FAQ

Bookings

How do I book?
- You can book HERE or select the "Book Online" page from the menu at the top of the page. Select the booking button under your event description. You will be guided through selecting any add-ons, requesting your date and time, and providing your contact and basic event details. After submitting, you will see that the service and any add-ons are listed as "free". Due to this being a booking request, payment is not expected until after a brief phone or email consultation to provide a quote, solidify details, and ensure the selected date, time, and place will accommodate your event.
How far out can I book? How close can I book?
- Guests can request a booking as far as 3 months in advance. Information will be taken down and your booking will be placed on our calendar. A follow up consultation will be scheduled closer to your event date to ensure previously discussed details continue to be accurate. The required deposit due date will also be discussed at the time of this secondary consultation.
- Guests can request a Tea Tasting booking as close as 48 hours before the desired date and time. Guests can request a Tea Duel or Catering order as close as 72 hours before the desired date and time. This is to ensure we have the time to properly verify information for your event and prepare appropriately to make your day magical! For bookings this close to the event date and time, a non-refundable deposit will be due immediately to secure your booking.
When and how do I pay?
- A 50% deposit is due 4 days prior to Tea Tastings and 7 days prior to Tea Duels and Catering Orders. An invoice from Square will be sent to you via email the day of your consultation and confirmation. An email reminder with the invoice will be sent closer to the deposit due date if payment has not been received. The remaining balance is due at or before the event. This can be paid via the updated invoice sent out after deposit receipt or via cash or card in person at the event.
Do you require gratuity?
- For normal Tea Tastings (1-8 guests), gratuity is appreciated but not expected.
- For smaller Tea Duels of 10 guests or less, gratuity is appreciated but not expected. For larger Tea Duels of 11 to 20 guests, a 10% automatic gratuity will be applied. This is due to the high level of performance and involvement of these events. Additional gratuity is appreciated but not expected.
- Larger events that require specialized bookings will have an automatic 15% gratuity. Additional gratuity is appreciated but not expected.
- A tip jar & QR code tip sign will be present at events for guests to show their support if desired. Gratuity through these is appreciated but not expected.
Where are the events located?
- We are a mobile business who comes to you! We can set up events at your home or back yard, at businesses or venues you have booked separately, or in public spaces such as parks. Please note that The Ink & Herb is not responsible for booking or financing reservations or rentals at a location you select. To look at our recommended public locations that do not require reservations or rentals, visit our LOCATIONS page!
My group is larger than what is listed as the maximum number of guests. Can you accommodate larger groups?
- Absolutely! The guest count maximums listed show the number of guests we can accommodate without additional requirements. Depending on your party size, we may require extra event time and/or additional setup time be purchased to ensure a positive experience for you and your guests. Go ahead and send in a booking request! Just note in the information form how many guests you need to accommodate and what the event is for. We will reach out to you to discuss the details and any required fees.

Curious Brews & Herb Lore

What types of tea are there? Do they all have caffeine? What if I don't like tea? All amazing questions! Let's break them down!

True teas come from the Camellia Sinensis plant which naturally contains caffeine. There are 7 "true teas": white, yellow, green, oolong, black, and pu'erh. Thought cross breeding and genetic modifications have also created a new tea known as purple tea.

What about herbal teas? Despite their deceptive name, herbal infusions are not tea at all! Though, they are still beloved by many and accepted joyfully into the tea space! Herbal teas are considered an excellent option for people wanting to avoid caffeine and have a wider range of experiences!

So, you don't like tea? Chances are, you have not had the right tea brewed the right way for you. How is that? Between the wide variety of true teas and herbal teas, there is a flavor profile for everyone! And proper brewing technique can make or break your tea experience. Brewed too hot? Scalded leaves. Brewed too long? Bitter tannins. Additionally, tea drinks can be just as creative, fun, and versatile as coffee! Let us help you discover one you love!

Events

What should I expect? What is provided?
- For Tea Tastings, we will provide the 4 teas to sample, water, one finger food (scones unless otherwise requested), a pallet cleanser, a variety of sweeteners, and additional tea to enjoy after the course ends.
- For Tea Duels, we will provide the materials and setup for the event, water, and 2 additional teas for guests to sip on while they enjoy. A prize for the champion is not included as some people may want to provide their own. We are more than happy to bring a prize for the champion or two prizes for the champion and runner up! These options and their prices will be listed in the add-ons section or can be discussed during your consultation.
- Wanting additional food or drink? Let us know on you info form! We can help you select your additions and provide a quote during your consultation!
- Wanting party favors for your guests or a gift for your guest of honor? We have options designed for every budget! Select which you are interested in on the add-ons form while placing your booking request!
What if I or one of my guests have dietary needs?
- Let us know on the booking info form! We will discuss options during your consultation. Unsure if any guests have dietary needs? You have time! Your final head count and list of dietary needs are due with your deposit.
Can I choose between hot or iced tea?
- It depends on your event:
  - In order to have the full experience with a Tea Tasting, we require the tea to be hot. However, you can purchase additional teas to be provided iced.
  - For Tea Duels, the tea used during the duel is hot. However, the two teas provided separate can be provided hot or iced.
  - For Catering, we can provide hot or iced.
What if I have a special request?
- Let us know in your booking info form! We will discuss your requests and associated costs during your consultation. We can accommodate several forms of special requests including:
  - Changes in food or drink to other menu items.
  - Additional menu items, party activities, party favors, and guest of honor gifts.
  - Additional decor, decorative photo spot, or a specific color pallet (may require additional set-up time).
  - Not seeing your request type? That is okay! List it on your form and we can discuss the possibilities during your consultation!
What does set up and tear down look like?
- Tea Tastings: Set up time included: 30 minutes. Tear down time included: 15 minutes.
- Tea Duels: Set up time included: 45 minutes. Tear down time included: 20 minutes.
- For events at your home, your presence is required at the start of the set up time and throughout set up to allow access to the event space as well as for liability reasons.
- For events at a public location: If we agreed upon a specific location within the larger park that is clear and known to our event master, your presence or the presence of another event coordinator is required 15 minutes prior to the event start time to ensure the location is set appropriately. If we do not have a prior location agreement or the event master has requested, your presence is required at or before the start of the setup window to confirm event location.
What is your policy on Cancellations and Reschedules?
- Cancellations: The 50% deposit is refundable until 48 hours prior to Tea Tastings or 72 hours prior to Tea Duels or Catering Orders. Cancellation within 48 hours of Tea Tastings or 72 hours of Tea Duels or Catering Orders will result in forfeit of the deposit. Bookings made within the 48 hour or 72 hour window (respectively) or less will require an immediate non-refundable 50% deposit. Exceptions may be made for extenuating circumstances at the owner's discretion but are not guaranteed.
- Reschedules: Guests are welcome to reschedule their bookings to any future available date, including the same day or weekend, with notice of 48 hours or more for Tea Tastings and 72 hours or more for Tea Duels or Catering Orders. These bookings can be completed via our online portal. For reschedules requested with less than this notice notice window, approval is required. To reschedule with less than this notice window to another time or day within 14 days, invoicing will not be impacted. Approval in these circumstances is to ensure your new booking is appropriately scheduled and managed with the short notice. For reschedules requested with less than this notice window to a date beyond 14 days out from the original event date, the deposit may be considered forfeit with a new booking and invoice required for the future date. This is to ensure the freshness and integrity of perishable materials purchased for your booking. Exceptions may be made for extenuating circumstances at the owner's discretion but are not guaranteed.
What is your policy on Late Arrivals and No-Shows?
- Late Arrivals for Events: Unless a specific spot within a location has been previously agreed upon by the party organizer and the Ink & Herb coordinator, a member of the requesting party is required to arrive within 10 minutes of the start of the set up window. This is to ensure the event is set up at the appropriate spot within the larger location. Failing to arrive at the location to confirm the setup spot for the event may result in delays to the event start time of which The Ink & Herb are not responsible for. The agreed upon end time will still be enforced, potentially leading to a shortened event. Refunds and discounts will not be provided for any delays or shortened events due to late arrival of the event organizer.
- Late Pick-Ups or Acceptance of Goods for Catering: Drop catering is expected to be accepted at the agreed upon location within 20 minutes of the agreed upon time unless prior notice is provided. For drop catering, The Ink and Herb will make reasonable efforts to deliver the food and drink for up to 20 minutes after the agreed upon time. After this point, the food and drink will be disposed of and the invoice treated as a no-show (see below). For pick-up catering, The Ink & Herb will attempt within reason to keep food and drink at an appropriate temperature for up to an hour during business hours. After an hour or upon the end of business hours, all food and drink will be disposed of and the invoice treated as a no show (see below). Refunds and discounts will not be provided for any delays, drink temperature changes, decreased food quality, etc. due to late pick-up or meeting on behalf of the customer.
- No-Shows for Events: A party is considered a no-show if they are over 15 minutes late for the event start time without contacting The Ink & Herb or over 30 minutes late for the start time with contacting The Ink & Herb.
  - For Tea Tastings: No shows will result in the forfeit of the full contracted amount.
  - For Tea Duels: No shows will result in the forfeit of your deposit with an automatic 20% gratuity.
- No-Shows for Catering Pick-Ups or Catering Acceptance: Please read the Late Pick Ups/Arrivals section for what constitutes a no-show. No-shows will result in the forfeit of the full contracted amount. Failure to accept drop catering will result in an additional automatic 20% gratuity.

The Herbal Wisdom

Where do you get your teas? Do you blend them?

Our teas are ordered from the 2 small businesses our founder, Rae, trusts and frequents the most!

The first of which is Just Add Honey located in Atlanta, GA. Rae worked as the events coordinator under the amazing Brandi at this very tea shop! Rae owes much of their events expertise to their time at JAD and highly recommends it to anyone visiting Atlanta or looking to order tea online! It is a great way to support a growing woma-owned business!

The second is Dryad Tea located in Denver, CO. Rae met several of Dryad Tea's employees at Dragon Con several years ago and instantly fell in love! Their team is incredibly knowledgeable about tea and creates a wide variety of unique blends! They also boast a fun fantasy theme and are run by a passionate neurodivergent staff!

We hope to expand into blending and selling our own teas in the near future! Until then, help us support these fabulous small businesses!

Are your events family friendly?

Absolutely! The content of our current events is 100% family friendly. As such, our events are as family friendly or not as you desire to make it. No judgement here! We do request parental supervision of minors, especially children, as there is always a risk of burns with hot tea. This is especially true with Tea Duels.

Do you host events for children? Adult-only events?

In the near future, we hope to begin offering Kids Tea Parties as well as several adult-only events such as Boozy Tea Parties. Sign up for our news letter with the form at the bottom of this page to be updated when these events go live!

FAQ