Best Time to Schedule a Wedding
Garden weddings may be scheduled on Saturdays starting the last Saturday in May through the first Saturday in October . Peak flower bloom is mid-June through mid-September. The average date of the first heavy fall frost is around the middle of October, but can be highly variable.
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Ceremony Locations Offered
You may choose from the waterfall/pond area or the gazebo. Staff can provide examples of previous weddings to help you make that decision.
Ceremony Locations Offered
You may choose from the waterfall/pond area or the gazebo area.
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Reservations
You may reserve the garden up to one year before your wedding. Summer weekends tend to book quickly, so call the District Headquarters at (217) 586-3360 to check availability.
Payment for Reservations
Simply return payment with the signed Rental Agreement and Wedding Information Form to the Headquarters Office. Checks should be made out to the Champaign County Forest Preserve District or CCFPD. MasterCard and Visa are also accepted.
Reservations Include
- Three-hour time block (11am-2pm or 3:30pm-6:30pm)
- One-hour rehearsal
- Bridal dressing room
- Extension cords
- 100 chairs that are set up & taken down
- Guestbook stand
- Staff will be present to assist your group.
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Other Services Offered
- Use of enclosed pavilion (if available) as a rain backup at a discounted rate.
- Use of enclosed pavilion (if available) as a reception location at a discounted rate.
- Additional chair rental in increments of 50.
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Bridal Dressing Room
This private dressing room offers:
- Air-conditioning
- Dorm-size refrigerator
- Shelf and counter space
- Comfortable seating
- Make-up mirror
- Full-length mirror
- Clothes rack
- Private restroom
You may use the dressing room anytime during your designated three-hour time block. It is likely there may be a wedding party following yours, so in consideration of the next group, it is imperative that all personal belongings be removed from the room by the end of your time block. Please designate this responsibility to someone in your party.
The facility is located in the rear of the Rayburn-Purnell restroom building. You will likely want to arrange for transportation from the dressing room to the wedding site. Be sure the driver knows where the dressing room is and when to be there. For your sanity, provide copies of District maps to all in your party so they know where the dressing room and wedding site are located.
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Rehearsal
We offer two time slots (5-6 p.m. or 6-7 p.m.) for rehearsal on the Friday before your ceremony. There will be a staff member present at the rehearsal to help with any questions. Please confirm your rehearsal time when making your reservation to avoid conflicting with another party.
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Helping Your Guests Find the Location
We can provide a Lake of the Woods map that you are welcome to duplicate. There is also a detailed map of the garden available. Both maps are on our website.
Please note: The museum parking lot is about two blocks north of the wedding site; your guests will have an unnecessarily long walk if they park there.
Parking
Parking should be head-in, on the parking lots and on the grass along both sides of the access roads to the garden. A staff member will be on hand to assist in getting the first arrivals parked. Please note that staff will be unable to continue to park cars, as they are to be available for the needs of the wedding party. If you have a large guest list and are anticipating a large amount of vehicles, you should plan to provide additional help to get everyone parked.
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Accessibility
Please feel welcome to drive in and drop someone off at the wedding site. We ask that you move the vehicle clear of the immediate site for the ceremony in case we would need emergency access. Staff will indicate nearby parking areas. Accessible restrooms are available about a block east of the garden.
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Limousines or Horse-Drawn Carriages
Limousines and carriages have been used extensively in the garden. If your driver has not been here before, he or she should drive through ahead of the date to check clearances and the layout of the garden. Longer chassis limos may be restricted on the way they enter and depart the garden. There are entrances and areas behind the waterfall where they can wait, out of sight, to make a grand entry to pick up the wedding party. Please check with your horse-drawn carriage provider to make sure they have filed the proper insurance requirements with our Headquarters Office.
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Visitor Interference
This should not be a concern. You will find that garden visitors immediately perceive a wedding is in progress and are quite respectful. Staff is also on hand to guarantee your reservation.
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Decorations
You may decorate the garden as long as the decorations are removed promptly after the ceremony. There are trash cans near the entryway. Attachment of decorations is to be made with tape or floral wire; NO staples, tacks or nails, please.
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Photographs
Many couples choose to take their photographs before the ceremony. This seems to work well, but it is your choice. There are many, many photo opportunities in the garden. Please take full advantage of them! You should also check with your photographer to make sure he or she has a District photographer's permit on file at our Headquarters Office.
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Electricity
There are standard electrical outlets at the site. All are GFI-protected for your safety. Staff will indicate their locations. Sound systems, speakers, etc. are not provided by the District.
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Telephone
There is not a telephone available. In the event of an emergency, you will need to use a personal cell phone to dial 9-1-1. The location address is 600 N. Lombard, Mahomet.
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Music
You may certainly have music; we have had various types. Keyboards or recorded music may be used. The District reserves the right to limit volume of amplified music.
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Chair Setup
When both time slots are reserved for one day, the number of chairs set up will be for the larger of the two weddings. A standard setup has been established for the waterfall/pond area as well as the gazebo area. Please contact Headquarters to see pictures of the chair setup.
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District Staff
Staff will stay in the vicinity to assist you and your wedding party should you have any questions as well as getting guests started parking, and monitor the garden entryway and bridal dressing room. Staff will be there until the ceremony is over and you are on your way.
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More Information
For more information, visit our Headquarters, located at the HI-Tower in Lake of the Woods Preserve, call (217) 586-3360 or e-mail hq@ccfpd.org. Office hours are 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM weekdays.
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