Ahh, love is in the air.
Since you’re here, I already know you’re looking for a dreamy and unique location for your garden wedding. Well, I’ll start by stating the obvious: your wedding is going to be dreamy and unique no matter where you have it.
…but, let’s be real here. Is there Anything more stunning and romantic than a nuptial ceremony taking place before a breathtaking display of lush plants and calming nature?
I think not.
So, let’s go over my 11 favorite (and unique) Garden Wedding Venue Ideas.
11 Unique Garden Wedding Venue Ideas:
- Water Garden
- Hedge Garden
- Vineyard
- Orchard
- Pumpkin Patch
- Butterfly Garden
- Flower Garden
- Botanical Garden
- Conservatory
- Greenhouse
- Patio Garden
Water Garden
noun
A water feature with the purpose of housing, displaying, or propagating a particular species or variety of aquatic plants.
Note: I paraphrased this definition from Wikipedia’s definition for Water Garden.
Have you ever been to a wedding ceremony that took place before a cascading pond waterfall and blooming lily flowers?
I was lucky enough to attend a wedding like this one summer. My favorite part was seeing friendly, green frogs poking their heads out from under the lily pads.
Nothing says “nature” like the healing negative ions of a waterfall and the tiny, colorful birds that stop by to get a quick drink when an inviting water source is present. There’s nothing quite like it.
If you’ve never been to a wedding like this, why not be a trend-setter and plan one yourself?
Some people opt for a dock on the lake instead of the traditional ceremony aisle on dry land.
Some people even have water gardens inside greenhouses and conservatories! (Don’t worry, we’ll go over greenhouses and conservatories further down in this article!)
For now, though, all you have to do is come up with a vision for your special day. If you’re determined enough to find the venue of your dreams, you will surely find it!
Hedge Garden
noun
An area dedicated to cultivating and displaying shrubs, which are typically planted closely and trained to form a barrier or to mark a boundary.
Note: I adapted and paraphrased this definition from Wikipedia’s definition of the word Hedge.
Hedge gardens make quite distinguishable venues when compared to other types of gardens. They’re certainly unconventional, but that doesn’t mean they’re tacky or quirky.
In fact, hedge gardens are quite the opposite.
Some hedge gardens include sophisticated features such as water fountains and stone landscapes. These attributes bring your wedding’s elegance to the next level.
Other hedge gardens boast tall, grand arbors made out of green shrubberies or walls built with white and/or colorful hydrangea.
You can even find hedge mazes to stroll through with your someone special. You’re never lost when you’re with someone you love!
Hedge gardens always give me a vibe of style and poise. Think “Royal Weddings” and castle reception venues!
Another charming garden wedding venue idea is a vineyard. If this is up your alley, keep reading.
Vineyard
noun
A plantation of grapevines, typically producing grapes used in winemaking.
-Definition from Oxford Languages
Vineyards make simply awe-inspiring locations for nuptial ceremonies (and receptions, to boot!).
You can’t ask for a classier, more sophisticated backdrop than rows of neatly pruned grape trellises. (By the way, you can find ideas for materials to use when building a trellis in my article here.)
Now, top that off with some fine, aged, gourmet wines?
Wedding day bliss.
Most wineries offer well-appointed, indoor reception spaces for your after-ceremony-fun. This can also serve as a splendid plan B in case of rain.
If outdoors is more your thing, though (and I’m guessing that’s the case – because you’re here), then a tent rental, some string lights, and some food truck catering might be the way to go!
No matter what the details are for your vineyard wedding, I know you’re going to have a *grape* time!
Orchard
noun
A piece of land planted with fruit trees
-Definition from Oxford Languages
I feel it’s important to note that in addition to fruit orchards, there are also nut and seed orchards.
Let’s focus on the fruit orchards first, though.
If you think apple and pear orchards are the only way to go, you’re forgetting about some truly incredible fruit orchard venue options for your wedding.
One less common (but arguably more interesting) type of orchard is a citrus orchard.
Who wouldn’t want the sweet, clean aroma of oranges? Orange citrus fruits will also provide a lovely pop of color — especially since they’ll be in the opposite end of the color spectrum from your “Something Blue”!
Have you ever seen the magenta hues of a peach orchard when in bloom? How about the sweet, sunset-colored fruits that cover the trees when the peaches reach their peak season?
You could even look for a location with plum trees, nectarine trees, cherry trees (cherry blossoms, anyone?!) … the list goes on.
Don’t forget about the nut orchards. Have you ever seen the pale ivory blossoms in an almond orchard? It doesn’t get more wedding-esque than that!
I could go on for hours. What’s important here is that you *pick* the fruits or nuts you love and plan your orchard wedding for a time when the harvests are abundant! Besides, slim pickings are never fun!
Orchard weddings, though? Now, those are fun!
Pumpkin Patch
A garden where pumpkins are planted, commonly available for sale.
-Definition from Wikipedia
Okay, even if you’re not among the Pumpkin-Spice-Obsessed…
There is something seriously special about an autumn wedding in a pumpkin patch. Not to mention, it’s incredibly unique.
If you and your SO are fans of the fall season and want to celebrate the warm amber colors that come with it, this is an amazing option.
It doesn’t matter if you pick a big pumpkin picking venue or your parents’ backyard pumpkin patch.
A pumpkin patch wedding will be a wedding your guests talk about long after the day passes.
There are so many cool ways to make a pumpkin patch wedding beautiful. From bales of hay for ceremony seating to calligraphy signs on pumpkins and gourds — the possibilities go on and on.
Oh, and if you just raised one eyebrow at the thought of sitting on dry, itchy, straw, consider this:
There are endless ways to dress up your hay. So, whether you top your hay with slabs of wood, padded bench tops, cushions, boho-style pillows, blankets, or even clean white linens, you can rest assured that you and your guests will be comfy.
Some married-to-be people even shape bales of hay into couches, loveseats, and other cozy lounge furniture!
Add a couple blankets and some pillows and you’re ready to go!
Don’t forget, you can arrange flowers inside hollowed out pumpkins or even serve pumpkin bisque inside mini-pumpkin bowls.
Oh, and I almost forgot…
The pumpkins alone will serve as a gorgeous backdrop for your big day — and you’re photos!
& must I even mention pumpkin pie, pumpkin spice cake, pumpkin donuts, etc?!
You get the gist.
So if you’re feeling bold and *spicy* …
I highly recommend getting married in a pumpkin patch. Pretty sure won’t regret it.
Butterfly Garden
noun
A plant cultivation space meant to create, improve, and maintain habitat for butterflies, skippers, and moths.
If you’re the type of person who has a special place in your heart for butterflies, this one’s probably a no-brainer.
Butterfly gardens are meant to attract butterflies as well as encourage them to grow and multiply.
A butterfly garden is carefully planned in order to ensure that only the most attractive (to butterflies) plants are selected and cultivated.
The plants in a butterfly garden will include many of the beautiful, blossoming flowers that butterflies prefer to get their nectar meals from. It’ll also involve plenty of caterpillar food plants (for the baby butterflies)!
While many butterfly gardens are outdoors, there are butterfly sanctuaries located inside enclosed spaces as well.
This gives you plenty of options when it comes to searching for a butterfly garden venue.
Here’s my favorite part: if you find yourself a skilled photographer, you might be lucky enough to have some stunning butterfly photo-bombs in the album commemorating your unforgettable day!
A tad more conventional than a butterfly garden wedding (but just as stunning) is a flower garden wedding.
So, if you’re profoundly afraid of butterflies and moths…
OR
If you’re just looking for more tightly bound flowers and a hint more color than the butterfly garden has to offer…
Then keep reading.
Flower Garden
noun
A space or piece of ground set aside for cultivating and displaying flowers.
What is it about flower gardens that makes them so incredible? Maybe it’s the way they make you feel like you’re living in a surreal, technicolor dream. Perhaps it’s the sweet scent of flower nectar.
Whatever it is, I’m here for it.
Whether the flower garden is at a venue, on a private multi-acre estate, or in your parents’ backyard, you simply cannot go wrong with a flower garden wedding.
The best part about getting married before a floral Eden is that you will need very few arrangements from a florist (if any). You may even be able to tackle your bouquet yourself using flowers from your own garden.
Not to mention, flowers that are still in the ground won’t wilt, dry up, or die anywhere near as quickly or easily as ones that have been plucked or cut.
If you’re a lover of color, a flower garden wedding could be the answer you’ve been seeking.
Botanical Garden
noun
An establishment where plants are grown for display to the public and often for scientific study.
- Definition from Oxford Languages
I’m fairly certain that if you type “botanical garden” into your web browser or on Pinterest, you’ll fall in love. If that doesn’t already sell you on these stunning locations, a search for “botanical garden wedding ceremonies” might just seal the deal.
Botanical garden weddings will often have all the lavish landscapes that you could ask for, which —similar to a flower garden — could save you a pretty penny on the price of decor and floral services.
Aside from aesthetic purposes, a botanical garden is meant to cultivate and preserve diverse plant life while also educating the public — or in this case — your wedding guests.
One of the most unique parts of visiting a botanical garden is seeing all of the interesting plant labels. Botanical labels often provide emphasis on how extraordinary the plants truly are.
You can discover the native origin of a plant you’ve never seen or heard of, or find out that several different plant species are in the same family.
What makes a botanical garden perfect for a wedding — aside from the obvious (which is that botanical gardens are quite stunning) — is that you can mock the style of botanical labels for much of your decor and/or papery.
For instance, you could find a fun and entertaining way to display information typically found on botanical labels on something else, such as reception place cards, table markers, or centerpieces.
Here’s an example:
Since many botanical labels include the following information…
- Common Name (often capitalized)
- Botanical (Scientific) Name
- Native Range (often capitalized)
- Family
…you could write the following on a guest named Alessandra Smith’s place card:
ALESSANDRA
Homo Sapien
EASTERN NORTH AMERICA
Smith Family
OR, if you prefer not to go the “Homo Sapien” route, you could use her nickname as the Common Name and her birth name as the Scientific Name. That might look something like this:
SANDRA
Alessandra Smith
EASTERN NORTH AMERICA
Smith Family
You’re guaranteed to get an A+ in the uniqueness department if you choose a lovely botanical garden for your wedding location. The details are just icing on the cake (literally and figuratively)!
Conservatory
noun
A room with a glass roof and walls, attached to a house at one side and used as a greenhouse or sun parlor.
-Definition from Oxford Languages
A conservatory makes a magnificent option for indoor gardening. In addition to its mesmerizing architecture, a conservatory provides all the light needed for proper photosynthesis — without the pests of gardening outdoors!
If you already have a spectacular sunroom or conservatory that will fit the amount of guests you’d like to have on your special day, then it sounds to me like you might already have your venue!
If you don’t have a sunroom, but you know you want a glorious garden venue without the chance of getting rained on or crossing paths with a wasp, then you’re still on the right track! A quick internet search for conservatory venues might be all you need to find the wedding location you’ve always wanted!
Greenhouse
noun
A structure with walls and a roof made chiefly of transparent material, such as glass, in which plants requiring regulated climatic conditions are grown.
-Definition from Wikipedia
You can nail down multiple options from this list of 11 Unique Garden Wedding Venue Ideas by finding a greenhouse that includes one of the gardens already mentioned right inside!
Water gardens, botanical gardens, and butterfly gardens are all commonly found inside large greenhouse venues!
Keep in mind, though: bigger doesn’t necessarily mean better.
You could have an intimate wedding inside or in front of your own backyard greenhouse.
There’s something divine about being able to peer through glass walls and see a utopian ecosystem that you’ve cultivated yourself. Your guests will truly love it — especially the ones who love gardening just as much as you do!
If you’re thinking of building your own greenhouse, check out these custom greenhouse build options from NWgreenpanels.com
Patio Garden
noun
A flat stone, stone, brick, or wooden area set aside for cultivating and displaying flowers, herbs, and other plants outdoors.
Last but not least, let’s talk about patio gardens.
Now, before you picture one of the underwhelming patios that many people have, allow me to make myself clear:
I am not referring to one of the underwhelming patios that many people have.
I am picturing a patio garden Venue.
Think of a large patio event space suitable for parties.
Think of a wide stone aisle or tile platform surrounded by fresh cut grass and decorated with hanging edison lights, vibrant plants, and colorful flowers.
Think of gorgeous stained wood benches, swanky patio furniture, warm, cozy uplighting, and even cozier throw pillows.
Picture an ambient patio island with a smooth wooden plank or stone path — surrounded by a clean landscape of hostas and floral hedges.
Oh, and if there’s a fire pit, a pool, or a water fountain, then you’ve pretty much hit the jackpot.
If you know a place that looks something like this, I think it’s time to seriously consider that place as your venue.
If you already plan to create that type of oasis in your backyard sometime soon, why not hire some landscapers and get it done before the wedding? You’ll save a great deal of money on the price of a venue!
Conclusion
No matter which type of utopian garden paradise you choose, I’m confident you’ll have the garden wedding of your dreams!
There’s nothing quite like feeling one with nature on one of the happiest days of your life.
So with that, I wish you and yours a lifetime of love and bountiful harvests!
Happy planning!
You might also be interested in reading this article about 6 commonly asked garden wedding questions or this article on common concerns about backyard garden weddings.
If you’re looking to rent garden space for a wedding, you can learn about how to rent garden space here.
If you need some wedding gift ideas, check out this article on wedding gifts for gardeners.
If you like the idea of a greenhouse for your home garden wedding, check out pricing for modular greenhouses on NW Greenhouses.
If you happen to live in Massachusetts, you might want to check out this article on the best garden wedding venues in Massachusetts.
I hope you found this article helpful. If so, please share it with someone who can use the information.
If you want to read some of GreenUpSide’s popular posts, check out the “Best of GreenUpSide” page here. Enjoy!
I hope you enjoyed this guest post by LMadGz!