Shaughnessy Restaurant at Vandusen Botanical Gardens
Vancouver, British Columbia
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15 to 175
Guests
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Located in Vancouver, British Columbia, this restaurant offers a relaxing ambiance, casual elegance, and charming garden vistas to create a modern wedding experience. Shaughnessy Restaurant is an exceptional choice for couples seeking a sophisticated alternative to more traditional wedding venues. Make your wedding dreams a reality at the Shaughnessy Restaurant in the famous 55-acre VanDusen Botanical Garden. Shaughnessy Restaurant is located minutes from downtown Vancouver. It is approximately 13 minutes away from Vancouver International Airport.
Facilities and capacity
Shaughnessy Restaurant’s slate and wood floor reflects old-world charm and warmth. The beauty of the room, which can hold up to 200 standing guests, is enhanced by floor-to-ceiling pure drape swaths. Skylights, white gravels on the walls, and potted plants give the feeling of the lush botanical garden indoors. The beautiful dining room can seat up to 160 guests, and the heated covered patio offers lovely views of the garden which makes for a stunning backdrop for any wedding ceremony. In addition, the venue features plenty of space for a dance floor. While Shaughnessy Restaurant at Vandusen Botanical Gardens can be booked for wedding ceremonies and receptions, it also offers services for engagement parties and bridal showers.
Services offered
The passionate and energetic team of Shaughnessy Restaurant will guide couples throughout the planning process to ensure a hassle-free and memorable event. Couples have the flexibility to bring in their own vendors for additional services. Complimentary provisions include the following:
- Wedding cake table and cake knife
- Guest book table and gift table
- Printed menus for plated meals
- Tented table numbers
- Standard background house music
- Tea light candles
- Votives
Cuisine
Shaughnessy creates seasonal, innovative, and contemporary West coast inspired comfort food. We offer special menus for weddings, and the culinary team is happy to customize the menu to suit unique needs and requirements. The wedding packages include hors d’oeuvres, canapes, plated dinner, a half bottle of house red or white wine, a sparkling wine toast, and a one-hour open bar for cocktail hour.
History
Shaughnessy Restaurant was named after two Vancouver landmarks; the old golf course that sat on the VanDusen Botanical Garden site in the 1940s and '50s and the surrounding neighbourhood. Renowned interior designers, including Wade King, helped in creating its vivacious yet intimate ambiance and decor.
Highlights
Availability
Contact for Availability
Type
Historic, restaurant
Style
Classic, garden, rustic
Event Services
Bridal suite, catering / bar, liability insurance
Reception Site Fee - Peak Season
$12,000
Plated Service (per head)
$65
More information
How many event spaces or rooms does your venue offer?
1
What kind of settings are available?
Covered outdoor
Indoor
Which of the following wedding events does your venue service?
Ceremony
Reception
Bridal shower
Engagement party
Rehearsal dinner
What catering services do you offer?
Cocktail reception
Dessert
Family style
Hors d'oeuvres
Plated
Server(s)
What bar services do you provide?
Bartender(s)
Cash bar
Champagne toast
House beer
House wine
House liquor
Limited bar
Liquor license
Open bar
Premium liquor
Signature drink
Specialty beer
Specialty wine
What event items are available?
Dance floor
Furniture
Lighting
Chairs
Tables
What food and beverage items are available?
Barware
China
Flatware
Glassware
Linens
What transportation and access is available?
Parking
Wheelchair access
Do you have a site fee for wedding receptions at your venue?
No
What is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during off-peak season?
$10,000
Do you have a site fee for wedding ceremonies at your venue?
Yes
What is the starting site fee for wedding ceremonies during peak season?
$1,650
What is the starting site fee for wedding ceremonies during off-peak season?
$1,000
Which of the following are included in starting site fee?
Set up
Clean up
Chairs
Tables
Linens
China
Flatware
Glassware
Parking
Bridal suite
What is the average catering price per person for buffet service?
$65
What is the average catering price per person for stations?
$65
What is the average catering price per person for hors d'oeurves?
$22
Which of the following are included in the cost of wedding catering?
Server(s)
Dessert
What is the starting price per person for bar service?
$7.50
Which of the following are included in the starting price for bar service?
Limited bar
Open bar
House beer
House wine
House liquor
Bartenders
23 reviews
Write a review
Rated
4.7
out of 5.0
17 User photos
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Featured
![Sam]()
Sam T. Married on 18/09/2021A dream come true
Jacqueline and the team at Shaughnessy truly made our dreams come true for our September 2021 wedding. Jacqueline was always responsive and open to questions as we navigated changing restrictions. We so appreciate their attention to detail and flexibility. The day of experience was magical - the backdrop of VanDusen gardens, beauty of the venue and the exceptional service of the staff really was the cherry on top of an incredible day. For approximately 50 guests, Shaughnessy restaurant was the PERFECT venue for us to have an intimate and romantic ceremony and reception. Guests are still raving about the food from both cocktail hour and dinner! -
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![Allison]()
Allison M. Married on 26/09/2020Amazing experience!
Our September 26 wedding at Shaughnessy was absolutely perfect!
Carlle, The Events & Weddings Manager, was so wonderful to work with throughout the entire planning process. She was highly communicative, willing to chat anytime, and ensured that all of our questions were answered and our needs were met. We were faced with a few curveballs through the planning process, and Carlle worked patiently with us every time a new covid restriction came out to pivot our plans and ensure we could still have our special day. We are so, so happy we decided to move forward with an intimate event and are so grateful for her support in making it happen.
The setting itself is so beautiful - the covered patio is the perfect ceremony venue with the garden as the backdrop. The space feels warm, intimate, and is really such a naturally beautiful setting that doesn't require a ton of decor.
On the day of the wedding, the staff were incredible. They were so friendly, accommodating, and really went above and beyond to make sure everything went perfectly. The venue was set up beautifully, the food was absolutely delicious, and the service was amazing.
I would highly recommend Shaunessy as a venue for both ceremony and reception - we are so happy we chose them for our wedding and we are so grateful for everything they did to make our day perfect! -
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![Carolyn]()
Carolyn K. Married on 09/11/2019Best wedding venue for amazing food and beautiful atmosphere!
Carlle and the team at Shaughnessy nailed our wedding vision - amazing food, cozy atmosphere, and an intimate setting! We are so incredibly happy with our decision to get married there and would recommend it to anyone - it is such a hidden gem and much more cost affordable without losing anything on quality than many expensive Vancouver venues!
We were able to get married outside on their covered and heated patio in November in the rain - it was incredibly beautiful, cozy, dry (not a single person got wet/no drainage issues whatsoever, and most of all warm! I was completely comfortable and warm in my wedding dress! We loved being able to have an outdoor ceremony in the middle of fall :) The food was incredibly good, and we got rave reviews about the food all night long! All the servers and bartenders were incredibly friendly and thoughtful throughout the night as well.
Carlle was incredibly great to work with, and very prompt and thoughtful with her communication and was very accommodating to my and my husband's wishes. We look forward to coming back to Shaughnessy for many years to come and it will always have a fond place in our hearts. -
![Kristy]()
Kristy L. Married on 08/09/2018I don⠹t recommend this venue!
I don’t recommend this place. Overall, their service doesn’t deserve my money. I had my wedding here recently, and there were sooo many issues.
Issue with Vendor Access - My ceremony was supposed to start at 4:30 pm and my vendors couldnt access the venue until 3:00 pm because there were lunch customers sitting in the dining area. DJ, florist, and all my friends had to rush setting everything up wihtin 1 hour and that caused sooo much stress. The timeline doesn’t make sense to me. One hour is insane. What kind of wedding venue does this?
Water leakage in our ceremony area - My wedding day was raining. Water was leaking from the roof and two of guests were affected by the rain during the ceremony. I CAN’T BELIEVE this. We complained and the owner actually said that we need to contact the City Hall because it’s their responsibility. They gave me $250 refund but that’s like nothing compared to how much I spent that evening. I spent so much on this wedding and felt like nobody from the restaurant was even trying to help or facilitate the wedding.
There was a small issue with my headtable. Based on their floor chart they sent me, I was told that 8 people can fit in to the table, but learned that it’s not the case TWO DAYS BEFORE MY WEDDING. I couldn’t change my seating chart that last minute , so two people from my wedding party had to sit on the side of the headtable. I learned that TWO DAYS BEFORE. Not acceptable.
Now, another issue- there were only two children in our wedding and they charged for three meals. The owner i spoke to was insisting that they are correct, but there’s no way that one of the kids would have eatened second meal on that evening. Again, they are givining me a trouble for such a small issue. They actually said “it’s only twenty one dollars” and what’s-the-big-deal attitude.
You get enough stress for your wedding. You don’t need your wedding venue to give you any extra stress on top. They should work with you and help you. I strongly don’t recommend here.Shaughnessy Restaurant at Vandusen Botanical Gardens's reply:
Hi Kristy,
Thank you very much for your feedback.
We sincerely apologize that the service was not up to your standards. We have been hosting weddings for over 20 years and so this definitely comes as a surprise to hear about your experience after spending time with you on email, phone, and in person to make sure everything was in order. The contract that was signed on February 1st of this year is very clear stating that vendor access is at 3pm. We were happy to accommodate an earlier start time which is wonderful and to which we always try to do within reason. Apologies you did not have enough time. As we are a restaurant, we do serve lunch/brunch service and close early to accommodate weddings always. We have been doing weddings for a long time and this has never been an issue.
In regards to the leak, thank you for your feedback and we are looking into rectifying this with the city (our landlords). I am happy to hear that the staff refunded you some of the cost. It’s hard to ever predict rain for summer weddings and our patio is covered yet open air. As such, some rain is out of our hands. We always try to accommodate seating charts as best as we can however as the structure of the restaurant is fixed, there are maximum numbers of guests that can be placed at every table. Thank you for your understanding. Our Chef and management team sent out 3 children’s meals that evening without a return. This is where the miscommunication was and we were happy to refund you the cost.
Again, we are deeply sorry that you felt stressed after your wedding. Our wedding coordinator had such lovely things to say about the planning stages with you and so we hope that overall, you are happy and enjoying being a newlywed.
Warmly,
Shaughnessy Restaurant -
![Annie]()
Annie W. Married on 30/10/2021Above and beyond expectations!
Jaqueline and the team at Shaughnessy were truly phenomenal! Jaqueline was extremely attentive and accommodating as we navigated the planning process with all the ever changing restrictions. The venue was absolutely beautiful and required very little decorating. The service staff were truly amazing and top notch! The guests were all constantly raving about the service! We had both our ceremony and reception here and we couldn't be happier with how it all turned out, it was all just perfect. Before our wedding, a lot of our guests had never heard of this place, and many have said they would definitely be returning in the future. Truly a hidden gem! -
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![Vanessa]()
Vanessa A. Married on 22/10/2021Just perfect
We had our wedding October 22,2021. We picked the venue virtually in August since we lives out of province. Jacqueline and the team was so accommodating to our needs and all of our questions. She always replied within 72hrs. Before we arrived we had a total of 40 emails exchange preparing for our big day. We visited the venue a week before our wedding day and was so pleased. Jacqueline, Lauren and the team was so great to work with and really helped the night flow so well. The venue was perfect for our 50 person wedding.
When the big day came it was very refreshing knowing we had Jacqueline and staff present to assist. When setting up a few hours before we needed a few little things like a side table and an easle, both of which were provided without issue. The transition from ceremony to cocktail hour was very quick allowing our guests to Mingle just as we wanted.
Dinner was served in good time and was absolutely delicious.
Overall we could not have had a better night and we were very pleased on all fronts, cost included. Highly recommend this venue!
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![Yvonne]()
Yvonne M. Married on 03/09/2020Couldn’t have imaged a better experience
I cannot explain how absolutely special Shaughnessy Restaurant and all its staff are. Planning a COVID wedding was a bit stressful as we wanted to make sure all our guests were comfortable and safe. And I will say the level of knowledge and expertise of all the staff made a Covid wedding seamless. People ask me if I could change anything what would it be and my answer is “NOTHING”
The event coordinator Carlle was so helpful and knew exactly what my vision was and how to execute it. She is amazing
The staff... “BRILLIANT”. Our guests were so pleased with the amazing service and the professionalism throughout the entire night. It made everyone feel relaxed given the times we are in. Milan was amazing that night and help make everything run smoothly and what felt effortless!
The food....oh boy I don’t even know where to begin. Shaughnessy Restaurant’s food and the menu options were soooo yummy! SOOOO GOOD! Our guest Loved the food. There were food and drink options so everyone got exactly what they wanted and they made special accommodations for any food allergies or preferences. We were so happy.
The venue was spectacular. Very little decor was needed as the space is amazing as is. The staff was amazing at setting things up to meet Covid 19 standards while making it fun and intimate.
That was hands down one of the best days and I am so happy we were able to share that space. I hands down recommended Shaughnessy Restaurant to anyone looking to host any special event. There are so many options to meet your needs and you won’t be disappointed!-
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![Laura]()
Laura Married on 30/05/2020Amazing food, beautiful venue, great staff!!
My husband and I held our micro wedding here during covid. We had originally planned a 120 person wedding, but decided to scale it back so that we could get married in 2020.
Carlle, the event planner, was amazing. Super responsive, accommodating and flexible. She worked with us to set up our large scale wedding and helped us change and change again as we moved dates and plans. Even though our wedding was small, Carlle, ensured that we were the only wedding on a popular August night in order for it to feel special.
The food was also amazing and the guests could not stop raving about it (even the salad). The staff were super attentive, communicative and personable.
We used the large outdoor patio for our reception, but the entire venue is beautiful. Requires minimal decorating and the staff set up everything we needed.
I highly recommend this venue for anyone wanting an easy, beautiful wedding and amazing food. Can’t wait to celebrate future anniversaries here. -
![Dani]()
Dani Married on 14/09/2019Venue of a Bride's Dreams
The restaurant itself is already gorgeous with a garden view and rustic-ish looking decor, we chose this venue in a heartbeat. Our coordinator was very easy to work with and responsive. The food was amazing that all the guests couldn't stop complimenting about it. Choosing this venue is one of the best choices I've made for my wedding. -
![Stacy]()
Stacy Married on 17/08/20192019 wedding
I'll start by saying the actual wedding night staff were phenomenal. They were professional but fun and did a fantastic job. The food was also great the night of.
Planning the wedding at the restaurant was another story unfortunately. The coordinator was very inflexible and tried to charge us an extra $200 administration fee that we did not agree to on our original contract. She slipped it onto our final invoice without saying anything and hoped we wouldn't notice. We asked her to remove it which she did, and then she put it back on the bill we paid the night of the wedding, again hoping we wouldn't notice. Unfortunately food tastings are also not free even if you've booked your wedding, but the food is delicious. There were many other small inconveniences we experienced while working with the coordinator which were very frustrating and make me hesitant to recommend the venue.Shaughnessy Restaurant at Vandusen Botanical Gardens's reply:
We are thrilled to hear that you thoroughly enjoyed your wedding day with us, Stacy. That's truly what matters most to us! The wedding coordinator had a lovely time helping you plan many parts of your wedding, with much email communication, phone calls, and in person meetings.
As the wedding coordinator was not there the night of your wedding, they did not slip a fee onto your final bill as it was not submitted as promised, and it is confirmed a mistake by the night-of staff in final billing. We are sorry about the confusion, and we are glad it was rectified. We will look further into this miscommunication with our staff so it does not happen again in the future. Thank you so much for your feedback! Congratulations on being newlyweds!
Shaughnessy Restaurant at Vandusen Botanical Gardens Real Weddings
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Bill & Cherry94 Photos · 01/Oct/2020 -
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Yvonne & Maurice38 Photos · 03/Sep/2020 -
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Angela & Eli41 Photos · 11/Aug/2018 -
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Chrisitine & Alex25 Photos · 07/Oct/2017
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Map
5251 Oak Street V6M 4H1 Vancouver (British Columbia)
