The Bronx Zoo was our first vendor choice for Venue back in the beginning of our engagement and we are so glad we were able to finally see everything come together in May 2022!

Working with the staff, especially Robyn, was very easy and easy-going but professional attitude made us feel welcomed and in good hands. Robyn made every part of the process extremely easy, even when we had to postpone our original date due to COVID.

We contracted with the Zoo for approximately 125 persons and ended up with around 135 persons, which we found there was plenty of space for in the reception hall. Everything ran smoothly the day of - all vendors were able to get to where they needed to be without issue, we had some amazing staff help shuttle us around for photos (and guests to the ceremony site) and they were able to quickly get guests into the Madagascar exhibit when it started to rain after the ceremony. The cocktail hour at the Sea Lion pool and the catering was a big hit with our guests and we also got a lot of compliments on the food. We would highly recommend the Bronx Zoo for any couples looking for a unique, guest pleasing venue.

I was born and grew up in the Bronx about a mile from the Bronx Zoo. My whole family, also from the Bronx, took me here on almost a weekly basis as a little kid. Never in a million years did I ever think that it was some place I’d end up having my wedding some day, but the moment I found out they held events, I knew this was the only option for me. I stalked the internet for menus, decor and photos of other weddings held at the zoo to visualize my dream wedding (and you know, create a secret wedding Pinterest board, as you do).

When it finally came time to secure the venue (aka I actually got engaged), I coordinated and met with Robyn Hymowitz, the zoo’s event & catering specialist. Robyn is a superstar! Every communication with her was responded to quickly and thoroughly (not an easy feat because she is booked and BUSY!) And when my original event scheduled for October 2020 was postponed due to COVID, she kept me up to date on all NY State reopening information and COVID guidelines and made rescheduling my wedding for a new date in 2021 seamless.

While I grew up in NY, I now live in Seattle, and I knew that in order to coordinate a wedding for myself and my husband’s East Coast-based families from 2500 miles away, I would be restricted by time differences and distance. I did not have time to reach out to (and not hear back from - Brides, you know what I’m talking about! I want to pay you lots of money, why aren’t you returning my calls/emails?!) 8,000 different vendors for all those little things that no one realizes make up a wedding: caterers, bar staff, linens, silverware, glassware, tables and chairs, lighting, decor, flowers, etc. One of my favorite parts of the Zoo as a venue (other than the built-in ambiance) was that it was a one-stop shop. While the Zoo covers most of those things (catering, bar, linens, tables & chairs - even the cake!) - they do have an exclusive lighting vendor you must contract with (Frost Productions) for your event and a list of preferred vendors for all those other little details. This makes it much easier to plan and visualize your dream day from far away when vendors have worked on site and are familiar with the zoo’s unique layout (you are welcome to use other vendors, but they must be pre-approved first and must have appropriate certificate of insurance). For the location, service and experience, I found the price tag to be a steal. You also receive a one year zoo membership and can rest easy at night knowing that all that money you shelled out for One Perfect Day™ is going back into the zoo, supporting the Wildlife Conservation Society, and not to some boring catering hall or beach club.

NB: You also must hire an approved wedding planner or day of coordinator (see my separate review for the outstanding Russell Pinto of Little Red Bean Productions - he’s done so many weddings at the zoo, they practically sign his paychecks!).

The best part of getting married at the zoo is all the amazing photo ops with animals in and around the animal habitats. Just be aware that, the zoo is still open to the public until roughly 5 PM and depending on the time of year you are getting married, the zoo can get VERY crowded (hi, hello, sold out crowd of parents and kids attending Boo at the Zoo - yes I am a Bride getting married today, not just a costume). Robyn and crew will take you around to certain spots on a golf cart, but if you have specific sites in mind for pictures, be ready to have to cautiously travel through groups of people who are oblivious to a large moving, honking vehicle. Certain sites can be accessed after the public leaves the zoo, but other exhibits with animals do close at that time, so do be cognizant of that as well. And of course - no wedding at the Bronx Zoo would be complete without photos in front of the iconic teal doors of Rainey Gate!

Keep the distance & crowds, along with travel time from the parking lot, in mind if you are planning a specific time for family photos on site pre-ceremony or cocktail hour. I advised our families to arrive at the zoo no later than 4:30 PM with a 4:45 photo call time, and only half of them arrived at almost 5 PM due to having to wait for a golf cart from parking lot (Thankfully we managed to just squeeze pictures in quickly before an unexpected rain cloud popped up!)

Schiff Hall - the old lion house - transforms into the most beautiful, magical reception space. I remember walking inside for the first time with Robyn and immediately visualizing where everything would go. Attached to this building is the Madagascar exhibit, which your guests will walk through after being shuttled on golf carts from the parking lot. They will delight and marvel at the lemurs while enjoying a glass of pinot noir or a local Bronx Brewery beer and then, just when they think it can’t get any cooler - BOOM! They are let out into the area near the sea lion pool for cocktail hour.

Meanwhile, you’re upstairs with your newly betrothed sipping on some champagne in the bridal suite (which you can access beginning at 2 PM) on the second floor of Schiff Hall, getting ready to join your guests. This spot is perfect for brides to do their finishing touches or put on your outfit before the reception or an onsite ceremony if you’re having one, but I would not recommend doing your hair or makeup solely here as there is no bathroom on the 2nd floor, there are no windows for good lighting & the overhead fluorescents give office vibes.

The outdoor lion patio was set up for our guests with small tables and heat lamps, but Robyn told me that many guests have chosen to utilize that outdoor space in many interesting and unique ways. It definitely gave a little bit extra ambiance to our event, acting as a sort of ancillary location for guests to gather, drink and chat - as once the music gets going inside Schiff, it can get a little hard for people to hear each other.

Last but certainly not least - the AMAZING catering and bartending crew at the zoo! (extra special shoutout to Kyle!) They were wonderful, always present asking if guests wanted snacks during cocktail hour or a refill on beverages during dinner service. They were so fun, professional and friendly - and it was a comfort to have both a relaxed but well trained staff, as sometimes catering staff can be very uptight and take away from the experience. The food itself was amazing - the different catering options for both entrees and cocktail hour were plentiful, and allergies and dietary restrictions graciously accommodated (vegan and vegetarian options can be requested when putting in your final menu counts, but can also be handled on the fly). There are also numerous add-on packages and rentals (which we didn’t utilize) to enhance your event experience, no matter what the occasion.

I’m sure that was a lot to read but again, I was just so blown away by every part and person that went into truly making this the wedding of my dreams - especially after so much sadness and despair the year prior with COVID. The Bronx Zoo is such a special place and means a lot to me, as aforementioned family members who used to take me to the zoo are no longer with us. Having my event here truly made it feel like they were there in spirit. My guests had the most incredible time (which I’m thankful for as they were hyping it up in advance of our big day - I would’ve been devastated if it didn’t meet their expectations!) and if I could do it (and afford it, lol) all over again, I’d have another wedding at the Bronx Zoo in a heartbeat!

The Bronx Zoo made our dream come to life! It was absolutely beautiful. We wanted something fun and unique, but also romantic. The packages offered are just what you need and make things so easy! The team there is very responsive and fun to work with. Our guests were blown away and so were we!

We did it! Yes, amid all the chaos that has been 2020, we managed to have a reduced-sized, intimate wedding, adapted for Covid-19 safety protocols, on our original day, Sunday October 4th, 2020 at our preferred venue, The Bronx Zoo. It was magical.
The Events and Catering department, especially Robyn Hymowitz ensured that our special day exceeded all of our expectations in every way. Robyn is an incredible event planner. All communications and emails are responded to immediately, she is familiar with a wide variety of vendors that know the site well and she will help you to connect with the ones that will work best for you and your vision. Speaking of vendors, you won't need to hire many as most everything, chairs for the ceremony, table linens and a gorgeous wedding and anniversary cake, are already provided by the Zoo itself. Music, photography, audio and lighting are the only things not covered by this Venue. We wisely followed Robyn's recomendations and hired Jade O'Connell of Uplift Photography and Frost Productions for lighting and sound. Both vendors are incredibly talented and easy to work with. Our wedding photos are magical and Frost Productions elevated, the already present, natural beauty of the historic zoo architecture into individual spaces of other-worldly, dimentions suffused with ethereal color and patterns.
The events and experiences planned for ourselves and our guests throughout the afternoon and evening flowed smoothly, each organized yet relaxed in pace, from dressing in the Zoos on-site bridal suite, to a driven tour of beautiful places and exhibits across the park with our Photographer to take photos with the zoos exotic residences, to meeting for Family Portraits before our Wedding Ceremony in front of the beautiful dome of Historic Zoo Center, to our outdoor Coctail Hour by the Sea Lion Pool and extravagant Dinner in the Shiff Family Great Hall. This venue has so much to offer!
The food selections served at the Cocktail Hour and Dinner were incredible. All of our guests are still raving about the quality of the food, friendly professionalism of the serving staff, how beautiful the space was and how much fun they had. We couldn't agree more.

ROBYN, ROBYN, ROBYN. Is there anything else to say? Yes, the team who works alongside her is amazing, but she is the real deal. From our first visit, we knew that not only were we head over heels for the venue, but we had not (and were not going to) meet an events employee who was this savvy and genuine. In education (I'm a teacher) we call this being a "warm demander," and Robyn harnesses this strategy to get things done for her couples. That being said: the venue. It's beautiful. Classic New York, but with more natural beauty and cool animal encounters than you'll find in Manhattan, unless you're looking for the authentic NYC pigeons or subway rats....in which case, I suppose the Bronx Zoo isn't for you, since peacocks are way more plentiful than pigeons on the bucolic grounds. The food and beverage: on par with the pricier venues in Manhattan...but for less. They were able to accommodate our requests for signature cocktails (Aperol Spritz and Moscow Mule) in a way that wouldn't break the bank. They were also able to customize some of the appetizer and entree options to better suit our preferences. I would also be remiss if I didn't give a shout-out to Butterfly Bakeshop, their contracted bakery, who is beyond delicious and who you'll find at pretty much any high-end wedding planning event in the city. We were a little anxious about being close to their maximum guest count, but everything ran smoothly and no one felt squished or unattended to. My husband and I have gone to so. many. weddings and we were looking for something more outside the box for our own big day. The Bronx Zoo delivered not only for us, but for our guests, who are still remarking about what a special day it was and how they will never forget sipping champagne while watching lemurs, tortoises, and sea lions.

I cannot imagine a more perfect place to have gotten married - either in NYC or elsewhere. From the day we first looked at the venue to the night of the ceremony, it consistently exceeded our expectations. The location and setting give it the perfect balance: close to the city, yet you feel far away from the chaos. Multiple guests commented on how picturesque it was even though they never would have guessed that it would be such an ideal venue. The food was delicious, and we easily fit 150 guests. Multiple guests said "I wish that I had thought of doing my wedding here!" The success of the even was entirely due to Robyn Hymowitz. She is extremely thoughtful and expressed genuine care about making sure the event was as perfect as possible. She was extremely patient despite our ever-changing ideas, and gave us great advice about every part of the ceremony/reception and a much-needed pep talk when we were nervous before the ceremony. It is impossible to express the amount of gratitude we have for her for helping make the event so unforgettable. She is just absolutely amazing. In summary, have your wedding here.

great place to have a wedding. Not too fussy, lots of fun. It was a perfect "destination" wedding without anyone having to travel too far from home.

The Bronx Zoo is by far the best wedding venue in NYC. First the place is beautiful. My guests were stunned by the architecture and beauty of the zoo. But above all the staff at the zoo is amazing. From the first phone call with Priscilla to the post-wedding follow up with Crystal we were in good hands. The staff was so friendly and attentive to my guests the evening of the wedding. The food is amazing. We chose a buffet and everything was hot and the lines moved quickly. The bar service was exceptional and we even had a cigar bar outside. Thank you to the staff at the Bronx Zoo for such a wonderful day!

I had the pleasure of getting married at the Bronx Zoo. What an amazing experience. We feel in love with the zoo from the start. It was our dream venue. Unique, beautiful, romantic and just perfect. Thank you to all the staff at the zoo for everything you did to create the perfect day for us. Our guests continue to compliment the great food and staff. Special thanks to Ceri and Pricilla. They are amazing! I can't say enough about what a great venue this is. Wow your guests and get married at the zoo. We're so happy we did!

The Bronx Zoo is an AMAZING Venue for a Wedding! I’m working with quite a few Brides for” Day Of” and Flowers. The site fee is very affordable compared to a NYC Venue.
Where else can “Talk to the animals!” at ones wedding? It’s the perfect venue for a Vegan, Veterinarian or any Animal Lover!
It is truly a unique Guest experience. Any on can feel good about helping a Non-for Profit.
Its truly a Wedding Mitzvah /Tithe
It sure beats going to another banquette hall!
Nancy Swiezy Events