Skip to main content
Weddings
This venue is popular with couples. Start a conversation

About

On WeddingWire since 2024

Last update: July 2023

The Calgary Zoo is a wedding venue located in Calgary, Alberta, designed to create treasured memories. This venue provides the perfect mix of elegance and fun for you and your wedding guests. Enjoy an unforgettable event with our one-of-a-kind venues and delicious locally sourced cuisine. Exploring St. George’s Island, your guests will be treated to unique encounters as the zoo is home to almost 900 animals, and 130 different species. Rain or shine couples can expect exquisite photos in our lush Dorothy Harvie Gardens. Your special day will also have a lasting impact, as proceeds will support conservation activities here at the zoo and around the world.

Facilities and capacity

The Calgary Zoo offers 4 distinct event spaces among its facilities. The Asia Lawn & Tent is an outdoor tented space, an ideal spot for an al fresco reception. Here, you can seat up to 180 guests for an exciting dining experience surrounded by breathtaking views. For a blend of indoor and outdoor, consider the ENMAX Conservatory. This space can host your reception, along with your cocktail hour in its spacious pre-function area. You can accommodate up to 150 attendees here. The Safari Lounge boasts a truly exciting view with its veranda overlooking enclosures with giraffes, zebras, and ostriches. Here, you can seamlessly transition from your reception dinner to after-dinner entertainment with the lounge’s built-in dancefloor. It is the largest space on the property with a capacity of up to 280. An intimate affair can be held at Grazers Restaurant & Patio. Perfect for private receptions with a select few attendees, you can enjoy its outdoor patio and flexible capacity. You can also choose to host your rehearsal dinner here before celebrating your big day in one of the larger event sites.

Services Offered

The Calgary Zoo offers a number of services to facilitate your special day’s celebration. You can look forward to in-house catering from the talented culinary team who will work closely with you to design a menu tailored to your taste. Audio equipment is also available, as well as chairs and tables.

Cuisine

By partnering with Calgary's top chefs, the cuisine offered by the zoo stays true to sustainable ingredients that are always fresh. The dishes include vegetables and herbs grown right in the zoo's Garden of Eatin'. Guests with allergies can also have menus designed specifically for them.

Messages sent successfully.

Bundle and save time!
Contact The Calgary Zoo and their preferred vendors

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
illustration question

Any other questions?

Request pricing
4.8 out of 5 rating
47 reviews
  • Quality of service
    4.9 out of 5 rating
  • Response time
    4.8 out of 5 rating
  • Professionalism
    4.9 out of 5 rating
  • Value
    4.8 out of 5 rating
  • Flexibility
    4.8 out of 5 rating
91% Recommended by couples
Nichole
Nichole T. Sent on 31/10/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Beautiful photo opportunities

Easy and simple venue, used grazers intimate and fun
Christina
Christina R. 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!
Nicole
Nicole S. 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 B. 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.
Allison
Allison M. 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 L. 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.
Camille
Camille Sent on 23/05/2023
4.8 out of 5 rating

Magical Evening

Thank you to Estelle and her wonderful team for making my day be completely seamless!
Amie
Amie Sent on 27/08/2022
5 out of 5 rating

Book your wedding here!

Fabulous venue, amazing food, stellar staff! If you are looking for a one of a kind venue the Calgary is zoo is where you MUST have your wedding! Estelle was the best and was there every step of the way!
Kevin
Kevin M. Sent on 27/07/2022
5 out of 5 rating

Exceptional Service and Value

Great value, friendly staff, and very easy to work with. The Calgary Zoo was a fantastic partner to work with. Loree and her team made sure the day went off without a hitch and were always available to quickly answer any questions or concerns that we had. Thank you Calgary Zoo team for all your help!
Brittany
Brittany K. Sent on 10/02/2022
5 out of 5 rating

The most magical place to get married

We had a Zoo Year's Eve wedding and it was absolutely magical. Loree, our Coordinator was an angel. Our guest list dropped by almost half (yes, half) in the two weeks prior to our wedding. The Zoo was incredibly understanding and flexible and helped reduce our stress load.

The food was incredible - our guests are still raving about it. The poutine bar and appetizers were amazing! Our bartenders and servers were all incredible professional and kind, and we so appreciated them spending their NYE with us.

Our guests being able to attend Zoo lights was the cherry on top of an already incredible sundae! If you're considering Calgary venues, the Zoo should be top of your list!
illustration stars

Are you interested?

Request pricing

Awards

47

The Calgary Zoo Real Weddings

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
Brittany & Sean
26 Photos · 31/Dec/2021
Payton & Austin
37 Photos · 24/Oct/2020

Deals

Preferred vendors

Sounds Unlimited Disc Jockey Services
4.9 out of 5 rating , 97 reviews
· Wedding DJ
Special Event Rentals - Edmonton
4.7 out of 5 rating , 37 reviews
· Event Rentals
Chair Flair
4.9 out of 5 rating , 126 reviews
· Wedding Decorations
Wedding Finesse
5.0 out of 5 rating , 193 reviews
· Wedding Decorations
Anna Michalska Photography
5.0 out of 5 rating , 20 reviews
· Wedding Photography
The Nogues Photography
5.0 out of 5 rating , 9 reviews
· Wedding Photography

Map

1300 Zoo Rd NE T2E 7V6 Calgary (Alberta)
illustration visit

Would you like to visit?

Request a visit

Other vendors in Calgary for your wedding

Wedding Venues

Responds within 24 hours