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About

On WeddingWire since 2016

Last update: July 2024

The Calgary Zoo, located in Calgary, Alberta, is a wedding venue designed to create remarkable experiences and memories. Combining elegance with fun, this venue ensures an unforgettable experience for you and your guests. Enjoy unique settings and delicious locally sourced cuisine as you celebrate your special day.

As your guests explore St. George's Island, they'll encounter nearly 900 animals across 130 species. Rain or shine, couples can capture stunning photos in the lush Dorothy Harvie Gardens. Moreover, your celebration will contribute to a greater cause, with proceeds supporting the zoo's global conservation efforts.

Facilities and Capacity

The Calgary Zoo offers four unique event spaces among its facilities. For a blend of indoor and outdoor settings, consider the ENMAX Conservatory, which hosts up to 150 attendees and includes a spacious pre-function area for your cocktail hour.

The Asia Lawn & Tent provides an outdoor tented space perfect for an al fresco reception, accommodating up to 180 guests amidst breathtaking views.

The Safari Lodge offers a thrilling ambiance with its veranda overlooking giraffes, zebras, and ostriches. This largest venue on the property can host up to 280 guests, seamlessly transitioning from reception dinner to after-dinner entertainment with its built-in dancefloor.

For a more intimate affair, Grazers Restaurant & Patio is ideal, offering a flexible capacity for private receptions and an outdoor patio. You can also choose Grazers for your rehearsal dinner before celebrating your big day in one of the larger event spaces.

Services Offered

The Calgary Zoo provides a variety of services to ensure your special day is perfect. Enjoy in-house catering from a talented culinary team that will collaborate with you to create a custom menu. Additionally, the zoo offers audio equipment, as well as chairs and tables, to accommodate your needs.

Cuisine

Partnering with Calgary's top chefs, the Calgary Zoo offers cuisine made from sustainable, always-fresh ingredients. The dishes feature vegetables and herbs grown right in the zoo's Garden of Eatin'. Special menus can also be designed for guests with allergies.

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Frequently asked questions

How many event spaces or rooms does your venue offer?

4

Describe your venue:

Ballroom
Banquet hall
Historic
Park/zoo
Restaurant

Describe the style of your venue:

City
Classic
Garden
Modern
Rustic
Tropical

What kind of settings are available?

Covered outdoor
Indoor
Uncovered outdoor

Which of the following wedding events does your venue service?

Ceremony
Reception
Bridal shower
Engagement party
Rehearsal dinner

What event services do you offer?

Catering / bar
Clean up
Liability insurance
Outside vendors
Set up

What catering services do you offer?

Buffet
Cocktail reception
Dessert
Family style
Hors d'oeuvres
Outside cake
Plated
Server(s)
Stations
Tastings

What bar services do you provide?

Bartender(s)
Cash bar
Champagne toast
House beer
House wine
House liquor
Limited bar
Liquor license
Open bar
Premium liquor
Signature drink
Specialty beer
Specialty wine

What event items are available?

Altar/arches
Audio equipment
Centerpieces
Dance floor
Decor
Chairs
Tables

What food and beverage items are available?

Barware
China
Chocolate fountain
Flatware
Glassware
Linens

What transportation and access is available?

Parking
Wheelchair access

Do you have a site fee for wedding receptions at your venue?

Yes

What is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during peak season?

$1,100

What is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during off-peak season?

$1,100

Do you have a site fee for wedding ceremonies at your venue?

Yes

What is the starting site fee for wedding ceremonies during peak season?

$150

What is the starting site fee for wedding ceremonies during off-peak season?

$150

Which of the following are included in starting site fee?

Set up
Clean up
Chairs
Tables
Linens
China
Flatware
Glassware

What is the average catering price per person for plated service?

$52

What is the average catering price per person for buffet service?

$48

What is the average catering price per person for stations?

$42

What is the average catering price per person for hors d'oeurves?

$42

Which of the following are included in the cost of wedding catering?

Server(s)
Dessert

What is the starting price per person for bar service?

$8

Which of the following are included in the starting price for bar service?

Limited bar
Open bar
House beer
Specialty beer
House wine
Specialty wine
Champagne toast
House liquor
Premium liquor
Signature drink
Bartenders
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Any other questions?

Reviews for The Calgary Zoo

M
Mayland Sent on 07/05/2025
2.2 out of 5 rating

Make sure you get everything in writing!!!!

We had Estelle as our wedding coordinator. Because we were having our wedding on a long weekend, stat holiday, I kept asking “are you sure this day is okay?” Estelle kept reaffirming that it was.

After signing the contract, Estelle found out there was an Easter event and we felt she kept trying to deter us from having it that day and at the time we wanted. She said this will be the busiest day of the year, it’s not a good idea, etc.

She refused to put up any private event signs, then she said we can’t have music anymore. She promised we could store valuables the night before in her office, then she refused this option the day before.

Since there were no private function signs, Estelle said she would stand in the Enmax Conservatory to keep traffic moving on Easter long weekend. She did a horrible job of this and there were several people that kept standing there in our videos.

When we dealt with Carling on one of the visits, she told us we could have private function signs and a do not sit sign on the bench directly behind our arch. Estelle denied this days before our wedding.

I found their professionalism terrible and they don’t keep their word for anything. I realize it was on the contract we signed 6 months before the wedding that everything needed to be finalized 10 days before the wedding. Estelle gave us a 22 hours reminder that it was due. I was so stressed out.

It was a shame because the zoo was beautiful. The coordinators were just horrible and I would never work with them again.
Kaila
Kaila Sent on 28/08/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Fantastic experience and venue

The zoo staff from the coordinators to the servers were amazing, professional and made sure that thr way was everything we envisioned.
They were super flexible and very helpful when something went a little sideways. It was a beautiful venue and made the day extremely special.
Nichole
Nichole Sent on 31/10/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Beautiful photo opportunities

Easy and simple venue, used grazers intimate and fun
K
Krystyn Sent on 10/09/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Fantastic and Fun

Working with the zoo was an easy and seamless process. They have detailed wedding packages with all their venues for you to see. Booking tours of the venues was easy, and our coordinator Loree was fantastic!

Grazers was the best venue for a small and intimate wedding! A private patio for the ceremony, complete with a backdrop of Alpacas!

The restaurant staff were great, the bartender was quick and attentive. The food was AMAZING, the quality of the food is top tier - you would not be disappointed. The trout was the best I've ever had.
Christina
Christina Sent on 05/11/2023
5 out of 5 rating

5 Star Venue - Highly Recommend

This was our DREAM venue! There was not a single thing they could have done differently. From the ceremony to the photos, cocktail hour & reception, everything went perfectly. The food was phenomenal & we could have eaten the prime rib all night. We ran out of the gyoza during cocktail hour since they were such a big hit! Our guests keep raving that they enjoyed being able to roam the zoo while we took photos instead of trying to find a way to entertain themselves. BONUS POINTS: Their pricing was highly competitive & blew all other venues out of the water!
J
Julia Sent on 29/08/2023
5 out of 5 rating

AMAZING! Best venue ever!

Robin was our point of contact and she went above and beyond for us! She ensured that everything was perfect for us and our guests! The venue was perfect for both the ceremony and reception, and whatever minor issues there were she was right there and took care of it! I can not thank her enough helping for make sure our wedding day was biting short of amazing!

The venue was amazing, the staff so sweet and professional!

10/10, five starts, the Calgary Zoo was beyond amazing! I cannot recommend them enough!
Nicole
Nicole Sent on 07/10/2023
5 out of 5 rating

It was perfect!

We had our wedding this summer at the Enmax Conservatory, and it was everything we could have hoped for and more. Loree was so helpful with assisting us in the planning of our special day and ensured all of our requests were taken care of with no worries. Greg was our head caterer and ensured our reception was smooth, efficient, and kept everyone happy and having a great time. The venue is absolutely stunning, and all of our guests had so much fun exploring the beautiful sights of the gardens.
Miha
Miha Sent on 31/10/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Let me tell you, FOOD is Amazing

I'm absolutely thrilled that we opted for our wedding at the Calgary Zoo. An outdoor wedding was a dream for me, but I didn't want to overspend. The Calgary Zoo offers incredible wedding packages catering to various guest group sizes, and we chose the outdoor garden for the ceremony and the Enmax Conservatory for the reception. Estelle, the wedding coordinator, was an absolute gem. I didn't have a wedding planner or even bridesmaids, which made me anxious about the event, but Estelle and the zoo staff were outstanding in managing everything. Thanks to their expertise, I had a stress-free, truly amazing wedding day that will be cherished for a lifetime.

The venue itself is breathtaking. If you've been to the Calgary Zoo, you already know how beautiful the place is, so no need for much explanation there. But let me talk about the food! Oh my goodness, the food was incredible! I did a trial at the Safari Grill before the wedding, and honestly, the brunch there was just okay. So, I was a bit concerned. However, the food served at our reception was exceptional. Our guests, friends, and family raved about it, everyone saying how amazing the food was.

I'm very happy about choosing the Calgary Zoo. The venue was stunning, the pricing was well within our budget, the wedding package made my planning phase less stressful, and the staff were friendly and professional. Everyone, including us, had an absolutely fantastic time.
A
Allison Sent on 17/08/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Amazing location

We got married in the Arbour gardens and had our reception at the Enmax conservatory. Our contact Loree was very responsive and helped us so much while planning. The venue was beautiful! We loved having it all in one place. There were so many picture locations and we didn’t have to walk far to find them. The food was amazing! The servers were great too. My fiancé even asked the kitchen for a snack before he walked down the aisle and they gave him one. Our guests kept raving about the location and food. They loved looking at the animals in between our ceremony and reception. I highly recommend the zoo to anyone looking for the perfect venue.
Kiana
Kiana Sent on 06/06/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Beautiful venue!

The Enmax Conservatory was perfect for our wedding. So much greenery and wood paneling and the most beautiful settings for photos. Ended up being a bit pricey because we had a bit over 100 guests, but we were anticipating that. Food (buffet) was out of this world good.
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Awards

49
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Are you interested?

The Calgary Zoo Real Weddings

Annie & Matt
38 Photos · 08/Jun/2024
Noevie & Rhett
38 Photos · 17/Aug/2023
Allison & Nathan
16 Photos · 22/Jul/2023
Marisa & Cody
18 Photos · 08/Jul/2023
Kiana & Jake
7 Photos · 03/Jun/2023
Kyle & Candi
32 Photos · 03/Sep/2022

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Map

1300 Zoo Rd NE T2E 7V6 Calgary (Alberta)
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