Brookside Gardens Weddings & Elopements: Your Guide From An Experienced Photographer
Brookside Gardens in Montgomery County, MD should be at the top of your venue list if you’re a Maryland nature lover getting married! Whether you’re thinking about eloping or even having a big wedding celebration (I’ve photographed both there!). Brookside Gardens is truly beautiful at any time of year, but spring in Maryland has this incredible energy, a real sense of new beginnings and vibrant color. If you're picturing a ceremony that's intimate and surrounded by nature, read on for details of planning a wedding here in Wheaton, MD.
Why Choose Brookside Gardens for Your Wedding?
An Immersive Experience: Imagine walking together on paths lined with huge, old trees that create a cool canopy from the sun. You’ll be surrounded by the most beautiful flowers. In the spring there will be sunny daffodils, bright tulips, elegant irises, and the trees bursting with blooms – delicate cherry blossoms, curly dogwood petals, and maybe even the striking magnolias opening up. The air smells so fresh and sweet. It's more than just a backdrop; it's an experience you’ll feel all around you.
Focus on What Matters Most: Many of my clients love spending time in nature and connecting with both the earth and their community. Brookside Gardens gives you the perfect setting for this closeness, being both a stunning garden and a county property where all are free to walk, lounge, and roam. You can find quiet corners and beautiful views where your vows will feel so personal and right for you.
A Beautiful and Easy Location: Brookside Gardens is right here in Montgomery County, Maryland. It’s a convenient and gorgeous place between DC and Baltimore, which can make planning much simpler for both local guests and anyone coming in from out of town.
Planning Your Brookside Gardens Elopement: A Step-by-Step Guide
Knowing the Gardens (and the Guidelines): To make sure everything goes smoothly, you’ll need to contact the parks ASAP - Jennifer Bland (I’ve worked with her extensively over the years!) or another amazing employee at the garden. Their staff has a lot of experience with both larger weddings and elopements, so don’t hesitate to let them know what exactly you’re looking for!
Finding Your Ceremony Spot: Take some time to explore the different areas at Brookside Gardens. I’ve photographed larger weddings on the pavilion in a tent, in the big room in the visitor center, and I even got to photograph the first wedding in the Woodland ceremony space for Carly and Dan. There also quite a few garden spaces that fit different wedding groups, from just you two, to over a hundred guests. The Woodland space still one of my favorite spots in the garden - it’s a very secluded forest once you take the path back to the clearing they created.
Timing it Right for Spring Colors: Spring in Maryland is always changing! While the exact peak bloom varies each year, you'll usually see daffodils in early April, tulips and lots of flowering trees in mid-late April, with irises coming into their own a bit later in May. In between are dozens of other blooms and plants that I don’t even know the names of (lol). Keep an eye on local flower updates or even visit the gardens a week or two before your planned date to see what's looking its best. Think about a morning (brunch receptions are underrated!!) or late afternoon ceremony for the prettiest light and fewer people around.
Your Wedding Team: Even for a small elopement, you might want a few important people there. An officiant to make it, well, official, and of course, a photographer (that's me!) to document allll the moments. Look for vendors who understand the intimate feel of an elopement, if relevant, and ones who have experience in larger events if you’re going for a larger celebration.
The Legal Stuff: Don't forget the paperwork! You'll need to get a marriage license from the Montgomery County Clerk of the Circuit Court for a Brookside Gardens wedding. Make sure you know what you need and give yourself enough time to handle this before your wedding day. Currently, according to the application guidelines on the Montgomery County website, you can apply for a marriage license between 48 hours and 6 months before your wedding date.
Let’s Plan It!
If the idea of a earthy elopement or big party wedding surrounded by the amazing spring beauty of Brookside Gardens sounds like what you've been imagining, I really encourage you to consider it! I'd love to hear about your vision and how I can help capture the beauty of your intimate celebration. Let's chat and start planning your beautiful love celebration! :)
Below, I’m sharing photos from my most recent elopement at Brookside Gardens - thank you sooo much to M and D for asking me to document them at their 25-person elopement. Enjoy!!
