Wedding Guest Information

We are excited to welcome you as a guest to an upcoming wedding ceremony at beautiful Dow Gardens! The following information will help to ensure a successful and enjoyable day for all.

Arrival

Wedding guests are welcome to park at the Dow Gardens Visitor Center, located at 1809 Eastman Avenue, Midland, MI 48640

We share a large parking lot with the Midland Center for the Arts. Upon your arrival, you will be greeted in the Visitor Center by Dow Gardens staff. Please plan to arrive 20-30 minutes prior to the scheduled ceremony start time to accommodate the time necessary to park, use the restroom, and walk to the ceremony site. Vehicles are not allowed in Dow Gardens.

ADMISSION

Wedding guests are not required to pay an admission fee. Guests are free to explore the campus, including Whiting Forest, before or after the event. Access to the ceremony site will be limited to the contracted rental period.

Pets are not permitted in Dow Gardens, at any time. Service animals (as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act) are always welcome.

ACCESSIBILITY

There are several wedding sites within Dow Gardens. The Peninsula is approximately 1/8 mile from the Visitor Center, and Founders Circle (+ The Willow) are approximately 1/4 mile from the Visitor Center. Directional signage will be placed along the appropriate pathways to direct guests towards the ceremony site.
 
We recommend wearing comfortable footwear! To access either ceremony site, guests will be required to navigate concrete, chipped, and/or grass pathways or terrain.
 
Standard wheelchairs are available to reserve in advance, at no cost, from our Visitor Center. Personal wheelchairs and mobility scooters are welcome. If the couple has made the decision to utilize our Mobility Shuttle rental option, a golf cart may be available to transport guests with mobility issues. This Mobility Shuttle operates for 30 minutes prior to the scheduled ceremony start time, and for 30 minutes after the ceremony has come to an end. This Mobility Shuttle has limited space (maximum of 5 guests per shuttle) and is intended for guests with mobility issues.

Wedding guests do not require admission payment to access Dow Gardens or wedding ceremony site. Wedding guests have access to the entire Dow Gardens campus, including Whiting Forest, for the day of the wedding ceremony. Guest access to the ceremony site will be limited to the contracted rental period.

GROUNDS’ INTEGRITY

Wedding guests are expected to be respectful of the grounds and the work required to maintain them. We ask that no plants, labels, or installations are damaged or removed. In addition to this, nothing can be affixed to any plant matter (ex: decorations, hammocks, etc.). Items may not be staked into the turf (ex: shepherd hooks, tents, signage, etc.).

We work diligently to provide guests with a pristine setting to enjoy the ceremony in. We ask that all personal trash items are removed and disposed of properly in the Visitor Center.

Food and drinks are allowed on the grounds, please dispose of trash items appropriately. Birdseed, confetti, rice, flower petals, fireworks and sparklers are not allowed in the Gardens.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Hand-held photography is welcome and encouraged. For the privacy of our guests, drones are not permitted on the property at any point in time. Please do not obstruct walkways or enter flower beds.  Plant material may not be moved or removed.

QUESTIONS

Feel free to reach out to us at (989) 631-2677 or info@dowgardens.org.