A 16-acre public botanical garden on Madison’s east side near Lake Monona, with a glass-pyramid tropical conservatory, a gilded Thai Pavilion and themed outdoor gardens, hosting one wedding per day in the Botanical Center and Event Garden.
VIDART is a Madison, Wisconsin wedding photography and videography company covering Madison’s east side and the rest of the Midwest with no travel fee. This page is our planning guide for a wedding at Olbrich Botanical Gardens: the spaces and how they photograph, where the light is, the portrait spots on site and nearby, and the logistics that affect your timeline. Photo or video coverage is $1,500 for a half day and $3,000 for a full day, with no travel fee.
The spaces at Olbrich Botanical Gardens
| Space | Use | Capacity | Setting | For the camera |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event Garden | ceremony | 120 chairs | outdoor | Outdoor ceremony lawn within the public gardens (other visitors may pass by); available noon-7 p.m. in garden season, weather permitting; 120 white chairs included; no tents or canopies. |
| Atrium | ceremony | 120 chairs | indoor | Indoor ceremony room in the Botanical Center used as the standard rain backup; available noon-7 p.m. (6 p.m. in October). |
| Evjue Commons | reception | 150 | indoor | Main reception hall in the Botanical Center, noon-11 p.m.; adjoining Lussier Terrace opens outdoors; caterer from an approved local list. |
| Lussier Terrace | cocktail | n/a | outdoor | Outdoor patio adjoining Evjue Commons for cocktail hour and dancing under open sky, noon-11 p.m. |
| Bolz Conservatory | ceremony | 30 maximum (no chairs) | indoor | 50-ft glass pyramid with tropical plants, a waterfall and free-flying birds; ceremonies Mon-Sat Nov 1-Mar 31 from 4-7 p.m. after public hours; humid, warm and green year-round. |
| Private changing room | getting-ready | n/a | indoor | Carpeted, climate-controlled, secure room with full-length mirror and bathroom just outside; included with wedding packages, noon-7 p.m. |
Capacities are the venue’s published figures and change with layout; confirm current numbers with the venue.
How we photograph and film a wedding at Olbrich Botanical Gardens
Our approach is the same at every venue: two of us (or more for photo and video together), documentary coverage of the ceremony, toasts and dance floor, directed portraits only when the light is worth it, and a timeline built backwards from sunset. What changes is the plan for the building.
- Light. Outdoor gardens are open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. April-September, so public-hours portraits end before golden hour in midsummer; a rental window extends outdoor photo access only through 7 p.m. We schedule couple portraits for the last hour before sunset and tell you in advance where we will take you.
- Rain plan. Outdoor ceremonies in the Event Garden move to the Atrium (120 chairs) in bad weather; tents and pop-up canopies are not permitted and cancelled ceremonies are non-refundable unless rebooked. We photograph the backup space during our walkthrough so the plan B images are as considered as plan A.
- Policies. Outdoors only bubbles may be tossed; rice, petals, confetti, doves, butterflies, fireworks and balloons are prohibited, and nothing may be nailed, tacked or taped to walls, doors or arbors. We confirm the venue’s photography, drone and vendor requirements in writing before the wedding and provide a certificate of insurance when one is required.
- Timing. Evjue Commons and Lussier Terrace rentals run noon-11 p.m.; ceremony spaces end at 7 p.m. (6 p.m. in October); all setup, photography and changing-room use must fall within the rental period. Coverage is planned to end with the last dances rather than the venue’s closing time.
For video we run two camera angles plus a locked-off wide on the ceremony, lavalier microphones on the officiant and groom, and a direct feed from the DJ for toasts. Aerials are included where the venue and airspace allow; see our guide to drone video at Wisconsin weddings.
Portrait spots
On site
- Thai Pavilion and garden — Ornate gilded teak sala with red and gold detailing set in a Thai-style garden across the Starkweather Creek footbridge; posed photos require the permit and must happen during public hours or your rental window.
- Sunken Garden reflecting pool — Traditional English garden with limestone terraces, clipped hedges and an 80-ft reflecting pool; symmetrical, formal backdrop with soft reflections in late afternoon.
- Rose Garden — More than 700 rose varieties peaking June through September; low plantings keep the light open, so shoot early or late to avoid harsh midday sun.
- Bolz Conservatory interior — Dense tropical foliage, waterfall and diffused overhead glass light; available for photos only when rented after public hours.
- Herb Garden and perennial borders — Textured, fragrant beds grouped by theme offering close, intimate frames in summer; stay on paths and lawns, never in planting beds.
Within a short drive
- Olbrich Park (Madison, WI) — Lakeshore park directly across Atwood Avenue on Lake Monona with beach, piers and a westward view toward the Capitol skyline at sunset.
- Garver Feed Mill (Madison, WI) — Restored 1906 brick factory next door with arched windows, the Garver Green lawn and an industrial-chic Atrium.
- Wisconsin State Capitol (Madison, WI) — About 10-12 min by car for granite steps, columns and the dome on Capitol Square.
Thirty to forty-five minutes of portrait time across the day is enough; we split it between a longer session before or after the ceremony and ten minutes at golden hour.
Logistics and planning notes
- Permit or photo policy: Posed photography (weddings, engagements, families) anywhere in the outdoor gardens requires a Photo Permit at $40 per one-hour session, booked at least a week ahead by mailed or hand-delivered application with cash or check; the Conservatory and interior spaces are not photo sites unless rented after public hours.
- Rain plan: Outdoor ceremonies in the Event Garden move to the Atrium (120 chairs) in bad weather; tents and pop-up canopies are not permitted and cancelled ceremonies are non-refundable unless rebooked.
- Vendor policy: Food comes from an approved list of local caterers contracted directly by the couple; alcohol is provided in-house under the licensed permit holder; Olbrich does not supply chairs, tables, podiums or cords outside wedding packages.
- Noise/curfew: Evjue Commons and Lussier Terrace rentals run noon-11 p.m.; ceremony spaces end at 7 p.m. (6 p.m. in October); all setup, photography and changing-room use must fall within the rental period.
- Seasonality: Peak-season weddings (Apr 1-Oct 31) must book ceremony and reception together on Fridays or Saturdays with one wedding per day; Nov 1-Mar 31 allows ceremony-only or reception-only bookings.
- Permit or photo policy: Outdoors only bubbles may be tossed; rice, petals, confetti, doves, butterflies, fireworks and balloons are prohibited, and nothing may be nailed, tacked or taped to walls, doors or arbors.
- Accessibility: Listed as wheelchair accessible on Here Comes The Guide; outlets are available at all wedding sites.
- Sunset/orientation: Outdoor gardens are open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. April-September, so public-hours portraits end before golden hour in midsummer; a rental window extends outdoor photo access only through 7 p.m.
Olbrich Botanical Gardens, 3330 Atwood Avenue, Madison, WI. Venue website.
About the venue. Olbrich Botanical Gardens was founded in 1952 and named for Madison attorney and parks advocate Michael Olbrich. The Bolz Conservatory, opened in 1991, is a 10,000 sq ft glass pyramid 100 ft square at the base and 50 ft tall housing more than 750 plants. The Thai Pavilion opened in 2002 as a gift from the Thai Chapter of the Wisconsin Alumni Association and the government of Thailand and is one of only two such salas in the United States. Wedding packages seat 120 for ceremonies (Event Garden or Atrium) and 150 for receptions in Evjue Commons; Conservatory ceremonies are capped at 30 people. 2025 wedding package fees were $4,600 Saturday / $4,100 Friday in garden season (May 23-Sep 27) and $4,100 / $3,700 in mid season; Conservatory ceremonies were $625.
Pricing
Same rates for photography and videography; book one or add the second for the same price. No travel fee anywhere in our service area.
| Coverage | Photography | Videography | Both |
|---|---|---|---|
| Half day — up to 5 hours | $1,500 | $1,500 | $3,000 |
| Full day — up to 10 hours | $3,000 | $3,000 | $6,000 |
Every booking includes professional editing, an online gallery, a USB drive with the high-resolution JPGs or finished films, and a print release with full usage rights (we do not retain copyright over your photos or films). Videography includes an edited highlight film plus the full ceremony and toasts. Albums, prints and RAW archive drives are add-ons on the pricing page. A $300 deposit holds the date.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need to be on Olbrich Botanical Gardens’s preferred vendor list?
Most venues, including resorts and hotels, allow outside photographers and videographers; some require a certificate of insurance or a short vendor form. We provide event liability coverage and a certificate of insurance whenever a venue requires it, and handle any vendor paperwork before the day.
How much does wedding photography at Olbrich Botanical Gardens cost?
Photography or videography is $1,500 for a half day (up to 5 hours) or $3,000 for a full day (up to 10 hours); both together are $3,000 and $6,000. There is no travel fee.
How many hours of coverage do we need at Olbrich Botanical Gardens?
A full day (10 hours) covers getting ready through the dances. A half day (5 hours) works for a ceremony and reception in one place when coverage starts shortly before the ceremony. See our guide to how many hours of wedding photography you need.
Can you fly a drone at Olbrich Botanical Gardens?
Only where the venue permits it and the airspace allows; we check both before the wedding and include aerials at no extra charge when they are possible.
When will we get our photos and films?
Edited photos are delivered in an online gallery in two to six weeks; wedding films in four to twelve weeks depending on season.
Do you photograph engagement sessions near Olbrich Botanical Gardens?
Yes. An engagement session can be added to any wedding photography or videography package; the portrait spots listed above work well for it.
Planning a wedding at Olbrich Botanical Gardens?
Send us the date and we will confirm availability within a day, walk through the timeline for Olbrich Botanical Gardens with you, and hold the date with a $300 deposit.
Nearby and related
More on weddings in the area: our Madison wedding photographer and Madison wedding videographer pages, the wedding-day timeline guide, the best months to marry in Wisconsin and what wedding photography costs in Wisconsin.
Other venue guides: The Edgewater, Monona Terrace, Garver Feed Mill, The American Club, The Pfister Hotel, Milwaukee Art Museum, Grand Geneva Resort, The Abbey Resort, Kalahari Resort.