New England Aquarium

Before you read this lengthy review, the short answer is: YES, get married at the New England Aquarium!

We started our search looking for venues and wanted something fun and unique. The Aquarium made it onto our list, and the prices were comparable to other venues—it wasn’t significantly more expensive than renting out a restaurant with food and drinks.

We read every review possible before we had our first meeting and toured the venue. Our biggest concern was catering because there were some older reviews on The Knot about this being an issue. At our first meeting, not only was there a representative from the New England Aquarium, but also a representative from the catering company. This was definitely a green flag for us, and it sounds like the Aquarium took the older reviews seriously and transitioned to a new catering team.

Throughout the planning process, the team was wonderful. They kept in touch via email, gave us clear deadlines, and answered all of our questions.

We did have to get pre-approval for all of our centerpieces and anything else we were bringing into the Aquarium because of animal safety. This was not an issue for us and was a very straightforward process.

A few months before the wedding, we also had our food and wine tasting. This was definitely one of the fun parts of the planning process because all we had to do was show up! We knew we wanted buffet stations instead of a plated dinner, so we told them which entrees we wanted to try. The Italian dishes were really great, along with all of the salads. We also had some suggestions for a customized Indian station, and the team took very detailed notes, which was a great sign that they were listening to what we wanted.

Amanda Solomon was the person we worked with very closely as we got closer to our wedding date. The week before, she sent us encouraging messages and made sure everything was on track. On the day of the wedding, she and her team made sure the setup was done correctly and that everything was ready for us.

We didn’t have a wedding ceremony at the Aquarium—just the reception. Cocktail hour was inside the Aquarium, while dinner and dancing were outside in the tent.

Everyone absolutely raved about the venue! One thing we loved was that guests had options throughout the night. They could hang out in the tent and dance, go inside the Aquarium to see the animals, or walk along the harbor. It made the whole experience feel really unique and gave people plenty to do.

People also said they really enjoyed the food, which was the only hesitation we had when touring potential venues. We were so happy that we decided to go with the Aquarium and would highly recommend this venue to anyone looking for something unique, fun, and memorable!

The New England Aquarium was better than I could've expected or asked for!

Venue- Obviously the aquarium is stunning. We did our cocktail hour inside the aquarium and had the full space to roam. Our guests were obsessed and loved having that space ti mingle, drink and have some snacks. The fishy smell we were worried about was unnoticeable. We then had a tented reception. We splurged for some fancy disco balls and drapery but it doesnt need all of that. Because the tent is higher than most event tents, it automatically gives it an elevated look.

Food- The food surprised everyone. People kept jokingly showing us their empty plates saying that they've never finished their food at a wedding before. (I suggest the filet mignon). We had a beautiful tasting, where they allowed us to try so many different apps and meals. It was genuinly great food.

Staff/Process- We had an amazing team working with us and keeping the process smooth. They are very organized and make sure to keep you on a timeline without being pushy. Shout-out Amanda for answering every question possible and being there on the day-of to keep everything running smoothly.

Overall 10/10. I'm so surprised more people don't have weddings here!

My wife and I got married on August 9, 2025 at the New England Aquarium.

The venue was everything we could ask for. The ceremony took place outdoors beyond the Aquarium overlooking the harbor. You could see the planes taking off in the distance and the gorgeous skyline of the Seaport/East Boston—it was a serene place to have our ceremony. We had our cocktail hour inside the main aquarium exhibit halls, which our guests loved. It was so fun to have a drink while watching the penguins or being mesmerized by the large talk. We had our reception outdoors in the harbor side tent. We hired a florals and lighting to really brought the space to life. The aquarium staff set up everything so beautifully and elegantly. The service was efficient with plates being brought out and cleared promptly. We ate, cried, laughed and danced the night away. It was a magical evening that we’ll never forget.

Besides the event itself, we also really enjoyed working with the staff at the Aquarium, in particular Amanda and Alex. They were extremely supportive, responsive via email, and made us feel so at ease. I frantically emailed Alex one Friday afternoon and she responded almost immediately, and even offered to jump on the phone to talk something through.

Overall, we loved our wedding at the aquarium. We are so happy that we chose it. The location/venue was awesome, the food was excellent, the staff were amazing. Thank you Alex and Amanda for the event of a lifetime.

My partner and I got married at the New England Aquarium on 5/31/25, and it was everything we expected and wanted for our wedding day. We wholeheartedly recommend this venue to anyone interested in a unique experience and working with . We primarily worked with Amanda and Alex. They were very knowledgeable, responsive, and helpful throughout planning. And during the wedding, they and their staff were incredibly organized, helpful, and kind. It was rainy during our wedding day so we had to move the ceremony inside. The transition in plans was seamless, and getting married in front of the penguins with our friends and family towering over us was a truly extraordinary and precious experience. After the wedding, we had several guests reach out about how unique the venue was, how great the food tasted, and how attentive the staff was.

Outstanding venue for a wedding! The coordinator Amanda and staff on site were extremely accommodating and made everything stress free. Our guests raved about the experience and many said it was the best wedding they ever attended. They especially liked the food and the cocktail reception amongst the exhibits. The tent on the harbor was beautiful. Overall it was an incredible experience for everyone.

My husband and I got married at the New England Aquarium in Boston, and it was truly magical!

Venue/Location: We wanted a wedding venue that was (1) outside, preferably by the ocean, (2) close to the airport for our many out-of-town guests, and (3) memorable. After months of searching and almost settling on a venue that was beautiful but outside of the city, on a whim, we booked a tour with the Aquarium. I knew instantly that it was the perfect venue. Right on the water with a beautiful backdrop of the harbor, in the heart of Boston, the Aquarium offered the picturesque, convenient, and memorable experience we were looking for. On our wedding day, we lucked out with perfect weather (always a risk with outdoor venues), and in spite of a few congratulatory yells from excited boaters on the harbor, it was everything we’d hoped for and more. Our guests easily navigated to/from the airport, loved the opportunity to explore/sight-see in Boston, and told us over and over how awesome, fun, and special it was to explore the Aquarium.

Food/Event Staff: The Aquarium contracts exclusively with the Patina Restaurant Group for its catering and event services, so please note I am not certain about who on the staff was associated with each group. That said, the food was spectacular, the chef and day-of service staff were highly professional and accommodating, and the planning/coordination team will forever be in our hearts as the most awesome group of people to work with. A few notable examples (of many):
- Only two of our guests (including my mom) are vegan, so we weren’t thrilled about having to choose a vegan meal for the vegetarian option. Amanda and Abigail (primary and secondary points of contact/dream team) worked with the chef to create an entirely vegan meal for the two guests and make a vegan version of some of the passed hors d’oeuvres. My mom was so happy.
- Throughout the planning process, Amanda and Abigail were responsive and supportive. They frequently made useful recommendations, followed up on questions and logistics, and were extremely accommodating to our budget.
- As I was about to walk down the aisle, I suddenly felt worried that my vows never made it from the photographer's camera bag to my MOH. By some miracle, and without anyone else noticing, Amanda worked her magic so that my vows were in my sister's hands by the time I needed them.

We LOVED our choice to get married at the New England Aquarium for so many reasons. We would recommend to everyone.
Unique locations - location is beautiful and truly so unique. Everyone enjoyed cocktail hour with the fish and penguins and then the harborwalk was beautiful for the ceremony and at night
Catering / Food - Food was delicious and we got many compliments on it
Value - For a wedding in the heart of Boston it's a great value!
Service - The staff from the aquarium / internal catering team (Patina group) were exceptional. they were so responsive and made our dreams come true in many many ways! They are also so flexible (as long as it doesn't endanger the animals!) on the ideas we had

Thank you!!

My wedding at the New England Aquarium was a dream!!! The team there worked so hard to make my vision become a reality. Amanda and Krystal are miracle workers. By the last few weeks, they were able to finish my sentences, they knew my event inside and out! I felt so prioritized and taken care of. The ceremony space is stunning and who can beat a cocktail hour inside the aquarium around all of the penguins!! We had a blast, and now I am trying to figure out how I can have another event there. I wish I could give them 100 stars!!!

The New England aquarium was a unique venue that wow’d all of our guests. Catered by the patina group with excellent food and service, the ambiance and educational exhibits made a special night even more special.
The responsiveness and coordination of the team was extremely efficient, timely and I felt supported the whole way through. I would highly recommend this one of a kind venue!

Everything about working with the venue was amazing from communication to execution to environmental conscious decisions I recommend getting married there 100 times over. Also the pantina catering group is phenomenal, food and drinks were incredible. Plus the photos were cooler than cool