A Ringling Museum wedding combines classic architecture, tropical gardens, and Sarasota Bay waterfront views into a setting that stands out from your typical Florida wedding venues.
As a wedding photo & video team in Naples and beyond, we’ve created this comprehensive guide to help you plan everything from full evening receptions to intimate garden ceremonies. Ultimately, helping you determine which Ringling wedding option fits your vision and budget.
Venue Options at The Ringling Museum
The Ringling Museum wedding venue offers two primary outdoor locations for full receptions, plus smaller garden ceremony options.
Museum of Art Courtyard
The Ringling Museum courtyard creates a sophisticated atmosphere with its landscaped lawns surrounded by replicas of classical statuary. Think: Greek, Roman, and Baroque sculptures creating an elegant backdrop for your celebration. You’ll dine and dance outdoors in a setting that feels both historic and refined.
The Ringling Museum Wedding Cost:
- Base rental: $21,000 + tax (includes up to 150 guests)
- Additional guests: $35 per person above 150
- Maximum capacity: 400 guests
This is your larger-capacity option if you’re inviting a substantial guest list to your Ringling wedding. The courtyard’s formal design works well for traditional celebrations that need space for larger groups.
Ca’ d’Zan Terrace & Bolger Campiello
Ca’ d’Zan gives you direct waterfront access with Sarasota Bay views. Your ceremony takes place on the terrace overlooking the water, then guests move to the Bolger Campiello for cocktail hour and reception. Sunset over the bay provides natural beauty that’s hard to match anywhere else in Sarasota.
The Ringling Museum Wedding Cost:
- With standard white tent: $28,500 + tax (includes up to 150 guests)
- With clear tent: $35,500 + tax (includes up to 150 guests)
- Additional guests: $35 per person above 150
- Maximum capacity: 200 guests
Important Details:
- The terrace is ceremony-only space; your reception must be under the tent on the Bolger Campiello
- Tenting is required (not optional)
- This is strictly an outdoor venue with no indoor backup for weather
- Maximum guest count is 200, not the 400 available at the Museum of Art Courtyard
Construction Notice: Ca’ d’Zan has scheduled interior and exterior renovations during the 2025-26 season. The Ringling cannot guarantee that construction won’t affect your event aesthetically or logistically. Ask specific questions about the construction timeline if you’re booking during this period.
The Best of The Ringling Package
If you want to use both venue spaces, the Best of The Ringling package allows you to carry your celebration across the Museum of Art Courtyard and Ca’ d’Zan. Contact their events team for current pricing and availability on this combined option.
The Ringling Museum Garden Ceremony Options
If you’re planning a smaller celebration, weddings at The Ringling Museum include three garden ceremony tiers. These ceremonies use various locations throughout the gardens and include time for photography after your ceremony.
Premium Garden Ceremonies
Available: Year-round
Cost: $4,000 + tax
Time: 2 hours between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM (approximately 30 minutes for ceremony, 90 minutes for photography)
Includes: White wood folding chairs
Capacity: Up to 40 guests
Daytime Garden Ceremonies
Available: Year-round
Cost: $2,000 + tax
Time: 2 hours between 10:00 AM and 2:30 PM (approximately 30 minutes for ceremony, 90 minutes for photography)
Capacity: Up to 25 guests (up to 15 additional guests available for extra fees)
Evening Garden Ceremonies
Available: June through September only
Cost: $2,500 + tax
Time: 2 hours from 5:30 to 7:30 PM (approximately 30 minutes for ceremony, 90 minutes for photography)
Capacity: Up to 25 guests (up to 15 additional guests available for extra fees)
Important Garden Ceremony Details
The Ringling Museum garden ceremonies have specific rules and limitations. Understanding these helps you to plan your South Florida wedding accordingly:
Scheduling: Garden ceremonies are available Tuesday through Thursday, subject to availability. You’re renting the garden space only, not indoor facilities or additional areas.
Guest Count Clarification: Your total guest count includes everyone present: photographer, videographer, officiant, musicians, and all wedding guests. Factor this into your headcount.
What You Can Bring: Bouquets, corsages, and boutonnieres are permitted. No other decorations, chairs (except for the Premium option), wedding canopies, or aisle runners allowed.
Vendors: The ceremony rental doesn’t include officiant, wedding photography, or wedding videography services. The Ringling Museum Wedding venue provides a list of registered vendors upon request.
Weather Backup: Covered loggias are available if weather becomes an issue. However, no indoor space is provided, these are outdoor ceremony locations only.
Photography Locations: After your ceremony, you can take photos anywhere outside on the property. Popular spots include the Ca’ d’Zan Terrace with bay views, the front of Ca’ d’Zan, and the Museum of Art Courtyard. Interior photos are not permitted inside any buildings.
Reception Options: If you’re doing a garden ceremony only, you cannot host a reception on The Ringling grounds. However, The Ringling Grillroom is available for reception bookings and makes a convenient option for keeping your celebration on the property.
Food and Beverage: Only water bottles are permitted during garden ceremonies. No other food or drinks allowed.
Venue Scheduling Notice: The Ringling Museum cannot guarantee that other special events, maintenance work, or construction won’t overlap with your ceremony date and potentially affect your experience.
What Makes The Ringling Museum Ideal for Wedding Photography
From a Florida wedding photographer’s perspective, The Ringling Museum is the perfect wedding venue for architectural variety and natural beauty all in one location. The classical statuary, manicured gardens, historic Ca’ d’Zan mansion, and waterfront views give you multiple different backdrops without leaving the property.
The 90 minutes of photography time included with garden ceremonies is plenty of time for photos in 2-3 key locations, but if you’re booking a full reception, plan for additional picture time to take advantage of the entire property. The bay views at sunset are particularly stunning and worth scheduling time to capture.
Choosing to have a Ringling Museum Wedding
A Ringling Museum wedding works well for couples who want a venue with historic significance and architectural distinction. The combination of classic elegance and waterfront location creates a setting that’s immediately recognizable to anyone familiar with Sarasota.
The venue requires careful planning around weather since outdoor spaces don’t offer indoor alternatives. And the construction schedule at Ca’ d’Zan adds another consideration for couples booking during the renovation period. The outdoor-only nature means you need realistic expectations about Florida weather and guest comfort.
That said, the visual impact of celebrating at this Sarasota landmark is substantial. The architecture and grounds photograph beautifully, and a Ringling Museum wedding delivers a sense of occasion that’s hard to replicate anywhere else.
Capturing Your Wedding at The Ringling Museum
When you’re ready to discuss photography and videography needs for your Ringling Museum wedding, reach out to schedule a consultation. We’d love to capture all the moments, both big and small, so you can focus on enjoying your celebration.
