Brides Garden, Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens Columbus, Ohio

Services Provided

Master Planning
Event Space Design
Landscape Architecture
Construction Documentation

People Involved

Karen McCoy
Tim Schmalenberger
Tony Roell

Awards

2009 Ohio Chapter ASLA Merit Award

An exquisite backdrop for photographs and small ceremonies.

Franklin Park is a 90-acre landmark on the east side of Columbus, home to the Franklin Park Conservatory and the Historic Palm House which has long been regarded as one of the most stunning wedding sites in the area. 

One of the first projects to be completed from the 2000 park master plan was the Brides Garden, designed for small ceremonies or photographs. The garden is full of intricate details, such as the imported Harbor Blue Limestone terrace with an inlaid Indiana Buff Limestone knot pattern. The curved walls of Ohio Blue Sandstone feature hand coped and carved caps, a level of custom detail that harkens back to traditional masonry.

The formal wall fountain introduces the calming sound of water into the garden, and the arch swing offers a romantic vantage point to enjoy the setting on a sunny wedding day. The careful approach to detail extends to the custom designed and fabricated ironwork present throughout the handrails and graceful bows atop the stone bench and arch and swing.

An especially unique feature of the terraced garden staircase is the inlaid tread planting tucked under each stair step. Thoughtful schematic design, design development, and construction documents resulted in this unforgettable garden.