Frequently Asked Questions
(a) Information on the Mélange and its Facilities
Q: Are you open throughout the year for special events?
A: Yes. Traditionally, outdoor events are hosted between April and November when there is most color in the gardens. Indoor events are hosted throughout the year; most popular period being during the Holidays when the historic home gets its festive decoration.
Q: How many guests can your facilities accommodate?
A: 2 to 150 on outdoor and 2 to 40 on indoor venues.
Q: What special events do you host?
A: All special events including the weddings, rehearsal dinners and brunches, dessert outings and so on.
Q: What is the layout of the grounds for a large outdoor wedding ceremony and reception?
A: Our forte is that we offer a variety of venues that merge into one another and where we can customize your wedding flow. There are two distinct ceremony sites in lush greenery: the park-like setting of the Matisse Fountain Lawn or the charming setting of the Pan Fountain Lawn. The reception is traditionally hosted in the covered Tile Pavilion. A typical wedding scenario will be to have your ceremony on the Matisse Fountain Lawn followed by a social hour while bridal pictures are being made with appetizers on the Pan Fountain Lawn followed by the reception in the Tile Pavilion. Guests love to stroll around and discover.
Q: What happens in case there is rain during an outdoor event? Do I need to rent a tent?
A: In case of inclement weather, you can move into the Tile Pavilion to hold both the ceremony and the reception.
Q: How are smaller weddings staged?
A: Here again, the availability of different venues would give you many flow options. The Mediterranean Court, for example, has a nostalgic appeal as a ceremony site or a receiving line or a social hour. Indoor weddings may make use of the full first floor of the historic home. .
Q: May we bring our own decorations? Any guidelines?
A: Yes, but only with our advance approval so that no physical damage is done to the facilities and as long as you take them down at the end of your event.
Q: Do you have free parking?
A: Yes. There are 15 lots on the premises. Further parking for 25-35 cars is along the property curb side of Blythe Street and 5th Avenue. Overflow parking for big weddings is about 0.6 mile away. You can rent a van or limousine to shuttle your guests from this parking lot or from nearby hotels.
Q: Can I bring a band or a DJ for dancing?
A: Yes - but only with our advance approval of the vendor.
Q: Do you have a sound system? PA System? Ipod Dock?
A: Yes
Q: Is there a time that music must be turned off for "quiet time”?
A: Live music and serving of alcoholic beverages positively end at 9:30 PM. All events end at 10 PM. Bridal couple and their guests staying at the inn may retire into the East Porch to celebrate and socialize privately for an extra hour- provided that the peace of the house and that of the neighborhood are attended to and preserved.
Q: Are there nearby venues or pubs that the party may move to after the reception?
A: Main Street and nearby motels have venues. Hendersonville Travel and Tourism Bureau will have all the recommendations.
Q: Can I bring my own photographer, florist, officiate, cake maker, and do you have a recommended vendor list?
A: Yes
Q: Do you allow smoking?
A: Smoking is allowed at designated areas. No smoking is allowed inside the historic home.
(b) Rental of the Grounds and Facilities
Q: What is included in the site rental charge for receptions?
A: Included in the site rental charge:
* Exclusive use of all grounds for the ceremony and reception.
* Set-up and break down of chairs and tables and clean –up
* Standard white chairs for the ceremony, PA System, unity candle, pedestals for flower display and podium, shepherd hooks for flower baskets, easels, ornate cage for monetary gifts, candelabra stands, table set-up for programs
* Tables and chairs for the reception, china plates (different patterns of china will be available), silverware, linens and napkins (color selection may be available depending on the size, table top decorations like mirrors, tea candle arrangements, several sizes of small vases (should you decide to make your own flower arrangements), floating candle bowls, table numbers and stands and dedicated glass and stemware for all beverages,
* Cake cutting service, formal displays with linens and skirt, fine cake cutting silverware, ornate champagne flutes for the bride and groom
* Sound System to play a large collection of CD’s for the ceremony an dancing, electrical hook-up for DJ
* Wedding rehearsal and pre-wedding bridal photography privileges
* Services of our exclusive event manager
Q: Do you accept children on the premises? How are children billed?
A: Yes, children are welcome. Children aged 3-6 count as half and of 7 years and above as a full paying guest.
Q: How long can I rent your facility? Is there a fee if we stay longer?
A: You have one hour for the wedding ceremony (with the guest arrival) and 4 hrs for the reception allocated. If you wish to have more time with your guests, you can start early. Extra $300/hour will be charged to benefit the staff for receptions lasting more than 4 hours.
(c) Food and Beverage
Q: Do you have an in-house caterer or can we choose to use an outside caterer of our choice?
A: All food is cooked and catered from our own commercial kitchen. No exceptions due to sanitation issues except for the wedding cake. Mélange routinely receives one of the highest sanitation grades as a restaurant from county inspection.
Q: What if I want service style and food choices around my theme? Do you kids menus?
A: Your wedding and reception may be as structured or laid-back as you want. There are menus on the web site for buffet and sit-down service. Brunch and dessert only menus are available on demand. Our chef and event manager will work with you and cater to your wishes. We at the Mélange are very passionate about food. Several theme-based parties have been catered including Spanish, Brazilian, Turkish, German, Eastern Carolina Bar-b-cue, 50's Black-tie and Kids-Only.
Q: Can I sample your food?
A: Yes. Once in a quarter, we invite our brides for food tasting whose wedding is scheduled within 2 quarters.
Q: How is the serving of alcoholic beverages handled? Can we bring our own wine, champagne and beer?
A: You can provide your own champagne, wine and beer. They are subject to Stemware Charge (Corkage)(Please visit web link on Rental Fees). This is calculated by actual consumption and you can take back unopened bottles. We will help hire experienced bar person(s) to work for you to serve alcoholic beverages whose hourly wages you would be responsible. The host of the event is legally responsible for its guests and liquor related liabilities.
Q: How is the food price calculated? What is the price range I shall budget for?
A: Menu cost will depend on your selections, on the service style and naturally on the number of attendees. Range for menus are $30’s to $50’s and above per person for buffets and $40's to $60's and above for plated dinners.
If your wedding is on a Saturday, your food and beverage should total minimum $3000 plus tax, service and corkage. The minimum is based on 60 guests.
Q: Is it possible to have a full bar?
A: Yes. There will be $5 per person charge across the board and in addition to corkage from wine and beer. We will provide dedicated glassware and cordials. You (or we for you) would also need to get a temporary permit.
Q: There may be relatives and friends who are not going to stay in your inn. Can I invite them to join breakfast if I pay for it?
A: Yes. You can invite relatives or friends you wish to spend more time with to join others who are staying at Mélange. The all-inclusive price for a 2 to 3-course menu is $17 per person. (Including tax and service)
(d) Other
Q: Do you have a minimum nights stay policy?
A: Yes. We want your big day to truly be an intimate affair and will not schedule another event nor would accept guestroom reservations from parties not related to the wedding. In turn, and if the wedding is on a Saturday, the bridal party agrees to rent (or designate their guests to stay in and pay individually) all 5 guestrooms for a minimum of 2 nights on a weekend (3 on holiday weekends and during October).
For guests from out of town and who wish to stay longer, there will be a 20% reduction in room rate beyond the required minimum stay.
Q: For how many can you provide accommodations for?
A: Of the 5 guestrooms, 1 is a suite with 2 bedrooms (1 king and 2 double beds hence ideal for bridesmaids/groomsmen or for a family). In addition, there are 3 king size guestrooms and 1 queen. Rollaway beds may be placed in two king size rooms. Total capacity with children is about 14-15. The bride may also select to stay with the bridesmaids in the Suite for the first night.
Q: Are there nearby inns and motels for my other guests?
A: Yes. There are other bed and breakfasts within less than 1 mile and all the usual motels plus cottages and suites within 3 miles.
Q: What is your cancellation policy?
A: A cancellation will result in forfeiture of all deposit(s). Postponement to another date is subject to availability; All out-of-pocket costs, would be lost income from accommodations need to be reimbursed to Mélange. A new contract will be signed if the wedding is postponed for the following year.