Queens Botanical Wedding Garden Is 25 Years Old

(R. to l.): Kerrie Culhane, Astoria Federal Savings Flushing branch manager, Roland Wade, former QBG executive director, and Jennifer Ward Souder, Queens Botanical Garden director of capital projects/assistant director, savor the beauties of the Queens Botanical Garden Wedding Garden at the start of its 25th year in existence.

The first wedding garden built in a public botanical garden celebrated its 25th anniversary last week and Astoria Federal Savings Bank marked the occasion with a $5,000 gift to the Queens Botanical Garden.

When it was built in 1982, the Queens Botanical Garden Wedding Garden was the first in the nation among public gardens. "Other botanical gardens didn't like it," Roland Wade, former Queens Botanical Garden executive director and the creator of the Wedding Garden, said. "They thought it was undignified." Wade pointed out that the Queens Botanical Garden Wedding Garden was an important step in diversifying public gardens' revenue, and not surprisingly, many gardens soon began to book wedding ceremonies and photography.

Astoria Federal has long supported the Wedding Garden. "It's a good example of progressive thinking," according to Astoria Federal Flushing Branch Manager Kerrie Culhane. "We like to support projects that are unique and entrepreneurial and the Wedding Garden is just that kind of project."

The Wedding Garden's Victorian gazebo, picturesque arched bridge, white picket fence and lush, overflowing plantings give little hint of its humble beginnings. Wade said the Wedding Garden cost only $2,000 to build originally because much of its material was donated. "Con Ed gave us the flagstone from a street they renovated and the two I-beams that support the bridge were scrap that my staff found," Wade said. Today, more than 400 people have their ceremonies and photographs in the Wedding Garden each year. Approximately 1,600 weddings have taken place in the garden in its 25-year history.

To book the Wedding Garden for an event or pictures, contact Clare Del Monaco at 718.886.3800, ext. 201 or visit www.Queensbotanical.org/about/weddings.