Shaughnessy Restaurant at VanDusen Botanical Garden

A wedding at Shaughnessy Restaurant unfolds inside VanDusen Botanical Garden in Vancouver, where 55 acres of planted beds, lawns and trees surround the celebration.

The restaurant opened in 1984 and has been a gathering place for family milestones ever since. Through its long partnership with the garden, the kitchen cooks with herbs, flowers and vegetables harvested on site.

Ceremonies, photos and receptions can all happen here. The covered open-air patio looks across the garden, and on clear days guests can catch a glimpse of the North Shore mountains. For a smaller ceremony or elopement, a secret garden patio at the far end of the restaurant overlooks a quiet corner of the grounds.

Inside, the dining room seats up to 150 guests, with slate and wood floors, skylights, tall drapes and greenery that carry the feeling of the garden indoors. Exclusive bookings of the whole restaurant can welcome up to 250 guests.

Weddings for 25 to 150 guests can include a ceremony, cocktails and hors d'oeuvres, plated dinners or harvest tables, dancing and staff. Tables, chairs, linens, a dance floor, a sound system, ceremony chairs and a large collection of decor are available, along with garden photo packages.

The culinary team prepares seasonal West Coast comfort food and will tailor a wedding menu to each couple. Free parking and wheelchair access make the day easy for guests, and rehearsal dinners, showers and tea ceremonies are hosted too.

For couples who picture vows among flowers and a dinner that tastes of the garden around them, Shaughnessy Restaurant offers a wedding that feels lush, warm and close to nature.