer and 3 cases of wine and champagne (36 combined bottles, 0.75 lt -std- size), then the Stemware Cost will be $255. 

2.d. Service Charge and Taxes

Food and non-alcoholic beverage services are subject to 20% charge for the staff. Facilities and food services are subject to state tax.

The duration of the wedding ceremony and reception is 5 hours (4 hrs if the ceremony is not held at Melange Inn and Gardens). Extra $200/hour will be charged to benefit the staff for receptions lasting beyond the allotted duration.

Example: Service cost for the 50-guest reception @$35 pp food cost would be $380 (20% of $1750 plus $200), for 100 with the same menu cost, $750. Total taxes for the 50-guest reception will total $182.25; for the 100 guest wedding, , $347.63.

3. Overnight Accommodations

If the wedding is on a weekend, the event holder agrees to rent (or designate guests to stay) all 5 guestrooms for a minimum of 2 nights (3 on holiday weekends and during October).

* Smaller wedding parties of less than 30 guests, a rehearsal-dinner-only special event or wedding receptions during the week may be exempt from this requirement since a separation of attendees to the wedding and house guests would then be achieved.

* There is a 30% rate reduction for an extra night beyond the required 2 nights (3 during holiday weekends and in October) if same guests stay in the room. $25 is charged for house cleaning if guests change on consecutive nights.

* Henderson County levies 4 % Occupancy Tax; Total taxes are then 10.75%

Example: Total cost for the 5 guest rooms for any 2 nights during Friday-Saturday-Sunday in 2008 (other than Holidays and in October), would be $1790 plus $192.43 taxes, based on double occupancy, $35 is charged extra for each additional person in the room per night.

Deposit and Payments Schedule

A first payment of $500 is required as a deposit to block the requested date at the time of signing of a special event contract. A second payment of $750 is due 8 weeks in advance of the event date, when your menu selection is finalized. The remaining balance in full is paid 2 weeks before the event when you should have all the RSVP's in and the minimum number of attendees is guaranteed to Melange.

The higher number of guests either guaranteed or present during the reception would be the basis for the calculation of final charges. Children 3-5 count as half and of 6 and above as a full paying guest.

Payments related to reception or rehearsal dinner are made by check or money order. A credit card guaranty is needed for the stemware charges. These will be will be finalized after the event and may be paid with check or cash, also. Guest rooms may be paid with credit card on arrival.

A cancellation will result in forfeiture of all deposit(s). Postponement to another date is possible subject to availability and for the reimbursement of the inn for all out-of-pocket costs or would be income.