San Antonio Botanical Garden
Set your company meeting or social event apart by celebrating at the San Antonio Botanical Garden. Conveniently located minutes from downtown San Antonio, this 38-acre urban oasis offers you and your
guests an escape from the hustle and bustle of city life to a peaceful world of beauty and wonder.
Now featuring its newest state-of-the-art indoor/outdoor venue, The Betty Kelso Center. Its surrounding windows, sliding glass doors and patio overlook the grandeur and uniqueness of the Greehey Lawn.
Book your event now.
rentthegarden@sabot.org | 210.536.1409 | sabot.org
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Pricing details
Starting prices
Reception:
$2,500
Ceremony:
$750
Bar services:
Contact for price
Catering:
Contact for price
Starting prices don't include service fees, taxes, gratuity, and rental fees. Guest count and seasonality may also affect prices. Peak season for this venue is Mar-May and Sept-Nov.
Amenities + details
Amenities
Ceremony Area
Covered Outdoors Space
Dressing Room
Handicap Accessible
Indoor Event Space
Liability Insurance
On-Site Accommodations
Outdoor Event Space
Reception Area
Wireless Internet
Guest Capacity
300+
Any questions?
Availability
Reviews
4.6
out of 5.042 reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.
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Emmie C
3.0
4/19/2025
I had my wedding at the Betty Kelso Center in March. The venue is beautiful for sure, especially in the spring. However, the events team at the botanical gardens was extremely hard to reach throughout the wedding planning process, even for simple questions. I would hear back usually not for a week after I would send an email with a simple question. This was very difficult for obvious reasons, but especially since I was planning this wedding from out of town! One time, we hadn’t heard back in a long time and we needed a question answered for another vendor asap, so I had to send my mom in person to get someone to talk to us. I totally understand that we were not their only event, but for the amount we spent to rent the venue for 1 night, we should’ve been treated in a more professional and timely way! They also have many additional rules for renting their venue. I didn’t ever feel like they were on my team, trying to help me with my wedding if that makes sense. Lastly, one of our family friends who was helping clean up after the wedding got scratched by something at the venue. She was okay but had moderate pain after the injury. The representative at SABOT was so focused on making sure they wouldn’t be held liable that they made her fill out tons of paper work and were asking her many questions while she was in pain. I understand their need to make sure they didn’t get sued but the paperwork was excessive and the way they handled that was not kind and caring. All that to say, the pictures were beautiful from our wedding and the grounds are pretty, but definitely take into consideration these things before booking the San Antonio Botanical Garden for an event.
Kristen M
5.0
1/04/2025
Getting married here was always a dream for me when I first visited years ago. There's no shortage of photo ops and you're able to get your engagement photos done there as well as it's part of the contract. We got married in October, 2024 at the Betty Kelso Center. The ceremony spot is gorgeous and had plenty of flowers in the background still, even for fall. The reception hall is perfect, too. It's mostly glass, so you're able to see the gardens anywhere you look in the hall. Keep in mind that if if it's important to you to get photos at the conservatory, make sure you do them before the ceremony. They close at 6pm and we thought we would have time after the ceremony, but it was already locked up. However, we still got plenty of amazing shots. My only feedback is that I wish Tripleseat was a better website to use. It's where most of the communication leading up to the wedding takes place and I found that communications got lost quite a bit and found myself having to resend messages, because they didn't go through for whatever reason. However, the staff is super kind and professional and didn't have any issues getting the information that I needed outside of the tech issues with Tripleseat.
Any questions?
Taylor S
5.0
12/21/2024
Staff were very helpful and informative. It rained the day of the wedding but they had a Plan B and it was done seamlessly. I would definitely recommend this venue. I would give them 10 stars.
Mary B
4.0
12/16/2021
TL;DR: it would be difficult to find a more beautiful and unique venue than SABOT, but be aware that it is a more difficult venue than average to plan with.
Our wedding took place in the Amphitheater, Conservatory, and Culinary Garden areas. The venue's beautiful setting saved us time and money on decorations, though other aspects, such as catering and equipment were more DIY than dedicated wedding venues. We signed our initial contract pre-covid, and coordination was a bumpy ride after that. We were planning from out of town, so resources such as pictures of the space and floorplans or dimensions were hard to acquire. The Garden also went through some changes to their event coordination staff, which made communication difficult. They also changed the terms of our contract as their events policies were updated, ultimately stripping us of rehearsal time the night before the wedding, as well as the dressing rooms at the venue, all of which were promised in our contract and paid for. They did find us new dressing rooms, but the groomsmen's was quite small and uncomfortable. They also held another event in the Culinary Garden, a space that we had rented, over part of the time we had rented it. We didn’t end up using the Culinary Garden but would have if there had been inclement weather on our wedding day.
Note that they have a shortlist of approved caterers and rentals that you are required to choose from, and that your catering company will have to bring or rent you extra equipment if you book a space without a kitchen.
Faith B
5.0
10/27/2021
The San Antonio Botanical Gardens was an absolutely amazing place to get married at! The Greehey Lawn was the perfect place for our ceremony, and the Betty Kelso Center was an amazing space for our reception. If you are looking for a modern garden space for your wedding, look no further!
Dina M
5.0
6/17/2021
The new Betty Kelso Center was stunning and the staff were great to work with. I had lots of questions and Cathy was super understanding and informative. I would definitely have another event there. The grounds were clean and well maintained. The staff helped our vendors with everything they needed. This is such a great asset for San Antonio.
paulina c
5.0
4/26/2021
WOW!!! Best venue ever. Our daughter's wedding was held at the Betty Kelso Center and Grehey lawn. The whole place was stunning. Working with Cathy from the very beginning to the end was wonderful. Even after the deep freeze where most of San Antonio looks brown and plants are dead, the gardens were in full bloom, plants were well kept and we couldn't have asked for a better venue to celebrate this very special day.
Elizabeth C
5.0
1/05/2020
When looking for venues. They were quick to answer any questions I had.
Emilio M
5.0
8/29/2019
While my Event at the Botanical Garden wasn't a wedding, I still feel I need to share my opinion of the amazing facilities they have to offer! We held a baptism reception in the Discovery Classrooms available to rent and the venue was immaculate! Very Clean space and the included amenities just made it that much more worth it. Shimeyka Olivares, the Special Events Manager, was extremely helpful in getting this event planned and reserved for our special day. Her staff was helpful in the set up of the room as well as any one-off questions we had. We will definitely be looking forward to planning our next event with Shimeyka and the Botanical Garden.
Jacob S
5.0
8/25/2019
The San Antonio Botanical Garden provided us with a fantastic wedding experience, one that our families and guests will never forget! After being stood up by a different vendor for a venue tour, we took to the web looking for alternatives. That's when we found the Botanical Gardens. The very same day, Shimeyka told us to come see the venue, and we were blown away. The location is stunningly beautiful, highly unique, enormous, and affordable. They have so much to offer, the possibilities are limitless. Furthermore, working with Shimeyka was fantastic as she is helpful, professional, and personable. All throughout planning and executing the wedding, this venue delivered on the promise of being LGBT friendly. My husband and I felt so welcome and supported. We are truly thankful to Shimeyka and all the staff for helping to make our dream wedding come true.
response 08/26/2019
I do not have enough words to describe what a pleasure it was helping you two make your da...
y memorable. I love - LOVE!. Love has not color, gender, or age. I wish you both a lifetime of happiness.
Brianna L
5.0
8/25/2019
SA Botanical Garden was one of our top choices for venues and we’re happy we stuck with it. Our coordinator was very helpful every step of the way, including day of the wedding! The location we chose was around the general public, but everyone was very kind and respectful about clearing the area when it was time for the wedding to begin. In the end we were very satisfied with our decision, we would highly recommend it.
response 08/26/2019
I am so HAPPY your day was perfect. I know sometimes it gets a little tricky having a cere...
mony during opening hours but honestly it always works out. I wish you both a happy and long marriage. I hope to see you around the garden soon.
Sylvia S
5.0
7/18/2019
The Botanical Gardens is a beautiful venue for your wedding. It’s natural beauty is picture perfect!
response 08/22/2019
Thank you so much for taking the time to give us a 5star review. It was such an honor to ...
be part of your special day. I wish you all the best.
Jayme M
5.0
7/01/2019
We had our wedding ceremony here and it was perfect! Not only was it like 70% cheaper than using a wedding venue, but it was so beautiful. There were already beautiful flowers and greenery everywhere so I did not have to worry about a florist, and we had so many gorgeous built in photo spots between the outdoor spaces and the greenhouses. The event staff were so kind and helpful and made the process painless for us. They even had a event coordinator on site for the event to help with set-up and directions so that we did not have to worry about it day-of. If you are a thrifty bride and are looking for a way to save money without sacrificing location, this is such a great spot!
response 08/22/2019
Hi Jayme! You're awesome. Thank you so much for the great review. You're wedding day was ...
absolutely perfect. I loved all the beautiful photos. I wish you both all the best. Stay in touch and be sure to keep visiting the garden.
Courtney J
5.0
6/30/2019
I loved visiting SABOT already, so hosting my wedding reception in the conservatory there just made sense. I could not have picked a better venue!! They are so accommodating, and Shimeyka gave me resources that helped me plan the party myself (which I was so nervous to do)! Everyone loved it. All the vendors and all the guests. Even people who weren’t invited have been messaging me asking where we went! Our photos from that night are stunning. In mid June my Mom kept saying it would be too hot, but at night it was just fine. The space accommodated catering, an Airstream Bar, an LED Dance Floor, Photobooth, Video Presentation and all the works! This was in every way the most perfect venue- and will be even more fun for me to visit now!
response 08/22/2019
Courtney, you're a Rockstar! I absolutely loved all your wedding photos at the garden. And...
how awesome and memorable was your ceremony on top of a mountain and then celebrating at a garden. You really know how to make memories.
Sarah R
5.0
4/24/2019
Shimeyka the coordinator was great! We got married in April and although a bit warm it worked for a short ceremony. Flowers and greenery were in bloom and it was beautiful. We took a chance against the rain and it was fine- although we provided our guests with fans due to the heat and no shade (in the conservatory). Going through the vendor list provided by botanical was a little tough because you’re limited, but overall proved to be a good experience.
response 08/22/2019
Hi Sarah,
Thank you! Thank you! The kind words made me blush. I appreciate the outstandin...
g review. I'm sorry you had a little bit of a tough time with the approved vendor list. We have a great list of vendor and keep it short because we know them and trust they are going to do a wonderful job and are very professional and they show great customer services, which is super important to me. With that said, I am so happy you had a perfect day. Please stay in touch and hope you visit us again soon.
Kayla J
2.0
4/16/2019
So the only reason I'm giving two stars is because it is a lovely venue for pictures and the natural greeny is a perfect romantic setting. That being said it was an aweful experience. The lady who showed me around and helped me book the area I wanted was very sweet and helpful so I really thought it would be a lovely experience. The day off came and they had the misters turned on in the room I rented during my ceremony time. Everything was soaking wet and we had to rush around to find someone to shut them off so we could even enter the room. They told my guest and officiant that the wedding was supposed to be at 11 am when my contract clearly stated 2pm to 3pm. I was told if my ceremony ran late we would be kicked out even though it was their fault it was starting late. The people at the front desk were clueless and unhelpful when my maid of Honor asked them for help with the sprinkler/mister situation. They were all clearly more concerned with the larger ceremony that they were setting up for. So if your looking for a small intimate ceremony or an elopement know that they dont care about your day in the least and will muck things up for you. Only if you're planning a larger ceremony will they take you seriously. If not for my guest stepping up to help reorganize everything then my day would have been a disaster. I would not recommend them.
response 04/17/2019
My sincerest apologies that you did not have a wonderful experience and the San Antonio Bo...
tanical Garden did not meet your expectations. It is not in our practice to show less than a 5-star service. Per my email, I hope we were able to make it right by offering you a full refund. With that said, it pleases us that you have such a great support system and they were able to help make your day memorable. We hope you will once again visit the San Antonio Botanical Garden.
Jennifer G
5.0
4/03/2019
I loved having our ceremony at the Botanical Gardens. Shimeyka (event coordinator) was extremely helpful and responsive. The day of the staff was super helpful and my ceremony was so beautiful. I could have asked for anything more.
response 04/24/2019
Thank you Jennifer for the kind words. We are so happy your day was perfect. Please rememb...
er us for your anniversary.
Courtney B
5.0
12/12/2018
Beautiful scenery and a great location for an intimate affair or even a grand celebration. The staff are extremely helpful and the rental is affordable and accommodating.
response 04/24/2019
We are so happy you had a wonderful and memorable experience. Thank you for your kind word...
s.
Alexandra L
5.0
12/07/2018
This is an absolutely gorgeous venue! Shimeyka (venue coordinator) is wonderful to work with -- incredibly responsive, always willing to be super helpful, and very friendly. We loved having full (private) use of the Gardens for our wedding evening. We held the ceremony in the amphitheater followed by cocktail hour in another area and a dinner reception in the conservatory courtyard. Our guests raved about being able to go into the conservatory greenhouses throughout the reception. You do have to bring in all rentals, etc., from outside (only the space is provided), and vendors must be from an approved vendor list, but there are quality vendors on that list (and those vendors are experienced working in the Garden's space, so that's helpful). Rain plans are somewhat limited -- there is an old event tent on-site, and the classroom space can be rented for an additional fee (or you can pay a rental company to set up a nice tent for your event), but we were fortunate to have beautiful weather. The location is very convenient -- easy access to Lyft/Uber for our guests. This is a truly beautiful venue and it was a great place to host our wedding.
response 12/07/2018
Thank you Alexandra for the kind words. You were such a delight to work with. I wish you b...
oth a happy journey together. Please visit soon.
Alexandra K
1.0
11/14/2018
The WORST possible event venue we could have chosen. Shimeyka, the Special Events and Rentals Manager, is a nightmare to work with...
I could not get in contact with her, and even the week of my wedding was difficult. She did not contact us after we booked the venue, 9 months in advance, until I begged her to call me. She did not listen to my feedback regarding the way the night went. She was awful and is supposedly the only event coordinator for the SABOT, so I'm telling you... take your money elsewhere. While the gardens are SO beautiful, she made the experience the WORST.
response 11/14/2018
I’m sorry you feel this way. Having served as a professional in the industry for over 20 y...
ears, I strive to provide excellent customer service to all of my clients, including you. As such, I have always been available via phone and email, even answering your emails within one hour and on my days off. My staff and I did everything possible to create an excellent experience at the Garden on your wedding day. If you have constructive criticism regarding specific details that did not satisfy our agreement, please email me directly and I will be glad to address those with you.
Brittany M
5.0
11/05/2018
Beautiful backdrop, wonderful people to work with!
Adriana G
4.0
7/11/2018
Great space, great price!
Jennifer B
4.0
4/03/2018
The venue is gorgeous for a March Wedding! The only reason I did not give it 5 stars is there is no place for the bride to put on her gown at the site. I had to put it on in a dirty bathroom. There was not any place for me to drop my bag and extra stuff either. It was placed in a locker that was inside an office that I had to chase down a security guard every time I wanted to get something. Otherwise it was a gorgeous location.
Julia C
5.0
12/12/2017
We loved everything about our experience at the Botanical Gardens. We did our ceremony and reception at this venue, and it all turned out beautifully. They do many weddings a year and are on point, professional, and know what they are doing. Shimeyka was easy to work with and always responded quickly to my many questions. The ceremony, at the Westeria Arbor, was beautiful and easy to get to from the room that we got ready in. The ceremony, at the conservatory, was also beautiful. The venue had a coordinator on site that was easily available. The drawback from the venue is that they did not provide rentals, and we had to pay extra for the rentals. Also, because it is a city owned venue, there were a few extra restrictions such as no extra flower petals or open flames, but it was nothing we couldn't live without. We were very happy with the entire experience at the venue and loved our entire wedding weekend.
Etzna G
5.0
12/06/2017
We loved having our ceremony there. It is such a beautiful place and the communication with the San Antonio Botanical Garden's was easy considering I was planning our wedding from Illinois. Our guests enjoyed it and thought it was a beautiful location.
Priscilla R
5.0
12/05/2017
The San Antonio Botanical Garden is a special hidden treasure in downtown San Antonio. I knew the first time I stepped foot that this was exactly the place I'd been searching for! There were so many locations within the garden to choose for our ceremony and reception. Shimeyka was extremely helpful and pleasant to work with. She helped make my vision a reality!
Melissa M
5.0
10/18/2017
The gardens were a beautiful backdrop for my wedding. There were many options and areas available to explore. The staff was attentive, helpful, and friendly. Could not have picked a better venue.
Lindsey B
5.0
5/17/2017
Wow! The Gardens were so perfect for our big day! Shimikya was so great, she is honestly one of the reasons we chose the gardens. I have been recommending it to every bride I know! All of our guests could not stop talking about how beautiful everything was the day of! We had plenty of room in the bridal suit with all 11 of my flower girls! (Yes 11). It was the perfect backdrop to our big day and we couldn't be more thankful for everything the staff and Shimikya did!
Moriah M
5.0
4/11/2017
Our ceremony was absolutely fantastic. We had so many positive responses from our guests who were able to explore the gardens before and after our short ceremony. Shimeyka is quick to respond and set up all that you may need. Getting married at the Botanical Gardens was perfect for our small/medium (80 guests) morning ceremony, and came at a fantastic/reasonable price. I'd highly recommend this location to any bride/groom-to-be!
Lisa K
5.0
3/15/2017
Our daughter's wedding was perfectly beautiful. The spectacular setting of the San Antonio Botanical Garden set the tone that this would be a sophisticated, colorful event surrounded and embraced by nature. We chose the Conservatory area. It is entered by a long, terraced stairway -- perfect for our bridal party being led down the aisle by the majesty of a bagpiper. The altar was set in front of a pond, and the tables (and DJ) were set under a covered walkway that is open to the pond on one side, and to soaring glass architectural 'greenhouses' which contained exotic ferns, orchids and cacti. Shimeyka Olivares, the Special Events Manager, was a delight to work with. In fact, we nicknamed her "Wonder Woman"! We were absolutely and perfectly satisfied, and highly recommend this venue.
Lynn W
5.0
11/30/2016
SA Botanical Gardens really made our wedding the special day it was! We were planning it from Northern Virginia so you might think that would make things a little frustrating but this was not the case with our beautiful venue! Shimeyka was our go to contact and she made the entire planning process as smooth as butter! She was very quick to respond to any and all of our questions, whether made by phone or email. She was ALWAYS so kind and so happy which was such a comfort to my stressed out wedding brain. She was genuinely interested in us and what our particular hopes and dreams were and she did the best to accommodate our quirky requests. Shimeyka was happy to offer us a list of recommended caterers, officiants, flowers, cake shops, and music options. We had a very small, lovely ceremony at the Amphitheater with a Flamenco guitarist and a wedding arch we made with Fiesta flowers. We arrived in TX a week before the wedding and scheduled a walk through with Shimeyka. She walked us around the entire gardens, so happily, pointing out places she thought would be great for photo ops! November was absolutely beautiful at the Gardens and we recommend the Amphitheater and other locations within to everyone looking for a perfect day to remember always. Thank you again Shimeyka and SABG! We'll never forget you. <3
Lynn and Jeff White
Veronica R
5.0
11/03/2016
When trying to decide where to hold my ceremony I knew I wanted an outdoor venue and a beautiful setting. The SA Botanical Gardens was perfect. With all the blooms and beautiful landscaping there is no need for added decoration. It was absolutely lovely and quiet and just the perfect setting to start our lives together.
Elizabeth L
5.0
10/03/2016
The Botanical Garden is a unique and underutilized outdoor event space for a wedding ceremony and reception in central San Antonio. If you are confident in trusting the weather, I could imagine no other place to have your wedding. The garden staff was extremely accommodating and helpful. I would perhaps wait until they finish construction, because it did cause some challenges for load in and set up. Besides that, it was perfect!
Molly C
5.0
7/23/2016
himeyka and Erin at the Gardens were a joy and pleasure to work with. My husband and I had many special memories at the Botanical Gardens so when we got engaged it was top on our list of venues. We decided that venue, budget, and inclusivity of services was important for us and when we learned about the Auld House package at the Bridal Expo my bridesmaids, and the mothers and I knew we had a winner! Upon the first meeting with Shimeyka and Erin we were pleased with how they kindly answered all our questions and concerns. Erin (the Bistro) thought of everything when it came to decor and catering and Shimekya went over and above to make our day special. We will forever remember our day in large part to the hard work of the garden staff. I would highly recommend the San Antonio Botanical Gardens without reservations !
Lauren M
5.0
4/14/2014
Let me lead in with...it rained on our wedding day. But the Botanical Gardens were still able to accommodate us and help us find a covered location that was still outdoors, so our guests could enjoy the scenery and not get drenched. We had our wedding the last week of March, and the flowers were absolutely glorious. The formal gardens were the backdrop for our family photos, and we did a first look in the Exhibit Room and all the pictures came out amazing. Marisa was our go-to for event coordination, and she made everything such a breeze. The price was worth every penny spent for us.
Cali D
5.0
5/28/2013
I chose this location due to its beautiful scenery and its close proximity to our other locations for venue and hotel. It was perfect and absolutely breathtaking for pictures and the summer. Our ceremony was in May and we specifically used the Rose Garden. No other decorations were needed as the garden was enough! Highly recommend for those in search of romantic outdoor wedding.
Yvette H
5.0
11/06/2012
We were looking for a place for an out door wedding and this placed worked perfect. There were many areas to choose from and staff there worked great with us. Only down side to using this place was we had to use their one and only rental company for chairs. I think we could of gotten a better price some where else but had to use them.
Maggie s
5.0
10/21/2012
The conservatory made for an excellent backdrop for our ceremony, it was just perfect!
Roberta M
2.0
9/13/2012
numerous times I tried to contact the coordinator and I was never able to get hold of one or get a phone call back
Dinorah F
5.0
8/02/2011
We had the ceremony and reception both at the Conservatory, the ceremony in front of the pond, me coming down the stairs that come from the outside of the conservatory and the reception in the covered area, all with the plants, the crystal tower and the sky as background, it was beautiful and everyone enjoyed it.
It is not a private venue so there are some restrictions to take into consideration, but it is manageable. The venue itself is a decoration so we did not need to get much to make it look as good as it looked, only small bases and little candles on the bar type tables and medium size bases on the dining tables.
Great place and most of our guest although residents of San Antonio, confessed that have never been there before and loved it.
Christy B
5.0
8/09/2010
The staff was courteous and responsive, the pricing was affordable ... and you just can't beat the beautiful, natural surrounding for the ceremony and pictures. All of my guests raved, and many stayed afterward to enjoy the garden.
Jamye S
5.0
9/08/2007
The conservatory is absolutely picturesque, and has a wide variety of areas to suit different tastes and functions - from the wide-open grassy area for the wedding party, to cozy nooks for guest dining.;You must provide your own catering AND table/chairs. Have a back-up plan in case of rain. Although much of the area is protected, there is enough open area that would warrant a tent in case of rain (luckily our day was a dry one). Also, there is only 'natural' air conditioning (October is a good time of year, but probably not July unless you like it hot or bring in fans)
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