The Garden at Elm Bank

The Garden at Elm Bank is located on the gorgeous 36-acre grounds of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society near Wellesley and Dover, Massachusetts. Our property features twelve beautiful display gardens and several event venues to accommodate events of any kind. For our late afternoon and evening rentals, we take pride in presenting only one event on the property at a time, allowing for the most private experience imaginable. The Massachusetts Horticultural Society, formed in 1829, is the country's oldest formally structured horticultural organization. Many aspects of our location at The Garden at Elm Bank are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Our land is the ideal backdrop for any event, whether you want to include our history or simply have a unique setting. Almost any size wedding can be held in one of our several reception settings, which can accommodate seated or standing parties. We provide a range of options for you, whether you want to be completely indoors, completely outside, or a little bit of both. All event rentals at The Garden at Elm Bank include access to all of our twelve display gardens. We urge you and your guests to explore and make the most of every minute while on the site, whether they arrive early, want to meander through the areas during cocktail hour, or want to take advantage of our many photo opportunities. Gardens: The Italianate Garden sits on the west side of The Garden at Elm Bank, with the magnificent Manor House gazing out over the rich garden beds. This is one of only two Italianate gardens open to the public in Massachusetts, and it was designed by the Olmsted Brothers between 1914 and 1928. Cocktail receptions or ceremonies are frequently held in this eye-catching location on the site. Weezie's charming children's garden, which was recently refurbished, has hosted numerous cocktail events. With distinctive features like wooden towers and our signature large Adirondack chair, this fantastic place invites visitors to socialize and explore while enjoying hors d'oeuvres and cocktails. There are many other areas for photography and for your visitors to enjoy outside the Italianate Garden and Weezie's Garden for Children. As your guests come to The Garden at Elm Bank, the Bressingham Garden and Trial Garden are frequently included into events as welcoming places. For groups of any size, all of our gardens offer limitless photo opportunities! Please follow this link to learn more about our other gardens. Indoor Spaces: The Hunnewell Building, our ancient and elegant carriage house, is our largest indoor reception area. The Hunnewell Building's main hall features over 3,000 square feet of event space and a stunning vaulted and trussed ceiling. This structure's inside is heated and cooled to provide maximum comfort at all times of the year. The building itself can hold up to 150 people for a sat event with dancing or 200 people for a seated reception without dancing. It can also host cocktail events for up to 300 people. The Hunnewell Building rental includes our adjacent three-season tent from mid-April to mid-November, which is perfect for inclement weather, dancing, or extra seating. This indoor location can accommodate 220 guests for a dinner event and 400 guests for a cocktail reception if you use the three-season tent and have a dance floor. Our large Maple Grove is nestled among the grounds and surrounded by towering maple trees. This outside space, with over 17,000 square feet of green turf, can accommodate tented gatherings of virtually any size! This outdoor location provides you the most personalization. The possibilities are endless, from the tent itself to the ground, tables, seats, lights, and so much more.