The Red Butte Gardens, one of the dreamiest wedding venues to have blessed my camera lens. There are some places that don’t just host weddings. They hold them. They create an experience! Places where the air smells like flowers before guests even take their seats. Where the mountains sit quietly in the background. Where you can wander down a side path and suddenly feel like you’ve stepped out of the city entirely.
Red Butte Garden is one of those places.
If you’re considering getting married in Salt Lake City Utah, this guide will walk you through everything — from ceremony spaces and lighting to seasonal notes, guest experience, and how your day can actually feel when you’re surrounded by all that greenery.
Red Butte Garden Wedding Venue in Salt Lake City, Utah
Nestled in the foothills above the city, Red Butte Garden offers a setting that feels tucked away and expansive at the same time. While you’re only minutes from downtown Salt Lake City, once you’re in the gardens, the atmosphere shifts. It’s quiet, lush, and intimate. I love the space here as it really is a sweet dedication to the local nature.
The venue offers both outdoor and indoor ceremony options, along with beautiful reception spaces that allow your day to flow naturally without moving guests offsite.
One of the biggest surprises for couples when they arrive is just how immersive the greenery feels. You’re inside the landscaping. Florals surround you. Fragrance carries through the air. And there are winding paths everywhere, creating small pockets of privacy throughout the property.
Parking is easy and accessible for guests, which removes a lot of logistical stress right away especially for out-of-town family or individuals.
Ceremony Locations at Red Butte Garden
One of the best parts about getting married here is having options.
The Fragrance Garden
If you’re dreaming of an outdoor ceremony that feels romantic and intimate, the Fragrance Garden is a favorite. Standing here feels lush and enveloping. The florals aren’t just visual — you can smell them as you walk down the aisle.
The garden layout creates a natural sense of closeness. It doesn’t feel vast or overwhelming. Instead, it feels like you’re tucked into something private, even with guests seated around you.
Late afternoon ceremonies here are especially beautiful. The light softens, the air cools slightly, and everything takes on that golden, calm tone that photographs so effortlessly.
The Rose Garden
The Rose Garden offers another outdoor ceremony option, with structured floral design and vibrant seasonal blooms. During peak bloom seasons, it can feel incredibly colorful and alive.
The Orangerie
If you’re planning an indoor ceremony – whether for winter, heat, or personal preference – the Orangerie is a stunning option. With two walls of floor-to-ceiling windows, it brings the outdoors in.
Even if the weather shifts, you’re still surrounded by greenery. It feels like an arboretum. It is so airy, bright, and full of life in here! It also has two outside decks. For this particular wedding, the couple used the enclosed one to host games like giant Connect Four and Jenga. For the main outdoor platform, it was filled with couples dancing and a cocktail bar.
The Rose House
Another indoor option, the Rose House provides a refined, garden-adjacent space for ceremonies or receptions, while still keeping you connected to the surrounding landscape.
Reception Spaces at Red Butte Garden in Salt Lake City
Many couples choose to transition from an outdoor ceremony in the Fragrance Garden to dinner and dancing in the Orangerie — and the flow works beautifully.
The Orangerie truly shines during receptions!
As the evening light filters through those large windows, speeches and toasts take on a warm, golden tone. The greenery surrounding the space softens everything. It never feels stark or overly formal, even in black tie settings.
The space allows for:
- Seated dinners
- Cocktail hour transitions
- Dancing under natural light before sunset
- A seamless indoor option if summer heat or winter cold becomes a factor
Because everything is located within the gardens, guests don’t feel shuffled around. The day moves organically.
Best Time of Year for a Red Butte Garden Wedding
Each season here has its own personality.
Late Spring (Mid-May to June)
If you want the most flowers in bloom, late spring is incredible. The gardens feel full and vibrant. The variety of color and fragrance during this window is hard to match. This is the season of most life here!
Summer (July & August)
Summer weddings are still beautiful — it is still very green — but it can get very hot for outdoor ceremonies. If planning a July or August wedding, an indoor ceremony in the Orangerie or Rose House may be more comfortable for guests.
Fall
Fall brings changing leaves and softer tones. The mountains begin to shift color, and the overall atmosphere feels romantic and slightly moody in the best way.
Winter
Winter weddings here are underrated. While outdoor ceremonies may not be ideal, indoor options still keep you surrounded by greenery. You don’t lose that garden feeling, it’s just cozier.
Wedding Photography at Red Butte Garden
Because the property is so expansive, portrait options feel endless.
There’s a pond, forested paths, open garden areas, and mountain views that frame the background naturally. You can move from lush floral settings to wooded textures within minutes.
One unique perk: venue coordinators can drive you around the property in a golf cart for wedding formals. This makes it easy to access multiple portrait locations without exhausting yourselves or losing too much time from the celebration.
If you’re someone who wants variety in your gallery without needing to leave the venue, this location delivers.
A few photography considerations:
- Late afternoon ceremonies provide softer light and more flattering tones.
- It can get breezy up on the hill above the trees — something to keep in mind for veils or lightweight décor.
- A first look is highly recommended.
Having a first look here allows you to:
- Ease pre-ceremony nerves
- Explore multiple portrait locations before guests arrive
- Complete bridal party photos early
- Fully enjoy cocktail hour after the ceremony
Instead of disappearing for an hour post-ceremony, you can step directly into celebrating with your people.
What Couples Say About Red Butte Garden
The most common reaction when couples arrive is awe.
They’re struck by the beauty and the greenery. Many mention how immersive the gardens feel and how quickly it transports them away from the city below.
They also appreciate the quiet side paths scattered throughout the property. These tucked-away spots create small moments of alone time during the day. As a photographer, I really want you to have some of those moments to be fully present. A breath before the ceremony, a quiet walk after portraits, a reset before stepping into the reception.
Those in-between moments matter and you will remember them once the day is over.
Where to Stay Near Red Butte Garden
For out-of-town guests or getting-ready space, Salt Lake City Marriott University Park is a convenient nearby option.
There are also numerous smaller hotels and Airbnb options throughout Salt Lake City, giving guests flexibility depending on budget and preference.
Because the venue sits near both downtown and the mountains, guests can easily build a full weekend around your wedding.
Thought the venue does have two rooms for the couple to each get ready in, I do recommend getting ready before getting on-site, as they are on the small side and without natural light for makeup if that is being done.
Things to Do Near Red Butte Garden for a Wedding Weekend
Salt Lake City offers a big mix of outdoor adventure and city convenience.
Guests can:
- Drive up Big Cottonwood Canyon toward Brighton Ski Resort for hiking, mountain biking, or a scenic drive
- Visit the Natural History Museum of Utah
- Plan a day trip to the Bonneville Salt Flats
- Explore shops and restaurants at City Creek Center
- Grab drinks downtown and experience the city at night
And of course, visiting the gardens themselves on a non-wedding day can be a relaxing addition to the weekend.
Who Is Red Butte Garden Perfect For?
This venue works beautifully for many styles – from elegant black tie celebrations to laid-back, garden party weddings. But at its core, it’s perfect for couples who love nature.
If you care about:
- Florals
- Mountain backdrops
- Lush greenery
- Romantic, immersive settings
- Having room to breathe on your wedding day
Red Butte Garden offers all of that without requiring you to leave the city. It is one of my favorite venues in all of Northern Utah and I highly recommend it to any couples wishing for these things on their wedding.
Red Butte Garden Wedding Photographer
Hi friend, I’m Elayna!! The face behind Elayna RaNae Photo and Film.
I’m based in Salt Lake City, though I spend a lot of time working throughout the Pacific Northwest and Jackson Hole. I photograph weddings documentary style. I have a heavy focus on candidness, rooted in real moments rather than forced poses.
If you’re getting married at Red Butte Garden, I’m not going to pull you away from your guests for hours trying to create an aesthetic narrative. I want you to live your day.
My couple from this wedding shared this after receiving their gallery, and it sums up one of the greatest things I care about in this job:
“One of the biggest things for us was documenting the things me and my wife didn’t have the chance to see on our wedding day — candids of family and friends, moments before and after the ceremony, dinner conversations and laughter. Elayna captured it all.”
That’s what matters to me!!!
When you look back at your photos years from now, I don’t just want you to see just how it looked. I want you to remember how it felt, to notice moments you didn’t even realize were happening.
If that sounds like what you’re looking for, you can learn more or reach out here.
I would love to document your Red Butte Garden wedding in a way that lets you experience it fully.
