Welcome

Our facility will be closed from Monday, Dec 23rd to Wednesday, Dec 25th for the winter break.
Our building will reopen to the public at 9am on Thursday, Dec 26th.

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

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.

We’re now booking weddings in 2026. We are full for 2025.

What dates are available?

Please review our Google form for our current availability.

Find Available Dates Here

 

2026 Pricing (150 Person Max Capacity):

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

ALNC is currently taking reservations through December 2026.

 

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.

Featured image courtesy of Kral Photography.

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

 
 

Wondering about lodging?

Country Inn & Suites, AVID Hotel, and AmericInn are all located within 1.5 miles from the Aldo Leopold Nature Center.

Country Inn & Suites has a shuttle.

AmericInn Logo AVID Hotel Logo Country Inn & Suites Logo

 

Aldo Leopold Nature Center