Wedding & Family Portrait Photography at the UCR Botanic Gardens - Riverside, California

It's perhaps one of the best kept secrets for wedding photography in Riverside, California; the Botanic Gardens at UCR. Tucked away in the Northwest corner of the UCR campus, the garden is home to 40 acres of trees and various plants and flowers. Aside from its horticulture display, the park makes a beautiful location for photographing wedding parties as well as the family, bride and groom,  after the ceremony. While the park itself does not host weddings, I have had the opportunity of escorting wedding parties to the park for portraits sessions. The location provides for a pleasing, natural, backdrop. While the gardens offers an array of paths, benches, steps and a bridge, their are limitations. As a photographer (or bride and groom) you will need to plan your wedding day accordingly if you intend to take your wedding photos at the location since they are strict about closing time.

Park hours are from 8am to 5pm daily and they do close promptly at 5pm. If you are having an evening wedding, then I would recommend that you take your wedding photos prior to your ceremony. However, if your ceremony is earlier in the day, then you may find that you have plenty of time to capture those special shots. 

In addition to the time constraints, parking is limited in the park. It's recommended that if you are planning on taking pictures in the gardens that your wedding party travel together in a limousine. This will allow not only insure that your entire party arrives on time and together, but that you will be able to find parking.

While admission is free, it is recommended that you make a $1 donation per visitor to the park, which I recommend. For more information on the Botanic Gardens, visit their website: www.gardens.ucr.edu

Quick Tips for Photographing Wedding & Family Portraits at the Botanical Gardens in Riverside, California (Inland Empire):

• Scout the location prior to your photo session. This helps in moving things along on wedding day.
• Parking is limited, so have the wedding party travel in a limousine or as few vehicles as possible, especially on a weekend when you may have other people visiting the park.
• Respect the vegetation. Some areas may be roped off at times for regrowth and fertilization; don't cross the barriers if they exist. Again, if you scout the gardens out prior to the day of your session you will learn the areas available for you to photograph.
• Respect other visitors at the gardens.
• Closing time is 5pm. Plan your photo shoot accordingly.
• While there is no fee to enter the park, but a donation is strongly recommended. There's a donation box as you enter.
• There are restrooms available at the park.
• I have found that both spring and fall are best times to capture weddings or even family portraits at the UCR Botanical Garden.
• Make sure you pick up your trash if you bring any. there are trash cans in the park to deposit any trash.