Aldo Leopold Nature Center Reviews

Reviews

Awards

43

+55 User photos

• Kristen G. Sent on 02/04/2024
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  Aldo Leopold Nature Center - a local gem!

  We had a fantastic experience working with the team at the Aldo Leopold Nature Center for our wedding reception in October 2023. From the initial planning and discussions that started a year prior to the responsiveness to emails over the year as questions came up, our event planner was always prompt and thorough with responses. As we approached the day, they met with us to review all the final details and make sure that everything was going to be perfect for our big day, which it was. The space is so beautiful and unique, and you cannot beat it during the peak of the fall colors! They topped off the experience by having everything broken down and ready for us to pick up the next day. We cannot recommend ALNC enough if you are looking to support a wonderful local business on your wedding day!

  We had a fantastic experience working with the team at the Aldo Leopold Nature Center for our wedding reception in October 2023. From the initial planning and discussions that started a year prior to the responsiveness to emails over the year as questions came up, our event planner was always prompt and thorough with responses. As we approached the day, they met with us to review all the final details and make sure that everything was going to be perfect for our big day, which it was. The space is so beautiful and unique, and you cannot beat it during the peak of the fall colors! They topped off the experience by having everything broken down and ready for us to pick up the next day. We cannot recommend ALNC enough if you are looking to support a wonderful local business on your wedding day!
• Katie C. Sent on 01/29/2024
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  Quality people to work with

  Absolutely amazing to work with, even in with a transfer of wedding coordinators there was no lack of communication or plans. The venue was beautiful and they are totally prepared for anything. If you want a guarantee for a great venue for your wedding, bet on Aldo Leopold Nature Center. 10/10 if I had to do it over again, I would make the same choice.

  Absolutely amazing to work with, even in with a transfer of wedding coordinators there was no lack of communication or plans. The venue was beautiful and they are totally prepared for anything. If you want a guarantee for a great venue for your wedding, bet on Aldo Leopold Nature Center. 10/10 if I had to do it over again, I would make the same choice.
• Shelley P. Sent on 07/27/2023
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  We couldn't have asked for more!

  ALNC was the absolute best choice for our wedding venue. We loved the venue so much that it is the reason we were married in Madison rather than our home of Chicago.
  Ben and Isabella are amazing and made the entire process very easy. They could not have been more accommodating, sweet and friendly. In the crazy world of wedding planning they really kept track of us while providing valuable knowledge and insight. The rest of our vendors were coordinated with by Ben and Isabella, making that one less thing to have on our plate. Guests are still gushing about the location. The grounds are lush and guests are able to walk the paths. We had a few turkeys make an appearance right before the ceremony. There are so many unique features around the entire property and the center that no doubt make it a memorable setting. Also love to support a non-profit. Truly a uniquely beautiful location with the best staff to make your day perfect. We cannot thank ALNC enough!

  ALNC was the absolute best choice for our wedding venue. We loved the venue so much that it is the reason we were married in Madison rather than our home of Chicago.
  Ben and Isabella are amazing and made the entire process very easy. They could not have been more accommodating, sweet and friendly. In the crazy world of wedding planning they really kept track of us while providing valuable knowledge and insight. The rest of our vendors were coordinated with by Ben and Isabella, making that one less thing to have on our plate. Guests are still gushing about the location. The grounds are lush and guests are able to walk the paths. We had a few turkeys make an appearance right before the ceremony. There are so many unique features around the entire property and the center that no doubt make it a memorable setting. Also love to support a non-profit. Truly a uniquely beautiful location with the best staff to make your day perfect. We cannot thank ALNC enough!
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• Emma M. Sent on 09/19/2023
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  Beautiful, Unforgettable Venue Fundamental to our Successful Day

  Aldo Leopold Nature Center was hands down the best venue choice for us. The venue itself was beautiful and came with unique amenities like access to their trails and use of their NOAA space sphere, along with use of their immersion theater to project personal photos during the reception. The lights in the main atrium and the outdoor deck off the atrium was beautiful and for ceremonies, there were multiple outdoor options to choose from - a choice you didn't have to make until the week of so you can weigh indoor vs outdoor ceremony based on weather and based on how the area looks at the time. An underrated perk is that you get access to the venue for the entire wedding weekend. It was so lovely to do the majority of our set up on Friday afternoon, touch ups and host the event on Saturday, and being able to come back to pack up on Sunday.
  
  Ben, their event coordinator, was seriously fundamental to the success of our event from day one. When I expressed hesitance about having a WI wedding in April and asked about what nature would look like at the time, Ben dug into their archives to forward any pictures he had of outside the nature center at that time of year. When I pinged him almost weekly with different questions, Ben was timely and thorough in his responses. He was intentional in making sure we were set up for success on our day - doing and redoing and redoing venue layouts to align with what we envisioned, making sure that we had the equipment and support we needed for the day, etc. Him and Sarah did so much work during the event itself to make sure it ran smoothly, pulling out clear umbrellas for our guests when an unexpected rain shower came right before our ceremony began.
  
  Aldo Leopold and their events team are an asset to your day - if you are looking for a venue that can do the ceremony + reception in one place, has beautiful outdoors, has unique features beyond your traditional venue, and gives you flexibility to have access the entire weekend, you simply have to choose Aldo. PLUS your partnership provides money for their mission of educating and preserving nature.

  Aldo Leopold Nature Center was hands down the best venue choice for us. The venue itself was beautiful and came with unique amenities like access to their trails and use of their NOAA space sphere, along with use of their immersion theater to project personal photos during the reception. The lights in the main atrium and the outdoor deck off the atrium was beautiful and for ceremonies, there were multiple outdoor options to choose from - a choice you didn't have to make until the week of so you can weigh indoor vs outdoor ceremony based on weather and based on how the area looks at the time. An underrated perk is that you get access to the venue for the entire wedding weekend. It was so lovely to do the majority of our set up on Friday afternoon, touch ups and host the event on Saturday, and being able to come back to pack up on Sunday.
  
  Ben, their event coordinator, was seriously fundamental to the success of our event from day one. When I expressed hesitance about having a WI wedding in April and asked about what nature would look like at the time, Ben dug into their archives to forward any pictures he had of outside the nature center at that time of year. When I pinged him almost weekly with different questions, Ben was timely and thorough in his responses. He was intentional in making sure we were set up for success on our day - doing and redoing and redoing venue layouts to align with what we envisioned, making sure that we had the equipment and support we needed for the day, etc. Him and Sarah did so much work during the event itself to make sure it ran smoothly, pulling out clear umbrellas for our guests when an unexpected rain shower came right before our ceremony began.
  
  Aldo Leopold and their events team are an asset to your day - if you are looking for a venue that can do the ceremony + reception in one place, has beautiful outdoors, has unique features beyond your traditional venue, and gives you flexibility to have access the entire weekend, you simply have to choose Aldo. PLUS your partnership provides money for their mission of educating and preserving nature.
• Sam P. Sent on 10/26/2022
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  Amazing venue with helpful people

  We had a phenomenal wedding at Aldo Leopold Nature Center!! The space and grounds were beautiful, perfect for our fall wedding. Getting the entire weekend for setup on Friday, event on Saturday, cleanup on Sunday meant we had plenty of time to work with and felt very little rush and stress during the big weekend. The staff were also amazing, from the initial planning stages to walking us through what the weekend will look like, what we have access too, and when. We had an awesome time!

  We had a phenomenal wedding at Aldo Leopold Nature Center!! The space and grounds were beautiful, perfect for our fall wedding. Getting the entire weekend for setup on Friday, event on Saturday, cleanup on Sunday meant we had plenty of time to work with and felt very little rush and stress during the big weekend. The staff were also amazing, from the initial planning stages to walking us through what the weekend will look like, what we have access too, and when. We had an awesome time!
• Emma W. Sent on 12/19/2022
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  The Perfect Outdoor Venue

  We had our wedding at Aldo Leopold Nature Center, and it was more than we ever could have imagined. We love nature and love supporting youth in the outdoors - the prairie and building were absolutely beautiful and the perfect setting for our outdoor wedding.
  
  We’re so honored to have been married here and so thankful to those who helped make it happen. We want to give special thanks to Ben & Duncan. We had no idea how to plan a wedding, nor any comprehension of how stressful it would end up being. No matter how chaotic and overwhelmed we felt, they were both there with us through every step of the process. Over hundreds of emails, phone calls and in-person visits, your patience and kindness eased every question and doubt we had throughout the planning and event. Without you both, our wedding day would never have been possible.
  
  Thank you for making our wedding day one of the most cherished days of our lives. Aldo Leopold will forever have a special place in our hearts.

  We had our wedding at Aldo Leopold Nature Center, and it was more than we ever could have imagined. We love nature and love supporting youth in the outdoors - the prairie and building were absolutely beautiful and the perfect setting for our outdoor wedding.
  
  We’re so honored to have been married here and so thankful to those who helped make it happen. We want to give special thanks to Ben & Duncan. We had no idea how to plan a wedding, nor any comprehension of how stressful it would end up being. No matter how chaotic and overwhelmed we felt, they were both there with us through every step of the process. Over hundreds of emails, phone calls and in-person visits, your patience and kindness eased every question and doubt we had throughout the planning and event. Without you both, our wedding day would never have been possible.
  
  Thank you for making our wedding day one of the most cherished days of our lives. Aldo Leopold will forever have a special place in our hearts.
• Eliza Sent on 11/15/2022
  5 out of 5 rating

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  The Perfect Venue

  ALNC was the perfect reception venue. Ben, the events manager, and his team were experienced and helpful. They went above and beyond to make sure everything went smoothly. We received multiple compliments from our guests on the venue space, and one how perfect the weekend went, often hearing how it was "the smoothest wedding we've ever been to."
  
  There were many reasons we went with ALNC. The flexibility to chose our own caterers, the access to the rental Friday evening- Sunday afternoon, the indoor/outdoor spaces, the affordability, and the fact that our money would support their environmental education programs. It really was the perfect facility for us.
  
  Because I'm from out of state with many guest traveling, it was important to me that every guest also be invited to the rehearsal dinner. That put our dinner size at 100 people. We decided to host it at ALNC. This made it so we had two major events there in two days. But they didn't flinch. Ben and his staff setup all the tables and chairs for us before we arrived Friday evening, and helped clean everything up at the end of the meal. We then decorated everything for the next day that same night, with Ben there helping to keep things organized.
  
  In the weeks leading up to our wedding, Ben contacted all of our different vendors to give them any information they needed. Even giving them facility walkthroughs if they wanted them. He took a lot of the stress out of facilitating.
  
  Day of, Ben organized all the vendors (bartenders, food, DJ) and gave them all of the tools they needed to get to work. We arrived from our ceremony into a space filled with music, flowers, and food.
  
  On Sunday, my husband and I went back to ALNC to help clean up, only to find that everything had been done for us. They even collected all of our decor and extra alcohol and put it in a cart by the door so it was easier to load into our car.
  
  On top of the stellar organization, ALNC is also gorgeous. We had guest walking the trails during cocktail hour, enjoying the flowers. There were kids at the wedding who loved looking for frogs in the pond. We had yard games that kept people entertained until dinner. And when it rained later in the night, the covered porch kept everyone dry and allowed for a space away from the music for people to connect. You won't regret booking ALNC.

  ALNC was the perfect reception venue. Ben, the events manager, and his team were experienced and helpful. They went above and beyond to make sure everything went smoothly. We received multiple compliments from our guests on the venue space, and one how perfect the weekend went, often hearing how it was "the smoothest wedding we've ever been to."
  
  There were many reasons we went with ALNC. The flexibility to chose our own caterers, the access to the rental Friday evening- Sunday afternoon, the indoor/outdoor spaces, the affordability, and the fact that our money would support their environmental education programs. It really was the perfect facility for us.
  
  Because I'm from out of state with many guest traveling, it was important to me that every guest also be invited to the rehearsal dinner. That put our dinner size at 100 people. We decided to host it at ALNC. This made it so we had two major events there in two days. But they didn't flinch. Ben and his staff setup all the tables and chairs for us before we arrived Friday evening, and helped clean everything up at the end of the meal. We then decorated everything for the next day that same night, with Ben there helping to keep things organized.
  
  In the weeks leading up to our wedding, Ben contacted all of our different vendors to give them any information they needed. Even giving them facility walkthroughs if they wanted them. He took a lot of the stress out of facilitating.
  
  Day of, Ben organized all the vendors (bartenders, food, DJ) and gave them all of the tools they needed to get to work. We arrived from our ceremony into a space filled with music, flowers, and food.
  
  On Sunday, my husband and I went back to ALNC to help clean up, only to find that everything had been done for us. They even collected all of our decor and extra alcohol and put it in a cart by the door so it was easier to load into our car.
  
  On top of the stellar organization, ALNC is also gorgeous. We had guest walking the trails during cocktail hour, enjoying the flowers. There were kids at the wedding who loved looking for frogs in the pond. We had yard games that kept people entertained until dinner. And when it rained later in the night, the covered porch kept everyone dry and allowed for a space away from the music for people to connect. You won't regret booking ALNC.
• Andrea F. Sent on 08/17/2022
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  Great Venue

  We loved having our wedding at ALNC! There were lovely indoor and outdoor spaces, allowing us to have a great covid conscious wedding and reception. All the staff were super friendly, knowledgeable and extremely helpful. We loved: having a kid friendly space, the rental for the full weekend (no clean up on Saturday night!!!!! and we did brunch there Sunday), indoor and outdoor seating options for our dinner, dance floor started outdoors and moved indoors, and just generally the beautiful setting.

  We loved having our wedding at ALNC! There were lovely indoor and outdoor spaces, allowing us to have a great covid conscious wedding and reception. All the staff were super friendly, knowledgeable and extremely helpful. We loved: having a kid friendly space, the rental for the full weekend (no clean up on Saturday night!!!!! and we did brunch there Sunday), indoor and outdoor seating options for our dinner, dance floor started outdoors and moved indoors, and just generally the beautiful setting.

  • +4 photos
• Kate M. Sent on 02/17/2021
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  Beautiful venue & excellent service

  ALNC is a perfect venue for couples looking to be surrounded by nature on their wedding day. The grounds at ALNC are stunning - especially in mid-summer with the wildflower blooms! And the indoor space is great for a reception hall/weather contingency plan.
  
  We had booked out wedding for July 2020 and worked closely with the event coordinator, Duncan, who was incredibly responsive and organized. We were especially excited that proceeds from our wedding would go towards ALNC's mission to bring nature to the Madison community. Unfortunately, we had to change our wedding plans due to COVID. Throughout this stressful time, Duncan and the team at ALNC were nothing but kind, supportive, and accommodating. When we eventually chose to cancel our ALNC wedding altogether and instead have a small private ceremony, ALNC actually refunded almost all of our fee. We are disappointed circumstances prevented us from having the beautiful wedding we had planned at ALNC, but I cannot recommend them highly enough for other couples!

  ALNC is a perfect venue for couples looking to be surrounded by nature on their wedding day. The grounds at ALNC are stunning - especially in mid-summer with the wildflower blooms! And the indoor space is great for a reception hall/weather contingency plan.
  
  We had booked out wedding for July 2020 and worked closely with the event coordinator, Duncan, who was incredibly responsive and organized. We were especially excited that proceeds from our wedding would go towards ALNC's mission to bring nature to the Madison community. Unfortunately, we had to change our wedding plans due to COVID. Throughout this stressful time, Duncan and the team at ALNC were nothing but kind, supportive, and accommodating. When we eventually chose to cancel our ALNC wedding altogether and instead have a small private ceremony, ALNC actually refunded almost all of our fee. We are disappointed circumstances prevented us from having the beautiful wedding we had planned at ALNC, but I cannot recommend them highly enough for other couples!
• Tia V. Sent on 12/28/2019
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  We just dropped off our deposit!

  I'll update this review once the wedding happens!
  
  Our experience at ALNC has been nothing but positive, transparent and easy. Duncan and the staff that we have contacted are great to work with and accommodating to my questions and requests as we are planning our wedding. ALNC has a lot of experience as a wedding venue and their professionalism shows.

  I'll update this review once the wedding happens!
  
  Our experience at ALNC has been nothing but positive, transparent and easy. Duncan and the staff that we have contacted are great to work with and accommodating to my questions and requests as we are planning our wedding. ALNC has a lot of experience as a wedding venue and their professionalism shows.
• Annette H. Sent on 11/08/2021
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  Superb all around

  The venue is gorgeous. Such natural beauty inside and outside. Duncan was so patient and helpful through the process!
  
  The staff on our weekend were incredibly helpful and make it as simple as possible for us. I couldn’t say enough good things about this venue.

  The venue is gorgeous. Such natural beauty inside and outside. Duncan was so patient and helpful through the process!
  
  The staff on our weekend were incredibly helpful and make it as simple as possible for us. I couldn’t say enough good things about this venue.
• Sean D. Sent on 03/09/2021
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  Fantastic Venue, Beautiful Scenery

  My wife and I had a wonderful time working with Duncan and the crew at the Aldo Leopold Nature Center. Duncan and his team are incredibly responsive, resourceful, and full of useful information to help keep your mind at ease during the stressful planning if your wedding. The nature center is set on acres of beautiful land with wildflowers, grasses, and trees. There are outdoor campfire pits to enjoy, as well as a large covered patio for guests to meander outside but still be protected from any elements. Inside is a beautiful rustic wood space with tables and built in dance floor. The nature center has some decorations and lights you are able to use but the cherry on top is you have the whole weekend for your event. That's right, you could set everything up Friday, have the wedding Saturday, and then just take everything down the following Sunday. No stressful in and out frenzy on one day! Working with the Aldo Leopold Nature Center was always a welcome experience and the easiest part of our wedding planning. I would recommend this venue highly!

  My wife and I had a wonderful time working with Duncan and the crew at the Aldo Leopold Nature Center. Duncan and his team are incredibly responsive, resourceful, and full of useful information to help keep your mind at ease during the stressful planning if your wedding. The nature center is set on acres of beautiful land with wildflowers, grasses, and trees. There are outdoor campfire pits to enjoy, as well as a large covered patio for guests to meander outside but still be protected from any elements. Inside is a beautiful rustic wood space with tables and built in dance floor. The nature center has some decorations and lights you are able to use but the cherry on top is you have the whole weekend for your event. That's right, you could set everything up Friday, have the wedding Saturday, and then just take everything down the following Sunday. No stressful in and out frenzy on one day! Working with the Aldo Leopold Nature Center was always a welcome experience and the easiest part of our wedding planning. I would recommend this venue highly!
• Emily M. Sent on 10/23/2019
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  Amazing space for indoor/outdoor nature-oriented wedding!

  The Aldo Leopald Nature Center was the perfect venue for our October 19, 2019 wedding. The location was beautiful, and the indoor/outdoor options made dealing with the weather non-stressful! The staff were extremely invested, flexible, and accommodating.
  
  We were able to have our wedding outdoors among perfect fall color, and our reception indoors while allowing the guests to mingle and mix between the nature trails, and the recently roofed-in patio/deck. There were also multiple rooms for photography projection (thanks to Duncan for making a great slide show!) and the 3D globe projection room was a big hit. The venue was well set up for a progression from outdoor ceremony to indoor/outdoor cocktail hour, to indoor dinner and dancing with options to hang out in lots of spaces. This allowed our 115 guests to ‘choose their own adventure’ which was phenomenal.
  
  The ALNC also helped cut down on our price and stress of wedding planning. They provided an amazing support staff (shout out to Duncan for answering all our questions with expediency and good cheer!), and also didn’t have any ‘gotchas’ with price. Chairs and tables were provided for a small additional fee (far less than rental!). We used an approved caterer from FoodFight and rented a few things (bar, patio heating tower, and clothes rack) from a la Crate Rentals. All in all it was a seamless collaboration in terms of food, bartending, and venue use.
  
  Most of all, we loved supporting ALNC with our wedding. The center sponsors preschools and field trip programs, as well as public education and outreach. We were really happy that our wedding money went towards these missions, and we plan to come back to the center for events and hikes in the years to come!

  The Aldo Leopald Nature Center was the perfect venue for our October 19, 2019 wedding. The location was beautiful, and the indoor/outdoor options made dealing with the weather non-stressful! The staff were extremely invested, flexible, and accommodating.
  
  We were able to have our wedding outdoors among perfect fall color, and our reception indoors while allowing the guests to mingle and mix between the nature trails, and the recently roofed-in patio/deck. There were also multiple rooms for photography projection (thanks to Duncan for making a great slide show!) and the 3D globe projection room was a big hit. The venue was well set up for a progression from outdoor ceremony to indoor/outdoor cocktail hour, to indoor dinner and dancing with options to hang out in lots of spaces. This allowed our 115 guests to ‘choose their own adventure’ which was phenomenal.
  
  The ALNC also helped cut down on our price and stress of wedding planning. They provided an amazing support staff (shout out to Duncan for answering all our questions with expediency and good cheer!), and also didn’t have any ‘gotchas’ with price. Chairs and tables were provided for a small additional fee (far less than rental!). We used an approved caterer from FoodFight and rented a few things (bar, patio heating tower, and clothes rack) from a la Crate Rentals. All in all it was a seamless collaboration in terms of food, bartending, and venue use.
  
  Most of all, we loved supporting ALNC with our wedding. The center sponsors preschools and field trip programs, as well as public education and outreach. We were really happy that our wedding money went towards these missions, and we plan to come back to the center for events and hikes in the years to come!

  • +5 photos
• Spencer S. Sent on 10/16/2019
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  Perfect Venue for Perfect Day

  Choosing the location to is one of the most important and potentially one of the most difficult decisions you'll make with your partner when planning your wedding. If the unbelievable beauty of the prairie, the masterfully renovated building with the incredible chandelier, the secluded feeling the trees of this nature preserve, or how professional and helpful Duncan and his team are, aren't enough of a reason to make the decision to book this venue for your wedding, consider that the money you'll be spending goes directly back to the children of the community to help with the recently opened preschool and field trip programs. Not only will you have the PERFECT location for the most special day of your lives, you'll also be doing an act of goodness, so you'll feel good about your decision as well.
  
  I can't imagine having a wedding in any other location.

  Choosing the location to is one of the most important and potentially one of the most difficult decisions you'll make with your partner when planning your wedding. If the unbelievable beauty of the prairie, the masterfully renovated building with the incredible chandelier, the secluded feeling the trees of this nature preserve, or how professional and helpful Duncan and his team are, aren't enough of a reason to make the decision to book this venue for your wedding, consider that the money you'll be spending goes directly back to the children of the community to help with the recently opened preschool and field trip programs. Not only will you have the PERFECT location for the most special day of your lives, you'll also be doing an act of goodness, so you'll feel good about your decision as well.
  
  I can't imagine having a wedding in any other location.
• Paddy Sent on 10/02/2019
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  Amazing Venue and Exceptional Staff

  The Aldo Leopold Nature Center was the perfect choice for both our ceremony and reception. The building and grounds are beautiful and our guests really enjoyed both in the inside and outside amenities. What really made this venue shine, though, was the staff. Duncan was there every step of the way, both answering all of our questions and providing suggestions. The staff assistance throughout the entire weekend was phenomenal, as well. They were extremely flexible given the uncertain weather, and when the decision was made to move the ceremony inside they went above and beyond to ensure that everything went perfectly. We highly recommend the Aldo Leopold Nature Center to anyone looking for a ceremony and reception venue.

  The Aldo Leopold Nature Center was the perfect choice for both our ceremony and reception. The building and grounds are beautiful and our guests really enjoyed both in the inside and outside amenities. What really made this venue shine, though, was the staff. Duncan was there every step of the way, both answering all of our questions and providing suggestions. The staff assistance throughout the entire weekend was phenomenal, as well. They were extremely flexible given the uncertain weather, and when the decision was made to move the ceremony inside they went above and beyond to ensure that everything went perfectly. We highly recommend the Aldo Leopold Nature Center to anyone looking for a ceremony and reception venue.
• Mason O. Sent on 09/29/2019
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  Couldn’t have asked for better

  The Aldo Leopald Nature Center was the perfect venue for our September wedding. The location is beautiful, there’s plenty of indoor and outdoor options, and the staff were extremely attentive and supporting.
  
  We were able to have our wedding outdoors, and our reception indoors while allowing the guests to frequent an outdoor bar and take their drinks along beautiful nature trails. There was a bonfire area that we took advantage for late night smores, multiple rooms for photography projection (including a cool 3d globe projection room which was fun), lots of spaces for guests to hang out in and outdoors, the list goes on.
  
  The ALNC also helped cut down on our price and stress of wedding planning. The venue provides (for a small additional fee) chairs and tables, a place to project photos for you at no additional cost, and amazing support staff (shout out to Duncan for answering all of our questions in no time flat)! The ALNC also allows you to bring in your own alcohol, which saved us a ton of money and really let us customize our bar (homebrew)!
  
  I’m addition to all you get from the venue, from what I understand your money is going to a great cause by having your wedding at the ALNC. The Aldo sponsors field trips for schools, and the money you spend helps keep those field trips affordable for schools that might otherwise find it harder to invest in education about the environment.

  The Aldo Leopald Nature Center was the perfect venue for our September wedding. The location is beautiful, there’s plenty of indoor and outdoor options, and the staff were extremely attentive and supporting.
  
  We were able to have our wedding outdoors, and our reception indoors while allowing the guests to frequent an outdoor bar and take their drinks along beautiful nature trails. There was a bonfire area that we took advantage for late night smores, multiple rooms for photography projection (including a cool 3d globe projection room which was fun), lots of spaces for guests to hang out in and outdoors, the list goes on.
  
  The ALNC also helped cut down on our price and stress of wedding planning. The venue provides (for a small additional fee) chairs and tables, a place to project photos for you at no additional cost, and amazing support staff (shout out to Duncan for answering all of our questions in no time flat)! The ALNC also allows you to bring in your own alcohol, which saved us a ton of money and really let us customize our bar (homebrew)!
  
  I’m addition to all you get from the venue, from what I understand your money is going to a great cause by having your wedding at the ALNC. The Aldo sponsors field trips for schools, and the money you spend helps keep those field trips affordable for schools that might otherwise find it harder to invest in education about the environment.
• Oliver R. Sent on 10/07/2019
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  Aldo Leopold Nature Center is the best!

  We had the pleasure of having our wedding ceremony at the Aldo Leopold Nature Center in September. All along, Duncan and co. were wonderful to work with in getting all the logistics organized for the event. Day-of, we were dealing with a bit of an ambiguous weather situation, so the team did a phenomenal job of reconstructing our ceremony plans in another part of the grounds (that were covered), which wound up being even more beautiful than we could have imagined! We feel so lucky to have chosen the ALNC for our ceremony! Thanks Duncan and everyone who made our night so perfect!

  We had the pleasure of having our wedding ceremony at the Aldo Leopold Nature Center in September. All along, Duncan and co. were wonderful to work with in getting all the logistics organized for the event. Day-of, we were dealing with a bit of an ambiguous weather situation, so the team did a phenomenal job of reconstructing our ceremony plans in another part of the grounds (that were covered), which wound up being even more beautiful than we could have imagined! We feel so lucky to have chosen the ALNC for our ceremony! Thanks Duncan and everyone who made our night so perfect!
• Molly J. Sent on 12/01/2019
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  Perfect wedding at ALNC

  Our wedding was absolutely perfect at ALNC on 9/1/19. ALNC is a great wedding venue that enables you to have all the perks of being on the east side of Madison (well, Monona, but close enough!) while feeling immersed in a beautiful nature setting. We loved that we could choose all our own vendors (Good Food Cart, Calliope Icecream, Kona Snowcones, and a bartender to serve a keg of beer and wine). Duncan from ALNC was proactive and highly responsive to all of our questions - we never felt like a bother. We had our ceremony outdoors and guests popped over to the building and covered deck for yard games, drinks, apps, dinner, and dancing. We also made full use of the grounds for photos that turned out beautifully (thanks to Herrada Photography!). It was awesome that ALNC had a high quality sound system we could use, for no extra cost, to throw on a Spotify playlist on for the night, saving us money on a DJ! Mostly, we loved that our wedding embraced our love for being outside and supports youth to have opportunities to participate in all the incredible programming ALNC offers. We received tons of compliments on the venue and would recommend ALNC to anyone!

  Our wedding was absolutely perfect at ALNC on 9/1/19. ALNC is a great wedding venue that enables you to have all the perks of being on the east side of Madison (well, Monona, but close enough!) while feeling immersed in a beautiful nature setting. We loved that we could choose all our own vendors (Good Food Cart, Calliope Icecream, Kona Snowcones, and a bartender to serve a keg of beer and wine). Duncan from ALNC was proactive and highly responsive to all of our questions - we never felt like a bother. We had our ceremony outdoors and guests popped over to the building and covered deck for yard games, drinks, apps, dinner, and dancing. We also made full use of the grounds for photos that turned out beautifully (thanks to Herrada Photography!). It was awesome that ALNC had a high quality sound system we could use, for no extra cost, to throw on a Spotify playlist on for the night, saving us money on a DJ! Mostly, we loved that our wedding embraced our love for being outside and supports youth to have opportunities to participate in all the incredible programming ALNC offers. We received tons of compliments on the venue and would recommend ALNC to anyone!
• Marissa S. Sent on 11/07/2019
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  Loved our experience at ALNC

  Duncan, who works at ALNC and handles rentals, was the best to work with. And it's not just us that thought that - our wedding planner also told us of all the venue coordinators, she saw him as the most professional and helpful. ALNC was a totally beautiful space to get married (you won't need to go anywhere else for photos!), and it's a great perk that by getting married there, you're helping fund nature programming for kids who otherwise might not have access. We recommend it highly!

  Duncan, who works at ALNC and handles rentals, was the best to work with. And it's not just us that thought that - our wedding planner also told us of all the venue coordinators, she saw him as the most professional and helpful. ALNC was a totally beautiful space to get married (you won't need to go anywhere else for photos!), and it's a great perk that by getting married there, you're helping fund nature programming for kids who otherwise might not have access. We recommend it highly!
• Hannah B. Sent on 11/06/2019
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  A Unique Green-Focused Wedding Venue: It Speaks for Itself

  We wanted our wedding to be as zero-waste as possible, simple, nature-oriented, provide locally sourced food, and make an lasting impression. ALNC offered recommendations for these goals and much more, with a deeper purpose and connection for our big day. The team was thoughtful, listened to our eco-vision, and guided us through details every step of the way. The space and natural beauty speaks for itself and the memories we made were everlasting. I cannot say a negative thing about this day because looking back, all I remember was the cranes swarming our rehearsal, the red cardinal perching on the tree before my dad walked me down the aisle, and the rainbow that presented itself after a short August rain. If you are looking to create a lasting memory for yourself, family & friends, this venue and team are the ones to make it happen. We cannot wait to make more memories with ALNC as we grow in our marriage and expand our family. A couple tips/highlights: Rent for the weekend - we invited guests to come back and walk to trails for a fun brunch (highly recommended). Proceeds from the rental go toward education programming – I mean seriously what better way to spend a major portion of your budget toward an educational mission that supports kids and families engaging with nature. It made us feel intentional with our budget, by feeling like we were making a contribution to our community. Go with the recommendations of ALNC – our caterer, Wendigo was the most amazing personalized and professional group of hardworking folks. Thanks to ALNC, we were able to source the localized menu that guests noted the best catering they have ever had! Consider your waste, weddings accumulate so much waste, go simple, let the space speak for itself and maximize all aspects the land has to offer. Finally, congratulations on your big day, you are in amazing hands by making an intentional decision to work with this outstanding, dedicated group of sustainable leaders in our community. Let them show you how easy it is to create a eco-wedding!

  We wanted our wedding to be as zero-waste as possible, simple, nature-oriented, provide locally sourced food, and make an lasting impression. ALNC offered recommendations for these goals and much more, with a deeper purpose and connection for our big day. The team was thoughtful, listened to our eco-vision, and guided us through details every step of the way. The space and natural beauty speaks for itself and the memories we made were everlasting. I cannot say a negative thing about this day because looking back, all I remember was the cranes swarming our rehearsal, the red cardinal perching on the tree before my dad walked me down the aisle, and the rainbow that presented itself after a short August rain. If you are looking to create a lasting memory for yourself, family & friends, this venue and team are the ones to make it happen. We cannot wait to make more memories with ALNC as we grow in our marriage and expand our family. A couple tips/highlights: Rent for the weekend - we invited guests to come back and walk to trails for a fun brunch (highly recommended). Proceeds from the rental go toward education programming – I mean seriously what better way to spend a major portion of your budget toward an educational mission that supports kids and families engaging with nature. It made us feel intentional with our budget, by feeling like we were making a contribution to our community. Go with the recommendations of ALNC – our caterer, Wendigo was the most amazing personalized and professional group of hardworking folks. Thanks to ALNC, we were able to source the localized menu that guests noted the best catering they have ever had! Consider your waste, weddings accumulate so much waste, go simple, let the space speak for itself and maximize all aspects the land has to offer. Finally, congratulations on your big day, you are in amazing hands by making an intentional decision to work with this outstanding, dedicated group of sustainable leaders in our community. Let them show you how easy it is to create a eco-wedding!

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• Amber Sent on 08/08/2019
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  We love alnc!

  We loved everything about having our wedding here! Their event coordinator, Duncan, was quick to respond to every single one of my questions. I felt well informed throughout the entire process. Day of, ALNC staff worked so hard to ensure that our day was as close to perfect as possible. Unfortunately, rain forced us to have our ceremony inside, but the new renovated space comfortably sat 100 people for our ceremony. Although I dreaded an indoor wedding, it ended up being more beautiful and intimate than I could have imagined. Our guests loved the giant covered porch, trails, immersion theatre that showed our wedding slide show (that Duncan put together for us), and Science on a Sphere room that showed the Death Star throughout the evening! The fact that ALNC was willing to let us have food trucks cater our evening was also a perk! The ability to have the space from Friday until Sunday really helped to make our weekend less stressful as we had ample time to set up and take down all of our decorations. We adored having our wedding at ALNC and look forward to coming back for years to come!

  We loved everything about having our wedding here! Their event coordinator, Duncan, was quick to respond to every single one of my questions. I felt well informed throughout the entire process. Day of, ALNC staff worked so hard to ensure that our day was as close to perfect as possible. Unfortunately, rain forced us to have our ceremony inside, but the new renovated space comfortably sat 100 people for our ceremony. Although I dreaded an indoor wedding, it ended up being more beautiful and intimate than I could have imagined. Our guests loved the giant covered porch, trails, immersion theatre that showed our wedding slide show (that Duncan put together for us), and Science on a Sphere room that showed the Death Star throughout the evening! The fact that ALNC was willing to let us have food trucks cater our evening was also a perk! The ability to have the space from Friday until Sunday really helped to make our weekend less stressful as we had ample time to set up and take down all of our decorations. We adored having our wedding at ALNC and look forward to coming back for years to come!

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• Melissa C. Sent on 07/06/2019
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  An amazing venue

  Our wedding at Aldo Leopold was absolutely amazing. Duncan was fantastic to work with and answered all the questions I had for him promptly. The venue was absolutely beautiful with the remodel and guests enjoyed the ceremony location, exploring the trails and taking in the beauty and nature around them! We could not imagine having had our wedding anywhere else

  Our wedding at Aldo Leopold was absolutely amazing. Duncan was fantastic to work with and answered all the questions I had for him promptly. The venue was absolutely beautiful with the remodel and guests enjoyed the ceremony location, exploring the trails and taking in the beauty and nature around them! We could not imagine having had our wedding anywhere else
• Brian S. Sent on 10/15/2019
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  Beautiful venue and great staff

  Everything all weekend long went just as planned and worked out great! From the rehearsal to the wedding day to cleaning up on Sunday, we couldn't have asked for a better experience. The venue is beautiful and lots of space can be utilized for many activities. We had lawn games set up during the reception in the lawn space and the bar set up on the deck and it provided a gorgeous back drop. The indoor space is also lovely and transforms into a magical scene for dinner and dancing. The staff was very helpful and flexible which helped make our special day go perfectly.

  Everything all weekend long went just as planned and worked out great! From the rehearsal to the wedding day to cleaning up on Sunday, we couldn't have asked for a better experience. The venue is beautiful and lots of space can be utilized for many activities. We had lawn games set up during the reception in the lawn space and the bar set up on the deck and it provided a gorgeous back drop. The indoor space is also lovely and transforms into a magical scene for dinner and dancing. The staff was very helpful and flexible which helped make our special day go perfectly.
• Cecilia Sent on 06/16/2019
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  Strongly recommend

  ALNC turned out to be the perfect place for our wedding. Duncan was very quick to respond to emails, and it was clear how invested he and the staff were in making our wedding a special day. They just renovated the facilities, and they rallied hard to get everything done in time for our wedding. They were all such a pleasure to work with! The grounds are beautiful and it was so cool to get to see our guests exploring the trails during cocktail hour. We thought we were in for a rainy day, but when the forecast cleared up an hour before our ceremony, staff worked hard to move the whole setup outdoors so that we could have a beautiful outdoor ceremony.
  The extra perk of having your wedding here is that the money that you pay helps to support ALNC's nature programming for kids!

  ALNC turned out to be the perfect place for our wedding. Duncan was very quick to respond to emails, and it was clear how invested he and the staff were in making our wedding a special day. They just renovated the facilities, and they rallied hard to get everything done in time for our wedding. They were all such a pleasure to work with! The grounds are beautiful and it was so cool to get to see our guests exploring the trails during cocktail hour. We thought we were in for a rainy day, but when the forecast cleared up an hour before our ceremony, staff worked hard to move the whole setup outdoors so that we could have a beautiful outdoor ceremony.
  The extra perk of having your wedding here is that the money that you pay helps to support ALNC's nature programming for kids!
• Kevin W. Sent on 11/17/2019
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  ALNC: beautiful nature-filled venue with experienced, flexible staff.

  ALNC was an amazing venue for our wedding. The grounds around the building contain great trails that go through the beautiful prairie, some forest and around a pond. It is a perfect outdoor setting for any wedding, especially for any nature lovers. The building itself was wonderful, with plenty of space for our indoor wedding ceremony and reception (of 154 guests), not to mention a spacious area for dancing afterwards as well. Duncan and the rest of the staff were very helpful, flexible and receptive, both leading up to the event and on the day of. The staff is also quite knowledgeable and experienced at hosting weddings, which helped prevent a lot of the stress that can be involved in wedding planning. My wife and I would, without a doubt, recommend this beautiful venue to anyone who asks. (I should also mention that the income that ALNC gets from weddings helps support the local school programs that are held at ALNC, which is awesome!)

  ALNC was an amazing venue for our wedding. The grounds around the building contain great trails that go through the beautiful prairie, some forest and around a pond. It is a perfect outdoor setting for any wedding, especially for any nature lovers. The building itself was wonderful, with plenty of space for our indoor wedding ceremony and reception (of 154 guests), not to mention a spacious area for dancing afterwards as well. Duncan and the rest of the staff were very helpful, flexible and receptive, both leading up to the event and on the day of. The staff is also quite knowledgeable and experienced at hosting weddings, which helped prevent a lot of the stress that can be involved in wedding planning. My wife and I would, without a doubt, recommend this beautiful venue to anyone who asks. (I should also mention that the income that ALNC gets from weddings helps support the local school programs that are held at ALNC, which is awesome!)

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