U of M Matthaei Botanical Gardens

Matthaei Botanical Gardens & Nichols Arboretum is a University of Michigan property in Ann Arbor dedicated to botanical research, education, and public programming. The grounds include outdoor display gardens, a children's garden, and natural areas with more than three miles of trails. At the center of the gardens stands a 10,000-square-foot conservatory designed by Alden Dow in the early 1960s — one of the largest university-affiliated display greenhouses in the country — housing tropical, temperate, and arid plant collections. The gardens host weddings, private receptions, memorial services, and corporate gatherings across a mix of indoor and outdoor settings. Outdoor ceremony spaces — including the Gateway Garden, the Kimberly Maged Perennial Garden, and Willow Pond Island — each accommodate up to 150 guests and are available from late spring through early fall. The conservatory and auditorium provide indoor options, with the conservatory available for evening rentals from mid-September through May.