Venues in the Garden

The South Carolina Botanical Garden offers a variety of beautiful outdoor and indoor venues for weddings, conferences, parties, reunions, meetings, lectures and more. Scroll below for descriptions and photos of venues, or call the Garden Rental Manager today (864-656-3075) today to discuss availability and pricing.

Outdoor Garden Areas

The Xeriscape Garden

This semi-formal lawn area is perfect for smaller gatherings and can easily be utilized for both wedding ceremonies and intimate receptions. The lush backdrop and unique wooden arch provide a private garden area seemingly tucked away from the rest of the world. If couples prefer to follow the ceremony with an indoor reception, the Hayden Conference Center is just a short stroll away.
Capacity: Seated - 75; Standing - 100
Best color: Late May to November

Heritage Amphitheater

Located in the Heritage Garden, this large venue offers terraced seating surrounded by a woodland setting. Its stone steps and stage area provide a ready-made venue for performances and ceremonies, including concerts, lectures and weddings. The site offers access to electrictrical units and near-by public restrooms.
Capacity: Seated - 400
Best color: Late March to November

Fran Hanson Discovery Center's Upper and Lower Lawns

These beautifully manicured lawns are wonderful for couples who want to hold ceremonies and receptions in one location, or for those that want to host larger garden parties. The 1998 Southern Living Showcase Home, The Wren House (now known as the Fran Hanson Discovery Center), provides an elegant backdrop or an additional indoor space.

Upper Lawn
Surrounded by hydrangeas and flower beds, the upper lawn is ideal for a wedding ceremony in the intimate Fuller Reflection Garden. The picturesque lawn includes a stone terrace, sweeping green lawn ideal for tented or non-tented events, and a raised garden for easy viewing.
Capacity: Seated - 250; Standing - 400
Best color: Late March to mid-November

 
Lower Lawn
Located a few steps from the Upper Lawn, this lawn is ideal for a larger reception or gathering. The patio beside the Carriage House is included, offering a quaint cafe-like retreat.  The lawns are connected by stone pathways.
Capacity: Seated - 200; Standing - 300
Best color: Late March to mid-November

Indoor Garden Venues

The Hayden Conference Center

This lovely center offers two large rooms (19'x38') that may be arranged to accommodate lectures, workshops, group meetings, small receptions and meal functions.  Business and university groups often occupy both rooms: one for meetings and the other for break-out groups or catering services. The Agnew room has three large conference tables that may be arranged to accommodate your group size and needs. The Lecture Room offers flexible set-up as well.  Wireless internet is available in both rooms.
Capacity: Lecture Room - Seated 60; Standing 65
Agnew Room - Seated 25 (conference style); Standing 64

The Fran Hanson Discovery Center

The Fran Hanson Discovery Center, formerly the 1998 Wren House Southern Living Showcase Home, is a unique, welcoming and truly Southern facility for a variety of functions. On the main floor, guests are greeted by an elegant foyer, enchanted by the Garden Discovery Room, and impressed by the enormous stone fireplace in the Garden Gathering Room (a great location for cocktail parties or cake cutting). Through double French doors, the garden terrace and lawns are available for a true garden party. The ground floor of the Discovery Center is often reserved in conjuction with the Upper or Lower outdoor lawns to allow guests an outdoor experience with indoor comforts.

The top floor offers three large gallery rooms and a hall foyer with pictureque views of the wildflower meadow and the Garden's lush rolling landscapes. Each room may be reserved individually for meetings or events, or utilized as dressing rooms for wedding parties (a bride is able to look out upon her arriving guests). LCD projectors and sound are available upstairs, and an elevator accomodates guests with special needs.

Capacity: Seated - 25 per upstairs room; 50 for seated meals; up to 100 for receptions  

The Betsy Campbell Carriage House

Plan your  next party, shower, club meeting or business conference in this quaint garden cottage. The outdoor patio offers a lovely extension to the large inside room, as double wooden doors open up to the beautiful Lower Lawn. A kitchenette provides a staging area for larger catered events held on the Discovery Center Lawns, or use the Carriage House as a changing room or family gathering room before Lawn ceremonies. The cottage is also available for overnight storage of equipment.
Capacity: Seated - 24