Morris Arboretum & Gardens

re so helpful in working through those details, and the little bit of extra planning required was SO worth it because the location was just stunning. We had 80 guests and felt like 70-120 would probably be the sweet spot here. We had our cocktail hour on “Out on a Limb” as the sun was setting and that might have been the highlight of our reception. Our guests loved having the opportunity to stroll the gardens and this was something that a typical venue just wouldn't be able to offer. We are so pleased we held our reception at Morris Arboretum and highly recommend!

special day. The staff was incredibly organized and attentive, making the event run smoothly. Every detail was taken care of, allowing us to enjoy our celebration without any worries. We couldn't have asked for a better venue. I highly recommend Morris Arboretum to anyone seeking an enchanting and well-coordinated wedding experience!

tting for our special day. From the moment we arrived, we were captivated by the natural beauty and serene atmosphere of Morris. The gardens were meticulously maintained, bursting with vibrant flowers and greenery. Walking through the pathways surrounded by such beauty made us and our guests feel like we were in a secluded paradise. The views were simply breathtaking, with every angle offering a picturesque scene that was perfect for photos. The staff at Morris were exceptional. They were attentive, accommodating, and ensured that every detail was taken care of. Their professionalism and warm hospitality made the entire planning process a breeze and allowed us to relax and enjoy our day without any worries. Our guests were equally enchanted by the venue. The combination of beautiful landscapes, charming walkways, and open spaces provided an idyllic setting for both our ceremony and reception. The panoramic views of the gardens and the surrounding nature made every moment feel magical and special. One of the highlights was the versatility of the space. Whether it was the intimate ceremony area nestled within the gardens, the picturesque spots for cocktail hour with stunning views, or the expansive reception area under the stars, every part of the venue contributed to the unique and unforgettable experience.

ctations were set from the beginning; Should you book here, remember that this is first an arboretum and protecting the grounds is top priority (tell your memaw to leave the confetti at home.) Nature gifted us an INCREDIBLE display of fall color. The event was seamless, our guests raved about both the foliage and the way the caterer used the spaces (be sure to go with Out on a Limb for your cocktail hour!) and our photographer marveled at the beautiful grounds. We felt supported in our decision to work with Morris Arboretum every step of the way. What a wonderful way to start our marriage! We are still glowing from the weekend. We absolutely recommend holding your wedding at Morris Arboretum <3

ul experience they had! Highly recommend Out on a Limb for cocktail hour - great for children to let loose and such a unique touch! Our wedding was an absolute dream come true!

y deposit. — It has been nearly a month since my wedding at the Morris Arboretum and I still have not been contacted as requested by the supervisor of Sarah Ruth Peterson of the rentals department. I cannot recommend enough to find a different venue. While the Arboretum itself is beautiful, it will not make up for the incompetence of their staff. Trust me, its better to be safe than sorry as I am. From the beginning, there seemed to be no organization. We had turn over of the manager position—which none were easily reached (all “part” timers) and at one point the contact email addresses did not work at all and all communication emails were bounced back. After we requested a meeting to complete our final payments (two months early) Ms. Peterson double booked appointments and after answering my third call annoyed, had to call us back after her other appointment finished. This was all before our big day. The day of, nine hours before our ceremony ever even kicked off, we lost our security deposit of $750. How? Ms. Peterson directed my husband to drive our uhaul truck full of all our wedding materials to a particular area AND then ground-guided him straight into a stop sign that he would have no way of seeing or knowing was there. Please bear in mind that we are a military couple and we are used to completely trusting our ground guides as we do when we handle large vehicles. Afterwards she told him she was never supposed to allow him to be in this area to begin with but that she would need to take our deposit. Our entire deposit was cashed by the arboretum. We are hard pressed to know where they bought a $750 stop sign and why their staff took absolutely no responsibility for their own actions. My husband, not wanting to ruin the day, did whatever Ms. Peterson asked and I was not informed until well after the events took place. Aside from this, while they do offer you complimentary golf cart service, prepare to hang on. Their drivers do not assist handicapped or elderly guests onto or off of their carts and they take off without any notice (nearly tossing myself, my sister and her 18 month old baby straight off the cart at least twice!) As if all of this was not enough to make you want to run to a different venue, my photographer was contacted and asked for permission to use our photo, to which she explained that they would need to get our permission. Much to my surprise, the next day our photo was used on their social media pages without our permission and without being tagged. Our photographer served them with an official take down notice which was eventually responded to. We were both informed that we would hear from Sarah Ruth but neither of us have. My request for a supervisor was also not answered. Previously, Sarah Ruth had asked us to write a review in the same email that she reminded us that she was taking our deposit. This was before the photography debacle and I had stated that I couldn’t leave a positive review. However, copyright infringement on top of the complete incompetence of their staff is enough to warrant this review. Please I beg you, take your business elsewhere! To the Arboretum staff, I truly hope you are able to make this right. No other couple should have to deal with these issues on top of the normal stresses of planning a wedding.

e Limb" treehouse was a big draw for us to have cocktail hour. Unfortunately, it did rain on our wedding day so were unable to use it. As a result, we had cocktail hour inside the visitor center, which was a fine alternative. The staff was very friendly and we were still able to take some pictures outside using the clear umbrellas that the venue has available for use. The venue has a list of approved caterers (we chose Company's Coming). There's also only one approved vendor available if you want to hang flowers from the ceiling of the reception tent, which we chose not to do. Otherwise, everything else was pretty flexible. I'm glad that we had our wedding here and look forward to coming back to visit the Morris Arboretum in the future.

on garden theme. This venue offers such a unique experience, especially with the option to have your cocktail hour in the "Out on a Limb" treehouse, which we did. Our guests are still raving about how unique it was. The sunset during cocktail hour in early October along w/ our harpist we had playing created a whimsical experience in the trees. The reception tent fits about 175, but we had 115 and it was perfect. Just enough room for the dance floor, bar area, and tables without it being too crowded. The staff at the MA are super kind, helpful and responsive. They offer a golf cart for the day of to transport for photos, to explore the grounds and help elderly/handicapped folks around. There are a lot of rules since this is an arboretum and they have to protect it, but you honestly don't need much given the natural beauty. We used Wild Stems to install the dance floor and ceiling decor for the tent and Company's Coming as our caterer. The whole experience was perfect. Our guests, family, friends and most importantly ourselves all had a lovely, fun, memorable time. Everyone is still talking about it! The MA and their staff were a huge part of our wedding success!

we had the best wedding experiences! It drizzled a bit that day, the team even provides transparent umbrellas that are good for taking pictures. What I was extremely impressed was that without requesting, the team helped us gathered our belongings & decorations after the wedding, and triple checked to ensure that nothing important was left behind. We couldn’t be more grateful to the rental team!!

s were well met regardless of the date. On the week of our wedding, due to weather we decided to have a ceremony location change, and Shawn (the rentals coordinator) was quick to help us decide on the best option, and ensure that all went to plan. We ended up having our ceremony on the Widener lawn, and it was absolutely stunning. Our guests could not stop gushing at the lovely green backdrop. Our cocktail hour was on the Out on a Limb elevated boardwalk, and this was easily the most unique cocktail hour I have ever seen. All of our guests were in awe at how cool & beautiful this space was. Some of our guests even took the time to explore a bit of the arboretum, and many have asked about visiting as a guest to get the full experience. Our reception off the stone building was everything we could have ever dreamed of. The tent looked absolutely gorgeous, and the building was a lovely backdrop to our party all night long. We were able to get so many incredible pictures all around the arboretum- they let you use a golf cart with a driver and this made transporting us, the 2 photographers & 2 videographers a breeze! We were able to get so many unique and gorgeous photos. The entire wedding planning process was so simple. They allowed us to visit as many times as we wanted (for free!) so we could continue to get an idea of what we wanted for our big day and show our close relatives. Shawn deserves all the praise; she was always a quick phone call or email away, and no one made us feel like they were on our side more than Shawn. Overall, Morris was an absolute dream. There is truly no where else that would have given us the wedding we always wanted, and we could not be more grateful to the arboretum & staff for being so incredible.

l every step of the way. It felt like a truly magical day to us and we have had several guests tell us that it looked like something out of a fairytale. You won't find a more beautiful outdoor venue.

a month after the wedding and I can still say the many visits throughout the year and half leading up just excited me so much but nothing could compare to the day of. All of our guests were in awe! My husband and I were in awe! It was a beautiful, perfect, September day with the rose garden in full bloom! I wanted to cry at just how beautiful everything turned out to be. Seeing the tent transformed was amazing too! I had a dream wedding thanks to the location and all of the amazing staff members and vendors! Not one single regret, I would book over and over again! Oh and for those worried about the rain, we have visited on multiple occasions while it was raining and it is still a sight to see! If a garden wedding and view is what you are looking for I wouldn’t look any further.

imb treehouse-esque location for cocktail hour was a huge selling point, but we also wanted to grant our guests access to the beautiful grounds and share with them a favorite Philly gem of ours. Everything the day of was spectacular. All of the staff we interacted with were highly professional and communicative. A golf cart was provided for us to take photos more efficiently and for any guests who needed it to get around. Our guests were stunned by the beauty around them and everything just led to a truly magical wedding experience for everyone. I cannot say enough good things about this venue!

was very helpful and everything is pristine and just elegant and awesome. Magnificent picture places! I am still getting rave reviews! The parents of the bride and the bride and groom found this place and we are so happy they did!!

ifferent venues in the area was an overwhelming experience, but when we arrived at the Morris Arboretum we knew we found the place we would get married. We had our first look in the rose garden at 4pm, this allowed us to get the majority of photos done prior to the ceremony and enjoy our cocktail hour. The atmosphere was romantic and private. After the first look, bridal party, and family photos we had our ceremony at Baxter’s Memorial. This location on the grounds was perfect for us and provided a beautiful brick balcony type of fixture. After the ceremony, we arranged to have our cocktail hour on Out on a Limb. This was a unique experience and not the standard cocktail hour. Guests were able to enjoy their cocktails while overlooking the grounds of the arboretum. I especially liked getting married at the Morris Arboretum because it provided a special and different experience for our guests. While my husband and I got our pictures taken, our guests were able to walk around the grounds and see all the beauty that the gardens have to offer. After our wedding, we kept receiving texts from our guests stating how the wedding and venue was unlike any of the other places they have been. My husband and I plan to go back and visit the spot we were married frequently and remember our special day together. That is something that cannot be done at the other chain-like venues. Our wedding at the Morris Arboretum was truly a dream and exactly what we imagined.

try I’m going to let you know that if you get married here I highly recommend hiring a wedding planner/ coordinator. They are not the most accommodating venue at all and the staff at The Arboretum in the daytime are different from the event team. The Arboretum staff are on the rude side as was the head rentals lady when I would email to ask questions. However, Chris our event coordinator for the day of our wedding was Amazing and who you would want the day of your wedding; I definitely recommend him as he was kind, helpful, and took care of our guests. Our cart driver for the evening was also really great. Advice: higher a planner, rent ceremony chairs, ask for Chris, and if you are wanting a flexible/accommodating venue the Arboretum isn’t for you.

ely made the right choice!

njoyed taking photos in the Rose garden, although we didn't have our ceremony there. That being said, it is very expensive and there are a lot of rules. The most limiting rule I would say is that whatever you need to bring for the wedding (alcohol, decorations) must be dropped off early the day of the wedding AND be taken home directly after the reception. It certainly adds a lot of stress to the day.

st a week ago wish I could have another wedding so I can work with them again it was wonderful!

The staff was professional and helpful, including John who drove us around on the golf cart. He provided helpful suggestions for great wedding photos and unbeknownst to use, even offered tours to our guests. We highly recommend booking Morris for your special day!

e to get married here! We had cocktail hour Out On A Limb, and that got rave reviews from all that attended. It was the end of Sept, a perfect fall day, and we could not have had better weather. You are granted free admission leading up to the wedding which is a great perk. Flexible and lends itself to DIYers who want a rustic, barn type feel without the massive price tag. The catering company they use on a daily basis is Company’s Coming and they are INCREDIBLE! BYOB(Build your own bar), great rate, great farm to table food. They come with a wedding coordinator, Andrea Hunter, who is every bride’s dream, and supply a photo booth as well. Andrea also handled almost all of the communication for us, and everything went smoothly thanks to her! Only gave 4 stars for one hiccup. The on-site event coordinator told my parents (at the reception) that they had to stay after and take everything that night (DIY decor, bar leftovers, etc.) We had never seen/heard from him until that day, and he was not very welcoming/friendly. Thankfully Andrea came to the rescue there as well, stepped in and told him we were informed from the beginning it was the day after and was able to get him to stick to that time, and the rest of night went off without a hitch! It was absolutely perfect!

fine. We gave one less star because there was a bit of a lack of communication with the rehearsal. There was no email or call to verify after the first dialogue about having a rehearsal, so we messed up the time. Our mistake. All in all great people to work with. Beautiful garden. Absolutely want to go back.

n late August and the gardens looked absolutely amazing. We had enough time for photos before the wedding. They set up our ceremony in plenty of time. Everyone raved about our cocktail hour on Out on a Limb, and the reception went swimmingly. If the weather is right (as it was for us) this is an amazing place for a wedding.

easy to work with, and are very helpful. They took us on tours to show us the different sites and told us what other weddings were like. During the wedding, the staff was helpful. We rented an extra golf cart and the two drivers were fantastic. We both highly recommend the arboretum. Just reserve your wedding day way in advance!

oring the gardens. We chose to get married in the Pennock Garden and have the cocktail hour directly next to the ceremony site. Everything turned out gorgeous and thankfully the rain held off until the reception in the tent!

e had access to the Out on a Limb treehouse. The guests loved it! The staff, including Chris, were all very friendly and accommodating. There were so many amazing photo opportunities among the grounds. You are provided with a golf cart to go anywhere you need it. Our golf cart driver even offered tours to some of our guests. There was also a bridal room for hanging out before the ceremony. Everything about the day went smoothly. Very professional and seasoned in the wedding business. If you love the outdoors, beautiful gardens and greenery, this is perfect for you!

th the place from day 1. They made the day absolutely special and it was more affordable than other venues that we had visited. I would recommend the arboretum to anyone!!!

ed it. The tent ended up looking beautiful as well. Everyone at the venue worked hard to provide us with a very memorable day and I would highly recommend. Our pictures around the grounds turned out beautifully!

our in the tree house (Out on a Limb) which our guests raved about and was beautiful around sunset during the reception. There are however a lot of limitations with this venue. You have to have your ceremony at 6 or later and your guests can start arriving around 5pm. They have a lot of amplified sound limitations and additional charges for OOAL (out on a limb) and for having your ceremony on different parts of the grounds. We also found the contact person difficult to get in touch with and not very responsive at times. Luckily, our caterer point person at Joshua´s had a good relationship with the venue and handled a lot of the communcations. It was definitely worth it, and our photos are sure to come out and be amazing because of all the interesting shots. WE are so happy we had our wedding at Morris and that we had good weather!!

perfect. The Arboretum staff was responsive and helpful. The site was exactly what we wanted for our wedding, a beautiful outdoor location for a laid - back, lovely ceremony and reception.

this when you visit. Basically, they won't allow any speakers in the reception area -- the speakers have to sit inside the building and cannot be in the tent where the guests are.

pportunities, and we were not disappointed. The photos came out beautifully. We were very happy with how the entire day came out. The ceremony was lovely. The location is pet friendly, so we were allowed to have our dogs be a part of the ceremony. And the reception under the tent was exactly what I pictured when we booked the location. It was a great size for the amount of guests we had (about 100). On a side note, I do recommend bringing in a dance floor; the ground underneath the tent is asphalt and not ideal for dancing. The main issue we had with the Arboretum was the management staff leading up to the big day. They could be incredibly unhelpful and almost petty at times. They would often tell me that I couldn't do something that I'd see that other weddings had done (like hanging lights in the tent... we did in the end and it was absolutely worth it). Also, one thing to mention, tables and chairs for the ceremony and reception are included in the site fee, but you may not use the nice wooden chairs for the ceremony on the grass because of the potential for grass and mud stains. Considering how important the ceremony photos are, I was pretty annoyed to learn this. My advice for avoiding unnecessary drama with the staff of the Arboretum is that you make sure to hire one of the approved caterers that has a good relationship with the women that work there. My caterer was the go-between in many situations and was able to get a more favorable response to my requests than I was getting, calling the venue directly.

tiful, and I could not have asked for a more amazing place to have our wedding. We used Bruno's as our caterer, and Carl could not have made our wedding planning experience easier. I felt like we could do almost anything we wanted and that we had very few restrictions. It really felt like "Our Wedding" and not one of those cookie cutter weddings.

ked.. and never looked back. We immediately cancelled our other space, changed our date to 8/6/11 and had a beautiful wedding. The day was cloudy - which was actually perfect because it kept the temperature down. We had our ceremony outside which was gorgeous ! After the ceremony there was a short period of rain, but our caterer, Company's Coming, was so professional and moved everything inside without a hitch. The room inside turned out fine, and all of our guests were in one location which made it easy to talk to everyone. Our pictures from around the arboretum turned out great!! There are so many great locations to take pictures in. The staff at the arboretum was always very helpful. They were friendly and easy to work with. The site is beautiful, if you have a wedding guest list under 150 then hands down you should have it at the Arboretum (And use Company's Coming as your caterer!!). Don't worry about it breaking the bank either. If you are creative and can easily have an affordable wedding there.

feel. The staff is very helpful informative (about seasonal changes in the garden) and accommodating.;They have a list of caterers that are allowed to work there that's non-negotiable. But the list varies in cost to fit your budget. They don't allowed amplified music at all.