Frequently Asked Questions About Weddings

Our Gardens are open seasonally. Site viewings can be arranged by appointment. Depending on conditions, it is not always possible to view the Garden in the winter months – however, we are happy to send you photos and answer any questions.

2020 Twilight Wedding Packages: a $5,000 non-refundable deposit is required. Final payment due 10 days prior to wedding.

2021 Ceremony Packages: A 50% non-refundable deposit is required. Final payment due 21 days prior to wedding.

Payments can be made with Visa, MasterCard, debit, money order, and cash. Personal cheques are not accepted.

While deposits are non-refundable in most circumstances, in the time of COVID-19, we recognize the need for a flexible cancellation policy. If the wedding couple, their parents, children or siblings test positive for COVID-19 or are required to quarantine due to illness and the wedding must be cancelled as a result, we will refund all fees including deposit. If the Garden has to cancel the wedding because of changes to health restrictions, we will refund all fees including deposit.

As the U of A Botanic Garden provides a sheltered backup for inclement weather, there are no refunds. There are no exceptions.

All ceremony packages include a sheltered rain backup. You have until one hour before your ceremony to let us know if you want your ceremony moved under shelter.

On the day of the wedding our friendly wedding staff will be present to greet and direct your guests to the ceremony location. We also provide signage along the way to help guide guests to your ceremony site.

A shuttle service is included in ceremony packages for the bridal party, immediate family, elderly and disabled guests only. All other guests must be prepared to walk. Golf carts cannot be rented by the public. A shuttle service to the ceremony site is included in ceremony packages for the bridal party, immediate family, elderly and disabled guests only. All other guests must be prepared to walk.

With your ceremony booking, there is shuttle service for elderly and disabled guests. This shuttle will transport guests to the ceremony location, and back to the front entrance after the event.

We will shuttle the wedding party to the first photo location after the ceremony. After drop off, the wedding party must be prepared for walking from one photo location to another.

Note: These options are not available in 2020.

The Ozawa Pavilion, located in our Kurimoto Japanese Garden offers washroom, shower and full kitchen facilities - please contact our Weddings Team for more information. A green room area is included in Aga Khan Garden wedding packages.

• You can bring your own sound system. There is power at the Wedding Patio and Pine Pavilion. You will need to bring your own cords.
• You can rent a PA system from the Garden. Cost is $75, and includes wireless lapel or hand-held mics. Contact us for more information. Note: PA system is included with 2020 Twilight Wedding Packages.
• We can arrange live musicians for you. The Garden has access to some of the finest musicians in Edmonton, and can arrange the booking for you - duos, trios, quartets, or solo harpist. Please contact the Wedding Coordinator for more information.
• You can hire your own musician(s). Please remind them that this is an outdoor facility, and that all instruments/equipment must be transported by foot or on a golf cart. Vehicles are not allowed in the Garden without advance permission of the Weddings Team. If your musicians require shelter, 10’x10’ white pop-up tents are available for an extra charge of $25.

A photographer is not included with your booking.

Note: Indoor photo locations are not available in 2020.

Although we are mainly an outdoor facility, there are a few indoor locations that can be used for wedding photographs, with ceremony package bookings only. These areas are small, so photo opportunities may be limited.

Washrooms are located in three areas of the Garden: In 2020, washrooms are located in the Aga Khan Garden and near the Rose Garden in the Collections are. There are also portable washrooms in the parking lot.

We are not located on the University of Alberta campus. The U of A Botanic Garden is located in Parkland County - only 15 minutes from West Edmonton Mall or SW Edmonton (5 km north of Devon on Highway 60).

Sorry, there are no discounts for weddings or photographs.

Sorry, pets are not permitted at the Garden.