Frequently Asked Questions
(a) Information on Mélange and its Facilities
Q: Are you open throughout the year?
A: Yes. Traditionally, outdoor events are hosted between April and November when gardens are most colorful. Indoor events are hosted throughout the year, especially during Thanksgiving and Holidays.
Q: What special events do you host?
A: All special events including wedding ceremony and reception and rehearsal dinner and brunch.
Q: How many guests can your facility accommodate?
A: Two to two hundred on outdoor venues and two to thirty indoor.
Q: What is the layout of the grounds for a large outdoor wedding ceremony and reception?
A: The grounds lend to many possibilities for staging the event. There are two ceremony sites each with its own charm: the park-like setting of the Matisse Fountain Lawn or the intimate Pan Fountain Lawn surrounded by lush greenery. The reception is hosted in the covered (and heated) Tile Pavilion. With large weddings, guests generally like to move and stroll around and not tied down to one venue. Our forte is that we offer a variety of venues that lead to each other. You may for example choose to have your ceremony on one venue followed by a social hour with food and beverage service for guests at another while bridal pictures are being done followed by the reception at yet another. Your wedding may be as structured or laid-back as you want.
Q: What happens to my ceremony in the gardens in case there is rain? Do I need to rent a tent?
A: In case of inclement weather, you can move into the Tile Pavilion to hold the ceremony.
Q: How are smaller weddings staged?
A: Here again, the availability of different venues would give you options. The Mediterranean Court, for example, has a nostalgic appeal as a ceremony site. But you can also get married on the Pan Fountain Lawn and move there for a receiving line or where appetizers and beverage are served. Indoor weddings incorporate the full first floor of the historic home as well as Mediterranean Court and East Porch.
Q: Do I really need to bring with me an event coordinator through my big day at Mélange?
A: Not really. Lale and I try to be very personal. We encourage lots of communication and visits from our brides and will make time to make suggestions and reflect from our experience.
Q: Do you have a set décor for receptions or may we bring our own decorations? If so, do you have any decoration guidelines?
A: Yes, but with advance approval and as long as you take them with you at the end of your event. Be aware though that there is continuous color in the gardens March-November that provides the perfect background for an outdoor event and the Tile Pavilion has elegant and delightful attire. You really may not need any additional decorations.
Q: Do you have free parking?
A: Yes. There are up to 12 spaces on the premises. Further parking for 30-40 cars is along the house side of Blythe Street and also along 5th Avenue. Overflow parking 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: Do you have a sound system?
A: There is an outdoor and an indoor system that can play CD's (We have a large collection including wedding related music). We can feed this music on the Pan Fountain Lawn and on the Mediterranean Court. The Tile Pavilion has a separate system to play CD's.
Q: Can I bring a band or DJ for dancing? Is there a certain time that music must be turned off for "quiet time"?
A: Yes. You can play any music you want as long as it is not too loud to disturb the tranquility and peace of the neighborhood. Live music and dancing are concluded by 9:30 PM.
Q: Can I bring my own photographer, florist, officiate, cake maker, and so on or do I have to work with yours?
A: You can choose any provider of such services. We also have a list you can use- a list of wonderful people in every category we would recommend that have performed at Mélange before.
Q: Do you have separate displays or set-ups for program handouts, wedding gifts, favors, pictures, and so on and an easel for my portrait?
A: Yes. Complementary.
Q: Do you allow smoking?
A: Smoking is allowed at designated areas and niches, no smoking is allowed inside the historic home.
(b) Rental Costs for the Grounds and Facilities
Q: How much does it cost to rent the site?
A: Rental charges for the facilities for wedding receptions is $11 per attendee (OR a minimum of $900 and a maximum of $1800). $150 is added if the ceremony is held also on the premises.
* 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, however no duplicity of site rental charges for special events in connection with a larger wedding.
* Small weddings up to 25 guests will pay a combined $750 for the ceremony and reception.
Q: What all is included in this rental charge for receptions?
A: Included in the site rental fee is the exclusive use of all grounds and facilities, rehearsing of the bridal party, pre-ceremony or bridal photography privileges, Also included are: tables and chairs for the reception, specialty china, glass and stemware, all table linens and napkins, table top decorations as mirrors, tea candles, floating candle bowls, table numbers, and table skirts and matching toppers.
If guests are to be formally seated on the lawn during the ceremony, you may have to rent light chairs from vendors.
Q: What other costs shall I budget for Mélange?
A: Your fees at Mélange are generally divided in two (three) categories. Rental charge for the premises as described above and food and beverage charges as will be described below. Depending on your guest size, you or your bridal party or your guests may be required to rent our 5 guest rooms for 2 nights on a weekend (3 on Holidays and in October). Please see our web site for detailed information.
Q: Do you accept children on the premises? Are children billed the same rate as adults?
A: Yes, of course. Children 3-5 count as half and of 6 and above as a full paying guest.
Q: How long can I rent your facility?
A: The duration of the wedding ceremony and reception is typically 5 hours (4 hrs for receptions if the ceremony is held elsewhere).
Q: Is there a fee if we stay longer?
A: Extra $200/hour will be charged to benefit the staff for receptions lasting beyond the allotted duration. All events end at 10 PM.
Q: What if I just want to rent the grounds for the ceremony and want to have my reception somewhere else?
A: Site rental fee for the venues and maximum time on the premises will depend on the guest size.
(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 issue, except perhaps the wedding cake. Mélange routinely receives one of the highest sanitation grades as a restaurant from county inspection.
Q: Do you have suggested menus?
A: There are menus on the web site for buffet and sit-down dinner including appetizer (and beverage) service prior to the reception and while wedding pictures are done.
Q: What if I want foods and service around my theme?
A: This is our strength. Our chef and event manager will work with you and cater to your wishes and dreams. We are very passionate about food and have done many in the past including Spanish, Brazilian, Turkish, German, Eastern Carolina Bar-b-cue, 50's Black-tie and so on.
Q: Do you have a food manager? A buffet decorator if I choose buffet style serving for the reception?
A: Yes, the catering cost will include these services. Our staff will serve you and your guests from ornate platters and exquisite dishes.
Q: How is the food price calculated? What is the price range I shall budget for?
A: Your menu will be priced per person; food cost will depend on your selections, on service style and naturally on the number of attendees. Cost of food will be established once you finalize your menu. 2007 menus have ranged low thirties to mid sixties per person.
Q: How is the serving of beverages handled?
A: We will set-up a coffee station, serve sodas and iced tea (or hot cacao or a non-alcoholic punch) and charge $2.5 per person.
Cutting and plating your wedding cake is included in this fee. (Minimums apply, see web site on charges).
Q: Can we bring our own wine, champagne and beer? How is the serving of alcoholic beverages handled?
A: Champagne, wine and beer you bring are subject to stemware fees to cover the use of glasses and other equipment we will provide. Stemware costs are calculated by actual consumption. You would these in detail in the web site. We will hire experienced bar person(s) for you to serve alcoholic beverages whose hourly wages you pay directly. The host of the event is legally responsible for its guests and liquor related liabilities.
Q: Is it possible to have a full bar?
A: Yes. There will be a per person charge of $4 pp across the board for providing dedicated glassware and cordials. You (or we for you) would also need to get a temporary permit.
Q: Do you also cater to off-site events?
A: Yes.
(d) Other
Q: Do you have overnight accommodations? Do you have a minimum nights stay policy?
A: Yes, We have 5 guestrooms. Of these, 1 is a suite with 2 bedrooms (1 king and 2 double beds) ideal for bridesmaids/groomsmen or for a family. There are 3 other king size guestrooms and 1 queen. Rollaway beds may be placed in some rooms. Total capacity is about 14 with children.
- If the wedding is scheduled on a Saturday, the event holder agrees to rent (or guaranty of designated guests to rent) all 5 guestrooms for a minimum of 2 nights (3 nights on 3-Day Holiday weekends and in October) at seasonal rates.
- Requirement for very small parties or for weddings on Sundays or during weekdays is to rent at least 1 room for at least 1 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 motels within 3 miles.
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 you and others who are staying at Mélange.
Q: Do you have a payment plan available? What is your cancellation policy?
A: Yes. $500 is required as first 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 is paid 2 weeks before the event when all the RSVP's are in and when the minimum number of attendees is guaranteed to Mélange.
- The higher number of guests either guaranteed or present during the reception would be the basis for the calculation of final charges. All payments related to reception or rehearsal dinner are made by good check or money order. Stemware charges will be finalized after the event based on actual consumption. Guestrooms may be paid with valid credit card.
- A cancellation will result in forfeiture of all deposit(s). Postponement to another date is possible subject to availability and for the reimbursement for all out-of-pocket costs of the inn and lost income from accommodations.