Blake's Orchard & Cider Mill · 5 days ago
Private Event Manager
Armada, MI
Full-time
Onsite
Mid, Senior Level
2+ years expBlake's Orchard & Cider Mill is seeking a Private Event Manager to lead all on-site private events, ensuring exceptional guest experiences that reflect the company's hospitality and brand values. The role involves overseeing event sales, planning, staffing, and execution for various events while driving revenue through strategic upselling and seamless coordination between departments.
FarmingFood and BeverageRetailWine And Spirits
Responsibilities
Serve as the main point of contact for all private event guests. From first inquiry through event day. Representing Blake’s signature hospitality
Build custom proposals using Blake’s event packages, seasonal menus, orchard add-ons, and property experiences
Conduct onsite tours of the event spaces, showcasing Blake’s property and offerings
Guide wedding couples, corporate clients, schools, and community partners through planning, tastings, walkthroughs, and final detail meetings
Create detailed event timelines, floor plans, BEOs, and setup sheets tailored to Blake’s multi-venue layout
Coordinate with all departments and ensure they are aligned
Manage setup needs including ceremony chairs in the orchard, floor plan set up, wagon load signage, décor, and host arrivals
Oversee day-of execution—ceremony timing, vendor coordination, food and beverage service, guest flow, and transitions between event spaces
Schedule, assign and lead event staff for setup, execution and teardown across all private events and assists with providing staffing for property wide festivals as needed
Maximize per-guest revenue through upsells such as coffee bar enhancements, signature cocktails, orchard photo ops, wedding arches, flower wall, and seasonal experiences
Build and update event packages including wedding offerings, holiday party menus, and property upgrades
Support leadership in dynamic pricing shifts, minimums, menu engineering, and optimizing food & beverage margins
Collaborate with leadership on annual revenue goals, upsell targets, updated contracts, pricing structures, package offerings and performance tracking as the business evolves
Own Tripleseat workflows and templates for proposals, contracts, BEOs, and communication with cross-functional teams
Develop and refine SOPs for event execution, guest communication, day-of roles, and interdepartmental processes
Ensure all Blake’s brand standards are upheld—farm-forward hospitality, polished presentation, and guest-centered service
Troubleshoot in real time, maintaining professionalism while solving operational challenges, guest and staff escalations across a working farm property
Ensure compliance with insurance, legal, health and safety obligations
Participate in identification and implementation of process improvement and cost savings measures, while ensuring high quality services (i.e. linen saving, labor saving, and f/b saving)
Work closely with Head Chef and Tasting Room beverage leadership to accommodate menu, dietary needs, cost-effective offerings, service flow and annual menu updates and pricing adjustments
Partner with the marketing team for seasonal event promotions, cider cocktail photography, and content for social media and the website
Support launches of new offerings (e.g., holiday cocktails, cider experiences, VIP events, wedding templates)
Collaborate on farm-wide programming for peak season, slow season traffic drivers, and cross-over restaurant experiences
Train, coach, and support event and kitchen staff and on service expectations and communication standards
Work with leadership on staffing plans, scheduling needs, and cross-department coordination
Assist departments with event-related preparations, including cocktail classes, ServSafe sessions, holiday programming, and VIP experiences
Qualification
Required
Serve as the main point of contact for all private event guests. From first inquiry through event day. Representing Blake's signature hospitality
Build custom proposals using Blake's event packages, seasonal menus, orchard add-ons, and property experiences
Conduct onsite tours of the event spaces, showcasing Blake's property and offerings
Guide wedding couples, corporate clients, schools, and community partners through planning, tastings, walkthroughs, and final detail meetings
Create detailed event timelines, floor plans, BEOs, and setup sheets tailored to Blake's multi-venue layout
Coordinate with all departments and ensure they are aligned
Manage setup needs including ceremony chairs in the orchard, floor plan set up, wagon load signage, décor, and host arrivals
Oversee day-of execution—ceremony timing, vendor coordination, food and beverage service, guest flow, and transitions between event spaces
Schedule, assign and lead event staff for setup, execution and teardown across all private events and assists with providing staffing for property wide festivals as needed
Maximize per-guest revenue through upsells such as coffee bar enhancements, signature cocktails, orchard photo ops, wedding arches, flower wall, and seasonal experiences
Build and update event packages including wedding offerings, holiday party menus, and property upgrades
Support leadership in dynamic pricing shifts, minimums, menu engineering, and optimizing food & beverage margins
Collaborate with leadership on annual revenue goals, upsell targets, updated contracts, pricing structures, package offerings and performance tracking as the business evolves
Own Tripleseat workflows and templates for proposals, contracts, BEOs, and communication with cross-functional teams
Develop and refine SOPs for event execution, guest communication, day-of roles, and interdepartmental processes
Ensure all Blake's brand standards are upheld—farm-forward hospitality, polished presentation, and guest-centered service
Troubleshoot in real time, maintaining professionalism while solving operational challenges, guest and staff escalations across a working farm property
Ensure compliance with insurance, legal, health and safety obligations
Participate in identification and implementation of process improvement and cost savings measures, while ensuring high quality services (i.e. linen saving, labor saving, and f/b saving)
Work closely with Head Chef and Tasting Room beverage leadership to accommodate menu, dietary needs, cost-effective offerings, service flow and annual menu updates and pricing adjustments
Partner with the marketing team for seasonal event promotions, cider cocktail photography, and content for social media and the website
Support launches of new offerings (e.g., holiday cocktails, cider experiences, VIP events, wedding templates)
Collaborate on farm-wide programming for peak season, slow season traffic drivers, and cross-over restaurant experiences
Train, coach, and support event and kitchen staff and on service expectations and communication standards
Work with leadership on staffing plans, scheduling needs, and cross-department coordination
Assist departments with event-related preparations, including cocktail classes, ServSafe sessions, holiday programming, and VIP experiences
Full-time, exempt position with flexible scheduling required. Nights, weekends and holidays required based on event schedule
Work occurs indoor and outdoor event spaces on a working farm property
Ability to stand, walk, lift up to 30lbs and work extended event days as needed
Minimum 2 years of experience in Event Coordinating or related management position
Deep understanding of Blake's culture, property layout, and multi-department operations
Skilled in hospitality-driven communication and guest relationship management
Highly organized with the ability to manage overlapping events and seasonal demands
Creative thinker with strong sales instincts and upsell success
Exceptional attention to detail, problem-solving, and leadership
Proficient in Tripleseat, SOP development, and event workflow optimization
Preferred
Preferred bachelor's degree in hospitality, business studies/administration or a related discipline
Company
Blake's Orchard & Cider Mill
Making memories is always in season at Blake's! Home to an 1,300-acre working farm and orchard with a Cider Mill, Funland, Tasting Room, and Hard Cider Production Facility.
201-500 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageLeadership Team
Richard Noetzel, CPA
Chief Financial Officer
Company data provided by crunchbase