Rawlings Conservatory — Attraction in Baltimore

This might be a tad winded but if you are planning to pay for photos/elopement/wedding here please read this whole post.

So me and my fiancé came here in 2024 right before they closed for some renovation and the man we talked to was LOVELY. He made us feel welcomed and explained the history of the conservatory which made us want to do engagement photos here.

Fast forward to 1/25/25 l sent an email out inquiring about paying $200 to take photos here for our engagement which we originally wanted to be 2/22/25. (I will also add that l like to be VERY thorough with my research so I know what l'm getting myself into.) I sent all the information needed and received an email from Eric Adam's stating I needed to make a payment which I went ahead and did.

Honestly it was slightly confusing making the account and keeping track of everything but I was determined because I really loved the customer service I received and it was a beautiful location. After the payment I received an email from Eric stating "Thank you, you are confirmed and paid in full for your photoshoot on February 22nd, 2025 from 2:00-3:00PM in the Interior Gardens of the Rawlings Conservatory. Please check in at the front desk upon arrival." Unfortunately we did need to reschedule which is only allowed once which is when we moved the date to March 1st, 2025. Now this is the most disappointing part:

The day of our photoshoot arrives and unfortunately we are about 20 minutes late and I made sure to call and let them know that we would be running late.

We arrive at the conservatory and go to check in at the counter where we were greeted by two men. One is a volunteer and the other is a full time employee. As we approach the counter. We let them know we were the party that was running late and we are here to check in. The full time employee seems to be annoyed that we are late and wants to see our receipt (which I had no idea I would need since I was not informed of this information.)

I start to sort through the emails frantically and I thought I found it. I proceed to show it to the full time employee he says "LADY I CANT SEE THIS" which threw me off since I was trying to be courteous since we were the ones that were late. I'm starting to panic a bit and I zoom in so he can read it and says it was the wrong date. So I step aside looking for the updated information which I couldn't find so I asked if I can show him the email thread with Eric Adam's which he agrees to. And again he states: "LADY DO YOU REALLY THINK I CAN READ THIS". I swear I was about to burst into tears and leave. I didn't even care about the money I spent at that point. Finally, for the second time, I zoom so he can read the email. He accepted this and my fiancé attempts to ask if it was ok if we could stay a bit longer since we did arrive late and if not we understand.

This man just glares at us.

Finally, we are walking away and the man says I leave by 4pm y'all better be out of here by then. This reply may not seem rude over text but his tone was awful.

We did leave by 3pm like we were supposed to. Mind you there were 3 of us.

Unfortunately, I do not recommend anyone to go to this place just because of this experience. I am not sure what the other employees may be like if this is acceptable behavior from employees. Don't come here.

Update/response: I am updating my review. I got an email from some individuals at the conservatory and they were so kind. I definitely will be going back again. Thank you to the ones who reached out and rectified the situation I really...

My experience photographing a small wedding ceremony here was wonderful. The natural light throughout is exceptional! Thanks to the lush canopy, there are patches of relatively soft illumination all day — and it becomes especially mesmerizing during golden hour.

Additionally, the diversity of flora both inside the greenhouses and in the outdoor gardens make for beautiful and varied backdrops. I can easily picture this being perfect for engagements and other photoshoots as well.

This particular event was a micro-wedding with around 15 guests, and the space felt cozy and intimate with that number. It's worth noting for anyone considering this spot: the interiors do maintain a warm ambiance, a characteristic of many conservatories, so be sure to plan attire accordingly.

The staff were incredibly accommodating and the venue itself is a hidden gem. For couples looking for a unique and beautiful venue in Baltimore, especially those considering a smaller, more intimate gathering, I'd highly recommend it!...

My husband took me here for Valentine’s Day and this was our first time visiting the conservatory and botanic gardens. There is no required admission fee, but since this facility is funded and owned by Baltimore county they suggest and greatly appreciate a $5 donation per person. That is extremely worth it for what you see in the facility! We were very surprised by the variety of plant species, especially the different types of orchids that were in the orchid room! I couldn’t even count all the types of orchids! There was even a banana tree which surprised me. They have a gift shop where they sell different books about plants, planters, accessories, and starter plants that the staff have grown from the plants in the gardens. I purchased a Weeping Fig in a 6 inch pot and it costed $8 which is very affordable and reasonably priced. I purchased a separate blue ceramic pot to put it in and it looks gorgeous! I definitely recommend plant enthusiasts, like myself, to stop in and enjoy this beautiful and...