Denver Botanic Gardens Wedding & Elopement Guide for 2026
Hey there! My name’s Iver Marjerison.
I’m a Colorado micro-wedding planner, and over the years I’ve helped plan hundreds of small weddings and elopements across the state. This guide covers everything you need to know about getting married at the Denver Botanic Gardens.
Denver Botanic Gardens is one of the most well-known small wedding and elopement locations in Denver, offering a structured, garden-style setting within the city. Unlike public land locations, weddings here operate under venue-specific rules, guest limits, and scheduled event windows, which makes planning more predictable — but also more detailed. This guide walks through what couples actually need to know before choosing Denver Botanic Gardens, including how ceremonies work, permit and venue requirements, the best times of year for a wedding in the gardens, guest considerations, and the real pros and cons of getting married here.
Professional Opinion:
I’ve planned hundreds of weddings at The Botanic Gardens over the years, and it’s definitely an amazing spot for a ceremony of any size! However, the good ceremony sites start about $2,500, which can be quite expensive for small groups. Reception options at the Botanic Gardens tend be logistically difficult and expensive for small groups, but can work well for larger groups who are working with a flexible budget.
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Everything You Need to Know About Getting Married at The Denver Botanic Gardens
The Denver Botanic Gardens offers designated wedding venues that can be reserved by the hour or by the day. Some spaces are limited to ceremony-only events, while others can accommodate full weddings and receptions. All weddings and elopements require an advance reservation through the Gardens, and the wedding event is limited to the reserved designated site. However, after the ceremony, you can take photos elsewhere in the gardens.
Elevation: ~5,280
Max Group Size: 250 people
Permit Fee: $500 - $12,000
Accessibility: Open all year around
Distance from Denver International Airport: 30 - 60 minutes
Nearest Town: Denver
Pros & Cons
This location offers a variety of wedding venues for groups of all sizes, and offers hourly rentals that are perfect for small groups. The gardens are also obviously beautiful for photos. However, venues can get quite expensive for small groups.
Jump to Pros & Cons
Booking, Planning & Marriage license
First you’ll need to reach out to the gardens to check their availability and secure your date. Then, you just need to make a timeline, get the marriage license, and secure any needed vendors, like photographer, officiant, etc.
Jump to Booking & Planning
Ceremony Site Options
There are a variety of options for groups of all sizes, for small weddings, I suggest the Woodland Mosaic.
Jump to Ceremony Sites
Best Day, Month, and Time - The best option is a Tuesday or Wednesday, mid June through mid September, within a couple hours of sunrise or sunset.
Jump to When to Get Married
Good to Know
Many of the ceremony sites are handicap accessible. Dogs are not allowed. Alcohol is only allowed at designated venues and must be served by an approved caterer. Music is allowed at some ceremony sites. Chairs and decorations are allowed. Lots more info…
Jump to FAQs
Other locations?
I’ve got planning guides, packages, and resources for all the best small wedding and elopement locations across Colorado.
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Pros & Cons of Getting Married at The Botanic Gardens
Pros:
It’s beautiful!
Private ceremony sites that allow seating
No decorations needed! But you can if you want.
You can take photos anywhere in the gardens.
Conveniently located in the heart of Denver.
Cons:
No mountain views.
Expensive (relatively).
Limited availability—this is a popular spot!
They require you to use their caterers and bartenders (if you’re doing a reception).
How-to Get Married at The Denver Botanic Gardens
Choose your preferred garden space and date
Denver Botanic Gardens offers several ceremony locations (next section), each with its own guest limits, availability, and seasonal considerations.
Pick Your Date & Time
The gardens are open all year around, but the best time of year to get married in mid June through late September, on a Tuesday or Wednesday (when it’s the least busy), and either within a couple hours of sunrise or sunset. Checkout this guide on choosing the best time to get married in Colorado.Submit an inquiry form to Denver Botanic Gardens
You’ll request availability directly through Denver Botanic Gardens and receive details on pricing, rules, and next steps. Click Here.Confirm availability and sign the venue agreement
Once a date and space are approved, you’ll secure the booking with a signed contract and deposit.Hire your vendors
After the venue is booked, you can coordinate your officiant, photographer, and any additional vendors, making sure they comply with venue guidelines. Learn more about our All-Inclusive Botanic Gardens Wedding Packages.Finalize logistics and timeline
Leading up to the wedding, you’ll confirm arrival times, setup rules, guest flow, and any restrictions specific to your ceremony space.Get the marriage license
Colorado makes getting a marriage license simple! You and your fiance simply need to go into a Colorado County Clerk during business hours to pick up the license. Denver County has their own office, but they are difficult to work with. I suggest finding another County Clerk nearby. Here’s my full Colorado Marriage License Guide.Get Married!
On the day of the wedding, you and your guests will meet your wedding vendors at the botanic gardens. You’ll have the ceremony, sign the license, take photos around the gardens, and then most groups simply head to a local restaurant to celebrate!
The Botanic Garden Wedding Sites
Woodland Mosaic
Max capacity 50 - 75 guests
This is the most popular wedding venue in the gardens! It’s best for just the ceremony, or a casual cocktail reception.
Video
Pricing: $2,500 (1 hour) | $3,000 (half day) | $4,000 (full day) | $3,250 (half day Blossoms of Light®)
Want some help planning?
Check out our: All-Inclusive Micro-Wedding Package for the Woodland Mosaic
West Terrace
Max capacity 175 - 250 guests
Pricing: $2,500 (1 hour) | $3,500 (half day) | $4,000 (full day)
Welcome garden
Max capacity 175 guests
Weird space, rarely the move for a wedding.
Pricing: $1,500 (up to 2 hours)
Water Garden Gazebo
Max capacity 30-40 guests
Pretty nice space for a small wedding ceremony.
Video
Pricing: $1,250 (1 hour) | $1,750 (half day) | Optional Add-on: Le Potager Garden $1,000
Victorian Secret Garden
Max capacity 8-20 guests
Very small, but surrounded by greenery and plants—nice spot for an intimate ceremony!
Video
Pricing: $750 (1 hour) | $1,250 (half day)
UMB Bank Amphitheater
Max capacity 600-1300 guests
Largest venue in the botanic gardens, great for large groups and traditional receptions.
Video
Pricing: $6,500 (half day) | $8,000 (full day)
Romantic Gardens
Max capacity 250 guests
Most popular ceremony site for large groups—no reception space.
Video
Pricing: $3,000 (1 hour)
Sensory Garden Courtyard
Max capacity 8-150 guests
Kind of a strange space, not suggested for a wedding.
Video
Pricing: $1,500 (up to 2 hours) | $2,500 (half day)
Orangery
Max capacity 100-225 guests
In a greenhouse, but not very photogenic in my opinion—not suggested for weddings.
Video
Pricing: $4,000 (half day) | $5,000 (full day)
Annuals Garden and Pavilion
Max capacity 120-250 guests
Large space with water and flowers, not great for weddings.
Video
Pricing: $3,000 (1 hour) | $4,000 (half day) | $5,500 (full day)
_______________
Setup fees: $350 (first facility) | $175 (second) | $150 (third) | OR $750 or 10% of total for 400+ guests
Refundable damage deposit: $500
Insurance fee: $100
Click here to learn more about the locations on The Denver Botanic Gardens Official Site
Best Month, Day & Time
The best option is to get married at The Botanic Gardens within a couple hours of sunrise or sunset, on a Monday or Tuesday, sometime between mid June and mid September.
What’s the Best Month?
The Denver Botanic Gardens is beautiful all year around, and we do weddings there all year around. Personal preference matters. Generally speaking, mid-June through mid-October is “Peak” wedding season in Colorado for the good weather and conditions, but often times into October this location starts to lose some colors. If you want a winter wonderland, February and March would give the best chances of fresh snow.
What’s the Best Time of Day?
The Botanic Gardens has a lot of shade, so it’s more flexible then other outdoor locations, but still, generally the best option for photo lighting is to opt for right at sunrise, or a couple hours before sunset, simply Google “Sunset Denver [your date]” to see the time.
What’s the Best Day of the Week?
The best day of the week to get married at the Botanic Gardens is Tuesday or Wednesday, which are the least busy days in the gardens—it’s always nice to beat the crowds!
Botanic Garden Wedding FAQs
What is the best wedding location at Denver Botanic Gardens?
One of the most requested and visually striking ceremony spaces is the Woodland Mosaic, which offers a secluded garden feel and works especially well for small weddings and elopements. Denver Botanic Gardens offers multiple ceremony sites, each with different guest capacities and use restrictions.
What is the main greenhouse wedding location at Denver Botanic Gardens?
The primary indoor greenhouse-style event spaces are part of the Gardens’ managed event venues. Availability, capacity, and usage depend on the specific space selected and whether the event includes a reception.
How do you book a wedding at Denver Botanic Gardens?
Couples must submit a rental inquiry directly through Denver Botanic Gardens. You can start the process here.
What is the phone number and email for Denver Botanic Gardens weddings?
Phone: 720-865-3551
Email: private.events@botanicgardens.org
What is the maximum guest count for a Denver Botanic Gardens wedding?
Guest capacity depends on the ceremony site selected and can range from as few as 8 guests to as many as 250. Each location has a strict maximum capacity that cannot be exceeded.
Are Dogs Allowed?
No, dogs are not allowed in the Denver Botanic Gardens.
What is the best time of year to get married at Denver Botanic Gardens?
Late spring through early fall is the most popular time, when gardens are fully in bloom and outdoor spaces look their best. That said, Denver Botanic Gardens is open for weddings year-round, with indoor and greenhouse venues making winter ceremonies possible.
Is alcohol allowed at Denver Botanic Gardens weddings?
Yes, alcohol is allowed, but with strict rules. Denver Botanic Gardens does not have a liquor license, so alcohol may not be sold and cash bars are not permitted. Alcohol must be served by one of the Gardens’ approved caterers and may only be consumed during the rental period (up to six hours). Beer, wine, mixed drinks, and champagne are allowed; shots are not.
For ceremony-only events, a single champagne toast is permitted and may be served by a guest over 21 using disposable cups. All alcohol must be removed from the property at the end of the event.
Can we have music or microphones during the ceremony?
Yes, but amplified sound is regulated. Outdoor ceremonies may allow microphones or limited amplified music in approved sound gardens. Audio/visual services must be arranged through the Gardens’ AV team or an approved provider in advance. Bluetooth speakers are not allowed.
Do we have to use an approved caterer?
For events with 50 or more guests, couples must use one of the Gardens’ approved caterers.
For events under 49 guests, couples may self-cater (such as bringing food from a grocery store or restaurant), but must handle all setup and cleanup themselves. Alcohol service still requires a Gardens-approved caterer’s bartender.
Are decorations allowed?
Yes, decorations are allowed with approval, but there are strict guidelines. Candles must be enclosed in glass containers, and items like confetti, rice, flower petals, glitter, or birdseed are not permitted. Nothing may be staked, taped, or placed in the ground.
Can we bring our own photographer?
Yes. Professional photography is permitted throughout public areas of the Gardens after the ceremony. No additional photography permit is required with a wedding rental.
Are children allowed at Denver Botanic Gardens weddings?
Yes, children are allowed, but they must be supervised at all times. Children are not permitted to touch plants, water features, or art installations.
Is parking available for guests?
Parking is available in the Gardens’ parking garage on a first-come, first-served basis and is not guaranteed. There is no valet parking, and overnight parking is not permitted. Rideshare or public transportation is strongly encouraged.
Are the gardens wheel chair accessible?
Most of the gardens are wheelchair accessible, but check with the gardens to confirm your specific ceremony site does not have any steps.
Are drones allowed for photography or video?
No. Drone photography and videography are not permitted anywhere on Denver Botanic Gardens property.
Is there a weather backup plan for outdoor ceremonies?
Weather backups are not guaranteed for outdoor event spaces at Denver Botanic Gardens. If you want a backup option, you may be able to rent a weather backup space in advance (based on availability) for an additional fee. It’s best to ask about backup options early, especially for spring and summer dates when storms are more common.
Can we do a wedding rehearsal at Denver Botanic Gardens?
Yes. Couples are typically offered a complimentary 1-hour rehearsal if desired. Rehearsals take place during public hours, are scheduled close to the event date (generally within about 30 days), and the ceremony space may still be open to visitors, so you’ll need to work around normal guest traffic.
Is there a getting-ready room or touch-up room available?
For wedding rentals, a complimentary wedding touch-up room may be available upon request, but it’s not guaranteed and depends on availability. When offered, couples typically receive up to 1 hour of use before the ceremony and the room must be fully cleared of personal items before heading to the ceremony.
Is smoking or vaping allowed at Denver Botanic Gardens?
No. Denver Botanic Gardens is a non-smoking facility, including vaping. Marijuana (including edibles) is also not allowed on site.
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