ALNC UPDATES

Our facility will be closed on Tuesday, August 29th for a Strategic Planning Meeting for our board and staff.

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

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

Wearing a face mask indoors is optional. Because we are a childcare facility and follow public health protocols, we have limited access to some public offerings and areas of our facility. We appreciate your patience as we work to find a healthy balance of access and safety for our community.

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

Weddings at ALNC

Rooted.

The roots of our Southern Wisconsin prairies run deep and create black soil ripe for growth. The prairie’s deep roots keep it grounded, thriving through droughts and fires, and coming back brilliantly. There are potentially over 700 species that only call the prairie home. The prairie is unique, survives through hard times, and is firmly rooted in our natural surroundings.

We believe that you and your loved ones live in your own prairie. The events and emotions that brought you together run deep, along with the family and friends that are unique to your social circles. No matter what happens when things go wrong, you come back brilliantly because you are rooted in each other.

At ALNC, we want to celebrate the deep roots that tie you and our community together. Our Rooted Weddings are designed to support you as you establish your personal ecosystem with those who matter most to you and those that are doing so much good work in Dane County.

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

 

 

More Than Just A Celebration…

Having your wedding at ALNC is more than celebrating together: it’s also a way to support children’s environmental education throughout Dane County. Because of this, we absolutely love people that get married with us. You are supporting our mission, so we want to support you. We include chairs, tables, cocktail tables, outdoor and indoor sound systems, staff on-site throughout your reservation, covered outdoor areas, as well as string lights to light up a choice of areas. Rentals include Friday night set-up to 10pm (rehearsal dinners are more than welcome), Saturday access from 9am to midnight, and Sunday access between 10am and 4pm for clean-up and… Maybe a little brunch and gift opening?

One of the most important things is your peace of mind. As an essential childcare center, ALNC follows a heightened level of safety guidelines, from cleaning to room capacities, and we’ll be more than happy to work with you to plan a safe and memorable weekend. We like to say our staff is included in your rental, and you can always reach out with any questions. For added flexibility, our grounds are fully capable of hosting an all outdoor event. We have hosted over 100 weddings and are more than happy to lend what we have learned over the years.

During the pandemic, your local businesses have been affected as well. To help celebrate our roots, we are working closely with our Community Caterers to offer local, seasonal food that supports our Dane County family. We are encouraging couples to use Community Caterers for Rooted Weddings. Don’t worry about specific tastes or budgets; there are a huge variety of styles to choose from. We will gladly connect you with these local chefs and invite you to try their flavors by dining or carrying out with them.

In our commitment to sustainability and supporting our neighboring community, we are also encouraging couples to use only locally crafted beers, ciders, wines, and spirits. All of these local crafters also have tasting options you can explore during your engagement.

As always, 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.

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.

 

2024 Pricing* (150 Person Max Capacity):

Peak Season (June-October): $5,675
Off Season (November-May): $4,175**
*Pricing good for weddings occurring during 2024. A $400 discount is available when using all reusable dinnerware.
**With the exception of Memorial Day weekend. Memorial Day weekend is considered peak season.

ALNC is currently taking reservations through December 2024.

 
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