Reimagine Your Event at the Watershed

Whether you are planning a wedding or a business retreat, The Watershed Institute is the perfect place to host your next event. Located on our 950-acre reserve, our facilities provide magical views and flexible spaces. If you need one large space or multiple smaller spaces or even an indoor and outdoor option, The Watershed has a variety of spaces available for private, non-profit and corporate events. And while enjoying the beauty of the surroundings, you can be confident that your event is being run in a way that promotes sustainable, low-waste, environmentally friendly practices.

We provide the venue; you provide the party.

“The facilities are beautiful and unique. The staff were incredibly helpful and genuinely invested in making sure we had an amazing experience. All our guests commented on what a fun and interesting location it was. We also got extremely lucky and got to experience an evening illuminated by countless fireflies. It’s a fun, quirky and socially conscious venue that deeply impressed us.”

Our expert staff is ready to assist you as you plan your event. Click the buttons below to learn about some of the options we offer.

Weddings & Milestone Events

The Watershed Center is available for weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs, anniversaries, and other large celebrations.

Event hosts and guests have access to Gorrie Hall, the adjacent Discovery Room exhibit hall, and the Betty Wold Johnson Learning Center. Larger events would require outdoor tented space for an additional fee. Please contact us for more details.

Gorrie Hall

The perfect space for receptions, cocktail parties, and large general meetings. The space can be configured for audience or table seating. This space features a magical view facing out towards the Kate Gorrie Butterfly house, rain gardens with native plantings and the historic farmhouse that served as the Watershed offices for many years and was the long-time home of Dr. Muriel Buttinger.

Betty Wold Johnson Learning Center

This dividable conference room environment can accommodate from 20 to 100 people for conferences, retreats, and social celebrations. A/V capabilities with a speaker’s podium are available built into the room logistics. This space features a spectacular northern view looking out onto the Watershed Reserve.

Conference Room

A private conference room that can accommodate up to 15 people sitting around a conference table or up to 25 for an audience style presentation. Conference call and projector capabilities are available. This space features a spectacular northern view looking out onto the Watershed Reserve.

Irving B. Kingsford Room

A cozy, sizable cottage-style conference space that accommodates up to 45 people adjacent to our historic farmhouse. Speaker podium, conference calling, and kitchenette are available to all rental groups. A private space perfect for Bridal and Baby Showers, Celebration of Life Memorials, Birthday Parties or other intimate celebrations.

Tent Rental

Our 2,400-square-foot tent is available for rent from May through October. Our beautiful white tent with bistro lights is the perfect setting for your outdoor celebration. If you are planning a wedding, a corporate event, or a shower our beautiful grounds are the perfect backdrop for your event.

Catering

Catering is available from our preferred list of vendors. You are welcome to use your own caterer as long as they follow our eco-friendly requirements for a low-waste event. Alcohol may be served with proof of host liquor liability insurance & bartender service. The Watershed Institute and its surrounding grounds are a smoke-free campus.

Antimo’s Kitchen – 609-466-3333 – antimositaliankitchen.com

Boro Market — 609-730-4100 — bororestaurantbar.com

Catered Cuisine (Pennington Quality Market) – 609-737-7022 –[email protected]

Chambers Walk Café – 609-896-5995 – chamberswalk.com

Emily’s Café – 609-730-1010 – www.emilyscafe.com

Iquisine – 609-430-0606 – iquisine.com

Jammin‘ Crepes – 609-924-5387 – jammincrepes.com – [email protected]

Max Hansen Caterer — 215-766-3439 — maxhansencaterer.com

Shop Rite Liquors – 609-737-7999 – [email protected]

Under the Moon Cafe – Lambertville — 609-397-2720 — underthemooncafe.com

Event Design, Décor & Florals

These businesses specialize in low-waste, sustainable services for events:

Adams Rental & Sales – 609-689-9500 – adamsrental.com

Dahlia Florals – 609-737-0556 – dahliaweddings.com

Flowers By Jennie Lynne — 215-547-4550 flowersbyjennielynne.com

Greystone Designs – 609-306-1907 – flowersbykatheerinetoland.com

Viburnum Designs – 609-683-8800 – viburnumdesigns.com

Make Yourself at Home

All guests are invited to take a walk on the Watershed Reserve as part of your event. Walks can be guided or self-led by simply choosing one of our marked trails. Groups interested in adding a guided walk can inquire during the reservation process.

Rental Requirements

All renters, including organizations, businesses, schools, clubs, and municipalities must submit the following information prior to the scheduled event:

Signed Watershed Rental Agreement
25% non-refundable deposit – balance is due two weeks prior to the event
Insurance Certificate/Accord listing The Watershed Institute as an additional insured
Hold Harmless Agreement
A valid credit card to cover incidentals

To reserve your date, contact:

Gilda Suncar, Events and Rentals Manager

609-737-3735 x28 | gsuncar@thewatershed.org

Click here to fill out our rental form

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