Q: How far in advance may we book our event?
A:  Most couples book events between 9 and 18 months in advance. Lauritzen Gardens is a very popular wedding ceremony and reception venue. Prime summer dates go quickly, and we typically fill Saturdays from May through September a year in advance. Check here for availability, or contact the rental coordinator at rentals@omahabotanicalgardens.org. Ceremony-only events can be booked within 6 months of the date. If the ceremony is more than six months out, we require a reception to be booked as well. (Blackout dates for ceremony-only availability may apply. Please check for available dates with the rental coordinator) 

Q: Can I have my wedding ceremony during the daytime?
A:  Weddings and receptions at the Lauritzen Gardens are held in the evenings only and may start as early as 6 p.m., which ensures a private event. We are open to the public until 5 p.m.

Q:  How may guests can your great hall hold for dinner and dancing?
A:  Optimally, our great hall accommodates up to 250 to 275 guests seated for dinner with nice dance floor space. Our 60” round tables (included with the rental) will seat eight guests per table for a sit down dinner or up to nine guests per table for a buffet dinner. Larger parties may expand into the café and floral display hall areas.


Q:  Can we bring in our own food and beverage?
A:  We are pleased to have Abraham Catering as the exclusive caterer for all events at the gardens. Abraham Catering provides all of the food and beverage service, including alcohol service. Their charges are billed separately. No outside food or beverages are permitted, with the exception of your wedding cake. If using Abraham Catering is not an option for you, another licensed caterer may be used by paying a $1,500 buyout fee to the garden. Caterers are subject to Lauritzen Gardens' approval. 

Q:  How much of a deposit is required?
A: You must provide the full rental fee at time of booking to secure your date on our calendar.

Q:  Are there any restrictions on decorations?
A:  Most of our rental clients feel that our facility is so beautiful a minimum amount of decoration is needed! Nothing may be tacked, pinned, nailed, taped or otherwise adhered to any surface of the rooms inside the visitor and education center. All room decor, other than table decorations, must be freestanding. Candles are allowed only if hooded, dripless or in glass containers. No rose petals are allowed anywhere at our facility. No environmentally harmful, unsightly or potentially dangerous materials may be used – such as rice, glitter, confetti, birdseed, flower petals (real or artificial), silly string or fireworks (including sparklers).  Lauritzen Gardens’ plant and floral displays are not to be moved, removed, changed or destroyed. No signage of any kind is allowed.

Q:  Can we put up a tent in the garden for our event?
A:  Sorry, no tents are allowed at Lauritzen Gardens. You may have an arch, arbor, or huppah in the gardens space for your ceremony as long as they are freestanding. We do not allow any staking of items in the garden.

Q:  Do you have preferred vendors other than your catering vendor?
A:  You may use whatever vendors you wish for your florist, DJ or band, photographer, videographer, wedding cake, wedding planner, or limousine/transportation services.

Q: What if we plan an outdoor ceremony and it rains?
A: One of the ways our venue is unique is that during the summer months, from approximately the end of May through the middle of September our floral display hall can accommodate 200 for an indoor wedding. While some clients choose to have their weddings inside because of inclement weather others feel our floral display hall is the perfect spot for their wedding ceremony regardless of the weather!

Q: Is parking available?
A:  We have parking for 350 cars in our main parking gardens.  Our lower level parking lot holds an additional 200 cars, so parking is never an issue.