Chabot Space & Science Center Reviews
Reviews
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552 reviews
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Kelly Sent on 02/10/2025
An Unforgettable Evening
One of the first requirements for our wedding venue was to find a place that is truly unique and memorable. Chabot Space and Science Center checked all the boxes as both a fantastic backdrop for the ceremony as well as the reception. For our wedding, we booked the Astronomy Hall and Observatory Deck. What we truly liked about Astronomy Hall was that it was a perfect blank canvas for us to decorate and fill. The high ceilings added to the grandeur and the space fit our guest count perfectly. Working with the Chabot Team was fantastic as well, they provided onsite support during our event and worked closely with our coordinator and caterer which made the event go smoothly. Many of our guests enjoyed the night and mentioned how unique a venue Chabot Space and Science Center was and we’re very happy we decided to go with such an amazing venue.Chabot Space & Science Center's reply:
Thank you, Kelly, for sharing your experience! We’re thrilled that Chabot provided the perfect backdrop for your special day, and we loved being part of such a unique and memorable celebration—wishing you both a lifetime of happiness! -
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![Audrey]()
Audrey Sent on 09/17/2024Chabot was perfect!
We loved having our wedding ceremony and reception at Chabot Space and Science Center. Rasheda was amazing to work with. She answered all my questions promptly and thoroughly during the entire planning process. The space itself was so unique and a huge hit for our guests. We have been getting consistent compliments from guests about the telescopes and how nice the observatory deck was overall. Thank you to Rasheda, Alex, and the entire Chabot staff for making our dream wedding happen!Chabot Space & Science Center's reply:
Hi Audrey,
Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re thrilled that your wedding at with us was everything you envisioned. Rasheda, Alex, and the entire team are dedicated to providing seamless support, so it’s wonderful to hear that their efforts helped make your day so special. We’re also glad your guests enjoyed the unique experience of the telescopes and observatory deck—it’s such a magical part of the night!
Thank you again for trusting us with your celebration, and congratulations on your beautiful day! -
![Catherine]()
Catherine Sent on 11/29/2023Magical 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
Chabot Space & Science Center's reply:
Thank you so much for your words! We think the Center is pretty magical too, and were so honored to share your special day with you. Wishing you so much warmth and happiness! -
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![Sunshine]()
Sunshine Sent on 10/31/2023A 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!Chabot Space & Science Center's reply:
Hey Sunshine! Thanks so much for your kind words, and so soon after your wedding! You and Aldo were such a joy to work with, and your ceremony photos are stunning. We're wishing you so much happiness. -Alex, Chelsea, Rasheda & Samantha -
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![Madeleine]()
Madeleine Sent on 09/03/2023Beautiful Oakland gem of a venue with an amazing staff
This venue was a great space for our needs/desires for our wedding: indoor/outdoor space, surrounded by nature but modern/accessible, lots of space for tables, bar, food, dancing, band...the staff was extremely organized, nice and professional. We planned this wedding from France and they were very helpful with everything that comes with planning an event from abroad. Our guests all raved about having access to the telescopes, and the volunteers made it that much more fascinating by going above and beyond with their explanations of what we were gazing at.Chabot Space & Science Center's reply:
Madeleine, thank you so much for leaving such a thoughtful review! Planning from abroad is TOUGH but we were so grateful to work with such a kind and open couple. Thank you so much for choosing Chabot! Warmest wishes - Alex, Chelsea, & Rasheda -
![Michelle]()
Michelle Sent on 12/06/2022Wonderful team, unique venue, and fun for everyone!
Chabot was such a unique, fun space that our wedding guests of all ages enjoyed, and the events team there was excellent to work with from start to finish! As one might expect from the venue, the events team has wedding execution down to a science. Scheduling time with their team, touring the venue, and planning out details was all very easy and went smoothly. We also were able to rely on their team for vendor recommendations and timeline estimates to help with the planning process.
Start time doesn’t have much wiggle room because it is an open museum, but there’s a ton of flexibility in other areas like where to have ceremony/reception, set up of tables, and even what you might want projected on the Planetarium! While the decor was flexible, too, we felt we didn’t need to spend much on this line item because of the museum’s exhibits and existing decor.
Our guests had a fantastic time, with kids entertained throughout and adults having fun exploring too! Our ceremony was in the Planetarium complete with free show, we were able to set up our photobooth in front of starry skies for fun photos, and we lucked out with clear skies and views of Saturn and its rings through the telescopes!Chabot Space & Science Center's reply:
Hi Michelle,
Thank you so much for the kind review! We loved working with you too and are so glad you and your guests had a wonderful evening. Your pictures are stunning!
We hope to see you visiting us for telescope nights soon!
-The Chabot Events team -
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![Erica]()
Erica Sent on 07/09/2022Such a unique, wonderful venue!
My husband and I are nerds, and when we visited Chabot for the first time, our imaginations ran wild with all of the cool things we could do with our wedding there. We chose Chabot as our venue, and we are so glad we did. Everyone at our wedding had a blast. We had so much fun, but so did our guests, and I’ve never seen kids enjoy a wedding so much. Afterwards we heard from our guests that it was the happiest/funnest/most unique wedding they’d ever been to. It was such a joy.
We chose the Across the Universe package, which was great: getting married in the planetarium (thanks to Nicole for helping us with the planetarium A/V!), cocktail hour among the museum exhibits, and dinner and dancing in the Astronomy Hall. Our guests all loved the public telescope viewing, too.
In addition to how cool the space itself is, the museum staff were great to work with. Samantha and Nicole were both friendly, and they were so helpful as we navigated changing COVID safety requirements on top of all of the usual wedding challenges. They were very communicative and worked well with all of our other vendors. We had a perfect wedding day, and a big part of that was working with such a rad venue.Chabot Space & Science Center's reply:
Erica, thank you so much for the kind words! Your guests were an honest delight to host, and we simply loved to see how much fun everyone had with the exhibits. Thank you for including some of your photos for us in your review, hoping Panda & Sloth had a great space adventure!
XOXO
Samantha, Nicole, Chelsea, and the rest of the Chabot team -
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![Brian]()
Brian Sent on 04/29/2022Chabot is FREAKING amazing!
Chabot helped with every step of the process and ran our amazing wedding perfectly! We had our ceremony in the planetarium and reception on the first floor of the Spees Building. Decorating was easy because it already had it all! Everything was beautiful and we had many guests rave that it was their favorite space for a wedding that they had attended.Chabot Space & Science Center's reply:
Haha! Brian, we freaking loved you too! Thanks for being such a dream client, and be sure to stop in and see us often!
XOXO,
Nicole, Samantha, Victoria, and the rest of the Chabot team -
Becca Sent on 04/12/2022
Great place for a galactic wedding!
From the time we got engaged, my now husband and I thought it would be so cool to get married at a science museum. Chabot did not disappoint!
We first visited Chabot in May of 2020, two months after we got engaged, and right in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic. We worked with Samantha, Nicole, and Victoria, who were all awesome. From the get-go the Chabot staff were extremely flexible and accommodating, and that only continued throughout our experience with them (we had to reschedule once due to Covid). Rain was threatening the day of our ceremony, and the Chabot staff did not miss a beat with helping us through a backup plan.
Our guests had a great time, we had an awesome time, and we can't recommend Chabot highly enough as a venue for geeky weddings.Chabot Space & Science Center's reply:
It was such a pleasure working with you and Patrick. Thank you for including some of your photos for us in your review! I know the cloudy skies weren't part of your plans, but they certainly made for some great drama shots with your dress! I'm so glad the day worked out and we skirted the rain.
Wishing you so much joy,
The Chabot Events Team -
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![Audrey]()
Audrey Sent on 03/14/2022We feel so good about our decision to use Chabot
By supporting Chabot, you are supporting an amazing educational institution and this is something my husband and I feel great about. The museum itself has captivating exhibits that are all so visually pleasing. Our guests also talked about how much they loved driving deep into the redwoods of Oakland to get to Chabot. We also enjoyed working with all of the event coordinators who were so responsive and helpful as we navigated our wedding plans. They are a fun bunch. We also appreciated Chabot's hands-on response to COVID and how they expertly worked with our diverse vendor team. You should definitely try to take wedding pictures inside and outside of the 3 big telescopes. We held the reception in Astronomy Hall and took on a cocktail style dinner that our guests told us they loved. The format was meant to be more fluid and comfortable so that people could talk and meet each other. You can get very creative with that space.Chabot Space & Science Center's reply:
Hi Audrey!
Thank you so much for sharing your day with us and for supporting the Oakland community! You designed such a beautiful event, with so much care and attention to detail. We were thrilled to be a small part of it. The Chabot staff/volunteers are wishing you all the best, and hope you'll be back to visit the Center often!
Warmly,
Samantha, Nicole, & Victoria -
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Qinshi Sent on 02/17/2022
Amazing venue
We had our wedding at Chabot and used their Across the stars package. The staff were super helpful in helping us pick how to cool things to show the planetarium during the ceremony. They were very responsive to any emails that I sent. I guess thought it was the coolest wedding ever because of the planetarium show, exhibits, and also the telescopes are open at night time. Also free parking lot.
Our vendors loved location because there was plenty of parking and space for them to set up their tents outside.Chabot Space & Science Center's reply:
Qinshi,
Thank you so much for celebrating with us at Chabot! You were such a pleasure to work with through your planning process, and we are wishing you so much joy together ahead. I hope you'll be back to visit us soon!
Warmest Wishes,
Samantha, Nicole, and Victoria -
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Sarah Sent on 10/09/2021
Unique and gorgeous venue for an unforgettable wedding
We absolutely loved having our wedding at the Chabot Space and Science Center! We'd initially booked our wedding for September of 2020 but obviously had to push the event to 2021. Samantha at Chabot was very flexible and understanding, and made it easy to change our date. She was very communicative with us during the entire process of planning the wedding and postponing the wedding, and kept us up-to-date with the goings on of the museum as protocols shifted. Getting to finally have the event we'd been planning for almost three years was totally worth the wait. The backdrop of the telescope domes on the observation deck were beautiful and romantic, and our guests really enjoyed the unique venue. They also had a great time with the telescope viewings. It was exactly the cool experience we were hoping for. It also felt great to put money towards a nonprofit venue that uses the funds for educational purposes. We can't wait to go back and visit the museum again!Chabot Space & Science Center's reply:
Hi Sarah! Thank you for sharing your experience; I love your photos! We so appreciate your flexibility and grace in navigating Covid, and we were so happy you were able to celebrate with everything you wanted. Thank you for choosing us! -
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![Linda]()
Linda Sent on 07/17/2021Absolutely out of this world, all of our friends were jealous
When friends found out our venue would be at Chabot, many kicked themselves for not having their own wedding there too. Chabot was actually the first location we went to see and after I found out dogs are allowed if a waiver is signed, I was SOLD. The staff was always communicative, especially in keeping us up to date with all changes for safety due to Covid, and their list of vendors is fantastic. Our wedding date was right after CA announced its reopening, so there were a lot of changes and uncertainty during planning, which we expected, not because of Chabot, but because of the pandemic.
We hired Holly D photography, Carrie Dove Catering, BluEdge Entertainment, and Diana Dorsey. Everything, and I mean everything was perfect, except the sky was foggy on our full moon wedding night. We were not able to use the telescopes but the astronomers were still there to answer any and all questions our guests had for them.
We worked with Samantha, Nicole and Lisa from Chabot, which was great as they were always on the same page and if it was a bit difficult getting a hold of one, sending an email to all of them at once made things so simple.
Our ceremony was in the planetarium and we took pictures afterwards while our guests watched an educational show, then a laser show. During cocktail hour and the reception, if there are any children, parents can bring them to see all open exhibits! Starting in Nov, they will have new NASA exhibits. This was great for all ages. If you are looking for a location that is less traditional and more unique, it really does not get any better than Chabot and their staff!Chabot Space & Science Center's reply:
Oh my gosh, Linda! Reading this made our day! Lisa, Nicole, the astronomers, and I are so delighted that you enjoyed your night. You handled all the Covid-replanning like champions, and we are so grateful to have had you as our guests. THANK YOU for choosing to support STEAM education for the Oakland community with your venue choice. And I can't wait to see you visiting us for the new exhibits this Fall!
Sending warm wishes,
Samantha -
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Cody Sent on 06/20/2021
Stars & Garters!
The team at Chabot Observatory strikes the perfect balance of accommodation, professionalism, enthusiasm and engagement. Ample staffing and infrastructure without overbearing on our easy-going wedding desires and self-produced attitude.
And when we had a foggy night obscuring the stars, the guests still enjoyed tours of the beautiful telescopes, dancing on the great patio, and transportation to the joys of our night!
Thanks Chabot!Chabot Space & Science Center's reply:
Hey Cody & Camille!
Thank you for choosing us to be part of your special day! You put in SO much work, patiently navigating around Covid restrictions this year, and we were so happy to see it come together for you. It was a truly beautiful celebration, and the Chabot team is wishing you all the best in your future together.
Come visit soon!
Samantha
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![Jane]()
Jane Sent on 03/17/2021So flexible and supportive to work with!
Chabot was so flexible with my fiancé and I as we navigate the covid wedding process! They were so kind, helpful and professional with all our interactions. The vendors they recommend were also so great to work with as well! We would highly recommend working with them!Chabot Space & Science Center's reply:
Hi Jane! Thank you so much for your review. It was a pleasure to work with you. We are wishing you nothing but joy in your marriage! -
Megan Sent on 11/08/2020
Wonderful venue with an events coordinator who's ready for anything!
We could not be more pleased with Samantha at the Chabot Space & Science Center. My husband and I were looking for an outdoor space to host our microceremony during COVID. Samantha was responsive, professional, and exceedingly flexible. She let us look at the venue before our wedding so we could get a sense of the space and recommended a great florist to help us decorate. When the weather changed 48 hours before our scheduled ceremony and authorities recommended evacuating the Hills because of high winds, a red flag warning, and an imminent power outage, Samantha worked with us to reschedule our ceremony so that it happened five hours earlier, allowing us to avoid the inclement weather. This obviously means that we weren't able to do the telescope viewing that is normally included in Chabot's wedding packages, but we're looking forward to using the telescopes eventually when it's safer to do so. We were so impressed by Samantha's efficiency and competency. During a really stressful weekend when we had to make quick decisions with less than a day's notice, we knew we could count on Samantha to support us and help make sure that in the end we got married.
The venue is also beautiful. It's set in the middle of a redwood forest on the top of a mountain. It's extremely quiet except for birds and the odd daytime hiker, which we only saw because we had to move it to the daytime (and didn't mind anyway). Samantha also helped us find a spot in the redwood forest to take pictures, and they turned out great! If you are looking for a place to safely get married with a small number of people during the pandemic (we only had our immediate families there), I highly recommend the Chabot Space & Science Center. The bathrooms felt safe (the stalls and extra sinks are closed to support social distancing), you can use the office to change (and it's mostly empty because astronomers work in the middle of the night!), and there's plenty of room outside for everyone to socially distance and yet still hear each other because of how quiet it is up there.Chabot Space & Science Center's reply:
Hey Megan!
Wow! I'm thrilled to read this. I am so happy that the day worked out for you. Red flag warnings on top of a pandemic; but you handled everything 2020 threw at you with such grace. I think that's a great testament to a strong and happy marriage. Chabot is wishing you all the best, and I hope you'll keep an eye on our social media for exhibit and reopening announcements coming up in the next couple months. You'll need to visit for our first night of telescope viewings! -
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Diana Sent on 10/29/2020
Incredible micro-wedding experience at Chabot!
We hosted our micro-wedding at Chabot this month and had an absolutely amazing experience. First of all, Samantha (the venue coordinator we worked with) was extremely responsive and patiently answered all of our COVID, decorations, etc. related questions. The volunteers for the viewing were kind and happily answered our questions about space, the telescopes and the research they do. And of course, the venue itself is beautiful. It's surrounded by redwoods, which created the perfect backdrop for photos. The observatory itself sits on top of a hill and catches a perfect sunset for the ceremony and reception. We were able to bring in our own alcohol (no liquor) and caterer, tables and chairs were provided for us, and the overall price for the rental was one of the best we saw. 10 / 10 would recommend for any COVID (or non COVID) weddingChabot Space & Science Center's reply:
Hi again!
Diana, I really appreciate all the thought that you and Alex put into reviewing us. It was such a pleasure working with you. I know it wasn't the wedding you originally planned, but I think it came out stunning (Just look at that picture!). I'm wishing you all the best in planning the bigger celebration next year! And be sure to make time to come see the new exhibits in the summer!
Cheers,
Samantha -
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![Mark]()
Mark Sent on 09/20/2020Absolutely awesome! Great venue, AWESOME staff, great vendors :)
Just got married here on their Observation Deck for the sunset micro-ceremony with their telescopes, and it was awesome. We'd just had to move our whole wedding due to the wild fires when we happened upon this and could not be happier with how it turned out, all planned within a couple days! Samantha at the Chabot was incredibly helpful and reassuring about everything. The caterers she referred us to were incredibly helpful and able to handle our sudden needs. The facility and everything was set up for distancing and safety. The Astronomers were awesome, thank you Gerald and John! I wish I could rate it higher!Chabot Space & Science Center's reply:
Hey Mark!
Thanks again for such a thoughtful review- I shared it with our astronomers and you made their day. We are so happy that you had a great evening during a year that is, undoubtedly, the hardest one for weddings we've ever seen. You and Sarah are troopers and we know you will have a long and happy marriage.
Stay safe and be well,
Samantha -
![Jan]()
Jan Sent on 04/02/2020Pi day Wedding amid Covid Fears
We have nothing but profound praise for Chabot Space and Science Center — it is an amazing place to get married; even during a pandemic. Our nerdy, science themed, Pi Day wedding also happened to be 2 days before the Bay Area Secure in Place. Two Weeks Later, we are happy to report that no guest is sick. Chabot’s proactive response and professionalism was a big factor. The museum went above and beyond in communicating with us at every step of the rapidly changing circumstances that were occurring at that time. Nicole P and her team did such a good job. We used the planetarium and the “stage direction” and cues involved were something we hadn’t even considered, but it went off without a single problem. The museum has so much to offer guests and is a wonderful space. It also feels so good to work with a community nonprofit and not a corporate hotel space. Besides being our wedding venue , it’s just a special place and you should go there and learn about space.Chabot Space & Science Center's reply:
Thank you again for celebrating with us, and for sharing such a kind review! Covid-19 impacted us in such unpredictable ways, and we truly appreciated your flexibility as we all rolled with the punches and came up with spur of the moment problem-solving! We are so impressed by what a fun, unique, and beautiful wedding you planned and hope you and all your family and friends stay safe and sound. -
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Kayla Sent on 11/25/2019
Unique venue with stellar views and staff who go beyond
When searching for wedding venues, my husband and I didn't want a country club, winery, or hotel. We wanted something that would truly be a fun and memorable experience for us and our guests. Chabot Space and Science Museum 100% delivered on this! Now months away from our wedding, people still ask us how we found the venue and what an unforgettable the night was for them.
We had our ceremony under the telescopes, cocktail hour on the patio, and our reception inside Astronomy Hall. The layout offered a nice flow to the evening (e.g. no confusion on where to go) and our guests were happy to take advantage of several viewpoints for their own photo moments.
For the reception hall, we had a live 8-piece band, full premium bar, buffet, a photo-booth, and about 170 guests. Everyone was comfortably seated and there was plenty of room to dance and for our guests to drink and mingle together.
Once our reception started, guests were also able to enjoy the nighttime views through the telescopes, boosting up the fun and uniqueness of our wedding. Most of guests came back inside, raving about seeing the craters of the moon!
For the overall ambiance, the venue offers a cool urban factor with the museum but it also has the natural beauty of the surrounding backdrop of eucalyptus and other trees. It is the perfect combination for getting a taste of all the great things that the East Bay has to offer.
Beyond the venue itself, the staff at Chabot Space far exceeded any of our expectations. You only plan a wedding once, and we were so fortunate to have their expertise to help guide us so we had everything for the perfect night. They also went above and beyond to assist our vendors and schedule multiple walkthroughs as needed.
And the big bonus... hosting your wedding at Chabot goes to STEM education programs at the museum. :)
We would certainly recommend this venue and team. Love every moment we shared with them, and so thankful for their help to create such special memories on our wedding.Chabot Space & Science Center's reply:
Kayla! Thank you for such a thoughtful review! Our whole team was so happy to work on your wedding with you and I think you did a spectacular job. As an education center, there's nothing we love to hear more than that guests were mesmerized by the telescope viewings and exploring the night sky.
Thank you for sharing your day with us, and I hope you'll be back to visit soon!
Warmly,
Samantha -
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![Annie]()
Annie Sent on 10/27/2019Chabot is a magical place to get married
We had a large multicultural wedding at Chabot that was truly epic. We had a large baraat outdoors, followed by a ceremony in the planetarium, a cocktail hour with a planetarium show, and a reception upstairs. It was a unique and special place to get married, and very memorable! The staff was very professional and kind throughout. Highly recommend!Chabot Space & Science Center's reply:
Hi Annie,
We had so much fun working your wedding! It was absolutely spectacular and we feel so lucky to have been a part of it. Hope you'll visit us sometime soon! -
Zenobia Sent on 03/20/2019
I loved everything!
I had to plan an entire wedding in less than 2 months and they made the experience, at least from their end, feel seemless. My goal was to get married at a museum in Oakland and this was our best option. The space was beautiful and fun for all ages. There was no need for extra decor due to all of the exhibits and the options within the planetarium.Chabot Space & Science Center's reply:
Hi Zenobia,
If you were stressed with a two month planning period you never showed it and put together a stunning wedding celebration. I especially loved your guestbook idea! Thank you for choosing Chabot for your wedding and supporting science education on such a special day. Wishing you both a happy lifetime together!
Cheers,
Amy -
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Amy M. Sent on 03/17/2019
Chabot Wedding
Absolutely beautiful venue - we were able to get married in the planetarium, under a rising moon, followed by a galaxy fly through at the end. We had the reception on the second floor of the Spees building for around 120 people and, though it was a little tight, everything worked out great. Our guests loved being able to walk around the museum to see the exhibits during the cocktail hour. Since we had the wedding on a Saturday the telescopes were open for viewing - unfortunately it was raining so we couldn't use them but the staff still let us go up and take some pretty amazing photos with the telescopes. We ended the evening with a Pink Floyd laser show, which was also a big hit. Overall it was a great venue and I have no regrets on having our wedding there.Chabot Space & Science Center's reply:
Thank you so much for your kind words! It was a pleasure working with you and we're so happy that everyone had a wonderful time. Wishing you both the best in your future together! -
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![Ella]()
Ella Sent on 11/03/2018Unique and Fun Venue
We had such a good time at our wedding! The venue is very special because it's much more than just a room for events, it's a museum and observatory. We were fortunate to have a clear sky during the wedding, so everyone visited the telescopes. Amy, the events coordinator for Chabot was very responsive and fun to work with.Chabot Space & Science Center's reply:
Thank you for such a nice review! We had so much fun helping you plan your evening here at Chabot. I couldn't have asked for a friendlier couple to work with. Wishing you so much happiness together! -
Danielle Sent on 05/13/2018Samantha was an absolute pleasure to work with and Chabot was an amazing venue for our wedding reception. We rented out the Spees building, which came with the use of all the exhibits as well as the telescopes (which were open to the public, and came with volunteer scientists!). Our guests couldn't stop raving about how beautiful the space was. I absolutely recommend working with Sam and Chabot for your event needs!
Chabot Space & Science Center's reply:
Hi Danielle! I can't believe how gorgeous your photos came out! Thanks for the thoughtful review. I hope you'll back to visit (with the dogs)! -
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User3305276 Sent on 11/12/2017We loved having our reception at the Chabot Space and Science Center. Not only is the venue incredibly unique, nestled in the redwoods, fun for the guests to enjoy the exhibits and telescope viewing, but also we are so happy that the rental cost goes back to supporting science education for kids and the community. Samantha and Amy were a joy to work with throughout the process and helped troubleshoot any issues that came up in the most prompt fashion. Our guests truly enjoyed the reception and we highly recommend Chabot as a venue.Chabot Space & Science Center's reply:
And we loved hosting you! :) Thank you for supporting the Oakland community & future scientists! -
![Anisha]()
Anisha Sent on 10/01/2017Chabot staff worked with us to create the perfect experience for our guests. When we wanted to have experiments in the lab, they created a package to have something fun and interesting run by staff. They worked with us to create an amazing planetarium show for the ceremony and reception in Astronomy Hall. We asked them to keep a few pinball machines by the dance floor, and that worked perfectly for our more introverted guests. They also had the observatory and exhibits running. I was a little worried when looking for a venue for our 180 person wedding, but Chabot's planetarium holds 240, which is the main limiting factor size-wise. It was absolutely the wedding of our dreams, and comes highly recommended, especially for someone looking for a nerdy/quirky venue.Chabot Space & Science Center's reply:
Thank you for your kind words, Anisha! It was a pleasure to work with you and we had a blast too! -
Stacy Sent on 02/02/2022
Kind, responsive team and beautiful venue
We didn’t even know this was an option for wedding venue, but it was perfect because my husband and I had our first date there. The coordinators are just the sweetest. They’re responsive, extremely kind, patient, and most of all easy to work with during that hectic period. The venue itself was wonderful. Lots of options! We got married in the planetarium; it was great. I would highly reccomendChabot Space & Science Center's reply:
Hi Stacy! Thanks for taking the time to share your review! You thought your ceremony out so carefully and it came out stunning. We're grateful you chose us to be a part of it!
Warmest wishes,
Samantha, Victoria, and Nicole -
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![Nina]()
Nina Sent on 12/09/2025A Venue Out Of This World!
This venue was everything we wanted. We had such a wonderful experience and would recommend it to anyone who loves nature and the beauty of outer space.
The staff was so kind and amazing. They were incredibly helpful in making our dream wedding feel uniquely us.
Budget-wise, it is pricier than the average venue, but the money felt 100% worth it. Plus, the added bonus of knowing that the money supports a great cause by helping educate curious minds. They do offer several wedding packages to work with and add-ons, which was cool. Something to note, this isn't an all-inclusive venue. You will need to find and hire: lighting, DJ, caterer, etc., but they help by providing a list of recommendations for anything and everything.
We were in the Spees building, which our guests loved wandering around, and even enjoyed the interactive activities on display. I could go on forever about this place. This was truly a magical day we will always cherish.Chabot Space & Science Center's reply:
Hi Nina! Thank you so much for sharing your review! We are honored to have been part of your day, and it means the world to us to hear that your celebration felt so uniquely yours. Our team loved working with you, and we’re thrilled that the exhibits helped create the experience you envisioned.
We’re also grateful for your kind words about our staff and your recognition of the work we do as a nonprofit. Your event directly supports our mission to inspire curiosity for learners of all ages. Thanks also for making note of the planning- we do our best to make things as seamless as possible by offering trusted vendor recommendations who know our "space" well and flexibility for couples to customize their day.
It was a joy to host you and your guests. We're wishing you a lifetime of happiness, and we’re so glad Chabot could be part of your story! -Rasheda, Cassidy, Angela, Vanessa, Saba, & Samantha -
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![Zoe]()
Zoe Sent on 04/10/2025Beautiful venue
Chabot Space & Science Center was a beautiful and engaging venue for our wedding. Starting with the whimsical drive through the redwoods, the location is ideal. Picturesque backdrops around every corner, plenty of free parking, and wonderful spaces for ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception. We were so delighted to customize our Planetarium ceremony to display a nebula, the moon, the earth, colliding galaxies, and the night sky where we first met. Guests, especially kids and parents, had an absolute blast seeing exhibits, observing the telescopes, and partying in such a cool spot with so much expansive, exploratory energy.Chabot Space & Science Center's reply:
Hi Zoe,
Thank you again for celebrating with us! It was a blast designing your custom ceremony features and sharing the "space" with you and your guests for the evening. We sincerely wish you so much joy, and hope you'll be back visiting us often this year with your membership. With warmth- the Chabot rentals team. -
![Thao]()
Thao Sent on 11/19/2014We had our wedding here at the end of October and it was a magical day! The venue is beautiful and suited our personalities really well. We wanted to have a family friendly event and it was a big hit with kids and adults. There are so many things to do and interesting things to see. We started off with one event coordinator, but she had left and we ended up working with another. She was really nice but not always the best to respond via email. She was very responsive by phone and in person. The venue was pretty affordable for our wedding size (~120) but can get quite expensive for larger weddings as the space can be limited in the space we got (observatory deck with telescope viewing for the ceremony and the 2nd floor spees hall). You could rent out some rooms, some floors, or the whole building but the price increases with the bigger space. It's also open to the public on the weekends, so be mindful that if you didn't rent out a certain space, people can still walk in and out. They provide tables, chairs, and AV rentals but we ended up only using the AV part. They have monitors as well so we were able to display photos for an informal slideshow that played in a loop throughout the night (13 photos max per slideshow, so we had 5 different sets at various times). They also had a contingency plan for rain as there was bad weather forecasted for our day of and the backup room was also a nice auditorium space. We ended up getting lucky and not needing it and were able to have our ceremony on the rooftop deck. Unfortunately, it did rain later that night and it got too humid for the telescopes to be open during our allotted time and that was a big bummer because the rental price was forfeited as part of our contract. Hopefully we can come back in the future and see the telescopes and exhibits. Everyone had a really great time and it's a unique place to have a non-traditional wedding for science nerds like us.
Are you interested?
Are you interested?