Mt. Airy Forest and Arboretum

Think “Cincinnati park wedding,” and you’re likely to conjure an image of Ault Park Pavilion. But the city park system offers so much more. Take, for example, Mt. Airy Forest and Arboretum. Within its nearly 1,500 heavily wooded acres are nuptial bowers a-plenty, including three garden wedding areas—the gazebo on the arboretum’s Meyer Lake makes a romantic setting—and two forest lodges. We especially like the Mid-Century-mod-ish Oak Ridge Lodge. Its horizontal oak accents, stone facade, large rear patio, and open-sided shelter out back make it the perfect setting for a swingin’ ceremony and reception.  Mt. Airy Forest and Arboretum, cincinnatiparks.com; premierparkevents.com for lodge reservations

Originally published in the May 2014 issue