Frequently Asked Questions

Conference Center

How large is the conference room in the Conference Center?

The Conference Center consists of a 30 feet by 60 feet room and a full warming kitchen. Inside the conference room are 12 rectangular tables 8 feet long, 3.5 feet wide and 2.5 feet tall. There are 100 padded chairs. The kitchen includes a double refrigerator (may have limited space), stove/oven with six burners, two large warmer ovens and small ice machine. There is a large ice machine located outside the side door. Advance notice must be given if using the stove and/or oven. There is also a large ice machine located outside the rear conference room door.

What is the maximum capacity of the conference room?

The maximum capacity for the Conference Center is 120 persons.

What does it cost to rent the outdoors area?

If you are renting the Conference Center, the front lawn is included in the price.

When can I get in my venue?

The Botanic Gardens Staff will open your venue at the contracted time. Please do not schedule family, friends or deliveries to arrive before the contracted time. If for any reason you are inside before or after the contract time, additional hours will be charged for that time.

Can the tables and chairs in the Conference Center be moved out of the building?

No, they may not be moved out of the building. They can be moved in any arrangement you require inside the Conference Center.

Do you rent table linens?

No, we do not have table linens for rent.

Orangerie

How large is the Orangerie?

The Orangerie is 29 feet by 43 feet and includes a smaller conference room with seating for 10. Optimum seating in the Orangerie is eight tables with eight chairs for a total of 64 or 100 chairs with no tables. Ceiling fans are 10 feet off the ground. Decorative iron pipe is 14 feet off the ground. The sidewalk leading to the Orangerie is 97 feet 7 inches.

What is the maximum capacity of the Orangerie?

The maximum capacity for the Orangerie is 100 persons.

What does is cost to rent the outdoors area?

If you are renting the Orangerie the front and back lawns are included in the price.

When can I get in my venue?

Can I hold my rehearsal before my wedding?

Yes. A one-hour rehearsal is included in your venue rental. Rehearsals must be scheduled in advance and may not conflict with another scheduled event. Rehearsals will be scheduled to start no later than 4 p.m.

Can I hang things on the walls?

Yes, only using Command ® pull tab hangers. These must be removed at the end of the event. Nails, staples, and tape are not allowed.

Can I run power from the Orangerie to a tent outside? What about power for my band?

The Orangerie cannot facilitate electrical needs outside of the building. There is a separate designated power source for outdoor purposes. This includes one 110 volt outlet on a 20 amp breaker and a 220 volt outlet on two 30 amp breakers. There is a pigtail that can be used on the 220 volt outlet to convert to two 110 volt outlets.

Can I put lights up for an evening event?

Up lighting has been installed in several of the Orangerie flowerbeds and around the building. They will automatically be turned on by Botanic Gardens Staff. The walkways leading to the Orangerie have pathway lighting and overhead string lights, and the Pavilion has been decorated with strong lights. You may light up areas with additional twinkle lights, flameless candles or lanterns.

Is the Orangerie air conditioned or heated?

No. Portable air conditioners do not work well in this building, but portable heaters may be brought in. We do not rent them here at our facility.

Are we allowed to take the Botanic Gardens tables and chairs outside the Orangerie?

Yes, as long as they stay in the general area of your event. You are not required to use our equipment but may use an outside vendor of your choice.

The Pavilion

How large is The Pavilion?

It is approximately 40 feet by 60 feet.

What is the maximum capacity of The Pavilion?

The maximum capacity for The Pavilion is 100 persons.

What does is cost to rent the outdoors area?

If you are renting The Pavilion, the Memory Garden and lawn areas around it, including the Orangerie lawn, are included in the price.

When can I get in my venue?

Are there lights in The Pavilion?

Yes, there are string lights scalloped in the ceiling. There are also lights on the columns of the pavilion. Nothing may be hung or attached to the fixtures on the brick columns or hung from the string lights.

Can I have a fire in the pit beside The Pavilion or the fireplace in the Pavilion?

Yes, a responsible adult must monitor the fires at all times. All fires must be fully extinguished at the end of the event. You must provide your own wood to burn. The best way to extinguish the fire is to use the ice and water from your ice chests after the event. A hose is also provided and attached to the back column of the Pavilion for your use.

Can I hang things on the walls?

Yes, only using Command ® pull tab hangers. Nails, staples, and tape are not allowed. There are metal rings already attached to the eaves of the Pavilion. You may use these with zip ties. However, all zip ties must be removed and thrown away at the conclusion of the event.

Children’s Garden and Outside Green Areas

What does is cost to rent the outdoors area?

Outdoor Garden areas of the Botanic Gardens property are available to rent. The garden rental option is only available for small groups and consists of a two-hour rental. This is a non-inclusive venue. You must bring everything for your event in with you and remove it when you leave. You must remove all trash and leave the area as you found it. If the area is left unclean, a clean-up fee will be assessed and retained from your security deposit. Access to restroom facilities may be limited.

General (Applies to all Venues)

Can I rent multiple facilities?

Certainly! Discounted rates apply when renting multiple venues. A security deposit will be charged for each venue rented. When renting the Orangerie or the Pavilion, the kitchen attached to the Conference Center can be rented for an additional fee. The kitchen rental coincides with your venue rental times. It may not to be used during early set-up of the Orangerie or the Pavilion.

How late can I hold an event?

All events MUST END and activities conclude no later than 11 p.m. Take down and clean-up must begin by 11 p.m. and end by midnight. If your event extends past midnight, you will forfeit your security deposit.

Please notify the caterer, florist and any other service provider that they are responsible for collection of all of their items and any clean up by the event end time. They must leave the facility by the end time or you will be billed for the additional time. The exception to this is for items left outside of the building (tables, chairs, and tents) which have been prearranged for pickup the following day. Delivery and pick-up times will be based on other events scheduled so you must receive approval for this one week prior to the event.

Is there anything that isn’t allowed in the buildings?

The following are PROHIBITED:

Smoking inside in any buildings and surrounding areas. We are a smoke free campus.
Party confetti and glitter.
Wish lanterns and sparklers.
Double sided tape on any surface, especially on the tablecloths.
Candles - Only flameless candles are allowed.
Candles in the fireplace – only flameless candles are permitted.
Boiled crawfish - no boiled crawfish may be brought inside of buildings or left in the trash cans. Crawfish are permitted outside of buildings, provided proper cleanup is done after the event. All trash must be removed by you at the end of your event. All events with crawfish must follow the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens guidelines for crawfish / seafood boil events.

Can I bring in my own caterer?

You may bring in your own caterer, however, they must hold a General Liability insurance policy and we must receive a copy of their insurance policy TWO WEEKS before the event. See Facility Policies for more information. If you are just having food delivered this does not apply. The caterer is responsible for removing all catering trash to the dumpster area.

Can I have alcohol at my event?

Yes, in accordance with the alcohol policy. See Facility Policies for more information. A responsible adult must monitor individuals under 21 or you may hire a bartender. Sororities and Fraternities must follow the new guidelines for their event. No underage drinking is allowed.

Can I set up the morning of my event?

Yes, you may purchase the early morning setup which is from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. as an addition to your event time. For example, if your event is from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., you may come from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. to set up the booked venue. This is different from adding additional hours to your event. We are not responsible for any items left unattended.

Can I attach my early setup time to my event?

No. However, you may purchase additional hours to extend your event time, but early setup is not designed to extend your event time.

Can I set-up or take down in lawn areas before my scheduled time?

Only structural setup can occur outside of your paid rental time if you have pre-approval from Botanic Gardens rental staff and the setup does not disrupt another paid event. Structural setup includes tents, structural lighting, tables and chairs. Our tables and chairs will be arranged according to your layout plan. Due to limited staff, we are only able to execute your original setup plan. If you need it changed between the wedding and the reception, that will be your responsibility. With preapproval from Botanic Gardens rental staff, a pick-up for the next morning may be arranged if it does not interfere with another booked event. Any items left after the set pickup time may be charged a drayage fee.

Do you rent tents?

No, you will need to arrange it with an outside source. We will be glad to tell you who is familiar with the property.

Can I set my tent up early?

Yes, with preapproval from Botanic Gardens rental staff. The tent is considered structural and arrangements may be made for set up prior to rental times if it does not interfere with another booked event.

Can I have my tent taken down the next day?

Yes, the tent may be taken down the next morning IF it does not interfere with another booked event in the same area. Again, all structural equipment must be taken down by 10 a.m. the next day. If a vendor leaves anything after that then we will charge a pickup fee of $30 and a storage fee of $10 a day until it is picked up.

Can I recycle during my event?

Yes, you may have dedicated trash cans for aluminum and glass. We have a recycle bin right next to the trash bin.

Do you rent table linens?

No, we do not provide table linens.

How big is the parking lot?

The parking lot between the Conference Center and the Orangerie has 26 regular spaces and 3 handicap spaces.

Is there additional parking?

Yes, there is additional parking on the right side of the Conference Center in the grass lot as well as the gravel lot behind the greenhouses to the rear of the Rose Garden.

Photography Sessions

Is there a charge for professional photography sessions?

The Botanic Gardens at Burden charges for camera photography. Visit our photography page for more information!