15 Exotic Gardens That Are Perfect For An Intimate Midsummer Wedding

With the sun sparkling high, host a fabulous summery outdoor wedding with a plethora of colours and aromas to grace you. These gardens are perfect for an amorous summer wedding.

1. Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur, Rajasthan

Set on Lake Pichola, the erstwhile pleasure palace of Maharaja Jagat Singh II of Udaipur, known formerly as Jag Niwas, Taj Lake Palace of Udaipur is everything that a modern fairytale wedding can look for. It was restored as a palace hotel in 1963 and offers views of the Aravalli hills and Jag Mandir. Lakeside serenity meets resplendent blooms to create an apt setting for a lavish ceremony, much like the royals of yore. Best time to visit: September-May. 

2. Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm, Oregon, USA

Picture 40 acres of uninterrupted views of vineyards and colourful stretches of tulip fields... Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm is a treat for flower lovers. The farm lends itself to a splendid venue for an outdoor wedding function. For an evening ceremony, one can opt for tents with lights and a sit-down dinner arrangement. You can take inspiration for the décor from the surrounding tulip and daffodil beds. The tulip market within the premises offers a well of cut flowers and potted bulbs. Let your guests enjoy tram and hay wagon rides or a glass of local wine at the vineyard. Hot air balloon rides are another attraction. Best time to visit: March-May.

3. Villa D'Este, Tivoli, Italy

Let your summer revelries come alive against a backdrop of fountains, nymphs, and grottoes. Welcome to the 16th-century Villa D’este, a masterpiece of Italian Renaissance garden. Depicting the harmonious pattern of Mannerism (an architectural style of the late Renaissance), its maze-like landscape consists of hillside terraces, springing fountains, and ornamental basins. The garden of Villa D’este set in the quaint town of Tivoli is as idyllic as it can get. Best time to visit: year-round. 

4. Palace Of Versailles, Versailles, France

The Palace of Versailles, a supreme specimen of 17th-century French art, is home to the enchanted Gardens. The Orangery just below the palace (pictured), is stupendous in scale and known for its pure lines. Built by Jules Hardouin-Mansart, it houses a multitude of orange trees from Portugal, Spain, and Italy, as well as lemon, oleander, palm, and pomegranate trees. The venue, with its three galleries, is apt for hosting cocktail brunches and sit-down dinners. Best time to visit: May-October. 

5. The Flower Fields At Carlsbad Ranch, California, USA

Imagine hosting an intimate, rustic-themed summer wedding at the Paul Ecke Barn or a farm-inspired ceremony at the Wedding Stage that includes stonework, moving water and floral accents, and bougainvillea trellises. The Mediterranean-style water bodies amp up the space for a freeflowing cocktail event. Best time to visit: March-May.

6. The Butchart Gardens, British Columbia, Canada

Little did Jennie Butchart know that The Butchart Gardens would endure as one of the world’s finest botanical wonders when  she began building it over a century ago. The rose garden is in full bloom in summers, while the intoxicating daphnes and the wild heathers come to life in winters. Picture a daytime lawn wedding or an evening gala complemented by fireworks here. Best time to visit: year-round.

7. Keukenhof Gardens, Lisse, The Netherlands

The biggest international showcase of Dutch floricultural art, Keukenhof Gardens is famous for its magical display of spring flowering bulbs. Redesigned by landscape architects Jan David Zocher and his son Louis Paul Zocher in 1857, the venue is apt for a Dutch tulip-bedecked pre-wedding ceremony or shoot. Best time to visit: March-May.

8. Jardin Du Soleil Lavender Farm, Sequim, Washington

Starting with spring and through the course of summer, the lavender fields come to life. However, it’s not until fall harvest that one can see the distillation of lavender for essential oil. Finally, winter is when one can enjoy the best views of the snow-capped Olympic Mountains. One of the attractions for visitors world over is their annual lavender festival, which takes place in July. Take your guests through acres of lavender fields through the course of the wedding even as you soak in the aroma of the flower. Best time to visit: June-August (lavender blooms) and year-round for weddings. 

9. La Rosaleda at Retiro Park, Madrid, Spain

ocated in the heart of Madrid, the vast park, which dates back to the 1500s, is a significant address of the city. The rose garden or ‘Rosaleda’ in the Retiro Park, originally known as the Rosería, is home to more than 4,000 species of roses. Designed by municipal gardener Cecilio Rodríguez, in 1915, the asymmetrical Rosaleda oozes European charm. Weddings here can be a thoroughly playful affair especially if one has a lighthearted ceremony in mind.  Best time to visit: year-round.

10. Biltmore House & Gardens, North Carolina, USA 

Designed by America’s foremost landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmsted, the Biltmore estate houses lush green trails, open meadows, and manicured gardens. While April is the time for tulip blooms, May sees verdant patches of poppies, snapdragons, and pansies in the Walled Garden and winery beds. Other blooms include roses, native rhododendrons, and chrysanthemums. The terraces and gardens surrounding the estate make for an apt reception venue. Best time to visit: April-October.

11. Kew Gardens, London, England

Housing a diverse collection of plants from tropical, temperate, and alpine climates, which are grown in glasshouses and nurseries, the 250-year-old Kew Gardens is a sight to behold. While spring at Kew is time for tulips, summer is for rhododendrons, and autumn is for yellow foliage. The Orangery is apt for a sundowner event, while the Cambridge Cottage is charming for a daytime soirée. Best time to vist: year-round.

12. The Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra, Uttar Pradesh 

Set against the iconic Taj Mahal, the Oberoi Amarvilas is carved out for a majestic ceremony. The Mughal-inspired ornamental banquet garden is perfect for a regal evening wedding ceremony with just the right mix of greens and illuminations. Native blooms lit by flaming torches set the tone at the quadrant, beautified with sweeping fountains and serenaded by an arched passageway and gold-leaf frescoes. One can host a cocktail or reception dinner at the lush gardens overlooking the water bodies. Best time to visit: November-March.

13. Brooklyn Botanic Garden, New York, USA

Located in the borough of Brooklyn in New York City, this 52-acre urban garden is an ideal spot to find serenity amidst the busy neighbourhood. Housing a number of specialty blooms within the vicinity, the garden is famous for their cherry trees and orchids. The Palm House provides a magnificent outdoor setting for garden weddings. Best time to visit: April-May. 

14. Kawachi Fujien Wisteria Garden, Kitakyushu, Japan

As the name suggests, the willowy purple wisteria flower is the highlight of the Kawachi Fujien Garden. The wisteria season peaks around late April to mid-May, while the maple leaf season peaks in autumn. The 100-metre long tunnels of drooping wisteria is stunning for a pre-wedding shoot. Best time to visit: April-October. 

15. Japanese Tea Garden, California, USA 

The oldest public Japanese garden in the United States, located inside Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, California, was originally created as a Japanese village. Exuding the tranquil charm of a Japanese tea house, the tea garden features elements such as stone lanterns, pagodas, stepping stone paths, arched drum bridges, and koi ponds, and a zen garden. Best time to visit: March-April. 

Have we succeeded in convincing you for a garden wedding yet? 

Assisted by Dishari Basu.