Roger Williams Park Events

grandeur of the historic building’s first floor and were delighted to see the ballroom on the second floor. It’s just awesome! Some of our guests had no idea the Casino existed and loved the historic charm. Heather Manning is beyond helpful and assures you that there will be no problem on the day of. She is flexible with any last minute changes and is accommodating to all of your needs. If you’re on your way in to the zoo, please seek out this gem of a venue if you can. You’ll be glad you did!

r the ceremony and cocktail hour and the Mediterranean Room for dinner and dancing, with the bar in the connecting hallway between the two. During the reception, our guests were able to enjoy both rooms, which was great for those with children or guests who just wanted to have a conversation away from the noise of dancing, since they could hang out in the Conservatory. I was worried about being hot in June but with the doors and windows open we were all quite comfortable. The natural beauty of the venue is stunning, and in the evening the lighting creates a lovely dreamy atmosphere. We were also able to do our first look in the Victorian Rose Garden and take pictures throughout the grounds of the Botanical Center, including the other two greenhouses. With so many gorgeous spaces to explore, your guests are sure to be wowed and your photos are sure to be incredible. Having an air-conditioned space to hide out in prior to the ceremony and to keep our personal belongings in was a big bonus. Heather was extremely easy to work with in the lead-up to the wedding. Any time I had a question I got an email response back from her that day if not within the hour. Three days before the wedding one of my officiants tested positive for COVID, and Heather immediately jumped into problem-solving mode, bringing her personal wifi hotspot to the venue so that we could set up an iPad and Facetime for the ceremony. She also coordinated well with our other vendors. Overall, we had the wedding of our dreams at the Botanical Center and I highly recommend other couples take a look!

l labor even the day before and the day after our big event as we dropped off and picked up items for the wedding. The setting was gorgeous for all of our photos, and because of the natural beauty of the space, we didn’t need any decor. Although it was not air-conditioned our guests had a blast and loved partying alongside plants!

cter inside of the building. Heather was very responsive to all emails and helped us with the planning organization.

m your caterer), there is lighting and toilets, etc. With a full service caterer, it was very do-able! Plus most of the local caterers are very familiar with the venue so they know the ins/outs. We had good weather and did an outdoor cocktail hour which was awesome. We did ceremony and dancing in the first room and dinner in the Mediterranean room. Our ceremony was tight and not everyone could see, but we knew that we were over with 145 for the ceremony! The dinner comfortably fit 145 people. Heather was very responsive to us and answered questions promptly. We had someone there for same day support. Everything was great!!

ly and responsive and I would highly recommend the venue to anyone especially if you are getting married off season!

rovidence! The venue was an absolute dream aesthetic-wise and our guests were so impressed. We had the pleasure of working with Heather in coordinating everything and she was so real, personable and always so transparent whenever we had any questions.

wedding at the Casino. It is such a beautiful space with SO MANY nearby landscapes for taking photographs! We used the rose garden and the band stand for some of our pictures and they came out better than I could have ever dreamed. Heather was so down-to-earth and easy to work with and got back to me sometimes within minutes of my emails, even with the tiniest detail-oriented questions. I loved using the downstairs area for cocktail hour and the upstairs for dinner and dancing. It has enough space for large parties and space for a band, a string trio, and a little alcove for the newly weds! I seriously can't rave about this place enough. It was PERFECT for my vintage, Victorian-themed wedding. I felt like an absolute princess all day. And you CAN'T BEAT THE COST!!!

ng went as smoothly as possible for us. You do have to rent everything, but Heather gave us her opinion and made sure we had all in the information we needed before making various choices. We LOVED having our wedding there. The greenhouse is gorgeous and made for the perfect backdrop (especially at night). They shut the whole park down so that the caterers can set up, and the wedding party can get ready. We also rented a tent, and Heather & team made sure we had everything we needed in order to fit the number of guests that we had. I would highly recommend this venue!!!

eyond to make sure everything was set up the way we wanted. When we originally booked the venue in October 2015 we didn't realize it would be decorated for Christmas. He moved all the decorations and poinsettias out of the way that didn't match our wedding decor which I'm sure he had to put back the next day. I would definitely recommend the BC for a winter wedding. It was warm and beautifully lit. People were asking us all night how we found it..even local Rhode Islanders didn't know it was there. We hired Exquisite Events to drape the hallway, add more lighting, and do our ceremony backdrop.

ything I wanted. The coordinator Heather made everything so easy. She has been there for several years and knows exactly what she is doing. She was communicative throughout the process and made sure there were no loose ends on the day of the wedding. We had our cocktail hour downstairs followed by the reception in the upstairs ballroom with a band. We fit 100 people with room to spare and a photo booth! Our guests said that they were stunned by how beautiful the upstairs was when they walked up. The Casino's architecture makes a memorable impression.

ll the perks of a wedding underneath the night stars surrounded by natures beauties, while also having the opportunity to roam around and explore the paths, nooks and crannies brimming with greenery! Our guests were made to feel so comfortable. The team at Botanical Center was wonderful to work with from start to finish. Communication was at times a challenge, what with busy schedules on either end. However, we had nothing to worry about because this venue runs like a well oiled machine! They took such good care of us the day before and the day of our wedding, they made it all so easy for us! Our visions truly came to life in the most awesome setting. We cannot thank the Botanical Center enough for making our wedding perfect! And how special that we can visit time and time again to relive all of the magic!

ich did not seem to fit our style. When we viewed Roger Williams Casino we were instantly sold. The vintage charm of the entire building is what reeled us in. When we first discovered that we would need to get a caterer, we were a bit disappointed because we thought it was going to be a hassle. Looking back, I am so glad that we had the choice because we could pick a caterer that was within our budget that made amazing food (Russell Morin). Heather was awesome throughout the process. Whenever I had a question she responded quickly and provided some great suggestions. There was a minor hiccup when scheduling our wedding pictures at The Temple to Music but Heather quickly remediated it. When booking, Heather warned us that there was a potential that the gazebo outside could be closed as it was due to be repaired. We decided to take the chance and it was in fact closed when it came time for our wedding. Initially we were disappointed but when I arrived on the day of our wedding, the downstairs in front of the fireplace was setup so beautifully. I would not change it even if I could! But the good news is the gazebo will be repaired for anyone getting married after us! The Roger Williams Casino was also convenient in that we did not have to rent tables and chairs. The tables and chairs that they have there went perfectly with the room. There are also so many photograph opportunities within the park!

ng areas were a great backdrop, and the interior of the conservatory and green house were absolutely gorgeous. The staff at the center are great to work with, they went above and beyond to make the evening work.

next to the building, near the water, under the gazebo, etc. Beautiful location; people couldn't stop talking about the decorative ceiling. Heather was wonderful to work with as well.

eception, although it also had really beautiful gazebo and outdoor areas for a ceremony. It's owned by the City of Providence, so is actually a great value, AND if you're a Providence resident, there's an additional discount. Heather was our main point of contact and she was absolutely fantastic to work with. She was extremely responsive over email throughout the year leading up to the wedding, often getting back to me on questions (sometimes pretty long lists!) as they arose, usually the same day. She handled all of the permits, drew multiple different layouts for tables, and gave a lot of guidance (when I asked for it - and didn't if I didn't). Heather was happy to let me and others come by to review details of dimensions, layouts, permits, etc as needed as long as we could coordinate ahead of time. I'd wanted pictures at the Temple to Music in the park and before I'd done more than mention it to Heather she had me in the book and the permit all taken care of. We worked with Heather up through the day before the wedding, and then the caterers took over for day-of-coordination (she and they had coordinated separately on all of the details of execution). Helpful info: the casino is relatively small. If you want more than 150 people, you might have to get creative or look to another space. There are two floors and a large porch. Our reception was cocktail-style (table space for everyone but no set seating plan, seats for 75% at any time). The cocktail hour was on the porch and in the downstairs - both downstairs and upstairs had a bar and downstairs had a great place to lay out the guest quilt (v. guest book) and picture frames we'd wanted to display. The lawn isn't too huge but it was big enough for a few lawn games. We didn't use the gazebo but it's beautiful. Also note, there's a full kitchen, but you would need to bring in your own caterer. Heather had a bunch of suggestions of ones she worked with (we used Blackstone - they were great), but never tried to pressure us towards one or another and gave her observations when we asked (but not otherwise) - because she works for the city she doesn't work from commission, so there was never a hard sell for one vendor or another - she truly just wanted us to be able to have the wedding we envisioned...and we definitely did There was one thing at the end of the night that I don't think was handled very well, but I don't think it was the casino or Heather's fault at all. We'd coordinated with Heather the day before the wedding that we could pick all of the items up early the next morning. However, the caterers started gathering everything up to be loaded up and taken home at the end of the night, which caused a bit of a scramble since that wasn't really the plan. I'm not sure if the caterers just assumed we'd be taking everything but there was clearly miscommunication and it was a bit awkward when there was obviously a scramble to the point that some guests that were still there were offering to help pack stuff up. It wasn't handled very well but I don't think it was Heather or the casino's fault, but it definitely was a miscommunication with the caterer. Still - that was really the only thing that happened that wasn't remotely according to plan

ather was great and answered all of my questions - she was a huge help! They even have a stunning wooden arch you can use at no cost! We opted to put pipe and drape at the end of the aisle so I was hidden before walking down the aisle, and when that curtain opened and I saw how stunningly gorgeous everything was I was weak in the knees! It was so beautiful it barely need any decor. It was hot but there's a nice cross breeze from keeping the doors open. I loved everything about the venue - it was simply breathtaking!

ho had a lot of questions and Heather was always extremely helpful and prompt with her replies, always giving her input from past experiences on any question or concern I had. On the day of the wedding she was there for the entire reception and everything ran smoothly. She set up and reserved times for us to take photos at different areas in the park and made sure we were able to use each photo site we at wanted. The casino was the only venue I looked at, I had always known it was where I wanted to have my wedding and my husband and I were 100% satisfied. I would highly recommend both Roger Williams Park Casino and Heather Manning!!! :) xo

ious (which was amazing for us both). However, between the time we signed our contract (Jan 2012) and our wedding (Oct 2013), the outside paint and railings really started to fall apart (partially post Sandy) and so we didn't have the gorgeous outside pictures we hoped for/envisioned. They were supposed to fix it in the summer so we thought it would be done before our wedding, but it got delayed and was not fixed for our big day. The city ultimately gave us a very partial refund so they were accommodating, but still a little disappointing. The staff were helpful and not too intense so we enjoyed working with them and site-based planning didn't feel stressful. They were easy going with us leaving stuff before/picking it up after, and overall were really great. The space is gorgeous and photographs beautifully and we loved it for having 125 people with a dance floor, bar and dessert bar. Would do it again there even with the cosmetic issues--and for anyone getting married in 2014, the outside will be fixed and I'm sure will be AMAZING.

fore the Big Day and we were able to get in for a rehearsal when it was raining. I had originally planned for an outdoor wedding at the Gazebo and then the reception inside but Mother Nature had a different plan. Our ceremony and reception were both inside and it couldn't have been more perfect. See my reviews of Conte Sound Production, Kristen Conte and Russell Morin Catering

tions! Even though we had to do some extra work finding caterers and rent everything for the venue (which made our overall cost a little higher) the venue itself makes the extra work worth it. The staff at the park was very helpful the day before, day of and the day after the wedding. The venue is a little small - we invited 160 but only had about 130 guests. I'm happy that we had so many people that couldn't make it because I think 130 fit very comfortably, any more and it would have gotten tight.

tanical center was the fact that it is so well decorated on its own, which meant we really didn't have to do much to dress it up. We were able to keep our decorating very simple, which was great for our setup and breakdown crew and it was nice on our wallets too. Our photographer had so much fun taking photos in and around this unique space and was able to get some truly amazing photos that couldn't hold a candle to photos taken at other venues. Part of that was the photographer, but part of it was the botanical center itself. Our wedding was on a hot 90 degree day, but the humidity was very low. We had all doors open and a few big fans running and the bathrooms were air conditioned. We warned our guests ahead of time about the possibility of being warm, so most had prepared themselves for the heat. Our guests did step outside or stand in front of a fan at times, but it didn't take away from the fun of the whole night. People were socializing and dancing the whole time. We had so many compliments on this venue and we know our wedding will stand out in people's memories for years to come because of the venue that we selected. Just watch the weather ahead of time and be sure to warn guests and rent extra fans if the weather is hot.

e best way to reach them was by email, and Heather always replied quickly. She was very helpful throughout the process (even helped with the layout of the tables). There were some glitches. For example we paid extra to have the building open an hour earlier, but had to hunt down an employee to find a key on the wedding day! We used a caterer that wasn’t on the recommended list, and Heather was very accommodating to work with him. On the day of the wedding, she was around to open the door to the bridal suite and was generally very helpful; she even helped us clean up! The casino is beautiful with high ceilings, hardwood floors and gilding. The grounds are in Park which is gorgeous and varied (great for photos –especially the Temple of Music). We would recommend having your wedding at the Casino, as long as you’re okay with slightly more hassle. The price is a steal for the ambience and fair for the service.

e the space was. We just used the Botanical Gardens for our reception, and the two rooms worked beautiful to separate cocktail hour and the sit down dinner. This was the perfect option to get the outdoor feeling without having to risk bad weather ruining the event. Perfect option for someone who wants to get away from your typical ballroom wedding. The only "difficult" part was that there was little flexibility in how to set up the event since so many of the plants/fountains etc. can't be moved.

ured that everything flowed. The ceremony was at the bandstand- I could have not asked for a better backdrop. The nature provided a perfect setting with the old bandstand, giving an etheral feel to the wedding. Our guests felt transported to another world as they entered the site. People still rave about it! I always joked about wanting the ballroom from Beauty and the Beast as my wedding site. Well, the Casino gave me that!

tion and dancing upstairs and it created a small dance floor. The venue could use a bit of a touch up- esp. paint job- but at night I don't think anyone noticed. Staff and value were great!

delighted by how quick she would respond to our inquiries and requests. In fact, I don’t live in Rhode Island so when I needed a vendor, I would call her up, describe what I needed and she would point me in the right direction. On our wedding day the venue was perfect. It rendered beautiful images and all our guests had a wonderful time. For the price, we couldn’t have gotten better in RI. Plus it felt VERY different than a ballroom in just any old hotel.

2011 and it looked like a dream. Cocktail hour was on the bottom floor of the casino and the reception was upstairs in the ballroom - which is breathtaking. It was a great size, and air conditioned inside.

flexible and down to earth. A beautiful venue that offers so much for so little. The casino (which isn't really a casino, but a big brick house) is set in Roger Williams Park between the Japanese Garden and the Rose Garden--couldn't pick a more beautiful place! There is also the convenience of having a ceremony site right behind the house on a small lake. Definitely would recommend to other brides!

ave been nice. Building staff day-of got things mostly right--there were a few small glitches that went unnoticed by everyone but me.

essed!

he location sells itself! They were willing to work with us on various things, including extending the reception time on the day of.

had dinner upstairs and dancing and cocktails downstairs. People enjoyed the porches all night long. It was a great vintage setting for a wedding. We felt like we got a lot for the value. All the of the historic venues we looked at were a few $1000 more and did not include tables and chairs.

ots in RI where you can provide your own liquor which gives you complete freedom to bring everything you know your guests will enjoy. Someone recently donated 200 gold chivari chairs -which provides a great upgrade that comes with the very reasonable rental rates. We choose early March and opted for an additional hour - it was perfect!

ugh that historic means that there will be issues you can't fix. My guests got way too warm during the reception, but nothing could be done. The ladies room broke during the reception. Luckily there was another in the basement, but it was a pain. Thankfully my guests were understanding. The paint on the wrap around porch was chipped and you can tell in the photos, but again, historic. Being in the park allowed us to take all photos there and my guests and wedding party really appreciated not having to drive/be driven to multiple locations. I would do it all over again. Great value for the money!

or due to possible hurricane), she called back same-day. The building is gorgeous, both inside and outside, though some spots could use touch-ups. These, however, were only visible when we took the time to scrutinize, not at first glance. As our wedding was late in the season, there weren't a lot of flowers blooming in front. We had our ceremony on the lawn and I wished we had come the day before and raked - I wound up with a lot of leaves in my train. Easily removed, but I think it would've been nicer if they hadn't been there at all. The inside of the space is beautiful. High, frescoed ceilings that let in a lot of light. Highly recommend it.

nd sometimes lack of made things frustrating at times. Everything did come together at the end!