This is the most important thing you will do. Everything falls into place once you establish your timeline. Give it a lot of thought and plan it out on paper before you meet with the vendors providing flowers, cakes, and Wellers'. Imagine the flow of your wedding from your guests perspective as well. . For instance, you don't want your guests standing around for two hours after the ceremony while your photographer is taking pictures with no food or beverages served. A solution would be to either offer hors or if you are on a tight budget, schedule pictures before the ceremony to shorten the amount time that guests are waitng for dinner. There is always an easy solution if you think it through.

Here is a sample time line. (You have six hours for your event that begins when the bar and/or hors d'oeuvres are served, not when the ceremony begins) Click on the underlined links for more information.

1:00 pm   Decorate Rooms are opened 3 hours prior to hors.
12-4pm    Hospitality House 4 hr rental
4:00 pm   Ceremony Time Allow 30 minutes
4:30 pm   Bar Opens Allow Six hours from time bar opens
4:30 pm   Hors Served Allow 30 minutes
5:00 pm   Seat for Dinner Allow 15 minutes
5:15 pm   Toast and or Prayer Allow 15 minutes
5:30 pm   Dinner 45-60 minutes
6:15 pm   Band or DJ .
6:15 pm   Bridal Dance Allow 15 minutes
6:15 pm   Cake Cutting  1 hr after dinner
10:30 pm  Bar Closes
11:00 pm  Room Vacated 6 hrs after opens. Allow 1/2 hour for clearing of room.

SET-UP OF YOUR ROOM PRIOR TO CEREMONY AND IMPORTANCE OF YOUR CONTACT PERSON

YOUR CONTACT PEOPLE  FOR YOUR EVENT:

WELLERS NEEDS TWO CONTACT PEOPLE to connect with their Banquet Management prior your event. They should not be in the bridal party so they are available to meet prior to your reception.

1. BANQUET MANAGER CONTACT PERSON

• He or she should be given a copy of your final worksheet  which will be given to you by Wellers at the close of your final meeting. Please go over the worksheet so they know what times for each part of your wedding
• He or she should introuduce themselves to the Banquet Manager upon arrival
• He or she may be the person who will set up your favors, decorations, etc.

2. BAR CONTACT PERSON

• He or she should introduce himself/herself to the bartenders upon arrival.
• He/she will be informed of any guests who should not drive
• He/she will be informed if you run out of any alcohol.
• There should be a transportation option for people who should not drive just in case it is needed. It could just be a friend with a van/car who agrees to take people back to the hotel.

"KEEPING ROOM" HOSPITALITY HOUSE:
May be rented for the Bride & bridesmaids to get ready if the ceremony is at Wellers. Located seconds away, it provides a low stress environment to relax and before the ceremony.

OUTDOOR CEREMONY SERVICE AT WELLERS
Outdoor ceremonies at Wellers provide a unique experience. But planning anything outdoors in Michigan is not for the feint of heart. If you think you are not going to sleep for six months worrying about it, it is better to plan your wedding at an enclosed place of worship of your choice

CEREMONY REHEARSALS
May be done at Wellers on Thursdays, anytime. Or they may be held elsewhere. Just provide your attendents with a diagram of the outdoor ceremony grounds and the order in which things are going to take place.

ASSIGNED SEATING
I know a lot of planners are against this, but it does work out better for your guests. Of course keep your couples together, but do encourage single guests to get to know others at the reception. I have seen where there has not been assigned seating, a single guest finds his/her way back to their seat to find someone’s coat or purse in their seat with five people talking that all know each other. A bit intimidating. Sample Seating Chart

ENTERTAINMENT
Whatever you choose—a band or a DJ, make sure that they mesh with you and your personality. You also want them to reflect the overall theme and formality of the group (for example, no harpist at a country western wedding). When interviewing a DJ, ask to see pictures from prior events, if available. What does their guest pool look like? Is it similar to the one that will be at your own wedding? What does their selection and library consist of? You will need someone who is not too low-key that they put everyone to sleep, and not so over-the-top that they want to rush to the nearest exit. You need a professional to gauge and tempt the crowd. Definitely make sure that you keep music playing through their breaks. The dead silence will definitely murder the fun at your party. If you have rented the Carriage House the Gazebo offers a great venue for outdoor dance party. GAZEBO OPTIONS   

GET THE PARTY STARTED
Nobody likes to be the first on the dance floor. But it is your party! You will be the center of attention, as you should be, and everyone will follow your lead. If you get up and dance, your guests will too. While your DJ maybe fantastic, your guests know you—your excitement will be contagious and they will not be able to resist joining in. Make sure that you are social. Instead of the boring receiving line, you and your new husband can go from table to table to say your “hellos” and “thank yous”.

RENTAL ITEM OPTIONS

• Reading stand for ceremony; no microphone $25
• Podium-microphone for ceremony $100
• 11-ft Shade umbrella for ceremony musicians $50
• 5 ft. Angel statues $50 each; Only available for West Ceremony Grounds
• Champagne glasses $.50 each
• Wine Glasses $.50 each
• Glass tumblers, beer & wine Glasses $2.25 pp Waive charge invoice is $10,000 or more
• DJ or champagne tables $25 each. Buffet & hors d'oeuvre skirted tables included in menu.
• Champagne Fountain Rental $50
• Clear round Bubblevase candle holders with votive candles $2.00 each
• Clear square candleholders with votive candles $3.00 each
• Votive table lamps with candles $5.00 each
• Crystal candelabras with five arms each: Include tapered candles. $20 each
  
  

OPTIONAL SERVICES

• Cake cutting service $2.25 pp
• Outdoor bar set-up $175
• Indoor ceremony setup $200-$300 See Wellers planner for what this entails
  
  
  

 

SATURDAY OPENHOUSES
10 AM to NOON
or
call and set up a private tour
734-429-2115 (Toll Free: 800-667-9495)

EMAIL US

DRIVING DIRECTIONS
[Located minutes south of Ann Arbor]