Making the most of your wedding photography at Como Park Conservatory
A guide to Como Park Conservatory wedding photography. A true gem of the Twin Cities is the Conservatory at Como Park. Built in 1914, the charm and architecture of the Victorian windowed buildings are notable all on their own, and are perfect as a backdrop for your photos and showing off St Paul to your guests.
A Venue with variety of the green kind
One of the things that makes Como Park so special is its versatility. Within the park, you’ll find a range of stunning backdrops for your wedding photos:
The Conservatory: This Victorian-style glasshouse is a year-round oasis, filled with exotic plants and vibrant blooms. The huge palm dome is like a tropical oasis for even the coldest winter weddings.
The Sunken Garden: This formal garden is undergoing construction for the next several months (to make it more accessible, which will be even better for guests). It is one of my favorite places to document wedding ceremonies, and you can easily see why. It combines architectural detail with colorful flowerbeds that change with the seasons. It is probably the best smelling wedding location in Minnesota. It is perfect for smaller wedding ceremonies.
The Japanese Garden: Open during warm months, this formal garden is stunning for its attention to structure, texture, and form. It features tranquil gardens, koi ponds, stone lanterns, and a tea house. It is lovely for small weddings or for engagement sessions.
The North Garden: This lesser known sister to the sunken garden is lovely for small wedding ceremonies and more intimate feeling portraits. It features only plants that are useful, like cinnamon, banana, and more spices than you could name.
A Whole Wedding Venue : Como is probably best known as a ceremony space, but it has several spaces that accommodate a full reception as well, some with stunning views of the conservatory.
Locations with Photogenic Views
As a photographer, I’m always thrilled when couples choose Como Park for their wedding. The variety of locations within the park allows for creative possibilities all year round. Here are a few of my favorite spots to capture those magical moments:
The Conservatory’s Palm Dome: The towering palms and cascading sunlight create a dramatic and romantic setting.
The Sunken Garden’s long views: All the best of Victorian architecture – symmetrical, airy, spacious- it is a beautiful frame for portraits.
The Japanese Garden: The red bridge is a classic spot for capturing those iconic wedding photos.
The Pergola: A fun structure for framing portraits outside on the lawn.
The Exterior of the Conservatory: This space is so well situated, the exterior is one of my favorite locations for photos!
Tips for Como Park Conservatory Wedding Photos
Consider the Season: Each season brings its own unique beauty to Como Park, and walking into the middle of summer can feel like a dream in colder months. It is just as gorgeous in the summertime. Some of the spaces, like the Japanese Garden, are only open in warm weather.
Plan Time to Explore with Guests: Your guests will love walking around the gardens before or after your wedding. The park generally will give you a time frame for how long you will have access, so make sure you let your guests know they can use that time!
Consider the Light:-The gardens are only available to rent after park hours. This means that in late fall and winter afternoon light will be at a premium, especially after daylight savings time ends. Morning weddings are gorgeous in the conservatory, and evening weddings with a darkening sky can be stunning, too. Pay attention to sunset times to get a better sense of what your photos will look like!
Looking for a Como Conservatory Photographer?
The Como Conservatory is an extraordinary place to photograph, and I’d love to chat with you about all the things you are planning – lets connect!
More Como Park Conservatory Wedding Photos
- Guide to Como Park Conservatory Wedding Photography
A guide to Como Park Conservatory wedding photography. A true gem of the Twin Cities is the Conservatory at Como Park. Built in 1914, the charm and architecture of the Victorian windowed buildings are notable all on their own, and are perfect as a backdrop for your photos and showing off St Paul to your guests. - Young Joni WeddingSierra and Katie’s wedding at Como Conservatory and Young Joni Yesterday, someone asked me how many weddings I have photographed. It has been a while since I made a full count, but my back-of-the-napkin calculations put me around 450. I’ve photographed over 450 celebrations. Dancing, laughing, tears, bowties, blisters, snow, sun, rain. 450 makes it…
- Como Conservatory Wedding – Katie and Jason’s small wedding in St PaulKatie and Jason were ahead of the curve – intimate wedding at Como Conservatory (in the sunken garden – the best smelling wedding venue in the world) and a reception at a restaurant in Cathedral Hill.
- Como Park Conservatory Wedding {Lindsay + Phillip}Lindsay and Phillip have had many memorable days at Como Park – a first date, Phillip’s proposal, and now their wedding. A truly gorgeous and joyous place for the start of their marriage! Ceremony: Bethlehem Lutheran Church Reception: Como Park Conservatory
