Have you always envisioned getting married amid the beauty of nature? Stage your wedding in the splendor of a park or nature center.
At Broward County Parks and Recreation, we have outdoor amphitheaters and intimate gazebos where you can have the ceremony of your dreams, as well as spacious assembly halls complete with fully equipped catering kitchens – perfect for larger indoor events. When you exchange your vows at a Broward County Park, you’ll create memories that last a lifetime.
There is a weekend and holiday gate entrance fee at most regional parks. Fees are also charged for reserving rental facilities based on the size of the facility. Early reservations are recommended, especially for major holidays. There are also separate usage fees for some special park facilities. More than half a million people use rental facilities in Broward County parks every year. Whether you’re planning a baby shower, wedding, reception, or other related function, there’s a park to accommodate your needs.
Our four nature centers have long been popular for weddings and receptions. Three have outdoor amphitheaters: Anne Kolb (capacity 250), Fern Forest (120), and Secret Woods (100). All four have assembly halls that come with fully equipped catering kitchens: the Mangrove Hall at Anne Kolb (capacity 160), the Royal Fern Hall at Fern Forest (120), the Oak Hammock Hall at Long Key (240), and the Julia Assembly Hall at Secret Woods (75-100). Anne Kolb also has a courtyard area adjacent to the Mangrove Hall that will accommodate approximately 150.
Indoor Facilities
The parks' rental fees are for the venue, chairs, and tables. Some parks may also have AV equipment. A large list of registered caterers and vendors are available on our Website (updated weekly) to meet your budget and design ideas. There are certain decorating limitations and regulations; check with the park office for details.
Anne Kolb Nature Center
One of the largest urban parks in Florida, the nature center is rich in native vegetation and wildlife. The Mangrove Hall includes a caterer's warming kitchen and individual dressing rooms for brides and grooms. The courtyard area outside the Mangrove Hall is also available for outdoor ceremonies.
Carpenter House
The Carpenter House, with Atlantic Ocean beach access, offers the perfect combination of an indoor/outdoor setting for an intimate wedding of up to 50 people. Caterers can set up on the grounds in the common area behind the house, where outdoor cooking is permitted. This is also home to the Marine Environmental Education Center and Captain, a protected green sea turtle. Night-time rentals are limited to November through February only.
Fern Forest Nature Center
Royal Fern Hall, located on the second floor of the nature center, provides a serene setting and the sensation of being in a treehouse surrounded by a lush tropical forest. There's a warming kitchen and buffet counter. An adjacent covered amphitheater is also available for weddings.
Long Key Natural Area and Nature Center
Long Key's magnificent live oak hammock and an outdoor pedestrian bridge offer the perfect natural backdrop for a memorable event. The facility has state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment, a warming kitchen, and individual dressing rooms for brides and grooms.
Markham Park & Target Range
If you're looking for an unusual venue, the Shotgun Hall, located at an active target range, has a beautifully renovated hall that can accommodate up to 50 people. Large windows look out over the skeet and trap fields. There are restrictions on alcohol use based on the facility's operations.
Plantation Heritage Park
The Fountain Room in this 88.5-acre park features large windows facing the property's lake. The room includes a small buffet counter. Intimate receptions are available for up to 75 people. On the south side of Peters Road, a historic, outdoor gazebo overlooks a duck pond and is ideal for weddings of up to 30.
Secret Woods Nature Center
Broward County's first nature center is home to Julia Hall, a thoroughly modern facility abundant with rustic charm from tongue-and-groove walls and a ceiling with exposed wooden beams. There is a fully equipped kitchen and an adjacent open-air amphitheater. The room will comfortably seat 75 for a banquet.
Tree Tops Park
This 243.3-acre park got its name by having the highest natural elevation in the County, at 29 feet above sea level. The Oak Ridge Hall, in a natural-wood building, is set within an oak hammock. It includes a catering kitchen and an outdoor patio.
Outdoor Gazebos
Miramar Pineland
The gazebo overlooks a small lake and is located in a beautiful pineland forest, just off the Pineland Trail.
Plantation Heritage Park
On the south side of Peters Road, a historic, outdoor gazebo overlooks a duck pond.
T.Y. (Topeekeegee Yugnee) Park
The lake and spray fountain are the centerpieces of this 138.6-acre urban park with a gazebo at water's edge.
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