Coker Arboretum
Chapel Hill, NC
| Venue type | Garden & Conservatory |
| Location | Chapel Hill, NC |
| Published price | $500 |
| Capacity | Up to 200 guests |
| Setting | Outdoor |
| Event type | Ceremony only |
What the venue publishes
North Carolina Botanical Garden's published Coker Arboretum wedding rental application: 'Rental Fee = $500' with '4 hours access on your wedding day, with ceremony held during daylight hours', plus a separate refundable '$100 Damage Deposit'.
The source publishes $500 as the fee for this space, not a starting point.
Included per the venue's site
- 4 hours access for setup, ceremony and cleanup
Five-acre historic arboretum on the UNC campus, run by the North Carolina Botanical Garden. Ceremony only: the application states receptions are not permitted and alcohol is prohibited. No restrooms, storage or rain shelter on site, so a backup plan is recommended. No more than 200 guests. Reservations must be made at least 30 days in advance and dates can be affected by UNC athletic events. The application also says the event manager can provide the most current rate list on request, so confirm the $500 fee when you book.
Published on ncbg.unc.edu, checked August 2026. Fee schedules change, so confirm before booking.
Where this price sits in Raleigh-Durham
$500 is the 23rd lowest published starting price of the 25 venues listed in the Raleigh-Durham metro. The metro median starting price is $225, and 2 of the 25 listings publish a higher starting price than this one.
Among the 4 garden & conservatory listings in the metro it ranks 4th lowest, against a median of $295 for that type.
What the capacity costs per guest
The source publishes a capacity of 200 guests. At $500, filling the space works out to $2.50 per guest for the site fee alone, before the license, an officiant, food, or rentals. The median published capacity across the 15 Raleigh-Durham listings that publish one is 100 guests, so this space is larger than the metro median.
Cheaper published prices in Raleigh-Durham metro
These listings in Raleigh-Durham metro publish a starting price below $500.
| Venue | Published price | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Fred Fletcher AmphitheaterRaleigh, NC · Park & Pavilion | From $400 | not published |
| JC Raulston Arboretum - Finley-Nottingham Rose GardenRaleigh, NC · Garden & Conservatory | From $295 | 200 guests |
| JC Raulston Arboretum - Annabelle Lundy Fetterman White GardenRaleigh, NC · Garden & Conservatory | From $295 | 100 guests |
Other garden & conservatory listings in Raleigh-Durham
Same venue type, prices closest to this one.
| Venue | Published price | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| E. Carroll Joyner Park - Walker Performance GardenWake Forest, NC · Garden & Conservatory | $125 to $250 | not published |
Marriage license in Orange County, NC
The venue fee above does not include the license. Chapel Hill sits in Orange County, NC, and these are the terms that county publishes. Checked September 2026.
| Issuing office | Orange County Register of DeedsGateway Center Building, 228 S Churton Street, 3rd floor, Hillsborough, NC 27278 |
| License fee | $60'The fee is $60, payable by cash, debit/credit card, money order or certified bank check. We do not accept ApplePay or American Express'. |
| Waiting period | None |
| License valid for | 60 days |
| Who must appear | Both parties, in person |
| ID required | valid ID (driver's license, state ID or passport), Social Security number for each applicant or an affidavit if unavailable, and a birth certificate for applicants aged 18 to 21 |
| Appointment | Required |
| Apply online | Application available online |
| Same-day issue | Issued the same visit |
| Ceremony at the office | Offered for $20The county FAQ says to 'Contact the magistrate, (Hillsborough - 919-644-4690 or Chapel Hill - 919-929-5707), during office hours 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The fee is $20.' Worth confirming, since neighboring Wake County publishes the magistrate ceremony fee as $50. |
| Witnesses | 2 required by statute |
Source: orangecountync.gov, orangecountync.gov, ncleg.gov
Both applicants must be present, with exceptions for hardship such as incarceration, hospitalization or active military duty. The county page says to call 919-245-2700 to schedule an appointment, while a county FAQ says appointments are not required and applications are taken daily 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; call before going. 'Marriage Licenses are valid for 60 days from the date of issuance and are only valid for use in the state of North Carolina.'
How the metro prices out
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