Are you a newly engaged bride looking for her fairytale Louisville area wedding venue? Then you should definitely check out the Yew Dell Botanical Gardens!
Yew Dell Botanical Gardens
Yew Dell Botanical Gardens is an internationally-recognized garden center that effortlessly transforms into the venue of your dreams, and you’re just going to love it!
How many other places can you say “Our wedding venue is on the National Register of Historic Places” about? Our guess is not that many.
There is a rich history that runs through Yew Dell Botanical Gardens, much of which is traced back to Theodore and Martha Lee Klein when they purchased farmland to build their home and start a farm in 1941. Today that property is the central part of what has become the Yew Dell Botanical Gardens.
While their farm transformed over the years, everything from livestock to a bounty of crops, the essence of what grew from their farm was the abundance of plants. Theodore Klein excelled in horticulture and over time it became the centrifugal force to their business.
In 1998, Klein passed away at the age of 93, and a local community of volunteers stepped up to raise money to preserve this land and keep it out of the hands of eager developers. With the purchase of the land, they set out to make this property a public space where all can come to enjoy the many plant varietals and gardens.
And they pulled it off! In 2010 Yew Dell Botanical Gardens was named by Horticulture Magazine as one of the Nation’s Top Destination Gardens.
Today the Gardens serve not only as a destination to see beautiful greenery, but also as a space for education, community events, continuous plant research, hiking trails, and event rental spaces.
So if you find yourself gravitating towards lush green spaces but don’t want to commit to a fully outdoor wedding venue, Yew Dell Botanical Gardens may check all your boxes.
This stunning location has a total of 9 – NINE! – event spaces within their property, so you can mix and match your ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception.
I have to tell you about some of these options because it’s truly mind-blowing the options you have available to you.
Let’s lead with the most remarkable.
If you’re having a small wedding – think 40 people or less – then you absolutely have to consider having your ceremony in the Yew Dell Castle. Yes. You read that right. A castle.
This small stone castle will transport you to another country and the lure of a small wedding sounds so dreamy when it’s an intimate inside castle ceremony.
What may surprise you is that this space was originally built by the Klein family to serve as their pool house! Some couples use this space as a dressing suite, while others even use it for a reception.
If your wedding guest list is much more expansive, then you’ll love having your ceremony on the Event Lawn.
It may not exactly sound luxurious, but trust us.
The Event Lawn also known as Holly Allée is perhaps one of the most picturesque locations at Yew Dell Botanical Gardens. This noteworthy row of holly trees creates a breathtaking path that leads to a serene area surrounded by picture-book verdant gardens. Straight out of a fairytale.
I bet now you’re ready to dream about your reception space but first, let’s talk about the cocktail hour!
Are you looking for a space that will charm your guests with bright twinkling market lights strung overhead? Now imagine that space is on a terrace that overlooks blooming meadows and gardens. Let the scent of sun-warmed florals float into the air delighting all the senses and you have an easy yes.
The Rock House Terrace and Stone Terrace both offer these swoon-worthy settings perfect for swirling a delicious custom cocktail in one’s hand while watching the sky fade to cotton candy clouds before the stars come out to shine.
You can even use these spots for your reception, but again, there’s still more to discover here!
Depending on the size of your guest list, there are a few remaining options that will be hard to compete with.
Listed in order from smallest to largest capacity, these spots would make a great wedding reception venue.
The Rock House Terrace and Stone Terrace both offer these swoon-worthy settings perfect for swirling a delicious custom cocktail in one’s hand while watching the sky fade to cotton candy clouds before the stars come out to shine.
You can even use these spots for your reception, but again, there’s still more to discover here!
Depending on the size of your guest list, there are a few remaining options that will be hard to compete with.
Listed in order from smallest to largest capacity, these spots would make a great wedding reception venue.
The Rock House Terrace and Stone Terrace both offer these swoon-worthy settings perfect for swirling a delicious custom cocktail in one’s hand while watching the sky fade to cotton candy clouds before the stars come out to shine.
You can even use these spots for your reception, but again, there’s still more to discover here!
Depending on the size of your guest list, there are a few remaining options that will be hard to compete with.
Listed in order from smallest to largest capacity, these spots would make a great wedding reception venue.
The Peyton Samuel Head Trust Pavilion is a small but beautiful space that can hold up to 50 guests. There is an overlook event deck that can be used for a cocktail hour but is also easily switched around to fit your needs.
Gheens Barn can host up to 75 guests and the inside is one you have to see with your own eyes. The walls of the barn are exposed wood beams that slant to an arch that meets in the center, making this room feel extra warm and extra romantic. This space can also be used as a ceremony or cocktail hour, so depending on the time of year, this could be a great indoor option for your needs.
Lastly, there’s the Mary F. Rounsavall Pavilion, which has a capacity of 250 guests. This is the reception space you want for large weddings! The pavilion has roll-down fabric sides, with expansive garden views all around. This space looks incredible from the inside and outside, with the surrounding gardens making the space still feel intimate and cozy. Best of both worlds!
We know whichever space you choose, you will fall in love with the offerings at these gardens.
Yew Dell Botanical Gardens Awards and Accolades:
National Register of Historic Places
Horticulture Magazine’s Nation’s Top Destination Gardens
Yew Dell Botanical Gardens Pricing & Collections
2023 Rental of Grounds with Rounsavall Pavilion: $7,700
2023 Rental of Grounds without Rounsavall Pavilion: $5,400
2024 Rental of Grounds with Rounsavall Pavilion: $8,000
2024 Rental of Grounds without Rounsavall Pavilion: $5,700
As a bonus, when you rent an event space here you get a one-year membership to Yew Dell Botanical Gardens!
For more information about rentals click here.
Visit the Yew Dell Botanical Garden website here.
Green Apple Photography loves the Yew Dell Botanical Gardens, just take a look at a few of these stunning weddings we captured here and here.
Want to check out other stunning Louisville Venues? Click here to head back to the main Louisville Wedding Venues page.
