Reviews for Royal Botanical Gardens
Reviews
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![Shannon]()
Shannon Sent on 04/10/2025Wedding at Royal Botanical Gardens
What a beautiful venue! We were looking for an indoor-outdoor feel, and RBG (Rock Garden) was the perfect spot for that. Walking around the gardens gives people something to do during cocktail hour, and it provides a beautiful backdrop for your day! We also really wanted to find a spot where we could come back in the future to celebrate anniversaries, and RBG puts on some really beautiful events all year long.
We really had the best wedding day, and all the staff members were really great and professional (especially the bartenders). Sophie at RBG was truly amazing and our highlight for RBG! She really went to bat for us, was super responsive, and tried her best to accommodate the requests we had.
Just a heads up, the venue only allows 2 hours for both set-up and take-down of any decor you have, which actually became very difficult for us with our DIY decor (even with a wedding coordinator and her assistant setting up and taking down). Our coordinators continued to set up throughout cocktail hour in order to get it done. Might not be an issue if you have a florist coming and doing the tables, but just an FYI to any DIY couples!
Their pricing is A La Carte, which can be really great for choosing what you want/need vs. what you don't. We found great options from their preferred lists for the DJ (loved Chris!) and catering (Fig & Lemon). -
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![J&J]()
J&J Sent on 26/09/2025Beautiful wedding venue!
We had our wedding at the RBG Rock Garden in August 2025 and it was wonderful! The venue itself is absolutely beautiful and the available wedding package options were great in our opinion. We ended up using a mix of RBG's preferred vendors and other external vendors we found on our own.
Due to some staff changes during our planning process, communications were sometimes difficult or delayed. We also had some issues with garden guests entering the wedding space but overall it was not too disruptive to the day. Everything ended up working out well and it truly is a stunning venue to host your wedding!Royal Botanical Gardens's reply:
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience and for celebrating your wedding day with us at the Rock Garden! We’re so glad to hear that you found the venue beautiful and that our wedding package options suited your vision for the day. It’s wonderful to know that everything came together so well in the end.
We truly appreciate your feedback regarding communication and guest flow in the gardens. Your comments help us continue to improve our processes and ensure a seamless experience for all future couples.
It means a lot to know that, despite a few challenges along the way, you had a wonderful day surrounded by the beauty of the Rock Garden. Wishing you both all the best as you begin this exciting new chapter together — and we hope to welcome you back for future visits or celebrations!
Warm regards,
The Sales Team, Royal Botanical Gardens -
![Julia]()
Julia Sent on 02/09/2025Married at the Rock Garden in July 2025!
The venue itself is stunning. 10/10 no complaints. There was a bit of a hiccup when our main point of contact left the RBG and a new person stepped into the role about a month before our wedding - caused some slight stress with very slow to respond emails BUT we were also very understanding of the situation and wouldn’t expect that to be the case for everyone. Everything was honestly great - my ONLY issue are the reception chairs that are provided… they’re not very good looking and it’s ~2k to rent others through their preferred vendor.Royal Botanical Gardens's reply:
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience with us. We're thrilled to hear that you found the venue stunning and that your overall experience was a positive one.
We sincerely apologize for any stress caused by the transition in your point of contact prior to your wedding. While we strive to ensure smooth communication at all times, we understand how such changes can be disruptive, and we truly appreciate your patience and understanding during that period.
Regarding the reception chairs, we appreciate your candid feedback. We recognize that aesthetics play an important role in creating a memorable event, and we will certainly take your comments into consideration as we continue to evaluate our offerings and vendor partnerships.
Thank you again for your thoughtful review. We’re so glad your special day was a success, and we wish you all the best in this new chapter.
Warm regards,
RBG Sales Team -
Patricia Sent on 27/08/2025
Beautiful Venue!
The venue is absolutely beautiful, and the person we were coordinating with throughout the planning was great, but the actual day of venue coordinator was not very good. Didn't have the layout we had agreed on when we came to our rehearsal a few days before the wedding, and on the wedding day things were laid out differently than we had discussed. The change wasn't a big deal and things still went smoothly. Also, everything provided by the venue is for an additional fee, and it always seemed very high for no reason. $500 to plug into a screen they already have and that cannot be moved if you don't want it. Also some weird rules with the drinks, no shots, no announcing final call at the bar, and no clinking drinks. We dealt with all the inconveniences because the venue is truly stunning and the gardens are amazing. The day was beautiful and at the end of the day it was worth it, but be prepared to do a lot yourself unless you want to pay crazy costs for the venue to help with anything.Royal Botanical Gardens's reply:
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience and provide feedback. We sincerely appreciate your candour, and we’re pleased to know that the beauty of the venue contributed positively to your special day, despite the challenges encountered.
Please accept our apologies for the discrepancy between the rehearsal layout and the setup on your wedding day. Since my onboarding as Sales Manager in June, we have introduced a new process to help prevent such miscommunications. Clients are now required to review and formally sign off on final timelines and layout plans in advance, ensuring clarity and alignment across all teams involved.
In-house AV equipment and décor enhancements do carry additional fees, as they require dedicated staff and technical support to manage and operate.
RBG’s bar service is designed with the safety of both guests and staff in mind. Policies such as no shots, doubles, or final call announcements are in place to promote responsible alcohol service and consumption. Additionally, we do not offer clinking of glassware to minimize the risk of breakage and injury.
On behalf of the entire team at RBG, thank you again for choosing us for your celebration. Your feedback is invaluable as we continue to enhance the experience for future couples.
Warm regards,
Karri Bylsma, Sales Manager
Royal Botanical Gardens -
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Kendra Sent on 21/08/2025
A fairytale wedding - my childhood dreams come true!!
We had our wedding at the Rock Garden in May, and it couldn't have been more perfect. We were primarily in contact with Sophie, and she was great. The RBG has always been a very sentimental place for me, so it was so special to have our wedding here. I also think that for the price, it was a very good deal, especially considering they offered tables, chairs, and linens included in the base price, and their new bridal trailer! The cost of the bar was very reasonable, as they even handled all the glassware and water for the tables. But most importantly, it was a beautiful day and the ambiance of the gardens was magnificent. All of our guests were commenting on how gorgeous of a venue it was. I've been planning my wedding at the Rock Garden since I was about 5 years old, so this was really a dream come true. Couldn't recommend it more!!!Royal Botanical Gardens's reply:
Hi Kendra,
Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful review! We’re truly honored that the Rock Garden could be part of such a meaningful and long-awaited moment in your life. It’s incredibly special to hear that RBG has held sentimental value for you since childhood—and that your wedding day lived up to that dream.
Your kind words about the value and service mean a lot to our team.
Wishing you both a lifetime of happiness, and thank you again for choosing RBG for your big day!
Warmest regards,
The RBG Sales Department -
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![Erica]()
Erica Sent on 31/07/2025Beautiful, but maybe not for a wedding
The RBG Rock Garden is undeniably beautiful — the grounds are stunning and it’s what initially drew us to the venue. It really does create a breathtaking backdrop for a wedding.
One of the big selling points for us was the flexibility they emphasized in planning your own event there. However, in practice, that flexibility came with a lot of hidden fees and logistical challenges. We were passed between three different coordinators throughout the planning process, which was frustrating. Thankfully, Sophie took over near the end and was an absolute saving grace — we’re so grateful for her support and responsiveness.
That said, working with RBG caused a fair amount of stress. They struggled to follow their own planning timelines and milestones, which made coordinating with other vendors more difficult. Since RBG requires you coordinate all other vendors, delays on their end had a ripple effect. Their surcharge for using non-preferred vendors was steep (e.g., a plug-in fee for an outside DJ), and their preferred vendors were often significantly more expensive — one quote we received was $3,400 just for a reception DJ...
We also encountered a few disappointing surprises:
A $400 fee just to use the in-room TV for a short same day edit video (3-4 Minutes in length)
Initial bar pricing that increased dramatically from the time we signed the 2024 contract to the 2025 prices, which was eventually adjusted after other feedback and complaints
Important package details (like bar options) shared in unpolished Word docs that felt more like internal notes than client-ready info
Logistically, it’s also worth noting that there’s no on-site drop-off space available the day before the event, so everything must be brought in and taken out the day of, which added to the day-of stress.
Finally, the photography permit window was shorter than ideal for a full-day event — something to consider if you're hoping to take full advantage of the venue's natural beauty.
All in all — is it a gorgeous venue? Absolutely. But for couples who are focused on a smooth planning process and seamless logistics, I would approach with caution or come very prepared to manage those details yourself.
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