To: Brides & Grooms

Re: Teacup Wedding - Please read prior to making a reservation

We have created our website to be informative, and representative, of "Teacup Wedding, Country House" offerings, with detailed descriptions of our packages and current photographs of our ceremony settings. This, along with the "Additional Information" below will help you to determine if Teacup Wedding suits you - prior to making a reservation.

We are fully invested in providing couples, and their guests, with a beautiful experience at Teacup Wedding, Country House. We have designed all aspects of Teacup Wedding to be a very affordable marriage ceremony venue, by offering ceremony settings that are fully-decorated, as well as taking a streamlined and pre-planned approach to marriage ceremonies.

We understand that every couple has different desires for their marriage ceremony, and ask that you read the following information prior to making a reservation at Teacup Wedding to ensure that our offerings meet your desires.

We provide detailed pricing and additional information about Teacup Wedding, Country House, Small Weddings and Elopements upfront - prior to your reservation.

After reviewing the following information, and our "Packages & Fees" page, you'll be able to easily determine if Teacup Wedding suits your style, and accommodates your needs.

Only one ceremony is planned at Teacup Wedding during any given time-frame; allowing for your exclusive use of the private parking area and ceremony setting.

Our drive and parking area is off-street and reserved for you and your guests. When scheduling reservations we provide plenty of time between ceremonies to allow for parties to arrive and depart our parking area without intrusion by other couples/guests. Based on our desire to avoid interference with scheduled ceremonies and/or our preparation for a ceremony, we are not open to "drop-in" visitors, or early arrivals/delayed departure of wedding parties. We have found that this best suits (and respects the privacy of) all couples being married at Teacup Wedding.

We want you to enjoy your experience without interruption, as well as couples before and after you. Arrival and departure at your agreed upon time is key to ensuring that all couples have the exclusive use of Teacup Wedding and the parking area without intrusion. As we are a ceremony venue only, we do not include additional time for gathering and socializing or extended photography here, (before or after) your agreed upon arrival/departure time, in the parking area, grounds or ceremony setting. Please make alternative arrangements for another location if you, your guests or photographer choose to gather, so that the arrival and departure of everyone in your group will be at your agreed upon time.

You and your guests will arrive at Teacup Wedding, to the sound of beautiful classic, instrumental music playing, and it will continue throughout the ceremony and until departure, in both indoor and outdoor settings. Upon the arrival of the Bride and/or Groom, at your reserved arrival time, you and your guests are welcomed into your pre-chosen, beautifully decorated ceremony setting, which is fully prepared for your guests to be seated. No additional decorating or re-arrangement takes place by couples or photographers.

Photography is welcome prior to the commencement of your ceremony, throughout your ceremony and until your departure.

With guests seated, your marriage ceremony commences approximately 10 minutes after your arrival. With the well-planned ceremony offerings at Teacup Wedding, this takes place with minimal direction upon arrival and does not require - or include - a rehearsal.

The ceremony commences with your entry, marriage ceremony, vows and ring exchange, as well as Unity Candle, Rose, Ring or Sand Ceremony - if chosen with the "Teacup Wedding" packages. After your marriage ceremony takes place, your guests remain seated to witness the ceremonial solemnization of the marriage license by the Bride, Groom, two witnesses and our Officiant, as the culmination of your marriage ceremony. Our Officiant shall then pronounce you to your guests as a married couple!

Posed and candid photography is welcome throughout your arrival, ceremony, license signing and until your departure, by your guests, and/or a professional photographer.

The Bride, Groom, and everyone arrives dressed and fully prepared to step from their vehicle - classic photo opportunity - walk to, and enter, their chosen, beautifully decorated ceremony setting - another memorable photo opportunity!

We have restroom, however we do not have a bride or groom's dressing room for changing, make-up, hair, photography or room to wait in seclusion prior to the commencement of your ceremony. We also do not include additional time for the aforementioned to take place at Teacup Wedding.

Please note that upon your arrival at Teacup Wedding, and prior to commencing a ceremony, your Michigan marriage license must be provided in it's entirety as received from the court (all copies and envelopes as received from your County Clerk), to our Officiant, along with the Bride and Groom's identification.

The Bride and/or Groom must plan to have these documents in their possession upon arrival. All marriage ceremonies performed at Teacup Wedding must have a non-expired, Michigan Marriage License, that has not been signed by the Bride, Groom or witnesses. A marriage ceremony cannot be performed, without all copies of your valid, unsigned Michigan marriage license, as well as the Bride and Groom's identification. Please plan to have these documents in your possession upon arrival. A ceremony will not commence otherwise. Only legal marriage ceremonies are performed at Teacup Wedding.

If you are arriving for a "Ceremony Elopement" both of your witnesses (who are 18 or older), are also required to have valid identification. The signing of a legally binding contract requires that all parties comply with these terms, therefore we adhere to them without exception.

Teacup Wedding, Country House is located in a very convenient, and easy to find area. We are on Plymouth Road - which runs east/west from Detroit to Ann Arbor. We are easily accessed from (and just minutes from) several main freeways and streets.

Please provide all of your guests with a map and directions to Teacup Wedding.

If your guests are not familiar with the drive or general area, providing an estimated driving time will be helpful. Your chosen time-frame has been reserved exclusively for your private use for your marriage ceremony at Teacup Wedding. Delays are not factored into your timeline and our schedule, therefore your departure time will not be extended due to a delay in arrival or commencement of your ceremony.

Inform your guests that the "arrival time" (the time that was established upon your reservation) is the time that your guests are to arrive at Teacup Wedding and enter the parking area, and your chosen ceremony setting. Confirm that it is not the time that your ceremony will commence. Arrival time, ceremony commencement and departure time (as determined upon your reservation) is the time-line with which will proceed.

We have found that if guests are not clear on the arrival time, that they arrive here up to an hour before the agreed-upon arrival time, expecting to enter, use the restroom, and gather. This is the time that we are completing our preparations for your ceremony. Bride, Groom, Photographers and/or guests will not be provided early entry to the parking area or ceremony setting. The parking area or restroom will not be open, or available, to anyone, as we are preparing for your ceremony. For yours and your guests best interest, and comfort, be clear about your arrival time, and ceremony time-frame.

Most couples do not desire to have petals, rice, seed, confetti, etc. thrown, or sticky bubbles blown, at them (or in the vicinity of a camera lens). However ... if you desire to be showered with the above, inform your guests/photographer that it will take place after you depart from Teacup Wedding, at the location of your reception/celebration.

Nothing is to be tossed or dropped on the floors or ground in the ceremony settings or drive/parking area at Teacup Wedding, at any time. It creates a slipping hazard, and is not possible to clean up prior to the next wedding (we know this from personal experience ; ) Thanks for understanding. Please inform all guests.

Couples oftentimes choose to have a personal bridal bouquet, coursage or boutonniere. If this is your plan, bring them with you when you arrive at Teacup Wedding. We do not provide florals, or accept floral (or other) deliveries, as the specific flowers used, condition of the arrangements, balance due, or the timing of the delivery, understandably, is best managed by the couple prior to their arrival at Teacup Wedding.

Do you have special needs? Please let us know prior to making your reservation! Although we have had no problems with wheelchair entry, the drive and walk is stone and gravel (as shown in photos). Teacup Wedding Country House is a historic building offering opportunities for couples who prefer a small, private marriage ceremony, taking place in a short time-frame. Based on this, we do not have a ramp for the entry or bathroom access. For the short amount of time that couples and their guests are here, this is not a problem if everyone is informed prior to arrival.

Food and beverages (including sippy cups, bottles, coffee, water and pop) are not to be brought into the ceremony setting. Neither is conducive to maintaining the condition of Teacup Wedding. With this advance notice, consumption of food and beverages can be arranged prior to and after the 30 minutes -1 hour time-frame that a guest is at Teacup Wedding. This includes cake or a beverage to "Toast" to your marriage, as this takes place at a celebration after your departure from Teacup Wedding.

Inform your guests that alcohol, smoking and pets (of any size) are not allowed in the ceremony settings or anywhere on the property or parking area/drive.

In regards to alcohol; a marriage license is a legal document that must be properly signed by the Bride, Groom, two adult witnesses and our Officiant. You must ensure that the consumption of any alcohol takes place after the signing of legal documents has taken place, and you have departed Teacup Wedding.

We realize that it is a time for celebration, however, with groups, and couples, arriving in limos or with designated drivers, we have seen individuals, and groups, arrive intoxicated. Their contribution to the occasion is less than desirable, nor is it conducive to signing a legal document. We reserve the right to refuse to proceed with a legal ceremony and solemnization of a marriage license, if a Bride or Groom appears intoxicated. As well as, request that an individual (or group) leave the property, if they appear intoxicated (we regretfully must bring this to attention based on past experience/behavior).

Teacup Wedding ceremonies are designed to be simple and beautiful - free of extensive organization of details, rehearsals, wedding/ceremony planning meetings!

After communicating with our Director and Officiant, reviewing the above time-line and details, and selecting your ceremony options - you will know what to expect upon your arrival at Teacup Wedding. The Officiant and/or Director are available by phone and email to address any questions that you may have every day from 9 am - 9 pm.

It is from our position of a business that provides a service to couples who desire to be married in a beautifully prepared setting, in the style that Teacup Wedding offers, that we have found that we must address basic expectations of all children in attendance at Teacup Wedding, Country House.

You will see that our requests are practical and sensible and address:

- the safety of everyone in attendance

- preserving the condition of the ceremony setting for all marriage ceremonies

- conducting marriage ceremonies in the style offered, and appropriate, for such a meaningful and memorable event

These goals benefit everyone.

Teacup Wedding is designed for legal marriage ceremonies to take place in an elegantly styled environment. It is not designed for child-centered activities, therefore it is logical that we are not a child-proof/safe play environment. It is not the nature or design of our business.

If your invitations will be extended to anyone who is not an adult (18 years or over) children, or babies of any age, communicate this information with us prior to selecting and reserving your package. Children are welcome to be included in the guest count only when you purchase a "Teacup Wedding" package.

Elopement packages, as stated in the description, are adult only packages - 18 and older - without exception. Purchasing an "Elopement Ceremony" package, only to arrive with children will result in the forfeiture of your reservation.

In answer to why all children and babies are included in the guest count . . .

during the years prior to establishing this policy, ceremonies took place at Teacup Wedding where the guest count was applied only to the invited adults (who brought all their children), resulting in more children in attendance than adult guests. This created a very chaotic-play-oriented environment that was not conducive to honoring (or hearing) a couple's marriage ceremony and vows, and the attention to the signing of marriage licenses (legal documents) in the style offered at Teacup Wedding.

We saw too many times that the couple being married was dissappointed with the tone of, and attention given to, their marriage ceremony by their family and friends, due to the guests children in attendance. In addition, the couple's posed and candid photography was oftentimes compromised and difficult.

It is with many experiences with children in attendance that we have seen that 1 hour at a wedding ceremony is longer than most any child will remain seated, therefore we request that an adult will sit with them, as children running, walking or crawling throughout the ceremony settings, lawn and driveway is not safe for anyone.

Our flowers, decorative pieces and candles (indoors/outdoors), garden decor, fences, landscape stones, rocks and drive/parking area have been placed, and are maintained, specifically to enhance the beauty of Teacup Wedding, and background for wedding photography. None of the above are for picking, throwing, climbing, running, play or simply objects of distraction for children at any time.

Regretfully, we have found that we must clearly address our expectations of children in attendance because, sadly, we have encountered too many situations where children were destructive and/or unattended and parents simply say: "Well, they're only one year old", "They're ok, I'm ok with it" when this type of activity takes place. Therefore, we need to be clear that we're not "ok" with any age child engaging in activities (as described) that we consider to be potentially unsafe, or that compromises the condition of the setting at Teacup Wedding.

We have invested in the design of a beautiful marriage ceremony venue for couples who desire to be married the style that we offer. We intend to ensure the condition isn't compromised, and we make our expectations clear prior to reservations being made. Parents of children in attendance must be aware of, and agree to, our requests prior to reserving a Teacup Wedding.

Upon your arrival at Teacup Wedding with your guests, you will appreciate that we ensured that your chosen ceremony setting was treated with the same respect during prior ceremonies. It only makes sense that respectful use better serves everyone.

When choosing to reserve a ceremony at Teacup Wedding, we expect that you have read (as requested), are fully aware of, understand, and agree to our guest count policy regarding children, aas well as our expectations of their adult supervision. In addition, any guests whose children are included in your guest count must be provided with our "Children In Attendance" information.

As noted above, food and beverages (including sippy cups, bottles, coffee or water bottles) are not to be brought into the ceremony settings. Neither is conducive to maintaining the condition of Teacup Wedding. With advance notice, both can be arranged to take place outside of the short amount of time that children and adults are here.

A diaper changing area is not available at Teacup Wedding. Again, for the short amount of time that children are here, with this advance notice, alternate changing arrangements can be made. We ask that children be accompanied by an adult when using the bathroom adjacent to your ceremony setting.

If children will be arriving with your party, you (Bride & Groom), are ultimately responsible for agreeing to the above requests, as well as allowing the parents/caregivers of children in attendance to be informed.

Prior to reserving a ceremony package at Teacup Wedding (and including children in your guest count) please discuss the number of children to be invited, and confirm that you are in agreement to our "Children In Attendance" policies fully described above, and are in agreement to parents/caregivers of children in attendance receiving these policies.

We feel confident that you will understand that all of the above requests and practices were created to allow us to provide you with: a beautifully maintained ceremony setting at Teacup Wedding, a private and meaningful marriage ceremony at the most economical price, and without the interuption of drop-in visits, early arrival or late departures by other parties. We have seen that this is what couples ultimately desire for their marriage ceremony, therefore we strive to accomplish this goal by addressing the above with all couples.

Upon reserving a ceremony at Teacup Wedding, these will become our "Terms & Agreement" which both the Bride and Groom agree to honor, as they are not open to change or dispute after you make your reservation.

We are available for continued communication with couples who are interested in, or planning, a marriage at Teacup Wedding. If you feel that Teacup Wedding suits you, and would like to discuss a date and time for your marriage ceremony, or if you have any additional questions at any time, regarding your wedding ceremony, we welcome your contact.

Sincerely and respectfully,

Paula Weber, Director/Owner
Karla Groesbeck, Officiant/Owner