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Award winner thanks to recommendations from couples on WeddingWire.com.
  • 2017

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

4.7 out of 5 rating 38 reviews
Powell, OH
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Africa Event Center
Africa Event Center
Visitor During Cocktail Hour!
Visitor During Cocktail Hour!
Outdoor wedding
Outdoor wedding
Water's Edge Boardwalks
Water's Edge Boardwalks
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Water's Edge Boardwalks
Water's Edge Boardwalks
Penguin Friends!
Penguin Friends!
Water's Edge Boardwalk
Water's Edge Boardwalk
Water's Edge Table Set Up
Water's Edge Table Set Up
A place with a view
A place with a view
View of giraffes
View of giraffes
Animal lovers' weddings
Animal lovers' weddings
Seated tables with blue linens
Seated tables with blue linens
Water's Edge Boardwalk
Water's Edge Boardwalk
Elegant Set up
Elegant Set up
Africa Event Center
Africa Event Center
Magical surroundings
Magical surroundings
Classic Colors
Classic Colors
Dream Ceremony Spot
Dream Ceremony Spot
Unique experiences
Unique experiences
Long table set up
Long table set up
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

Interested in this vendor?

Africa Event Center Ceremony
1/24
Up to 300 guests
Ceremony/Reception
Outdoor/Indoor
Clean Up
4.7
Very good

"We had such a wonderful experience at my daughter's wedding at the Africa Event Center at the..."

— Kathleen

"Could not have chosen a better team. I gave a theme, minimal input, and breakfast for the chefs and..."

— Rose
David
Heather
Sebastian
K
R

Recommended by 95% of couples

What is the story behind Columbus Zoo and Aquarium?

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium offers a unique wedding venue in Powell, Ohio. Located just 20 minutes northwest of downtown Columbus on the Scioto River, it is a truly exceptional setting in which to celebrate your special day. Animal-loving couples will enjoy raising a toast to their love story among the diverse habitats and remarkable surroundings of one of the best zoos in the country.

Facilities and Capacity

Accommodating up to 400 guests, you and your beloved will have access to a range of unique event areas. Water's Edge Events Park provides sweeping views of the river and multiple gathering spaces in the heart of the zoo. You and your guests will enjoy access to heated boardwalk pavilions and private restrooms. The Lakeside Pavilion is the perfect setting for lively celebrations, with multiple rooms to accommodate different portions of your special day. The Africa Event Center at Columbus Zoo and Aquarium offers a truly exceptional reception space. Here, the savanna unfolds beneath you, griffafes grace the horizon, and each moment is truly unforgettable. This climate-controlled ballroom includes wooden chairs and tables, and a shared balcony overlooking the majesty of the animal kingdom. Multiple open-air shelters are available throughout the zoo, providing plenty of space for intimate gatherings in the fresh air.

Services Offered

The fabulous team at Columbus Zoo and Aquarium has curated a selection of all-inclusive wedding planning packages. Each option includes amazing animal encounters, a selection of event elements, setup assistance, bartending services, and event cleanup. The venue partners with Nourish Catering to provide on-site food and beverage services. You and your partner can choose dining options that best suit the style of your celebration, from laid-back buffets to formal seated dinners. Reach out to Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and celebrate your wedding day amidst the unparalleled surroundings of this unique venue.

Features

Small team (2-10 members)

Experience

  • 99 years in business

  • We speak English

Links

Visit website
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Contact Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and their preferred vendors

  • Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
  • Buckeye Entertainment

What are Columbus Zoo and Aquarium's site fees and venue policies?

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?

$2,000

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

$1,500

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?

$500

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

$500

Which of the following are included in the starting site fee?

Bridal Suite
Chairs
China
Clean Up
Flatware
Glassware
Parking
Set Up
Tables

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

Cake Cutting
Server(s)

What is the starting price per person for bar service?

$34

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

Bartender(s)
Champagne Toast
House Beer
House Liquor
House Wine
Open Bar

How many event spaces or rooms does your venue offer?

3

Describe your venue:

Ballroom
Banquet Hall
Park
Waterfront
Zoo

What kind of settings are available?

Indoor
Covered Outdoor
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?

Bar Services
Catering Services
Clean Up
Wifi

What catering services do you offer?

Buffet
Cocktail Reception
Hors d'oeuvres
Outside Cake
Plated
Server(s)
Stations

What bar services do you provide?

Bartender(s)
Cash Bar
Champagne Toast
House Beer
House Liquor
House Wine
Limited Bar
Liquor License
Open Bar
Premium Liquor
Signature Drink
Specialty Beer
Specialty Wine

What event items are available?

Audio Equipment
Chairs
Tables

What food and beverage items are available?

Barware
China
Flatware
Glassware
Linens

What transportation and access is available?

Parking
Wheelchair Access

What months are included in your peak season?

April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

What months are included in your off-peak season?

January
February
March
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Any other questions?

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What are real couples saying about their experience at Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in reviews?

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Columbus Zoo and Aquarium - 1
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium - 2
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium - 3
+44 User photos
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium - 4
Weddingwire
4.7/5 38 reviews
Google
4.7/5 41385 reviews
K
Kathleen Sent on 10/15/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Columbus Zoo Wedding July 2023

We had such a wonderful experience at my daughter's wedding at the Africa Event Center at the Columbus Zoo. Working with Kaylie was easy. Her communication skills were great; she was able to answer all of our questions in a timely manner. We still have people talking to us about how great the wedding was. The outdoor space cannot be beat! All of the guests could fit on the deck at the same time and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the African Savannah and enjoy seeing the animals and the amazing sunset. We did opt to have the giraffe feeding which gave the guests something to do during cocktail hour and everyone loved the animal visits, too. The food was good and stayed hot throughout the buffet line. It also went very quickly so no one was waiting too long to eat. The room was large and did not feel crowded with our 185 guests. We loved the idea that it was an indoor/outdoor space and yet it stayed cool inside even in July.
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    Columbus Zoo and Aquarium - 7
R
Rose Sent on 08/05/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Zoo breakfast wedding

Could not have chosen a better team. I gave a theme, minimal input, and breakfast for the chefs and they had a blast. This reflected in their work. It was all anyone talked about for weeks. We wanted a fun and relaxed reception. We did a beach theme. They help coordinate so much including setting up and working with our vendors. The coordinator really kept us on track and did so much behind the scenes. The animals were fantastic. As bride and groom we were able to take private pictures with the animals too. Our friends even rented the carousel out. Everyone loved this. We choose the Water's Edge pavilion. The best for animal lovers and water. Such a great breeze off the water and the one walls of the building can open up for air. But it was also great to close in case we had rain. It was just magical. I cannot beat those pictures/view and the time we had together.
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David
David Sent on 06/23/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Water's Edge Wedding

My wife Hayley and I loved our wedding at Water’s Edge!

We live in Huntington, WV, but we decided to get married in Columbus because we had so many guests traveling from different parts of the country. We also knew we wanted an outdoor venue. Using this criteria, the Columbus Zoo was one of the first places I found, and it was perfect for us because of our love for animals and Hayley’s family’s longtime experience working with zoos in Nebraska.

We were so excited for so long leading up to the big day, and it still exceeded our expectations! The scenery was gorgeous, the food was delicious and the animal encounters were so much fun! Kaylie and the staff were always quick to respond if we had any questions, but they also laid out everything so clearly that there was rarely if ever any confusion. We’re very happy we decided to get married at the Columbus Zoo and will treasure our memories of our wedding day there forever!
T
Tyler Sent on 09/28/2023
5 out of 5 rating

The Best Day of my Life!

When my husband and I started looking for a venue for our wedding, we wanted something that would be memorable not only for us, but for our guests as well. We found that with the Columbus Zoo. However, we also found a staff of hard working individuals dedicated to helping us create the most amazing day of our lives. It was so much fun and far exceeded all of our expectations! Kaylie, you are AMAZING!
J
Jake Sent on 09/27/2023
5 out of 5 rating

The perfect wedding venue

Beautiful, one-of-a-kind venue with responsive staff, delicious food and very reasonable prices for the quality of event! All our guests loved all the Zoo had to offer
A
Alexis Sent on 09/05/2023
5 out of 5 rating

“Best wedding ever attended”-all of our friends and family

Getting married at the Africa Center was hands down the best decision my fiancé and I ever made. We wanted a non traditional venue and the Columbus zoo is a place we both love visiting. The zoo actually has 3 venue locations but the views from the Africa Center, literally overlooking the Africa exhibit next to where you can feed giraffes, were unbelievable. As cool as the outside ceremony space was, the inside was exactly what you need from an event space. Some people, my parents specifically, admitted they didn’t expect the “zoo to be so nice”. Once you step inside, the linens and everything felt like a normal wedding venue. We actually had a pretty small wedding and the room felt a little empty with the number of tables we used (I think 11 total) but just meant we had more space for dancing.
Kaylie, our event coordinator, absolutely made the wedding planning a BREEZE. She went above and beyond, I probably talked to her more via email every day than my fiancé. She answered every random question that I had, about timelines, set up, anything. And on the day, she helped coordinate all the vendors arrivals so I didn’t have to talk to anyone.
If the scenery doesn’t sell you, the animal encounters will. My husband and I got one on one time with the enrichment animals before they went in with the rest of the guests during cocktail hour. They STOLE THE SHOW. All of our guests had so much fun, which is all we could have asked for. Best day ever is an understatement and it was all thanks to the event staff at the Columbus zoo❤️
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  • +14 photos
    Columbus Zoo and Aquarium - 13
J
J Ford Sent on 09/04/2023
5 out of 5 rating

10/10 Unique Venue

We had our wedding at the Africa Event Center and people have not stopped talking about what a cool venue it was! Food was delicious and staff were very accommodating on our big day. We added the giraffe feeding, and everyone loved getting up close and personal to them. 100% would recommend!
Heather
Heather Sent on 06/20/2022
5 out of 5 rating

We had the most beautiful wedding!

I would highly recommend having your wedding at the zoo!
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    Columbus Zoo and Aquarium - 16
A
Andrea Sent on 06/01/2022
5 out of 5 rating

Best Wedding Venue EVER!

My wedding at the Zoo was AMAZING. I cannot recommend the Africa Event Center enough. Our guests could not stop talking about how much fun the event was! The staff was so helpful, especially Lindsey. She genuinely was the sole reason I was able to stay sane in the weeks leading up to the wedding. She was extremely organized and detail-oriented, to the point where I was not AT ALL worried about how the wedding would turn out. I would 100% recommend a Zoo wedding to anyone and everyone!
Sebastian
Sebastian Sent on 06/14/2019
5 out of 5 rating

FinallyThorntons Wedding

I absolutely loved having my wedding at waters edge .
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What awards has Columbus Zoo and Aquarium won?

38
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2017 Winner
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You've seen what other couples are saying

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Do wedding professionals recommend Columbus Zoo and Aquarium? Which ones?

DJ Flair DJ Flair Wedding DJs

Can't ask for something more fun than a zoo wedding. Great location and staff.

Buckeye Entertainment
Buckeye Entertainment
5.0 out of 5 rating , 566 reviews
· Wedding DJs

Where is Columbus Zoo and Aquarium located?

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Columbus Zoo and Aquarium frequently asked questions

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium includes the following items and services for wedding events in its starting site fee:
  • Bridal Suite
  • Chairs
  • China
  • Clean Up
  • Flatware
  • Glassware
  • Parking
  • Set Up
  • Tables
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium includes the following items and services in its wedding catering costs:
  • Cake Cutting
  • Server(s)
The bar service starting price at Columbus Zoo and Aquarium includes:
  • Bartender(s)
  • Champagne Toast
  • House Beer
  • House Liquor
  • House Wine
  • Open Bar
The space offered by Columbus Zoo and Aquarium for wedding events is known for:
  • Ballroom
  • Banquet Hall
  • Park
  • Waterfront
  • Zoo
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium offers the following indoor/outdoor options for weddings:
  • Indoor
  • Covered Outdoor
  • Uncovered Outdoor
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium offers the following types of wedding events:
  • Ceremony
  • Reception
  • Bridal Shower
  • Engagement Party
  • Elopements
  • Rehearsal Dinner
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium offers the following services for wedding events:
  • Bar Services
  • Catering Services
  • Clean Up
  • Wifi
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium offers the following furniture and decor items for weddings:
  • Audio Equipment
  • Chairs
  • Tables
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is recommended by 95% of couples who have used their services. Their overall rating is 4.7 out of 5 with the following breakdown: 4.8 in flexibility, 4.8 in value, 4.7 in quality of service, 4.7 in average response time and 4.7 in professionalism.
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