I’ve worked multiple weddings at Boerner Botanical Gardens, and it’s magical! As the owner of Beauty Unveiled by Tia, a premier on-location hair and makeup company, I love this romantic, storybook venue with its lush gardens, vibrant blooms, historic charm, and breathtaking natural backdrops that make every bridal look absolutely glow. Highly recommend!

If you want a dream venue with a dream team for a perfect wedding, I highly recommend Boerner Botanical Gardens.

My husband and I live in Chicago and wanted a wedding close to Illinois/Wisconsin for his family, but also near an airport since most of my family and friends were flying in from California. We also knew we didn’t want a barn or hotel, and we envisioned a wedding theme that reflected our love of plants, books, and fantasy — our vendors heard us say “Fantasy Botanical Garden Library” more than once!

After conversations with over 10 venues and tours of four, we narrowed it down to two. What put Boerner over the top was not only the breathtaking gardens, but also how quickly we bonded with Yvette. She is incredibly kind and calming, which was especially important for me as a very detail-oriented, Type A scientist who struggles to “let go” and trust vendors. Touring is essential because it shows you both the space and the people you’ll work with — and Boerner excelled in both.

On our wedding day, our photographer was thrilled because there were endless stunning spots for photos. The Zilli team at Boerner, especially Yvette and Dana, were truly the dream team. Even when we made changes the day before, they accommodated everything without hesitation. They answered all our (many!) questions quickly, listened carefully to our vision, and helped us bring it to life. Lori was also fantastic at ensuring the day ran smoothly.

They went above and beyond in accommodating my celiac disease, making sure every course — from hors d’oeuvres to dessert — was gluten-free friendly. The waitstaff and kitchen team were attentive, making sure we tried everything, including late-night snacks. The bartenders were equally wonderful — fun to chat with, flawless in mixing our specialty cocktails (Aperol Spritz and French 75), and a hit with our guests.

Our guests raved about the venue and how personal it felt to us as a couple — a true reflection of how well the team listened and delivered. And best of all, everything was affordable without sacrificing quality.

We didn’t hire a wedding planner, so we relied heavily on the Boerner team to execute our vision. They exceeded every expectation. Thanks to them, our wedding was a dream come true.

Yvette and Dana are the best and sweetest people to work with. I wish I could work with them everyday, they were so easy going! They helped us so much in making our dream wedding come true. They went above and beyond for us and I am forever grateful for them!!! Everything went perfect and everything ran so smoothly at the Boerner Botanical Gardens. Zilli is a GREAT hospitality company. The food was amazing and the drinks were even better!

Our event manager on site was SO SWEET and not to mention we had Virginia take care of us all night! Virginia went above and beyond for us day of and was beyond nice, so great, and such a pleasure to be around! I hope to keep in contact with her! She truly is amazing inside and out!

Overall, we are so happy we went with Zilli and had Dana and Yvette! They really know how to get things done and are such a joy to work with. In times of stress they are always there for you and will answer all the 100000 questions you have! 10000/10 recommend Zilli!!! We wouldn't change a single thing!!!!!!!!!