Everglades Wonder Gardens is a nature-focused wedding venue located in Bonita Springs, Florida. This botanical garden, wildlife sanctuary, and local attraction has welcomed generations of guests for over 80 years. Your wedding backdrop will be one that you and your loved ones can think back upon and smile about.
Facilities and Capacity
You can choose between a number of verdant spaces for your wedding day celebrations. For indoor ceremonies, the Robert and Karin Moe Tea House is a beautiful and intimate setting. An outdoor ceremony can be held on Flamingo Beach, beneath the Great Banyan tree, by the Butterfly and Orchid Pavilion, or on the Butterfly Lawn. Flamingos and wild peacocks will add color and beauty as you exchange vows. With the unique Cocktail Connection option, you and your guests will have a special opportunity to hand feed animals, ideal for creating wonderful memories and photographs. The options for your reception include the Tea House, beneath the Great Banyan, the Butterfly Lawns and Gardens, and the OpenAir Pavillion. Your wedding celebrations will be immersed in nature beneath the Florida sky. VIMEO video here: https://vimeo.com/209316543
Services Offered
Everglades Wonder Gardens is available to host a variety of wedding events such as engagement parties, bridal showers, elopements, rehearsal dinners, ceremonies, and receptions. In order to accommodate a variety of guests, this venue has wheelchair-accessible ramps installed. Parking is readily available by the main front entrance and in a nearby lot. This venue?s peak season stretches from November through March.
History
This story begins with the Reptile Gardens, founded by brothers Bill and Lester Piper in 1936 on the Tamiami Trail between Tampa and Miami. With increasing visitors, wildlife, and botanical attractions, the brothers renamed the property as the Everglades Wonder Gardens, the name it retains to this day. After three generations of Pipers running the Gardens, the family sought a new owner in 2013. A local family decided to lease the Gardens and manage it as a not-for-profit organization, Bonita Wonder Gardens Inc. This organization has enhanced the beauty of the Gardens with new attractions and educational programs for the enjoyment of future generations of guests.
Location
The Gardens is located in downtown Bonita Springs and is about a half-hour drive from both Fort Myers and Naples in Florida. Southwest Florida International Airport is a similar length of drive away, allowing visitors from out-of-state and abroad to reach your gathering. In Bonita Springs, you have local amenities and can readily reach other attractions in Southwest Florida.