Wedding Guidelines at the...

Your Wedding at The Bickelhaupt Arboretum The staff of the Bickelhaupt Arboretum is dedicated to making sure the grounds of the arboretum are always in full beauty. We are sure you will find the Bickelhaupt Arboretum to be a wonderful place for your quiet outdoor wedding. Although we are an endowed, non-profit museum, there are expenses such as electricity, telephone charges, grounds maintenance, and staff involved with weddings. There is a usage fee of $50 per hour billed against a $500 security deposit to cover our expenses. This deposit and a signed contract are required to secure the wedding date. The hourly fee includes time used for rehearsal, deliveries, set-up, ceremony, photographs, and clean up. The security deposit minus the fee for hours used will be refunded within 10 days after the wedding, if the grounds are clean (no trash) and free of damage and there is no violation of the guidelines. Serious damage will require an additional charge (see wedding contract). Grounds are inspected before and after the wedding. Refund policy: If you find it necessary to cancel your wedding date, we will refund your security deposit minus a $50 processing fee. Rain contingency: Unfortunately, we do not have indoor facilities for weddings. If it rains on your wedding date, we will refund your security deposit minus a $50 processing fee. We suggest you have an alternate site arranged in case of rain (for instance you might be able to make arrangements with your reception site). Etiquette & Guidelines You and your guests should be aware that the arboretum is private property, and should be treated with the kind of common sense, respect and restraint used when visiting a friend's yard. Smoking is prohibited on Arboretum grounds including the parking lot (enforced fire regulations). Please: Stay out of all wood chipped areas; do not remove labels, move benches or use decorations. For the sake of the wildlife, plants and grass: No throwing rice, birdseed, confetti or bubbles. Fresh flowers only. No silk flowers or curling ribbon. Only drinking water (no other beverages/food) on the arboretum grounds and parking lot. Please take empty containers with you. Use of alcohol will result in loss of your entire security deposit. For your safety, we recommend low-heeled shoes. We suggest you share these first six guidelines with your guests by including a copy with your invitations. We do not allow tents, arbors, runners, platforms, amplified sound equipment or any form of decoration other than fresh flower bouquets. Only chairs and a small table are permitted. There are rental companies in the area for delivery and pick-up of chairs. Chairs must be delivered, set up and removed by either the rental company or the wedding party. The wedding party should plan to arrive dressed for the ceremony. An electric cart (driven by an Arboretum volunteer) is available by advanced arrangement for guests who are less mobile. All parking is in the main (south) lot at the registration entrance. You may be asked to provide someone to help direct parking. A limousine may pick up the wedding party after the wedding only. Photographs may be taken before or after the ceremony by advanced arrangements with the wedding coordinator. The hourly rate will apply to time used for photographs. Please inform the Bickelhaupt wedding coordinator in advance of all deliveries, including flowers. The hourly rate applies to time the coordinator is present for deliveries. Talk to the Bickelhaupt Arboretum Wedding Coordinator Because the Bickelhaupt Arboretum is an outdoor museum, we have precise guidelines regarding weddings. Our wedding coordinator will want to meet with the bride, groom, and parents if they are involved in the wedding. At the meeting the coordinator will take some information, explain our guidelines, the rehearsal, photographs and deliveries. If you and the coordinator agree the arboretum is the right place for your wedding, the responsible party will sign a contract and pay the $500 security deposit at that time. This meeting will be an opportunity to go over your plans and choose your site. Once you sign the contract and pay the deposit your wedding date is exclusively yours. Telephone (563) 242-4771 to ask about the availability of your date and to set up a time to meet with the wedding coordinator. Wedding Coordinator Donna Barto meets with a bride and her mother to plan the use of the Bickelhaupt Arboretum for her wedding. The Bickelhaupt Arboretum is a privately endowed outdoor museum. We remain open to visitors during weddings. Your date will not be reserved until we receive the $500 security deposit and your signed contract. Summer dates are reserved very quickly. We urge you to meet with the coordinator as early as possible in order to secure your date. Do You Want a Very Small Wedding? If you have a very small wedding in mind (under 30 people total) with no rehearsal, no chairs, no deliveries, a short ceremony and very few or no photographs, we have a short wedding policy. A minimum $50 is charged for a one-hour wedding against a $150 security deposit. If your wedding exceeds one-hour you will be charged by the half-hour for all additional time. The Bickelhaupt Arboretum is a privately endowed outdoor museum. We remain open to visitors during weddings. Return to the Weddings page with photograph examples.