Boerner Botanical Gardens is the perfect wedding venue to make your special day even more remarkable. Located just 15 minutes outside downtown Milwaukee, this stunning property provides couples with a romantic, storybook setting and includes the most friendly staff dedicated to making all their details come together perfectly.
The lush landscape offers an oasis of beauty for romantic photos while the elegant ballroom features vaulted ceilings, ambient lighting, and full-length windows giving you picturesque views from any angle. Whether it's an intimate gathering or grand celebration – Boerner Botanical Gardens will ensure that your dream event becomes reality!
The gardens themselves offer an abundance of natural beauty to admire and provide an ideal backdrop for wedding photos or mingling with guests. Stylish get-ready suites are conveniently located onsite and are a relaxing space for the wedding party to utilize throughout the day as they wish.
Guests are treated to the culinary masterpieces of Milwaukee's best catering team, Zilli Hospitality Group. Each menu is designed with the couple in mind, using the freshest ingredients, and delivered by 5-star service standards. Experienced mixologists are skilled at preparing refreshing signature cocktails and also serve a range of premium liquors, house wines, and beer.
Dedicated event coordinator Yvette Tenorio has been the organizational force behind the event planning team at Boerner Botanical Gardens since 2018. Having found her niche, she thrives in the world of wedding planning. She and the professional staff at this venue can personalize packages to suit your desired event size and theme and will be on hand throughout the process to assist in whatever they can. The coordination team is happy to offer event rental items such as specialty linens, high-tech audio equipment, and uplighting, along with floral arches, projectors, and screens. Guests can also delight in the outdoor entertainment located onsite, with games such as giant Jenga and Yardzee available to enjoy. For convenience, the property provides 300 designated guest parking spaces and is also wheelchair accessible.
Civil Union, Commitment Ceremony, Elopement, Interfaith Ceremony, Non-Religious Ceremony, Religious Ceremony, Second Wedding, Vow Renewal Ceremony
Venue Service Offerings
Bar & Drinks, Cakes & Desserts, Other Desserts, Food & Catering, Rentals & Equipment, Service Staff
Settings
Ballroom, Garden, Park, Trees
Business Attributes
LGBTQ+-owned Business
Pricing for Boerner Botanical Gardens
Option
Value
Starting Cost
Affordable
Cost Starting
Price Range
Couples Usually Spend
Peak Season Months
Peak Season Cost
Peak Season Reception Cost
Peak Season Ceremony Cost
Peak Season Bar Service Cost
OffSeason Months
OffSeason Cost
OffSeason Reception Cost
OffSeason Ceremony Cost
OffSeason BarService Cost
Boerner Botanical Gardens Reviews
Sarah Jackson(other)5 out of 5 Rating
My husband and I could not have chosen a better venue for our wedding. We had our ceremony in the Fragrance Garden and our Reception in the Atrium. It was absolutely gorgeous. We worked a lot with Yvette and Cheyenne who helped us out so much and made the stressful wedding planning process much easier. I super appreciate them! Zilli provided such amazing food. I got so many compliments on how tasty everything was and this was super important to us. I feel the value was fair for the price. I'm so thankful we found this venue and had such a wonderful day. Reviewed on 25-06-2023
Erica Steele(other)5 out of 5 Rating
We had an absolutely magical wedding at the Boerner Botanical Gardens in September 2023. We had several tours and meetings with other locations, but were disappointed with how impersonal the experience felt. The other vendors made us feel like just another number and were highly competitive to book, so if we didn't book with them, oh well. One main reason we chose Boerner was because of Yvette, the onsite event manager. She took the time to get to know us as a couple, talked through several options of how we could consider setting up our big day and we were sold. It's very intimidating to plan a wedding and most have not done it before, like us, and Yvette was patient, compassionate and creative to ensure the day felt like us. She took her time with us even before we confirmed our booking and that really set the right tone for us to move forward.After we booked and started planning, Yvette continued to be wonderful to work with. I am a pretty detail-oriented person and meticulous with planning. I have some event planning experience from other professional roles I've been and Yvette was a greater partner and collaborator to bounce ideas off, give us some inspiration and help us better understand different options we could choose from. I really appreciated her supporting us to bring our vision to life and her deep experience in wedding planning. She knows her stuff and you feel confident in her recommendations. I'm someone who likes to know all options, weigh those options and then move forward, and she always was just an email or phone call away to discuss to help us decide on which direction to go.Another main reason we selected Boerner was the venue itself. The gardens are absolutely spectacular to do your first look, family pictures, ceremony, etc. It is so green and lush and we loved the ability get married in the private garden outside the main building and then go inside for the reception, dancing, etc. We had the most GORGEOUS sunny wedding day and our pictures are magical. In addition, we loved using the atrium area as a dance floor area with its cool architecture and windows. We had a group of about 200+ guests and it was great to have the main ballroom, the cocktail garden room, the atrium and outside patio for guests to roam around and enjoy themselves. Our guests were a big fan of the location due to this, along with the ample parking for a wedding our size.Lastly, THE FOOD! I have received endless compliments from our guests about food as a highlight of the wedding. Zilli's Hospitality does a wonderful job and I was amazed with how much everyone liked the food. Many said it was the best food they had a wedding. I did not expect such rave reviews with that component of the wedding and I've been pleasantly surprised that even months later our guests comment on that being the best wedding food they've ever had.There are a million other reasons to pick Boerner, but I hope from one detailed bride to another, this helps you know you are in good hands with Yvette, Boerner and the Zilli's team. Thank you to all for making our dream wedding come true! Reviewed on 31-12-2023
Erika Marisch(other)5 out of 5 Rating
Fantastic venue & the staff was so helpful throughout the entire process! Yvette was our coordinator, her response rate was less than 24hrs. The day-of staff was also very attentive. They had a wonderful server named Virginia dedicated to my wife& myself all night. Highly recommend if you’re looking for a gorgeous venue & stress-free planning. Reviewed on 26-10-2023
Kristen Griffith(other)5 out of 5 Rating
We had such a perfect and amazing wedding celebration!! Yvette and Cheyenne were the best helping us with everything from the reschedule because of the pandemic, to the day of coordination, and everything in between!! Our event manager Niah, our bartender Courtney, and all the other staff that worked that day were so wonderful! Thank you all for making our day so perfect! Reviewed on 24-10-2023
Ashley Carr(other)5 out of 5 Rating
We held our ceremony in the French formal garden- it was absolutely perfect! Unfortunately the gardens do not assist in much, but other than that the location was perfect for our wedding day. Reviewed on 24-09-2023
Elizabeth Novotny(other)5 out of 5 Rating
This was the perfect venue for us. The access to outdoor space is exceptional and allowed our guests to enjoy the beautiful day, the facilities inside accommodated our group perfectly. The service from Zilli Hospitality Group was great and helped us take care of the details every step of the way. Reviewed on 18-09-2023
Alisha Kinney(other)5 out of 5 Rating
Yvette and Cheyenne were so wonderful and made our Wedding absolutely perfect. Reviewed on 03-08-2023
Susan Meddaugh(other)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 15-10-2022 My daughter and new son-in-law's wedding ceremony and reception were absolutely beautiful at this venue! It was a crisp fall day, and the outdoor set-up and fall foliage provided a stunning backdrop for the ceremony! Zilli Hospitality Group was top notch. From the initial planning with Yvette to the final walk-through with Cheyenne, they ran a seamless production! As the mother-of-the bride, I was an active participant in the planning and the day of the wedding. Yvette helped me so much. I couldn't have completed the set-up tasks without her. We have received so many compliments from the guests on the food catered by Zilli. The staff from set-up to servers to bartenders to clean-up were outstanding. I highly recommend this venue! Reviewed on 31-10-2022
Ani Thomas(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 10-09-2022 Everything that could have gone right did, it was absolutely wonderful. We had a charcuterie station with a cheese wheel cake instead of a real cake because we wanted to have it during the cocktail hour and they ran with it. They even got a specific frenchie wine I wanted for the pairings to go along with the food, and we had a lovely dessert bar later in the evening. Yvette and Cheyenne really listened to what we wanted to have our day customized exactly how we wanted it, and made it simple for us to add input. Such a lovely and memorable wedding! Reviewed on 17-09-2022
Jenny Reck(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 13-08-2022 Yvette and Cheyenne were so great to work with! Everything went smoothly from starting planning to the wedding day. They were very professional, helpful, cheerful, and always available for questions and advice. The food was amazing, staff very friendly and fast! We had such a great time and recommend them 100%. Reviewed on 24-08-2022
Claudia Cantieri(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 25-06-2022 Working with Yvette and her team was a very positive experience. Through the whole process she was there guiding us through all the details. The guest raved on what a amazing job Zillis and Boerner did at our wedding. Everything was perfect. I would highly recommend them for any future weddings. Reviewed on 15-08-2022
Erin Wallner(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 30-07-2022 Me and my now husband got married outside at the beautiful Boerner Botanical Gardens! Our experience was absolutely amazing! Yvette & Cheyenne were super supportive and helped us with everything we needed. They were always there to make sure we had all the details in place including helping us the day of the wedding get the timing perfect when walking down the aisle. The kindness and support they gave us really helped our day come together. Our wedding was prefect!! Reviewed on 15-08-2022
Meg Marciniak(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 22-07-2022 Absolutely incredible venue for a reception! My husband and I had our reception in the atrium, which had a beautiful, classy, modern greenhouse feel. We didn't realize how important it would be for us that the venue is all-inclusive (food, linens, centerpieces if wanted, etc.), but that--plus getting to work with an incredible wedding coordinator--made our planning process so smooth. The day of, the staff was so friendly and professional, plus our coordinator was there to make sure everything went flawlessly. This venue is incredibly affordable for how beautiful it is and how much the staff invests in making your day perfect. Plus, it has the most incredible grounds for photos. We loved it. Reviewed on 08-08-2022
Brittany Miller(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 23-07-2022 We absolutely loved our wedding at the Boerner Botanical Gardens! We held our ceremony in the fragrance garden and the reception in the ballroom. Everyone commented on how dreamy and beautiful everything was at the gardens and venue. Our pictures in the formal gardens made the day even more special. Our 90 degree day was hot, but the inside of the venue was a cool oasis. Yvette and Cheyenne were great to work with! They were very communicative and transparent. We appreciate everything they did to help make our wedding the best day of our lives! Reviewed on 25-07-2022
Marina Caliendo(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 24-06-2022 Everything was absolutely perfect! The team was so great to work with, and we could believe how smoothly everything went on my wedding day. It was incredibly gorgeous/ picturesque and the staff were so kind, and worked hard to make sure everything went without a hitch. I truly mean it when I say it was perfect! Could not have asked for a better venue and team, I highly recommend! Reviewed on 20-07-2022
Bailey Kelly(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 04-06-2022 I had an outdoor ceremony and an indoor reception at Boerner Botanical Gardens! I worked with Yvette and Cheyenne from Zilli Hospitality Group and it was a really great experience. ZHG has a system down that makes planning more simple/less overwhelming and outlines everything for you along the way. I found that extremely helpful and calming! On the big day, I got so many compliments on the stunning venue, the amazing staff, and the food! Specifically about the food, I even got a few “this was the best food I’ve ever had at a wedding before”! That attests to the amazing chef and staff! Everyone was extremely kind and helped me with whatever I needed. I truly had the best day ever! I highly recommend! Reviewed on 30-06-2022
Marie Thessin(bride)4 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 14-05-2022 wonderful space for wedding. reception area gets really hot. should request fans. Reviewed on 25-05-2022
Alyssa Willert(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 16-10-2021 Getting married at the Botanical Gardens truly was a dream! Yvette and Cheyenne, and the day of team, did such a nice job making sure everything ran smoothly. Leading up to the event, Yvette and Cheyenne were very helpful in planning and communicating, especially with all the COVID changes. We appreciated their suggestions and allowing us to make our dream become a reality. Sometimes it took a few days for them to reply to emails, but in the weeks leading up to the wedding, they were very responsive. Our wedding day came with no issues - who can even say that? I can honestly say, it was seamless! Yvette and Cheyenne checked in throughout the night with me and my husband to make sure things were going well, offered to grab us drinks, etc. The food was so good - our guests loved the bistro steak! The space was convenient for guests - bar in one room, dinner & dancing in another. We even took advantage of the outdoor Silver Garden and rented heaters for our guests to step outside. I think my favorite part was just how happy our guests were and how roomy the space was. We had around 200 guests and it was a great size!Definitely take advantage of the Gardens for pictures...the flowers were gorgeous! Thank you Yvette, Cheyenne and team for a GREAT day! Reviewed on 25-10-2021
Jason Carreon(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 22-10-2021 Yvette and Cheyenne were excellent communicators and event coordinators for our wedding. They made sure that we got everything we wanted and they sometimes even went above and beyond for us. We highly recommend them for your special day as they made ours truly unforgettable. Reviewed on 24-10-2021
Alex Kodatt(bride)4 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 19-09-2021 Overall, the venue and experience are wonderful! We loved the venue so much, it was beautiful inside and out. We got a lot of compliments about it. Staff were so helpful and accommodating from beginning to end. We did have a few hiccups on the day of that could have made things run smoother but nothing too serious - making sure room was ready to decorate on time, ceremony was blocked from public and no yard games provided as requested. Our biggest disappointment was the food. We had a wonderful tasting experience with the vegan food we hoped for. Unfortunately, we were missing hor d'oeuvres and had one we did not asked for (which was not vegan). Our main dishes were lacking and it was embarrassing as we had numerous complaints about the food and left out guests with a vegan meal that will probably turn them away more than before from vegan food. The venue was perfect and, overall, the experience was really wonderful. Just had some mistakes that could have been avoided if things were as good as the preparations suggested they would be. Reviewed on 12-10-2021
Kelly Meyer(bride)2 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 11-09-2021 I would not ever hire Zili Hospitality again who is the company that comes with this venue. Unfortunately, when we first booked the contract, there was a girl in charge (Amber) who was extremely communicative and organized. She then moved to a different venue and our work with Yvette was frustrating to say the least. The main concern is the communication. At best, you get an email reply in 4 days. At best. Unless you complain which may improve communication in the short term. When you are planning a wedding, especially in COVID times, you cannot wait 4 days for every decision which was based off questions in the email. They would state they are busy because of extra weddings this year from COVID; however, in my personal opinion, communication is the single most important factor to have with wedding planning and venues. We were also constantly asking for updates on mask mandate, limits on guest counts, etc with Covid and we routinely did not receive replies. Later they stated that it was because they didn’t have updates yet, but again, that could be communicated. The venue itself is gorgeous, light, airy, etc. I loved the views, the spacious reception hall, the fact you can walk into the garden outside. The food from ZILI is hands down delicious and if it weren’t for the subpar communication which complicated every aspect of planning, I would have offered a higher rating. Zili and Boerner have a lot to offer, but the current staff, specifically with COVID, is not equipped to run efficiently. Reviewed on 30-09-2021
Becky Ninneman(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 18-09-2021 I cannot begin to express, how much we loved our wedding at the Boerner Botanical Gardens. We worked with Yvette and Cheyenne, and they were so professional, amazing, wonderful and all around the best people to work with. From the start in meeting with Yvette, she incredibly thorough; any questions I had during the entire process she got back to us in a timely manner. She and Cheyenne were lifesavers during planning with Covid. (They were the calming presence I needed during the uncertainty of our venue, and any restrictions that were coming our way.) You definitely fall in love with the venue, but the support and people make it. The entire staff was so professional and kind during the actual wedding (from the Bar Staff, to the servers for dinner, top notch all the way through. I cannot be more grateful to them) Would highly recommend The Boerner Botanical Gardens for your wedding, it will not disappoint. **Yvette and Cheyenne, thank you from the bottom of our hearts, you two are incredible humans! ** Reviewed on 25-09-2021
Terri Johnson(other)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 14-08-2021 This was a gorgeous setting for our son's wedding. Yvette and Cheyenne at Zilli Hospitality Group were responsive, easy to work with, and flexible at adapting to our many last-minute changes as well as the complexities of the pandemic. Kudos to them and to all the chefs, servers, and staff who were universally professional and friendly with our wedding guests. Reviewed on 21-08-2021
Devan Koons(bride)1 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 27-06-2021 Please. Stay. Away. Horrible communication. The county does not even control what the Botanical Gardens does. Plus, Zilli works the weddings, but even they don't control what the Gardens does. There is apparently a board of people who make the decisions for the park, but do not take into consideration what the park is used for the most - weddings. By the time of our wedding, when the mask mandate was lifted, they wanted all guests to remain seated the ENTIRE time during the reception. They wanted all guests 6 feet apart on the dance floor with masks on. Seated guests from separate households needed to be 8 feet apart. And the wedding couple could only dance without masks for their first dance. OH! And they had a 2 drink max per guest for a while.... just wow. It was an absolute headache with them. They didn't care about my wedding and did the bare minimum to satisfy us. They also locked up the building during our ceremony with all of our belongings in there without telling us and caused undue stress on us. OH! AND we also had our rehearsal scheduled the day before our wedding and the park decided to schedule a wedding at the same exact time. Without informing Zilli or us.Needless to say, we ended up switching venues. Reviewed on 10-07-2021
Kellie Tutkowski(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 30-07-2021 We are planning our \"sequel\" wedding right now with Yvette at Boerner Botanical Gardens, and she is incredible! She has smoothly helped us navigate a postponed wedding due to COVID. She also encourages us and understands our vision and priorities very well. I love working with Yvette! The Botanical Gardens team has been very supportive and wonderful. We definitely recommend them. Reviewed on 15-02-2021
Cheyenne Schloesser(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 09-08-2020 My husband and I got married at the Miller Room on August 9 and it was perfect! From the beginning, Yvette was so easy to work with! We had originally booked Boerner Botanical Gardens but had to switch venues. In midst of a pandemic, she was there to talk me through the options we had for still hosting our wedding. On our wedding day, the staff were so friendly and attentive! Their safety procedures put in place to keep my guests safe was much appreciated. My guests still rave about the food! I was even able to customize a few items to mine and my husband’s tastes. The service, food, and overall experience was unmatched! Reviewed on 01-10-2020
Sara Watson(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 08-11-2019 Amber ,Was totally amazing to work with. She had helped me and Robbie plan our special day just the way we wanted it. She had understood our dietary needs and what we would like for dinner and accommodate what we needed and the chef was amazing to work with as well. I got a lot of complements of the venue , drinks , food and their deserts. Couldn’t have asked for a better place to have my dream wedding at ! Reviewed on 17-01-2020
Teagan Murphy-Beketa(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 27-09-2019 Where do I begin? The weather almost kept us inside and I had been dreaming about having my wedding in their beautiful fragrance garden. I was so disappointed when the weather turned terrible the morning of my wedding and I might not be able to have my wedding outside. Amber moved everything around so I could have my wedding indoors in the cocktail room and still see the garden. Then moved everything around so I could be outside. My outdoor decorations were moved inside to decorate the main room after our ceremony. The staff refused to let my husband and I serve ourselves from the buffet and insisted on serving us. The servers made sure we got appetizers during the cocktail hour AND put a plate of cocktails and desserts by us. We got the leftover bottle of champagne to split. And since we got married during China Lights I have some amazing wedding photos from China Lights. We were able to enter China Lights for free. Amber and Yvette were so easy to work with and made everything go so smoothly during this entire process. In case my gushing wasn't obvious enough, I cannot recommend Zilli and Boerner enough. Reviewed on 22-11-2019
Anna Funk(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 31-08-2019 Zilli helped us put together a picture-perfect wedding at Boerner Botanical Gardens. The food was the best we'd ever had at a wedding (no joke -- we wondered if part of it was the benefit of having the kitchen right next to the venue), especially the smoked gouda orzo and the pork. I don't even like pork! The staff was helpful and responsive every step of the way, and helped us customize what we wanted to customize, and make quick decisions on the stuff we didn't care so much about. We only had one proverbial fire to put out the day-of, and our Zilli coordinator just jumped in and fixed everything, no questions asked. Did I mention the orzo? Our flowers, our decor, our food, even the craft beers at the bar were custom for us and worth the price. The only thing that got a little $$ was the things they had to order from outside vendors (those adorbs bistro lights in the ballroom!) sigh. 10/10 would get married there again. Reviewed on 18-10-2019
Kelleigh Best(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 05-07-2019 We could not be more thrilled that we chose to go with a Zilli venue for our wedding. We held our reception at the Boerner Botanical Gardens and cannot say enough positive things about Amber and Yvette as our coordinators! Leading up to our wedding, Amber and Yvette communicated regularly, keeping us on a very organized timeline for planning. They followed up regularly and answered questions immediately. We could not be more grateful for how the wedding day turned out! The whole day was truly magical and came to life exactly how we had envisioned. The venue is fabulous because you can really decorate it according to your style. The timeline of the day was executed beautifully and smooth, thanks to all the magic going on behind the scenes. Not only is the venue stunning, but the food was beyond amazing. People are still raving about the food, that we had the best wedding buffet food they'd ever had. Thank you, Amber and Yvette, for helping us create the best day of our lives; one that we will always cherish and remember! Reviewed on 19-09-2019
Sarah Matz(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 10-08-2019 Zilli's catered our wedding at the Boerner Botanical Gardens, and everything was fantastic. From start to finish, everything was flawless. We loved all the food and received many compliments from our guests. The staff was friendly and professional. Amber and Yvette worked with us throughout the planning process and helped us customize a menu that fit our needs. We are so happy with our choice. We will never forgot how perfect our wedding turned to be, and we are so thankful for Zilli's great food and service. Reviewed on 26-08-2019
Andrea C(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 27-04-2019 Amber was so helpful throughout the wedding process and the day of our reception along with Yvette and the rest of the team. We are sure a lot of work went on behind the scenes that we did not witness because we were able to enjoy our reception. Dinner was served in the atrium, with the bar and dancing in the garden room. It snowed during our reception, and the snow falling on the glass ceiling was magical. It was cool to have dancing off in a separate room. The venue is a unique space, and we received many compliments. Everything looked incredible, the food was amazing, and the staff was friendly, helpful, and professional. Everyone had nothing but good things to say, and we had a blast. (The late night nacho bar was a huge hit.) Reviewed on 18-07-2019
Michael Hecimovich(groom)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 29-06-2019 Boerner Botanical Gardens was very beautiful and guest friendly. Our guests were very impressed and I would recommend the gardens as a venue. Reviewed on 05-07-2019
Sharon Thelen(parent)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 29-06-2019 This is a wonderful venue for a wedding. The attention to detail, wonderful food and courteous staff helped to make this a day we will never forget. We could not have been happier with our choice. Reviewed on 01-07-2019
Katherine Heck(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 29-06-2019 We would highly recommend Boerner Botanical Gardens for your wedding reception. Amber Bricco and her staff are amazing! Flexible, kind, and truly want the best for the family and couple getting married! I am so thankful we chose Boerner Botanical Gardens as our reception location. Reviewed on 01-07-2019
Caitlin Van Lith(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 08-06-2019 Boerner Botanical Gardens was a beautiful place to get married early June. The indoor space gets nicely dressed up, and access to the gardens was really great during the reception. Amber and Yvette were incredibly helpful in the planning process and even helped us set up morning-of. Reviewed on 24-06-2019
Briana Placek(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 01-06-2019 e could not have picked a better venue for our wedding! From the day we first toured the venue Amber and Yvette were always there to answer any questions or recommendations. We couldn't believe how smoothly everything ran the day of our wedding. The catering from Zilli Hospitality was Amazing! We are still receiving praise from guests on how fantastic all of the food was and how beautiful the venue was. Thank you Amber and Yvette for making our day so spectacular! Reviewed on 15-06-2019
Marie Cook(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 13-04-2019 From the first time I walked through the Atrium of the Boerner Botanical Gardens, I knew I wanted to have our wedding day there. What I couldn't know is how amazing that wedding day would turn out to be! We cannot thank Amber and the Zilli Hospitality group enough! We only had 5 months to plan and wanted it to be indoors. Amber and Yvette were there for any and all my questions - were super patient and easy to talk with, and very friendly and helpful! Both of our parents were very impressed with the venue and service. Our guests are still raving about how amazing the food was too! You always worry about 'wedding food' but this was the best food ever (and we had many picky eaters). We heard nothing but praise after the dinner. Amber was kind enough to even buy my father a case of Rootbeer for the cocktail hour when he made a joking request for it. That was above and beyond - a perfect example of how they worked throughout the entire process and day. 100 out of 10 would recommend Boerner Botanical Gardens - indoor or out- and Zilli Hospitality Group for a wedding ceremony and/or reception. Please also don't hesitate using their in house florist, Katie at Adorn, too. She was stellar as well! We had trouble getting a meeting date fixed, so she worked with my schedule to have an over the phone meeting. When I saw my bouquet and the flowers on the day of my wedding, I nearly cried! She took all the ideas I sent her and meshed them perfectly :) Thank you SO much to everyone at Zilli and Boerner! We we always remember our day with great pride and gratitude thanks to all of your hard work :) Reviewed on 24-04-2019
Brenda Jackson(parent)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 09-03-2019 Where do I begin! The venue is gorgeous was perfect for our son’s wedding and those merits alone it was worth it. But what truly brought the event to life and made it spectacular was Amber and her team. Their professionalism goes without saying but what really made the difference is how engaged and invested Amber was from the very beginning. She handled our stress ,our questions ,and our ongoing changes with patience, calm and ease. She provided sound advice when we struggled offered suggestions to improve upon our ideas and met every expectation we had. It was every bit the fairytale wedding every bride dreams of thanks to the breathtaking venue and Amber and team. You always hear of weddings where something always seems to go wrong, well not ours. It was ran and managed from the first to the last by this team of professionals. If you are looking for a wedding venue look no further. Thank you Amber you and your team our phenomenal. #happymom Reviewed on 18-04-2019
Sue Ray(parent)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 23-09-2018 Amber was more than we could have ever asked for as an event planner. From the very first telephone call to the wedding day she made sure that the day ran smoothly.Our communication was mostly through emails and telephone calls, as we lived out of state. Because of this, we relied heavily on Amber and her team’s expertise. She was always receptive to any changes and always answered our questions in a timely manner.Zilli’s food was outstanding and her staff was amazing. Boerner Botanical Gardens provided a gorgeous background for the ceremony and photos.It was such a pleasure to work with Amber and her team and want to thank them for making it such a perfect day for my son & his wife. Reviewed on 31-10-2018
Lauren Tracy(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 03-08-2019 I cannot say enough wonderful things about this venue! Amber has been so amazingly helpful through our entire wedding planning process. We feel so fortunate to have our wedding here! I would highly recommend this place to anyone considering it! And, did I say Amber was amazing already?! She really is just the best!! Reviewed on 07-10-2018
Meghan Siddall(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 23-09-2018 We had a wonderful brunch wedding at Boerner Botanical Gardens in September. Our guests had nothing but wonderful things to say about the food, the venue and the wedding itself! Amber with Zilli was very responsive and a delight to work with. It was a beautiful day at a beautiful venue. We'd definitely recommend it to other engaged couples! Reviewed on 06-10-2018
Susan Reinicke(parent)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 29-09-2018 Wow, where do I begin?!I couldn’t be more pleased with how our daughter and son-in-law’s wedding turned out. Right from the beginning of the planning stages until the time it was all over, the staff at Zilli Hospitality Group at Boerner Botanical Gardens was fantastic. Amber, Jan, Yvette and the entire group were remarkable. Amber was always patient with me and helpful every step of the way. I felt that we had our own personal wedding planner! She never had a complaint and always seemed happy to hear from us. Jan and Yvette were right there with her to help in any way possible and to answer any questions we had. We definitely formed a relationship that I’m going to miss. We also used Adorn, ZHG’s in house florist, led by Katie, and we were so pleased with how all of the floral arrangements turned out. Simply stunning!The food was superb, and we received and heard many compliments on it. The tenderloin could be cut with a butter knife. Chef was very accommodating to our guests with special dietary needs and planned and prepared delicious meals for all. The Bridal Room at Boerner was wonderful as it is so large and comfortable and was a great space for the girls to get ready in. And the fact that we were able to have our lunch delivered to the Bridal Room was a plus. The garden where the ceremony was held was gorgeous and a perfect setting. I could go on for days about what a spectacular experience we had with Amber and the employees at Zilli Hospitality Group at Boerner Botanical Gardens. They helped bring my vision for our daughter and son-in-law’s special day to life. Reviewed on 03-10-2018
Dana Blachuta(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 08-09-2018 Everyone went above and beyond for our wedding, everything went smoothly ,friendly staff and the food was amazing, we got so many compliments. Thanks again for taking care of us on our special day! Reviewed on 03-10-2018
Hannah Tortorella(bride)5 out of 5 Rating
I absolutely love this venue and how helpful they are! Amber is nothing but a joy when it comes to the stressful planning process. I am getting married in 2020 and I wanted to change the date AFTER signing the paperwork, she rearranged without a problem. I fell in love with the Rose Garden and visit it often for our ceremony spot! I’m so looking forward to getting married here and working with the team. Reviewed on 03-10-2018
Jeremy Schulthess(groom)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 24-08-2018 The venue is possibly the most beautiful place to hold a wedding in Milwaukee County, especially during the summer when all the flowers are in bloom. The staff was quite amazing and helpful. It had rained just before our ceremony but right after it stopped raining the Zilli people went outside and dried off all the chairs for our guests. The food and drinks at the reception were amazing. I would highly recommend them and this location to anyone. Reviewed on 19-09-2018
Mitchell Crawford(groom)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 11-08-2018 We got married on August 11th, and it was perfect. The ceremony was in the fragrance garden, the photos were in the gardens, and the celebration was in the reception hall. Having everything on site made the day run smoothly and stress free! Amber and Jan were working with us from Day one. They led us through the process and made sure that we had everything covered. On our wedding day, there were no surprises, and everything went flawless. They were responsible for the flowers, the bar, and the food. Having one point of contact for all those things made planning go very smoothly. The food was incredible, we received many compliments on the food that Zilli prepared. My father comment that the steak was “one of the best steaks I’ve ever had”. Both my wife and I agree, the food was incredible. The chicken and vegetarian options were equally delicious as well. Amber and Jan accommodated all our special requests, including wine, and beer. We couldn’t thank amber and Jan enough for all the work and help they provided! Reviewed on 22-08-2018
Jamie Harris(bride)5 out of 5 Rating
We got married this past weekend and couldn’t rave enough about how amazing our wedding turned out. Amber and Jan, and the rest of the Zilli’s team were the most accommodating and helpful people we could have asked for. I didn’t have a wedding planner or a day of coordinator, but didn’t even need one with how great of a job the Zilli’s team did to work with me in making our special day perfect. From being responsive and helpful in the months of planning, to reaching out the morning of to be there for anything I need- they were there every step of the way. In the past few days, I’ve had people ask me how everything went, and are surprised when I tell them we had not one thing go wrong the entire day. Thankful for such a beautiful ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception- and memories to last a lifetime. Thank you Zilli’s and Boerner! Reviewed on 21-08-2018
Liz Ziner(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 28-07-2018 Going with Zilli was the single best decision we made while planning our wedding. Amber and Jan at Boerner Botanical Gardens went above and beyond for us in every way. They literally never told us \"no.\" They let us use spaces that were not typically used for weddings, found creative solutions for logistical issues, coordinated a tasting with the amazing Chef Rachel so we could get our menu just right, contacted multiple lighting companies and helped us negotiate contracts, and made sure the day-of went smoothly. We hired a month-of coordinator from an outside company who dropped the ball on many things, but there Jan and Amber were, ready to pick up the slack. When Zilli says they're full-service, they mean it. I also need to mention the food. My fiance was hesitant to go with a \"wedding caterer\" because he didn't want typical \"wedding food.\" But Zilli and Chef Rachel specifically accommodated all of our requests and made suggestions outside of the listed choices. Suffice it to say, it was a sea of clean plates at the wedding. Everyone raved that it was the best wedding food they'd ever had. It's now two weeks after our wedding and guests are still talking about it. From start to finish, we received exceptional treatment from the Zilli team at Boerner. We were never pressured to spend over our budget, and the value we got for what we did spend was unbeatable. Our wedding was worth every penny (and more). If you're on the fence, go with Zilli. You will be happy you did. Reviewed on 14-08-2018
Michelle Thorpe(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 27-07-2018 My husband and I just got married at Boerner on July 27th; a Friday wedding. We absolutely loved the gardens and having both our ceremony and reception on the grounds. It was fabulous going from our 5:00 ceremony in the fragrance garden to our toast on the patio outside the reception hall to our cocktail hour from 5:30-6:30 and the dinner/dance after....all within steps of each other. We also loved having our photos taken before the wedding with the perfect backdrop of flowers, plants and trees! The weather turned out perfect for it all and I was able to walk barefoot in the grass for the ceremony! Zilli Hospitality Group was also amazing and worked well with us throughout the process. They were flexible and very accommodating. The feedback from our family and friends was wonderful regarding the food, drinks and the whole event. The presentation of the food and whole reception area was very appealing. Thanks to Zilli and Boerner, we had the wedding of our dreams! Reviewed on 07-08-2018
Zia O.(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 28-07-2018 This place is absolutely gorgeous in the summer. We booked the Rose Garden and while there weren’t roses at this time of year (late July) it was still a beautiful place for the ceremony and for photos after. We took photos elsewhere in the gardens and the lillies were in full bloom. It was a cacophony of color and absolutely divine. There are so many good spots to take photos here.The process of reserving was pretty straightforward though you cannot do any online reservations. The ladies that helped us with reservation were very kind and able to answer most to all questions. We had reserved the garden house in case of inclement weather but didn’t need it. Reviewed on 01-08-2018
Kaitlin Vaughn(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 31-12-2017 We had such an amazing New Year's Eve wedding at the Boerner Botanical Gardens, couldn't recommend it enough! The space was perfect - it was great having the garden room for our cocktail hour, and then a big reveal of the ballroom for our dinner.The staff was wonderful and the food was delicious. Even though we were married a month ago, we are still hearing complements on the dinner!If I had the chance to do it all again, I would do it the exact same way at Boerner's! Reviewed on 03-02-2018
Sally Kuss(wedding party)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 05-02-2019 We had my daughter's wedding at Boerner Botanical gardens on 11/25/17. The ceremony was held in the Atrium and the reception and dinner followed directly after in the cocktail area and banquet room. The venue was beautiful for the ceremony in winter with the windows of the Atrium and the wedding party was able to take photos outside on the beautiful grounds. The food and staff were awesome. Ryan Yttre was our event manager and he was extremely kind, helpful and very accommodating with our special requests. The flowers were done by Katie of Adorn, the Zilli floral department and they were absolutely spectacular and way more beautiful that we imagined they would be. Reviewed on 05-12-2017
Ellie Colombo(wedding party)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 20-12-2018 I cannot say enough about our entire experience we had with the team at the Botanical Gardens. The Fragrance Garden made such a beautiful backdrop for the ceremony. Boerner Hall has a lovely view and the flow from the garden to the reception area was so easily accessible, especially for our elderly guests. My husband and I really enjoyed working with Lisa and Janis. They were both outstanding and so very helpful throughout the entire process. From the menu selection to each and every detail that made the day run smoothly. We truly appreciate all of your hard work. Thank you both for making the day so perfect! Chef Rachel and her crew did an amazing job. The food and the presentation was fantastic! Our guests are still talking about it! We are in full agreement with the many compliments we have received that it was the best wedding EVER! Reviewed on 20-10-2017
Jennifer B(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 01-09-2017 To be honest, I was a little disappointed with the event planning staff. They didn't get too involved and sometimes emails went unanswered. But everything else went perfect. The people who did all the set up did an amazing job and the catering staff and bartender were beyond great. And the food was beyond amazing. The people who attended our wedding were so impressed and everyone who talked to us had nothing but good things to say about the staff and food. Thank you for making our day beyond special. Nothing went wrong thanks to this great staff of people. Reviewed on 08-10-2017
Sharon Frankovis(bride)4 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 26-08-2017 A few last minute glitches but they corrected them quickly. Beautiful setting, Rose Garden, for our wedding Reviewed on 13-09-2017
Rebecca Hogan(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 07-05-2017 The botanical gardens was the most magical place to have our ceremony! We got married may 7th, I was so worried about weather but it turned out perfect. The annual garden was perfectly bloomed at that time! Reviewed on 16-07-2017
Tara Kessenich(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 10-09-2016 When we were first looking for a venue - I was in sticker shock and almost went the route of doing everything ourselves at a venue where you could bring in your own vendors- which would have maybe saved us about $3,000 however - I'm so glad we went with zilli and the gardens!!! You have so much to worry about that they take away that worry for you all along the way! Margaret and Lori were always there answering my questions and it almost felt as if I had a wedding planner with how much they help.And day of you have their team (Deanne ?) worrying for you so you really get to enjoy the moments! And can we talk about the food ? Everyone at my wedding talked about how amazing the food is- and don't worry bride and groom - they give you a plate of appetizers when you sit down because they know you haven't had a chance to enjoy your own food.You have the bar in one room and tables and dancing in the other - we did pay to move the dance floor and loved our own set up so much better - but you have the ability to do that! We created the space how we wanted it!Everyone warned me expect a few things to go wrong - and I can't tell you what went wrong - our day at the Gardens was perfect!Our choice to go with the gardens also made my parents proud - they were so happy to see their investment in my wedding turn out so wonderful! Reviewed on 16-09-2016
Leah Lemke(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 25-06-2016 This is an absolutely stunning venue. We booked their banquet room and couldn't be happier. Lori and Margret were fantastic to work with throughout the whole process. They were responsive and quick with their communication. Nothing sat for long without a response or follow through. We had a rather large wedding and I was so impressed with their ability to plan and coordinate it all. They were extremely accommodating, making sure everything we wanted to happen, did. Working with the gardens and with Lori made the whole wedding process stress free. Their in house caterer, Zilli, was also excellent. Their food was absolutely fantastic. They do group taste testings, which was done really well. They have all of their food available for you to sample, we were then able to pick and mix and match based on our package. On the day of the wedding, the coordinator that was there was also fantastic. She was always around, but was never noticed. She made sure the day/night went smoothly and coordinated with everyone. I received many compliments from my guests on how beautiful the venue was, how excellent the food was, and even how fast the bartenders were! Zilli's and the Gardens are a top notch venue and I would use them over and over again! Reviewed on 20-07-2016
Libby Winchester(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 27-02-2016 We had our February ceremony with 24 guests in the Garden House Exhibit Room after the Domes were shut down 2 weeks before our wedding. The room was great for our small group, and the interesting history of the construction of the building was an added bonus. Everyone at Boerner Botanical Gardens was kind, helpful, and sympathetic to our somewhat frantic plan changing. The day went smoothly, and it seemed that everyone walked away happy. Reviewed on 15-03-2016
Sara Ziesemer(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 13-06-2015 We loved getting married in the gardens - we had so many beautiful photos! The buildings and grounds are gorgeous! The planning was a little tricky, you have two points of contact - one for the gardens and then one if you use any rooms in the main building and cater. Their info didn't always match up. The garden contact was really helpful though. Reviewed on 26-07-2015
Michelle kuhagen(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 20-09-2014 We toured 20+ venue sites around the greater Milwaukee area. After touring Zilli's Coast building, they seemed to be the catering company for us, but I did not settle on that location.\r\rWe ended up touring the Domes and other Zilli's locations, but decided on Botanical Gardens because it best fit our budget and party size (~190).\r\rZilli's held a \"Dreams\" dinner/contest that we enjoyed attending. Of course all couples could attend. We were able to get an early taste of the food and an opportunity to win a door prize. For attending the event we were even given free late night food at our wedding.\r\rZilli's menu was top notch. They had an additional free tasting which my (now) husband and I enjoyed. We picked out hors d'oeuvres and each part of our meal there. On the day of our wedding everyone complimented us on the food.\r\rWe loved the Botanical Gardens. Our wedding was in late September, but the weather was still fine and our guests were able to enjoy the outdoors a little with its pretty scenery.\r\rI would recommend Zilli's and the Botanical Gardens location. Reviewed on 06-11-2014
Meg King(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 25-10-2014 I can't say enough about the four staff members from ZILLI's Hospitality Group who helped me through all the planning and the day of our wedding! The food was wonderful, the Gardens were beautiful, access was easy and everything went seamlessly! Reviewed on 05-11-2014
Tenisha Hubbard(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 28-09-2014 My experience with everyone we encountered throughout our planning process was great! From planning our menu, to the phenomenal tasting, to the day of assistance, everything was wonderful! The food was delicious and we received so many compliments! Reviewed on 03-10-2014
Mitzi Melendez(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 12-09-2014 I had my wedding on September at Boerner Botanical Gardens and it was so beautiful! I booked the place in early June of the same year, so Zilli was very accommodating to my needs. I had a short timeframe to plan the wedding, I am not from Milwaukee but from Madison so they were patient whenever my husband and I were late for meetings. My Mother who was in charge of decorations and the flowers wanted special accommodations made for us and even though she does not speak English, Lori and Margaret from Zilli were able to make those happen. Zilli was also very flexible with slight changes to the menu since I have a dairy restriction and a gluten free diet. The wedding was beautiful, even though it happened on the the coldest day of September. Our wedding was indoors, the tables were decorated beautifully and the flowers in the gardens looked very pretty in the rain. All the guests had a really great time. Thank you Zilli! Reviewed on 03-10-2014
Karly Edwards(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 14-06-2014 I could not have asked for a better experience with ZHG. Boerner Botanical Gardens turned out absolutely amazing! We did have a few miscommunication points - but in the end everything worked out. The price was right for everything that I wanted & ZHG made sure everything was taken care of for me. They even did a video of our whole wedding & threw in a gift certificate to another Zilli restaurant. :) Reviewed on 01-07-2014
Jenessa DeMoss(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 11-01-2014 My husband and I just got married two weeks ago, and our reception was held at Boerner Botanical Gardens. Our event was the first event since switching from one exclusive caterer to Zilli Hospitality Group being the exclusive caterer. The switch occurred January 1, and our reception was January 11th. We contacted Zilli’s (actually about a different venue) in February of 2013. When speaking to Lori R. the original venue we were looking at would not work, but she listened and recommended Boerner, due to us wanting a lot of natural light for our day time reception. We were actually thinking of this as a top choice, but at the time was listed under the other caterer (since the switch had not yet occurred.) We met with Lori in March of 2013, and she was able to answer all of our questions, even the weird and very specific ones. We felt confident being in her hands, and signed shortly thereafter. Fast forwarding several months, I found the support and assistance that both Lori and her assistant, Margaret gave us to be crucial in the time when the planning and things that needed to be done to be the most stressful. Margaret had answers to all my questions within 24 hours (usually sooner) and I felt like they really bent over backwards to accommodate me. For example, I was very stressed out at one point about putting centerpieces around Boerner and “decorating” the day before, since our ceremony was at 11 am, and I had hair/makeup appointments that morning. Initially, the rooms were not going to be set up enough for me to get in on Friday to put things around, but just by asking and explaining the situation, they had it available for me the day before. I was able to set everything up Friday, making the wedding day that much less stressful. I felt like any request that I had, they tried their hardest to accommodate, and typically were able to go above and beyond what I had asked. It really felt like I was working with friends, and they just wanted everything to turn out perfect for me. The day of the wedding, everything turned out perfectly, and everything from the food, to the set up that they did, to the kindness of the servers and waitstaff was noticeable. I was the typical “nervous bride” but the waitstaff urged me to eat and really made sure that my groom and I were taken care of. The food was excellent, and even over two weeks later I am still receiving compliments and e-mails asking who did the food, etc. Highlights were the passed appetizers (especially the bacon wrapped chicken and the jasmine rice pops), the stuffed chicken, the beef tenderloin and the garlic mashed potatoes. Everything was excellent though, and people definitely were not hungry when they walked away. Also, a surprise from Zilli’s, was a hot chocolate bar (being a January wedding it was really appreciated!) and enjoyed by all. It was a lovely idea, and I was touched that they threw that in for us. All in all, I would recommend Zilli Hospitality Group hands down to anyone that asked. If I ever need to do another event, I would not hesitate to do so at Boerner Botanical Gardens, and I would definitely trust Zilli’s to do all the food and catering. Reviewed on 27-01-2014
Yvette joined Zilli Hospitality in 2018 and has quickly become the go-to event designer for wedding celebrations. Her eye for detail, passion to create unique visions, and desire to make personal connections with clients are what truly sets her apart! With Yvette at your side, you can be sure that beautiful dreams will come alive at Boerner Botanical Gardens - making memories through great events run by equally wonderful people!