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Weddings

About

A beautiful and tropical wedding venue in Ames, Iowa, Reiman Gardens adds a unique and outdoorsy feel to any event. Reiman Gardens has unique event spaces that mix the banquet hall look with the atmosphere of both a garden and park.

Facilities and Capacity
With five event spaces, Reiman Gardens can hold up to 250 guests in either an indoor or uncovered outdoor setting. Whether you are looking to host an intimate gathering or a large celebration--including bridal showers, engagement parties, ceremonies, receptions, and rehearsal dinners--Reiman Gardens has 17 acres available on the Iowa State University campus for your use.

Services Offered
Reiman Gardens provides a variety of event services to assist you with your special day. They offer a bridal suite for getting dressed, as well as setup and cleanup. Hosting an event at Reiman Gardens also includes wireless Internet and event planning assistance, if desired. Event equipment is available for rent, such as audio equipment, tables and chairs, and furniture. Other items, such as a projector and linens, may be an additional charge.

Cuisine
Couples must use a preferred professional caterer for their event. The selected caterer will be responsible for personnel, materials, and supplies required for food and beverage preparation and services.

History
As a part of Iowa State University’s mission to educate students on horticulture, the Reiman Gardens came to fruition. The university’s tradition of having a horticulture garden dates back to 1914. The original horticultural garden was located at the Iowa State Horticultural Research Station, when, in 1964, it was moved to a three-quarter-acre site on the university’s campus. The site, however, limited the opportunity for expansion because it was surrounded by the university’s industrial zone. In 1994, the Reimans generously provided over one million dollars to start phase one of the new gardens, which included transporting old collections from the horticultural gardens to the new gardens, now called the Reiman Gardens. The Reiman Gardens was officially dedicated on September 16, 1995. Most recently, in November 2002, the Gardens’ newest additions - the Conservatory Complex and the Christina Reiman Butterfly Wing - opened.

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Frequently asked questions

Do you have a site fee for wedding receptions at your venue?

No

Do you have a site fee for wedding ceremonies at your venue?

No

Which of the following are included in the starting site fee?

Chairs
Lighting/Sound
Parking
Set Up
Tables

Describe your venue:

Banquet Hall
Garden
Park

What kind of settings are available?

Indoor
Uncovered Outdoor

Which of the following wedding events does your venue service?

Ceremony
Reception
Bridal Shower
Engagement Party
Rehearsal Dinner

What event services do you offer?

Clean Up
Event Planner
Event Rentals
Get Ready Rooms
Wifi

What event items are available?

Audio Equipment
Chairs
Furniture
Tables

What transportation and access is available?

Parking
Wheelchair Access

Reviews of Reiman Gardens

M
Marcia Sent on 06/05/2017
5 out of 5 rating
Overall, we had a great event at Reiman. We were in the Hunziker House though which does not have a kitchen. It has a small "wet bar" and no counter space for prepping things. Additionally, only 3 8' tables are provided for serving food buffet style. We used 2 and used the 3rd one for a display of our honoree's photos (it was a 90th birthday celebration). We also brought a card table to use.

None of us was clear on exactly where to go to off-load our cars as we had not been there before. Additionally, Reiman was working on the yard and one driveway area (I think there are 2 drives to access this house). So, that may be a temporary snafu. Reiman graciously gave us 30 extra minutes to set up and we needed every single minute even though I had about 14 worker bees pulling it all together. There is no way I could have set up in 30 minutes. One guest arrived 20 minutes early which did not help.

Renee was responsive to all of our family who called her and was flexible when my Mom stated she hated our original party date.

I did not use Wedding Wire. I used Reiman directly.
K
Keesha Sent on 12/09/2016
5 out of 5 rating
Our ceremony was originally supposed to be outdoors, but it ended up down-pouring. The staff were quick to offer us a space indoors, which turned out to be BEAUTIFUL! The Reiman Gardens is fabulous and photos came out great!
J
Jacob Sent on 04/23/2008
5 out of 5 rating
Exceptional; Highly Recommended
J
Jamie Sent on 10/18/2013
4.9 out of 5 rating
A beautiful setting for outdoor or indoor ceremonies. Reasonable priced. However bit big enough for large wedding. I had 100ish people and that is max. More intimate settings.
fallinthegarden
Amanda Sent on 10/30/2017
4.6 out of 5 rating
We loved having our wedding at Reiman! The grounds were absolutely beautiful. We had to use the indoor backup option, which was still gorgeous. Having such a great indoor backup option was one of the reasons we booked the place.

The room was just the right size for our group. We liked that we could bring in whatever vendors we wanted to personalize the wedding to us. It was so convenient to be able to have the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception in one location. Our guests really appreciated being able to flow right from one event to the other.

The only downside is the really small green room, which means you have to get ready somewhere else (we were planning on it anyway so it really wasn't a huge deal).
U
User2611309 Sent on 05/17/2016
4.2 out of 5 rating
Beautiful place and good experience with the staff
L
Laura Sent on 08/25/2009
4 out of 5 rating
Beautiful venue with helpful staff. Several restrictions on what you can and cannot do.
M
Marie Sent on 06/08/2014
3.2 out of 5 rating
We picked the gardens because they are absolutely gorgeous in bloom. However, we had some issues. We were told that the gardens would be closed at 4, our ceremony was scheduled for 530. The day off the wedding, I was sitting in the rotunda, in my dress, and it was almost 5. Random people and large groups of children were still entering the gardens. My MOH asked why they were still letting the public in, and they said the gardens didn't close until 6. There was also another event going on that evening. Luckily, no one wandered through or randomly joined in, but it was not ok. Also, pretty expensive.
A
Alex Sent on 02/24/2014
1.5 out of 5 rating
While the gardens are very beautiful and well taken care of, I would advise anyone planning a wedding here to reconsider. The staff has their own agenda as far as weather they like you and feel they need to impose fees on you not in your contract. After our wedding, we were threatened with charges as well as harassment by head staff for disputing "made up" fines against us. The wedding was perfect but the after math was anything but. If you'd like more details feel free to contact me.
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.

Map

Reiman Gardens frequently asked questions

Reiman Gardens includes the following items and services for wedding events in its starting site fee:
  • Chairs
  • Lighting/Sound
  • Parking
  • Set Up
  • Tables
The space offered by Reiman Gardens for wedding events is known for:
  • Banquet Hall
  • Garden
  • Park
Reiman Gardens offers the following indoor/outdoor options for weddings:
  • Indoor
  • Uncovered Outdoor
Reiman Gardens offers the following types of wedding events:
  • Ceremony
  • Reception
  • Bridal Shower
  • Engagement Party
  • Rehearsal Dinner
Reiman Gardens offers the following services for wedding events:
  • Clean Up
  • Event Planner
  • Event Rentals
  • Get Ready Rooms
  • Wifi
Reiman Gardens offers the following furniture and decor items for weddings:
  • Audio Equipment
  • Chairs
  • Furniture
  • Tables
Reiman Gardens is recommended by 83% of couples who have used their services. Their overall rating is 4.2 out of 5 with the following breakdown: 4.4 in average response time, 4.2 in professionalism, 4.1 in quality of service, 4.1 in value and 3.9 in flexibility.
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