The Morton Arboretum
Updated
The Morton Arboretum Photos
About This Vendor
Creating a Lifetime of Memories
Imagine The Morton Arboretum in Lisle, IL, as the magnificent oasis where your marriage begins- the place you return to on your first anniversary and for years to come. The place where you enjoy Summer picnics with your loved ones under the cool shade of a majestic oak tree and hear the soft sound of leaves rustling in the breeze. Here is where your union begins and where you will blossom for a lifetime. Firefly Pavilion - Available May 2024 The Morton Arboretum is building a new three-season event space on the East Side, just south of The Gerard T. Donnelly Grand Garden. Inside the pavilion, the open-air space is ideal for weddings. The ceremony, dinner, and dancing would take place inside the pavilion. Guests can enjoy the outdoor patio for cocktails and socializing. Firefly Pavilion will be able to accommodate 220 people. More information will be available as the opening date nears.
Amenities & Details
Ceremony Area, Covered Outdoors Space, Handicap Accessible, Indoor Event Space, Outdoor Event Space, Reception Area, Wireless Internet
Guest CapacityUp to 300
Ceremony Types Venue Service OfferingsBar & Drinks, Cakes & Desserts, Food & Catering, Service Staff
SettingsGarden, Museum, Park
Business AttributesPricing for The Morton Arboretum
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| Starting Cost | Moderate |
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Browse The Morton Arboretum pricing PDF below for sample services and estimates.
View PricesThe Morton Arboretum Reviews
CHRISTINA RECKARD (other) 5 out of 5 Rating
We couldn’t have been happier to have our wedding at The Morton Arboretum. From the start of the planning process, we felt supported by our facility coordinator, Jennie, and Alicia, our catering coordinator. The grounds were absolutely stunning for pictures and guests appreciated the opportunity to visit the arboretum on our wedding day, prior to festivities. The regular communication and updates from Jennie and Alicia were very helpful throughout our planning and helped us prepare for a very smooth day of. Our only surprise was seeing around 200 other people at the group tasting, which made it difficult to get one on one time with the staff. Alicia, Jennie, and the Chef went above and beyond to accommodate our additional requests. We were very happy with the food on our wedding day and our guests have been raving about it too! The partnership with DeEtta’s Bakery worked out perfectly and we were incredibly happy with our cake. The Ginkgo room was the perfect backdrop to our special day. We are so happy with our experience at The Morton Arboretum and look forward to visiting again.
Reviewed on 23-11-2023
We couldn’t have been happier to have our wedding at The Morton Arboretum. From the start of the planning process, we felt supported by our facility coordinator, Jennie, and Alicia, our catering coordinator. The grounds were absolutely stunning for pictures and guests appreciated the opportunity to visit the arboretum on our wedding day, prior to festivities. The regular communication and updates from Jennie and Alicia were very helpful throughout our planning and helped us prepare for a very smooth day of. Our only surprise was seeing around 200 other people at the group tasting, which made it difficult to get one on one time with the staff. Alicia, Jennie, and the Chef went above and beyond to accommodate our additional requests. We were very happy with the food on our wedding day and our guests have been raving about it too! The partnership with DeEtta’s Bakery worked out perfectly and we were incredibly happy with our cake. The Ginkgo room was the perfect backdrop to our special day. We are so happy with our experience at The Morton Arboretum and look forward to visiting again.
Reviewed on 23-11-2023
Jackson & Savannah Kamedulski (other) 5 out of 5 Rating
You must have your wedding at the Morton Arboretum White Pine Pavilion!! It was perfect! the grounds are just beautiful and the service was amazing. There wasn't 1 time when we had to ask for anything they really were on top of everything. thank you for making my daughters wedding beautiful!
Reviewed on 17-11-2023
You must have your wedding at the Morton Arboretum White Pine Pavilion!! It was perfect! the grounds are just beautiful and the service was amazing. There wasn't 1 time when we had to ask for anything they really were on top of everything. thank you for making my daughters wedding beautiful!
Reviewed on 17-11-2023
Adrian L (other) 5 out of 5 Rating
We loved our wedding at the Morton Arboretum. Jennie and Alicia helped us plan the wedding and were very helpful in making sure everything ran smoothly. They were very responsive and receptive to our requests. The food and drinks were great as well with very attentive dinner waitstaff. Advice to any couples getting married at the Thornhill Education center: do your dancing in the Founder's Room, you won't regret the extra space and the vibe of that room!
Reviewed on 20-10-2023
We loved our wedding at the Morton Arboretum. Jennie and Alicia helped us plan the wedding and were very helpful in making sure everything ran smoothly. They were very responsive and receptive to our requests. The food and drinks were great as well with very attentive dinner waitstaff. Advice to any couples getting married at the Thornhill Education center: do your dancing in the Founder's Room, you won't regret the extra space and the vibe of that room!
Reviewed on 20-10-2023
Lauren Brooks (other) 5 out of 5 Rating
The arboretum was absolutely gorgeous! The food was delicious. They made the planning process so easy, seamless and stress free. I really felt taken care of on my wedding day and was just able to enjoy it!
Reviewed on 18-10-2023
The arboretum was absolutely gorgeous! The food was delicious. They made the planning process so easy, seamless and stress free. I really felt taken care of on my wedding day and was just able to enjoy it!
Reviewed on 18-10-2023
Kiley Ribordy (other) 5 out of 5 Rating
If I had to re-do my wedding, I would still book it at Morton Arboretum. The venue was GORGEOUS – the Grand Garden was so elegant and romantic for our ceremony, and everything flowed perfectly into the cocktail and reception hour. Everything ran so smoothly and everyone we worked with – from Margaret to the entire staff – was so helpful and kind. We had people continuously complimenting the venue and the food (which they do through their own Ginkgo Catering service) – the whole thing couldn’t have been more perfect.
Reviewed on 17-10-2023
If I had to re-do my wedding, I would still book it at Morton Arboretum. The venue was GORGEOUS – the Grand Garden was so elegant and romantic for our ceremony, and everything flowed perfectly into the cocktail and reception hour. Everything ran so smoothly and everyone we worked with – from Margaret to the entire staff – was so helpful and kind. We had people continuously complimenting the venue and the food (which they do through their own Ginkgo Catering service) – the whole thing couldn’t have been more perfect.
Reviewed on 17-10-2023
Sharon L (other) 5 out of 5 Rating
Where do I even begin! The Morton Arboretum was the first and only venue we toured, and it was pretty much love at first sight. The moment we laid our eyes on The Grand Garden, we knew it was where we wanted our ceremony to be. The scenery is breathtaking with the trees surrounding the garden as well as the water fountains that add a certain level of charm to the space. We worked with Jennie Polloway, and she is honestly the best. We cannot even begin to put into words how grateful we are to have worked with her. From the day we met her on our tour of the arboretum grounds, Jennie has been nothing but kind and accommodating in every way. She had an answer to every single question I had (and I had a lot!) while remaining patient through it all. Although we had our ceremony at The Grand Garden, Jennie went above and beyond in allowing us to use The Fragrance Garden for our Chinese tea ceremony, the Founder's Room at Thornhill for photos, and even obtained permission from the head of security just to allow our dog to be a part of our wedding. She helped us set up all the details for every aspect of the wedding, and we were just blown away by her kindness throughout this whole process. We also worked with Taylor Trompeter in Ginkgo Catering, and she was just as sweet and wonderful of a human being to work with. She was so accommodating even when we wanted to add a bubble tea table during cocktail hour and a ramen bar for late night snacks. She made sure that we had everything that we needed. I can't say enough amazing things about Jennie and Taylor (as well as all of the kind staff at Morton Arboretum) who made our wedding such a dream. The whole day went so smoothly, and it was literally a perfect day. The Grand Garden was stunning that day, and one of our guests even commented on how it felt like she was walking into a movie set. We received so many compliments about how beautiful the venue is and how delicious the food was, and we cannot express our appreciation for the staff at Morton enough. Everybody worked so hard, and they truly made our day so special. We cannot be happier with our choice to have our wedding at Morton. Highly highly recommend!
Reviewed on 14-10-2023
Where do I even begin! The Morton Arboretum was the first and only venue we toured, and it was pretty much love at first sight. The moment we laid our eyes on The Grand Garden, we knew it was where we wanted our ceremony to be. The scenery is breathtaking with the trees surrounding the garden as well as the water fountains that add a certain level of charm to the space. We worked with Jennie Polloway, and she is honestly the best. We cannot even begin to put into words how grateful we are to have worked with her. From the day we met her on our tour of the arboretum grounds, Jennie has been nothing but kind and accommodating in every way. She had an answer to every single question I had (and I had a lot!) while remaining patient through it all. Although we had our ceremony at The Grand Garden, Jennie went above and beyond in allowing us to use The Fragrance Garden for our Chinese tea ceremony, the Founder's Room at Thornhill for photos, and even obtained permission from the head of security just to allow our dog to be a part of our wedding. She helped us set up all the details for every aspect of the wedding, and we were just blown away by her kindness throughout this whole process. We also worked with Taylor Trompeter in Ginkgo Catering, and she was just as sweet and wonderful of a human being to work with. She was so accommodating even when we wanted to add a bubble tea table during cocktail hour and a ramen bar for late night snacks. She made sure that we had everything that we needed. I can't say enough amazing things about Jennie and Taylor (as well as all of the kind staff at Morton Arboretum) who made our wedding such a dream. The whole day went so smoothly, and it was literally a perfect day. The Grand Garden was stunning that day, and one of our guests even commented on how it felt like she was walking into a movie set. We received so many compliments about how beautiful the venue is and how delicious the food was, and we cannot express our appreciation for the staff at Morton enough. Everybody worked so hard, and they truly made our day so special. We cannot be happier with our choice to have our wedding at Morton. Highly highly recommend!
Reviewed on 14-10-2023
Rachel Krippinger (other) 5 out of 5 Rating
Alicia and Kim were so great to work with! We held our reception at the Ginkgo room and it was beyond beautiful. Pricey but so worth it. It helped create the elegant yet fun, modern vibe we were going for. Plenty of room for our wedding of 145 people to dance and eat without feeling too crowded or overwhelmed by the size of the room that some banquet halls can give off. Ginkgo catering was very easy to work with and they did a phenomenal job at the tasting. It calmed any fears to see them seamlessly host such a large group of people before our wedding. We had the best day and have no regrets with choosing Morton Arboretum!
Reviewed on 08-09-2023
Alicia and Kim were so great to work with! We held our reception at the Ginkgo room and it was beyond beautiful. Pricey but so worth it. It helped create the elegant yet fun, modern vibe we were going for. Plenty of room for our wedding of 145 people to dance and eat without feeling too crowded or overwhelmed by the size of the room that some banquet halls can give off. Ginkgo catering was very easy to work with and they did a phenomenal job at the tasting. It calmed any fears to see them seamlessly host such a large group of people before our wedding. We had the best day and have no regrets with choosing Morton Arboretum!
Reviewed on 08-09-2023
Demi Dranseikaite (other) 5 out of 5 Rating
Morton arboretum was a perfect venue! All of the coordinators were so helpful, from setting up our venue to the way that we wanted- down to the detail, to making sure our food and drink was just as we envisioned. The food was delicious and our venue had stunning greenery in every shot- what more could you want!
Reviewed on 01-09-2023
Morton arboretum was a perfect venue! All of the coordinators were so helpful, from setting up our venue to the way that we wanted- down to the detail, to making sure our food and drink was just as we envisioned. The food was delicious and our venue had stunning greenery in every shot- what more could you want!
Reviewed on 01-09-2023
Teresana Barabba (other) 5 out of 5 Rating
We held our reception in the Ginko Room at the Morton Arboretum and couldn't be happier. They made the planning process smooth and easy. On the day of the wedding, everything was perfect! Our guests are still raving about the service, the food, the grounds, and the space!
Reviewed on 31-07-2023
We held our reception in the Ginko Room at the Morton Arboretum and couldn't be happier. They made the planning process smooth and easy. On the day of the wedding, everything was perfect! Our guests are still raving about the service, the food, the grounds, and the space!
Reviewed on 31-07-2023
Kristen Kelly (other) 5 out of 5 Rating
Morton was the absolute perfect place to get married. It is about as scenic as it gets close to Chicago. Our ceremony location was at the pond and everything we hoped it would be. Jennie, our day of coordinator, was incredibly accommodating to all of my needs. She allowed us to come to the site as many times as we needed to prepare for our special day. The staff were all professional and friendly. Would 10/10 recommend this venue.
Reviewed on 10-07-2023
Morton was the absolute perfect place to get married. It is about as scenic as it gets close to Chicago. Our ceremony location was at the pond and everything we hoped it would be. Jennie, our day of coordinator, was incredibly accommodating to all of my needs. She allowed us to come to the site as many times as we needed to prepare for our special day. The staff were all professional and friendly. Would 10/10 recommend this venue.
Reviewed on 10-07-2023
Nicole Teeters (other) 5 out of 5 Rating
From the first time we visited Morton Arboretum, we knew that we wanted to have our wedding there. Not just because the grounds were beautiful, but because Jennie Polloway was so easy to work with! She made the entire process so easy, and was patient and flexible with all of my questions throughout the process. She worked with all of our vendors to make sure that the flowers, decor, etc. were all set up accordingly for us. We had our ceremony at Meadow Lake Point and our reception at the White Pine Pavilion, and it was absolutely wonderful! On the day of the wedding, there were some issues with the lights inside of the tent, and Jennie called up one of our vendors to have them set up some uplighting for us to make up for the faulty lights. It was such a great idea, and I am grateful she did that. Jennie definitely goes above and beyond for all of her weddings, and I would highly recommend getting married here just so you can work with her!
Reviewed on 10-06-2023
From the first time we visited Morton Arboretum, we knew that we wanted to have our wedding there. Not just because the grounds were beautiful, but because Jennie Polloway was so easy to work with! She made the entire process so easy, and was patient and flexible with all of my questions throughout the process. She worked with all of our vendors to make sure that the flowers, decor, etc. were all set up accordingly for us. We had our ceremony at Meadow Lake Point and our reception at the White Pine Pavilion, and it was absolutely wonderful! On the day of the wedding, there were some issues with the lights inside of the tent, and Jennie called up one of our vendors to have them set up some uplighting for us to make up for the faulty lights. It was such a great idea, and I am grateful she did that. Jennie definitely goes above and beyond for all of her weddings, and I would highly recommend getting married here just so you can work with her!
Reviewed on 10-06-2023
Brooke Wickman (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 29-04-2023
We had a fabulous time with our smaller wedding at the Thornhill Education building. Jennie and Alicia (and all the staff) were superb. It had rained the morning of our wedding and had cooled some but the staff ensured that we were able to have an indoor-outdoor cocktail hour so all guests were comfortable. The food was fantastic--so many compliments from guests. On top of the wonderful staff and food, the history of the building and its beautiful grounds truly made for a memorable evening.
Reviewed on 03-05-2023
Wedding Date 29-04-2023
We had a fabulous time with our smaller wedding at the Thornhill Education building. Jennie and Alicia (and all the staff) were superb. It had rained the morning of our wedding and had cooled some but the staff ensured that we were able to have an indoor-outdoor cocktail hour so all guests were comfortable. The food was fantastic--so many compliments from guests. On top of the wonderful staff and food, the history of the building and its beautiful grounds truly made for a memorable evening.
Reviewed on 03-05-2023
Christine Kutt (other) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 20-04-2023
I can't say enough about how perfect my daughter's wedding was at the Arboretum last week. Of course, the Arboretum itself is a remarkable treasure. The natural beauty of this sanctuary is unsurpassed in the Chicago area. Our loves of trees made it make perfect sense and because it's spring, the blooming trees and bulbs made everything EXTRA EXTRA. So, setting: FIVE STAR! *****The staff there both for the Arboretum space and the Gingko Catering teams are SUPERIOR PROFESSIONALS. The team of Jennie Polloway and Taylor Trompeter managed everything along the way, kept me on track (me and my unique bride), kept me on budget, provided suggestions, were patient and KIND. We had FUN making this all happen.The day of my girl's wedding was frought with major weather challenges and Jennie and the Arboretum venue staff helped and allowed us to manage our decision in real time. We did have to move the ceremony indoors at the last minute but it came off beautifully - the Founders' Room was glorious . The venue team were efficient and flexible in how we wanted things and made changes that met our requests without any problem. It was so great. Gingko Catering did a spectacular job. From what I heard ;), the food was delicious (I didn't eat much from the excitement). Service was excellent and joyful. The staff from catering helped make the day and evening fun.I want to do it all over - and with this team at this location. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THE MORTON ARBORETUM for your event. Let's play two!
Reviewed on 27-04-2023
Wedding Date 20-04-2023
I can't say enough about how perfect my daughter's wedding was at the Arboretum last week. Of course, the Arboretum itself is a remarkable treasure. The natural beauty of this sanctuary is unsurpassed in the Chicago area. Our loves of trees made it make perfect sense and because it's spring, the blooming trees and bulbs made everything EXTRA EXTRA. So, setting: FIVE STAR! *****The staff there both for the Arboretum space and the Gingko Catering teams are SUPERIOR PROFESSIONALS. The team of Jennie Polloway and Taylor Trompeter managed everything along the way, kept me on track (me and my unique bride), kept me on budget, provided suggestions, were patient and KIND. We had FUN making this all happen.The day of my girl's wedding was frought with major weather challenges and Jennie and the Arboretum venue staff helped and allowed us to manage our decision in real time. We did have to move the ceremony indoors at the last minute but it came off beautifully - the Founders' Room was glorious . The venue team were efficient and flexible in how we wanted things and made changes that met our requests without any problem. It was so great. Gingko Catering did a spectacular job. From what I heard ;), the food was delicious (I didn't eat much from the excitement). Service was excellent and joyful. The staff from catering helped make the day and evening fun.I want to do it all over - and with this team at this location. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THE MORTON ARBORETUM for your event. Let's play two!
Reviewed on 27-04-2023
Sarah Lindsey (other) 5 out of 5 Rating
If I could give ten stars I would! Denise and Alicia were both a pleasure to work with and made our wedding day go smoothly! We just had our wedding at the Thornhill Education Center with our ceremony in the Founder’s room and photos do not do justice to how beautiful the space is! Our guests kept coming up to us all night to comment on how beautiful the location of the ceremony was and how beautiful the surrounding grounds are. And the food provided by Ginkgo Catering was delicious, the Filet Mignon in particular was a huge hit with our guests! But the biggest thing that stood out to me was how kind and accommodating The Morton Arboretum Team was throughout this process. We had some unfortunate changes to our guest count last minute and Denise helped us find a solution to our issue and was so understanding and kind and made a stressful situation seem manageable. We are so happy that we chose The Morton Arboretum for our special day!
Reviewed on 26-04-2023
If I could give ten stars I would! Denise and Alicia were both a pleasure to work with and made our wedding day go smoothly! We just had our wedding at the Thornhill Education Center with our ceremony in the Founder’s room and photos do not do justice to how beautiful the space is! Our guests kept coming up to us all night to comment on how beautiful the location of the ceremony was and how beautiful the surrounding grounds are. And the food provided by Ginkgo Catering was delicious, the Filet Mignon in particular was a huge hit with our guests! But the biggest thing that stood out to me was how kind and accommodating The Morton Arboretum Team was throughout this process. We had some unfortunate changes to our guest count last minute and Denise helped us find a solution to our issue and was so understanding and kind and made a stressful situation seem manageable. We are so happy that we chose The Morton Arboretum for our special day!
Reviewed on 26-04-2023
Karoline Kniss (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 21-04-2023
The Morton Arboretum was not only stunning and beautiful, their entire staff made the whole process so much easier. Denise helped me with my event planning, and her attitude plus knowledge made her a pleasure to work with. Taylor was helpful and thorough for the catering planning. Both were always responsive and didn't mind all my last-minute questions! I appreciated Denise's honesty with some of the tougher questions I had. During my wedding day, we had the outside ceremony set up and a small shower blew through. Staff was outside right away wiping off chairs and making sure everything was ready for the ceremony. Having in-house Ginkgo Catering make the planning process much easier, and their food is better than any wedding food I've ever had! Everyone raved about the service staff, Wayne and Kim were so pleasant to work with during the actual reception, and overall, the service of the Arboretum is above and beyond other venues I have been a guest at. My guests greatly enjoyed the use of the tram and the admission to the grounds that day, and the experience we had at the Arboretum defined our wedding. We're so thankful that we were able to have our wedding there, it should be #1 on everyone's list in the Chicagoland area!
Reviewed on 24-04-2023
Wedding Date 21-04-2023
The Morton Arboretum was not only stunning and beautiful, their entire staff made the whole process so much easier. Denise helped me with my event planning, and her attitude plus knowledge made her a pleasure to work with. Taylor was helpful and thorough for the catering planning. Both were always responsive and didn't mind all my last-minute questions! I appreciated Denise's honesty with some of the tougher questions I had. During my wedding day, we had the outside ceremony set up and a small shower blew through. Staff was outside right away wiping off chairs and making sure everything was ready for the ceremony. Having in-house Ginkgo Catering make the planning process much easier, and their food is better than any wedding food I've ever had! Everyone raved about the service staff, Wayne and Kim were so pleasant to work with during the actual reception, and overall, the service of the Arboretum is above and beyond other venues I have been a guest at. My guests greatly enjoyed the use of the tram and the admission to the grounds that day, and the experience we had at the Arboretum defined our wedding. We're so thankful that we were able to have our wedding there, it should be #1 on everyone's list in the Chicagoland area!
Reviewed on 24-04-2023
Morgan Fink (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 15-10-2022
Our wedding was perfect and beautiful, and the arboretum was more than half the reason. the ceremony can be held inside or outside depending on weather, which was a relief as an October bride. The coordinators were so easy to work with, and very helpful and understanding. I never felt any regret. The food is INCREDIBLE, it's one of the things our guests continue to talk about. An absolute dream of a venue!!!!
Reviewed on 26-10-2022
Wedding Date 15-10-2022
Our wedding was perfect and beautiful, and the arboretum was more than half the reason. the ceremony can be held inside or outside depending on weather, which was a relief as an October bride. The coordinators were so easy to work with, and very helpful and understanding. I never felt any regret. The food is INCREDIBLE, it's one of the things our guests continue to talk about. An absolute dream of a venue!!!!
Reviewed on 26-10-2022
Shannon McNeil (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 18-06-2022
Denise, Jill, and their staff were amazing! Even in our first visit in the middle of winter, Morton Arboretum looked like a magical place to get married. Both Denise and Jill were so helpful to work with during the course of preparing for our wedding. We had a daytime wedding and chose the brunch menu. All of our guests commented on how beautiful everything was and of course about the tasty food!! When I wasn’t totally sure about tablecloth colors and menu items both Denise and Jill were able to offer up suggestions from their expertise. Thank you so much! Our day was made extra special because of Denise and Jill.
Reviewed on 25-10-2022
Wedding Date 18-06-2022
Denise, Jill, and their staff were amazing! Even in our first visit in the middle of winter, Morton Arboretum looked like a magical place to get married. Both Denise and Jill were so helpful to work with during the course of preparing for our wedding. We had a daytime wedding and chose the brunch menu. All of our guests commented on how beautiful everything was and of course about the tasty food!! When I wasn’t totally sure about tablecloth colors and menu items both Denise and Jill were able to offer up suggestions from their expertise. Thank you so much! Our day was made extra special because of Denise and Jill.
Reviewed on 25-10-2022
Julianne L (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 25-06-2022
We loved having our wedding at the Morton Arboretum and got so many compliments about the venue! We ended up booking the arboretum for our wedding just 9 months before our planned June date after finding out our original venue was going out of business. It was such a stressful scramble to get everything back on track after the venue shift, but Denise was an absolute pleasure to work with. My husband and I both agree we are so glad that we ended up changing venues (even if it obviously wasn't our original plan)! She was so patient with my many questions and was super prompt in responding. Not only that, but she was so much more flexible than our original venue to accommodate our vision and the preferences of the other vendors. There ended up being severe weather (including lightning!) on our wedding day and Denise worked with our wedding planner through several different iterations of plans as the weather forecast kept changing in order to make sure our guests were safe and that we could execute our original vision as closely as possible. It was a huge success! We also enjoyed working with Alicia in Gingko Catering who was also very accommodating through the food selection process. Thank you so much to the whole arboretum team for all of your hard work and for helping make our day so beautiful and special.
Reviewed on 16-10-2022
Wedding Date 25-06-2022
We loved having our wedding at the Morton Arboretum and got so many compliments about the venue! We ended up booking the arboretum for our wedding just 9 months before our planned June date after finding out our original venue was going out of business. It was such a stressful scramble to get everything back on track after the venue shift, but Denise was an absolute pleasure to work with. My husband and I both agree we are so glad that we ended up changing venues (even if it obviously wasn't our original plan)! She was so patient with my many questions and was super prompt in responding. Not only that, but she was so much more flexible than our original venue to accommodate our vision and the preferences of the other vendors. There ended up being severe weather (including lightning!) on our wedding day and Denise worked with our wedding planner through several different iterations of plans as the weather forecast kept changing in order to make sure our guests were safe and that we could execute our original vision as closely as possible. It was a huge success! We also enjoyed working with Alicia in Gingko Catering who was also very accommodating through the food selection process. Thank you so much to the whole arboretum team for all of your hard work and for helping make our day so beautiful and special.
Reviewed on 16-10-2022
Dawn Kennon (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 25-06-2022
Not only do you have the stunning background of this beautiful Arboretum, but the staff and event managers were so well coordinated and professional for our wedding. And our guests are still talking about the food 2 months later!
Reviewed on 24-09-2022
Wedding Date 25-06-2022
Not only do you have the stunning background of this beautiful Arboretum, but the staff and event managers were so well coordinated and professional for our wedding. And our guests are still talking about the food 2 months later!
Reviewed on 24-09-2022
Kelsey Fitzpatrick (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 22-07-2022
The Morton Arboretum was the perfect venue for my husband and I. We booked Meadow Lake Point and the Ginkgo Room for our ceremony and reception and both locations were beautiful. The staff was very friendly and helpful throughout the whole process, and on the day of the wedding, keeping our stress levels low. The food at the reception was amazing as well! Overall, we loved our experience there and would definitely recommend it to other couples.
Reviewed on 24-08-2022
Wedding Date 22-07-2022
The Morton Arboretum was the perfect venue for my husband and I. We booked Meadow Lake Point and the Ginkgo Room for our ceremony and reception and both locations were beautiful. The staff was very friendly and helpful throughout the whole process, and on the day of the wedding, keeping our stress levels low. The food at the reception was amazing as well! Overall, we loved our experience there and would definitely recommend it to other couples.
Reviewed on 24-08-2022
Kat Janda (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 21-05-2022
We had a 100 person wedding at the Thornhill Education Center at Morton Arboretum and it was absolutely perfect. Margaret from Morton and from Ginkgo Catering were both terrific to work with -- incredibly responsive and helpful.All of the staff during the wedding event were kind and attentive. Had a terrific bartender, too, who people absolutely loved. Great experience!
Reviewed on 19-06-2022
Wedding Date 21-05-2022
We had a 100 person wedding at the Thornhill Education Center at Morton Arboretum and it was absolutely perfect. Margaret from Morton and from Ginkgo Catering were both terrific to work with -- incredibly responsive and helpful.All of the staff during the wedding event were kind and attentive. Had a terrific bartender, too, who people absolutely loved. Great experience!
Reviewed on 19-06-2022
Angela Cerrillos (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 01-05-2022
My husband and I wanted a small, intimate, outdoor ceremony. We had a very tight budget, but the Fragrance Garden met all of our needs at a more than reasonable price in a beautiful setting. Jennie was such a wonderful coordinator. Even though our event was small, she was so accommodating and an absolute pleasure to work with. I cannot recommend the venue enough.
Reviewed on 14-06-2022
Wedding Date 01-05-2022
My husband and I wanted a small, intimate, outdoor ceremony. We had a very tight budget, but the Fragrance Garden met all of our needs at a more than reasonable price in a beautiful setting. Jennie was such a wonderful coordinator. Even though our event was small, she was so accommodating and an absolute pleasure to work with. I cannot recommend the venue enough.
Reviewed on 14-06-2022
Andrea Zamudio (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 01-05-2022
The Morton Arboretum was the perfect venue for our wedding. While we had hoped for an outdoor ceremony, Chicago weather would not cooperate. But our back up ceremony site, the Ginkgo Ballroom provided a gorgeous back drop. Rachel was an incredible coordinator- quick to answer all our questions & concerns as we tried to plan the wedding from across the country. Thank you so much to the whole staff for making it such a perfect day for us!
Reviewed on 08-06-2022
Wedding Date 01-05-2022
The Morton Arboretum was the perfect venue for our wedding. While we had hoped for an outdoor ceremony, Chicago weather would not cooperate. But our back up ceremony site, the Ginkgo Ballroom provided a gorgeous back drop. Rachel was an incredible coordinator- quick to answer all our questions & concerns as we tried to plan the wedding from across the country. Thank you so much to the whole staff for making it such a perfect day for us!
Reviewed on 08-06-2022
Anna Fogt (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 23-07-2021
The Morton Arboretum was a perfect place to have a wedding. We had our ceremony at Meadow Lake Point and the reception in the Ginkgo Room. The Ginkgo Room staff were amazing during the reception and repeatedly helped us coordinate timing from our seats to keep the speeches and dances running smoothly without any of the guests knowing. The dinner was amazing and we received compliments regarding the food and the location all night. Our guests were blown away by the Morton Arboretum and yours will be too.
Reviewed on 24-03-2022
Wedding Date 23-07-2021
The Morton Arboretum was a perfect place to have a wedding. We had our ceremony at Meadow Lake Point and the reception in the Ginkgo Room. The Ginkgo Room staff were amazing during the reception and repeatedly helped us coordinate timing from our seats to keep the speeches and dances running smoothly without any of the guests knowing. The dinner was amazing and we received compliments regarding the food and the location all night. Our guests were blown away by the Morton Arboretum and yours will be too.
Reviewed on 24-03-2022
Amber Gipson-Fine (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 24-10-2021
We loved the Morton Arboretum as a venue for far more reasons than we can review here! The entire staff worked with our vision for the wedding and communicated with us flawlessly when we working through infection prevention during COVID-19. Jennie is a superior wedding coordinator with invaluable experience, and Jill, our catering director, fielded all of our questions. We love that the bar worked with us for a fun signature drink. It rained during our wedding day and I didn't worry whatsoever about transitioning our ceremony inside because Jennie is the best. We were taken care of the entire day and we cannot speak highly enough about every staff member who was kind and tentative. From asking my husband and I if we needed anything throughout the night to beautifully packaging all of our wedding decor and momentos, the Morton Arboretum went above and beyond at every step. Thanks so much, Jennie, Jill, and the whole staff!
Reviewed on 17-01-2022
Wedding Date 24-10-2021
We loved the Morton Arboretum as a venue for far more reasons than we can review here! The entire staff worked with our vision for the wedding and communicated with us flawlessly when we working through infection prevention during COVID-19. Jennie is a superior wedding coordinator with invaluable experience, and Jill, our catering director, fielded all of our questions. We love that the bar worked with us for a fun signature drink. It rained during our wedding day and I didn't worry whatsoever about transitioning our ceremony inside because Jennie is the best. We were taken care of the entire day and we cannot speak highly enough about every staff member who was kind and tentative. From asking my husband and I if we needed anything throughout the night to beautifully packaging all of our wedding decor and momentos, the Morton Arboretum went above and beyond at every step. Thanks so much, Jennie, Jill, and the whole staff!
Reviewed on 17-01-2022
Kathryn Poulakos (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 22-10-2021
The Morton Arboretum was the only venue my husband & I visited when planning our wedding back in 2/19. We were sure it was the venue for us after meeting with Kim Wilson, coordinator, and, oh my gosh, was it meant to be...Our original wedding date was 3/21/20 and we had to reschedule multiple times due to COVID safety concerns/mitigations. Each & every time, Kim made clear we would get the SAFE, beautiful wedding we were hoping for when we booked; she & her team followed through on that promise and our wedding was more perfect than I could've even dreamed of.First, let me say that Kim is an absolute angel & one of the hardest working people I've ever known. I was a very worried bride BEFORE the pandemic, and that was amplified with everything going on... but Kim treated me with only kindness, respect, empathy, & patience each time we spoke. She always took the time to write me thoughtful, thorough responses to my millions of questions and concerns, & called me to ease my mind if my emails were especially frantic :) It was a long and stressful process for us to have our wedding, but the stress had nothing to do with the Arboretum- they were on top of everything and consistently calmed my nerves.On our wedding day, the coordinators were on top of everything. They communicated well with all of our vendors & everything was seamless. I am a very anxious person by nature, and because of the tireless work of the Arb staff, I had NO anxiety on the day of our wedding (a few guests/wedding party members even commented on how calm and happy I was). I had so much trust in Kim & her team, I was able to be in the moment & worry about nothing. The bartenders were totally amazing too. Heather was a JOY & Anthony was hilarious. They made sure my husband and I were always taken care of. My family was extremely impressed because they asked that my nephews bring their dad over for the official OK before serving them soda :) Everything was done with such care. The drinks were delicious & there was never a line. I noticed almost all people had drinks in their hands/in front of them throughout the night. It was such a testament to how great the service was.Each and every server was extremely kind & hardworking . They were very intentional about checking in with my husband & me too. Additionally, they were very on top of getting empty and unattended glasses. I didn’t see a single random cup all night.We also had the best experience with catering. First we worked with a lovely individual, who personally called me before our wedding to let me know she had a job change, but she would make sure our new catering contact, Jill, knew every detail - SHE DID & she didn't miss a beat. We know she was insanely busy, but she really took the time to make sure we were happy, satisfied, and taken care of. The food was outstanding. My dad, who is insanely picky, couldn't get over how perfectly the filet was cooked.We had Jim the tram driver for our pictures, and he was so knowledgeable, kind, and flexible. He was a lot of fun to have with our crew. I give all of these details because I want to highlight how personable and caring the staff was at the Arboretum. It was an amazing experience working with them. They have hundreds of weddings a year & made us feel special and valued every step of the way. I would recommend the Arboretum a million times over. Thank you to all who helped make our long-awaited day more perfect than we ever could've imagined.
Reviewed on 28-12-2021
Wedding Date 22-10-2021
The Morton Arboretum was the only venue my husband & I visited when planning our wedding back in 2/19. We were sure it was the venue for us after meeting with Kim Wilson, coordinator, and, oh my gosh, was it meant to be...Our original wedding date was 3/21/20 and we had to reschedule multiple times due to COVID safety concerns/mitigations. Each & every time, Kim made clear we would get the SAFE, beautiful wedding we were hoping for when we booked; she & her team followed through on that promise and our wedding was more perfect than I could've even dreamed of.First, let me say that Kim is an absolute angel & one of the hardest working people I've ever known. I was a very worried bride BEFORE the pandemic, and that was amplified with everything going on... but Kim treated me with only kindness, respect, empathy, & patience each time we spoke. She always took the time to write me thoughtful, thorough responses to my millions of questions and concerns, & called me to ease my mind if my emails were especially frantic :) It was a long and stressful process for us to have our wedding, but the stress had nothing to do with the Arboretum- they were on top of everything and consistently calmed my nerves.On our wedding day, the coordinators were on top of everything. They communicated well with all of our vendors & everything was seamless. I am a very anxious person by nature, and because of the tireless work of the Arb staff, I had NO anxiety on the day of our wedding (a few guests/wedding party members even commented on how calm and happy I was). I had so much trust in Kim & her team, I was able to be in the moment & worry about nothing. The bartenders were totally amazing too. Heather was a JOY & Anthony was hilarious. They made sure my husband and I were always taken care of. My family was extremely impressed because they asked that my nephews bring their dad over for the official OK before serving them soda :) Everything was done with such care. The drinks were delicious & there was never a line. I noticed almost all people had drinks in their hands/in front of them throughout the night. It was such a testament to how great the service was.Each and every server was extremely kind & hardworking . They were very intentional about checking in with my husband & me too. Additionally, they were very on top of getting empty and unattended glasses. I didn’t see a single random cup all night.We also had the best experience with catering. First we worked with a lovely individual, who personally called me before our wedding to let me know she had a job change, but she would make sure our new catering contact, Jill, knew every detail - SHE DID & she didn't miss a beat. We know she was insanely busy, but she really took the time to make sure we were happy, satisfied, and taken care of. The food was outstanding. My dad, who is insanely picky, couldn't get over how perfectly the filet was cooked.We had Jim the tram driver for our pictures, and he was so knowledgeable, kind, and flexible. He was a lot of fun to have with our crew. I give all of these details because I want to highlight how personable and caring the staff was at the Arboretum. It was an amazing experience working with them. They have hundreds of weddings a year & made us feel special and valued every step of the way. I would recommend the Arboretum a million times over. Thank you to all who helped make our long-awaited day more perfect than we ever could've imagined.
Reviewed on 28-12-2021
Holly Dayton (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 06-09-2021
We visited the Morton Arboretum first as a venue in January 2020, and fell in love with Meadow Lake Point (even in the frost!) as a wedding venue. We initially planned to have our wedding in the Gingko Room, but were able to work with the Arboretum to switch to the White Pine Pavillion when concerns about eating indoors prompted us to make alternative plans. We can’t say enough about how terrific the Arboretum were to work with through the whole process, and how much we will cherish being able to come back here for years and decades to come.We worked with Jennie Polloway from start to finish, and with Caryn Adams on catering in the last few months. Jennie was a true star, a seasoned veteran, who made sure everything worked out perfectly and just as we wanted it. Caryn was enormously attentive and kind, and made us feel like really special clients. They both delivered a perfect event on the day of, with seamless service and delicious food. They were even able to make possible our signature cocktails, a gin-gin and an aperol spritz! We didn’t add any additional lights or decorations to the tent beyond florals, but the strings of lights they have and the included tablecloths are bright and cheery enough to make the space delightful.Guests told us, and keep telling us months later, how much fun they had at our wedding and how perfect the location was. It’s a great place, the Morton Arb. We couldn’t recommend it more.
Reviewed on 18-11-2021
Wedding Date 06-09-2021
We visited the Morton Arboretum first as a venue in January 2020, and fell in love with Meadow Lake Point (even in the frost!) as a wedding venue. We initially planned to have our wedding in the Gingko Room, but were able to work with the Arboretum to switch to the White Pine Pavillion when concerns about eating indoors prompted us to make alternative plans. We can’t say enough about how terrific the Arboretum were to work with through the whole process, and how much we will cherish being able to come back here for years and decades to come.We worked with Jennie Polloway from start to finish, and with Caryn Adams on catering in the last few months. Jennie was a true star, a seasoned veteran, who made sure everything worked out perfectly and just as we wanted it. Caryn was enormously attentive and kind, and made us feel like really special clients. They both delivered a perfect event on the day of, with seamless service and delicious food. They were even able to make possible our signature cocktails, a gin-gin and an aperol spritz! We didn’t add any additional lights or decorations to the tent beyond florals, but the strings of lights they have and the included tablecloths are bright and cheery enough to make the space delightful.Guests told us, and keep telling us months later, how much fun they had at our wedding and how perfect the location was. It’s a great place, the Morton Arb. We couldn’t recommend it more.
Reviewed on 18-11-2021
Melissa Mac (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 23-07-2021
The Arboretum was a beautiful venue to get married at. As a bride going through a national pandemic, we had to postpone our wedding & change venues and we wouldn’t have wanted it any other way by selecting the Arboretum for our wedding day. The venue is perfect — it has so many beautiful areas of greenery & photo opportunities that kept us in one location (which were easily accessible and numbered!). We had our wedding in the West Lawn adjacent to the Sycamore room. The weather was in the upper 80s and we had no issues with the temperature inside. There are a variety of options within the Arboretum and the prices are affordable. That is why we chose the Arboretum!There is so much that the arboretum has to offer & one being a complimentary venue coordinator. THANK YOU RACHEL. Rachel, was not only an amazing coordinator but gave me different perspectives on ideas I had and also allowed me to work things out the way I had it imagined. She seriously is so flexible & responsive via emails and phone and super sweet! She is excellent at her job! Thank you for letting me change my floor plan 10+ times until I was happy with it and letting us view the facilities as needed. I would highly recommend Rachel Martenson if you are looking into having your wedding at the arboretum. My guests really enjoyed and raved about the food (Thank you Elana + catering staff) that was catered from the Arboretum. The food selection process was easy and we worked with an outside bakery for our wedding cake. Both venue and catering coordinators were present on the day of which was a plus in our book! It was a wonderful experience for both of us & our guests who were able to enjoy it as much as we did.
Reviewed on 31-10-2021
Wedding Date 23-07-2021
The Arboretum was a beautiful venue to get married at. As a bride going through a national pandemic, we had to postpone our wedding & change venues and we wouldn’t have wanted it any other way by selecting the Arboretum for our wedding day. The venue is perfect — it has so many beautiful areas of greenery & photo opportunities that kept us in one location (which were easily accessible and numbered!). We had our wedding in the West Lawn adjacent to the Sycamore room. The weather was in the upper 80s and we had no issues with the temperature inside. There are a variety of options within the Arboretum and the prices are affordable. That is why we chose the Arboretum!There is so much that the arboretum has to offer & one being a complimentary venue coordinator. THANK YOU RACHEL. Rachel, was not only an amazing coordinator but gave me different perspectives on ideas I had and also allowed me to work things out the way I had it imagined. She seriously is so flexible & responsive via emails and phone and super sweet! She is excellent at her job! Thank you for letting me change my floor plan 10+ times until I was happy with it and letting us view the facilities as needed. I would highly recommend Rachel Martenson if you are looking into having your wedding at the arboretum. My guests really enjoyed and raved about the food (Thank you Elana + catering staff) that was catered from the Arboretum. The food selection process was easy and we worked with an outside bakery for our wedding cake. Both venue and catering coordinators were present on the day of which was a plus in our book! It was a wonderful experience for both of us & our guests who were able to enjoy it as much as we did.
Reviewed on 31-10-2021
Kerry Clifford (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 10-09-2021
We had the absolute best wedding day at The Morton Arboretum! We were supposed to get married in 2020, but due to Covid had to change our date 2x. We are so thankful the arboretum was so flexible with us in allowing us to move our date, it was a tough year for everyone, but SO appreciated them working with us. We ended up getting married at the white pine pavilion and it was so perfect. Rachel was so detail oriented and was never too busy to answer our questions. The set up on the day of was perfect- it brought me to tears. The service was perfect- the wait staff was so polite and we even had a specific waiter for my husband and me. The food was great and all our guests kept telling us how great the food was. In the beginning, we did have a little trouble working out some of the details with catering that we wanted on our wedding day that were outside the norm, we ultimately worked it out, but it wasn’t without a little bit of negotiating. My only small piece of feedback is to continue to allow couples to do unique additions to their day- that’s what it’s all about right? Who wants to have a wedding that’s the same as everyone else. Otherwise, it was the perfect day thanks to the arboretum.
Reviewed on 29-10-2021
Wedding Date 10-09-2021
We had the absolute best wedding day at The Morton Arboretum! We were supposed to get married in 2020, but due to Covid had to change our date 2x. We are so thankful the arboretum was so flexible with us in allowing us to move our date, it was a tough year for everyone, but SO appreciated them working with us. We ended up getting married at the white pine pavilion and it was so perfect. Rachel was so detail oriented and was never too busy to answer our questions. The set up on the day of was perfect- it brought me to tears. The service was perfect- the wait staff was so polite and we even had a specific waiter for my husband and me. The food was great and all our guests kept telling us how great the food was. In the beginning, we did have a little trouble working out some of the details with catering that we wanted on our wedding day that were outside the norm, we ultimately worked it out, but it wasn’t without a little bit of negotiating. My only small piece of feedback is to continue to allow couples to do unique additions to their day- that’s what it’s all about right? Who wants to have a wedding that’s the same as everyone else. Otherwise, it was the perfect day thanks to the arboretum.
Reviewed on 29-10-2021
Dana Bacaling (other) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 15-10-2021
The absolute best decision! The Arboretum is the PERFECT venue - from the setting, to the customer service, and the delicious food, there is no better place than this!Planning during a pandemic was stressful, but Rachel helped us navigate the process with ease- always communicative, available, and reassuring even with 2 reschedules due to Covid. Elana in catering helped us create the perfect menu for our guests. Everything from the appetizers, to the dinner, and late night snacks were delicious! Guests have still not stopped talking about how fabulous the food was. Rachel and Elana always had suggestions, options, and helpful tips to make the day absolutely perfect! I couldn't imagine a better experience than the one we had. It was honestly, THE BEST DAY EVER! I cannot thank The Arboretum enough for all their hard work and dedication in making this happen. You can tell this is a team that puts their heart into what they do and it shows!
Reviewed on 29-10-2021
Wedding Date 15-10-2021
The absolute best decision! The Arboretum is the PERFECT venue - from the setting, to the customer service, and the delicious food, there is no better place than this!Planning during a pandemic was stressful, but Rachel helped us navigate the process with ease- always communicative, available, and reassuring even with 2 reschedules due to Covid. Elana in catering helped us create the perfect menu for our guests. Everything from the appetizers, to the dinner, and late night snacks were delicious! Guests have still not stopped talking about how fabulous the food was. Rachel and Elana always had suggestions, options, and helpful tips to make the day absolutely perfect! I couldn't imagine a better experience than the one we had. It was honestly, THE BEST DAY EVER! I cannot thank The Arboretum enough for all their hard work and dedication in making this happen. You can tell this is a team that puts their heart into what they do and it shows!
Reviewed on 29-10-2021
Elsie Divinagracia (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 18-09-2021
The Morton Arboretum was the only venue we toured because we knew that it would be beautiful and perfect, and we were not disappointed. Rachel was so easy to work with and answered all of my questions immediately even though she was out of the office on vacation, so you know she cares about her couples! Caryn with catering was also great at answering questions I had about anything at all, and thanks to her suggestions our linens were magnificent. Everyone was so flexible about changing our date due to COVID, and made the situation so much easier to handle. The scenery and venue were beautiful, and our guests also loved being able to explore before the wedding. We basically had the wedding of our dreams!
Reviewed on 28-10-2021
Wedding Date 18-09-2021
The Morton Arboretum was the only venue we toured because we knew that it would be beautiful and perfect, and we were not disappointed. Rachel was so easy to work with and answered all of my questions immediately even though she was out of the office on vacation, so you know she cares about her couples! Caryn with catering was also great at answering questions I had about anything at all, and thanks to her suggestions our linens were magnificent. Everyone was so flexible about changing our date due to COVID, and made the situation so much easier to handle. The scenery and venue were beautiful, and our guests also loved being able to explore before the wedding. We basically had the wedding of our dreams!
Reviewed on 28-10-2021
Alyssa McFadden (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
My husband and I are so, SO glad we booked the Morton Arboretum as our wedding venue. The staff are so incredibly kind, patient, and responsive. Also, the venue itself is GOREGOUS. So many beautiful spots for pictures, and the wedding guests loved having the day to explore the grounds before the ceremony. Plus, the food was incredible! If I could give it higher than five stars, I would. Shout out to Rachel for all of her help coordinating, and then rescheduling, our big day with the pandemic. We are so grateful for all of your help and assistance!
Reviewed on 28-10-2021
My husband and I are so, SO glad we booked the Morton Arboretum as our wedding venue. The staff are so incredibly kind, patient, and responsive. Also, the venue itself is GOREGOUS. So many beautiful spots for pictures, and the wedding guests loved having the day to explore the grounds before the ceremony. Plus, the food was incredible! If I could give it higher than five stars, I would. Shout out to Rachel for all of her help coordinating, and then rescheduling, our big day with the pandemic. We are so grateful for all of your help and assistance!
Reviewed on 28-10-2021
Mary Rooney (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 16-10-2021
So happy that we picked Morton Arboretum for our wedding! Beautiful venue. Very helpful and responsive staff all around. The food provided by their catering service was delicious as well.
Reviewed on 25-10-2021
Wedding Date 16-10-2021
So happy that we picked Morton Arboretum for our wedding! Beautiful venue. Very helpful and responsive staff all around. The food provided by their catering service was delicious as well.
Reviewed on 25-10-2021
Kelly Peterson (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 12-09-2021
We got married at the Morton Arboretum and it was the perfect place. We fell in love with the Thornhill Building the first moment we stepped foot in it! We had our ceremony in the Founder's Room, cocktails on the steps in front of the building, and the reception in the Arbor Room. We are so thankful to Rachel, our coordinator, for all of her hard work. I was definitely a bit stressed having to trust someone else to set up the decorations for us (we had to drop everything off a few days prior) but it turned out even better than I could have imagined. We enjoyed working with Ginkgo catering and got lots of compliments on the food. It was great to have the choice of a combo plate so our guests could try more than one entree! The wait staff took very good care of us and all of our guests. Overall, we had an amazing wedding and I would recommend the Arboretum to anyone! My experience was better than I could have imagined!
Reviewed on 29-09-2021
Wedding Date 12-09-2021
We got married at the Morton Arboretum and it was the perfect place. We fell in love with the Thornhill Building the first moment we stepped foot in it! We had our ceremony in the Founder's Room, cocktails on the steps in front of the building, and the reception in the Arbor Room. We are so thankful to Rachel, our coordinator, for all of her hard work. I was definitely a bit stressed having to trust someone else to set up the decorations for us (we had to drop everything off a few days prior) but it turned out even better than I could have imagined. We enjoyed working with Ginkgo catering and got lots of compliments on the food. It was great to have the choice of a combo plate so our guests could try more than one entree! The wait staff took very good care of us and all of our guests. Overall, we had an amazing wedding and I would recommend the Arboretum to anyone! My experience was better than I could have imagined!
Reviewed on 29-09-2021
Katie O (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 14-08-2021
The Morton Arboretum was the absolute best venue for our wedding. I've always wanted to get married there, and the venue did not disappoint! We got married on the West Side in the Thornhill Education Center. The library is absolutely stunning and was perfect for our 90-guest ceremony. It's so beautiful as-is that you really don't need decor. We used the outdoor terrace for dancing and mingling. Given Covid, we appreciated all of the indoor and outdoor options available to us at Thornhill. I should add that the catering staff were amazing too -- they handled all of the logistics on the day of the wedding. The food was fantastic - we got many complements!Rachel was the best venue coordinator ever!! We had so many questions pop up during the planning process and she was extremely prompt and responsive. We asked to tour the venue several times and she always available to meet us if needed. On the wedding day, she made sure everyone was where they needed to be -- I felt like we didn't even need a day-of coordinator. Highly recommend Rachel!!
Reviewed on 19-09-2021
Wedding Date 14-08-2021
The Morton Arboretum was the absolute best venue for our wedding. I've always wanted to get married there, and the venue did not disappoint! We got married on the West Side in the Thornhill Education Center. The library is absolutely stunning and was perfect for our 90-guest ceremony. It's so beautiful as-is that you really don't need decor. We used the outdoor terrace for dancing and mingling. Given Covid, we appreciated all of the indoor and outdoor options available to us at Thornhill. I should add that the catering staff were amazing too -- they handled all of the logistics on the day of the wedding. The food was fantastic - we got many complements!Rachel was the best venue coordinator ever!! We had so many questions pop up during the planning process and she was extremely prompt and responsive. We asked to tour the venue several times and she always available to meet us if needed. On the wedding day, she made sure everyone was where they needed to be -- I felt like we didn't even need a day-of coordinator. Highly recommend Rachel!!
Reviewed on 19-09-2021
Kirsten Ellison (other) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 04-09-2021
I was a Day of Coordinator for a wedding over Labor Day weekend and Caryn, Margaret and their respective staffs where amazing. The catering staff was extremely attentive and checked in on guests and vendors numerous times. If there was anything that was needed, we had it in an instant. The facilities are gorgeous and well kept. Through the planning process everyone was over communicative and ensured all tasks were completed in a timely matter. I can't express the gratitude I have for the staff to make the day go off without a hitch. Can't wait to collaborate with The Morton Arboretum again.
Reviewed on 13-09-2021
Wedding Date 04-09-2021
I was a Day of Coordinator for a wedding over Labor Day weekend and Caryn, Margaret and their respective staffs where amazing. The catering staff was extremely attentive and checked in on guests and vendors numerous times. If there was anything that was needed, we had it in an instant. The facilities are gorgeous and well kept. Through the planning process everyone was over communicative and ensured all tasks were completed in a timely matter. I can't express the gratitude I have for the staff to make the day go off without a hitch. Can't wait to collaborate with The Morton Arboretum again.
Reviewed on 13-09-2021
Catherine Fetscher (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 30-05-2021
My husband and I were one of the unlucky couples that planned our wedding during covid. Throughout all the pre-covid wedding planning, rescheduling, and having our dream wedding ceremony, Rachel went above and beyond to support us. She remained in consistent communication with us about changes, answered all our questions, and always responded with professionalism and empathy. While our wedding planning experience was far from what we expected, we are so happy that we chose vendors that cared for us during the unprecedented pandemic. We highly recommend the Morton Arboretum for anyone looking to have both beautiful indoor and outdoor wedding aesthetics.
Reviewed on 28-08-2021
Wedding Date 30-05-2021
My husband and I were one of the unlucky couples that planned our wedding during covid. Throughout all the pre-covid wedding planning, rescheduling, and having our dream wedding ceremony, Rachel went above and beyond to support us. She remained in consistent communication with us about changes, answered all our questions, and always responded with professionalism and empathy. While our wedding planning experience was far from what we expected, we are so happy that we chose vendors that cared for us during the unprecedented pandemic. We highly recommend the Morton Arboretum for anyone looking to have both beautiful indoor and outdoor wedding aesthetics.
Reviewed on 28-08-2021
Ryan Powell (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 06-08-2021
The Morton Arboretum is a perfect wedding ceremony and reception location! The property is absolutely beautiful, especially in the summer time. We had our ceremony at Meadow Lake point which could not of been more picturesque with the pond and trees behind us! The ceremony rolled right into the cocktail hour in Orientation hall, which is huge and plenty comfortable for a large wedding. Lastly our reception was in the Ginkgo room... WOW! Jaw dropping how amazing this night was for us.Rachel with the Facility Rental Team and Jill with Gingko Catering were both great to work with. They knew their stuff, they were accommodating with our requests and they help run a smooth day and night! They were awesome. Thank you again Rachel and Jill!
Reviewed on 27-08-2021
Wedding Date 06-08-2021
The Morton Arboretum is a perfect wedding ceremony and reception location! The property is absolutely beautiful, especially in the summer time. We had our ceremony at Meadow Lake point which could not of been more picturesque with the pond and trees behind us! The ceremony rolled right into the cocktail hour in Orientation hall, which is huge and plenty comfortable for a large wedding. Lastly our reception was in the Ginkgo room... WOW! Jaw dropping how amazing this night was for us.Rachel with the Facility Rental Team and Jill with Gingko Catering were both great to work with. They knew their stuff, they were accommodating with our requests and they help run a smooth day and night! They were awesome. Thank you again Rachel and Jill!
Reviewed on 27-08-2021
Lindsay Cullen (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 26-06-2021
Kim is AMAZING. From start to finish trying to plan a wedding during a pandemic, she was so accommodating. We chose to have our wedding in the Fragrance Garden which is gorgeous. There was inclement weather that weekend, and Kim went the extra mile to set up a backup option for us that really wasn’t included in our original package. She will make you feel calm & prepared, while you get married in the most breathtaking venue. Highly recommend!!
Reviewed on 30-06-2021
Wedding Date 26-06-2021
Kim is AMAZING. From start to finish trying to plan a wedding during a pandemic, she was so accommodating. We chose to have our wedding in the Fragrance Garden which is gorgeous. There was inclement weather that weekend, and Kim went the extra mile to set up a backup option for us that really wasn’t included in our original package. She will make you feel calm & prepared, while you get married in the most breathtaking venue. Highly recommend!!
Reviewed on 30-06-2021
Ashley Hutter (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 06-09-2020
The Morton Arboretum gave us our dream wedding, even amidst the COVID-19 pandemic! I worked with Jennie, our day of coordinator and Caryn, the Ginko catering director. Both ladies were amazing and worked with me to make sure my day went smooth sailing. Both ladies communicated with me back and forth throughout the whole planning process. Both ladies really helped me with my decor and Caryn gave me even more ideas such as amazing napkin and table cloth suggests to fit with my whimsical fairytale theme. Caryn was also very helpful in helping us alter our timeline to make the most of our big day with the guidelines set in place, so that we could use the outdoor space while the weather cooperated.Jennie was so helpful, understanding, and supportive when it came to helping me navigate the changes that came to our wedding. She helped us best use our space and did a really great job of creating a wonderful seating design that allowed our guest to social distance, be comfortable, and still enjoy our wedding. She was very responsive every step of the way and always gave me great advice and solutions for all of the wedding questions I asked her.Thank you so much Morton Arboretum! Y’all are amazing! I couldn’t be happier with our decision to choose you for our venue 🙂.
Reviewed on 14-09-2020
Wedding Date 06-09-2020
The Morton Arboretum gave us our dream wedding, even amidst the COVID-19 pandemic! I worked with Jennie, our day of coordinator and Caryn, the Ginko catering director. Both ladies were amazing and worked with me to make sure my day went smooth sailing. Both ladies communicated with me back and forth throughout the whole planning process. Both ladies really helped me with my decor and Caryn gave me even more ideas such as amazing napkin and table cloth suggests to fit with my whimsical fairytale theme. Caryn was also very helpful in helping us alter our timeline to make the most of our big day with the guidelines set in place, so that we could use the outdoor space while the weather cooperated.Jennie was so helpful, understanding, and supportive when it came to helping me navigate the changes that came to our wedding. She helped us best use our space and did a really great job of creating a wonderful seating design that allowed our guest to social distance, be comfortable, and still enjoy our wedding. She was very responsive every step of the way and always gave me great advice and solutions for all of the wedding questions I asked her.Thank you so much Morton Arboretum! Y’all are amazing! I couldn’t be happier with our decision to choose you for our venue 🙂.
Reviewed on 14-09-2020
Laura Dunne (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 25-07-2020
While I was not able to host my event at the Morton Arboretum due to complications with the COVID-19 pandemic, I still wanted to mention how wonderful they were as we navigated our wedding plans during these challenging times. Kim was so responsive to any questions I had, and was so sympathetic as our wedding was unfortunately unraveling due to the pandemic. My husband and I opted for a much more intimate ceremony elsewhere for personal reasons, however, I am confident that even during such challenging times, The Morton Arboretum would work with couples to create the perfect day! Thank you again Kim for your unwavering kindness, patience and flexibility, and while we are sad that we were not able to utilize the Arboretum for our wedding, we intend to continue to visit, and recommend them as a venue to future couples!
Reviewed on 07-08-2020
Wedding Date 25-07-2020
While I was not able to host my event at the Morton Arboretum due to complications with the COVID-19 pandemic, I still wanted to mention how wonderful they were as we navigated our wedding plans during these challenging times. Kim was so responsive to any questions I had, and was so sympathetic as our wedding was unfortunately unraveling due to the pandemic. My husband and I opted for a much more intimate ceremony elsewhere for personal reasons, however, I am confident that even during such challenging times, The Morton Arboretum would work with couples to create the perfect day! Thank you again Kim for your unwavering kindness, patience and flexibility, and while we are sad that we were not able to utilize the Arboretum for our wedding, we intend to continue to visit, and recommend them as a venue to future couples!
Reviewed on 07-08-2020
Victoria Grappe (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 25-07-2020
We had the most beatiful intimate ceremony at the Arboretum in the Fragrance Garden. Rachel was great to work with in helping us set up this ceremony in just about 2 months after our original plans fell through because of the virus. The garden was just absolutely beautiful. We are so happy with how everything turned out!
Reviewed on 30-07-2020
Wedding Date 25-07-2020
We had the most beatiful intimate ceremony at the Arboretum in the Fragrance Garden. Rachel was great to work with in helping us set up this ceremony in just about 2 months after our original plans fell through because of the virus. The garden was just absolutely beautiful. We are so happy with how everything turned out!
Reviewed on 30-07-2020
Andy Bober (groom) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 15-02-2020
We had our ceremony & reception at Morton Arboretum in the Thornhill Education Building and it was beautiful! Rachel(venue) and Caryn(Ginkgo catering) were so helpful in all of the planning for the event and so quick in responding to our numerous questions & requests. Both were there on the wedding day to make sure everything ran smoothly and help wherever needed. The food was delicious and our server(one just assigned to us) saved us a few of each of the hors d'oeuvres and had them on our sweetheart table waiting for us. We had just under 120 guests, which was a perfect size for the venue without feeling like everyone was on top of each other. There are so many great spots for photos both in & around Thornhill and the Arboretum itself, even in the winter. We highly recommend having your wedding here. You will not be disappointed! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!
Reviewed on 20-03-2020
Wedding Date 15-02-2020
We had our ceremony & reception at Morton Arboretum in the Thornhill Education Building and it was beautiful! Rachel(venue) and Caryn(Ginkgo catering) were so helpful in all of the planning for the event and so quick in responding to our numerous questions & requests. Both were there on the wedding day to make sure everything ran smoothly and help wherever needed. The food was delicious and our server(one just assigned to us) saved us a few of each of the hors d'oeuvres and had them on our sweetheart table waiting for us. We had just under 120 guests, which was a perfect size for the venue without feeling like everyone was on top of each other. There are so many great spots for photos both in & around Thornhill and the Arboretum itself, even in the winter. We highly recommend having your wedding here. You will not be disappointed! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!
Reviewed on 20-03-2020
Miriam Wade (parent) 1 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 18-07-2020
Super disappointed. Planning a wedding can be pretty stressful and I was really hoping Morton Arboretum would be the perfect venue. I had a similar experience as Sara, below. The only difference was after the initial response passing me on to a coordinator...crickets! When I checked back to see if I could be assigned to someone else...crickets!
Reviewed on 14-02-2020
Wedding Date 18-07-2020
Super disappointed. Planning a wedding can be pretty stressful and I was really hoping Morton Arboretum would be the perfect venue. I had a similar experience as Sara, below. The only difference was after the initial response passing me on to a coordinator...crickets! When I checked back to see if I could be assigned to someone else...crickets!
Reviewed on 14-02-2020
Marnie Iraheta (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 15-11-2019
Our late fall wedding at the morton arboretum was absolutely perfect! We worked with Denise for all room rental/logistic details, and with Caryn for all catering details. Both were lovely and did a great job making sure our vision came to life! We used the ginkgo room for both the ceremony and the reception. All of our guests raved about the food, from the passed appetizers, to the salads, to the main course. We loved being able to use the gorgeous grounds for all of our photos. We also were able to use the beautiful founder's room in the thornhill center for our first look! And an added bonus, the illumination lights were on at night, which added an amazing element to our reception since the ginkgo room is full of windows to see them!
Reviewed on 03-12-2019
Wedding Date 15-11-2019
Our late fall wedding at the morton arboretum was absolutely perfect! We worked with Denise for all room rental/logistic details, and with Caryn for all catering details. Both were lovely and did a great job making sure our vision came to life! We used the ginkgo room for both the ceremony and the reception. All of our guests raved about the food, from the passed appetizers, to the salads, to the main course. We loved being able to use the gorgeous grounds for all of our photos. We also were able to use the beautiful founder's room in the thornhill center for our first look! And an added bonus, the illumination lights were on at night, which added an amazing element to our reception since the ginkgo room is full of windows to see them!
Reviewed on 03-12-2019
Jacqueline Torres (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 20-07-2019
It was a gorgeous site! The weather was so hot and it was easy to adjust to an indoor ceremony. Point person to manage the wedding was hard to find but they’re assistant made sure we moved along in a timely fashion.
Reviewed on 02-11-2019
Wedding Date 20-07-2019
It was a gorgeous site! The weather was so hot and it was easy to adjust to an indoor ceremony. Point person to manage the wedding was hard to find but they’re assistant made sure we moved along in a timely fashion.
Reviewed on 02-11-2019
Mandie White (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 19-10-2019
The Morton Arboretum is such a beautiful venue. We had a lovely, fall wedding this past weekend at the Thornhill Education Center and it was perfect! Not only were the venue planners amazing with their assistance, but every detail was exactly as we wanted. Our guests loved that they could enjoy the Arboretum during the day and enjoyed the tram ride during cocktail hour. We had such a magical evening and would recommend this venue to anyone wanting to work with an amazing team and have a worry-free wedding!Thank you so much, Morton! You were lovely!
Reviewed on 24-10-2019
Wedding Date 19-10-2019
The Morton Arboretum is such a beautiful venue. We had a lovely, fall wedding this past weekend at the Thornhill Education Center and it was perfect! Not only were the venue planners amazing with their assistance, but every detail was exactly as we wanted. Our guests loved that they could enjoy the Arboretum during the day and enjoyed the tram ride during cocktail hour. We had such a magical evening and would recommend this venue to anyone wanting to work with an amazing team and have a worry-free wedding!Thank you so much, Morton! You were lovely!
Reviewed on 24-10-2019
Tony Hundseder (parent) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 12-10-2019
Wedding at Morton Arboretum, October 12, 2019Ceremory: Hedge GardenReception: Ginkgo Room To Caryn and Kim,Everything went fine from the wedding ceremony to the reception, dinner and dancing. You and Kim did a great job in setting up and coordinating the event. The ceremony was beautiful even though a little chilly. The dinner was great everyone said they liked the food and I didn't get one complaint. The servers and bartenders were great and on top of their game.If you ever need a recommendation, please feel free to contact me, as I would be happy to recommend the Morton Arboretum and your services for future events.Again Thank You for all you have done to make this event a great memory for Jackie and Drew to treasure. Thank you,Tony Hundseder
Reviewed on 24-10-2019
Wedding Date 12-10-2019
Wedding at Morton Arboretum, October 12, 2019Ceremory: Hedge GardenReception: Ginkgo Room To Caryn and Kim,Everything went fine from the wedding ceremony to the reception, dinner and dancing. You and Kim did a great job in setting up and coordinating the event. The ceremony was beautiful even though a little chilly. The dinner was great everyone said they liked the food and I didn't get one complaint. The servers and bartenders were great and on top of their game.If you ever need a recommendation, please feel free to contact me, as I would be happy to recommend the Morton Arboretum and your services for future events.Again Thank You for all you have done to make this event a great memory for Jackie and Drew to treasure. Thank you,Tony Hundseder
Reviewed on 24-10-2019
Anne Phillipp (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 21-09-2019
Beautiful! We got so many complements for our guests. Everyone was satiated. No need to hire a separate coordinate because they take care of it all and communicate with you about every little detail.
Reviewed on 01-10-2019
Wedding Date 21-09-2019
Beautiful! We got so many complements for our guests. Everyone was satiated. No need to hire a separate coordinate because they take care of it all and communicate with you about every little detail.
Reviewed on 01-10-2019
Kathryn F (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 30-08-2019
We are just absolutely thrilled with our wedding at the Morton Arboretum. It honestly turned out even better than I imagined, it truly was a dream come true. The staff was incredibly helpful and the catering team was SO accommodating in helping adjust meals for me due to my dietary restrictions. We had our cocktail hour in the hedge garden which immediately blew guests away with its beauty. The reception was in the White Pine Pavilion, which was beautifully lit and had such a romantic vibe that we were going for. All in all, the Morton Arboretum was a dream wedding venue and we are so happy we chose it!
Reviewed on 15-09-2019
Wedding Date 30-08-2019
We are just absolutely thrilled with our wedding at the Morton Arboretum. It honestly turned out even better than I imagined, it truly was a dream come true. The staff was incredibly helpful and the catering team was SO accommodating in helping adjust meals for me due to my dietary restrictions. We had our cocktail hour in the hedge garden which immediately blew guests away with its beauty. The reception was in the White Pine Pavilion, which was beautifully lit and had such a romantic vibe that we were going for. All in all, the Morton Arboretum was a dream wedding venue and we are so happy we chose it!
Reviewed on 15-09-2019
Lauren Hilton (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 27-07-2019
Overall, we had a wonderful experience at the Arboretum and I am so glad we decided to make it our ceremony and reception venue. I was initially apprehensive, given that it can be a pricier location, and outdoor weddings can be thwarted by rain or extreme heat, especially in July in Illinois. But in meeting with Jennie, we knew we were in good hands. The grounds are beautiful and the staff were well trained and excellent with set up and clean up. Jennie was a phenomenal coordinator, answering all of my many questions and making herself available to meet anytime I was in town. This was so reassuring as an out of town bride. On the big day, we had perfect weather and managed to get beautiful photos in and around the Hedge Garden. The weather was mercifully warm, but with a breeze and therefore not uncomfortable, as it had been the week prior. The Gingko Room looked beautiful at sunset and our guests all really enjoyed the day. The only con I would say, was Gingko Catering. Elana was sometimes tough to get ahold of, or even at times disorganized. My signed version of the contract didn’t send via email and two months went by before I noticed and re-sent it, but she never notified me it was missing in the first place! That being said, the month prior to the wedding, she was much more responsive and service went smoothly on the big day. While the salads were supposed to be pre-served to save time, it ended up allowing us more time to socialize with guests. Our server made sure to leave our food when we were walking around greeting guests and was very accommodating, and the other servers were friendly and helpful. Those few catering glitches aside, I still could not have asked for a better wedding day, and Morton Arboretum made that happen, so thank you!
Reviewed on 25-08-2019
Wedding Date 27-07-2019
Overall, we had a wonderful experience at the Arboretum and I am so glad we decided to make it our ceremony and reception venue. I was initially apprehensive, given that it can be a pricier location, and outdoor weddings can be thwarted by rain or extreme heat, especially in July in Illinois. But in meeting with Jennie, we knew we were in good hands. The grounds are beautiful and the staff were well trained and excellent with set up and clean up. Jennie was a phenomenal coordinator, answering all of my many questions and making herself available to meet anytime I was in town. This was so reassuring as an out of town bride. On the big day, we had perfect weather and managed to get beautiful photos in and around the Hedge Garden. The weather was mercifully warm, but with a breeze and therefore not uncomfortable, as it had been the week prior. The Gingko Room looked beautiful at sunset and our guests all really enjoyed the day. The only con I would say, was Gingko Catering. Elana was sometimes tough to get ahold of, or even at times disorganized. My signed version of the contract didn’t send via email and two months went by before I noticed and re-sent it, but she never notified me it was missing in the first place! That being said, the month prior to the wedding, she was much more responsive and service went smoothly on the big day. While the salads were supposed to be pre-served to save time, it ended up allowing us more time to socialize with guests. Our server made sure to leave our food when we were walking around greeting guests and was very accommodating, and the other servers were friendly and helpful. Those few catering glitches aside, I still could not have asked for a better wedding day, and Morton Arboretum made that happen, so thank you!
Reviewed on 25-08-2019
Clara Donaldson (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 01-06-2019
We absolutely would choose to host our wedding at The Morton Arboretum again! We got married at our rain location, outside the Sycamore Room, and enjoyed our reception in the White Pine Pavilion Tent. Even though we had to host our ceremony at our rain location, it was idyllic. If you're looking for a perfect balanced aesthetic of decadence and nature, look no further! Additionally, working with Kim, Ginkgo Catering, and the rest of the staff was a breeze. We felt very supported the day of our wedding, and the timing and flow of all the events worked seamlessly, thanks to all those at the arboretum. We also felt very well attended-to as the bride and groom - Elana, the catering director personally brought us champagne and hors d'oeuvres after our ceremony, and a member of the catering staff brought us drinks and food upon request at the reception. Looking back on our wedding, we also thought we got a lot for the price that we paid. The arboretum facilities and the catering food, setup and execution were really high quality. The tent is completely set up for you, and it would cost a huge amount if you were to pay a la carte at another venue for a tent. Our guests were very impressed by the venue and the wedding, many thanks to the arboretum! Thank you so much again for making our day so special :)
Reviewed on 27-07-2019
Wedding Date 01-06-2019
We absolutely would choose to host our wedding at The Morton Arboretum again! We got married at our rain location, outside the Sycamore Room, and enjoyed our reception in the White Pine Pavilion Tent. Even though we had to host our ceremony at our rain location, it was idyllic. If you're looking for a perfect balanced aesthetic of decadence and nature, look no further! Additionally, working with Kim, Ginkgo Catering, and the rest of the staff was a breeze. We felt very supported the day of our wedding, and the timing and flow of all the events worked seamlessly, thanks to all those at the arboretum. We also felt very well attended-to as the bride and groom - Elana, the catering director personally brought us champagne and hors d'oeuvres after our ceremony, and a member of the catering staff brought us drinks and food upon request at the reception. Looking back on our wedding, we also thought we got a lot for the price that we paid. The arboretum facilities and the catering food, setup and execution were really high quality. The tent is completely set up for you, and it would cost a huge amount if you were to pay a la carte at another venue for a tent. Our guests were very impressed by the venue and the wedding, many thanks to the arboretum! Thank you so much again for making our day so special :)
Reviewed on 27-07-2019
Cherina Coopwood (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 25-05-2019
My wedding at the Morton Arboretum was everything and more. The staff Jennie and Elana helped execute all elements perfectly. The weather ...I don't know what happened but mother nature came in with full glory. Blue skies, full sun rays, and warmer than normal temperature. It was a fantastic day - using the preferred vendor list to hire the help of the wedding coordinator/planner - Effortless Events....was money well spent, Cindy was totally A+ service. Beautiful venue! No regrets.
Reviewed on 07-06-2019
Wedding Date 25-05-2019
My wedding at the Morton Arboretum was everything and more. The staff Jennie and Elana helped execute all elements perfectly. The weather ...I don't know what happened but mother nature came in with full glory. Blue skies, full sun rays, and warmer than normal temperature. It was a fantastic day - using the preferred vendor list to hire the help of the wedding coordinator/planner - Effortless Events....was money well spent, Cindy was totally A+ service. Beautiful venue! No regrets.
Reviewed on 07-06-2019
Diane Strole (parent) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 31-05-2019
Morton Arboretum was the perfect place to have a our daughter's wedding! It was amazing! The Thornhill Center was beautiful inside and out. The Founder's Room was the lovely setting for the ceremony. The Arbor Room was beautiful and the view from the floor to ceiling windows is spectacular. Thank you to Jennie Polloway and her team for coordinating the event from start to finish. Thank you to Elana Johannes and her team from Gingko Catering. The dinner was delicious! Thank you to the preferred vendors--The Cakery and DJ-Toast & Jam. We couldn't have done this without all your support & professionalism. Thank you again!
Reviewed on 06-06-2019
Wedding Date 31-05-2019
Morton Arboretum was the perfect place to have a our daughter's wedding! It was amazing! The Thornhill Center was beautiful inside and out. The Founder's Room was the lovely setting for the ceremony. The Arbor Room was beautiful and the view from the floor to ceiling windows is spectacular. Thank you to Jennie Polloway and her team for coordinating the event from start to finish. Thank you to Elana Johannes and her team from Gingko Catering. The dinner was delicious! Thank you to the preferred vendors--The Cakery and DJ-Toast & Jam. We couldn't have done this without all your support & professionalism. Thank you again!
Reviewed on 06-06-2019
Mara Hyde (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 18-05-2019
Everything was perfectly planned and double checked. When rain threatened our day, our coordinator Jennie saved the day! It was the best wedding ceremony I could hope for even on a rainy spring day.Our coordinator responded promptly to all of our questions and made sure to accommodate our wants and needs.
Reviewed on 28-05-2019
Wedding Date 18-05-2019
Everything was perfectly planned and double checked. When rain threatened our day, our coordinator Jennie saved the day! It was the best wedding ceremony I could hope for even on a rainy spring day.Our coordinator responded promptly to all of our questions and made sure to accommodate our wants and needs.
Reviewed on 28-05-2019
Hollis Hanson-Pollock (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 18-05-2019
We were so impressed with everything the staff did the day of our wedding. We had planned to have the ceremony and cocktail hour outside with our reception in the tent, but after an afternoon downpour, they seamlessly moved everything inside, and it was gorgeous. Denise and Elana made sure that everything was perfect and that we didn’t have to stress about a thing the day of. Morton is a beautiful place to take photos as well, and a lot of the trees were blooming in mid-May. We used several of Morton’s preferred vendors (The Cakery, Dana Ann Photography, Backthird Entertainment), and they were able to work together well so that I didn’t have to get involved in every logistical detail.
Reviewed on 27-05-2019
Wedding Date 18-05-2019
We were so impressed with everything the staff did the day of our wedding. We had planned to have the ceremony and cocktail hour outside with our reception in the tent, but after an afternoon downpour, they seamlessly moved everything inside, and it was gorgeous. Denise and Elana made sure that everything was perfect and that we didn’t have to stress about a thing the day of. Morton is a beautiful place to take photos as well, and a lot of the trees were blooming in mid-May. We used several of Morton’s preferred vendors (The Cakery, Dana Ann Photography, Backthird Entertainment), and they were able to work together well so that I didn’t have to get involved in every logistical detail.
Reviewed on 27-05-2019
Kathy Corcoran (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 27-04-2019
We had a \"Spring\" wedding, but of course in chicago it SNOWED. Rain, snow, or sunshine the arboretum is the perfect venue. They let us take photos in the thornhill building which ended up being the most breathtaking photos. Our ceremony and reception were everything we could have asked for. Dana and Caryn are so easy to work with!
Reviewed on 15-05-2019
Wedding Date 27-04-2019
We had a \"Spring\" wedding, but of course in chicago it SNOWED. Rain, snow, or sunshine the arboretum is the perfect venue. They let us take photos in the thornhill building which ended up being the most breathtaking photos. Our ceremony and reception were everything we could have asked for. Dana and Caryn are so easy to work with!
Reviewed on 15-05-2019
Jessica Dec (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 16-02-2019
This was a magical place to have our wedding ceremony and reception. Denise, the corrdinator we worked with, and Colleen, the catering manager, were both friendly and helpful theoughout the whole process. Colleen went out of her way to save us some rosé for our reception without even asking for it! She also got my husband some special whisky. Made us feel special. Denise answered all of my questions quickly and in full. Overall the night was perfect for us! Even in the winter the arboretum is a special place to have your wedding!
Reviewed on 02-03-2019
Wedding Date 16-02-2019
This was a magical place to have our wedding ceremony and reception. Denise, the corrdinator we worked with, and Colleen, the catering manager, were both friendly and helpful theoughout the whole process. Colleen went out of her way to save us some rosé for our reception without even asking for it! She also got my husband some special whisky. Made us feel special. Denise answered all of my questions quickly and in full. Overall the night was perfect for us! Even in the winter the arboretum is a special place to have your wedding!
Reviewed on 02-03-2019
Heather Fiala (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 19-01-2019
We had our ceremony and reception in the Thornhill Center and Denise and Elana made sure everything was perfect... in January! Our guests couldn’t stop complimenting the space, the service, and the food. Above and beyond!
Reviewed on 02-02-2019
Wedding Date 19-01-2019
We had our ceremony and reception in the Thornhill Center and Denise and Elana made sure everything was perfect... in January! Our guests couldn’t stop complimenting the space, the service, and the food. Above and beyond!
Reviewed on 02-02-2019
Erica Nakanishi-Stanis (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 04-01-2019
We had our wedding in the Morton Arboretum Thornhill Education Center in early January and were thrilled with the quality of service and experience at the venue. The venue is beautiful, convenient to use - especially for elderly guests, and reasonable (especially with the winter discount!). But what really made the venue special was the people. Jacqueline at Ginkgo catering and Dana from the Arboretum's event planning team were both genuinely kind, warm-hearted people who made us feel comfortable, heard, and appreciated as clients. I really appreciated their flexibility and attention to detail, and I know working with them made our day that much more enjoyable because we knew we were in good hands.
Reviewed on 25-01-2019
Wedding Date 04-01-2019
We had our wedding in the Morton Arboretum Thornhill Education Center in early January and were thrilled with the quality of service and experience at the venue. The venue is beautiful, convenient to use - especially for elderly guests, and reasonable (especially with the winter discount!). But what really made the venue special was the people. Jacqueline at Ginkgo catering and Dana from the Arboretum's event planning team were both genuinely kind, warm-hearted people who made us feel comfortable, heard, and appreciated as clients. I really appreciated their flexibility and attention to detail, and I know working with them made our day that much more enjoyable because we knew we were in good hands.
Reviewed on 25-01-2019
Spenser Hampel (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 23-06-2018
We worked with Denise in planning our day at Morton Arboretum and she was great! Always avalable to answer our questions and go over details. The set up of the ceremony site, reception room was perfect. We got so many complements from people on how beautiful and classy the venue was.
Reviewed on 26-11-2018
Wedding Date 23-06-2018
We worked with Denise in planning our day at Morton Arboretum and she was great! Always avalable to answer our questions and go over details. The set up of the ceremony site, reception room was perfect. We got so many complements from people on how beautiful and classy the venue was.
Reviewed on 26-11-2018
Nina Marchese (bride) 4 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 26-10-2018
So many great things to say about this venue. We had our ceremony and reception on site. Our ceremony was in one of the gardens and the reception was in the Ginkgo Room. The on site coordinator Dana (6 stars if i could give her a personal review) was beyond helpful with everything from layout of the room to maximize our dance floor, to helping with the timeline, to setup of our decorations. The only downside I can think of was the fact that we had to change our wedding favors because we were not allowed to bring outside food or beverages. The night was perfect and we would highly recommend Dana and the Arboretum.
Reviewed on 13-11-2018
Wedding Date 26-10-2018
So many great things to say about this venue. We had our ceremony and reception on site. Our ceremony was in one of the gardens and the reception was in the Ginkgo Room. The on site coordinator Dana (6 stars if i could give her a personal review) was beyond helpful with everything from layout of the room to maximize our dance floor, to helping with the timeline, to setup of our decorations. The only downside I can think of was the fact that we had to change our wedding favors because we were not allowed to bring outside food or beverages. The night was perfect and we would highly recommend Dana and the Arboretum.
Reviewed on 13-11-2018
Lara Troszak (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 05-10-2018
The Morton Arboretum is an absolutely gorgeous place to get married. My husband and I got married at Meadow Lake Pointe, and had our reception at the Gingko Room. The Gingko Room has floor to ceiling windows that overlook Meadow Lake as well as the tree where we got married :). We loved this combination. Everyone at our wedding commented on how beautiful our venue was. We also had our first look at the Spruce Plot, and we absolutely love the pictures! Kim and Elana were our venue and catering contacts, and they did an excellent job coordinating with us. One of the groomsmen also got married at the Arboretum in the past, which is how we got the idea to get married there, and one of the bridesmaids is going to get married there next year too! We love the Arboretum!
Reviewed on 24-10-2018
Wedding Date 05-10-2018
The Morton Arboretum is an absolutely gorgeous place to get married. My husband and I got married at Meadow Lake Pointe, and had our reception at the Gingko Room. The Gingko Room has floor to ceiling windows that overlook Meadow Lake as well as the tree where we got married :). We loved this combination. Everyone at our wedding commented on how beautiful our venue was. We also had our first look at the Spruce Plot, and we absolutely love the pictures! Kim and Elana were our venue and catering contacts, and they did an excellent job coordinating with us. One of the groomsmen also got married at the Arboretum in the past, which is how we got the idea to get married there, and one of the bridesmaids is going to get married there next year too! We love the Arboretum!
Reviewed on 24-10-2018
Sarah McKinney (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 21-09-2018
We had our wedding on Sept 21 at the Thornhill Education Center and it was gorgeous. The flowers were still in bloom and everything was so green that it was easy to find great spots for pictures. We would highly recommend Thornhill as it is tucked away on the other side of the Arboretum and there isn't a lot of traffic from other Arboretum visitors. It was the first venue we looked at and no one else could even come close. Dana was our event coordinator and she was so sweet and let us come in and meet with her to discuss details as things changed and we picked out our colors as much as we wanted. She was happy to make any adjustments to seating and venue layout and was there the day of to make sure everything went smoothly. The catering package was top notch and our guests commented on how good the food was (anyone who has been to a catered wedding knows this is high praise). The cake from the Cakery was just as we wanted and Elana in the catering department even made sure our Vegan vendors got an appropriate meal even though that wasn't one of our meal choices. Highly recommend for a wonderful wedding day!
Reviewed on 03-10-2018
Wedding Date 21-09-2018
We had our wedding on Sept 21 at the Thornhill Education Center and it was gorgeous. The flowers were still in bloom and everything was so green that it was easy to find great spots for pictures. We would highly recommend Thornhill as it is tucked away on the other side of the Arboretum and there isn't a lot of traffic from other Arboretum visitors. It was the first venue we looked at and no one else could even come close. Dana was our event coordinator and she was so sweet and let us come in and meet with her to discuss details as things changed and we picked out our colors as much as we wanted. She was happy to make any adjustments to seating and venue layout and was there the day of to make sure everything went smoothly. The catering package was top notch and our guests commented on how good the food was (anyone who has been to a catered wedding knows this is high praise). The cake from the Cakery was just as we wanted and Elana in the catering department even made sure our Vegan vendors got an appropriate meal even though that wasn't one of our meal choices. Highly recommend for a wonderful wedding day!
Reviewed on 03-10-2018
Karen Koronkowski (other) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 08-10-2019
Thank you to the Morton Arboretum for helping us to create a magical momentous wedding celebration for our daughter at Thornhill on 8.4.18.Jacqueline Spreengo was amazing to work with as our catering coordinator from beginning to end. Her recommendations and attention to detail were impeccable, and we are grateful for all of her help and to the chef and kitchen staff for preparing such delectable meals!Jennie Polloway also was incredible with planning every aspect of the venue set-up and her expertise and calming presence were very much appreciated!We were very impressed with all of the servers, bartenders and set-up crew who attended to every guest and need flawlessly!It is our great pleasure to highly recommend the Morton Arboretum for it’s beautiful atmosphere and impeccable service!
Reviewed on 08-08-2018
Wedding Date 08-10-2019
Thank you to the Morton Arboretum for helping us to create a magical momentous wedding celebration for our daughter at Thornhill on 8.4.18.Jacqueline Spreengo was amazing to work with as our catering coordinator from beginning to end. Her recommendations and attention to detail were impeccable, and we are grateful for all of her help and to the chef and kitchen staff for preparing such delectable meals!Jennie Polloway also was incredible with planning every aspect of the venue set-up and her expertise and calming presence were very much appreciated!We were very impressed with all of the servers, bartenders and set-up crew who attended to every guest and need flawlessly!It is our great pleasure to highly recommend the Morton Arboretum for it’s beautiful atmosphere and impeccable service!
Reviewed on 08-08-2018
Joe Allegretti (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 29-06-2018
Cannot say enough good things about this venue. My husband and I chose this venue early on in our wedding planning process and it was the easiest decision by far. We worked with Denise throughout our wedding planning process. She was amazing! So on top of all the details. Their in-house catering company was such a breeze to work with as well. They had excellent options for our food, linens, etc. Our experience working with Colleen was great! We also chose a lot of their preferred vendors and they were all amazing! Highly recommend it.
Reviewed on 30-07-2018
Wedding Date 29-06-2018
Cannot say enough good things about this venue. My husband and I chose this venue early on in our wedding planning process and it was the easiest decision by far. We worked with Denise throughout our wedding planning process. She was amazing! So on top of all the details. Their in-house catering company was such a breeze to work with as well. They had excellent options for our food, linens, etc. Our experience working with Colleen was great! We also chose a lot of their preferred vendors and they were all amazing! Highly recommend it.
Reviewed on 30-07-2018
Elyse Hiss (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 05-08-2019
My now husband and I chose the Morton Arboretum for our wedding reception this past June. We worked with Dana and Caryn. Throughout the entire planning process, these two ladies were fabulous to work with. Both had great availability to meet, they responded to all emails and phone calls promptly, and were overall extremely accommodating. Dana and Caryn always had a smile on their faces and were excited to help us make this our dream wedding. The reception itself was wonderful. The food and service were outstanding, which we received multiple compliments on from our guests. We could not have asked for a better planning experience or wedding day!
Reviewed on 03-07-2018
Wedding Date 05-08-2019
My now husband and I chose the Morton Arboretum for our wedding reception this past June. We worked with Dana and Caryn. Throughout the entire planning process, these two ladies were fabulous to work with. Both had great availability to meet, they responded to all emails and phone calls promptly, and were overall extremely accommodating. Dana and Caryn always had a smile on their faces and were excited to help us make this our dream wedding. The reception itself was wonderful. The food and service were outstanding, which we received multiple compliments on from our guests. We could not have asked for a better planning experience or wedding day!
Reviewed on 03-07-2018
Kathryn Krouse (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 16-06-2018
Everything was perfect! It was super hot outside, but the indoor Ginko Room was beautiful, and with the floor-to-ceiling windows, it still felt like we were outside. The arboretum lets guests in for free all day, so a bunch of my guests and I met there early that morning for a run before the wedding.
Reviewed on 01-07-2018
Wedding Date 16-06-2018
Everything was perfect! It was super hot outside, but the indoor Ginko Room was beautiful, and with the floor-to-ceiling windows, it still felt like we were outside. The arboretum lets guests in for free all day, so a bunch of my guests and I met there early that morning for a run before the wedding.
Reviewed on 01-07-2018
Brian Heltsley (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 28-08-2019
Morton did an excellent job hosting my son's wedding. The process extended over a year from inquiring to reserving to planning to the event itself, and Morton was always very clear about the timeline and sequence of events (we worked with Dana on the venue/ceremony side and Elana on the catering side). We attended a tasting months ahead of time to plan the food and drink. Despite pre-ceremony chaos on our side, Dana steered us through a perfect ceremony and accommodated the outside folks (photographer, videographer, string trio, etc.). The Thornhill Education Center was the perfect size for 100 guests, with both indoor and outdoor spaces that were used throughout the evening. Elana's crew got us through a successful reception period, did set-up for us that we thought we might do ourselves but ran out of time for, and shepherded us through dinner without a hitch. Food arrived on time. The wine and (premium) open bar were excellent. Appetizers were great. Dinner was very good (institutional mass serving is always a challenge and some people found the food to be just \"ok not great\
Reviewed on 28-06-2018
Wedding Date 28-08-2019
Morton did an excellent job hosting my son's wedding. The process extended over a year from inquiring to reserving to planning to the event itself, and Morton was always very clear about the timeline and sequence of events (we worked with Dana on the venue/ceremony side and Elana on the catering side). We attended a tasting months ahead of time to plan the food and drink. Despite pre-ceremony chaos on our side, Dana steered us through a perfect ceremony and accommodated the outside folks (photographer, videographer, string trio, etc.). The Thornhill Education Center was the perfect size for 100 guests, with both indoor and outdoor spaces that were used throughout the evening. Elana's crew got us through a successful reception period, did set-up for us that we thought we might do ourselves but ran out of time for, and shepherded us through dinner without a hitch. Food arrived on time. The wine and (premium) open bar were excellent. Appetizers were great. Dinner was very good (institutional mass serving is always a challenge and some people found the food to be just \"ok not great\
Reviewed on 28-06-2018
Anne Schukraft (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 01-06-2018
We had our wedding at the Thornhill Education Center and we had the best experience we could wish for! The location is absolutely beautiful and with having an outdoor area, a reception room and a separate (very beautiful!) library provides plenty of options. The staff of the Morton and also the Gingko catering service were super friendly and easy to work with leading up to the event. All our wishes were accommodated. On the day, the setup and service were very professional and everything went super smooth, so my husband and I got to fully enjoy our wedding celebration. As you can expect, the photos at this location turned out gorgeous. Thank you!
Reviewed on 12-06-2018
Wedding Date 01-06-2018
We had our wedding at the Thornhill Education Center and we had the best experience we could wish for! The location is absolutely beautiful and with having an outdoor area, a reception room and a separate (very beautiful!) library provides plenty of options. The staff of the Morton and also the Gingko catering service were super friendly and easy to work with leading up to the event. All our wishes were accommodated. On the day, the setup and service were very professional and everything went super smooth, so my husband and I got to fully enjoy our wedding celebration. As you can expect, the photos at this location turned out gorgeous. Thank you!
Reviewed on 12-06-2018
Alyssa Fox (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 03-06-2018
We were absolutely thrilled with everything The Arboretum did for us to make our wedding day so special! From the food, to the scenery, we cannot say enough good things. Our event coordinator Jennie Polloway went above and beyond to make sure we planned everything as we wanted, and gave us guidance with planning as needed, since we didn’t hire an actual “wedding planner”. The entire staff at the arboretum was friendly and accommodating. I asked a million questions, and they always had an answer for me. I couldn’t ask for a better venue to have our wedding. We ordered the Filet Mignon and Chicken Chasseur for entrees and our guests were raving about how delicious the food was all night long. Definitely not your average “wedding food”. Thank you Morton Arboretum!!!
Reviewed on 08-06-2018
Wedding Date 03-06-2018
We were absolutely thrilled with everything The Arboretum did for us to make our wedding day so special! From the food, to the scenery, we cannot say enough good things. Our event coordinator Jennie Polloway went above and beyond to make sure we planned everything as we wanted, and gave us guidance with planning as needed, since we didn’t hire an actual “wedding planner”. The entire staff at the arboretum was friendly and accommodating. I asked a million questions, and they always had an answer for me. I couldn’t ask for a better venue to have our wedding. We ordered the Filet Mignon and Chicken Chasseur for entrees and our guests were raving about how delicious the food was all night long. Definitely not your average “wedding food”. Thank you Morton Arboretum!!!
Reviewed on 08-06-2018
Kerry Devitt (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 28-10-2017
Denise and Colleen were both so easy to work with. Despite the chilly weather, we had a fantastic time at our October wedding in the White Pine Pavillion. The food was delicious and the service was excellent. With the addition of a few rented chandeliers, the tent looked like a fairy tale. We are grateful to all of the staff at the Arboretum for helping make our wedding day everything we dreamed of!
Reviewed on 21-05-2018
Wedding Date 28-10-2017
Denise and Colleen were both so easy to work with. Despite the chilly weather, we had a fantastic time at our October wedding in the White Pine Pavillion. The food was delicious and the service was excellent. With the addition of a few rented chandeliers, the tent looked like a fairy tale. We are grateful to all of the staff at the Arboretum for helping make our wedding day everything we dreamed of!
Reviewed on 21-05-2018
Melissa Wolf (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 28-04-2018
I just had my wedding on 4.28 at Morton Arboretum and my dreams came true here!! The staff here were truly excited for me and there to guide me every step of the way! I had Kim for my event coordinator and Caryn for the Ginkgo Catering representative. This is the dream team!!! Kim was honest and let me know my options. She talked to me as if I were one of her close friends or family and really helped me out. Caryn was outstanding!!! Her personality shines and she is so good at her job! She helped me pick a menu that my guests are still talking about and we had the best time picking out table linens. I know that’s weird to say but I’m telling you Caryn makes EVERYTHING fun. She checked up on me during the reception to make sure everything was to my liking and Kim was also there to make sure everything looked good! I’m so grateful for these two wonderful women and all the event staff for making my dream wedding come true. I’m so happy with everything and could never imagine having my wedding anywhere else. Do not hesitate booking this venue! Spots fill up quick!
Reviewed on 08-05-2018
Wedding Date 28-04-2018
I just had my wedding on 4.28 at Morton Arboretum and my dreams came true here!! The staff here were truly excited for me and there to guide me every step of the way! I had Kim for my event coordinator and Caryn for the Ginkgo Catering representative. This is the dream team!!! Kim was honest and let me know my options. She talked to me as if I were one of her close friends or family and really helped me out. Caryn was outstanding!!! Her personality shines and she is so good at her job! She helped me pick a menu that my guests are still talking about and we had the best time picking out table linens. I know that’s weird to say but I’m telling you Caryn makes EVERYTHING fun. She checked up on me during the reception to make sure everything was to my liking and Kim was also there to make sure everything looked good! I’m so grateful for these two wonderful women and all the event staff for making my dream wedding come true. I’m so happy with everything and could never imagine having my wedding anywhere else. Do not hesitate booking this venue! Spots fill up quick!
Reviewed on 08-05-2018
Randy Ely (groom) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 09-03-2019
The Morton Arboretum is a beautiful place to have a wedding anytime of the year! The entire Arboretum is a grand garden during the Spring and Summer months. While in the Fall and Winter months it becomes a winter wonderland with all the fresh snowfall and the autumn leaves. In the Thornhill building, you feel as though you are in a castle overlooking 1700 acres of gorgeous landscape and shrubbery. Apart from the captivating venue are the behind the scenes people who help make this day or night even more magical. All of the employees at The Morton Arboretum have a passion for caring for their guests and making sure everything is taken care of, so all you have to do is relax and enjoy your wedding. Lastly, if the venue and the amazing staff have not won you over yet....the price is will. The Morton Arboretum has super affordable wedding packages for every couple. Their wedding packages include everything such as the food, the cake, the liens, the china, and much more. However, most importantly....the alcohol is included too. Therefore, I gave The Morton Arboretum 5-stars for going above and beyond my expectations for my wedding.
Reviewed on 09-01-2018
Wedding Date 09-03-2019
The Morton Arboretum is a beautiful place to have a wedding anytime of the year! The entire Arboretum is a grand garden during the Spring and Summer months. While in the Fall and Winter months it becomes a winter wonderland with all the fresh snowfall and the autumn leaves. In the Thornhill building, you feel as though you are in a castle overlooking 1700 acres of gorgeous landscape and shrubbery. Apart from the captivating venue are the behind the scenes people who help make this day or night even more magical. All of the employees at The Morton Arboretum have a passion for caring for their guests and making sure everything is taken care of, so all you have to do is relax and enjoy your wedding. Lastly, if the venue and the amazing staff have not won you over yet....the price is will. The Morton Arboretum has super affordable wedding packages for every couple. Their wedding packages include everything such as the food, the cake, the liens, the china, and much more. However, most importantly....the alcohol is included too. Therefore, I gave The Morton Arboretum 5-stars for going above and beyond my expectations for my wedding.
Reviewed on 09-01-2018
Jessica Agustin (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 03-11-2017
Amazing experience! I wish I could get married all over again to relive it! Everything went smoothly and I couldn’t ask for two better lady’s to work with! Caryn and Jennie were an amazing team making sure every last detail was perfect. I never got worried something would go wrong they make sure all your questions are answered and take care of everything. The venue was beautiful and staff were polite and friendly. I highly recommend getting married here.
Reviewed on 12-11-2017
Wedding Date 03-11-2017
Amazing experience! I wish I could get married all over again to relive it! Everything went smoothly and I couldn’t ask for two better lady’s to work with! Caryn and Jennie were an amazing team making sure every last detail was perfect. I never got worried something would go wrong they make sure all your questions are answered and take care of everything. The venue was beautiful and staff were polite and friendly. I highly recommend getting married here.
Reviewed on 12-11-2017
Kristi Summers (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 14-10-2017
We just had our wedding at the Arboretum couple weeks ago. Although we had the misfortune of having a very rainy day, our wedding turned out perfect. Caryn Adams, our catering contact, did the most amazing job with making sure that everything was timed perfectly and on schedule. We received so many compliments on the food, and I always heard that about the Arboretum. We highly recommend Ginkgo Catering for any event. And we can't wait to go back and plan another event with them!! And we look forward to working with Caryn again. She was amazing!
Reviewed on 25-10-2017
Wedding Date 14-10-2017
We just had our wedding at the Arboretum couple weeks ago. Although we had the misfortune of having a very rainy day, our wedding turned out perfect. Caryn Adams, our catering contact, did the most amazing job with making sure that everything was timed perfectly and on schedule. We received so many compliments on the food, and I always heard that about the Arboretum. We highly recommend Ginkgo Catering for any event. And we can't wait to go back and plan another event with them!! And we look forward to working with Caryn again. She was amazing!
Reviewed on 25-10-2017
Ann Wyant (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 26-08-2017
We had the absolute best experience working with Jennie in event planning and Caryn in Catering. Together they went the extra mile to make sure our day was perfect. The Gingko Room was beautiful, the food was exquisite, and the organization of the day was perfection. We loved having access to the grounds for pictures with family and the bridal party! Absolutely beautiful setting. Thank you Morton Arboretum for making our wedding day so special!
Reviewed on 24-09-2017
Wedding Date 26-08-2017
We had the absolute best experience working with Jennie in event planning and Caryn in Catering. Together they went the extra mile to make sure our day was perfect. The Gingko Room was beautiful, the food was exquisite, and the organization of the day was perfection. We loved having access to the grounds for pictures with family and the bridal party! Absolutely beautiful setting. Thank you Morton Arboretum for making our wedding day so special!
Reviewed on 24-09-2017
Courtney Burland (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 08-07-2017
We absolutely loved our wedding at The Morton Arboretum! We had about 200 guests in July. Our ceremony was in the beautiful Hedge Garden and our reception was in the Ginkgo Room overlooking a gorgeous pond with floor to ceiling windows. There were so many beautiful spots for photos right on the property, which simplified our day temendously! Denise and Elana were incredibly helpful in the planning process and ensured that our day was smooth sailing from start to finish. The food was out of this world and we wish we could hit rewind to relive such an amazing day. Definitely consider The Morton Arboretum for your wedding venue - you will absolutely fall in love with it!
Reviewed on 10-09-2017
Wedding Date 08-07-2017
We absolutely loved our wedding at The Morton Arboretum! We had about 200 guests in July. Our ceremony was in the beautiful Hedge Garden and our reception was in the Ginkgo Room overlooking a gorgeous pond with floor to ceiling windows. There were so many beautiful spots for photos right on the property, which simplified our day temendously! Denise and Elana were incredibly helpful in the planning process and ensured that our day was smooth sailing from start to finish. The food was out of this world and we wish we could hit rewind to relive such an amazing day. Definitely consider The Morton Arboretum for your wedding venue - you will absolutely fall in love with it!
Reviewed on 10-09-2017
Alex P (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 01-09-2017
Our wedding turned out beautiful!! It was everything and more that we could have asked for. The staff was very professional, helpful, and quick to answer any and all of our questions! Plus, the food was absolutely phenomenal. Our guests were raving about how delicious the food was all night. Definite would recommend this venue for future couples!
Reviewed on 05-09-2017
Wedding Date 01-09-2017
Our wedding turned out beautiful!! It was everything and more that we could have asked for. The staff was very professional, helpful, and quick to answer any and all of our questions! Plus, the food was absolutely phenomenal. Our guests were raving about how delicious the food was all night. Definite would recommend this venue for future couples!
Reviewed on 05-09-2017
None None (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 29-07-2017
Our July 2017 outdoor wedding ceremony in The Hedge Garden was absolutely stunning!!Our coordinator Jennie P, has been phenomenal during the entire planning process! Jennie welcomed us on our wedding day as well! Jennie was prompt and very responsive to emails! It was an absolute pleasure having her as our coordinator.The Hedge Garden is a gorgeous setting for an outdoor ceremony! It was beautiful and perfect. We had plenty of time within our rental timeframe. White ceremony wooden chairs were beautiful and Morton Arb takes care of their setup and take away. The Morton Arboretum is gorgeous and so well maintained!! Staff is very friendly and courteous. All of my questions and requests were listened to and respected for our ceremony!Thank you so much Jennie P!!Roxana and Dan
Reviewed on 28-08-2017
Wedding Date 29-07-2017
Our July 2017 outdoor wedding ceremony in The Hedge Garden was absolutely stunning!!Our coordinator Jennie P, has been phenomenal during the entire planning process! Jennie welcomed us on our wedding day as well! Jennie was prompt and very responsive to emails! It was an absolute pleasure having her as our coordinator.The Hedge Garden is a gorgeous setting for an outdoor ceremony! It was beautiful and perfect. We had plenty of time within our rental timeframe. White ceremony wooden chairs were beautiful and Morton Arb takes care of their setup and take away. The Morton Arboretum is gorgeous and so well maintained!! Staff is very friendly and courteous. All of my questions and requests were listened to and respected for our ceremony!Thank you so much Jennie P!!Roxana and Dan
Reviewed on 28-08-2017
Heidi Spring (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 15-07-2017
We got married here in July and could not have asked for a more beautiful setting. The Morton Arboretum is absolutely gorgeous and huge! We went with ceremony on the Thornhill lawn, dinner in the arbor room and dancing on the Thornhill lawn patio - chose this site because the lawn space is really expansive and the arbor room opens right onto the lawn. It was a very convenient layout with an indoor/outdoor feel. We worked with Denise throughout the entire planning process, and she was incredibly responsive and helpful. The food was wonderful and the service was great - Denise was on site throughout the entire event to ensure that everything went smoothly.
Reviewed on 06-08-2017
Wedding Date 15-07-2017
We got married here in July and could not have asked for a more beautiful setting. The Morton Arboretum is absolutely gorgeous and huge! We went with ceremony on the Thornhill lawn, dinner in the arbor room and dancing on the Thornhill lawn patio - chose this site because the lawn space is really expansive and the arbor room opens right onto the lawn. It was a very convenient layout with an indoor/outdoor feel. We worked with Denise throughout the entire planning process, and she was incredibly responsive and helpful. The food was wonderful and the service was great - Denise was on site throughout the entire event to ensure that everything went smoothly.
Reviewed on 06-08-2017
Ruta C (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 12-05-2017
Absolutely perfect! Caryn was amazing!
Reviewed on 28-07-2017
Wedding Date 12-05-2017
Absolutely perfect! Caryn was amazing!
Reviewed on 28-07-2017
Jenna Hill (bride) 4 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 29-04-2017
We booked the Thornhill Education Center at Morton Arboretum for our wedding ceremony and reception. Our facilities contact was Kim and our Ginkgo catering contact was Caryn. We were very pleased with everything from start to finish. Kim was very busy and occasionally hard to contact via email, but she is very knowledgeable and experienced and made sure everything got done that needed to get done. Kim also made time for us to visit the building multiple times prior to the wedding so we could scope out the place for decoration planning and hammer out the details of the day with her. Caryn was great to work with in arranging the banquet and was able to make good suggestions on the amounts and variety of foods we would need based on our guest count. There was some miscommunication in the suggested appetizers count that was not caught until the week of the wedding. This led to some last-minute changes and a bit of unneeded stress. In the end everything was flawless at the wedding. The facilities were set up perfectly to our specifications and the food was amazing. Our only complaint was the cost- the Arboretum is EXPENSIVE, but perhaps that’s par for the course in the Chicago area. Overall we would recommend the Morton Arboretum for a couple that doesn’t mind spending more for a beautiful location and experienced, competent staff.
Reviewed on 02-07-2017
Wedding Date 29-04-2017
We booked the Thornhill Education Center at Morton Arboretum for our wedding ceremony and reception. Our facilities contact was Kim and our Ginkgo catering contact was Caryn. We were very pleased with everything from start to finish. Kim was very busy and occasionally hard to contact via email, but she is very knowledgeable and experienced and made sure everything got done that needed to get done. Kim also made time for us to visit the building multiple times prior to the wedding so we could scope out the place for decoration planning and hammer out the details of the day with her. Caryn was great to work with in arranging the banquet and was able to make good suggestions on the amounts and variety of foods we would need based on our guest count. There was some miscommunication in the suggested appetizers count that was not caught until the week of the wedding. This led to some last-minute changes and a bit of unneeded stress. In the end everything was flawless at the wedding. The facilities were set up perfectly to our specifications and the food was amazing. Our only complaint was the cost- the Arboretum is EXPENSIVE, but perhaps that’s par for the course in the Chicago area. Overall we would recommend the Morton Arboretum for a couple that doesn’t mind spending more for a beautiful location and experienced, competent staff.
Reviewed on 02-07-2017
I V (groom) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 28-05-2017
Cannot say enough good things about the Arboretum. The catering and event staff were incredible. They led us though the entire process. We didn't worry about a single thing when I came to our ceremony & reception at the Arboretum. Phenomenal.
Reviewed on 24-06-2017
Wedding Date 28-05-2017
Cannot say enough good things about the Arboretum. The catering and event staff were incredible. They led us though the entire process. We didn't worry about a single thing when I came to our ceremony & reception at the Arboretum. Phenomenal.
Reviewed on 24-06-2017
Colleen Hamilton (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 01-10-2016
A wonderful venue! We got married in the Thornhill Library last October and it was beautiful. Photos were fantastic with the gorgeous fall backgrounds. Due to a last minute schedule change we were even able to move our reception over to the larger Gingko Room at no charge. Jenny was also very helpful throughout the planning process and the event, a pleasure to work with.
Reviewed on 01-06-2017
Wedding Date 01-10-2016
A wonderful venue! We got married in the Thornhill Library last October and it was beautiful. Photos were fantastic with the gorgeous fall backgrounds. Due to a last minute schedule change we were even able to move our reception over to the larger Gingko Room at no charge. Jenny was also very helpful throughout the planning process and the event, a pleasure to work with.
Reviewed on 01-06-2017
K B (wedding party) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 02-07-2018
PERFECTION!! We planned and hosted a beautiful bridal brunch here. Kim, Jacqueline, Abby, and their team were EXTRAORDINARY!! Their expertise and professionalism are at the highest levels. The setting was gorgeous and the food was outstanding! The entire process was a dream come true! If you want amazing attention to detail, unreal service, and exceptional memories, this is the venue!! We highly recommend them. Their team went above and beyond to create a MAGICAL event. They are the very definition of elegance and sophistication. The entire experience, from the very first day of planning to the end of the event, was truly exquisite. Prepare to be Absolutely Dazzled...
Reviewed on 02-05-2017
Wedding Date 02-07-2018
PERFECTION!! We planned and hosted a beautiful bridal brunch here. Kim, Jacqueline, Abby, and their team were EXTRAORDINARY!! Their expertise and professionalism are at the highest levels. The setting was gorgeous and the food was outstanding! The entire process was a dream come true! If you want amazing attention to detail, unreal service, and exceptional memories, this is the venue!! We highly recommend them. Their team went above and beyond to create a MAGICAL event. They are the very definition of elegance and sophistication. The entire experience, from the very first day of planning to the end of the event, was truly exquisite. Prepare to be Absolutely Dazzled...
Reviewed on 02-05-2017
Trina Slabich (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 21-04-2017
My now husband and I got married at Morton Arboretum last weekend and we cannot say enough positive things about it!! We were able to do pictures, ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception all in one space which made planning so simple! Our guests complimented the wait staff on their hospitality, the food (was phenomenal!), and the overall look of the venue. Even in April the flowers were blooming and made the venue even more beautiful! We dealt with Kim Wilson in facility rental and Elana Johannes in catering and both could not have been more fantastic. Planning was probably as simple as could be and they made it a point to communicate clearly from booking the venue to the day of. I would 100% recommend the venue to brides and grooms looking in the Chicagoland area!!
Reviewed on 24-04-2017
Wedding Date 21-04-2017
My now husband and I got married at Morton Arboretum last weekend and we cannot say enough positive things about it!! We were able to do pictures, ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception all in one space which made planning so simple! Our guests complimented the wait staff on their hospitality, the food (was phenomenal!), and the overall look of the venue. Even in April the flowers were blooming and made the venue even more beautiful! We dealt with Kim Wilson in facility rental and Elana Johannes in catering and both could not have been more fantastic. Planning was probably as simple as could be and they made it a point to communicate clearly from booking the venue to the day of. I would 100% recommend the venue to brides and grooms looking in the Chicagoland area!!
Reviewed on 24-04-2017
Cortney Starble (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 04-02-2017
We had our wedding at The Morton Arboretum on February 4, 2017, and it was absolutely perfect. From the very first meeting we knew the Arboretum understood how to throw a good party. We worked with Denise and she was the definition of cool and calm throughout the entire process. By the end of the wedding, Denise felt like more like a friend than a vendor. Our catering manager was Elana who was equally helpful. The food was amazing. Elana made sure our guests with dietary restrictions were covered, which was really important to us. We had the ceremony and reception in the Ginkgo Room at the Visitor's Center. The transition from one to the other was seamless. Taking pictures on the grounds was probably one of the best parts. We've only seen a sneak peek and couldn't be more thrilled with how beautiful the scenery was even on a cloudy, cold winter day. If you're thinking about the Arboretum, you should book it. Our day couldn't have been more lovely.
Reviewed on 07-02-2017
Wedding Date 04-02-2017
We had our wedding at The Morton Arboretum on February 4, 2017, and it was absolutely perfect. From the very first meeting we knew the Arboretum understood how to throw a good party. We worked with Denise and she was the definition of cool and calm throughout the entire process. By the end of the wedding, Denise felt like more like a friend than a vendor. Our catering manager was Elana who was equally helpful. The food was amazing. Elana made sure our guests with dietary restrictions were covered, which was really important to us. We had the ceremony and reception in the Ginkgo Room at the Visitor's Center. The transition from one to the other was seamless. Taking pictures on the grounds was probably one of the best parts. We've only seen a sneak peek and couldn't be more thrilled with how beautiful the scenery was even on a cloudy, cold winter day. If you're thinking about the Arboretum, you should book it. Our day couldn't have been more lovely.
Reviewed on 07-02-2017
Sarah Steinmeier (bride) 4 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 14-01-2017
The venue is beautiful, and Kim was great to work with! The only downside is that the in-house catering you are required to use is very expensive. It is pretty high quality, though - one guest said the short rib was the best beef he'd ever had. Caryn, our catering contact, was very nice but rather stuck in her ways. We had to have at least four separate conversations to get the catering company on board with cutting the cake after the entrees and stationing it in the room 40 minutes later (rather than serving it table side). Overall, we are happy with our choice and would use them again for a smaller wedding.
Reviewed on 25-01-2017
Wedding Date 14-01-2017
The venue is beautiful, and Kim was great to work with! The only downside is that the in-house catering you are required to use is very expensive. It is pretty high quality, though - one guest said the short rib was the best beef he'd ever had. Caryn, our catering contact, was very nice but rather stuck in her ways. We had to have at least four separate conversations to get the catering company on board with cutting the cake after the entrees and stationing it in the room 40 minutes later (rather than serving it table side). Overall, we are happy with our choice and would use them again for a smaller wedding.
Reviewed on 25-01-2017
Denise Parejko (bride) 4 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 28-10-2016
We held both our ceremony and reception on 10.28.16 at the Thornhill Education Center on the West Side of The Morton Arboretum. We were very happy with our coordinator Dana who was very knowledgeable and able to answer all of our questions (and there were plenty!) as well as very helpful on the day-of, setting up our ceremony/reception extras so perfectly that they were exactly as I had envisioned. She also was great at guiding us during the ceremony, which was extremely helpful because we were unable to do the rehearsal inside the venue. (Note to brides/grooms, it's almost guaranteed you can't rehearse on-site because of the multiple events they schedule, so have a Plan B ready!)Food was outstanding as well. My guests said that the steak was the best they ever had at a wedding, and I heard many glowing reviews about the baby carrots. You do get invited to a fabulous group tasting a few months out from the wedding. Come hungry, as you have so much to choose from!! This helped us pick our food. I never would've chosen Flat Iron Steak if I didn't get to try it and find out it was amazing. Portions are also quite large, another plus. It is worth noting to future brides/grooms the following: Communication with the venue can be difficult at times. \"Out of office/limited to no access to email/phone\" auto responses from both catering and venue coordinators were frequent. Additionally, catering didn't seem to be as organized as the venue coordinators. Our account was shifted between three catering managers, which I felt may have been due to the fact that we were a 72 guest wedding and may not have been profitable enough to them, so our priority was a bit lower on their list...just my two cents. They also neglected to listen to my request to not keep the cake topper (since I am gluten free and couldn't eat the cake) and thus we ran out of cake. They ended up serving my groom's cake to several guests. I ended up basically getting only frosting...you'd think the bride would get a decent slice of her own cake, right? Those were really my only issues and they didn't really put a damper on the evening unless you were really jonesin' for a piece of Red Velvet Cake!
Reviewed on 10-11-2016
Wedding Date 28-10-2016
We held both our ceremony and reception on 10.28.16 at the Thornhill Education Center on the West Side of The Morton Arboretum. We were very happy with our coordinator Dana who was very knowledgeable and able to answer all of our questions (and there were plenty!) as well as very helpful on the day-of, setting up our ceremony/reception extras so perfectly that they were exactly as I had envisioned. She also was great at guiding us during the ceremony, which was extremely helpful because we were unable to do the rehearsal inside the venue. (Note to brides/grooms, it's almost guaranteed you can't rehearse on-site because of the multiple events they schedule, so have a Plan B ready!)Food was outstanding as well. My guests said that the steak was the best they ever had at a wedding, and I heard many glowing reviews about the baby carrots. You do get invited to a fabulous group tasting a few months out from the wedding. Come hungry, as you have so much to choose from!! This helped us pick our food. I never would've chosen Flat Iron Steak if I didn't get to try it and find out it was amazing. Portions are also quite large, another plus. It is worth noting to future brides/grooms the following: Communication with the venue can be difficult at times. \"Out of office/limited to no access to email/phone\" auto responses from both catering and venue coordinators were frequent. Additionally, catering didn't seem to be as organized as the venue coordinators. Our account was shifted between three catering managers, which I felt may have been due to the fact that we were a 72 guest wedding and may not have been profitable enough to them, so our priority was a bit lower on their list...just my two cents. They also neglected to listen to my request to not keep the cake topper (since I am gluten free and couldn't eat the cake) and thus we ran out of cake. They ended up serving my groom's cake to several guests. I ended up basically getting only frosting...you'd think the bride would get a decent slice of her own cake, right? Those were really my only issues and they didn't really put a damper on the evening unless you were really jonesin' for a piece of Red Velvet Cake!
Reviewed on 10-11-2016
Christina Smith (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 15-10-2016
We recently got married in the Hedge Garden at the Morton Arboretum. The ceremony was absolutely beautiful! We had enough chairs to support all 220 guests. In addition, we took some beautiful pictures around the grounds both before and after our ceremony. Our cocktail hour and reception were in the welcome center and Ginkgo room. Once again, we were blown away at the beauty of the space. The food was delicious all the way from appetizers, to salads, to dinner. In addition, the staff was friendly and accommodating. The space available for dancing was also perfect. All in all, we had the PERFECT wedding at the Morton Arboretum and I would strongly suggest using it for a wedding!
Reviewed on 26-10-2016
Wedding Date 15-10-2016
We recently got married in the Hedge Garden at the Morton Arboretum. The ceremony was absolutely beautiful! We had enough chairs to support all 220 guests. In addition, we took some beautiful pictures around the grounds both before and after our ceremony. Our cocktail hour and reception were in the welcome center and Ginkgo room. Once again, we were blown away at the beauty of the space. The food was delicious all the way from appetizers, to salads, to dinner. In addition, the staff was friendly and accommodating. The space available for dancing was also perfect. All in all, we had the PERFECT wedding at the Morton Arboretum and I would strongly suggest using it for a wedding!
Reviewed on 26-10-2016
Lauren R (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 20-12-2017
The arboretum is a beautiful place to get married! We've spent years visiting the arboretum, and finally got married there in October. We chose the west side (Thornhill) which is a bit more secluded, guests felt like we were in our own private backyard! It was perfect, couldn't have asked for a better day! Weather was gorgeous and allowed us to have our ceremony out on the lawn, a lunch reception followed inside the Arbor Room. We had a buffet style lunch which worked out great and people said it was some of the best wedding food they had ever eaten. Denise (coordinator) and Caryn (catering) were amazing to work with! They were personable, energetic, flexible, and very responsive! I cannot say enough about them- they truly made wedding planning a very enjoyable and easy process! I highly recommend having your wedding- inside or outside- at the arboretum, it's got so much to offer year round.
Reviewed on 20-10-2016
Wedding Date 20-12-2017
The arboretum is a beautiful place to get married! We've spent years visiting the arboretum, and finally got married there in October. We chose the west side (Thornhill) which is a bit more secluded, guests felt like we were in our own private backyard! It was perfect, couldn't have asked for a better day! Weather was gorgeous and allowed us to have our ceremony out on the lawn, a lunch reception followed inside the Arbor Room. We had a buffet style lunch which worked out great and people said it was some of the best wedding food they had ever eaten. Denise (coordinator) and Caryn (catering) were amazing to work with! They were personable, energetic, flexible, and very responsive! I cannot say enough about them- they truly made wedding planning a very enjoyable and easy process! I highly recommend having your wedding- inside or outside- at the arboretum, it's got so much to offer year round.
Reviewed on 20-10-2016
Lindsey Ball (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 08-10-2016
Everyone at Morton was so responsive, helpful, and accommodating when I was planning and executing my wedding. They were so amazing. The scenery is the best around. The food was delicious and had all my guests raving, and everything was just what I wanted. Thank you Denise and Elana!
Reviewed on 13-10-2016
Wedding Date 08-10-2016
Everyone at Morton was so responsive, helpful, and accommodating when I was planning and executing my wedding. They were so amazing. The scenery is the best around. The food was delicious and had all my guests raving, and everything was just what I wanted. Thank you Denise and Elana!
Reviewed on 13-10-2016
Jessica Waters (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 17-09-2016
We had our ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception at the Thornhill Education Center at the Morton Arboretum a couple of weeks ago. We could not have asked for a better venue and team to work with. Denise was our facility coordinator and she was super easy to work with since day 1. I don't know what we would have done without her and the catering team. The day of our wedding went very smoothly. The scenery, space, and food were amazing. Our guests are still raving about our wedding. We definitely recommend hosting a wedding or any event at the Morton Arboretum.
Reviewed on 03-10-2016
Wedding Date 17-09-2016
We had our ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception at the Thornhill Education Center at the Morton Arboretum a couple of weeks ago. We could not have asked for a better venue and team to work with. Denise was our facility coordinator and she was super easy to work with since day 1. I don't know what we would have done without her and the catering team. The day of our wedding went very smoothly. The scenery, space, and food were amazing. Our guests are still raving about our wedding. We definitely recommend hosting a wedding or any event at the Morton Arboretum.
Reviewed on 03-10-2016
Bob C. (groom) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 18-11-2017
After an extensive search throughout the Chicago area my bride and I selected The Morton Arboretum for our wedding ceremony and reception and were delighted with our choice. Given the size of our group, 65 people, and the style of wedding we wanted, Thornhill on the Morton campus was the perfect choice. We initially met with Jennie who was our event planning manager. Throughout the six month process she was great to work with and helped us plan what turned out to be a very successful event. She answered all my questions, made many good suggestions along the way, and pitched in to help lay out some essential items the day of the event. Always professional and pleasant, she was great to work with.On the catering side, which is handled separately from facility rental, Caryn was our contact and she too did a terrific job. She helped us select all of our food and beverage items and made good suggestions to facilitate a smooth running dinner service. She helped us get around a couple of issues that arose and handled last minute changes in stride. The service from the catering staff was excellent and we heard numerous compliments from our guests. Like Jennie, Caryn was a delight to work with and helped make our wedding the success that it was.All in all, we were very pleased with our event at The Morton Arboretum and the outstanding support we received. We’d recommend that anyone planning a similar event consider this as their venue.
Reviewed on 21-09-2016
Wedding Date 18-11-2017
After an extensive search throughout the Chicago area my bride and I selected The Morton Arboretum for our wedding ceremony and reception and were delighted with our choice. Given the size of our group, 65 people, and the style of wedding we wanted, Thornhill on the Morton campus was the perfect choice. We initially met with Jennie who was our event planning manager. Throughout the six month process she was great to work with and helped us plan what turned out to be a very successful event. She answered all my questions, made many good suggestions along the way, and pitched in to help lay out some essential items the day of the event. Always professional and pleasant, she was great to work with.On the catering side, which is handled separately from facility rental, Caryn was our contact and she too did a terrific job. She helped us select all of our food and beverage items and made good suggestions to facilitate a smooth running dinner service. She helped us get around a couple of issues that arose and handled last minute changes in stride. The service from the catering staff was excellent and we heard numerous compliments from our guests. Like Jennie, Caryn was a delight to work with and helped make our wedding the success that it was.All in all, we were very pleased with our event at The Morton Arboretum and the outstanding support we received. We’d recommend that anyone planning a similar event consider this as their venue.
Reviewed on 21-09-2016
Niki Taylor (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 05-08-2016
I am so glad my husband and I decided to have our wedding at the Morton Arboretum. We have been members for several years and love going there, but what really sold it for me was being able to have a vegetarian wedding. They had such an amazing menu to choose from and we chose items for cocktail hour and for the dinner courses that were vegetarian and vegan and even my most carnivorous family and friends raved about the food. I'm so glad I was able have a wedding that aligned with my values. The venue is beautiful and I liked having the peace of mind of having a great plan B in case the weather didn't work out (which, for us, it did!). We keep getting emails and texts from friends and family that it was the best wedding they had ever been to, and I think location has a lot to do with that experience. Being members for several years, the Morton Arboretum has had a lot of special meaning for my husband and me and we were so glad we could have our special day in this special place.
Reviewed on 28-08-2016
Wedding Date 05-08-2016
I am so glad my husband and I decided to have our wedding at the Morton Arboretum. We have been members for several years and love going there, but what really sold it for me was being able to have a vegetarian wedding. They had such an amazing menu to choose from and we chose items for cocktail hour and for the dinner courses that were vegetarian and vegan and even my most carnivorous family and friends raved about the food. I'm so glad I was able have a wedding that aligned with my values. The venue is beautiful and I liked having the peace of mind of having a great plan B in case the weather didn't work out (which, for us, it did!). We keep getting emails and texts from friends and family that it was the best wedding they had ever been to, and I think location has a lot to do with that experience. Being members for several years, the Morton Arboretum has had a lot of special meaning for my husband and me and we were so glad we could have our special day in this special place.
Reviewed on 28-08-2016
Anonymous (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 27-09-2017
We had the best wedding day ever, and it had so much to do with the amazing staff that was supportive and helpful throughout the entire process. Dana, our assigned coordinator, won us over from day one with her warm, gracious, and insightful advice on the wedding planning process! Even when questions or problems came up, Dana and her support staff were always quick to respond and compromise with us to provide the most incredible day ever! The arboretum itself is exquisite, there is NOT a bad place to take pictures. The pavilion tent was definitely the best choice for our reception, absolutely gorgeous with the permanent decorative lighting and the perfect setting!
Reviewed on 27-07-2016
Wedding Date 27-09-2017
We had the best wedding day ever, and it had so much to do with the amazing staff that was supportive and helpful throughout the entire process. Dana, our assigned coordinator, won us over from day one with her warm, gracious, and insightful advice on the wedding planning process! Even when questions or problems came up, Dana and her support staff were always quick to respond and compromise with us to provide the most incredible day ever! The arboretum itself is exquisite, there is NOT a bad place to take pictures. The pavilion tent was definitely the best choice for our reception, absolutely gorgeous with the permanent decorative lighting and the perfect setting!
Reviewed on 27-07-2016
Julie Kofron (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 30-04-2016
Unfortunately the forecast for our wedding was 100% rain. The Arboretum was very accommodating with moving our ceremony inside to the Gingko Room and it was still beautiful with the floor to ceiling windows looking out over the grounds. Choosing the Arboretum is what made our wedding - between the beautiful venue, the delicious food, the awesome bar, and the very attentive service people, it could not have been a more perfect day!
Reviewed on 20-07-2016
Wedding Date 30-04-2016
Unfortunately the forecast for our wedding was 100% rain. The Arboretum was very accommodating with moving our ceremony inside to the Gingko Room and it was still beautiful with the floor to ceiling windows looking out over the grounds. Choosing the Arboretum is what made our wedding - between the beautiful venue, the delicious food, the awesome bar, and the very attentive service people, it could not have been a more perfect day!
Reviewed on 20-07-2016
Christine Maliwanag (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 23-04-2016
I highly recommend considering Morton Arboretum for your wedding! From the beginning, the staff at Morton Arboretum was so easy to work with, especially Denise Martinez and Jackie Ragain. They were very upfront about costs and always available to answer my questions, and they do what they can to ensure that your wedding is exactly as you envision it to be. On the day of the wedding, they setup the Ginkgo Room so beautifully, and it was so nice having indoor and outdoor space for us and our guests. And the food was also delicious! My husband and I also love the idea of coming back to visit in the many years to come. Thank you to the Morton Arborteum for helping us to kick off our married life in a very beautiful and special way!
Reviewed on 25-05-2016
Wedding Date 23-04-2016
I highly recommend considering Morton Arboretum for your wedding! From the beginning, the staff at Morton Arboretum was so easy to work with, especially Denise Martinez and Jackie Ragain. They were very upfront about costs and always available to answer my questions, and they do what they can to ensure that your wedding is exactly as you envision it to be. On the day of the wedding, they setup the Ginkgo Room so beautifully, and it was so nice having indoor and outdoor space for us and our guests. And the food was also delicious! My husband and I also love the idea of coming back to visit in the many years to come. Thank you to the Morton Arborteum for helping us to kick off our married life in a very beautiful and special way!
Reviewed on 25-05-2016
Caryn T (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
We had our wedding ceremony and reception at the Thornhill Education Center a few weekends ago and could not have been more thrilled with the Morton Arboretum! The Arboretum was already a place that we loved visiting and when we discovered that it also serves as a wedding venue--and a wedding venue that makes planning the event super easy--it was just a matter of availability. The moment we saw the Thornhill Building we knew it had the look and feel of what we wanted. We thought that if the weather cooperated that we would do the ceremony outside, but the weather was chilly on the day of our wedding and we did the ceremony inside in the Founder's Room (the library). Ultimately, we think this worked out even better! Although the room was a little tight given the number of guests (we had 115), it ended up being such an intimate setting for the ceremony, and also totally gorgeous with sunlight streaming in to the vestibule. The Morton staff was also spectacular. We worked with Denise as our primary venue coordinator and Colleen on catering. Both were wonderful to work with and had everything running like a finely tuned machine on the big day. The Morton catering and event staff was also fabulous--so thoughtful and so very good at what they do. It was a great feeling to sit back and watch our event unfold so perfectly as we were in the hands of professionals who really know how to do their jobs well. Thank you to everyone at the Morton Arboretum for making our day one we will never forget.
Reviewed on 26-04-2016
100 Reviews, with a Rating of 4.92 out of 5.0We had our wedding ceremony and reception at the Thornhill Education Center a few weekends ago and could not have been more thrilled with the Morton Arboretum! The Arboretum was already a place that we loved visiting and when we discovered that it also serves as a wedding venue--and a wedding venue that makes planning the event super easy--it was just a matter of availability. The moment we saw the Thornhill Building we knew it had the look and feel of what we wanted. We thought that if the weather cooperated that we would do the ceremony outside, but the weather was chilly on the day of our wedding and we did the ceremony inside in the Founder's Room (the library). Ultimately, we think this worked out even better! Although the room was a little tight given the number of guests (we had 115), it ended up being such an intimate setting for the ceremony, and also totally gorgeous with sunlight streaming in to the vestibule. The Morton staff was also spectacular. We worked with Denise as our primary venue coordinator and Colleen on catering. Both were wonderful to work with and had everything running like a finely tuned machine on the big day. The Morton catering and event staff was also fabulous--so thoughtful and so very good at what they do. It was a great feeling to sit back and watch our event unfold so perfectly as we were in the hands of professionals who really know how to do their jobs well. Thank you to everyone at the Morton Arboretum for making our day one we will never forget.
Reviewed on 26-04-2016
Contact Info for The Morton Arboretum
| Contact | Value |
|---|---|
| The Morton Arboretum | |
| X (Twitter) | The Morton Arboretum |
| The Morton Arboretum | |
| Website | www.mortonarb.org |
| Phone | (630) 719-2406 |
| Address | 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle, IL, 60532 |
| jpolloway@mortonarb.org |
The Morton Arboretum on the map
Meet the The Morton Arboretum Team
Rachel Klein (Coordinator) Hello! My name is Rachel and I’m part of the fabulous team of coordinators here at The Morton Arboretum. I fell in love with weddings and making couple’s special day spectacular after interning here after college. I was thrilled to rejoin the team as a Coordinator after several years away, working in the industry. I am extremely excited to be able to work with you at such a beautiful, unique venue and help you find the perfect place to say “I do!”.
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