Effective Date: 11/1/2025
Hosted & officiated by Chicago Love Connection
Thank you for choosing to celebrate your New Year’s Eve wedding with Chicago Love Connection at Michelle’s Ballroom. To ensure a seamless, joyful, and well-orchestrated experience for all participating couples and their guests, the following Legal Terms & Conditions govern your participation in the NYE Group Wedding Bash.
Please read these Terms carefully. By submitting your application, paying your deposit or balance, and/or signing the electronic acknowledgment, you agree to be bound by the full Legal Terms & Conditions outlined below.
1. Payment Policies
1.1 Deposit Requirement
A nonrefundable $500 deposit is required to secure your spot in the NYE Group Wedding Bash, regardless of tier. Your place is not confirmed until payment is successfully processed.
The deposit is nonrefundable under all circumstances.
1.2 Remaining Balance
If you pay only the deposit, the remaining balance is due by October 31st.
Failure to pay the remaining balance by the deadline may result in forfeiture of your spot without refund.
1.3 Pay-in-Full Option
Couples may choose to pay in full at the time of application. All payments made (including paid-in-full amounts) are subject to the refund schedule outlined below.
1.4 Refund Schedule (Excluding Deposit)
All deposits are nonrefundable. Refund eligibility for additional payments is based on the date written cancellation is received:
- Before March 31: Full refund of all payments minus the nonrefundable deposit
- April 1 – September 30: 50% refund of payments made minus the deposit
- October 1 and after: No refunds of any kind for any reason
This schedule applies to all tiers and all payments.
1.5 Chargebacks
Any dispute or chargeback initiated with your bank or credit card company will be considered a breach of contract. Chicago Love Connection reserves the right to pursue:
- Recovery of fees, damages, and administrative costs
- Collection of funds
- Legal action
- Cancellation of your participation
2. Age Restrictions
The NYE Group Wedding Bash is a 21+ event. All participating couples and their guests must be 21 years of age or older to attend any portion of the event, including the ceremony, reception, dinner, cocktail hours, photography areas, and countdown celebration.
A valid, government-issued photo ID is required for entry.
No minors — including infants, toddlers, children, or teens — will be permitted under any circumstances.
If any member of your party arrives without valid proof of age, entry will be denied without refund, and guest substitutions are not permitted on the day of the event.
This policy is enforced to comply with venue regulations, alcohol service laws, and to maintain the event’s formal, adult-centered New Year’s Eve environment.
3. Guest Limits
Guest attendance is determined by the tier you select:
- Intimate Experience: Couple only
- Signature Experience: Couple + up to 2 guests
- Premium Experience: Couple + up to 6 guests
- VIP Experience: Couple + up to 14 guests
Guests beyond the assigned tier limits are not permitted for safety, space, and venue compliance reasons.
4. Timelines & Required Deadlines
- Application + Deposit: Secures your spot
- Remaining Balance (if applicable): Due October 31
- Tier Upgrades (if applicable): Must be requested by November 15
- Special Accommodation Requests: Due December 15
- Music Preferences / Song Requests: Due December 15
- Guest List (if applicable): Due December 18
- Guest Name Changes / Substitutions: Must be submitted by December 26
- Final Itinerary Delivery: Provided by December 20
- Marriage License Submission: Due before December 31
- Event Day Check-In: Required by the posted time for your tier (in your Welcome Kit)
Failure to meet deadlines may impact your place in the event, reduce access to certain perks, or limit your participation in scheduled components.
5. Cook County Marriage License Requirements
Couples are responsible for obtaining their own Cook County marriage license.
You must:
- Apply no more than 60 days before the ceremony
- Present valid government-issued IDs
- Submit a copy of your marriage license to Chicago Love Connection before 12/31
If your marriage license is not submitted, you may still participate in photos and celebration but your wedding cannot be legally officiated.
6. Photography & Videography Release
By attending the NYE Group Wedding Bash, you grant Chicago Love Connection, Coach Niquenya, and Michelle’s Ballroom the unrestricted right to:
- Photograph and film the event
- Use your likeness for promotional, social media, and marketing purposes
- Share event media with participating vendors
If you choose limited consent, restrictions must be communicated in writing during your application. Limited consent may impact your participation in group moments.
7. Behavior Expectations
Chicago Love Connection is committed to creating a safe, respectful, inclusive, and joyful celebration of love. The NYE Group Wedding Bash is a non-denominational, inclusive event open to couples of all walks of life, identities, orientations, cultures, and belief systems. All participants and guests are expected to honor and uphold this environment.
Participants and guests must:
- Treat staff, vendors, officiants, and other couples with respect
- Honor the inclusive nature of the event and refrain from discriminatory, hateful, or exclusionary behavior
- Follow all instructions from event and venue personnel
- Refrain from disruptive, aggressive, or inappropriate behavior
- Respect the shared ceremonial space and the experiences of other couples
Any violation of these expectations — including discrimination, harassment, hate speech, or disruption — may result in removal from the event without refund.
8. Venue Rules (Michelle’s Ballroom)
All attendees must comply with the venue’s policies, including:
- No outside alcohol (unless specifically permitted)
- No smoking inside the venue
- No confetti, glitter, sparklers, fireworks, or prohibited décor
- All décor brought in must comply with venue guidelines
- No moving or altering venue furniture without permission
Any damages caused by the couple or their guests will be billed to the couple.
9. Dress Code
While no strict dress code is enforced, couples and guests are expected to dress appropriately for a formal New Year’s Eve wedding celebration. To complement the event’s aesthetic, attendees are welcome to incorporate the official theme colors into their attire:
red or blush, royal purple or eggplant, black, gold, rose gold, and silver.
These colors are encouraged but not required.
Offensive, excessively casual, overly revealing, costume-like, or unsafe attire may not be permitted. Chicago Love Connection and Michelle’s Ballroom reserve the right to deny entry to anyone whose attire does not meet event standards.
10. Alcohol Policy
Alcohol will be available throughout the NYE Group Wedding Bash. As this is a 21+ event, all attendees — including the participating couples and their guests — must present valid government-issued ID at check-in. No one under the age of 21 will be admitted.
Participants and guests must:
- Drink responsibly
- Present valid ID if requested by venue staff, bartenders, or security
- Refrain from supplying alcohol to anyone who cannot provide valid identification upon request
- Follow all venue rules regarding alcohol service
Anyone who appears overly intoxicated, becomes disruptive, or poses a safety concern may be denied further service or escorted out of the event without refund. Chicago Love Connection and Michelle’s Ballroom reserve the right to enforce all alcohol-related policies to maintain a safe and respectful environment for all attendees.
11. Check-In Requirements
Couples must check in by the scheduled time assigned for their tier.
Late arrivals cannot be guaranteed participation in:
- The ceremony procession
- Reserved seating
- Photo opportunities
- Tier-specific perks
If you arrive after the ceremony has begun, Chicago Love Connection reserves the right to exclude you from the procession and proceed without you.
12. Late Arrival Consequences
If you miss your check-in time or ceremony procession call:
- You may still be welcomed into the reception
- You may NOT be able to participate in the ceremony
- No refunds will be issued for missed call times
13. Parking Information
Michelle’s Ballroom offers limited on-site parking (up to 50 vehicles), available on a first-come, first-served basis. Street parking may also be available. Carpooling or ride-share is encouraged.
14. Weather Considerations
The event will proceed regardless of weather, including rain, snow, or extreme cold.
Please dress accordingly and allow additional travel time.
No refunds will be issued due to weather-related delays or travel issues.
15. Force Majeure Clause
Chicago Love Connection shall not be liable for failure to perform obligations if prevented by events beyond reasonable control, including but not limited to:
- Severe weather
- Natural disasters
- Fire
- Government restrictions
- Pandemics
- Venue closures
- Acts of God
In such cases, the event may be rescheduled, relocated, or modified at Chicago Love Connection’s discretion. Refunds are not guaranteed.
16. No-Show Policy
A “no-show” is defined as:
- Failure to check in by the required time
- Failure to arrive at all
- Failure to submit a marriage license by the deadline
- Failure to pay the balance by October 31st
No-shows automatically forfeit all payments.
17. Refund Policy
All deposits are strictly nonrefundable under all circumstances.
Refund eligibility for additional payments (excluding the deposit) is determined by the date written cancellation is received:
- Before March 31:
Eligible for a full refund of all payments made minus the nonrefundable $500 deposit. - April 1 – September 30:
Eligible for a 50% refund of payments made minus the nonrefundable deposit. - October 1 and after:
All payments become 100% nonrefundable for any reason, including but not limited to:- Change of mind or change of plans
- Schedule conflicts
- Travel delays or cancellations
- Illness or medical conditions
- Weather conditions
- Missed deadlines
- Failure to obtain or submit a marriage license
- Failure to comply with the 21+ age requirement
- Failure to attend or late arrival on the event day
Chicago Love Connection invests in your participation immediately upon application, and all funds are allocated toward event planning, venue coordination, vendor arrangements, and materials. For this reason, no exceptions will be made outside of the refund schedule outlined above.
18. Violation of Legal Terms
Violating any rule or requirement may result in:
- Loss of tier benefits
- Loss of reserved seating
- Removal from the event
- Cancellation of participation
- Financial responsibility for damages
- Ban from future events
No refunds will be issued if your participation is terminated due to a breach of terms.
19. Agreement to Legal Terms
By completing your application, submitting payment, and signing the electronic signature field, you acknowledge that:
- You have read and understand all Legal Terms & Conditions
- You agree to abide by them fully
- You accept all policies, including the refund policy
- You voluntarily enter into this agreement
This serves as a legally binding contract between you (the couple) and Chicago Love Connection.