These are some of the prettiest Fort Wayne outdoor wedding venues, that will make you feel like you’re getting married in the Shire, without breaking the bank or having to travel far from home!
Lakeside Rose Gardens
Lakeside Rose Gardens are absolutely beautiful for an outdoor wedding or elopement that is still in the heart of downtown Fort Wayne! There are gorgeous water fountains, trees, a ton of flowers, rose bushes, and foliage, as well as pretty architectural white columns and gazebos. This sunken garden holds a lot of Fort Wayne history, and also has several covered pavilions available for rent as well. This park is perfect for an intimate wedding or elopement, with plenty of space for celebrating afterwards while still enjoying nature.
Homestead Environmental Center
The Homestead Environmental Center is a lesser known, secret gem of an outdoor venue in Fort Wayne. It isn’t expensive, and comes with access to the cabin and kitchens, trails throughout the woods, several pretty ponds, picnic tables, string lights, an outdoor ceremony spot with an arch, a bonfire pit, and all sorts of nature and foliage. The Homestead Environmental Center feels like a fairy garden venue in the middle of nowhere without leaving city limits!
Booking Info: Call Homestead High School
Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory
A beloved classic when it comes to Fort Wayne outdoor wedding venues, the Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory is the perfect indoor / outdoor spot with all the nature vibes. There are several rooms and spaces inside for a reception, as well as the entire courtyard with a white tent for outdoor receptions, with the FW skyline making for a stunning backdrop. This venue is especially great for botanical photos when the weather is cold or gross, and has a ton of diversity for photo spots, getting ready, and partying hard!
Promenade Park
Promenade Park is a newer addition to Fort Wayne, and is a lovely mix between city and nature aesthetics. Situated right on the river with the city skyline in the backdrop, Promenade has a ton of stunning photo spots. From the tree walk and the Wells Street Bridge, to the pretty trails leading along the river and woods, Promenade is a wonderful spot for an intimate wedding or downtown Fort Wayne elopement. There are kayaks you can rent for activity ideas, and there is also an indoor venue available here for rent as well!
Metea Park
Metea Park is a lovely and massive 250 acre nature preserve, with winding trails through the forest, fields of flowers, a pond, and all sorts of pretty little spots along the river. The fields are absolutely gorgeous during golden hour! You can access picnic tables, a grill, a campfire pit, and there is also an indoor pavilion available for rent as well as a couple outdoor picnic shelters.
Fox Island County Park
Fox Island Park is in the southwest area of Fort Wayne, and is over 270 acres of forest and wetlands, home to many species of animals and plants. There are over seven miles of trails, as well as a beautiful nature center available to rent, three picnic shelters, campfire pits, grills, a swimming beach, and even a dog beach! This park is absolutely perfect for an intimate wedding or elopement, and has a ton of options for activities and photo locations.
Foster Park
Foster Park is a historic and beautiful outdoor park in Fort Wayne to get married at! Foster Park has a huge variety of diverse photo spots, from the Bridal Glen (pictured above) to the floral areas bursting with flowers and trails running through woods. There are several pretty covered pavilions available for rent as well, and all are very affordable. Foster Park is a lovely spot for an intimate outdoor wedding, or eloping in the heart of Fort Wayne!
Swinney Park
Swinney Park is situated just outside of West Central and downtown Fort Wayne, and is actually a small park divided into two, called West Swinney and East Swinney. Both sides have a beautiful variety of foliage and locations for photos, including along the river, the trails through the woods, the fields, and the little bridge going over a babbling creek. There are covered pavilions available for rent as well! Swinney Park is perfect to get married or elope at, and then head around the corner downtown for dinner, drinks, and dancing afterwards!
Headwaters Park
Headwaters Park is located in downtown Fort Wayne, by the Martin Luther King Jr Bridge. There are twisting trails through woods and foliage, a bridge over the river, fields, and sidewalks lined with trees that turn the most brilliant orange in October. Headwaters can also accommodate larger events and weddings in the open air pavilion. Headwaters park is also a perfect location to get married or elope at if you want to head downtown after to celebrate, with The Landing, Club Soda, and several other wonderful restaurants and bars nearby!
Defries Gardens
A little under an hour from Fort Wayne is the Defries Gardens, a gorgeous 13 acre nature preserve with breathtaking beauty. There is an 1880s Victorian style home surrounded by stunning gardens and wildflowers, a giant circular four season calendar garden, a pretty little greenhouse, ponds, and all sorts of little walkways and spots for photos. This park is perfect for an intimate garden wedding or elopement, and two hour time blocks can be rented.
A Backyard!
Don’t want to share a public space, or want even more intimate vibes? Get married in a backyard! Whether it be yours, a family or friends, or even an Airbnb that allows small events, a backyard may be the perfect laid back venue you’re looking for. As this one depends person to person, talk with your partner, family, or friends about the possibility of using a backyard for your intimate wedding or elopement, and explore the logistics that would be included, such as how many guests, decor, etc.
Additional Places:
A few other Fort Wayne outdoor wedding venues!
Wineries: Vinland Reserve, Country Heritage, Two EEs
Sunken Gardens – Huntington
Johnny Appleseed Park
Solomon Farm Park
Interested in having your own outdoor wedding or elopement in Fort Wayne? Reach out and let’s start planning and documenting your unique marriage story!
