Nancy Forrester's SECRET GARDEN |
One Free-School Lane |
Key West, Florida 33040 |
(305) 294-0015 |
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CEREMONIES WEDDING COMMITMENT RENEWAL OF VOWS
“Key
West’s Rain Forest”, Beautiful, Romantic and Spiritually Uplifting. An
artist’s home and an important Urban Sanctuary Garden functioning “Congratulations, and thank you for your interest. We are honored by your inquiry and delighted if you decide to hold your ceremony here. Your participation and financial support helps keep this garden alive in the face of encroaching development.” Reverend Nancy Forrester THE GARDEN
The Secret Garden is a naturalized woodland shade
garden reminiscent of a tropical rain
Paths wind through the foliage to small open areas
where tables and chairs nestle beneath Though horti-culturally important, the Secret Garden is primarily a Sanctuary Garden, created over 30 years ago for spiritual and aesthetic use. Ceremonies of all kinds have been held here since the days of the native Calusa Indians. It is also the last undeveloped wooded acre in the heart of Old Town Key West. The garden is now bounded on all sides by the concrete of commercial ventures. Florida is losing 450 acres to development every day. OUR FACILITIES FOR YOUR CEREMONY
The Garden is a unique, cigarette and cigar smoke-free location for
small groups of people interested in intimate ceremonies. Many of the
ceremonies held in this garden are composed of just three people: the couple
and the celebrant. However, the garden can accommodate 40 You are welcome to bring your own celebrant, wedding coordinator, musicians, photographer, videographer, florist, or caterer for champagne and cake. We ask that all your plans are fully noted on our contract or your coordinator’s contract and OK’d by us prior to your event.
When we use the word wedding coordinator we refer to the person or
persons who provide We have an earth first philosophy here and do not alter the garden in any way for any event. We have on hand 40 dark green resin chairs and several round tables, plus electrical outlet and cord for your CD or tape player or amplified live music. We only ask that you or your wedding coordinator ensures that everything is put back as it was after use, the same day. The garden is unfortunately not equipped to accommodate receptions; an open bar and/or trays of finger food are not permitted, nor are tents. Receptions can be held at other locations in town.
Incense, sage and candles are welcome as long as all
scent and smoke is kept well away It has been our experience that during the hot months dehydration is common, especially |when guests are nervous, excited, anxiously awaiting. It is important for you to provide cold bottled water for your guests. Almost hidden within the garden’s foliage is a small air-conditioned cottage that can be reserved in advance as a back up location in case of rain. Its screened porch can accommodate up to 25 people. The cottage is also convenient for rehearsal and ceremony preparation, dressing and/or a honeymoon retreat. (Two-night rental minimum required; two-person overnight occupancy. Smoking not permitted.)
The parrots are talkative and delighted to see you. We
make sure their sporadic enthusiastic vocal outbursts are not disruptive
during the exchange of vows. The few visitors that may be in The people who volunteer or participate in the work here are artists, horticulturists and aviculturists, and will be happy to recommend local professionals to provide the services you may need -- from wedding coordinators and caterers, ministers and notaries, musicians, photographers, florists and bakers and places to hold your reception. Our people will do everything to make sure your ceremony is private and peaceful. HOURS
Our gate, designed and built by artist Paul Mikolay, is
unlocked and opened to the public
Your ceremony may take place any time during daylight
hours. Ceremonies are not scheduled back-to-back. The exchange of vows is
generally short – requiring 15 minutes or so. However, deliveries,
musicians ‘and caterers or coordinators’ setup, breakdown, guests arriving
and departing all precede and follow the ceremony. We ask that you consider
the time required for these activities so that you, your guests or service
personnel do not have to stand and wait Our staff is very busy around opening and closing time. 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM. Therefore, ceremony reserved time beginning before 10:30 AM or ending after 4:30 PM requires additional staffing for us and will be subject to the additional after-hours fee. REHEARSAL
If you wish a rehearsal, it must be scheduled on our
books in advance. Someone from our RAIN BACKUP LOCATIONKey West is blessed with gorgeous warm sunny weather most of the year. However, it can be cold (50s) on winter evenings and very hot (90s) in summer, especially during the late summer rainy season. Hurricanes and tropical waves are most prevalent in September and October. Our Sanctuary is fertile and alive because the earth is open to the elements, unobstructed by bricks, pavement, concrete or man-made shelters. Though we have had only a few ceremonies cancelled due to rain, high wind or dangerous lighting in the past eight years, we suggest you make advance arrangements for a back-up rain location. (Our cottage, or a porch at your lodgings) SMOKING & CELL PHONES PROHIBITEDFor safety and to honor nature’s wellspring of life (clean air) cigarette and cigar smoking is prohibited in the garden and cottage. Use of cell phones is not permitted, as this causes serious distraction from the Sanctuary’s Mission. Smoking and cell phones are allowed in the Lane by the Entrance. We ask that you inform your guests of our nonsmoking and cell phone policy. PARKING
The Secret Garden is located at the end of Free School
Lane, a city-owned public access lane with no parking space available.
Deliveries, elderly and handicapped persons and the bride, OUR LOCATION AND SERVICE FEESWe charge our traditional fee of $6.00 per person for all who enter the sanctuary plus a $100 location rental fee, and a $35.00 refundable clean up fee.
$100 Location Rental Fee
This fee includes a $50.00 non-refundable deposit,
payable at the time of booking. Events are not secured or entered on our
calendar until we receive the deposit. The balance is due day of event. The
location rental fee allows use of the Sanctuary for your ceremony, the use
of our
$6 per person - Traditional Admission Fee This fee is charged to all who enter the sanctuary: The couple, their guests including babies in arms, as well as all service personnel attending the ceremony (clergy, wedding coordinator, musicians, photographer, etc. and their friends). People making deliveries are not charged. This fee is due the day of the event.
$20/Hour After-Hours Garden Fee Hours are not prorated. This fee is due the day of the event.
$50 Nonrefundable Rehearsal Location fee, plus $20/hour if held after hours Hours are not prorated. All rehearsals must be booked in advance. This fee is due the day of the event.
$35 Refundable Cleanup Fee The sanctuary must be returned to us in the same order as you leased it the day of the event. We will keep this fee if our staff has to clean up or reposition the garden’s tables and chairs or your rented equipment after your event.
Cottage Rental, $169-249/night, varies with season Two-person maximum, two-night minimum, nonsmoking
Taxes on rentals11.5% tax will be added on cottage rental and Garden Location rental fees and After Hours fees. Our traditional $6 per person admission fee includes 7.5% tax. BOOKING & BILLINGReservations: By telephone: (305) 294-0015 We will return messages on the answering machine promptly By mail: Nancy Forrester’s Secret Garden, One Free School Lane, Key West, FL 33040 By e-mail: E-mail Our Website: www.nfsgarden.com Contract:
Form
available by mail or downloadable from Website. Return to us by mail.
Payment: $50 nonrefundable location/service fee due on booking Balance due day of event. Cash, check and approved Master Card, Visa, or American Express accepted. IN CONCLUSION
Thank you for inquiring. I look forward to meeting
you. Ceremonies energize this Sanctuary. Your love brings forth blessings
and vows forever enriching the Secret Garden’s sacred Reverend Nancy Forrester
WEDDING & COMMITMENTContract for Services
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