Your Ultimate Denver Botanic Gardens Wedding Guide
The Denver Botanic Gardens is love at first sight. With beautifully manicured gardens, bright colors everywhere you glance, stunning water features, and lush flora and fauna, a Denver Botanic Gardens wedding is a feast for all the senses. This is the perfect location if you want a venue in the heart of Denver and an atmosphere for your celebration that exudes romantic charm.
I had the chance to capture Nikki and Devon’s intimate wedding here, and their celebration was incredible from start to finish. Let’s dive into how you can plan your own Denver Botanic Gardens wedding.
Plan Your Dream Wedding at the Denver Botanic Gardens
The Denver Botanic Gardens is a fantastic choice for your wedding. Here, you’ll find stunning indoor and outdoor options and versatile, beautiful backdrops for your day. The gardens span 24 acres and are located between the lovely Cheesman Park and Congress Park neighborhoods.
Outdoor Wedding Locations at the Denver Botanic Gardens
Woodland Mosaic and Solarium
The Woodland Mosaic and Solarium has the charm of a secret garden and is an ideal spot for an intimate or micro wedding. A stone patio surrounds the solarium so you can blend the spaces for indoor and outdoor receptions. This spot has a guest capacity of 40 -75 people – the maximum of 75 people is for standing room, or you can have 50 guests seated in a theater-style arrangement.
Fun fact: this building was initially constructed to be used by Euro Disney, but it never ended up in any of the parks.
Romantic Gardens
The Romantic Gardens has the word romantic in its title for a good reason! It has an abundance of gorgeous roses and west-facing views, making it a swoon-worthy spot for a sunset ceremony. It can accommodate up to 250 guests and is a space that can be used for a ceremony only.
Annuals Garden and Pavilion
The Annuals Garden and Pavilion can be used for your ceremony and reception and can accommodate 120 – 250 guests. A large modern-style canopy is at the center of the gardens; it is spacious, and lots of colorful plants surround it.
Something to note: this space is closed every year from May to June as the spring tulips are being switched over to the summer blooms.
South African Plaza
The South African Plaza is another space within the gardens where you can have both your ceremony and reception. It can accommodate up to 65-125 guests, making it ideal for a small, intimate wedding. The space has a beautiful wooden trellis, and a charming babbling brook is nearby.
Be aware! There is no structure or shade, so I’d strongly encourage you to rent umbrellas or shade for your guests to keep everyone cool and comfortable.
Water Garden Gazebo
The Water Garden Gazebo is the smallest venue in the gardens, right next to the beautiful Monet Pond. It can accommodate up to 25 guests and includes a simple circular wood gazebo surrounded by lovely potted plants on all sides.
The Orangerie
The Orangerie is for a reception only. It’s a gorgeous glass European Renaissance-style greenhouse that can accommodate up to 100 guests indoors and is a great spot for your reception year-round.
West Terrace Tent
The West Terrace Tent can be used for your ceremony and reception. Up to 250 seated guests can attend your ceremony, and 175-250 guests can attend your reception. If you want to have a summer wedding here, the tent has misting sprayers to keep you and your guests cool. It also includes charming twinkling lights that create a fairytale ambiance.
UMB Bank Amphitheater
You can have your ceremony and reception at the UMB Bank Amphitheater, the largest outdoor space throughout the gardens. This massive tent can accommodate up to 1200 guests and can be opened on all sides and closed off when the temperatures drop.
Indoor Reception Spaces
Marnie’s Pavilion
Marnie’s Pavilion, also known as the orchid house, can be used for your reception. The pavilion is a two-story space, and there’s a unique waterfall feature in the center of the room on the bottom floor covered in tropical plants. Also, there’s an upstairs balcony area where you can fit up to 80 seated guests. This is such a fun space for a reception as it brings features of the gardens inside!
Mitchell Hall
Mitchell Hall can be used for your ceremony or reception and can seat up to 300 guests. It has a domed ceiling and a stage, and it is large enough to be used in a myriad of different ways depending on your wedding vision.
Gates Hall
Gates Hall can also be utilized for your ceremony or reception. It has concrete walls, intricate woodwork, and floor-to-ceiling windows. It’s similar to Mitchell Hall but smaller. It’s the perfect space for a smaller wedding, with room for up to 90 seated guests.
What time of year should you get married at the Denver Botanic Gardens?
The short answer – it depends! The Gardens are open year-round, and each season offers something different.
During the winter, you can plan an indoor ceremony and reception. However, the plants will have lost most of their leaves, and the grounds will be fairly empty. In summer and spring, you’ll encounter colorful blooms. A fall wedding will include stunning fall foliage.
You’ll also want to consider temperatures when deciding what time of year to get married, especially if you want an outdoor wedding. Fall and spring will have cooler temperatures, while summer temperatures can vary and get relatively high.
Additional Tips for Getting Married at the Denver Botanic Gardens
Book in advance
The Denver Botanic Gardens is a very popular choice for couples. My advice is to book your venue at least 12 months in advance, especially if you’re planning a wedding during peak wedding season, which is from May to October. A non-refundable deposit is required to secure your booking.
Catering
There’s no kitchen on-site in the gardens, but don’t fret! The Denver Botanic Gardens has a preferred caterer list. If you want to hire your caterer outside of their preferred list, you can have one, but note that a small fee is included. The gardens do not allow mobile bars or food trucks on the premises.
Tables and chairs
The Gardens provide basic tables and chairs. Make sure to confirm with the venue what each space includes.
Getting ready rooms
There are two getting-ready rooms at the gardens, but I recommend getting ready off-site and only using these rooms if absolutely necessary.
Cost
The cost of each venue inside the gardens varies. For the most up-to-date information, contact the events department at private.events@botanicgardens.org or 720-865-3551.
Nikki and Devon’s Intimate Wedding at the Denver Botanic Gardens
Nikki and Devon had a gorgeous celebration at the Denver Botanic Gardens in September.
A little more background on the couple: they met in high school but didn’t talk for nearly ten years afterward. However, one day, they went to an antique store and never stopped hanging out since their first date.
When they were in Mexico, Devon proposed to Nikki in the gardens of the Chapultepec Castle. Then, in a beautiful full-circle moment, they chose to say “I do” at the Denver Botanic Gardens.
They had their ceremony at the Woodland Mosaic and Solarium, which was ideal for their small, intimate wedding. This tiny, beautiful green building is nestled amongst the trees and wall gardens, making it feel like you’ve entered your own private oasis. Also, this spot is right next to the Cherry Creek neighborhood, which has many upscale and elegant hotel and accommodation options. It has many charming shops and restaurants, perfect for you and your guests to explore and enjoy!
Nikki and Devon had an intimate and emotional first look outside the Woodland Mosaic and Solarium and then had their ceremony inside the Solarium. After their ceremony, we had to grab some family portraits outside the Solarium as it’s such a unique backdrop. Then we did individual and couple portraits of Nikki and Devon both inside and outside the Solarium and throughout the gardens.
After their wedding ceremony, we headed to Goed Zuur (now permanently closed) for their reception to celebrate this new and exciting chapter in their lives.
Nikki and Devon’s Vendors
Ready to Plan Your Denver Botanic Gardens Wedding?
I hope you found this guide helpful. A Denver Botanic Gardens wedding will be nothing less than pure magic.
And… if you’re looking for a Colorado wedding photographer, I’d love to connect with you. I want you to feel free to do things your way without worrying about being “photogenic.”
As your photographer, I will artfully frame you, your love, and your surroundings. You can contact me here or learn more about my wedding services here. Let’s capture your wedding in a way that celebrates the unique way you love one another.
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