A guide to having a Denver Botanic Gardens wedding
Thinking of having a Denver Botanic Gardens wedding? Take a look at this guide to see a tour of the Denver Botanic Gardens, find info on pricing and details, and view a full wedding.
The Denver Botanic Gardens is one of my favorite places in all of Colorado. It is conveniently located right in the heart of Denver and is absolutely stunning year round. It was actually one of the first places I went to when I came to visit Denver and it stole my heart then and there. Since then I’ve had the pleasure of photographing weddings and portraits at the Denver Botanic Gardens and it is always just as magical as I remembered.
If you’re looking for a photographer to capture your wedding day at the Denver Botanic Gardens, send me a message, I’d love to learn more about your vision!
Some details on a Denver Botanic Garden wedding
| Address | 1007 York St, Denver, CO 80206 | ||
| Occupancy | 10-1200 | ||
| Ceremony site options | Indoor and outdoor | ||
| Catering | Approved List | ||
| Getting Ready Suite | On Site | ||
| Hours of use | Varies |
Denver Botanic Gardens Wedding Pricing
The Denver Botanic Gardens has such a variation in pricing that I highly recommend reaching out directly to inquire. There are 12 different wedding sites, each with a large variation in pricing, occupancy, etc. You can pay as little as $1000 for an hour rental or $7000+ for a full day rental. Here is the most recent wedding brochure I could find online.
A tour of a Woodland Mosaic wedding at the Denver Botanic Gardens
Getting Ready
For getting ready, you have the option of renting a room in Marnie’s Pavilion. This is super convenient as it’s just a short walk from the Woodland Mosaic.
Ceremony
There are so many ceremony sites at the Denver Botanic Gardens, but my favorite is the Woodland Mosaic. This location can seat 40 guests for a seated dinner inside the Solarium, but I’d actually recommend quite a bit fewer since it can be a bit cramped. For context, this wedding had about 30 guests.
Cocktail Hour
Weather dependent, cocktail hour for the Woodland Mosaic can be held outdoors around the solarium or (in the case of this wedding) indoors at Marnie’s Pavilion in the event of inclement weather. Both options are wonderful as you are surrounded by plants and flowers, even indoors. There’s plenty of space to spread out.
Reception
Receptions at the Woodland Mosaic are mostly held inside the solarium. It is so romantic with fairy lights and the greenery from the floor to ceiling windows. I absolutely love photographing receptions at the Woodland Mosaic at the Denver Botanic Gardens. This venue was even shortlisted for my own wedding.
Photo Locations
You are truly spoiled for choice when it comes to wedding photo locations at the Denver Botanic Gardens. This wedding was in June so there was tons of beautiful greenery and florals to capture, but truly the gardens are stunning all year round. Keep in mind, that only a limited portion of the gardens will be reserved for your wedding, so you might need to work around visitors when taking your portraits. Most folks are incredibly kind and understanding when they see folks taking pictures in wedding attire though.
Things to consider when choosing a Colorado wedding venue:
- What is the rain backup plan? In the event of inclement weather, ceremonies can be held inside with several of the sites at the Denver Botanic Garden– this is a great backup plan for unpredictable Colorado weather.
- How far from Denver? When selecting your perfect Colorado wedding venue, it’s important to think about accessible it is for you and your guests. Luckily the Denver Botanic Gardens is located right in the heart of the city and near to many different hotels and lodging options.
- Can you get ready onsite? Getting ready onsite is one of the biggest factors in ensuring a stress free and easy going day. You don’t have to worry about moving from one place to the next. Your vendors, friends and family all arrive, get dressed and then get you married!
View a full wedding day at the Woodland Mosaic
Nikki and Justin’s June Wedding at the Denver Botanic Gardens
Getting Ready
Getting ready began off site at a hotel at nearby Cherry Creek. It was super easy to transition from there to the getting ready suite in Marnie’s Pavilion. Justin did some finishing touches at the Woodland Mosaic Solarium before the ceremony.
Ceremony
This ceremony was short and sweet. It featured some handwritten vows and a reading by Nikki’s sister. The whole thing felt so intimate with everyone seated so closely. It was a really beautiful ceremony.
Portraits
After some quick family photos, I ventured around the Denver Botanic Garden with the couple. Nikki and Justin were both avid gardeners so it was really special to have their photos taken in such a lush and vibrant landscape. There were several times that we literally, stopped to smell the roses.
Cocktail Hour
During portrait time, cocktail hour began. There was a delicious grazing board and beverages. The couple joined cocktail hour after about 20 minutes of portraits, they loved being able to join their guests.
Reception
Nikki and Justin had a first dance and cut cake, but the rest of reception was focusing on having conversations with their guests and enjoying the delicious food buffet style. Everything was very relaxed, dinner party vibes, which in my opinion, is an amazing way to end your wedding day.
Review from a Denver Botanic Garden wedding couple
“Leah Goetzel Photography is INCREDIBLE! Our wedding photos exceeded our expectations and I will be forever grateful to Leah for her approach to capturing our special day. Leah has created a detailed pre-wedding questionnaire that helped us define our priorities for the day and provided the ability to share our personalities and style. I cannot count the number of compliments we have received on the photos. Some of the most frequently repeated descriptions have included “Enchanting”, “Magical”, “Romantic” and “Intimate”. In addition to how gorgeous the photos turned out, Leah was a joy to work with the day of the wedding as well. It rained all day, and she was unfailingly sweet, calm, and good-natured as we trekked all over the Denver Botanic Gardens. I highly recommend Leah. She did an outstanding job!” – Nikki
Vendor Team
Venue: Denver Botanic Garden York Street
Planner: Mrs. Planners
Catering: Serendipity Catering
HMUA: GR Hair & Makeup
Guitar: Ryan Hutchens
Cake: The Makery
Florals: Adriana Luevano of Floral Wild
If you enjoyed Nikki and Justin’s Botanic Garden wedding, here are some other posts I think you might enjoy!
Lauren and Will’s Spruce Mountain Ranch wedding
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15 questions to ask your wedding photographer before you book
let's work together!
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