Cleveland Botanical Garden Weddings

11030 East Blvd, Cleveland, OH 44106

(216) 721-1600

With ten beautifully landscaped acres of formal and natural gardens, the Cleveland Botanical Garden offers a wide array of unique and amazing spaces for weddings. The garden is located in the heart of University Circle near The Cleveland Museum of Art, Wade Lagoon, Severance Hall, The Museum of Natural History, The Western Reserve Historical Society and The Glidden House.

Creative Portraits

While this is an excellent location for your ceremony or reception, you can also book an hour of time for photos with your bridal party. For $200 per hour, you can bring in five to eighteen people. For $125 per hour, you can bring in up to four people including your photographers. This would be perfect if you just wanted photos of you and your spouse at the gardens on your special day. Arrangements must be made with the garden staff and a time slot chosen ahead of time so this option does require some upfront planning.

The outdoor gardens are comprised of 11 distinct and unique gardens:

Campsey Stauffer Gateway Garden
C.K. Patrick Perennial Border
Elizabeth and Nona Evans Restorative Gardens
Hershey Children’s Garden
Inspiration Gardens
Japanese Garden
Katherine Philipp Geis Terrace
Mary Ann Sears Swetland Rose Garden
Paula and David Swetland Topiary Garden
Western Reserve Herb Society Herb Garden
Woodland Garden

In addition to the outdoor gardens, there is an expansive Glasshouse that is divided into two main sections; Madagascar and Costa Rica. The Costa Rica glasshouse provides lush greens and lots of vegetation as well as some rock formations and water features.

Ceremonies

We have seen ceremonies take place in the Japanese and Sunken Gardens and the walkway between the Herb and Rose Gardens.

The Japanese and Sunken Gardens provide ample shade in the hot summer months. Be aware you and your guests will be walking and standing on the grass to reach these locations. This may be an important factor if the ground is very wet or if you or your guests have any mobility issues. You are completely surrounded by tall trees and lush vegetation, so while you are still in the middle of University Circle, you feel quite secluded.

While the Herb Garden walkway is more exposed to the sun, it’s perfect for late afternoon or evening ceremonies. The sun will set right behind you if you time it right. The walkway also provides a concrete aisle for you and your guests to walk down which can be a benefit for some people.

Outdoor wedding ceremony in a lush garden setting near Cleveland. Guests are seated on both sides of the aisle, standing and facing forward as the bride, dressed in white, walks down the aisle with a companion. The scene is surrounded by tall trees and greenery.

A bride and groom exchange vows outdoors in a picturesque Akron garden wedding, standing before an officiant. The bride wears a white lace gown and veil, holding a small book. The groom is in a blue suit. Floral arrangements enhance the setting as guests are seated and watching attentively.

A bride and groom share a kiss during their outdoor wedding ceremony in Akron. A man in a suit holds up a book, while guests seated in white chairs applaud. The setting is green and lush with trees and grass, and sunlight filters through the trees, creating a warm atmosphere.

A bride, holding a bouquet and dressed in a white gown, walks down the aisle arm in arm with a man in a black suit and tie, surrounded by standing guests. The outdoor wedding ceremony is set in a lush, green garden near Cleveland with chairs lined up on either side of the aisle.

A wedding ceremony in Akron is taking place outdoors, surrounded by lush greenery and tall trees. Guests are seated on the left, while the wedding party, including the bride and groom, stands on the right. The scene is serene and sunlit, with a large tree in the foreground.

A wedding ceremony is taking place in a lush garden with manicured shrubs and trees. The bride and groom stand in the center, surrounded by bridesmaids in light dresses and groomsmen in dark suits, under a clear blue sky. Following the vows, the reception will celebrate their union under Cleveland stars.

A bride and groom walk down an outdoor aisle after their wedding ceremony in Cleveland. The bride, in a white dress and veil, and the groom, in a black suit, are celebrated by guests seated on white chairs who watch and clap amidst lush greenery.

A couple stands under a white canopy at an outdoor wedding ceremony in Akron. They are surrounded by large trees, with guests seated on either side of the aisle on white folding chairs. The setting sun casts a warm glow over the serene scene.

A wedding ceremony is taking place outdoors in Cleveland. The couple stands under a white canopy with the officiant while bridesmaids in dark blue dresses holding bouquets stand to the side. Guests are seated and observing the ceremony amidst a backdrop of greenery, soon to head over to the reception.

A couple kisses beneath a wedding canopy during their Cleveland ceremony, surrounded by smiling guests and lush greenery. The wedding party, dressed elegantly in dark attire, stands in a row to the right, while a few children in formal wear stand to the left.

A bride and groom walk down the aisle after their serene outdoor ceremony. Guests, dressed formally, are seated on either side, clapping and smiling. The setting is lush and green with tall trees in Canton, while the sky glows with the colors of a Cleveland sunset.

Receptions

We have photographed wedding receptions inside Clark Hall and on the Geis Terrace.

Clark Hall is an indoor space with a cocktail capacity of 300 and a dinner capacity of 200. The floor to ceiling windows overlook the Herb Garden and the room fills with the light of the setting sun in the evening hours.

The Geis Terrace is a beautiful outdoor architectural space with a reflecting pond and fountain. We have photographed outdoor open-air receptions and tented receptions on the terrace. The Geis Terrace has a cocktail capacity of a whopping 530 people and a seated dinner capacity of 280.

Conclusion

The Cleveland Botanical Gardens truly are one of Cleveland’s crown jewels and we feel quite honored every time we get a chance to photograph there. There are so many unique and interesting spaces that photographic inspiration abounds. For more information about planning a wedding at the Gardens, visit the official Cleveland Botanical Gardens Website.

If you are already planning a wedding at the gardens and are looking for a photographer, we would love to be a part of it. Contact us now to check availability for your wedding date!