Wedding FAQ

Yew Dell Gardens is delighted you are considering our exceptional grounds for your wedding. We understand your wedding day is one of the most important days in your life, and we are honored you've thought of us.

To aid you in your search for the perfect wedding site, we'd like to offer frequently asked questions and other essential information on this web page. Because Yew Dell Gardens is a unique and somewhat unusual location for a wedding, reviewing this information thoroughly will greatly assist you in determining if Yew Dell is the right site for your special day.

On this page you can find a variety of information important to having a wedding at Yew Dell Gardens. We have grouped information into several over-arching questions, which each include more specific questions.

Yew Dell Gardens is a 33-acre public botanical garden and horticulture education and research center, located in Crestwood, Ky. It features stunning gardens, amazing architecture and an atmosphere all its own. Yew Dell is located about 30 minutes from Louisville, depending on where in the metro area you begin.

Yew Dell Gardens rents the entire property for each wedding. We are proud to offer a wide range of venues and unique spaces on the grounds for your wedding, including both indoor and outdoor facilities. Some popular locations include our Gheens Barn and Peyton Samuel Head Trust Pavilion, the Lath House Lawn and the Holly Allee. The different venues provide different amounts of seating, usually ranging from 50 to 400 guests, although some accomodations may be possible for larger events.

Where do most of the weddings take place?

Outdoor weddings usually take place on the Lath House Lawn, although outdoor space near the Gheens Barn is also available. The Gheens Barn is a popular indoor space and is adjacent to the covered but open-air Peyton Samuel Head Trust Pavilion.

What do I do if it rains?

Many wedding parties choose to place a large rental tent over an outdoor area if rain is forecast. Tented areas can accommodate up to 300 people per tent. Alternatives for outdoor weddings in the case of inclement weather include the Gheens Barn, Peyton Samuel Head Trust Pavilion. The Gheens Barn is entirely enclosed and protected from the elements. The Peyton Samuel Head Trust Pavilion features a roof but has open sides.

Where can I set up tents?

Tents may be set up in several locations at Yew Dell Gardens. There is a designated tent pad located at the base of the Gheens Barn, allowing easy access to the Gheens Barn and Peyton Samuel Head Trust Pavilion. Tents may also be placed on the Lath House Lawn. Tents are not allowed on the Castle Terrace or area between the Castle and the Office.

Yew Dell Gardens is a public botanical garden and horticulture research and education center. As such, there are restrictions on the property you may not encounter elsewhere. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, but our primary obligation is to further Yew Dell's mission of continuing founder Theodore Klein's horticultural legacy and provide educational opportunities to the public.

Why can't I nail or staple signs to trees or buildings?

Trees are the lifeblood of Yew Dell Gardens - they were the primary nursery product of founder Theodore Klein. Many of the specimens you see on our grounds are rare, and some varieties were developed here at Yew Dell. It is vital to the health of the trees, and the health of Yew Dell overall, that the trees not have any nails or staples in them.

Likewise, many of the buildings at Yew Dell have undergone renovations made possible through generous donations and grants, many from supportive members of the community. Out of respect for those individuals, corporations and organizations that have made the rehabilitation of Yew Dell possible, we ask that the buildings not be defaced in any way.

You may, however, use ribbons to tie bows or signs on trees.

Why can't I cut or remove plants that are not in prime condition?

As a public botanical garden, the flowers and foliage at Yew Dell Gardens are essential to our purpose. We have trained, dedicated horticulture staff who maintain the grounds and are experienced and knowledgeable about our plant specimens. Some of our plants are rare specimens, and others are the subject of botanical research. Cutting or otherwise purposefully damaging the plant could affect our ongoing research in plant trials, or could even jeopardize the life of a plant.

If you do see a plant you would like to include in your wedding decorations, please ask a member of our staff to identify it for you. Most plants also feature a label with the common and scientific names, which will also help. We encourage you to try to find the plant commercially.

Why can't I move picnic tables, benches or planted containers?

Yew Dell Gardens wants your event to be perfect, however, we need your assistance in maintaining this exceptional setting. Because of this, we ask you do not move any picnic tables, benches or planted containers. This is important because we must maintain the integrity of our grounds, including grassy areas and individual plant specimens.

What caterers can I use?

Yew Dell Gardens offers a list of approved caterers who are familiar with our grounds and policies. Be aware that liquor laws in Oldham County require that the caterer purchase and distribute all alcohol at events.

Wedding rentals at Yew Dell Gardens include use of the grounds for an eight-hour window of your choosing. This includes three hours for set up, four hours for your wedding and one hour for clean up. Additional hours may be purchased to extend your wedding. It is necessary for you to coordinate with your caterers, entertainers and other vendors to ensure the set up and clean up time is sufficient for them.

2009 and 2010 Rental Fees

• Grounds rental: $3,800
• Grounds rental during Premium weekends in May:  $4,200
• Grounds rental during August $3,200
• Damage deposit: $1,000
• Membership: $150
• Tent privilege: $250

The damage deposit is refundable in part or in full after the event. Event rental at Yew Dell Gardens is a benefit of membership at the $150 level or above, and as such, we require you to purchase a membership if you are not already a member. Of course, you are then entitled to the other benefits of membership for a year, including free admission to Yew Dell any time. This charge will be waived if you are already a member at that level. If you wish to use a tent on the grounds, you will be charged a tent privilege fee.

We are currently accepting reservations for weekends in 2009 and 2010 as well as weekday reservations. 

Most weddings at Yew Dell Gardens occur on the weekend, so we have listed the available weekend dates for 2009/2010 below. If you are interested in a weekday event, please call us about the possibility. If your date does not conflict with existing Yew Dell events, weekday events are certainly possible.

April 2010

all available except April 24th

May 2010

May 1st - booked 
May 8th - booked
May 15th - booked
May 22nd - booked
May 29th - unavailable - Yew Dell's Sculpture in the Dell opening weekend

June 2010

June 5th - available
June 12th - booked
June 19th - available
June 26th - booked

July 2010

July 3rd - available
July 10th - available
July 17th - available
July 31st - available

August 2010  Discounted Rates in August!

August 7th - booked
August 14th - booked
August 21st - booked
August 28th - unavailable - Yew Dell's Hummingbird Workshop

September 2010

September 4th - available
September 11th - booked
September 18th - booked
September 25th - booked

October 2010

October 2nd - booked
October 9th - unavailable - Yew Dell's Twilight in the Garden
October 16th - available
October 23rd - booked
October 30th - available after 3pm

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