Wedding Ceremony Terms and Conditions of Use
Wollongong Botanic Garden is a beautiful backdrop for outdoor wedding and commitment ceremonies. Your fees contribute to the upkeep of the Garden’s grounds, and its horticultural, scientific, and educational programs.
Booking a Garden Site for your ceremony is subject to these Terms and Conditions of Use. Upon payment of the booking fee, you will be deemed to have read, understood, and agreed to these Terms and Conditions.
1. Definitions
1.1 The following definitions apply throughout this document:
Booking Office means the Garden’s Administration Office. The Booking Office can be contacted via email or by phone (4227 7667) during business hours (9am‐ 4.30pm, Mon‐Fri).
Ceremony means wedding or commitment ceremony.
Garden means the Wollongong Botanic Garden. The Garden is a service of Wollongong City Council. A reference to the ‘Garden’ or ‘Garden staff’ are synonymous with ‘Wollongong City Council’ and ‘Council staff’.
Garden staff means Council employees working at the Garden.
Site means the location you have chosen for your Ceremony within the Garden’s grounds.
2. Booking Details
2.1 Payment will be taken upon confirmation of your booking. Your booking is not confirmed until payment is received in full.
2.2 Your booking includes exclusive use of the Site for a maximum of three (3) hours. This includes setting up and cleaning up.
2.3 Additional fees will be incurred if you remain at the Site for longer than your booking period and/or you fail to leave the Site in good condition and free of rubbish.
2.4 You must ensure that your guests and any other persons connected with your Ceremony (e.g., celebrants, suppliers) leave the Garden grounds before the gates are locked.
2.5 Tentative bookings will be held for a period of two (2) weeks (‘Holding Period’). Full payment must be received before the end of the Holding Period to confirm the booking.
2.6 All payments must be made using a method acceptable to Council.
3. Booking Changes
3.1 To request changes to the time or location of your Ceremony, you must contact the Booking Office via email. If moving your Ceremony to the Rose Garden, additional fees will apply.
3.2 Your new booking date/time will not be confirmed until:
- a. any additional fees are paid; and
- b. you have received a confirmation email.
4. Decorations and Equipment
4.1 A wedding equipment package of 30 white chairs (weight limit 100kg), a small table and white tablecloth is available for hire. This hire package is available for couples booking the Rose Garden only. This package can be booked up to four (4) weeks before the ceremony.
4.2 Cut flowers ‐ limited to bouquets, buttonholes, and a table display ‐ are permitted as part of your Ceremony. However, soil must not be brought onto the Garden grounds.
4.3 The following items may be used as part of your Ceremony:
- a. freestanding decorative items such as arches/arbours with imitation flowers;
- b. red carpet (no rubber backing);
- c. battery‐powered sound systems; and
- d. tables and seating for the ceremony.
4.4 Vehicle access is not available. All equipment must be carried or wheeled to the ceremony location.
4.5 The following items/actions are prohibited:
- a. the attaching of decorations, balloons, signage, banners or other items to trees, buildings or other fixed structures;
- b. the use of pegs or spikes of any kind on the grounds of the Garden;
- c. the throwing of confetti, petals, rice or the like.
4.6 Other prohibited items and activities include:
- a. shade structures and marquees;
- b. balloons and party streamers;
- c. bat and ball games;
- d. sparklers and fireworks;
- e. fires (including kerosene lamps), and
- f. bamboo torches.
4.7 Failure to comply with clauses 4.4, 4.5 or 4.6 will result in Garden staff removing any prohibited equipment and/or requiring you and your guests to leave the Garden’s grounds. Law enforcement officers may be contacted to assist Garden staff.
4.8 At least 10 days before the date of the Ceremony, you must provide the Booking Office with details of any proposed equipment and decorations you wish to use.
5. Public liability
5.1 All third‐party suppliers must have Public Liability Insurance to the value of $10 million.
5.2 You must provide the Booking Office with a copy of the suppliers' Certificate of Currency at least 14 days before the date of the Ceremony.
6. Photography
6.1 You may take photographs within the grounds of the Garden following the Ceremony. There is no photography fee.
6.2 Photography must not disrupt other booked ceremonies or events taking place within the grounds of the Garden.
6.3 You must obtain permission to take photographs in the grounds surrounding Gleniffer Brae. Your request should be submitted to the Booking Office at least two (2) weeks before the date of the Ceremony.
7. Music and Sound
7.1 Your wedding celebrant may use a low‐volume, battery‐powered portable speaker or amplifier. You must take reasonable steps to minimise the impact of speakers / amplifiers used as part of the Ceremony upon other visitors to the gardens.
7.2 You may have a live acoustic ensemble of up to four (4) people or low‐volume pre‐recorded music. Bagpipes, drums or other amplification systems (such as electric guitars) are not permitted.
7.3 There is no access to power within the grounds of the Garden. Generators are not permitted.
7.4 At least two (2) weeks before the Ceremony, you must provide the Booking Office with details of music and / or sound equipment you propose to use during the Ceremony.
8. Alcohol
8.1 No alcohol is permitted on Garden grounds.
9. Access & Parking
9.1 There is no vehicle access inside the Garden grounds.
9.2 Vehicles are not permitted to obstruct any access gates to the Garden grounds, or the flow of traffic in the Garden’s car park.
9.3 You accept that there is no guarantee that parking will be available in the Garden’s carpark or on the street surrounding the grounds. Parking permits are not available.
10. Cleaning and Care
10.1 You are responsible for leaving the Site clean and tidy with all equipment, decorations and rubbish removed.
10.2 You accept liability for any damage to property, garden beds, trees or other structures within the Garden’s grounds where such damage is caused by your Ceremony, your guests or any person associated with your Ceremony. The cost of rectification will be a debt due and payable by you to the
Garden.
11. Cancellations
11.1 Any request for cancellation of your booking must be submitted to the Booking Office via email.
11.2 The following terms apply to cancellations:
| Cancellation Type | Refund |
|---|---|
| Request received more than 1 month before the ceremony date | 50% refund of total fee paid |
| Request received less than 1 month before the ceremony date | No refund payable. |
| Request received due to wet weather (within 5 days of the Ceremony) | 50% refund of site hire fee |
| Council cancels your booking | Refund of total fee paid No further compensation payable. |
11.3 If you wish to cancel your booking on the day of your Ceremony, please contact the Booking Office on 0419 273 818 (a minimum of two (2) hours before the start of your booking period).
12. Covid Safety Rules
12.1 Any Federal or NSW State Government requirements relating to the COVID‐19 pandemic must be observed by all visitors to the Garden.
12.2 The Garden reserves the right to cancel your booking due to your lack of compliance with any applicable requirements. If this occurs, you will not e entitled to any refund.
12.3 You will be advised before the date of your Ceremony whether:
- a. Council has any additional COVID‐19 related requirements; and
- b. how any such requirements may affect your Ceremony.
13. Indemnity
13.1 You agree to indemnify the Garden against:
- a. loss of or damage to the Garden itself or Council’s property within the Garden’s grounds; and
- b. claims by any person against Council in respect of personal injury or death, or loss of or damage to any property arising out of or as a consequence of your use of the Garden’s grounds or its facilities.
13.2 Your liability to indemnify the Garden under clause 13.1 is reduced proportionately to the extent that any act or omission by the Garden, Garden staff or other Council officers, contributed to the loss, damage, death or injury.
14. Trading Terms
14.1 The Garden reserves the right to decline booking requests and to adjust or vary these terms and conditions at its sole discretion.
14.2 Your booking is only confirmed:
- a. when the Garden has received full payment; and
- b. you have received a confirmation email from the Booking Office.
Any subsequent letter or email notifying you of approved or prohibited items will form part of these Terms and Conditions of Use.
14.3 You accept that the Garden may make a site available to another party if payment is not received within the required time.
14.4 Fees are GST inclusive unless otherwise specified.
14.5 You must follow all requests by Garden staff regarding the Site and the conduct of attendees during the Ceremony.
14.6 You must report any incidents or accidents immediately to the Booking Office and/or Garden staff on duty via 0419 273 818.
If you have any questions, email us or call (02) 4227 7667 during business hours.
Please make sure you check and follow all public health rules that apply at the time of your event.