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Lily Sent on 10/23/2020

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Better Than My Wildest Dreams

Being a less-than-traditional couple, deciding to have our wedding at Zoo Knoxville was a no-brainer. Animals at our wedding?! Duh.

The customization of the wedding packages is fantastic, and the Zoo's event management staff went above and beyond during a stressful COVID-wedding planning process. Suzi and Miranda were gems, answering all of our questions and catering to our sometimes ridiculous whims (look, we really needed that personal shrimp tower for our sweetheart table!). The rest of the staff that helped make our special day possible were kind, gracious, and very well-prepared.

What I'd consider to be the coolest part of the day was the fact that Suzi and company drove our bridal party around the zoo on golf carts to take photos before the ceremony. And after the ceremony, we were whisked away to take photos together as husband and wife throughout the zoo. It was fun, goofy, and just plain magical.

I can't recommend Zoo Knoxville for your wedding enough. This team knows how to do it right!

Megan Sent on 12/26/2023

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Wildly fun - and wildly easy!

We eloped at Zoo Knoxville and it was everything we could have wanted and more!

Price: For an elopement I would say the price is extremely reasonable, especially considering what is included. For our price we got access to the Zoo after hours for our event, access early for ourselves and our guests and vendors, two private areas to get ready, a golf cart tour for photos, a walk through before hand to map our photos and the event plan, an arch (we brought in a few flowers to decorate), chairs, a table and linens for cake and cards, several dedicated event staff who coordinated locations and timelines and music, and access to the carousel after hours for the most incredible photos. We were able to add on Champagne for a toast for a very reasonable cost too! We didn’t add on an animal encounter package but they were a bit more expensive. Since this venue is a non-profit, we felt good about our money going back into the Zoo and animals.

Venue/Location: we got engaged at this location, so it was an easy choice for us. I will say the animals are animals so some were more active and willing to show off for photos than others - but we counted on none of them and were pleasantly surprised by anyone who did show up. There were so many beautiful spots around the zoo for photos (bamboo forests, wooden covered bridges, caves, rock formations, a waterfall, a tree house, the carousel, and more!) so even without the animals we loved the space. There was more than enough parking and it was easy to get downtown immediately after for our dinner and reception.

Events Team/Coordinator: Truly the best group of people on the events team to work with! We worked primarily with Marie - and she was INCREDIBLE!!! Even though our event was relatively small, pulled together within ~6 weeks, and right before Christmas/the end of the year, Marie and the team treated it like it was their number one priority and the most important event they could possibly be working on. We appreciated their responsiveness - especially to my many lists of questions - so much as we pulled together an event in a short time frame. They helped us customize the event to exactly what we wanted/needed and were so flexible in terms of our timeline and accommodating of all of our preferences. Marie gave us a walkthrough and showed us all the best photo spots and personally drove around our golf cart for photos on the day of. She also set up the arch with the florals we brought. The laptop we brought for music died and they immediately adapted and pulled up their own music that fit the vibe of the playlist we had made and covered it so seamlessly that I never even knew that our playlist wasn’t the one that was played! They truly made the day an easy and smooth dream for us.

We would choose this venue again in a heartbeat, and we would highly recommend it to anyone who is interested!

Natalee Sent on 10/16/2023

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Amazing and Calming day

They were extremely responsive about any questions. I did not have to worry about any form of setup or breakdown, they took care of it all. Miranda was amazing at helping with minor details and the day went amazing!

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Tayler Sent on 10/11/2023

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8/26 Wedding

If you are considering booking the zoo for your wedding, this is your sign to do it. Every single aspect exceeded our expectations! I honestly can't emphasize enough how accommodating they were. They truly listened to everything we wanted, and even then went above and beyond what we asked for to make our day perfect. I was honestly surprised in the best way at how much they did for us. On our wedding day, they had an event that morning that more people showed up for than they had accounted for, and even still, they made us priority. Everyone was so friendly and helpful, the catering was top notch, and the set up and breakdown were effortless. For a day that everyone warned me was chaotic and stressful, that was just simply not the case at the zoo. Miranda was our coordinator and I will forever be grateful for her and how she made our special day (and the months leading up to it) the best way we could've asked for.

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Olivia Sent on 08/02/2023

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An absolute dream

From finding out we could get married at the zoo, to email correspondence, to a walk through to phone calls and the rehearsal, our planner was so patient and helped make our dreams a reality

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Leigh Sent on 05/29/2023

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Once in a Lifetime Experience

When we were deciding on a venue we looked at several places in and around Knoxville we found two very common themes - barns and warehouses. While many of the locations we looked at were beautiful we wanted something fun and unique, which is how we found Zoo Knoxville. We knew that it would allow for a once in a lifetime memory for ourselves and our guests, and boy oh boy it did not disappoint. We held our ceremony in front of the elephants, the cocktail hour was in the treehouse near the gibbons, and our reception was in their event tent near Kid's Cove. The Zoo was great to work with from the beginning to the end, we had a team of coordinators to work with and they had their own catering/bar service so it was on stop shop. I can't recommend Zoo Knoxville enough if you want a unique wedding experience that your friends and family will be talking about, this venue is for you. Plus it's somewhere we can easily go back to relive all of our memories.

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Kelsey Sent on 05/22/2023

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Best Wedding Venue!

When my husband proposed, we both knew immediately that Zoo Knoxville was the only venue we'd want to have our wedding at (otherwise we would have inevitably eloped.) We're big on travel and animals, so anytime we visit a new place, we always make time to peruse the local zoo; getting married in one of our favorite places only seemed appropriate. We had agreed on a plan A (our intended itinerary of events) and plan B (in case it rained), and boy did it rain - but it all worked out! Our wedding coordinator (Miranda) and team (Maria and other staff) worked fast to move our chairs/ metal trellis/ signage/ etc. all indoors, including cocktail hour items to a new location. Although I was nervous about how the day-of events would turn out, all tasks went smoothly and without a hitch, AND we were able to capture a ton of photos with animals before the downpour, which made the day even more special. Another added plus was the food. Although my husband and I had no time to snag a bite (lol), our guests raved about the items we chose! If I could do it all over again, I would choose Zoo Knoxville every time!

Sarah Sent on 04/21/2023

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Book Zoo Knoxville NOW!

Zoo Knoxville provided my husband and I with an INCREDIBLE experience. On top of that, our guests had the time of their lives. Nobody has been able to stop talking about how unique and fun it was! The value of this venue is impossible to explain. There are a team of staff the day of just to help and support you. They take care of every detail and concern and they truly work with you to achieve YOUR vision. They are a well-oiled machine and everything went off without a hitch. You could not have a more special experience if you tried! We did a photo tour around the zoo during the cocktail hour and enjoyed an animal encounter (feeding the tigers) with our guests as well. Having one-on-one encounters with different animals after-hours is an indescribable experience. At our adults-only wedding, everyone was able to let their inner "kid" out, especially on the merry-go-round! Zoo Knoxville is well-organized, responsive, helpful, and FLEXIBLE. Book Zoo Knoxville NOW! You won't regret it!

Owen Sent on 12/21/2022

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Magically Unique

Zoo Knoxville was truly the best place that we could have found to get married. My now husband and I found out the Zoo was an option for our wedding after a chance encounter with a incredibly friendly and kind event coordinator, Suzi. We were excited about the idea of such a unique venue, and were floored with the ease of planning our wedding/reception. Zoo Knoxville not only has a lot of services in-house, but their services are all top notch and made incredibly accessible but their ASTOUNDING event staff! They were responsive, caring, professional, and supportive every single step of the way! I wish that I could throw a party for every major event in my life at Zoo Knoxville! Our wedding day was unique and magical in so many ways, and I would not have changed a single detail!

Brittany Sent on 11/22/2022

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I Do at the Zoo!

The staff at the Zoo, Miranda, Suzi, & Britney were absolutely fantastic and great to work with. They were very flexible and made our wedding day perfect! I highly recommend having your wedding at the zoo!

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Colleen Sent on 10/22/2022

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Best and most unique wedding venue and best wedding coordination

Suzi and the team at Zoo Knoxville are incredible! We had the easiest time planning our wedding at the Zoo in September. All of our guests said it was one of the funnest and coolest venues they have ever been too. We even had a sloth experience at the rehearsal, a pig as our ring bearer, and giraffe feeding experience for our bridal party. The food was prepared by the Zoo chef and his team, and it was delicious. They were even able to accommodate all our guest food allergies.
Suzi and her team also went above and beyond with decoration set-up and even gave us a painting as a gift. They coordinated all the decorations and vendors which made our wedding day a breeze. We literally just had to show up, get ready with our friends in the huge bridal room. and then party all night. I wish we could get married again at the zoo, and we will be sure to host many more events at the zoo.
Also, Suzi drove us around with our photographer before the wedding, and we were able to get the most unique wedding photos with the animals.

Ashley Sent on 09/10/2022

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Our Zoo Wedding

We had such a beautiful wedding at the zoo. Suzi and Britney helped us with special orders for the bar, and choosing our animal ambassadors! The animals were a hit with our guests, and we really enjoyed feeding the giraffes with our wedding party. Everything went smoothly and without any issues! That’s all a bride can ask!! We really loved that the zoo was all-inclusive and we didn’t have to spend time and energy choosing from a list of vendors for food, bar, etc… We also chose our photographer from the list of preferred vendors the zoo supplied us with, and we loved her as well! All around, our expectations were exceeded!

James Sent on 02/27/2022

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One of the best days of our lives!

Zoo Knoxville was absolutely outstanding! We never thought to have our wedding at a venue like the zoo, but after having done it we could not recommend anywhere better! They were kind, supportive, and accommodating at every stage of planning and execution! They made for the most memorable wedding day we could ever ask for, and everyone who attended could not stop talking about how much fun it was!

Their chef/dining accommodations were also incredible! We looked everywhere and almost went with another vendor due to dietary allergies and other restrictions, but when we mentioned those they set up a meeting with their head chef and he MADE A MENU FOR US!!!! Their price was also considerably lower than some other vendors, so the quality for the price you pay is unmatched. The food was five star quality at a three star price!

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Brittney Sent on 12/14/2021

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Better than expected

Everything went better than I expected. Suzi and Brittany were amazing, Suzi kept everything in check. The food was absolutely amazing the whole set up was perfect! So many places to get good pictures. Lots of amazing options to choose from.

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Marissa Sent on 12/07/2021

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Nothing short of amazing

We couldn’t have asked for a better wedding. The staff, the venue, literally everything was perfect. If you’re thinking of a non traditional wedding don’t think twice!

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Natalia Sent on 12/02/2021

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Absolutely perfect

I would not have change anything about it. The staff was great at making our day super special. Everything was perfect.

Amelia Sent on 11/04/2021

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Wedding of Our Dreams!!

We absolutely loved getting married at Zoo Knoxville! The Zoo crew made the whole experience very seamless and stress-free, as they handled rentals and day-of coordination. Plus the catering is in-house, with an amazing chef!! The staff made sure we got everything we wanted, and we wouldn’t change a thing! All in all, Zoo Knoxville was such a fun, unique, and beautiful venue for our wedding, and we’re so grateful to the Zoo staff for helping to make our day perfect!

Sky C. Sent on 07/18/2021

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Wedding of my dreams!

My zoo coordinators (Suzi and Britney) did everything in their power to make my wedding everything i dreamed of and more!

Lauren Sent on 05/24/2021

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Amazing experience

Suzi, Brittany and their team were able to coordinate our wedding perfectly. They gave us an experience of a lifetime and zoo has the most beautiful backdrops for photos

Samantha Sent on 05/21/2021

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Zoo Wedding!!!

Venue was absolutely perfect for a blended family wedding!!! Staff was amazing! Food was great! They worked very hard to make it a perfect and relaxed wedding day! Definitely a dream come true to feed my favorite animal!!!

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Dakota Sent on 05/17/2021

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Wild Good Time!

Suzi and her crew helped make the day perfect and very low stress for us. We knew we didn't want to do a ton of planning but wanted a unique and enjoyable wedding. We were able to nail down specific details we wanted and add in the uniqueness of being at a zoo! Everything was straightforward, customizable, and the communication was great. I would highly recommend considering Zoo Knoxville for your wedding. Not only will the day go perfectly, but you'll also get a wild good time! :D

Ashley Sent on 05/06/2021

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“Funnest” Wedding Ever!

Most magical night of my life.

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Nichole Sent on 03/31/2021

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If you're looking for something a little different, this is it

We honestly cannot say enough great things about Zoo Knoxville and their Event Sales Manager, Suzi! We got married in a time where everything was up in the air and nothing could be certain anywhere. Suzi was absolutely amazing at making sure we had plenty of backup options for every single detail well ahead of time, and then implementing option B, F, or W the day of without us ever having to ask or even be involved and try to make more decisions. The staff took our vague decorating ideas and decorations, and made an absolutely stunning reception space that surpassed our expectations. Suzi took the time to get to know the two of us before the big day, and used that to create and incorporate some wonderful and unexpected details for us throughout the day. The entire process, from meeting Suzi at a bridal expo to going back to pick up things left behind, was just so effortless. Everything had been thought of for us and we just had to fill in the blanks with our own personal touches. It really doesn't get any better than that. The day ended up being a lot colder than we had anticipated, and I have Suzi and few other staff members to thank for keeping me from getting hypothermia and I will forever be grateful! While it wasn't exactly the wedding we had planned (thanks, COVID!), it was the best wedding we could have possibly had thanks to Suzi and her staff.

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Katherine Sent on 10/22/2020

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There for us every step of the way- the staff made sure our experience was perfect!

My husband and I checked the zoo out on a whim, and quickly found exactly what we were looking for. The selection of ceremony and reception areas was diverse and absolutely stunning, and we discussed everything from the weather to lighting in advance. They also were very responsive to questions regarding additional parts to the event. We had photos taken all over the zoo and got to do a lovely meet up with a crowned crane!
The reception planning was a similar story. Lots of choices, and a full tasting and meeting with the chef in charge well ahead of the wedding.
They even rolled with the changes that COVID brought on. Everything was well sanitized and distanced, and so far (knock on wood) we have not had anything negative come of the wedding as of a month out.
We spent under $3000 overall, counting rentals and catering, which is well below what I had expected initially.
All in all, we had a wonderful wedding at a very manageable price!

Amy J. Sent on 09/21/2020

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Beautiful, Affordable Zoo Wedding

We had the most beautiful wedding at Zoo Knoxville. The staff made our day perfect & were very flexible when it looked like we had rainy weather moving in. I could not recommend this place enough!

Rebecca Sent on 08/12/2020

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Highly recommend!

Highly recommend! The staff was incredible and the on-site catering was amazing. Everyone commented that it was the most unique wedding they have been to and that it was the best wedding food they have ever had. The chef was very accommodating to our gluten and dairy free and vegan guests. Suzi worked with me for months and answered my questions quickly and did everything so that we had the best wedding I could ever imagine. She even surprised us by letting us feed the giraffes! Truly the best day of my life (:

Kala Sent on 06/25/2020

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Beyond excellent!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Unfortunately I ended up being a corona bride, and had to find a plan B at the last minute. I contacted the Knoxville Zoo and they became my saving grace! Not only did they go above and beyond the call of duty, they ensured my day would still be absolutely magical by incorporating animal interactions. I had a videographer capture every moment and the video will be showed at our marriage celebration at a later date. This experience made my entire wedding dreams even more grand than I ever had anticipated for myself. In the end, I am glad that my original wedding plan was tampered on because I received soooooooo much more from this experience! Not only did I get to have animal interactions, I also received artwork keepsakes created by the animals that will also be displayed at the marriage celebration. They even mailed me a wedding gift created by one of the animals! They were all so sweet, and I can never thank them or repay them enough for everything they did for me! Thank you so much Suzi and Miranda, you truly helped my dreams come true even under a disastrous situation! If anyone is looking for a venue, this venue is the place to choose!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Stephanie Sent on 01/01/2020

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Unique, fun, and accommodating

We had an amazing experience planning and celebrating our wedding at Zoo Knoxville. The staff, particularly Suzi and Miranda, made planning very easy and stress-free. They took care of arranging everything, from decor, to food, to entertainment. The zoo now has its own on-site catering, which was delicious and very reasonable in cost. The chefs are professional and accommodating; they will customize any menu item and are very sensitive to food allergy needs. There are also options to have animals involved; we had a macaw in our ceremony and Einstein the African Grey parrot performed at our reception-our guests absolutely loved it! The day of the wedding was very stress-free; there were large spaces for us to get ready on site and the zoo set up and helped take down our ceremony and reception decor. Finally, we were allowed to go anywhere in the zoo for our wedding pictures! We drove around on golf carts to the places where we wanted photos. It was also a fun opportunity to interact with the animals! The overall cost, especially compared to other venues, is extremely reasonable. Plus, your contributions are helping the zoo's conservation efforts.

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Holly Sent on 11/21/2019

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Great time!

We were a little disappointed bc of animals that wouldn’t cooperate lol but def not the zoos fault! I think a summer wedding would be a lot more fun bc with the daylight hours you could see more animals (our reception was in the tiger exhibit but by the time pictures were over it was too dark to see them). That being said, everyone had a great time and the zoo was very accommodating
and reasonably priced:-)

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Ashlyn Sent on 11/21/2019

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Magical November Wedding!

This was the most unique experience! The staff was AMAZING and set everything up how we dreamed. Our D.O.C, Suzi was perfect! She made this day happen. All the staff costs are wrapped into the total cost so we had over 15 people working on our wedding! The in house catering food was PERFECT! Everyone could not stop taking about it! Our cocktail hour was with the Tigers and we even had 4 extra animals being walked around! Our guests had a blast. I highly recommend the Knoxville Zoo for an amazing wedding, even more amazing photos and a smooth wedding day!

Pam V. Sent on 11/01/2019

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Absolutely amazing!

So easy to work with the staff! They are kind and patient and will make your wedding go off without a hitch! They were incredible! They were there to help with anything I needed while blending in with the guests so that it felt completely relaxed and wonderful! They went out of their way to make our special day absolutely magical! I have the most amazing wedding pictures because of using the zoo. I have pictures with elephants, rhinos, and tigers. I also have incredible pictures from the bamboo forest!
If you want a wedding that people will actually be excited about use Zoo Knoxville! The price includes set up, table linens, cake serving, and breakdown. They also have on site catering so it makes the whole planning process super simple bc all the big things you need covered are already there for you.

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Eliza Sent on 10/21/2019

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Wonderful venue for a wedding

We had a great time planning our wedding at the zoo. The team made it easy and straightforward, and they were very willing to help with any requests we had. The wedding was beautiful.

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Paige Sent on 12/12/2018

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Awesome experience

They were very helpful and kind about any questions and really made the effort to help with anything.

Morgan Sent on 12/06/2018

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Best Day of My LIFE!!!!

Amazing experience!!! Suzi did an amazing job answering all my questions.

Bethany Sent on 09/24/2018

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Many guests will talk about seeing the animals when asked about our wedding-amazing, of course! But for my husband and I, we were equally impressed by elements the guests may not have seen or considered. The staff's attention to detail, organization and accessibility regarding our needs/preferences consistently exceeded our expectations. Ashley and Suzi guided us through the whole process efficiently. They were able to utilize their experience as event coordinators to make our day go smoothly without the event feeling the least bit impersonal or "cookie cutter". It has been one of the best customer service experiences I have had. Thank you, Zoo Knoxville staff!

Mysteree Sent on 07/13/2018

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I did not know leaving a review was possible until today. We got married June of 2014. We LOVED saying I do in the zoo. All of the guest loved it too. The picture ops were great, animals were great. Ashley, the coordinator at the time, was also super helpful. She was easy to work with and made sure everything went smoothly. I highly recommend this if you're looking for something different!

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Maria Sent on 06/13/2018

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Zoo Knoxville is the best venue for the money in Knoxville. Our event went off without a hitch and we were impressed by how beautifully everything came together. Suzi and Ashley were fantastic to work with. Everyone is super impressed when they see photos from our wedding. This is truly a beautiful and special venue.

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Raquel Sent on 06/02/2018

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Ashley and her staffwas wonderful and so helpful in helping with our wedding and making sure everything went smoothly. Our wedding was fun and fabulous!

Elizabeth Sent on 05/21/2018

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I absolutely loved working with Zoo Knoxville. They made my wedding day stress free and fantastic. Ashley and Suzie were both responsive, helpful, and a little bit psychic! When we dropped off things for the reception, they placed everything exactly the way I had hoped. They checked in with us throughout the entire process, and just made the whole day better. You could not pick a better venue or a better team than Zoo Knoxville.

Pam Sent on 12/06/2017

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I definately recommend choosing Zoo Knoxville as a venue site. We have used the zoo as a venue on two different occasions... the first time was for a 17th birthday celebration for our daughter and the second time as a wedding rehearsal dinner venue for our son and daughter-in-law. Both times the experience was above fantastic. The staff is very professional and do a great job to ensure the event is totally taken care of. There are several different locations at the zoo to choose from. We chose the new Tiger habitat for the wedding rehearsal dinner site and received many compliments from our guests. Both the caterer and the venue were a success. Zoo Knoxville is very reasonable in price as well. So all in all, from price to venue site to professional staff to delicious food the whole experience with Zoo Knoxville was amazing.

Megan Sent on 10/25/2017

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I had the most amazing wedding at the Knoxville Zoo! I scored a great deal by attending the Pink Bride show and was able to book the most coveted weekend of the year (UT bye week) at a great price! We ended up having the RD in the Tiger exhibit, the ceremony in front of the elephants, the CH in between the lions and the baboons, and our reception in their tent (which is huge). Ashley and Suzi helped ensure my vision became a reality, and made sure my guests and I were pleased throughout the evening.

I was worried about having all these different locations for the evening, and some of my guests having to walk all over the zoo in heels - the zoo staff provided golf cart shuttles, and made the electronic scooters available for some of my older guests which was very much appreciated.

The elephants were on full display during out ceremony due to strategically placed treats, and we splurged for a few visitors to join our guests during CH. The Porcupine was a big hit with guests, and we originally planned for the Fox to visit as well, but he was under the weather so Einstein the African Grey Parrot subbed in and wowed all my guests with her impressive vocabulary! We were supposed to have a few pictures taken with the giraffes during CH, but they were attempting to procreate so we missed out on those, but baby giraffes are more important than a few pictures. We also chose to have the carousel running which everyone LOVED, and the bathrooms were extremely clean with the best AC in the whole Zoo!

My day was absolutely perfect, and such a unique experience. My guests are still raving about how wonderful of an event it was!

Michelle Sent on 10/12/2017

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Everything went so perfectly! The zoo was willing to work with us on last minute changes, and we were incredibly impressed and happy with the results. All of my guests loved it as well. It is a unique place for a wedding, and I'd do it again if I could!

Stephanie Sent on 09/27/2017

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Lions tigers and bears oh my! My daughters wedding at the zoo was perfect walked down a lantern filled walkway from progoda to alter with cranes for good luck serenading the bridal party everything was beautiful and the staff went above and beyond wonderful venue for s perfect day for the lucky coupke

Kaitlyn Sent on 07/19/2017

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Suzi was super helpful during the planning of our wedding and so accommodating. She made the planning process less stressful and understood everything that we were imagining. On the day of, all of the staff was super helpful and exceeded all of our expectations. They definitely helped make our big day so special.

Chasity Sent on 06/26/2017

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We had the best time and our guests seemed very please!
Highly recommend the Knoxville Zoo for any special occasion!

Cahkb Sent on 06/10/2017

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The zoo was very willing to give us whatever they could and work with us to make sure our wedding day was just what we wanted. There are a few very minor details that were overlooked/missed, but all the major pieces to the wedding were perfect. And you're at the zoo so who cares about the little stuff. Plus there are so many beautiful places in the zoo to take pictures. We recommend everyone get married at the zoo- have some animal ambassadors at a cocktail hour after the ceremony and your guests will have the best time. The zoo also allows you to buy the alcohol and they serve it which saved us thousands of dollars in comparison to an open bar where drinks are $5-10 each.

Lindsey Sent on 05/22/2017

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Ashley and her team are awesome! They are very helpful and easy going. The venue is perfect for any wedding size. Hey help set up and clean up and answer any questions you have in a very timely manner. I wouldn't want to have had my wedding anywhere else!

Grace Sent on 05/01/2017

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Loved the Kids Cove tent as a rehearsal dinner venue! Great service and value! We all had so much fun feeding the giraffes, enjoying the owl visitor, and riding the carousel!

Andrew Sent on 05/01/2017

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A truly wonderful and unique experience. They staff at the zoo are incredibly professional and understanding. Wouldn't have changed a thing. Loved every moment.

Katie Sent on 02/28/2017

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Our wedding was simply amazing! We could not have asked for a more perfect day. The zoo crew was fantastic and made everything so easy and stress free for us. Our guests were amazed with how perfectly everything turned out. Words can not express how truly stunning our day was and it's all thanks to Zoo Knoxville!

Kristi Sent on 02/03/2017

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We were beyond satisfied with our choice to use the Knoxville Zoo as venue. We felt like we were getting way more for our money than at other venues we considered. Our guests really enjoyed the experience as well! We would definitely recommend this venue for anyone one looking for something a little different and memorable!

Kelsey Sent on 02/03/2017

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The zoo is very easy to work with! They handle catering and linen rentals, which takes a load off the bride :)

Dara Sent on 12/07/2016

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Zoo Knoxville was an amazing venue for both our ceremony and location. Highly recommended!

Dara Sent on 12/07/2016

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We can't thank the zoo enough for making our wedding special and exactly what we wanted. Highly recommended!

Jessica Sent on 11/22/2016

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We had an amazing time. The zoo staff went above the call of duty to make everything perfect. Would recommend 100%.

Janet Sent on 11/22/2016

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If you love animals and wildlife this is a great wedding venue! There are a lot of spots in the zoo great for photos. The staff was amazing!

Ashley Sent on 11/17/2016

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Ashley and Suzi were absolutely amazing! They were so willing to help make our day perfect. I felt so comfortable working with them and their team, I can't imagine doing the wedding process without them. I highly suggest using Zoo Knoxville for a wedding venue!!!

Maggie Sent on 11/16/2016

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Awesome venue and amazing service. Ashley and her team are so accommodating and willing to help. They are extremely flexible and professional!

Leslie Sent on 11/15/2016

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You may be thinking, "Who gets married at the zoo?". I know that's what I was thinking at first; however, from the first meeting with Ashley to the tour of where the ceremony/reception would be I knew this is where we were meant to get married. Ashley and staff are AMAZING. I was so impressed with everything they did. We didn't have to worry about set-up, clean-up, or anything in the middle. I would highly recommend giving the zoo a chance to make your wedding dreams come true.

Shania Sent on 06/27/2016

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Zoo Knoxville made my day perfect. They took care of everything and were so patient with myself and the wedding party. Suzi made sure everything was perfect and just the way we wanted. Everything was included and it was the cheapest venue we found. I highly recommend Zoo Knoxville to any bride because your day will be stunning!

Brittany Sent on 12/06/2015

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From beginning to end, our experience with Ashley and the venue was absolutely wonderful! It was a beautiful ending to such a special day. Ashley was so very helpful. I just had to tell her what I wanted, and she was able to fulfill all of my requests. She was truly fantastic to work with! Our guests had such a great time and it is something they will remember for years to come. If you want a unique and memorable wedding/reception, this is most certainly the place to get that. From set up to breaking everything down, the event staff at the Knoxville Zoo truly know what they are doing!

Kelly Sent on 10/30/2015

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Ashley and her team were absolutely wonderful. They made my wedding day unforgettable, even through the rain. I loved it!

Kelly Sent on 10/30/2015

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Ashley and her team were wonderful! They made everything go very smoothly and made my day unforgettable, even through the rain! It was a beautiful venue and such a fun atmosphere.

Traci Sent on 09/17/2015

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First off, Ashley is easily the hardest working person I have ever encountered. She was literally a lifesaver during this entire wedding process. I was pretty sure I wanted my wedding at the zoo, but as soon as I met her, all doubts were gone. I knew very little about the wedding process, and she helped me out immensely and answered all my questions. I was planning the wedding from out of town, so I was constantly emailing her, and I always received responses quickly. The venue itself was absolutely amazing and my guests are still talking about how unique the venue was. Our ceremony was in front of the elephants and the cocktail hour near the red pandas, so our guests were able to see some of the animals which they loved! Me and my husband were also able to interact with the giraffes, which created some amazing pictures! We also chose to have the carousel going all night long, which our guests LOVED (and not just the children). Overall, having my wedding at the zoo was truly the best decision I made in this wedding process! And it was super affordable for everything it included!!

Victoria Sent on 01/07/2015

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I would definitely recommend the Zoo to any of my friends and family to have a event here. It was amazing and everyone there did a great job of making the day perfect for us.

Monica Sent on 01/07/2015

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Our experience was wonderful!!

Laura Sent on 11/10/2014

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Ashley and the staff at the Knoxville Zoo worked hard to make our wedding day exactly what we wanted! She made the preparation easy and fun! We were relieved to not have to set up and take down our reception, that was all taken care of and was done beautifully.

If you are looking for a fun and unique venue with exceptional service, look no further!

Sarah Sent on 08/17/2014

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The zoo was the perfect venue for us! We got married by the elephants on World Elephant Day (8-9-14). We also got to meet and pet a penguin. The Kids Cove tent was beautiful. If you bring them any decor, they will decorate for you. Ashley Hackney, the wedding coordinator there, took extra good care of us. She was always prepared and organized and made sure our day was special. She was such a big help on the day of our wedding when things were hectic. She even prepared our plates and set them on our table for our reception so we didn't have to.

A few more perks of having it at the zoo:
Plenty of options as to the location within the zoo
You can rent the carousel for the night
Linens, decor for the tables, etc. Are included
There's a golf cart train type thing that can shuttle your guests to and from locations. I had grandparents that needed assistance and this was such a big deal for us.
Lastly, it is the ZOO. Not everyone can say they had such a unique location. Your guests and yourself will have the memories of a lifetime!

Tonya Sent on 07/10/2014

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I loved the Zoo as my wedding/cocktail/reception venue. I actually was not even considering using the Zoo until my husband mentioned it. It was perfect. Ashely was great through it all. She was easy to contact via email or text. There were a few little things that I was told would happen or could possible happen, but they were minor and everything was wonderful. Ashley joked and said that it does not rain on her weddings…..and it did….until ceremony time….the skies parted we said our ‘’I dos” and the lions roared. It was fabulous. Ashley’s crew was amazing as well. They were on top of everything too. They took care of set up, break down, traveling everyone and everything where it needed to go, and worked very hard to keep everything running smoothly. She knows a lot of vendors as well and can recommend anyone and deal with everyone. Thank you Ashley and your crew!

User1814545 Sent on 06/02/2014

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Perfect place for our wedding! Ashley was very professional and helpful.

Brittany Sent on 10/19/2013

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This was the best choice/selection I made in regards to the entire wedding! We wanted a unique venue, and everyone was so shocked when we said we were getting married at the Zoo. Everyone since has said how much they loved it and how amazing it turned out! That it was the best wedding they have gone to. Ashley Hackney was my wedding coordinator, and she was absolutely amazing. She assisted me with everything and sent reminders monthly to keep me on track. She was so willing to work with all my ideas and give suggestions. Most unique venue in Knoxville!

Megan Sent on 04/27/2013

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We had the most fantastic wedding reception at the Knoxville Zoo! Ashley and her staff did a wonderful job with making the event run smoothly. All of my guests raved about how fun and different the zoo was! We had the cocktail hour at the new Valley of the Kings exhibit and the reception was under the permanent tent at Kids Cove. We used the preferred vendor of Simply Southern Catering and the food was AMAZING!!! Ashley really helped make recommendations for vendors and sent a monthly planning list of things I needed to work on (finding a DJ, buying wedding bands, meeting with florist, ect.). Having our reception at the Knoxville Zoo really made for an amazing and memorable event! Thank you Ashley and zoo staff!!! You guys were awesome!!!!!

Janet Sent on 09/29/2011

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As the grandparents of the bride Holly Worley, from our observation and interaction with Ashley, the Events Coordinator, the service was phenomenal on 9/24/2011 as well as rehearsal provisons on 9/23/2011. We had several Emails back and forth as Holly's grandfather and I did some handiwork from home for transporting to the zoo. Ashley was very prompt, courteous and so helpful in arranging for us to come early on the wedding day, even providing a prep area for flower arranging, etc. I'm sure Holly and Matt will make their own comments as well as the Moms but I just wanted Ashley, Tucker and the gang to know how much they were appreciated. Thanks, the wedding was perfect, the reception was perfect and having the carousel running was a wonderful added bonus. Jan & Ralph Vaughn, Lakesite, TN

Mandie Sent on 08/30/2011

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The Knoxville Zoo provided the entire package a bride needs to stay calm while planning her wedding! The on-site coordinator, Ashley, walked me through each step, answered my numerous crazy emails with calm professionalism, and helped me plan and execute the perfect "fun" reception to coordinate with our "traditional" church ceremony. Ashley worked with all the individual vendors for all the technicality pieces and really pulled everything together. I didn't have to worry about anything on my wedding day because she set up all the goodies, linens, flowers, etc. She also loaded up my mom's car with the gifts and left over treats so no one else had to carry anything. It was so much pressure off us. Better experience than I could've ever imagine for our reception! I've suggested the Knoxville Zoo and Ashley to several friends for a variety of events!

Heidi Sent on 06/29/2011

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We had our rehearsal dinner at the Knoxville Zoo. Ashley and her crew did the best job ever! We had such a great time with all the animals around. They allowed for us to bring in our own food, beverages, and dj. They provided all the talbes, chairs, linens, ice, and bartender. They even decorated with ceterpiece plants! I could not have asked for a more enjoyable time. Everyone complimented on a job well done. I would definitely recommend the zoo.

Sarah Sent on 06/08/2011

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I cannot thank Ashley enough for the reception and help that she gave me during the planning of my wedding. She was with me every step of the way and I would highly recommend having your reception at the Knoxville Zoo. A wonderful venue with gorgeous surroundings. I cannot thank her enough. Would highly recommend her.

Justin Sent on 06/04/2011

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We had our reception at Knoxville Zoo, and the reception was great! If there was a problem...the staff did everything in their power to fix it! They thought of everything, even the small little things that are easy to forget about, and had them all ready or us. The reception went extremely smooth, and it was also very pretty. I highly recomend the zoo!

Alicia Sent on 03/16/2011

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My husband and I got married at the Knoxville Zoo this past October. We had booked different venue (because we did not know the Zoo even did weddings) that shut down 6 weeks before our wedding date. When I visited the Zoo, I was extremely stressed and frantic. All of my fears were relieved upon meeting the wedding planner, Ashley. She, and all the event staff, made my husband and I feel so secure and excited about our wedding again. Everything from the decorations, to the service, to the food, was excellent. I have and will continue to recommend the Knoxville Zoo to anyone looking for a wedding venue.

Liz Sent on 01/11/2011

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We had our wedding at the Knoxville Zoo in May 2010. We had an excellent experience working with the wedding coordinator, Ashley! She was easy to get in touch with and was extremely helpful and professional while planning and preparing for our wedding. The Knoxville Zoo was a beautiful venue and the staff was generously accomodating. Thank you Knoxville Zoo and Ashley for making our wedding day so special!

Courtney Sent on 05/14/2018

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Ashley and her team are amazing. They made planning a breeze. The zoo is definitely a one-of-a-kind venue to have a wedding. We had the ceremony in the tiger forest and the cats were out most of the time. Great for guests and pictures!

Chelse Sent on 01/12/2011

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We had our rehearsal dinner at the zoo and were extremely impressed. Ashley did a great job of showing us around the park, helping us pick our location, and telling us all about the different options we had as far as transportation, tables, flowers, etc. etc. It was a unique dinner location that everyone was SUPER excited about. I have and will keep recommending the Zoo as a place to have a wonderful event.

Brock Sent on 11/11/2023

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Rehearsal Dinner - Tiger Forest

Held my rehearsal dinner at the indoor tiger viewing building. Guests loved dining while viewing the animals. Bar service and food was great.

Stacie Sent on 08/07/2017

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We had an excellent experience with our wedding at the Knoxville Zoo. Ashley was extremely helpful and knowledgable. We didn't know what to expect from the zoo for a wedding venue but it was beautiful and we couldn't have asked for a more patient staff.

Ally Sent on 02/03/2017

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Having our wedding at Knoxville Zoo this past May was the best decision I made in the whole wedding planning process! I'll admit it was not even on my radar when I first started looking for a venue, even though both my husband and I are animal lovers. I just knew I wanted something outdoors. We got some info at the Pink Bridal show and scheduled a tour. The moment we finished the tour I knew it was going to be the place! Even though we had only toured one other venue. The staff was amazing! Ashley was the best! She was always so responsive to any questions I had , as well as happy to answer everything. She made my day perfect. If there were issues, I didn't know about them :). The staff decorated beautifully and better than I had imagined it looking in my head. My husband and I chose to get married in front of the lion exhibit( we didn't want to smell the elephants, and I'm a huge cat lover)! They also were able to cart around the guests which was great, since we had a few older guests and people with tall heels! It was also easy to fit in our budget! I would highly recommend this venue for both ceremony and reception!

Angelina Sent on 07/30/2014

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The Knoxville Zoo was the perfect place for a rehearsal dinner! The staff is extremely helpful! We decided to use one of their suggested caterers, Simply Southern, and they were great to work with. We requested specific food for our dinner and they were all very flexible and delicious. We were supposed to have out dinner by the giraffe feeding area, but due to a chance of thuderstorms, the wouldn't bring the giraffes out and we had to eat inside in the party room. I was pretty upset since there were quite a few kids coming, but the staff totally made up for it by giving us a private tour of the zoo and made the kids (and adults) SO happy. This dinner was one our guests won't forget.

Lauren Sent on 07/11/2011

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The venue and service was absolutely phenomonal! Ashley, the Wedding Coordinator, was great! She walked us thru the process by meeting with us many times during a nine month period, sending out regular emails with checklists and reminders and answered all our questions in a timely manner. We couldn't have asked for more! We only had one issue and that was with the bartenders that the Zoo provided. We didn't feel like they were prepared nor were they "experienced" bartenders...which made getting drinks from the bar a bit of a hassle. But, in all fairness, we provided them with 2 liter sodas which proved difficult to mix drinks with in a hurry. All in all, everything was gorgeous and we all had an amazing time!!!

Meredith Sent on 02/24/2011

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4 out of 5 rating
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5 out of 5 rating

The staff were very accomodating and helpful. The venue itself needed a lot of work with decorations to be suitable for a wedding. It was a lovely place for a large wedding.

Christie Sent on 10/21/2017

4.7 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4.5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
4.5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
4.5 out of 5 rating

LOVE THE ZOO!!. The new Tiger Forest is gorgeous for a cocktail hour! You can even choose from a small list of animals to have during your cocktail hour. We chose the Bat Eared Fox. You can choose to have a Barn Owl, African Porcupines, & more. The zoo also comes with a wedding coordinator for no extra charge. It is very affordable and comes with a lot of options for upgrades that are not overly priced. They also include setup and breakdown. If you use the zoo, I recommend going to the pink bride show because you can get a $500 off coupon! The outdoor tent is a great place for a reception. Even if it rains, they can close the curtains on the side. There are so many great places for pictures to be taken, I would recommend extra time for pictures. We had amazing experiences with the giraffe and lions!!
One bad thing was that, you have to have the zoo's bartender serve you while getting ready which means you have to pay for extra hours. This was pretty upsetting because I had gotten my bridesmaids gorgeous custom champagne flutes and was planning on doing a few champagne toast pictures. Needless to say, I was extremely disappointed when I asked for a bottle of champagne that we had dropped off the previous day and they told us no. 1 bottle of champagne to be split between 7 girls was not too much to ask. Also, the ready rooms are not that great, except for the cabin. You have to bring your own mirror.
Overall, the Zoo was AMAZING! I would definitely recommend the Knoxville Zoo!

Francine Sent on 11/10/2023

4.6 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
4 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
4 out of 5 rating

Knoxville zoo wedding

Our Wedding turn out beautifully and the wedding coordinators are very friendly and helpful we had a great time saying I do at the zoo

+18 photos

Jaime Sent on 04/30/2018

4.6 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

The experience was as great as the price! I was a little iffy about a zoo wedding, but it was absolutely beautiful! Ashley and Suzi were the greatest people to work with. So thankful for all they did!!!

Allyn Sent on 01/30/2011

4.1 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
3.5 out of 5 rating
Value
4 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
4 out of 5 rating

We had our rehearsal dinner at the Knoxville Zoo and our guests had just a fabulous time. We did the barbeque buffet and the food was good (not great). The dinner and space rental was the cheapest thing about our wedding. The coordinator was awesome at getting back to emails and we were allowed to bring our own beer and wine, which was nice.

Hannah Sent on 02/03/2017

3.5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4 out of 5 rating
Average response time
3 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
3.5 out of 5 rating
Value
4 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
3 out of 5 rating

Absolutely loved having my wedding at the Knoxville Zoo. Definitely some things that I wish could have been different, but that was due to communication issues. There packages include the venue for wedding and reception, tables, table clothes, and chairs. Sashes for chairs are extra. They provide catering options but it is not included in the price. Other things to remember that you will need seperate from venue cost is: bartender if you want alcohol, DJ for wedding music and reception, and most importantly a great florist. Also remember that fake flower pedals are not allowed. My husband and his groomsmen had an awesome cabin to get ready in and myself and bridesmaids had to get ready in a small office room with no mirror (brought my own). I also wish I had brought something to cover the trash cans in the park. They are kind of an eye sore in the background of some pictures. And the thing I would change most if I had noticed it is that there was a dang coat rack with a bunch of wooden hangars in the area where I had my reception! Yes my photographer should have noticed it in the background of many pictures but also the dang thing should not have been on the wall right behind where our table was.

Amberly Sent on 01/31/2011

1.7 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
2 out of 5 rating
Average response time
2 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
0 out of 5 rating
Value
3 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
1.5 out of 5 rating

The wedding ceremony was absolutely beautiful. Everything went according to plan. She set up the reception hall beautifully as well....but......when it came down to reception time it was a nightmare. We had paid for the reception room until 10:00 pm that night, the ceremony didn't get over until 8:00. We had 2 hours to enjoy each others company. Not only did she rush every single event (toss of bouquet, garter, cake cutting, toasting, and eating) but she actually turned off the music and started packing up our stuff WITHOUT mine or my husbands permission. This was at 8:40. Now I was under the impression that we still had 1 hour and 20 minutes left. My grandfather, mother, grandmother(husbands), and uncle did not see half of the reception because Ashley kept pushing us to do things quickly. My husband and myself were not even able to eat a piece of our own wedding cake because of how quick all these events happened. When we first met with Ashley she was bubbly, happy, and ready to please...but on our wedding day, she threw an attitude into the atmopshere that EVERYONE could feel. My own husband, mom, maid of honor, and bridesmaids asked "what is her problem?" When me and my maid of honor and bridesmaids were waiting for our minister (who was late by an hour), we all decided to talk to make the time pass, and in this time we were talking about Ashley's wedding some day and she said "I wouldn't let someone handle my wedding, I'm a control freak!" This was a red flag to me! I almost feel as if since we weren't on HER plan, that she was going to control the rest of the night to make up for lost time. This is not at all professional in my eyes. I cried on my wedding night because of how upset this whole event got me. She had us packed up and out of there by 8:55. It all happened so quick that none of us knew what to say or do. We paid a lot of money for a beautiful wedding that ended with a disaster of a reception. If I were to recommend anyone any advice it would be to make sure you choose the right person to handle all of your wedding day decisions and not one who is a completely different person on the day of the wedding. Don't have someone who has a nasty attitude and could make your already stressful day more stressful. The zoo itself was beautiful as well as the ceremony, but Ashley was not a good addition that day. If I were to do it again I would without a doubt, I would have just taken matters into my own hands and not let her get away with how she treated us.

Zoo Knoxville Reviews

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Zoo Knoxville