the details
Where will the wedding be?
The ceremony and reception will both take place at The Friendship Botanic Gardens - 2055 US-12, Michigan City, IN 46360.
What is the theme / vibe of the wedding?
The theme of the wedding is silly goofy cutie guys. Things that inspired the wedding are: the mad hatter's tea party in Alice in Wonderland, Bilbo Baggin's 111th birthday in Lord of the Rings, the garden party at the finale of each season of The Great British Bake Off, Eeyore's birthday party in Winnie the Pooh, The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Swamp Witch episode of Scooby-Doo, Over the Garden Wall and every Studio Ghibli movie. We want everyone to have fun and for things to be loud, colorful, and playful.
What is the timeline for the wedding day?
The ceremony will begin at 4:00 pm EST. Following the ceremony there will be a parade from the ceremony space to the reception space just a short walk away. Afterwards, there will be a cocktail hour while the couple and their families take pictures. The reception will begin at 6:00 pm EST and end at 10:00 pm EST.
What time should I arrive at the venue?
We ask that all guests arrive at least 30 minutes before the ceremony is set to start (4:00 pm EST) so they have time to park and find seating.
Is the wedding inside or outside?
The ceremony and reception are both completely outside. We will have overhead cover, but nothing else.
What should I wear?
Above all else, we want our guests to be comfortable. Your presence is far more important to us than your clothes. We are encouraging guests to wear their most elaborate. loud, and colorful outfits, if they are comfortable. White is permitted for all guests as the bride will be donning pink instead. If you aren't into bright and over the top, we recommend garden party attire as we will be out in the botanic garden all day.
Will the wedding happen if it rains?
Yes, we will be having the ceremony and reception rain or shine. In the event of rain we will work with the venue to keep you as dry as possible.
What shoes should I wear?
The Friendship Gardens feature mostly paved walkways but to enter the reception space, you will need to walk through grass. Please be mindful of this when selecting your shoes, but feel free to wear whatever is comfortable for you.
What is accessibility like at the venue?
The primary walking paths throughout the venue are paved. There are several areas containing benches and picnic tables to sit and rest throughout your visit. The walk from the ceremony space to the reception space is not far, but golf carts will be provided to shuttle guests.
Where are the bathrooms located?
The venue only has one bathroom, directly at the park entrance. There will be portable restrooms closer to the reception space that will be available for use.
Is parking available at the venue?
There will be 100 parking spots available at our venue and will be first come first serve. If you cannot find parking we recommend parking at The Blue Chip Casino and carpooling or Ubering over.
What will the drink offerings be like?
We will be providing beer, wine, soft drinks, and water.
What will the food offerings be like?
We will be serving food buffet style. There will be both meat and vegan options available. If you have specific dietary requirements, please contact us or make note in your RSVP.
Can I bring a plus one?
Unless specified on your invitation, we ask that you do not bring additional guests.
Can I bring my children?
If your children were included on the invitation they are welcome at the wedding. If they were not included, we ask that you do not bring them.
Do you have a gift registry?
We do not have a traditional gift registry. Instead we have created a fund you may choose to contribute to if you'd like.
How can I RSVP?
I have a question that isn't answered here or elsewhere on the site, how can I contact you?
You can find our contact information here.