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Pricing information

Reception
$4,900 starting price
Ceremony
$1,200 starting price
Reception
$4,900 starting price
Ceremony
$1,200 starting price

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About

On WeddingWire since 2016

Chabot Space & Science Center is an out-of-this world wedding venue nestled in the forests of the Oakland Hills, California. They offer multiple indoor and outdoor sites for celestial ceremonies and receptions. Their experienced events team will ensure your celebration is everything you dreamed it to be. Plus, the cost of your venue supports free & low-cost STEAM education for the Oakland community!

Facilities and Capacity
Couples can accommodate up to 1,500 guests spread throughout the various exhibit levels at this outdoorsy venue. The Spees Building is the grand entryway to the state-of-the-art Center, and offers two main levels of exhibits a theater, and the Planetarium. It features an octagonal skylight in their rotunda, floor-to-ceiling windows, a glass skybridge and loggia encasing the building’s exterior. You can use all three levels for your ceremony, cocktail hour and reception. Additional spaces include:

  • Courtyard - features an amphitheater, dining area, a garden, and a central courtyard.
  • Astronomy Hall - the largest unobstructed event space at the Center. It features contiguous dining and dancing for up to 250 guests, along with a built-in projector, screen and overhead speakers.
  • Observatory - an outdoor complex that houses their three iconic telescopes. Guests can gaze out at the night sky with the help of one of their expert astronomers.
  • Planetarium - features a 70-foot dome with an advanced universe visualization system. You can exchange your vows set in front of a rising moon, a swirling nebula, or gently twinkling stars, followed by a show of your choice for guests.

Services Offered
Chabot Space & Science Center offers multiple wedding packages for you to choose from. They offer a list of preferred caterers and event rentals to make your planning flow smoothly. Additional services include:

  • Hospitality Room
  • Parking
  • Wireless Internet
  • Pet friendly
  • Wheelchair accessible

Other Services
In addition to hosting lavish weddings, this special venue will also host an intimate elopement. Additional events include:

  • Rehearsal dinner
  • Bridal shower
  • Engagement party

Join us for our Open House, March 26, 2024! Meet our vendor partners and explore our "space" like you've never seen it before! Register at: https://chabotspace.org/visit/rent-chabot/open-house-2024-beyond-the-stars/

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Frequently asked questions

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?

$4,900

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

$4,900

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?

$1,200

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

$1,200

Which of the following are included in starting site fee?

Bridal Suite
Parking

What is the minimum number of guests required to book your venue?

1

How many event spaces or rooms does your venue offer?

6

Describe your venue:

Banquet Hall
Garden
Museum
Park

What kind of settings are available?

Indoor
Uncovered Outdoor

Which of the following wedding events does your venue service?

Ceremony
Reception
Bridal Shower
Engagement Party
Elopements
Rehearsal Dinner

What event services do you offer?

Event Rentals
Get Ready Rooms
Outside Vendors
Pet Friendly
Wifi

What event items are available?

Audio Equipment
Drapery
Tables

What transportation and access is available?

Parking
Wheelchair Access

What months are included in your peak season?

December
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Reviews of Chabot Space & Science Center

4.9 out of 5 rating
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2024 Winner
4.9 out of 5 rating
68 Reviews
98% recommend it
  • Quality of service
    4.9 out of 5 rating
  • Average response time
    4.8 out of 5 rating
  • Professionalism
    4.9 out of 5 rating
  • Value
    4.9 out of 5 rating
  • Flexibility
    4.9 out of 5 rating
This AI-generated summary gives you a snapshot of the overall ratings and feedback from the reviews this vendor has received.

Review summary

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Chabot Space & Science Center is highly recommended as a unique and fun wedding venue. The venue offers various spaces, including the planetarium, astronomy hall, and outdoor areas, allowing for customization and a memorable experience. The staff, including Samantha, Nicole, and Victoria, are described as helpful, accommodating, and organized. Guests enjoyed the exhibits, telescope viewings

Review summary

Powered by AI
This AI-generated summary gives you a snapshot of the overall ratings and feedback from the reviews this vendor has received.

Chabot Space & Science Center is highly recommended as a unique and fun wedding venue. The venue offers various spaces, including the planetarium, astronomy hall, and outdoor areas, allowing for customization and a memorable experience. The staff, including Samantha, Nicole, and Victoria, are described as helpful, accommodating, and organized. Guests enjoyed the exhibits, telescope viewings

Weddingwire
4.9/5 68 reviews
Google
4.6/5 405 reviews
Sunshine
Sunshine M. Sent on 10/31/2023
5 out of 5 rating

A night to remember

We were so happy that we chose the Chabot for our wedding, we got so many comments from happy guests about how unique and memorable our wedding was. We chose to have our wedding indoors in the planetarium, but the Chabot also has outdoor spaces available and is surrounded by redwoods that make a beautiful backdrop for photos. The Chabot events team is AMAZING! They were super responsive throughout the entire planning process, and their recommended vendors list was a lifesaver. I can't recommend the Chabot enough!
M
Melissa M. Sent on 12/02/2023
5 out of 5 rating

The best venue your guests won’t forget!

Words can express how wonderful it was to have our wedding at Chabot! My husband and I were looking for a venue that was different than your traditional wedding location and Chabot was the perfect place. We booked the “Across the Universe” package which allowed us to have the ceremony in the Planetarium, cocktail hour upstairs & the reception in Astronomy Hall, 3 different places! We were in love with the idea that our guests could enjoy different settings all in the same location. The ability to customize the Planetarium in terms of lights, music & projections allowed us to really personalize the space. We got married October 7, 2023 and Chabot was able to project the sky from October 7, 2016, the day that we met which was super special! We had 150 guests and Astronomy Hall had the perfect amount of space where everyone had enough room to be comfortable to sit down but also move around and dance. We decided to go with their recommended vendors for wedding coordination (Simply Elegant by Diana), catering (Blue Heron), and lighting/DJ services (Verducci Event Productions) which really made the coordination process so easy! The Chabot team, Alex and Chelsea, are very organized and great to work with. They did an amazing job bringing our vision for the wedding to life and we are truly grateful for them! And because they are a non-profit, the rental cost of the venue goes back to fund the center, it was a no brainer for us to choose Chabot! If you’re looking for a unique and fun wedding venue, you will not regret picking the Chabot Space & Science Center!
Catherine
Catherine B. Sent on 11/29/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Magical and Perfect

Chabot was absolutely incredible. We searched for cool wedding venues in Oakland, it was the first result to pop up, and we locked it in. The space is absolutely amazing and the guests loved being able to wander the exhibits and socialize, experience the Planetarium, dance around a rocket, and enjoy the general ambiance and magic (feedback is that it was the coolest wedding they had ever been to). The team, Rasheda, Chelsea, and Alex, were wonderful to work with. They were super communicative and organized, helped us stay on task, and were always available for questions from us and our wedding planner. The bonus is that the cost of the venue goes back into the STEM program for kids! If we had to do it all over again, we would 100% choose Chabot. It doesn’t get more magical than the wonders of space surrounded by a redwood forest.
Photography credit to: Wedding Feels Photography- Joel Jauregui
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Awards

68
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2024 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2023 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2022 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2021 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2020 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2019 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2018 Winner

Real Weddings

Evelyn & Chris
65 photos · 09/19/2022

Team

Samantha Stevick
Samantha Stevick
Director of Strategic Sales

I absolutely love this beautiful Oakland museum and observatory and would be thrilled to help you plan a special day in the stars. I've worked with weddings as a caterer since my very first job in high school, moved on to event planning post-college, and I've even been a bridesmaid 9 times! My favorite thing about Chabot is that the cost of your wedding supports all the educational programming we do for our community. It feels great to help couples realize their wedding dreams while also making a difference for local children every day.

Chelsea Drescher
Chelsea Drescher
Lead Event Manager

Nice to meet you! I have worked many weddings here at Chabot Space and Science Center and come from a background of corporate events and day-of coordinating for weddings. I truly love being able to help couples wedding dreams come true. Like Samantha, one of my favorite things about Chabot is that the cost of your wedding supports all the educational programming we do for our community! As someone who started their work in education + parks and recreations, it's the best of both worlds! In addition to that, I love how unique each party is here at the museum. I can't wait to work with you!

Professional Network & Endorsements

1 Endorsement
Grier Cooper Photography Grier Cooper Photography Wedding Photographers

If you want to create a highly entertaining, unique wedding, look no further. Chabot has so much to offer, from gorgeous sunsets, interactive science-y fun (including planetarium shows and telescope viewings) and incredible Bay Area views.... and let's not forget the free parking! They also offer stellar catering options (sorry for the pun, but it's true) so you and your guests will enjoy an amazing feast.

Preferred Vendors

Simply Elegant Weddings & Events
4.9 out of 5 rating , 73 Reviews
· Wedding Planners
A Monique Affair
4.9 out of 5 rating , 74 Reviews
· Wedding Planners
McCalls Catering
5.0 out of 5 rating , 5 Reviews
· Wedding Caterers
Blue Heron Catering, Inc.
4.8 out of 5 rating , 18 Reviews
· Wedding Caterers
Verducci Event Productions
5.0 out of 5 rating , 184 Reviews
· Wedding DJs
Carrie Dove Catering & Events
5.0 out of 5 rating , 29 Reviews
· Wedding Caterers

Map

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Chabot Space & Science Center frequently asked questions

Chabot Space & Science Center includes the following items and services for wedding events in its starting site fee:
  • Bridal Suite
  • Parking
The space offered by Chabot Space & Science Center for wedding events is known for:
  • Banquet Hall
  • Garden
  • Museum
  • Park
Chabot Space & Science Center offers the following indoor/outdoor options for weddings:
  • Indoor
  • Uncovered Outdoor
Chabot Space & Science Center offers the following types of wedding events:
  • Ceremony
  • Reception
  • Bridal Shower
  • Engagement Party
  • Elopements
  • Rehearsal Dinner
Chabot Space & Science Center offers the following services for wedding events:
  • Event Rentals
  • Get Ready Rooms
  • Outside Vendors
  • Pet Friendly
  • Wifi
Chabot Space & Science Center offers the following furniture and decor items for weddings:
  • Audio Equipment
  • Drapery
  • Tables
Chabot Space & Science Center is recommended by 98% of couples who have used their services. Their overall rating is 4.9 out of 5 with the following breakdown: 4.9 in quality of service, 4.9 in flexibility, 4.9 in professionalism, 4.9 in value and 4.8 in average response time.

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