“We appreciated the mission of the Center and were happy to think that our event

would contribute to supporting that mission.”

Planning a wedding can be both one of life’s most exciting adventures and one of its greatest challenges. Hope is high, and it’s easy to let expectations exceed what reality can provide. The food must be exceptional, the weather ideal, and the environment enchanting. Marin Art and Garden Center has a habit of exceeding expectations, however, and that’s exactly what it did for Katie and Chris in May of 2022. 

“We visited a number of wedding venues in the area and chose Marin Art and Garden Center for the variety of spaces that it offered for our event and also because we appreciated the mission of the Center and were happy to think that our event would contribute to supporting that mission,” Katie says. 

The mission of Marin Art and Garden Center is to be a special gathering place that celebrates learning, growth, and the beauty of nature; a place that welcomes us all to be inspired, educated and entertained—or to just be.

“We are both outdoor enthusiasts, and we were excited to find a venue that had multiple outdoor spaces that reflected the natural plants and flowers of the Marin County area,” Chris says. 

Chris and Katie’s special day began separately. Chris dressed in his fine navy suit and white rose boutonniere in the company of his groomsmen, while Katie excitedly slipped into her elegant gown and pearls with the assistance of her bridesmaids. Then came their heart-racing “first look”, where each could behold the beauty they were about to join for the rest of their lives. With redwood trees around and above them, the magnitude of the moment took their breath away. 

From there, Chris rejoined his groomsmen and made his way proudly to the front of the aisle on Marin Art and Garden Center’s Gazebo Lawn. When all their guests were seated, the music began, and Katie strolled gracefully across the emerald lawn and blooming spring flowers towards Chris.

In the company of the people they love, they pledged their devotion to each other. As the officiant pronounced them husband and wife, the crowd roared with happiness. 

Then, it was time to party. Cocktail hour was held around the flowing Fountain Pond and included tantalizing appetizers, as well as crisp regional wines and classic bay area beers, like Anchor Steam. Guests embraced the golden hour as they shared joy under the flowering trellis and watched the water dance. Occasionally, Chris and Katie would slip away for pictures and private moments together in the Rose Garden, at Magnolia Circle, or by the old English oak. 

“We particularly enjoyed having cocktail hour around the Fountain Pond and dinner outside the Livermore Pavilion,” Katie says. “Both areas were beautiful and well set up for an event.”

Dinner outside the Livermore Pavilion under the bistro lights also provided the ideal ambience for toasts and stories from both Katie’s and Chris’ friends and families, while the children of guests played games like Jenga and Cornhole on the lawn nearby. When dusk arrived, the party moved inside for cake and dancing. Under lanterns and string lights, Katie and Chris had their very first, of what would be many, dances as a married couple. 

“Everyone that we interacted with in planning for our wedding was courteous and helpful,” Chris recalls. “I suggest visiting Marin Art and Garden Center, and walking around the various areas that can be rented. It is a beautiful space with a lot of flexibility for different types of events.”

“We got married at Marin Art & Garden Center more than a year ago, and we look back on that day happily knowing that there is nothing about the day that we would have changed,” Katie and Chris agree. “We live in the area now, and it makes us smile every time we drive past the garden to remember what a wonderful time we had at our wedding.”

More to explore

IRS Guidelines for Gifts from Donor Advised Funds to Support MAGC Events

Thank you for your interest in giving to the Marin Art & Garden Center events from your Donor Advised Fund (DAF) or Family Foundation.

We sincerely appreciate your generosity and support!

To ensure your gift follows the current IRS guidelines for DAF/Family Foundation support of an event, we would like to share the below guidelines with you.

  • Raffle tickets, tickets to galas and other special events, auction items, and benefits conferred in connection with a DAF/foundation grant are not permitted.
    • IRS has specifically ruled that fair market value associated with fundraising events cannot be separated, a practice known as “bifurcation.”
      • For example, with Edible Garden, if the price of the ticket is $200 and the FMV fair market value (non-tax-deductible amount) is designated to be $50, the donor must pay from sources other than her DAF/foundation for the full value of the ticket ($200) and not just for the non-tax-deductible amount ($50).
    • We recommend you confer with your financial advisor to confirm if any of these examples of how donors may still use their DAF to support an event would work for you:
      • A donor could sponsor the event, and not attend, and pay fully out of the DAF/foundation.
      • A donor could sponsor the event using DAF/foundation funds and attend by purchasing an individual ticket through non-DAF/foundation funds.
      • A donor could sponsor the event, join the event as a guest of another donor/table guest, and pay fully out of the DAF/foundation.
      • A donor could sponsor the event and host the afforded number of people at their chosen level as long as they pay for the seats at the lowest ticket price ($200 for Edible Garden) outside of their DAF.
        • As an example, a $1,500 sponsor that covers 2 guests, could pay for their sponsorship with $400 from a different source of funds, and then give an additional gift of $1,100 out of their DAF.

 

Please email Tod Thorpe, Director of Development at tod.thorpe@maringarden.org to discuss your gift to Marin Art and Garden Center