Nestled on Sarasota Bay in downtown Sarasota, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens offers lush, tropical scenery and a mix of indoor and outdoor wedding venues—including historic architecture, bay views, banyan trees, and gardens. It’s a dream setting for couples seeking a Florida wedding that’s elegant yet naturally vibrant.
Selby Gardens offers multiple event spaces to suit different styles and guest sizes, from intimate garden ceremonies to large receptions under the stars or inside its event hall, Michael’s on the Bay. The venue is also centrally located, making it accessible for local and out-of-town guests alike.
But what does it actually cost to get married here? The Tulle Together Wedding Pricing Transparency Project is on a mission to collect all of the pricing PDFs for wedding venues across the country. All of the PDFs in our database – 4,000 total and more than 400 in Florida – are contributed by other couples planning their weddings. That means we can walk through the venue costs for you – without you having to email them. Below, we’ve broken down everything in the pricing PDF submitted by a couple to help you figure out whether Selby Gardens fits your budget and your vision.
Want to access the original pricing PDF and help estimating your potential cost? Log in to Tulle Together‘s Wedding Pricing Transparency Project to access the full venue pricing PDF and more than 4,000 other pricing PDFs.
Ceremony & Reception Costs at Selby Gardens
Selby Gardens offers two primary venue areas—each with its own charm, layout, and flexibility—allowing couples to craft a celebration that suits their vision and guest count.
🌿 South Lawn
The South Lawn is an expansive, outdoor setting that includes the Wedding Pavilion, Great Lawn, and a stunning grove of historic banyan trees. It’s a dream backdrop for sunset ceremonies and al fresco receptions, with wide-open views of Sarasota Bay and lush, tropical landscaping all around. Because this area is fully outdoors, it’s available for evening events only, giving you golden-hour lighting and cooler temperatures during Florida’s warm seasons.
The space is ideal for couples envisioning:
- A romantic garden ceremony under the trees
- A tented dinner reception on the lawn
- Open-air dancing under string lights or stars
It’s particularly well-suited for larger guest counts or weddings with a more open, organic feel.
🏛️ North Side
The North Side features both indoor and outdoor options centered around Michael’s on the Bay, a modern reception space with floor-to-ceiling windows and panoramic water views. Couples can choose to pair the indoor space with nearby outdoor lawns, such as the Mansion Lawn or Bay Patio, offering versatility for ceremony, cocktail hour, or mingling.
Unlike the South Lawn, the North Side is available for both daytime and evening events, with rates and access depending on the time of day and day of the week (see details in the rental section below). This makes it a great option for:
- Climate-controlled receptions with a view
- Daytime brunch or lunch weddings
- Events where weather contingency plans are important
➕ Combo Option: South Lawn Add-On
For couples booking the North Side on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, there’s the option to add the South Lawn for your ceremony and cocktail hour—for an additional $4,000. However, this combo is only available if your date is within two months of the event and the South Lawn is still unbooked.
This is a great last-minute upgrade if you want the best of both: a garden ceremony followed by a seamless transition to the indoor reception space.
Venue Fees
Here’s how venue rental prices break down:
🌴 South Lawn (Evenings Only)
- Monday–Thursday: $4,000
- Friday or Sunday: $8,000
- Saturday: $9,500
🪟 North Side (Evenings Only: Michael’s on the Bay + Outdoor Spaces)
- Monday–Thursday: $4,000
- Friday–Sunday: $7,500
☀️ North Side (Daytime: Michael’s on the Bay Only)
- Mon–Thurs, Breakfast/Lunch: $2,000
- Mon–Thurs, All-Day (ends by 3 p.m.): $4,000
- Fri–Sun, Breakfast/Lunch: $3,000
- Fri–Sun, All-Day (ends by 3 p.m.): $6,000
💡 Optional Add-On: If you rent the North Side on a weekend, you can add the South Lawn for ceremony and cocktail hour for an additional $4,000—but only if your date is within 2 months.
What’s included in the rental fee:
Selby Gardens partners exclusively with Michael’s On East for all food and beverage. While the venue rental fee covers access to the event spaces, the actual wedding package is provided by the caterer and includes:
- Passed hors d’oeuvres (5 pieces per guest)
- Two-course dinner + cake cutting
- Five-hour open bar (Sterling Bar Package)
- Standard rental equipment, including:
- Tables
- Chairs
- Linens
- China
- Glassware
- Flatware
Food & Beverage Costs
Michael’s On East provides a bundled food + bar package that starts at $200 per person (before service fee and tax). This is a real quote, not an estimate, and includes:
- Passed apps
- Two-course plated or buffet meal
- Cake cutting
- Full 5-hour bar
- All basic rentals
Note that this pricing excludes a 25% service fee and 7% sales tax, which adds 32% on top of the $200 base—bringing the effective per-person minimum to around $264.
Additional Fees & Taxes to Budget For
| Cost Category | Rate / Estimate |
|---|---|
| Venue Rental Fee | $2,000 – $9,500 (see above for breakdown) |
| Catering & Bar | Starts at $200/person |
| Service Charge | 25% on food + beverage |
| Sales Tax | 7% (Florida state tax) |
| Optional Lawn Add-On | $4,000 (North Side weekend rentals only) |
| Extra Rentals | Specialty décor, lighting, etc. – varies |
| Gratuities | Not always included; check with vendors |
🧾 Note: In Florida, venue rental fees are not usually taxed, but always confirm with your venue or planner.
How much could your total wedding cost be if you got married at Selby Gardens?
If you add up the venue fee, food & beverage cost for 150 people, and tax, you’re looking at a cost of around $50,000.
When you factor in everything — from venue fees to vendor costs — Tulle Together’s Cost Forecast Tool projects that the total budget of a wedding at Selby Gardens could land around $125,000, depending on your guest count (this estimates 150 guests on a peak-season Saturday), design scope, and other vendor selections. This estimate factors in a range of typical wedding expenses beyond the venue & catering itself, helping couples get a realistic view of what their wedding might actually cost before making any commitments. Of course, someone could spend more or less than this (especially if you go with off-season pricing and less guests!) – but it’s an average estimate for what that total wedding cost could look like.
The Cost Forecast Tool is just one of Tulle Together’s budgeting resources. On the website, you’ll find a variety of budget tools designed to help couples plan out their total wedding costs before they book anything. Whether you’re estimating expenses, tracking your spending, or looking for real venue pricing, Tulle Together’s tools provide a transparent approach to wedding budgeting—so you can plan confidently and avoid unexpected surprises. Sign up here for a smarter way to plan your wedding!
Selby Gardens is a gorgeous, waterfront botanical venue that offers flexibility between indoor elegance and lush outdoor spaces. Couples love the convenience of having one exclusive catering partner—and while that means less vendor flexibility, it also simplifies planning.
The venue’s tiered pricing allows for weekday and daytime weddings at a lower cost, making it accessible for a variety of budgets. Just make sure to account for service fees and tax, which can significantly increase your total per-person cost.
Tulle is here to make wedding budgeting clearer, one venue at a time. Want access to the full pricing PDF? Explore the full collection on Tulle Together’s Wedding Pricing Transparency Project.
Photo Credit: Selby Gardens
