Dow Gardens Wedding Information
Thank you for considering Dow Gardens for your wedding site. The following information should help you in your decision making, however, we invite you to contact Ben Tierney, our Wedding Coordinator, at 989.837.8299 or tierney@dowgardens.org, with any questions you may have.
General
Weddings in Dow Gardens are held on our Wedding Peninsula, a grassy area surrounded by our pond with views of two bridges. The peninsula is secluded and quiet, adding to the privacy of your wedding. Directional signage will be posted on the day of your wedding to help guests find their way. Most guests will enjoy the ¼ mile walk through the Gardens to the Wedding Peninsula, however for those guests with mobility issues, we do have options: 1) A shorter pathway is available through the Dow Gardens theater area. 2) Two wheel chairs are available for your use at no additional charge and can be reserved by contacting the Visitor’s Center at 989.631.2677. 3) Two Amigos are available at the Gardens and may be reserved at a cost of $5.00 for two hours. 4) A five passenger cart with a driver is available to be rented at a cost of $20.00 for two hours on a first come first served basis.
Time Blocks
Three blocks of time are available for weddings on Saturdays; 10:00 am to 12:00 pm, 1:00pm to 3:00 pm and 4:00pm to 6:00pm. The actual ceremony should be scheduled for 11:00 am, 2:00 pm or 5:00pm to allow for setup and transition time for guests. Weekday weddings (except Friday) can be held at 6:00pm with a time block of 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Wedding rehearsals may be held in the Gardens one or two days prior to the wedding, at no additional cost and must be scheduled in advance.
Amenities
Electricity is available on the wedding peninsula. Please make electrical needs known to the Dow Gardens Wedding Coordinator at least two days prior to the ceremony so proper arrangements can be made.
Twenty chairs are included in the wedding charge and will be set up per your direction on the day of the wedding. Up to eighty additional chairs are available for rent at a cost of $1.75 per chair. Arrangements for rental chairs must be made two weeks in advance to assure availability. Additional chairs may be rented from outside purveyors. They must be delivered within the reserved time block to the service gate at 1907 W. St. Andrews. The Gardens staff will assist in transporting them to the wedding area.
Guests
There is no limit to the number of guests at a Dow Gardens wedding. Guests will be admitted through the Visitor’s Center upon telling the staff with which wedding they are associated. Wedding guests are free to stay and explore the Gardens.
Cost
The base cost for a wedding at Dow Gardens is $350, or $490 with an indoor backup facility included. $100 is due upon booking and is non-refundable; the remainder is due four weeks prior to the wedding. A $50 damage deposit is required and will be refunded provided the grounds are left in essentially the same way they are found.
Rain
In case of rain or inclement weather, the Midland Center for the Arts does offer a backup facility. They are located on the Garden grounds and share a parking facility with the Dow Gardens. The cost to reserve this site as a backup is $140, bringing the total cost to $490 to have a Dow Gardens wedding with a backup site. If the backup site is used, $250 is refunded to you.
Address
The Dow Gardens address to which you should direct guests is 1809 Eastman Ave. The Whiting Forest address is 2303 Eastman Ave.
