Welcome

Our facility will be closed on Monday, Jan. 15th in observation of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Our building will reopen to the public at 9am on Tuesday, Jan. 16th.

As always, our grounds and trails featuring self-guided tours are free and open daily from dawn until dusk.
Please exercise caution to remain safe on trails, sidewalks, and driveways, as conditions may be icy.

Our facility is open on weekdays from 9am to 4pm and on weekends from 10am to 2pm.

As always, our grounds and trails featuring self-guided tours are free and open daily from dawn until dusk.

Weddings

Say ‘I Do’… With a Green Wedding

Host your wedding in a beautiful natural setting and do good…
By supporting children’s environmental education in Southern Wisconsin.


Have you dreamt of getting married in a beautiful outdoor setting?

Lucky you! We still have availability in 2024.

Available dates include:

  • May 4th
  • May 25th
  • June 1st
  • June 15th
  • July 6th
  • July 20th
  • July 27th
  • August 3rd
  • August 10th
  • August 17th
  • September 14th

 

2024 Pricing (150 Person Max Capacity):

Peak Season (May-October): $5,675
Off Season (November-April): $4,175
 

2025 Pricing (150 Person Max Capacity):

Peak Season (May-October): $5,875
Off Season (November-April): $4,375
 

ALNC is currently taking reservations through December 2025.

 

Your wedding should celebrate your unique love and our unique community. Feel free to reach out to Isabella at rentals@aldoleopoldnaturecenter.org with any questions or to set up a tour.

Wedding Wire Couple Choice Winner 2023
 
 
Wedding Wire Couple Choice Winner 2020
 
 
Wedding Wire Couple Choice Winner 2019

 

 

 
 


 

What makes weddings at ALNC unique?

  • By hosting your wedding at ALNC, you are supporting our mission to nurture children, their well-being, and environmental sustainability through connecting and learning in nature.
  • Throughout the planning process, ALNC event staff will work with you to put together a sustainable wedding. From reusable dishware to recommendations on sustainable florists, we want to work as a team to reduce the environmental impact that weddings can have.
  • Set in a diverse landscape, there are over 700 species that call the prairie home. No matter which month you choose, your wedding will be set against a gorgeous natural backdrop.
  • A large part of our mission is being rooted in community. We are committed to developing relationships with local businesses and, working with the Monona Tourism Commission, we are partnered with nearby hotels to make your booking process as smooth as possible. We also provide a list of Recommended Vendors who we work with and who provide consistently quality service.

 

What’s included in the weekend package?

  • Tables and chairs: Set up and taken down by ALNC staff
  • Staff on-site: For the duration of your event to assist with any facility needs
  • Covered outdoor spaces: Suitable for outdoor bar service, yard games, and mingling
  • String lights: In our main dining and dance floor areas as well as our deck
  • Access Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of your wedding weekend
  • Private ready room: For on-site hair, makeup, and dressing
  • Indoor and outdoor sound systems: To be used for ceremony, dinner, and/or dance
  • Reusable dishware package: Appetizer and dinner plates, silverware, and glass goblets

 

Other FAQs

Can I choose my own vendors?
Yes, you are welcome to pick any you would like. Our Preferred Vendor List offers ideas for you to choose from; these are businesses we have worked with over the years and who provide consistently exemplary service.

What are your requirements for alcohol service?
Alcohol must be served by a licensed bartender. Before the event, they will sign our Bartender Agreement and provide proof of licensing and insurance.

Are pets allowed?
Pets are not allowed at weddings. ALNC is a pet-free facility.

Can I increase my access time?
Yes. You can increase access time Saturday morning or Sunday afternoons for an hourly rate.

Can I host guests for dinner on Friday or brunch on Sunday?
Absolutely, feel free to make use of all your access time! Rehearsal dinner on Friday, gift opening on brunch on Sunday, anything you’d like.

How much parking is there?
We have multiple parking lots as well as roadside parking. Guests are welcome to leave their cars here overnight.

What hotels are in the area?
Country Inn & Suites, AVID Hotel, and AmericInn are all located within 1.5 miles from ALNC.

We will work with you to make your wedding as sustainable as possible. We are currently updating our Green Wedding Guide, but are happy to introduce you to sustainable vendors we work with and answer any questions you might have.

and we invite you to consider the options and ideas in our Green Wedding Guide.

 
Please contact us for available dates and with any questions you may have!
 

ALNC Wedding Photo Gallery

“Choosing the location is one of the most important and potentially one of the most difficult decisions you’ll make with your partner when planning your wedding. If the unbelievable beauty of the prairie, the masterfully renovated building with the incredible chandelier, the secluded feeling the trees of this nature preserve, or how professional and helpful Duncan and his team are, aren’t enough of a reason to make the decision to book this venue for your wedding, consider that the money you’ll be spending goes directly back to the children of the community to help with the recently opened preschool and field trip programs. Not only will you have the PERFECT location for the most special day of your lives, you’ll also be doing an act of goodness, so you’ll feel good about your decision as well. I can’t imagine having a wedding in any other location.

– Spencer Schoate, married on 9/28/2019

 
 

Featured image courtesy of Kral Photography.

 

Green is the new white!
 
Whether you envision a simple outdoor ceremony or a grand reception, we have a unique, scenic and eco-friendly facility to meet your needs and celebrate with your guests! ALNC offers exciting one-of-a-kind experiences like custom shows in our Science on a Sphere and Immersion Theaters, views of native Wisconsin habitats, and much more to make your special day unforgettable! Best of all, your wedding empowers Southern Wisconsin children to get outside, get dirty, and get in touch with nature, in both body and mind.
  Want to have a more sustainable wedding weekend? Check out our Green Wedding Guide for tips and stories on how to leave a smaller footprint. 
 Monona Wedding for web NEWThe Aldo Leopold Nature Center is just 10 minutes from downtown Madison and within a mile of two hotels. The site is an urban oasis and features restored prairie, wetlands and forests with many unique indoor and outdoor options.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

ALNC Wedding Guide
Please click here to download our Wedding Guide for more information about wedding packages and rental opportunities at the Aldo Leopold Nature Center. Please contact us for available dates and with any questions you may have!

Aldo Leopold Nature Center