Real Chicagoland celebrations, venues and stories
Chicago Botanic Garden wedding photographer & videographer
Photography and film for Chicago Botanic Garden weddings, planned around the light at Chicago Botanic Garden and the walking between spots. Photography from $1,000, videography from $650, both from $1,100. Travel inside the Chicago metro is included.
An honest planning note
Chicago Botanic Garden is at 1000 Lake Cook Rd, Glencoe, IL 60022, about 20 miles north of the Loop in a straight line. Its public listing describes 385 acres of landscaped gardens with millions of plants and flowers in a variety of settings.
The garden runs its own wedding and photography rules, so start with the garden itself for what is allowed on your date. Below is how we would plan the photos: the light, the spots, a sample day and what it costs.
Planning the photos
When the light is at its best
Computed for the venue's own location, on the Saturday nearest the 15th of each month. Central time. Shaded rows are the main wedding season.
| Saturday | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Golden light | Ceremony to catch it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 17 | 4:03 PM | 4:46 PM | 43 min | 2:45 PM |
| Feb 14 | 4:43 PM | 5:22 PM | 39 min | 3:30 PM |
| Mar 14 | 6:19 PM | 6:56 PM | 37 min | 5:00 PM |
| Apr 18 | 6:58 PM | 7:36 PM | 38 min | 5:45 PM |
| May 16 | 7:26 PM | 8:06 PM | 40 min | 6:15 PM |
| Jun 13 | 7:45 PM | 8:28 PM | 42 min | 6:30 PM |
| Jul 18 | 7:42 PM | 8:23 PM | 41 min | 6:30 PM |
| Aug 15 | 7:13 PM | 7:51 PM | 38 min | 6:00 PM |
| Sep 12 | 6:28 PM | 7:05 PM | 37 min | 5:15 PM |
| Oct 17 | 5:27 PM | 6:06 PM | 38 min | 4:15 PM |
| Nov 14 | 3:48 PM | 4:30 PM | 42 min | 2:30 PM |
| Dec 12 | 3:34 PM | 4:19 PM | 45 min | 2:15 PM |
The last column is when a 30 minute ceremony should start so family photos finish just before golden hour, the same math as our wedding sunset calculator.
A June Saturday in the garden
A starting point, not a rule. Our timeline builder makes one for your real date.
- 3:30 PM Getting ready photos and details
- 5:00 PM First look and wedding party photos in the shade
- 6:00 PM Guests arrive, we cover the ceremony space
- 6:30 PM Ceremony (30 minutes)
- 7:00 PM Family photos close to the ceremony spot
- 7:45 PM Golden hour portraits, two or three spots
- 8:28 PM Sunset, then into the reception
- Getting ready nearby? From the Loop it is roughly 20 miles, and slower on Saturday afternoons. Leave real buffer before the first look.
- Every move between spots costs time on foot. Two or three portrait spots close together beat a tour of the garden.
Priced up front, the same everywhere
The same packages as our pricing page. A small deposit holds your date and goes toward your total. The rest is split into monthly payments that run automatically, and everything is paid a month before the wedding.
Photo & Video
- Intimate, 2 hours$1,100
- Classic, 4 hours$1,800
- Luxe, 6 hours$2,200
- Premier, 8 hours$2,900
Photography
- Portrait, 4 hours$1,000
- Timeless, 6 hours$1,250
- Keepsake, 8 hours$1,450
Videography
- Moment, 2 hours$650
- Story, 4 hours$1,050
- Encore, 6 hours$1,400
- Cinematic, 8 hours$1,700
Travel inside the Chicago metro is included. Add a second shooter, drone and more in the package builder. Delivery: gallery in 6 weeks, film in 10 weeks.
Weddings, as they felt
From our portfolio. Ask us for galleries from weddings like yours.
More for your Glencoe wedding
Good to know
Do you photograph and film weddings at Chicago Botanic Garden?
Yes. Chicago Botanic Garden is in Glencoe, on the North Shore, inside the Chicago metro, so travel is included. Photography, videography or both together are priced up front on this page.
Have you shot at Chicago Botanic Garden before?
Ask us when you check your date. If we have not worked there before, we scout it ahead of your day so we know the light, the walking times and the backup spots.
Do we need a permit for photos at Chicago Botanic Garden?
The garden sets its own rules for wedding and portrait photography, and they can change by season. Check with Chicago Botanic Garden directly before you plan around a spot. We work inside whatever they allow.
What time is golden hour at Chicago Botanic Garden?
On the Saturday nearest June 15 golden hour starts at 7:45 PM and the sun sets at 8:28 PM. On the Saturday nearest October 15 it starts at 5:27 PM with sunset at 6:06 PM. The table above has every month.
How many hours of coverage do we need?
Six hours covers getting ready through the start of the reception for most weddings here. Eight hours covers the whole day through the dance floor. Walking between spots adds time, so lean longer rather than shorter.
How do we book, and do we need a deposit?
Send your date and venue through Check your date. We reply within a day with availability and the package that fits. A small deposit holds your date and goes toward your total. The rest is split into monthly payments that run automatically, and everything is paid a month before the wedding.
Is your Chicago Botanic Garden date still open?
Tell us your date. We reply within a day, or call (312) 884-9453.