Dallas Arboretum Wedding: Your Expert Guide

The Dallas Arboretum wedding venue is easily one of our favorite locations for a wedding in Dallas. This sprawling botanical garden has thousands of flowers, towering trees, lake views, and unique sculptures. There are many stunning backdrops for a ceremony, reception, and wedding photos. As experienced Dallas wedding planners, we gathered the information you need to know about this breathtaking venue. Check out these top tips from The Simply Elegant Group team for planning your wedding at the Dallas Arboretum.

About The Dallas Arboretum

It’s easy to see why this venue is listed among the top arboretums in the world. Located near White Rock Lake in Dallas, Texas, The Dallas Arboretum boasts 66 acres of sprawling gardens and lush landscapes. Pathways lead through beds of seasonal plants, sculptures, and water features. Depending on the time of year, you’ll find an abundance of hyacinths, tulips, roses, daffodils, cherry blossoms, azaleas, and crape myrtles throughout the property. 

Dallas Arboretum wedding ceremony and reception spaces

Dallas Arboretum has 18 stunning ceremony garden locations and four ceremony and reception spots. That’s one of the reasons it is important to have an experienced wedding planner when planning your Dallas Arboretum wedding. 

The McCasland Sunken Garden is one of the most popular ceremony options, with a capacity for 125 guests. This tranquil location features a sculpture fountain, a secluded garden, and trees resembling something from Alice in Wonderland. 

Also stunning is the Nancy Clements Seay Magnolia Glade with a stone-lined waterway, lily pond, and room for 80 guests. 

For an intimate ceremony for 10 or fewer guests, say your vows in the Poetry Garden, which includes an intricate fountain, towering walls, and crawling greenery.

For your cocktail hour, we love the Woman’s Garden. Mingle with guests alongside an infinity pool, fountains, and a sweeping view of the grounds. DeGolyer Loggia is a great location for a reception of up to 200 guests. The outdoor site is behind the 21,000-square-foot historic DeGolyer House on a lush lawn surrounded by gardens.  

Alex Camp House is another popular reception location with a view of White Rock Lake and room for up to 80 guests.

Why do you love planning weddings at Dallas Arboretum?

One of the biggest selling points is there are so many different options and combinations of spaces to book here. We’ve helped our couples navigate the venue to choose the best spots for their wedding. 

The Dallas Arboretum is also available as a Dallas ceremony-only wedding venue, which is unique to this area. Couples have a two-hour window for a morning or late afternoon ceremony. We also love that there are many locations for pictures, no matter what time of year you host your wedding. 

Crape Myrtle Allee’s tree-enclosed pathway and the vibrant Margaret Elizabeth Jonsson Color Garden are just a few of our favorite photo locations.

What type of couple would love a Dallas Arboretum wedding?

We would recommend a Dallas Arboretum wedding to all couples! Our couples appreciate the venue’s natural beauty, artwork, and historic charm. 

This versatile venue makes it easy to plan a wedding that’s unique to them. Weddings at Dallas Arboretum are also gorgeous in any season, with different flowers blooming throughout the year.

What are your insider tips for Dallas Arboretum weddings?

Since many sites are here, this might confuse guests when they arrive. We always recommend our couples include a map on their wedding website that denotes where to park their cars, and the location of their ceremony and reception locations. 

Because of the hot summers, the peak season for weddings at the Dallas Arboretum runs from March through June and September through December. 

A few other things to note: couples must choose a caterer from the venue’s approved list.

How have you transformed the venue to tailor it to your client?

One of our couples wanted to keep the party going later into the evening, so we shifted to a silent disco after 10 pm. Amplified music is not allowed past 10 p.m.; however, they could continue their celebration without violating the noise ordinance. Silent discos are always a blast!

This venue is also a great spot to bring in unique vendors. We’ve booked a sketch artist and a permanent jewelry vendor and rented a chic lounge area for our Dallas Arboretum weddings.

Dallas Arboretum wedding cost

For a wedding with 150 guests at the Dallas Arboretum, expect your total budget to range from $75,000- $100,000+. This includes your venue fee, one-hour rehearsal time, security (if alcohol is served), reception tables and chairs, white garden ceremony chairs, and five cocktail tables. Tents are not included in this pricing, so consult with your planner about renting one for your wedding.