Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Reviews

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

Sarasota, FL

4.7 out of 5 rating, 58 reviews

View more information

Reviews

We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.

4.7 out of 5 rating

4.7

Very good

58 reviews

Recommended by 94% of couples

Write a review

Quality of service
4.8 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4.5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
4.8 out of 5 rating
Value
4.6 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
4.8 out of 5 rating

Write a review

Sort by:

Christiana Sent on 07/18/2020

5 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  5 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  5 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  5 out of 5 rating
- Value
  5 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  5 out of 5 rating
Beautiful Venue

Although Selby wasn’t our first choice, they should have been. We were trying to have a wedding as things were reopening from Covid. They were able to accommodate our 70 guest with plenty of social distancing space. The venue is gorgeous and made for wonderful pictures. All of the guest loved going on the patio to take sunset pictures. I’m so glad we had our wedding at Selby. Very conveniently located near all the hotels as well.
Amy Sent on 11/07/2019

5 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  5 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  5 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  5 out of 5 rating
- Value
  5 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  5 out of 5 rating
Best wedding venue!

From day one visiting this beautiful venue, we knew this place was the one! We recently got married here and loved every minute of it!! The staff here are so welcoming and accommodating! Can’t wait to see our professional photography at this beautiful venue!
Jenna Sent on 06/05/2018

5 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  5 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  5 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  5 out of 5 rating
- Value
  5 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  5 out of 5 rating
We absolutely loved having our wedding ceremony and reception at Marie Selby Gardens. The backdrop of the North Lawn and the reception hall were amazing. Amy Donnellan was amazing to work with throughout the entire process and made wedding planning from afar that much easier. Our guests keep commenting on the beauty of the gardens and the FOOD! Michael's on East was an amazing caterer for our cocktail hour and reception. Dan was super gracious in driving my husband, myself and our wedding party around the gardens for photos and providing knowledge about the gardens along the way. The waitstaff and bartenders were amazing as well. I can't recommend this venue enough!

Maggie Sent on 02/28/2018

5 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  5 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  5 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  5 out of 5 rating
- Value
  5 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  5 out of 5 rating
Our wedding at Selby Gardens was absolutely magical. Our dream-like ceremony was under the oak tree on the north lawn, our gorgeous cocktail hour was held at sunset on the bay lawn, and our impeccable reception took place in Michael's on the Bay. The grounds were beautiful, picturesque, and well-maintained. The service was prompt, professional, and smooth. The food was phenomenal and memorable. Thank you for everything -- from the initial coordination to the final execution. I highly recommend having your wedding at Selby Gardens!
Erin Sent on 02/14/2017

5 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  5 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  5 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  5 out of 5 rating
- Value
  5 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  5 out of 5 rating
Marie Selby is beautiful and I am so happy I selected it for my wedding. They know how to host an event and work with the best caterer in town, Michaels on East. They recently renovated the great room and it is stunning. I know people want to have their wedding outside, but I get to have everything by hosting my ceremony outside and the party inside.
Christina Sent on 08/16/2015

5 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  5 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  5 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  5 out of 5 rating
- Value
  5 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  5 out of 5 rating
Absolutely beautiful venue. Dan was so amazingly helpful.

You won't regret getting married here!
Eric Sent on 02/07/2015

5 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  5 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  5 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  5 out of 5 rating
- Value
  5 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  5 out of 5 rating
Absolutely beautiful location. Great service.
Kara Sent on 12/08/2014

5 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  5 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  5 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  5 out of 5 rating
- Value
  5 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  5 out of 5 rating
Selby Gardens was the perfect venue for our November wedding. The grounds are beautiful and my guests could not stop raving about the gorgeous landscaping and views. Dan Johnson was so helpful from start to finish, which made the experience that much better. I couldn't be happier with how perfect everything turned out! Thank you to everyone at Selby for making our day so wonderful!
Olivia Sent on 09/22/2014

5 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  5 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  5 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  5 out of 5 rating
- Value
  5 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  5 out of 5 rating
the Gardens were an absolutely beautiful back drop for our wedding reception. With the remodel of the Great Room everything came together nicely! Dan was extremely helpful whenever I had any questions! My husband and I booked the Great Room and did a cocktail hour at the Mansion, and what a value! Not to mention the photographs were absolutely priceless! I highly recommend Marie Selby Botanical Gardens for anyone's special day :).
Briana Sent on 04/08/2014

5 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  5 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  5 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  5 out of 5 rating
- Value
  5 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  5 out of 5 rating
Marie Selby Gardens is the place dream weddings are held. I am serious, I felt like I was in a fairytale the entire day. There are so many beautiful places in the gardens that it is hard to choose where you want your ceremony and where you want your reception. No matter what you pick it will be beautiful! Barbara and Dan are so helpful and responsive in the planning process and you can tell they are passionate about the gardens. We got married at the big pavillion and had an outdoor wedding behind the mansion with the Great Room by the bay as our weather back up. By doing this, we had the entire gardens to ourselves and our guests that night. All of our guests said it was the most beautiful wedding they had ever attended!
Katie Sent on 01/13/2014

5 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  5 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  5 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  5 out of 5 rating
- Value
  5 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  5 out of 5 rating
My husband and I got married at Marie Selby on November 16, 2013.
We booked the date about a year and a half out and dealt with Dan the entire year and a half leading up to the wedding. We had the ceremony at the Schimmel Pavilion and the reception on the lawn behind the mansion.
Dan always made time to meet with us and to answer all of our questions.
He gave us so many options about the set up of the day and many recommendations about vendors (like Grace Felice and Affairs in the Air - which were both amazing!).
Dan was very flexible with things and since the child area by the banyons was not built when we signed our contract he gave us the option to even change our ceremony site.
I loved Dan and felt very confident in all the people I worked with at Marie Selby - it was more than I could have imagined. It is a gorgeous site for a wedding!
Elizabeth Sent on 11/17/2013

5 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  5 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  5 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  5 out of 5 rating
- Value
  5 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  5 out of 5 rating
Selby Gardens is the most wonderful setting for an outdoor wedding! It really feels as though there is magic in the air in this space! We knew that it was the perfect location for our wedding the moment we set foot on their beautiful grounds! We would highly recommend Selby for any elegant outdoor event you may be planning!
User1438699 Sent on 11/15/2013

5 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  5 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  5 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  5 out of 5 rating
- Value
  5 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  5 out of 5 rating
Marie Selby was the most beautiful place to get married. The staff (especially Dan) was extremely helpful throughout our entire planning process. The grounds are well kept and we had so many compliments on how breathtaking it was. We plan to go back and visit a few times a year just to see all the updates they keep adding to the gardens. I will never forget how amazing our wedding was here and how relaxed the staff made me feel that day!
Dallas Sent on 10/02/2013

5 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  5 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  5 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  5 out of 5 rating
- Value
  5 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  5 out of 5 rating
Dan & the staff at Selby were wonderful to work with. The setting was beautiful, and Dan was extremely helpful throughout. I was running a bit late for the ceremony (very stressful for a bride) and Dan completely put me at ease. I cannot praise them enough - beautiful place for a ceremony!
Lisa Sent on 09/12/2013

5 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  5 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  5 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  5 out of 5 rating
- Value
  5 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  5 out of 5 rating
We were very pleased with Marie Selby Botanical Gardens for both our wedding ceremony and reception. Gorgeous property and the courtesy of the staff along with a good value made it an easy decision. We were thrilled with accommodations for both the bride and groom prior to the wedding, and the view overlooking the bay was incredible. We highly recommend Marie Selby Botanical Gardens.
Anne Sent on 06/03/2013

5 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  5 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  5 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  5 out of 5 rating
- Value
  5 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  5 out of 5 rating
This venue went above and beyond! There was a very high rain chance so they had a back up indoor space just in case. Everyone running the event was so sweet and helpful, I felt so mat ease. It was perfect!
User958263 Sent on 10/03/2012

5 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  5 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  5 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  5 out of 5 rating
- Value
  5 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  5 out of 5 rating
What a beautiful location, Fresh scent of flowers in the air and such a tranquil scenery. I couldn't have asked for a better sunny day.
Christina Sent on 09/17/2012

5 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  5 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  5 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  5 out of 5 rating
- Value
  5 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  5 out of 5 rating
Dan was great. He's very laid back and very helpful. A very nice man. Selby gardens is a beautiful place to get married. We got married under the banyans and held the reception in the Great room. The first time I went to look at the gardens I knew that this was the place I was going to get married. When I saw the Great room I wasn't that excited.... Don't get fooled by what you see! It turned out absolutely beautiful. The guests loved it and the sunset was beautiful. I would do it there all over again. Thanks Dan for all you've done to get things set up. It was the best and most memorable night of my life!
Suzy Sent on 07/27/2012

5 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  5 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  5 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  5 out of 5 rating
- Value
  5 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  5 out of 5 rating
The setting wzs perfect.... under the banyans trees and dancing on the patio. We ended with a greater number of guests; totally ok as we were seated outdoors and used mansion for buffet. Definately recommend
Montana Sent on 06/21/2012

5 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  5 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  5 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  5 out of 5 rating
- Value
  5 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  5 out of 5 rating
Selby Gardens was the most beautiful, romantic and picturesque location for our wedding ceremony. We could have been more thrilled with the facilities, staff and backdrop for our special day. Our wedding portraits taken throughout the property are stunning and unique. The banyan trees, bamboo, gazebos, koi pond and the mansion provided so many locations for our photos. Our guests have not stop raving about the setting and it's beauty. I highly recommend Selby Gardens as a location for any special event. We will be back for years and years as it will always be a special place for us. Thank you Dan & Barbara!
Kerry Sent on 05/27/2012

5 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  5 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  5 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  5 out of 5 rating
- Value
  5 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  5 out of 5 rating
I love Selby! This is one of my favorite places in sarasota!
Dan Sent on 12/09/2011

5 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  5 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  5 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  5 out of 5 rating
- Value
  5 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  5 out of 5 rating
Selby Gardens was the most beautiful place we could have selected. It was the perfect place for our enchanted garden themed wedding. The ceremony was elegant and it was very pleasant hearing the leaves on the tree in the mild wind and we loved the beautiful backdrop that Marie Selby Botanical Gardens offered. Dan Johnson was amazing and was an absolute joy to work with. We thank them so much for all that they did for us.
Sara Sent on 12/15/2010

5 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  5 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  5 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  5 out of 5 rating
- Value
  5 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  5 out of 5 rating
Selby Gardens is a really beautiful bay view location for our wedding. Our ceremony was at the pavillion and then we all moved indoors to the Activity Center. First time that you see the center; OMG... but our event planners did a fab job makeing it absolutely stunning.
Tarah Sent on 11/13/2010

5 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  5 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  5 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  5 out of 5 rating
- Value
  5 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  5 out of 5 rating
I knew as soon as I saw the gardens that it was where I wanted our wedding... So many thanks to Dan and the gardens staff for helping us have a perfect & beautiful wedding!
The gardens was the 1st of the vendors we chose, so we had a lot of questions for Dan...but I'm glad we asked b/c he was so helpful and made me feel relaxed! Dan was great about working with us for all of those months of planning & in working with all of our vendors to make our day perfect!
Cassidy Sent on 09/28/2010

5 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  5 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  5 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  5 out of 5 rating
- Value
  5 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  5 out of 5 rating
This venue is absolutely breathtaking. We held our ceremony at the Pavilion and our reception at the Mansion. Also, because no one else booked an event at the Great Room for our date, we were able to use that facility for our rain plan (which we thankfully didn't need!). Dan, Selby's event coordinator, was very laid back and calming where other vendors overwhelmed me with details. All of our guests gushed over the setting, and and sunset over the Sarasota bay was incredible. Selby was a dream venue for a reasonable price -- I highly recommend!
Gregory Sent on 05/05/2010

5 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  5 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  5 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  5 out of 5 rating
- Value
  5 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  5 out of 5 rating
Selby, not to mention beautiful, took such good care of us. What ever we needed, they did there best to make it happen. Dan was unbelievable with communication during the whole process and deserves an award. We recommend Selby Gardens to anyone!
Shannon Sent on 01/19/2010

5 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  5 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  5 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  5 out of 5 rating
- Value
  5 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  5 out of 5 rating
The staff was wonderful to work with.
Alexandra Sent on 12/10/2009

5 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  5 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  5 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  5 out of 5 rating
- Value
  5 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  5 out of 5 rating
The ceremony was wonderful it was just beautiful. It rained earlier that day and they had the inside set up in case it continued to rain. It wasnt raining when we got there but they asked me if I wanted to do it inside or outside. The choice was up to me. They warned me the grass was a little wet. In the early stages of the planning we had to change the date three times and each time they were very patient and flexible with the date I wanted and making sure it was just right. They called me and kept on top of things. They really made my day special.
Wendy Sent on 06/02/2009

5 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  5 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  5 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  5 out of 5 rating
- Value
  5 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  5 out of 5 rating
Selby Gardens is an ideal, romantic and beautiful setting, with various spots for a gorgeous ceremony. There are so many areas ideal for photographs. It was a stunning day in a stunning location!
Amy Sent on 10/25/2008

5 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  5 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  5 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  5 out of 5 rating
- Value
  5 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  5 out of 5 rating
Selby Gardens is a beautiful location for a wedding. Leigh was very easy to work with in making plans. She was flexible in meeting times when planning. We were able to get in with our various other vendors (photographer, florist, sound system, etc) to be prepared for the day of the wedding. Even though it was overcast, Darrell and I had the most beautiful wedding at Selby. We know God truly blessed us for this special day.

I would highly recommend Selby Gardens as a wedding venue.
Nancy Sent on 04/17/2015

4.9 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  5 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  4.5 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  5 out of 5 rating
- Value
  5 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  5 out of 5 rating
This venue provided the perfect setting for my daughter’s wedding and reception. It’s hard to know where to begin in describing the beauty and grace of Marie Selby Gardens as a place to hold a wedding. We chose the Wedding Oak for our ceremony and outdoor reception; the result was magical. The grounds and the plantings were gorgeous; the Christy Payne Mansion provided an elegant and historic backdrop for the evening with its graceful entryway and patio for our guests, the lovely dressing rooms for the bridal party, and the impeccable facilities for our caterer. From the beginning, Dan Johnson and Barbara were extremely professional, polite and helpful in assisting us with our planning. Our vision for the ceremony and reception set up was laid out by the Selby staff exactly as we had imagined and right on time. The day of our event, Dan was present, and Vincent was on hand at all times to offer polite assistance when needed and some wonderful history of the gardens as well! The overall result was an enchanted evening - a beautiful wedding! Thank you to everyone at Marie Selby Gardens!
Candice Sent on 05/10/2014

4.9 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  5 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  4.5 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  5 out of 5 rating
- Value
  5 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  5 out of 5 rating
This was a great choice of venue for our event! We chose the Mansion as we hosted a smaller crowd which proved to be the right choice. We held the ceremony at the Butterfly Garden in front which was abloom and actually butterflys were floating here and there! the Staff at Selby broke down the front seating quickly and moved the needed chairs to the back area for the seated dinner seemilngly without effort. Dan Johnson was great with the initial contact and was available to address any concerns I had during the planning stages. The event day was perfect and Selby is a beautiful venue for small and large groups.
Jennifer Sent on 11/11/2013

4.9 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  5 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  4.5 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  5 out of 5 rating
- Value
  5 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  5 out of 5 rating
Beautiful setting. Dan Johnson was very helpful.
Pam Sent on 11/18/2014

4.8 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  5 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  5 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  5 out of 5 rating
- Value
  4 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  5 out of 5 rating
Stunning venue. We had to, however, plan our wedding on a weekday due to the cost for the use of the garden. I felt it was a bit expensive to only provide chairs and uncovered tables. Everything else in the wedding had to be rented. The garden itself was a beautiful venue and I was happy with the choice.
User1607530 Sent on 05/05/2014

4.8 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  5 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  4.5 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  5 out of 5 rating
- Value
  4.5 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  5 out of 5 rating
Only our ceremony was at Selby and they still went above and beyond for us! Dan Johnson was extremely relaxed and flexible. He was truly there to help. He responded in a timely manner to any questions I might have. He worked with us to create the exact ceremony space we wanted. The scenery could not be beat. I would highly recommend this location.
Mindy Sent on 10/28/2013

4.8 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  5 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  5 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  5 out of 5 rating
- Value
  4 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  5 out of 5 rating
After years of searching for the perfect ceremony location, I found Selby Gardens and immediately fell in love. I planned my wedding from over 1,000 miles away so I could only coordinate with Dan and Barbara via phone/email, but they were always quick to respond and everything turned out wonderfully. They were also extremely flexible when I had to keep changing the date and time of my wedding rehearsal, which was one less thing for me to worry about! The Gardens themselves are absolutely beautiful, and while it was a little pricey to hold just a ceremony there, I am so glad it was the backdrop for my outdoor wedding ceremony!
Alexandra Sent on 07/30/2012

4.8 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  5 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  5 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  5 out of 5 rating
- Value
  4.5 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  4.5 out of 5 rating
This is a great venue. They tended to all of our needs. Very professional. Worked with us on our budget. Beautiful grounds. I used to come here as a child when I would visit my grandmother. I would spend a lot of time in the butterfly garden, it was my favorite spot. The mansion we got dressed in was amazing. And the ceremony couldn't have been any more beautiful. We definitely picked the perfect spot. The only thing I would have to complain about would be the bugs!!! They were terrible. I do understand that yes it was an outside ceremony but man! The next day I had bites all over me! Wish I had a warning before.
Kristen Sent on 04/07/2011

4.8 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  5 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  4 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  5 out of 5 rating
- Value
  5 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  5 out of 5 rating
Selby Gardens is the perfect location for a wedding! The grounds are absolutely gorgeous, and the reception hall is directly across from Sarasota Bay which provides your guests with a phenomenal view through dinner. The front wall of the room is entirely windows, and one of my favorite moments of the evening was when everyone was sitting down eating dinner and we all were able to watch the sun set over the water. Dan Johnson, the event coordinator is extremely flexible. Just talk with him about your ideas and he'll try to find a way to make him work. The only downfall for us was that he can sometimes be tough to get ahold of.
Tanya Sent on 03/24/2010

4.8 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  5 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  5 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  5 out of 5 rating
- Value
  4 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  5 out of 5 rating
Selby Gardens is a beautiful venue, and a no-brainer if you're looking for a great place to have your outdoor wedding. We had our ceremony in front of the gazebo (a little cheaper than the pavilion, and still beautiful) and our reception under the canopy of banyans. Dan is currently the only one dealing with events, so it may take a while to get back to you. However, he was extremely flexible and accommodating to our needs/requests. Just about everywhere you go in the gardens, there are great settings for photos. If you plan to have your wedding in the evening and outdoors, make sure to budget for lighting! Since Selby is not usually open at night, they have very little lighting around the grounds.
User1587992 Sent on 04/17/2014

4.7 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  5 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  4 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  5 out of 5 rating
- Value
  5 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  4.5 out of 5 rating
Selby Gardens is such a gorgeous wedding venue, I hardly have to say more! Everyone we worked with was very accommodating, and for our portraits, we were even driven around the gardens in a golf cart - very helpful for my poor feet in those high heels! (I feel terrible that I can't remember the name of our golf cart driver, he was so nice, patient and helpful, and I would love to give him a shout-out!) The only little issue was that Dan (Selby's event coordinator) isn't there every day, so he wasn't always quick about responding to our emails, which worried us on the week-of, when it became clear that we'd have to move to the back-up indoor plans because of rain!
Casey Sent on 02/27/2012

4.7 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  5 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  4 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  5 out of 5 rating
- Value
  4.5 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  5 out of 5 rating
Beautiful location! Somewhat hard to get a hold of during the planning process but closer to the date of the wedding communication became more consistent and frequent. very happy with the staff.
Joanne Sent on 05/28/2014

4.6 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  5 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  3.5 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  5 out of 5 rating
- Value
  4.5 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  5 out of 5 rating
Selby Gardens was just a dream venue - you could not imagine anywhere more beautiful to get married in! We were thrilled with it as both our wedding ceremony and reception venue and I would recommend it to brides who are looking for something a little bit different.

I would encourage brides, if they can, to rent the entire venue, as then you can get ready on site in the beautiful mansion and have a rain back up plan in the great room. This took a load of pressure off of us and even though it was more expensive, it was worth the cost.

I loved Selby Gardens as my venue - I just wish you got a lifetime membership if you got married there so we could go back each year to celebrate! :)
Alicia Sent on 07/30/2012

4.6 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  4 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  4 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  5 out of 5 rating
- Value
  5 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  5 out of 5 rating
Booking my venue with the contacts at Selby Gardens was really great. I brought in my own caterer which involved some paperwork but Selby was really great with that. My wedding was canceled 6 weeks before the scheduled date and when I contacted Selby about getting deposit money refunded back, they actually sent back about 15% more than what was required of them by contract. I really appreciated that gesture and will definitely recommend Selby to other brides and/or use their services again whenever the occasion may arise.
Rachel Sent on 07/01/2012

4.6 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  5 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  4.5 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  5 out of 5 rating
- Value
  4.5 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  4 out of 5 rating
These gardens are beautiful and a terrific place for a wedding! We made a list and looked at about 20 different places in the central florida area (orlando and tampa). This was the first place that we saw and it was love at first site. No other site compared for us!

We decided to have our ceremony in front of the banyan trees and our reception in the great room by the bay. Overall, the manager is great to work with. He is notoriously difficult to get a hold of at first, but closer to the wedding, he was VERY responsive to all calls/emails. He met up with us for our site visit with the caterer and at our rehersal. In the end, I was very pleased, and everything went smoothly.

Ceremony:
I cannot say enough about how beautiful the site was! Our guests were all raving about our venue and our photos look gorgeous. There are some things to consider though, such as bugs, sun, and heat. We provided some bugspray, suntan lotion, and fans (our programs were made into fans) for our guests. The site is pretty flexible about ceremony decorations and will set up your site pretty much anywhere on the grounds. We were able to bring our own chuppah frame and assemble it on the grounds. The chairs that they provide (for free) are really nice white wood chairs with a lattice back. We also had a DJ set up for the ceremony for a wireless mic and ceremony music. It worked out really well and there are electrical outlets close to many ceremony locations.

Reception:
The great room is nice, but nothing special. The view of sunset over the bay is the best part. To make it look fancy you will probably need some extensive rentals. Selby provides large round tables and chairs (chairs are not the prettiest though). Everything else must be brought in by a rental co (high top tables, plates, cups, silverware, linens, plants, decorations, etc). We had about 100 people, which fit nicely in the room.
Lydia Sent on 06/06/2016

4.5 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  4.5 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  4 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  5 out of 5 rating
- Value
  4 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  5 out of 5 rating
Marie Selby is by far one of the most beautiful places to get married! The pictures you can get here are unparalleled, if you can afford to splurge a little on your venue because it is expensive. Dan was pleasant to work with and to help us plan our destination wedding from far away. Leigh also was super helpful at our walk-through, even suggesting other vendors by name! The Great Room is a little plain compared to the brilliant scenery, but thankfully we didn't need to use it because the weather held out. The Marie Selby helper (I'm so sad I forgot his name) that we had the day-of was awesome - he helped us carry in items, drive around people with disabilities on the golf cart, etc. and was always so helpful and pleasant. My only complaint (not that they can really help it) is that the volunteer women who work in the Christy Payne Mansion who show the artwork to visitors during normal business hours are rude to people renting it for their wedding. They do not like brides/bridal parties visiting during business hours, and would not let us in, gave us glaring looks, and had generally poor attitudes to those not there to see the art. The rest of the staff are rock stars. But the natural beauty of this breath-taking place is worth every penny! Every one of our guests kept commenting on how gorgeous it is.
Alison Sent on 05/14/2016

4.5 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  4.5 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  3 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  5 out of 5 rating
- Value
  5 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  5 out of 5 rating
This venue is so beautiful, a girls dream garden wedding!! I loved everything about the venue and my wedding day turned out perfect! They are very professional and accommodating! The only complaint I have is that Leah, our wedding contact wasn't very responsive.
Nicole Sent on 05/02/2011

4.5 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  4.5 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  4 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  5 out of 5 rating
- Value
  4 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  5 out of 5 rating
Selby Gardens is a stunning venue for a wedding! As soon as we took a look at the gardens we KNEW it would be a great spot for us. We wanted to get married in Florida but not have the typical "beach" wedding. Our guests said it was a beautiful ceremony! And any time we told locals where we were getting married the response was always the same... "Oh how beautiful! Selby is perfect for a wedding!"

We got married under the fig tree (great pictures!), had cocktails at the mansion, and our reception in the great room by the bay. The room we had our reception in is definitely a little outdated but we did our best to mask the "ugly" factor with some draping at the back, and up-lighting. Honestly...i don't think any of our guests noticed the "ugly" parts of the room. And the patio is a perfect area for the bar and some lounge chairs.

One of the MAIN reasons we really loved Selby is because we were able to bring in outside vendors for everything. Catering, DJ, etc were all our choice and we weren't locked into a specific company. AND we worked it out with our caterer so we could bring in our own alcohol - big $$ saving tip.

It does take the event manager, Dan, a little while to get back to any questions you have. But he's all by himself so wait a few days and he'll get back to you. Also - my coordinator was able to answer most of my questions regarding Selby Gardens - i think the local vendors are used to working at Selby and will have most of the answers to your questions, anyway! The days coming up to the wedding Dan was very accommodating and helped us out a lot. He even chauffeured us around the gardens the day of our portraits so we didn't melt in the sun and humidity :)

Selby is great, you won't regret having your wedding here!
Sara Sent on 12/18/2016

4.4 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  5 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  3 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  5 out of 5 rating
- Value
  4 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  5 out of 5 rating
Selby is a gorgeous venue, and you can hold your reception there too! Several indoor and outdoor places to choose from. Sometimes they are slow to respond to emails (several weeks slow).
Carrie Sent on 10/19/2015

4.4 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  5 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  4 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  4 out of 5 rating
- Value
  5 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  4 out of 5 rating
Dan bent over backwards to help us have the perfect wedding day! I am so grateful for him even though he gave me a panic attack a couple days before my wedding. I will NOT say the same for the Board at Selby who wanted me to change the location of my wedding so they could set up for a fundraiser. Luckily, thankfully, Dan convinced them that I should have the day I planned and so he called the board members so I did not have to change my ceremony location (in their contract they must give you more time than the two days they wanted to give me). Now that I have said my peace about that glitch, I can talk about everything I LOVED about this place! First off, you can rent the Mansion for the day if there isn't an event there (this is easier if you get married on an off day like I did, Thursday; we actually had the whole gardens to ourselves once they closed). We saw each other before the ceremony in the lawn behind the mansion. We had our ceremony on the lawn in front of the gazebo in April and everything was in bloom as they had told me so I only had flowers in mason jars on the aisles (these were moved into the reception as part of my center pieces- Beneva Flowers Rocked IT!). The backdrop/scenery in the pictures from our wedding ceremony are ridiculously beautiful! I did not follow what most brides do as I walked through the gazebo to my guest who were seated on the other side of the lawn with the canopy across the lawn as my backdrop. I had my guest kind of in an almost full circle. We took family pictures near the water and big pavillion after the ceremony while all the guests headed to the Great Room for the reception. We had a cocktail hour in front of the Great Room (thanks Nellies). Then we transitioned into the Great Room for our seated dinner and took a break for sunset pictures after the salad. There are too many beautiful places to take pictures here that I wish I could redo the day and leave more time for pictures before and after the wedding.
Candace Sent on 04/20/2011

4.4 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  5 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  4 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  4 out of 5 rating
- Value
  4 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  5 out of 5 rating
If you want to get married and feel like you are in the garden of Eden, get married here! My husband proposed under the large banyan an trees on the grounds. Our pictures were perfect bc the surroundings are amazing. Just one visit to this place and you will fall in love. It made my wedding so perfect. I got ready in the mansion which also made for excellent pictures. The hall does need some work, so get ready to pay to make it look better. Rent chairs for sure. The contact does take a few days to return messages but he is all by himself, so be patient. It is worth the $$ bc all the $$ goes to the gardens! Right on the water, but no sand, it's great! Happiest day of my life and we will return soon for a visit to buy yearly passes.
User2909448 Sent on 04/19/2011

4.4 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  5 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  3 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  5 out of 5 rating
- Value
  4 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  5 out of 5 rating
Selby was absolutely beautiful. I could not imagine getting married somewhere else...and I didn't! The grounds are beautiful and worth the money.

The second best part about the venue is you can pick your own vendors so long as they are independently insured and you provide this to the staff. However, so many people get married here they have worked with pretty much everyone. You are not stuck with a list of 3 caterers. So the flexibility is fabulous!

The only reason I gave them a lesser mark for responsiveness was due to time in responding to questions. However, at the time the event manager did not have any assistants...now he does. He is very friendly and willing to help in any way. I think he was just REALLY busy without any help at the time.

Also, value for the cost is less due to the indoor venue space. We made it look fantastic but it is a little outdated. It looks more appropriate for meetings. We did tall centerpieces, one panel of drapery to cover the brick wall and filled the room with plants and it was perfect. We just had to get creative.

When it comes down to it you cannot beat Selby for a venue. It being right on the Sarasota Bay Front and so many locations that you can have your ceremony you can't get any better (but maybe I am biased;-)
Lindsey Sent on 04/25/2009

4.4 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  4.5 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  4 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  4 out of 5 rating
- Value
  4.5 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  5 out of 5 rating
Selby Gardens is a beautiful and unique venue but you may have to be flexible with your date if you are not booking more than 1 year in advance because dates fill up quickly. We were lucky to book early and have our wedding on a Saturday in April. Correspondance by email was sometimes slow, but Leigh always did get back to us. The wedding events planner was sick the week of our wedding but they appropriately contacted us and had another responsible and reliable worker help us with the rehearsal and the day of the wedding. Overall, we are very pleased with our experience of using Selby Gardens for our wedding reception and ceremony.
Erin Sent on 05/06/2013

4.3 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  5 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  4 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  4.5 out of 5 rating
- Value
  3 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  5 out of 5 rating
This venue is absolutely absolutely gorgeous, and our pictures are amazing. However, it is a very high rental fee and it comes with nothing but tables and an outdated green and red carpet (in the Great Room). I had to rent everything else, from linens, to high-tops, to a dance-floor, etc. The staff was very helpful and provided a beautiful room for me and my girls to get ready in. Honestly, the first time I went to Selby, years and years ago, I knew I wanted to get married there. So when the time came around, although the price was hard to swallow, I knew it was what I wanted. And I don't regret it at all.
Carolyn Sent on 02/10/2010

4 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  5 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  3 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  4 out of 5 rating
- Value
  4 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  4 out of 5 rating
The wedding was amazing, and the venue is simple spectacular. Selby Gardens is breathtaking and our wedding guests couldn't stop commenting on what an amazing venue our wedding was at. The facility director knows his venue inside and out, but he just isn't the best man to be in charge of weddings. He took over weddings when the previous wedding coordinator was out on sick leave and never returned. It is obvious weddings are an addition to his already busy work schedule. He doesn't return calls or emails as soon as I would like, but he does eventually get to them - just very slowly! There were also a few mishaps along the way. The first one was he told me a date was open for our wedding and held that date for us, only to call a few days later and say that he made a mistake and it was booked. The second, which isn't his fault, was that there was a second wedding in a mansion booked for the same night. When we signed the contract this was a possibility, but he said it never happens that two parties want to share the venue. Well, it happened to us, which meant that we had to get ready in the great room in a storage closet turned dressing room instead of in the beautiful mansion. It all worked out in the end though, as it always does, and we had the wedding of a lifetime.
Shanique Sent on 11/30/2008

4 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  3.5 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  3 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  5 out of 5 rating
- Value
  3.5 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  5 out of 5 rating
I would recommend Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. I was in love with it the moment that Leigh gave us our tour and she was very flexible when it came time to meet. Justin was in charge of set up that day and he was absolutely amazing as well. He was always right there on his golf cart and answered all of our questions. He knew that I was having a stressful day and just talking with him made it all go away.
Amber Sent on 11/21/2010

3.8 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  4 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  2.5 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  4.5 out of 5 rating
- Value
  3 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  5 out of 5 rating
I knew that I wanted my wedding at Selby Gardens. The location is beautiful!! Dan is great to work with. He was very flexible and accessable the day of. It was a little difficult to track him down by phone sometimes, but he was available the few weeks leading up to the wedding and he and his team were fantastic the day of!
User1233662 Sent on 07/09/2013

3.4 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  4 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  4 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  4 out of 5 rating
- Value
  2 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  3 out of 5 rating
The Great Room is dated and needs expensive decorations to make it attractive for a wedding reception. The bathrooms are also old and unattractive and open directly to the room. Additionally, the rental expense for a wedding is substantially more than for any other type of event. I'm not sure how they can get away with that other than they are one of the few venue choices in town. If you use this venue, keep in mind that you have to decorate the ceiling and walls and also rent everything but the tables and chairs. The expense for the extras was substantial. The venue also has a nonnegotiable 11:45 pm ending time for an event. If your wedding is at 7:00 pm or later, the reception will be pretty short.
Jamie Sent on 10/28/2019

1 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  1 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  1 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  1 out of 5 rating
- Value
  1 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  1 out of 5 rating
Terrible communication from venue regarding construction

Booked a wedding 15 months out and found out 5 weeks before the wedding that the Selby house was under construction. This area is the backdrop to our reception. Not a word from them months before and it was too late to reschedule the venue. Basically we will have to deal with it. Terrible way to run business and treat people! Do not recommend!!

Message vendor

Message

First and last name

Phone number (Optional)

Location

Month

Year

Approx. Guest count

0-75 75-125 125-175 175+

By clicking "Send," you accept our Terms of use and agree to WeddingWire creating an account for you. Your messages may be monitored for quality, safety, and security according to our Acceptable Content Policy. See our Privacy Policy to learn how we handle your data.

Write a review