Deciding to have your wedding at the Anderson Japanese Gardens is the perfect choice if you want to get married in a serene setting that is a living work of art, outdoors, while being surrounded and fully immersed in breathtaking scenery.
I had the chance to capture Mark and Brittney’s enchanting spring wedding at the Anderson Japanese Gardens. I was captivated by the garden’s picturesque beauty everywhere I looked. The gardens are truly magical!
Read on for all the info you need about planning a wedding at the Anderson Japanese Gardens!
Your Guide to Planning a Wedding at Anderson Japanese Gardens
Anderson Japanese Gardens is a beautiful twelve-acre landscape of streams, waterfalls, winding pathways, and koi-filled ponds in Rockford, Illinois. It’s now internationally renowned as a public garden and has a reputation as one of the finest Japanese gardens in the world.
The gardens are perfect for either a small, intimate wedding or a grand celebration, with so many romantic settings to choose from as the backdrop for your wedding.
This venue can accommodate up to 200 guests, and some of the enchanting locations you can choose for your ceremony include the West Waterfall and the Pavilion. For a list of all the ceremony locations, along with pricing for each location, go here!
Another amazing feature of this venue is that they also have a gorgeous indoor reception setting, so you can have your entire wedding day in one place. The indoor reception venue has floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the gardens. You’ll also find outdoor decks so you and your guests can enjoy and you can get married here all year round!
This venue also has its own catering service, which they’ve partnered with, called Fresco at the Gardens. This service offers you the culinary excellence of Franchesco’s Ristorante. Your meal will be an all-inclusive five-course dinner, featuring butler service, an open bar, wine service, and more. For a full list of everything they offer, go here!
If you do choose to get married at Anderson Japanese Gardens, some of the incredible amenities they provide you with include:
• Use of the Garden for your wedding ceremony and photography
• Set up and take down of white wedding chairs and required tables for your ceremony
• Getting ready area in the Visitor Center with access 1.5 hours prior to the ceremony
• Staff to assist with the coordination of your rehearsal and ceremony
• Complimentary Garden membership for you and your partner
Mark and Brittney’s Stunning Wedding at Anderson Japanese Gardens
If all of this has captured your attention, here’s a behind-the-lens look at Mark and Brittney’s dreamy wedding at Anderson Japanese Gardens to help you imagine what your own celebration here could look like:
Background on the couple
Brittney, Mark, and I all previously met when I captured their beautiful engagement session last year in Cantigny Park – you can take a look at photos from their session here!
Brittney (she/her) and Mark (he/him) met in college when they rented a townhouse together with a couple of mutual friends and have been together ever since! Their favorite things to do together are playing board games, video games, and hanging out with their dog, Zuko. Mark even proposed late one night when they were playing a board game.
Why did they choose Anderson Japanese Gardens for their wedding?
The couple fell in love with this venue from the moment they entered the gardens. They told me that they knew right away it was their dream wedding venue as it had everything they were looking for: a venue that was romantic, whimsical, and outdoors. The koi ponds were also a huge draw for Brittney and Mark. Furthermore, they knew they wanted nature to be a main feature of their venue, and Anderson Japanese Gardens had it all.
A Spring Wedding at Anderson Japanese Gardens
The couple was most excited to spend time with their closest friends and family, enjoying food, drinks, and nature together on their wedding day. They had a gorgeous ceremony in front of the West Waterfall, and their wedding was super intimate and romantic with just over 40 guests.
There was some rain on the day of their wedding, but this didn’t faze Mark and Brittney in the least, as we had clear plastic umbrellas that fit in perfectly with the venue’s aesthetic. I always make sure to pack clear umbrellas in my car just in case, and it was a good thing we had them to use on the day of their celebration.
Post-ceremony
After their ceremony, we wandered through every inch of the gardens. As we explored, we found various beautiful spots to take a couple of portraits, including the charming footbridge over the pond and next to the lovely wooden pergola. My favorite place that we ventured to was the enchanting Pond Strolling Garden – it’s a must-visit spot!
While we were taking couple portraits, Mark and Brittney’s guests were given some koi food, and many of them spent the cocktail hour exploring the gardens and feeding the fish. Some of their guests even bumped into geese, who were an unexpected guest.
The Reception
Brittney and Mark chose to have their reception at the garden’s indoor reception hall, and they had one of the most adorable and thoughtful details I’ve ever seen at a wedding. They chose to include pictures of the sweet dog Zuko next to each plate on the table. Sadly, Zuko wasn’t at their wedding as no pets are allowed in the gardens with the exception of certified service animals.
After a delectable dinner catered by Franchescos, Brittney and Mark danced the night away with their closest family and friends. It was so fun to be a part of Mark and Brittney’s celebration, and it really reminded me why I love my job so much!
Brittney and Mark’s Vendors
I wanted to give a special shout-out to all the incredible vendors involved in Brittney and Mark’s celebration. All of these vendors were incredible and made the day so special:
- Brittney’s Attire: Volleys Bridal & Boutique
- Mark’s Attire: Mr Tux
- Hair & Makeup – Beaute Luxe Bridal Artistry
- Florist – Event Floral
- Wedding Planner / Coordinator – Michelle Lamay (Franchesco’s)
- DJ/Entertainment Services – Forest City Events
- Cake – EK Bakery
- Catering – Franchescos
- Invitations – The Knot
- Favors – Etsy
- Officiant – Jennifer Fox
Ready to Plan Your Wedding at Anderson Japanese Gardens?
I hope you found this info on Anderson Japanese Gardens helpful and that it made it easier to decide whether this is your dream venue for your celebration!
And, if you’re still looking for the perfect wedding photographer to capture all the special moments, I’d love to chat. You can click here to learn more about my wedding photography services or head over here to get in touch and start planning your dream wedding!
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