Outdoor wedding ceremonies and other private events are allowed within the enclosed two-acre Garden site of the Williamsburg Botanical Garden and Freedom Park Arboretum (WBG-FPA). The Garden includes beautiful flower beds, a meadow and woodland area, and a green-roof pavilion adjacent to the main patio. The Garden is located within Freedom Park, a public park operated by the James City County Department of Parks and Recreation. Both the Park and the Garden are open every day of the year from 7 am to sunset. Private events in the Garden may be scheduled as early as 9 am but must conclude at least 1 hour before sunset.
Seating for up to 30 people can be arranged in and around the main pavilion and patio using the existing garden furniture and picnic benches. The Garden is wheelchair accessible. Restroom facilities are available at the Freedom Park Interpretive Center. The WBG-FPA will provide an onsite representative on the date and at the time of the event.
All private events, including weddings, to be held at the Garden must be scheduled through the website www.wbgweddings.org. Scheduling is based on availability. You may search for your preferred date using the website’s calendar, www.wbgweddings.org/calendar. Your event’s date and time will be added to the calendar when payment in full is received by the Garden and you will receive a confirmation from the Garden. Please note that we need at least 4 weeks notice to coordinate our volunteers.
The fee for any private event, including weddings, is $350 for 2 hours, or $475 for 3 hours. Maximum rental time is 3 hours. A $150 refundable Security Deposit is required in addition to rental fees. All rental fees and the security deposit must be paid at the time the reservation is submitted.
Live or recorded music is allowed; however, the Garden does not have electricity so you must provide your own portable power source.
Professional photography for your event is permitted within the guidelines for photographers.
You may provide light refreshments to your guests, but elaborate receptions are not permitted in the Garden. We suggest the Freedom Park Interpretive Center as a reception site. Contact the James City County Department of Parks and Recreation at 757-259-4022 for information and reservations. (FPIC Rental Info)
Set-up and cleanup are allowed only during your event’s reserved time, and all garden furniture must be returned to its original location. All trash must be bagged and removed from the Garden.
The following items and activities are prohibited in the Garden:
- Alcohol
- Smoking
- Candles and open flames of any kind
- Balloons of any kind
- Bubbles
- Confetti of any kind
- Birdseed
The Garden is located within a public park and cannot restrict access to park visitors, meaning that your private event reservation does not give you exclusive use of the Garden premises.
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