Venue Spotlight · Lincoln, NE

Wedding Photographer at
Sunken Gardens

Photographers who actually know Sunken Gardens — the light, the bloom timing, the best portrait spots, the family-formal corner that doesn't show up on the venue tour.

Book a Consultation View the Work

What we know about shooting Sunken Gardens

Sunken Gardens is one of the most photogenic outdoor wedding ceremony venues in Lincoln — three levels of terraced gardens, a long axial design, and seasonal blooms that range from tulips in April to a peak floral wall mid-July through September.

The specific things we've learned from shooting weddings here:

- The lower terrace gets afternoon shade by about 3 PM in summer — ceremony timing matters more here than at most outdoor venues - The bridge over the lily pond is the most-photographed spot, which means it's often crowded with other parties' guests; we route couples around it for portraits during ceremony processionals - The north side near the gazebo handles wind better than the south — useful intel for dress and veil shots - Bloom calendar: tulip beds peak April 15–May 10, peony beds peak late May, the floral wall is at full saturation July through mid-September

Ceremony, portraits, and group formals

Most Sunken Gardens weddings run the ceremony on the central lawn (capacity ~150 seated), then move to the bridge and floral wall for couple portraits, then the upper terrace for group formals. We've shot enough of these that we have a 90-minute portrait-to-formals routing that gets every shot without making the family hike between locations 4 times.

If you're planning a sunset ceremony here, we recommend a 6:30 PM start in June, 6 PM in September, and earlier in spring/fall depending on the date.

Permits and logistics

Sunken Gardens is a public Lincoln Parks & Rec property. Wedding ceremony permits are required (apply through the city, typically $200–400 depending on guest count and time of year). Drone use requires separate approval — we've done it; the process takes about a week.

We coordinate the permit and drone authorization with you and Lincoln Parks & Rec as part of standard production planning for Signature and Heirloom couples.

Pricing for Sunken Gardens weddings

Most Sunken Gardens weddings fit the Signature collection — full-day coverage, second shooter, engagement session included. Multi-day couples (mehndi night Friday, ceremony at Sunken Gardens Saturday, reception elsewhere) typically land in Heirloom.

Travel is included (it's 15 minutes from our downtown studio). See our investment guide for full collection details, or book a consultation to scope the shoot.

What clients say

“Nvar made the entire process effortless. He showed up prepared, knew exactly what shots he wanted, and delivered photos that genuinely look like they belong on a magazine cover. Easily the best money I've spent on imagery.”

Simba · Personal Branding Session

Common Questions

Frequently Asked

How early should we book a photographer for a Sunken Gardens wedding?

For peak season (May–September Saturdays), 9–12 months out is standard. The venue itself is often booked a year ahead, so if you have your date locked we can match it.

Can you fly drone over Sunken Gardens?

Yes — with prior approval from Lincoln Parks & Rec. We hold an FAA Part 107 commercial drone license and we coordinate the venue authorization as part of production planning. Drone coverage is included in our Heirloom collection or available as a $400 add-on.

What's the best time of day for ceremony lighting at Sunken Gardens?

Roughly 90 minutes before sunset for portraits — that's the golden hour the gardens really shine in. For ceremonies, aim for 2 hours before sunset so the ceremony ends at golden hour and runs into portraits naturally. We'll send a specific time recommendation based on your date.

What if it rains?

Sunken Gardens doesn't have indoor backup. Your wedding planner (or you) should have a rain venue identified before the day. We've shot in light rain — sometimes the photos end up more striking — but a hard rain forces relocation. We adjust the timeline on the fly with no extra charge.

From the Journal