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Chesapeake Bay Foundation Reviews

Chesapeake Bay Foundation

Chesapeake Bay Foundation

Annapolis, MD
4.8 out of 5 rating, 103 reviews
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Reviews

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  • Quality of service
    4.9 out of 5 rating
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    4.8 out of 5 rating
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    4.9 out of 5 rating
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Awards

103
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2025 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2024 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2023 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2020 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2019 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2018 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2017 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2016 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2011 Winner
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Weddingwire
4.8/5 103 reviews
Google
4.8/5 104 reviews
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    Julia Sent on 10/11/2025
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    Shannon Was Incredible

    Shannon absolutely wonderful to work with! From the moment we began working with her she brought such a cheerful and calming energy. She was organized, attentive, and always one step ahead—making sure every detail was taken care of without us having to worry about a thing. Thanks to her, everything ran smoothly from start to finish, and we were able to truly enjoy the day with our guests. She was friendly, professional, and such a pleasure to work with—we couldn’t have asked for a better gal to help make our day to special at CBF.
  • Caroline
    Caroline Sent on 07/02/2025
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    10/10 Recommend CBF!

    We had our wedding at CBF in early May and couldn’t have been happier with our choice! The natural beauty of the venue is truly unmatched—you can exchange vows on a private beach, enjoy views of the bay from the deck, and be surrounded by greenery throughout.

    The location is also incredibly convenient—just about 10 minutes from downtown Annapolis—so it was easy for our guests to stay nearby and either drive or take one of our shuttles to the venue.

    Most importantly, the staff was amazing. Shannon and her team were incredibly helpful and made the entire planning process, as well as the big day itself, so much smoother. Our wedding was not only beautiful, but everything ran seamlessly thanks to their support.

    Our guests couldn’t stop raving about the venue—both during the celebration and afterward. Thank you, CBF, for helping make our day so special!
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    Athena Sent on 01/30/2025
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    Dream Wedding!

    Chesapeake Bay Foundation made our wedding perfect! Gorgeous views, seamless planning, and amazing service by Shannon and the team. Highly recommend!
  • Brendan
    Brendan Sent on 09/19/2024
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    An absolute treasure on the coast!

    We felt so lucky to have our wedding celebration and reception at CBF! working with Shannon was such a breeze -- she's professional, kind, friendly and was very responsive! The venue is absolutely beautiful, has plenty of different spaces to have your ceremony, cocktail hour and reception. They also provided alot of decor items that were in great condition (and def made our lives easier)! I will also say, we looked at pricing for about 10 venues and this was by far the most affordable. We couldn't have asked for a better venue and team to work with. Thank you, CBF!
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    Sfin Sent on 08/31/2024
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    Dream Wedding by the Bay

    Our wedding in August at CBF was a dream. The minute we walked onto the property, we knew it was the venue for us. The beach, the trees, the bay, the environmental mission - it's beautiful, spacious, and unique. We were blessed with perfect weather, which was an added bonus! Our guests having been raving about the venue and the experience and we are so grateful to have started our marriage here. Shannon Wright was a fabulous coordinator and made the process so easy. Thank you to Shannon and CBF!

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    Rachel Sent on 07/08/2024
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    Incredible Waterfront Annapolis Venue

    So happy we discovered CBF! We were set on an Annapolis waterfront venue and it's truly the perfect spot. The views and beachfront ceremony are so unique for Annapolis and beyond. We loved how we could really make use of the entire space – with our ceremony on the beach, cocktail hour in the grass, dinner indoors and dancing on the deck. Every portion of the evening had beautiful water views! The venue also has so many beautiful spots for outdoor photos. Lastly, Shannon at CBF was a dream to work with! She's professional, responsive, was so receptive to our ideas and really knows her stuff!
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    Aimee Sent on 07/06/2024
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    Amazing Waterfront Venue

    This was the perfect venue for our wedding. Right on the water with beautiful views of the bay, sustainability in mind, and a wonderful atmosphere. This was the first and only venue we looked at. We fell in love instantly. On top of taking a tour, I highly suggest attending one of the wedding expos to get a feel for what your event can look like and amazing local vendors in the areas. In addition, Shannon is highly recommended for coordination services. She executed our day flawlessly and we could not be more grateful for the experience she curated before, during and after our special day.
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    Jess Sent on 06/24/2024
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    Perfect Venue!

    From the moment I first walked through the venue we knew this was the perfect venue for us. It is an absolutely stunning venue that is so unique. We really lucked out with a 80 degree and sunny day the last weekend of October. All the guests were raving about how beautiful the property and venue was. We worked with Shannon to coordinate our day. She was so attentive, patient and crushed it. From the initial coordination meetings she was so detail oriented and perfectly executed our vision for the day. On the day of- she set up, kept the vendors on the timeline, cued the wedding party, kept a drink in my hand and put away my decor. I couldn't have asked for a better day of coordinator. I highly recommend CBF and Shannon!
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    Samuel Sent on 06/17/2024
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    Perfect Night at CBF

    We had an amazing wedding and worked with Shannon who was amazing. Weather was perfect and CBFs panoramic views had our guest in awe. We had around 130 guest and all fit inside. Could see how more than 160 would be tight inside
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    Rachel Sent on 06/04/2024
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    Amazing Venue, Gorgeous Views, Great Experience

    I am so glad we chose the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) for our wedding venue. I grew up going to field trips on the property, attended a wedding there as a guest in 2018, and was excited to secure a date for our May 2024 wedding!

    First and foremost, the views are unparalleled. Our guests can not stop talking about how beautiful the beach and view from the deck/pavilion were with birds in the sky and the Bay sprawling out in front of you. Plus, all our wedding photos are accordingly gorgeous!

    Beyond that, the service is excellent. There is a reasonable list of caterers that couples must choose from (all are excellent options - we had no complaints with the list), and otherwise you are free to choose all your own vendors. There was a very clear schedule of meetings leading up to the event to coordinate vendors and all our questions were answered in a timely fashion with clear answers. There was even a clear rain plan (that we did not have to use, which is pure luck) that took into account our desire for guests to enjoy the views even in the case of inclement weather. Everyone we worked with at CBF was friendly and professional and worked to create the best possible wedding day for us, especially Shannon Wright, who we hired to be our day-of coordinator - highly recommend, especially if (like us) you are not working with a wedding planner!

    Finally, it feels great to know that the money we spent on the venue becomes part of CBF's revenue and funds their work to keep the Chesapeake Bay healthy and beautiful. Money well spent.

    10/10 experience with CBF and if you're looking for a gorgeous spot to get married on the Chesapeake Bay, this is the place for you!
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    Sarah Sent on 12/20/2023
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    Venue of our dreams!

    We truly are not exaggerating when we say that CBF was the venue of our dreams! When we set out on our venue search, we had a couple of criteria on our must-have list: (1) a setting that would be beautiful, majestic, and unforgettable; (2) convenient and comfortable on-site facilities for our guests; (3) a venue fee that wasn’t going to cost an arm and a leg; (4) somewhere that wasn’t just a “wedding venue,” but rather was part of some broader mission/cause; and (5) a location that was meaningful to us and our family.

    We still can’t quite believe how lucky we were to find all of these and more in CBF. For views, you can’t beat the gorgeous natural surroundings or the stunning wood beams/architecture. For facilities, CBF has free and plentiful parking, as well as on-site bathrooms (so you don’t have to deal with the nonsense of renting a bathroom trailer). The venue fee is SO reasonable, especially when compared to other (frankly far less beautiful) venues in Maryland, DC, and Virginia. You also don’t really even mind paying the venue fee when you know that most of the venue fee goes to supporting CBF’s mission of saving the bay, which is further bolstered by CBF’s wedding-policy of banning single use plastics or Styrofoam. Finally (though this is just personal to us), my husband’s grandparents lived in Annapolis and the lighthouse where we scattered their ashes is visible from the CBF beach, which made the location extra special.

    However, we never felt more affirmed in our decision to choose CBF than in the week leading up to our wedding. Just days before we were supposed to get married, we learned that Tropical Storm Ophelia was scheduled to hit Annapolis—thereby putting CBF in the flood zone—exactly on the day of our wedding. But with Shannon’s support and the work of our wonderful vendors, the team seamlessly turned what was supposed to be an outdoor beach wedding to a covered wedding on the deck seemingly overnight. And even with 50 mile per hour winds and sometimes sideways rain, our wedding could not have been more beautiful or joyful—which was in no small part due to CBF’s flexibility, kindness, and willingness to roll with the punches.

    If you’re at all on the fence about CBF as your wedding venue, don’t be. Come rain, shine, or even a hurricane, I promise you won’t regret it!
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    Lauren Sent on 10/16/2023
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    Amazing Wedding Venue!

    The Chesapeake Bay Foundation was a perfect venue for our October wedding! Their staff was so attentive, the venue itself is beautiful and the amenities were all amazing. While we had beautiful weather, we were less stressed knowing if it would storm, we could hold our ceremony and reception on the covered deck. Our guests and us cannot say enough good things!
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    Perrie Sent on 07/27/2023
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    The BEST venue.

    I cannot say enough about CBF! We had our wedding here in July 2023. Ceremony on the beach, cocktail hour on the lawn, reception and dancing on the deck. It was perfect. Shannon at CBF is a dream to work with - an excellent communicator, flexible, experienced. For what you get, for the value for money for the DC-Baltimore area, the fact that the venue COMES WITH A TENT included, this is the best (and believe me, we looked). Also the vendors they work with are amazing. And, as a bonus, you are supporting an incredible organization that is protecting the bay and surrounding shoreline. Our guests were blown away. Our photographer loved it because the gorgeous outdoor backdrop made all photos easy. Cannot say enough good things. Thank you, CBF!
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    Jen W. Sent on 06/21/2023
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    Beautiful!

    CBF is a BEAUTIFUL venue close to Downtown Annapolis, and the staff is so kind! We got married at St. Mary's and had our reception at CBF. It was everything we wanted and more! Our guests were obsessed with the venue, so many people told me they wanted to get married there too, or apply for a job to work there! Kimrey and Shannon were fantastic throughout the booking and planning process. And the staff members that were onsite during the reception were so kind! The recommended vendors were also amazing, and we all couldn't stop raving about Ken's Kitchen's crabcakes. We love CBF's mission and are happy CBF was a part of our big day. Thank you! 
  • Beth
    Beth Sent on 06/03/2023
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    We LOVED everything about CBF and so did our guests!

    We truly couldn’t have asked for a better venue! Not only is it absolutely stunning and such a unique place to get married, but you will be supporting a wonderful cause. The events manager, Shannon, is so incredibly kind, thoughtful, and helpful. She made the entire process so positive and easy. If you are considering CBF, definitely go see the venue. It is gorgeous and will be even better on the big day!
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    Rachel Sent on 05/29/2023
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    Perfect place

    We really wanted to get married on the beach and be able to fit all our friends and family comfortably. CBF was perfect for that. Even though the weather didn’t hold out, everyone enjoyed themselves and still getting the water view from the deck
  • Laura
    Laura Sent on 05/18/2023
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    Hidden Annapolis Gem - CBF

    The Chesapeake Bay Foundation Philip Merrill Environmental Center is perfect for any Annapolis couple! The venue is a gorgeous and modern environmentally-friendly building surrounded by greenery and overlooking a perfect view of the Bay, so you'll have that secluded feel while also being minutes away from downtown. It actually rained on our wedding day, which usually spells disaster but not for us! Instead of the beach ceremony, our vendors easily created a breathtaking ceremony space on the covered deck that kept us all comfortable and dry, while also keeping the beautiful Bay views in the background. The reception space was perfect for our 100-ish guests, and the dance floor was lit all night! The CBF staff was an absolute joy to work with leading up to and during our big day. We couldn't have been happier having CBF as our venue!
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    Beth Sent on 05/02/2023
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    Say yes to CBF!

    From the helpful and professional staff to the amazing views CBF was absolutely perfect for our wedding and exactly what I had hoped it would be. Beach ceremony, deck cocktail hour and dinner with incredible views I could not have asked for more. I almost wish I could do it again.
  • Karlie
    Karlie Sent on 11/07/2022
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    Absolutely incredible experience with CBF!

    The CBF Philip Merrill Environmental Center was our dream venue with stunning views of the Chesapeake, an expansive tented deck reception, and an honorable commitment to sustainable practices. We could not be more impressed with the staff as well as the venue itself. The preferred vendors were amazing and helped make our wedding day run smoothly, the use of the 31 acres of grounds resulted in some incredible pictures, and the use of both the indoor/outdoor components of the venue made our late October wedding day an all-around success. I would highly recommend the CBF venue to anyone looking to have an incredible wedding day on the Chesapeake Bay!
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    Jane Sent on 10/26/2022
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    Stunning venue

    If you want a celebration on the bay, there is no better place to do it than the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. It is in an absolutely stunning setting sitting right on the beach and surrounded by natural beauty. We were lucky to hit peak fall foliage which made for an even more impressive backdrop. Our guests' jaws literally dropped when they walked into the venue! It POURED rain the entire evening, but it didn't diminish the beauty or enjoyment of the space.

    The events team at CBF was also fantastic. Shannon is incredibly helpful and responsive. Scott, who was at the venue during our reception, went above and beyond to make sure the event went smoothly.

    Chesapeake Bay Foundation's reply:

    Thank you so much Jane for the kinds words. We are so glad your event was everything you wanted and more!
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    Laura Sent on 09/15/2022
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    Dream wedding venue

    Chesapeake Bay Foundation was the perfect spot for our wedding. We knew we wanted to be married there the second we saw it. The nature was beautiful to be surrounded by and looks awesome in our pictures. The ceremony beside the water and under the shade of the large tree was heavenly. We loved that the “rain plan” was a good one so we had no worries about what the weather would be. The space really allowed for our guests to mingle throughout the evening. We also liked how it’s near downtown Annapolis but still is secluded. Highly recommend!
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    Jenna Sent on 09/07/2022
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    Waterfront memories

    CBF is a magical place to get married! The unique architecture and impressive views will leave your family and friends in awe. The staff is extremely helpful and will facilitate the nuances and fine details to make sure your day is memorable. 5 stars!
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    Melissa Sent on 08/30/2022
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    Such an amazing venue

    We are over the moon with Chesapeake Bay Foundation as a venue! We had about 85 guests and it was so spacious, beautiful and unique. The event team is excellent, and we have 0 complaints about our experience - from our first virtual tour to the big day, everything was amazing. The venue was even better after seeing it all set up, and the grounds are amazing for photos. If you're considering hosting your wedding at CBF, don't hesitate!
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    Laura Sent on 06/16/2021
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    A dream come true!

    CBF was the venue of our dreams. We wanted to get married on a beach and have the freedom to design an event that would really fit “us”. No place that we toured even held a candle to CBF/Philip Merrill Environmental Center. They let you provide your own bar, and choose from a list of caterers, which meant that we were able to serve caipirinhas and pick a caterer who could design a Brazilian menu. We loved that the venue is environmentally friendly, and that our venue fee would help support the Chesapeake Bay.

    Emily Blackman knew every contingency plan for rain, social distancing, etc, and helped us design a layout that would work in any circumstance. There is a big tree on the beach, which provides some shade during the ceremony, and the deck is spacious enough for tables, a bar, and a dance floor. They also provided some decor and a cornhole set, which was just an added bonus for an already perfect night.
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    Alex Sent on 10/20/2020
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    Stunning and Sustainable!

    I started searching for wedding venues after my Fiance and first got engaged. I didn't know much about Maryland and stumbled onto CBF as a wedding Venue. As someone who considers themselves eco conscious I had to learn more about what this venue was all about. Then. I fell in LOVE! What isn't to love? A private Beach, an outdoor patio, and an organization with a mission to #SAVETHEBAY ?! There was no question after touring this venue that it was going to be the place we said "I Do" with a full commitment to not only each other, but the environment too. On top of that Emily was a pleasure to work with and everyone we have encountered at CBF has had so much energy and we have learned so much about Maryland and the Chesapeake Bay. We even incorporated many Bay Saving Items into our wedding details - like the ties, the masks, and of course the Oyster reef balls!!
  • Katie
    Katie Sent on 09/18/2020
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    Dream like venue!

    We are SO SO happy with our decision to get married at the CBF! It was the first place we saw when we started venue shopping and we fell in love instantly. The beach, the tree, the deck... it was all magical! We were originally planning to have a wedding with 125 people but cut it down to 30 because of COVID. Since the venue is pretty much all outdoors, we still felt really great about holding the ceremony and reception there and I would choose this place 100 times over if I could! We had the ceremony under the tree and cocktail hour on the beach. The reception was all outside on the deck and we didn't end up using the inside room for anything other than a staging area. Emily and the entire staff were amazing to work it and we loved that the fee goes towards the foundation! Another really great thing is that would can bring your own alcohol which ended up saving us a lot of money! We got married over labor day weekend and it was truly a dream come true (even with less people)! Thank you CBF!!!

    Chesapeake Bay Foundation's reply:

    Thank you Katie for the review! You and Travis were lovely to work with, and we are so glad that everything turned out so lovely in these crazy circumstances! Cheers to many, many happy years!
  • Sarah
    Sarah Sent on 03/16/2020
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    Beautiful & Natural

    If you are looking for a venue with architectural interest, natural landscape, and water views all while contributing to helping the bay!? Look no further. I loved everything about CBF. Emily was amazing to work with and so helpful in every step of the planning process.
  • Austin
    Austin Sent on 10/24/2019
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    Your Wedding Venue Search Ends Here!

    My wife and I had our wedding ceremony/reception at CBF in June and were incredibly pleased with the entire experience. Emily Blackman was a superb events coordinator who helped us visualize each detail and answered all our questions. The venue is undoubtedly the best value in the area with a private beach and incredible bay views, guests were commenting on it throughout the entire evening. Fortunately we had a nice sunny day but having a back up rain plan that would be covered and still have water views lowered our anxiety. There are a number of delicious caterers to choose from (shout out to Be My Guest) that are very familiar with the venue and keep everything running smoothly. We were completely satisfied, might have to go ahead and get married again! Thanks CBF!

    Chesapeake Bay Foundation's reply:

    Thanks Austin for the review! Everything turned out lovely, and you were so easy to work with. Come back and visit anytime!
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    Caitlin Sent on 10/02/2019
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    Absolutely breathtaking

    We were looking for a place where we could bring in our own vendors (including an outside caterer) while also being on the water. CBF was everything we wanted and more. While admittedly we had a perfect weather day, it would have been beautiful regardless. Breathtaking views of the Bay along with open air decks allowing for the breeze to pass through and keep people comfy. The facility offered everything we might need (or at least space to house what we needed!) and they were environmentally friendly, allowing us to feel like we were able to give back just a bit on our happiest day. Highly recommend to anyone who wants to plan their own wedding from beginning to end! (we'll update with a professional pic once they come in!)

    Chesapeake Bay Foundation's reply:

    Thank you for the lovely review Caitlin! What a beautiful day it was, and best wishes to you and Paul! Come back and visit us anytime!
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    Kelcey Sent on 09/17/2019
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    An Amazing Experience!!

    I cannot express how amazing this venue was for our wedding!! It has a very unique feel to it, and after get married right on the water on the private beach we were able drink and dance the night away on a large covered desk overlooking the water at night. During the planning leading up to it we dealt with Emily who was fantastic in answering all our questions and making sure we had everything we needed for the big day. Another huge perk was that they allowed us to supply our own alcohol which was a big advantage in customize our options for the guests. I can without a day say that my wife and I have no regrets going with here as our venue and would absolutely do it again!

    Chesapeake Bay Foundation's reply:

    Thanks Kelcey & Keith for the review- congrats again on the wedding! We were so glad to have such a beautiful day for such a lovely couple! Come back and visit us anytime!
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    Ashley Sent on 09/13/2019
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    Beautiful Beach Venue and A Great Cause!

    We absolutely loved getting married at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) for our summer wedding! We got married on the beach and had our reception under the twinkle lights on the deck overlooking the water. Not only is it gorgeous, but the venue cost also goes towards helping save the Chesapeake Bay. The Venue Coordinator at CBF, Emily, was wonderful to work with and very responsive. Highly recommended!

    Chesapeake Bay Foundation's reply:

    Thank for for the kind words Ashley! It was wonderful working with you and your family and everything turned out gorgeous! Best wishes to you and Dan!
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    Caroline Sent on 08/06/2019
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    Wonderful Experience!

    From the moment we toured CBF, we knew this was the spot where we wanted to get married. It is an incredibly beautiful location and there is a lot of flexibility in how you can set things up. We got married on one of the hottest days of the year and were able to be flexible even on the day of in terms of where we set up cocktail hour and the ceremony. When choosing CBF, it’s important to keep in mind that it is not a traditional wedding venue and much of the organizational elements will be left up to you. The staff are really helpful and friendly, but ultimately you are renting the space, not a “venue.” This all worked out well for us, but just something to keep in mind! Our guests loved the location and we would definitely choose CBF again!
  • Lauren
    Lauren Sent on 07/09/2019
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    Amazing Venue!

    The Chesapeake Bay Foundation was the perfect venue for our wedding. The venue is basically a blank slate and the bride and groom have extreme flexibility in layout, decorations, vendors, etc. The CBF staff was very helpful throughout the process and quick to respond to emails. The venue is absolutely gorgeous and all of our guests were blown away by the setting. The location is also extremely convenient to downtown Annapolis. We couldn't have asked for a better venue to suit our taste and style. Would highly recommend!
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    Adrianne Sent on 07/01/2019
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    June wedding

    Could not be happier that we had our wedding here. Great experience with staff. Beautiful location/views and great flexibility having the covered deck. It rained during our ceremony and I LOVED how the ceremony ended up feeling so intimate on the deck plus we still had gorgeous views behind us. Love that our wedding also supported the environmental efforts the foundation works on and guests loved that it had such a special meaning

    Chesapeake Bay Foundation's reply:

    Thanks for the review, Adrianne- come back and visit anytime! Best wishes to you & Ches! We can't wait to see some more pony pictures on the beach!
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    Rachel Sent on 04/09/2019
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    Beach wedding in simple sophistication

    In planning our wedding, we searched for a local venue where we could have both our ceremony and reception. The Phillip Merrill Center appealed for many reasons. It’s breathtaking views, simply elegant design, and wildlife protection/conservation focused principles just to name a few. When our wedding day arrived we were blessed with beautiful weather, a magical time we will never forget!

    Chesapeake Bay Foundation's reply:

    Thanks for the review, Rachel! You were such a beautiful & gracious bride, I am so glad we got to celebrate with you! Come back and visit anytime!
  • Housetyrrell2020
    Jacqueline Sent on 02/06/2019
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    Excellent customer service

    My fiance and I were looking at this as out venue for our wedding. The customer service and responsiveness to our questions was quick and friendly. This venue would have been a great choice if my fiance and I hadn't chosen to go with a destination wedding instead!

    Chesapeake Bay Foundation's reply:

    Thanks for your review Jacqueline! Enjoy every moment of your upcoming wedding- we wish you a lifetime of happiness!
  • Nicole
    Nicole Sent on 01/16/2019
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    Perfect Waterfront Venue

    On what could have been the worst wedding weather day of 2018 (the day of hurricane Florence), we ended up with the most perfect day and venue. Not only was this due to the sudden change in the hurricanes trajectory but also because of the amazing staff at CBF that stayed calm, cool, and collected while we worked through some tough alternative weather plans. This venue is not only one of the most beautiful locations on the eastern shore of MD but it has the greatest facility for an outdoor wedding. The covered deck is excellent for keeping people dry and shaded, and plenty large enough to house dining tables and a dance area. The beach front is perfect for a water side ceremony and you will get gorgeous photos no matter the weather. We loved every second of our wedding and that is a huge thanks to Emily and the rest of the CBF team.

    Chesapeake Bay Foundation's reply:

    Thanks for the kind words, Nicole! It was great working with you and Max & we loved seeing all of your details come to life! We are obsessed with the pictures- we need to see more!
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    Sam G. Sent on 11/11/2018
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    Fabulous! All of our guests really enjoyed the venue!

    CBF was the perfect spot for our wedding reception! So close to home and yet such a hidden gem right on the water in Annapolis. You really can’t beat the views! I would highly reccomend to all! It really was the best day of our lives!

    Chesapeake Bay Foundation's reply:

    Thanks for the review, Sam- We are loving the name change! Best wishes to you and Bryce! Come back and visit us anytime.
  • Jaime
    Jaime Sent on 10/02/2018
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    CBF was a dream come true for us. We had a large wedding party but still wanted to be close
    proximity to downtown Annapolis. There aren’t a lot of places that can do both of those things! Couple that with CBF being incredibly beautiful and a rain or shine location, you have a perfect venue spot! Everything about the venue exceeded my expectations and our guests can’t atop buzzing about the views. A+ from us!!

    Chesapeake Bay Foundation's reply:

    Thanks for the review, Jaime! We couldn't have asked for a lovelier couple to work with-best wishes to you and David!
  • Shelby
    Shelby Sent on 08/13/2018
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    We were so incredibly happy using Chesapeake Bay Foundation as our wedding venue! Emily was absolutely amazing to work with, gave great information, replied quickly, and alleviated all our concerns. She met with us many times just for quick walkthroughs or questions and replied quickly to all emails and calls. The venue is absolutely gorgeous and so serene! There are so many amazing picture and first look locations. We also absolutely loved how environmentally friendly the building was and many of our guests commented on it! The best part of this venue is that you have the freedom and flexibility to make it your own and add in your own unique style! My sister-in-law who just got engage is also considering CBF for her wedding after the absolutely amazing day we had! We will definitely be back to visit CBF and walk the grounds next time we are in town to reminisce on our amazing wedding day, thanks so much CBF!

    Chesapeake Bay Foundation's reply:

    Thanks for the lovely review Shelby, the pictures turned out gorgeous!
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    Mary Sent on 11/10/2017
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    Chesapeake Bay Foundation is a beautiful venue and can accommodate beautiful weather or not so good! They were very helpful. We enjoyed having our daughter's wedding there in October.
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    Kathleen Sent on 10/30/2017
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    We were so happy we choose to have our wedding at CBF! It was beautiful! We loved the layout of the venue. We had our ceremony at a church in Annapolis so we did cocktail hour on the beach and the reception up on the deck and in the ballroom. We did stations and were so happy with the results. There was lots of room for dancing and hanging out. We had 175 guests and it did not feel too crowded. We had a perfect day for it!
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    Beth Sent on 10/10/2017
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    This is an amazing venue! Beautiful views from every vantage and the staff are very helpful. The coordinators Kimrey and Emily, were professional, easy to work with, and excited about supporting our wedding. They also worked seamlessly with the caterer and the rental company. You are the only wedding there so you can take your time and run the wedding as you like. Tent included in the rental fee which helped on costs.
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    Michele Sent on 08/18/2017
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    I held my daughter's graduation party -- the venue and setting are absolutely beautiful! My guests were overwhelmed by the views and lovely facility. During planning, Emily kept in frequent communication and offered many wonderful suggestions that made the event so special. I recommend visiting the center because after seeing the location and meeting with the professional staff, you will look no further for your venue. Highly recommend!
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    Melanie Sent on 07/02/2017
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    Emily and the team at CBF were extremely easy to work with. The setting is really unique and beautiful, and we were thrilled to be able to do the ceremony on the beach despite a less-than-ideal weather forecast. Emily was extremely helpful in helping us think through the options for bad weather plans, which luckily we didn't end up needing. The space is private, and arrival/departure for our guests was really a breeze. We couldn't have asked for a better venue experience, and would definitely consider doing other events there if the opportunity came up.
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    User2821932 Sent on 10/07/2016
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    What a BEAUTIFUL venue with such wonderful people to work! They made the entire process so easy for us during the planning process and were very accommodating. So happy with our choice to get married here!
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    Brittany Sent on 09/30/2016
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    We had our wedding here two weeks ago and it was INCREDIBLE! I truly don't believe we would have had the wedding of our dreams anywhere else. The beach is just beautiful and together with the indoor dining area (with 360 views of the Bay!), and the deck overlooking the beach (which is already tented!), it is so unique as a venue. Private, roomy, and incredibly flexible, this place is perfect for ocean-loving individuals. Also, the building is Platinum LEED certified, so you can have a green wedding! This was really important to us and our guests really enjoyed the building's features- the composting, waterless toilets, rainwater sinks, green roof, etc. Thanks for the perfect setting for our wedding, CBF!
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    Abbey Sent on 08/24/2016
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    We just had our wedding at CBF and it was AMAZING. So beautiful. I can't say enough about the venue. The cost seems on par for the area since you can bring in your own vendors/alcohol. Amanda was super helpful and the staff there the day-of helped make everything go off without a hitch! It was a hot August day, but the deck was shaded and cool and getting married under the tree worked well. I can definitely recommend this venue to anyone looking for the perfect beach/Annapolis wedding!
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    Sara Sent on 08/04/2016
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    Great venue! CBF is a unique venue that allows you to customize your wedding. Gorgeous waterfront with dock and deck. Our guests could not stop raving about the venue. So many different options for ceremony and reception, and the whole place is yours for the day- no sharing with other weddings. If you don't want a cookie-cutter wedding at some hotel, then I highly recommend CBF. Although you get to customize every last detail, the staff at CBF are great to work with and have fantastic recommended vendors that are use to the space.
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    Monica Sent on 06/05/2016
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    The Chesapeake Bay Foundation was the "cherry on top" regarding our daughter's wedding! Why would you go anywhere else when you have a gem like this. People come to Annapolis to see the beauty of the Bay and all that it has to offer. We looked at Hotels, Restaurants etc. for our daughter's wedding reception, none offered a view like the CBF!!! You get a true taste/view of Maryland at the CBF. THANK YOU
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    Stephanie Sent on 12/22/2015
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    We had our reception at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, and it was absolutely incredible. First, the venue is absolutely stunning - like something from a magazine. The room where dinner is set up has 3 walls of huge windows giving a full view of the whole bay, the deck and the surrounding trees/field. the entrance is a gorgeous atrium with a sailboat suspended above, and basically 3 story windows.

    Here's a bit about the details: First, Amanda, the event coordinator, is a joy to work with - she's so responsive, flexible, and really sweet. She even gave me great recommendations for vendors when I had no idea where to start. We had 148 people - seated 100 people inside, left the double doors open and the rest of the tables extend outside on the deck. We worried that on August 1st it would be too hot, but with the bay breeze it was perfect. The brand new permanent white tents gave us reassurance when it threatened rain - it never did rain, but there was a beautiful rainbow which we could see over the bay bridge during dinner. We brought bocce ball and badminton (they have a net set up down the beach), and the kids played around during cocktail hour. The band setup on the deck was PERFECT - the dancing area was the ideal size/location to be accessible and not awkward. With the soft warm lights under the tent, we didn't have to do anything for lighting. The guests wandered down the dock to look at the stars, and put their feet in the water. (One recommendation - get some chairs to put down on the beach - people would have sat down there).

    All of our guests (we realize the bias) said that this was the most beautiful reception that they've ever been to. I completely agree. We cannot say enough (as you can see by our long review). And bonus...proceeds go to the Bay foundation. What a great cause.
  • K
    Katya Sent on 09/28/2015
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    This was everything that we were looking for in a wedding venue! Absolutely gorgeous terrain, with beaches, wild grasses, and gentle paths to explore for guests and wedding party alike. Taken together with the vital mission of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, I could not be happier to have spent my wedding day in this beautiful space. The team were really flexible and understanding; my husband and I live outside the country, and Amanda worked with us to ensure that all details were completed (even across the ocean). I can't imagine getting married anywhere else.
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    Sophie Sent on 09/30/2014
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    We loved everything about our wedding at CBF. Amanda was very attentive and flexible with me throughout the planning process. The deck is a great place to dance the night away, even if it rains! They were extremely accommodating after we had a small issue with seating at dinner arrangements and we couldn't be happier with how our day went!
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    Nicole Sent on 08/26/2014
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    We had a wonderful experience from the first time we visited the venue til the actual wedding day! I can honestly say it was perfect from start to finish! Amanda (CBF contact) made everything sooo nice & easy for us..so much so that my 7 year old daughter said to her 'thanks so much for helping my mom and making her day so special!' CBF is the perfect wedding venue for soo many reasons...wish we could celebrate there every weekend! :)
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    Lisa Sent on 08/18/2014
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    We conducted a training at the CBF and it was very successful. All of our attendees loved the location, the view, and the facility. We were upstairs in the Merganser Conference Room and had a wonderful view of the bay. And there is a great balcony area next to the room where our attendees took their lunch to enjoy the view and the weather, without having to actually leave the meeting room area.

    Amanda Arreola was wonderful to work with and extremely responsive. During the day of the event, she checked in on us several times to be sure we were ok. It was very affordable and met our needs quite well. Any time we can do another training in the Annapolis area, we will definitely use CBF!
  • Lauri
    Lauri Sent on 11/03/2011
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    Chris Gorri is an absolute pleasure to work with at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Our wedding reception was originally scheduled at another Annapolis Venue and then we caught wind through the rumor mill that CBF had pushed their construction project back and were once again accepting applications for Fall 2011 Weddings. Months away from our big day, we switched to CBF in a heartbeat. I'm not sure how much of a secret CBF is in the Annapolis area anymore, but I do know it is one of the best wedding venues in the area. The waterfront views are breathtaking, their experience in handling weddings speaks for itself, and you have the flexibility to use whatever vendors you choose!

    I would highly recommend you talk to Chris at CBF if you are interested in your guests having a truly unique Annapolis wedding experience. And, like many other posters have stated, your rental fee/donation is going towards a great cause. Beautiful facility to have a wedding reception/and/or ceremony.
  • nattydread797
    Nat Sent on 05/19/2010
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    We had our vow renewal ceremony at CBF in May 2010. I had been to a wedding previously at this venue and fell in love with it.

    I had a challenge of planning this event when I live in VA and it was going to be in MD. Thanks to a fabulous caterer, The Main Ingredient, it made the distance hardly an issue.

    I will agree, I was not used to paying a fee for just the use of the location. We actually chose to have our reception on a Friday evening and saved TONS of money all around. The location itself is so beautiful that you do not need much decoration to make it work. You know how every bride has a vision on their head of what they would like to have their day look like? Well, CBF delivered on every front. It is such a natural beautiful, romantic setting. But it also is a very comfortable setting for your guests too. By having your event on a Friday, you actually get the most bang for your buck because you have use of the facility from 3pm til 11pm. And yes, while choosing a site that is just "venue" only, you do have a little extra work to pick out table/chairs/linens, but I can't stress enough, if you have the right caterer, your life is easy! I truly recommend The Main Ingredient because they are used to working with this site and they know all the in's and out's to make your life easy.

    This venue works best for about 100-140 people. We had exactly 100 people and you never felt crowed or too spread out either. Now, while the front of the building when you pull up isn't that eye pleasing, TRUST ME, when you walk out to the deck, you will immediately forget about it. Parking is wonderful and lots of it. You have access to your own "dressing" room or just a room to get away from and we actually ended up letting our band use that. It was great size though and would easily accommodate about 25 people.

    I think the thing I liked best was that it was a private venue that we didn't have to share with anyone. Being able to say your vows on the beach and then come up to the deck and then dining room is so nice. Being able to stay in one location is really nice too and not just for the wedding party but also for your guests as well. It is also about 5 miles from downtown Annapolis and really close (about 6 miles) from all the hotels on Riva Road. Getting to and from is quite easy.

    I highly recommend this location for your wedding or ANY event for that matter. I would be happy to share our pictures with you should you want.

    HAPPY PLANNING!

    Darcy Thompson





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    Ellen Sent on 08/26/2009
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    This is a gorgeous location and a wonderful organization. We loved getting married on the beach and Chris was very helpful. Thanks!
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    Laura Sent on 07/14/2009
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    The Chesapeake Bay Foundation was the perfect place for our wedding. We were looking for a place that was on the water and had a really natural feel, but didn't require guests to go across the Bay Bridge or far from BWI, where many guests were flying in. It's not cheap, but we loved that we were supporting a foundation rather than giving our money to a hotel or other business. It's obvious that event coordinator Chris Gorri is a very busy guy but he always got back to me within a reasonable amount of time and was helpful with vendor recommendations and other information. It was so fun to get married out on the beach in such a beautiful place. I was a little concerned about turing the Canvasback room, which is usually used for meetings, into a reception room but it turned out beautifully. We were also able to use the room upstairs for a babysitter to watch a few children, so that worked out well. Our photos on the beach and in the tall grasses and natural environment around the venue are also really incredible!
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    Lisa Sent on 07/01/2008
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    The event coordinator was so involved with our ceremony, down to the last detail. The venus was absolutely stunning. We wanted an outdoor wedding on the water, and every guest commented on the spectacular views and originality of the location.
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    Kc Sent on 08/21/2018
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    Chesapeake Bay Foundation is such a wonderful place! Emily kept planning easy and us on track through the whole process. Our friends and family couldn't stop gushing about how beautiful of a venue it is. Its awesome that its not just a pretty place but also does so much good for the Bay. I would recommend this incredible venue to anyone.

    Chesapeake Bay Foundation's reply:

    Thanks for the wonderful review, KC! You were such a beautiful bride & we wish you and John much happiness!
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    Juliane Sent on 08/11/2016
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    We loved this venue. It is a gorgeous location with an awesome deck and lots of parking. Having the ceremony on the deck would not have been ideal though so we opted for a chilly/moist ceremony on the beach. We love that is a super "green" office which reflected our values.
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    Mark Sent on 03/24/2015
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    WOW!!! What a venue!
    Having been to dozens of weddings... this place is amazing! The facility, the deck, the dock, the beach, the grounds, etc...
    Gorgeous views. Good for evening weddings.
    Drawback (but also could be good) is that the size of site limits the number of people who can attend.
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    User1792527 Sent on 09/03/2014
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    I would recommend this venue for a wedding event. Incredibly the weather was perfect that day.
    The price was reasonable for a venue that provided two tents and a dinner reception area. One
    could get married on the beach under a tree canopy with the water in the background at Chesapeake Bay Foundation. It was an absolutely a beautiful site for a wedding.
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    Sandie Sent on 11/27/2007
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    I worked with the event planner, Chris, at CBF, and he was absolutely great to work with. We had our ceremony on the beach and reception inside their room and on the covered deck. Apparently the lights don't dim all the way inside, so they always recommend the dance floor be out on the deck, which I didn't want, but it turned out fine. Their building (the Philip Merrill Center) is really cool, very environmentally friendly (but don't let that scare you, all the amenities are just perfect), with architecture that lends itseld to really cool pictures. The beach was great, of course, though I wished I had some sort of walkway that I could've put down as an aisle over the sand. The scenery is so beautiful, and I got so many awesome pictures, I highly, highly recommend CBF! It may be a little pricey, but it's really nice that at least you're giving money to such a great environmental foundation, not someone who built a place for the sole purpose of taking your money.
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    Erinn Sent on 07/03/2024
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    Wonderful location, wonderful cause!

    We had a May 2024 wedding at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, and all turned out wonderful. We had misty/rainy day and ultimately had to make the call to have the ceremony in the tented deck. It was still beautiful, and arguably the pictures likely came out better because of it! So moody and beautiful.

    CBF was extremely responsive and helpful as we lead up to the event. We appreciated the ease as one less thing to worry about! It also felt wonderful knowing the funds would go back to the Bay.

    The only thing I wish I knew ahead of time: For Saturday weddings, CBF will not allow access to the building before 3pm. No flexibility. While this ultimately worked out, it did mean with some of my vendors I had to pay extra to ensure set up was done between 3 and 5 (event start). This wasnt inconvenient enough I would wish we had another location, but it would have been helpful for budgeting to know earlier.

    Photo Credit: Dani White Photography
  • Kristen
    Kristen Sent on 10/03/2019
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    Loved our mini-destination wedding - the CBF is an amazing venue!

    We loved having our wedding at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. We were searching all throughout the east coast for our mini destination wedding, and we fell in love with this venue and Annapolis! We wanted to be married outdoors on the water and this bayfront venue ended up being exactly what we had been searching for. It is nice that you can choose your caterer from their approved list, but be prepared as you do have to bring in all of your vendors so it does take extra planning time and research. We were married on a really hot August day, so it was nice to have the covered tent for dancing and cocktail hour and the A/C room worked well for our dinner. We loved working with Emily Blackman, she was helpful and responsive and answered all of our questions over the phone or e-mail which was needed as we planned from out of state. The walk through was nice and the whole process was easy. I also felt better about the venue cost $$$ going to benefit a good cause and enjoyed being a #baysavingbride. I would highly recommend this venue to anyone looking for an outdoor wedding on the water, our pictures came out amazing and we did not need to spend much on decor as the nature/background is superb!! I loved being able to take our wedding party photos on the dock.
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    Laura Sent on 08/07/2017
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    We had a wonderful experience planning and hosting our wedding at CBF. Emily was a joy to work with. The view is unrivaled and we never stressed about bad weather because there were good back up options (which thankfully we didn't have to use). The cost is steep, but it felt good to be giving back to a great cause. There are also some limitations due to the green facility, but they were upfront about everything and it didn't affect us at all. We and our guests had the most special day.
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    Kate Sent on 07/01/2017
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    This venue was totally amazing! Amanda was the absolute best to work with and made me feel so comfortable in the whole process. She even helped us find our caterer. The CBF is stunning as it sits right on the Bay, with beautiful views. We did not have our ceremony here and because we didn't get to use the beach they allowed us to do a portion of our cocktail hour by the water. It was simply perfection. They were by far the easiest of vendors to work with!
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    Rachel Sent on 06/04/2017
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    Beautiful location! There are certain restrictions due their eco-friendly standards, but that's a main reason why we booked this venue. It is a blank slate, but the perfect scenery speaks for itself. Your guests will be wowed by the views, rain or shine.
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    Caitlin Sent on 05/01/2017
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    CBF is an absolutely gorgeous venue. It was the perfect place to have a wedding with kids and our adult guests cannot stop talking about how beautiful it was. Emily Blackman was a pleasure to work with. We had a beautiful, stress-free wedding here!
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    Tara Sent on 12/17/2015
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    Having my wedding at Chesapeake Bay Foundation was the perfect location. We had a beach ceremony and reception under the tent. There was tons of space for dancing yet everything seemed very intimate under the tent. The beach and pier provided perfect back drop for our photos. Guests are still commenting on how unique the venue was!
    Amanda was great to work with and was very flexible with helping us when we had some last minute of chaos of thinking it was going to rain.
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    Dana Sent on 06/17/2010
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    The CBF was a wonderful place to get married. We had our ceremony right on the beach and then all of our guests went up to the main deck for the cocktail hour while we were taking pictures on the beach and dock. The building is definitely a green building in the sense that it may not be the most attractive, but once you are out on the back deck overlooking the bay you really get wrapped up in the scenery. Tables and tents are provided for this venue, however you will need to order your table settings, chairs, etc. We had Ken's Creative Kitchen caterer our event and they took care of everything so this was not a big deal for us at all. The cost of the venue is a bit high, but all of the proceeds go to the CBF which made us feel like we were making a donation to help save the bay. Chris was absolutely wonderful to work with and they provide suggestions on vendors, but there is a list of caterers that you have to choose from. We selected Ken's Creative Kitchen and could not have been more impressed, so even though there wasn't much flexibility there it was not a problem.
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    Laurie Sent on 06/20/2009
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    The Chesapeake Bay Foundation was the perfect setting for our wedding. We actually found CFB from the water so when we realized we could hold our wedding there we were thrilled! The building is gorgeous, the views from the deck and the dining room are incredible and the beach was the perfect place to hold our ceremony. Chris at CBF is wonderful to work with.

    We booked a Sunday wedding for May ‘09 in August ’08 and had no issues with finding a date. Chris was helpful with choosing our date and times and recommending vendors. Occasionally I would call or email him with some random question and he would always get back to me and talk me through any decision. He was great and very helpful.

    The facility was able to accommodate all 120 guests with ease and provided a dressing room for the bride and family and a room for babysitters to babysit some of our smaller guests. We were comfortable and felt at ease. When our band had an issue with water from the previous night’s rain falling on their equipment we were able to extend the evening at a moment’s notice. Gwen was there the day of our wedding and she worked with the caterers to make the day flowed easily for me and our guests. One of the nice things about CBF is that the setting is so beautiful we didn’t feel like we needed large centerpieces or lots of decorations which helped keep our wedding simple and elegant.

    There were some issues with only hot water being available, which was strange. The price is high, but both my husband and I felt like it was worth it to get married in a beautiful setting that will hopefully get our guests to think a little differently about green architecture. I would definitely recommend CBF.
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    Alice Sent on 09/29/2008
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    Our wedding wouldn't have been the same if it was held anywhere else. CBF has the most amazing view and it really made the day to have it here. I looked at a number of places to have our wedding on the water and CBF was by far the nicest. Just getting out of your car, you feel immediately relaxed. The staff at CBF was really helpful too.

    Booking our date - CBF will not book more than a year in advanced. It's a weird system. You can get on a waiting list, and then when they reach your month one year in advance, they will call you and tell you the choice of dates. Of course, the higher you are on the list, the more date choices you have. They don't have a lot of Saturdays available during the summer because of other events, so it's not the most flexible place, but I also don't think that demand for it is as high as other places. We wanted May or June, but ended up with July, but it still was great.

    Beach wedding - We had our ceremony on the beach and the reception in the building. The beach was amazing and the weather in July was perfect because of the great breeze.

    Decor - the scenery at CBF provided all the ambiance and decor we needed. We only had to put up table centerpieces really.

    Cost - rental was $5,000, which is a lot to me, but I know it isn't in the wedding world. I believe this price is going up soon. It's tough because for the cost they don't provide anything, not even chairs for the ceremony, so you have to pay extra for all the rentals. There is a permanent tent though on the deck with lighting and fans, that's a plus.

    Compliments - we received so many compliments on the location, it really was a winner!
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    Nikki Sent on 06/29/2010
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    An AMAZING location for a wedding. We were looking for a location that fit our personality and this was it. We love being out on the Bay, so a venue that was close to the water was key for us. It was a SUPER hot day in June, but we were able to cool off for a bit during dinner which was in the conference room with floor to ceiling windows, so you don't miss a second of the gorgeous view! The price for the venue is pricey, and it doesn't come with a thing, but at least it goes to a good cause. A few little snags along the way; because its an eco-friendly building we couldn't have plastic water bottles (and had to spend more money on reusables) and they banned sparklers (which I was SO hoping to have as we left by boat) You don't find out about those little details until you're waist deep in the planning process and long after you've booked. But, this was a perfect location for us and we couldn't be happier!
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    Jennifer Sent on 01/03/2010
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    We chose this venue because of its gorgeous location and because its mission of saving the Chesapeake Bay is near and dear to us. The fact that it wasn't a wedding specialty location or banquet hall was a plus to us, but that does have its drawbacks - namely that all of the catering items, from the tables and chairs, down to the last spoon and napkin has to be rented separately. So it's a bit more work and increases your catering costs, but we felt it was totally worth it to have our wedding at such a unique and lovely location, while simultaneously supporting the bay. Reserve early if you are interested because the dates get snatched up fast!
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    Natalie Sent on 06/29/2024
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    Dream beach wedding

    We had dreams of a backyard wedding which was no longer a reality when we realized that our closest friends and family totaled to over 100+ people. LOL. CBF is a dream venue that has an intimate, elegant backyard feel. Shannon was a dream to work with and was so flexible and responsive (especially in the days before as we were contingency planning around the weather).
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    Kate Sent on 07/20/2023
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    Beautiful Waterfront Venue In the Heart of Annapolis

    My husband and I recently got married at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF). It was a beautiful summer night - there was a light breeze all evening and the views were stunning. The venue itself is really beautiful and requires little decor as it's naturally gorgeous - lit and tented deck, nice hardwood floors, big windows, etc.

    Shannon, the events coordinator we worked with at CBF helped us leading up to the wedding to ensure we had done everything we needed and then from there we just worked with a month of planner on our own. This was really nice and made things easy!

    CBF has a lot of amazing vendors they allow you to work with, but they are strict in that you can only work with their list of vendors. It wasn't an issue for us and we loved who we worked with but something to keep in mind!

    There are also very specific rules on when you can arrive, enter the building, and have to be out. A little more flexibility here would have been nice, but overall was not an issue.

    My only real complaint is that we were told the beach would be groomed - debris removed, bird poop cleaned away, picnic tables moved, etc. This did not happen and there was not anyone on our wedding day to get it taken care of. They told us at our final walkthrough this would happen, so I'm not sure if it was just an oversight, but there was no difference in what the beach looked like from Friday when we did our rehearsal to Saturday our actual wedding day and there was a lot of little sticks and goose poop.

    Overall, I'd absolutely recommend CBF as a wedding venue if you want to have a gorgeous outdoor, waterfront wedding in Annapolis and it's an added bonus that your wedding goes back to saving the Bay!
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    Kristina Sent on 07/10/2023
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    Wonderful venue!

    We loved using CBF as our wedding venue!
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    Madeleine Sent on 09/25/2021
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    Absolutely Beautiful

    CBF is the perfect Annapolis venue! Beautiful views an an amazing space.
  • A
    Ann P. Sent on 10/19/2019
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    Incredible venue!

    You couldn't ask for a more beautiful site to have your wedding! We had our ceremony and cocktail hour down on the beach, and our reception under the deck tent and the inside room--plenty of space for food, drinks, table and dancing! Staff were incredibly helpful from the first time we visited until our special day, thanks all!

    Chesapeake Bay Foundation's reply:

    Thanks for the review, Ann! I'm so glad that you had such a lovely day, and we are honored that you picked us to be a part of your celebration!
  • C
    C257Ff56C143189B5Ed949Cc1Fafb09F2197B095 Sent on 07/25/2017
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    Had the most amazing, perfect wedding day at CBF on July 22nd, 2017. We had only our reception here, not our ceremony (which was good because it rained!). The weather called for severe thunderstorms and Emily (our contact for CBF) answered all of my frantic questions immediately, even though she was on vacation. The venue itself is gorgeous, and I was happy to give my money to saving the bay rather than lining someone's pockets who heard the word 'wedding' and decided to charge extra. They have a few extra rules that I was happy to follow but may be an issue for others: what kind of plates/napkins/etc you use, no open flames, no sparkler send-offs, etc. The employees are also allowed to use the beach for your day. We had some people camping on the beach during ours, playing some loud music, were in the way of our pictures. Wasn't a huge deal, but when you pay $7000 for a Saturday night you kind of want the whole place to yourself! So just know this is a possibility, and written in the contract before you sign (they weren't hiding it or anything, but just know it's there!). We had 160 people at our wedding, and another thing to note is that the main room only fits 100 people, so we had to put 5 or 6 tables outside, splitting up the wedding and making it a little strange for toasts and such. Again, didn't bother me, but something to note. Everyone was outside on the dance floor all night anyway so it couldn't have mattered less! They provided a good amount of decor for us (pillows, lanterns, a lattice, 10 round tables, etc), so that was nice. I wouldn't have changed a thing and am so glad we decided to have our special day at CBF!
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    Lynn Sent on 08/17/2016
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    Fabulous location! Doesn't get any better than this! However...costs are more than other venues as a caterer has to bring in everything from tables to stoves to the food!
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    Melanie Sent on 07/06/2016
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    The Chesapeake Bay Foundation of Annapolis is a breathtaking venue!!!! When you rent out this venue, you are given pretty much FULL access to the entire place! They have ample parking (even a small parking garage under the building). You can your ceremony on their beach, have dinner in the hall and then have music and dancing our their tent covered deck. They even let me use their large conference room as a private bridal suite to get hair and makeup done.
    My only critique would be that they need someone doing a little more day-of-coordinating and overseeing.
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    Kalyn Sent on 12/16/2010
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    As soon as we saw CBF we knew it would be perfect. And it was. While we were a little concerned about the back up plan, we didn't need it as we had great weather. The scenery could not have been more perfect. As the bride, I especially loved getting ready in the room over the reception room so I could see everything that was going on! The staff was all very helpful, the only issue we had was several times getting a response back. All in all a great experience and I would recommend this venue in a heart beat. But call soon, it books fast!
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    Missy Sent on 07/19/2009
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    The Chesapeake Bay Foundation was a perfect location for our wedding in which we wanted a relaxed beach environment but close to DC. The setting is unmatched in the area and the building provides a fantastic modern backdrop for a stunning event. Turns out the day we got married the winds were gusting but the sides for the tent over the deck were available which kept most of it out. The beach setting was gorgeous, however due to the wind we did have some wind surfers going by. Chris, the coordinator was very responsive within a short time frame and quite accommodating. The representative on site on the day however did not provide much assistance and is mainly there to turn things on and off I suppose.

    The venue is quite bare bones and you do not get much for the cost besides the rental of the building. This does allow you to put your own style to the venue as opposed to a banquet hall. Although you do not get much for the money in rentals etc, the setting is unmatched and your money is going towards a very worthy organization as opposed to a commercial wedding venue. We got so many compliments on the unique venue which really set the scene for our wedding.

    I totally recommend this location for a wedding or any event!
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    Aaron Sent on 07/12/2009
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    We knew the CBF was the place we wanted to have our wedding as soon as we saw it and we were not disappointed. We were very fortunate with the weather and were able to have our ceremony on the beach which was a perfect setting. The reception too place in the conference center and the deck which provided great views out over the bay. We absolutely loved the natural beauty of the setting and we got lots of compliments from our guests. It might not be a traditional setting but it was perfect as far as we were concerned.

    The only downside is the $5000 rental fee as other reviewers have mentioned. It is a little steep but we were able to take some solace in knowing that it was going to a good cause. Other than that, everyone there was great to work with and we had a great time at the CBF!
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    Lisa Sent on 10/11/2010
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    We casually researched wedding venues in the Baltimore/Annapolis area for several years, but we could not find a site that we fell in love with enough to warrant the costs. I came across CBF on a photographer's website, visited the venue that week, and we booked our wedding immediately. Not only is the location absolutely stunning, but it feels good to know that our rental feel (while still steep!) is going to a great organization rather than to a commercial wedding company.

    Chris, the event coordinator at CBF, is knowledgeable, helpful, friendly and professional. However, since he is the only contact for weddings and can be slow in responding, it sometimes took a week or two to get a response. Chris made himself available via cell during the last month leading up to our wedding when time was more critical. But in general, it is obvious that weddings are not CBF's business, and you need to have some patience during the planning process.

    CBF has a respectable list of approved vendors, and Chris was very helpful in helping us down-select vendors based on our priorities so that we didn't have to contact and meet with many to find ones that we loved. We made sure to select vendors that had lots of experience with weddings at CBF, and were not disappointed with their recommendations during the planning process, and seamless execution once they were on site.

    The natural beauty of the venue doesn't require much in terms of decoration, but everything from the dinner napkins to the tables to the butter knives to the chairs to the catering ovens need to be rented w/ same-day delivery, and those costs can add up. Our caterer handled all of this though, so beside the cost, it did not impact us except to provide us with a little extra flexibility in how the site was set up on our day.

    The building is clean and beautiful in its unique style, and any staff that we interacted with were extremely friendly and helpful. We had our ceremony on the beach, cocktails on the deck, dinner in the conference room (w/ sunset over the bay visible through 270-deg of windows!), and dancing on the tented decks. The bins of flip flops that we provided for our guests were definitely utilized for the ceremony and dancing, but our guests thoroughly enjoyed the setting, partied hard, and repeatedly told us how beautiful the setting was.

    If you are looking for an amazing alternative to the "typical" wedding venues in the area, are interested in helping save the bay, and are willing to do a little extra work to make it your own for a day, look no further. We could not have been happier with our venue selection!
  • User227048 Sent on 08/09/2009
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    If you want to do your wedding you own way this is the place to do it. It's a stunning facility with a lovely beach back drop and amazing views of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. The fee to rent is a little high, but from what I've seen at other places, they don't have as many options for catering as this one does. We were able to pick and choose everything from our equipment rentals to the decor and saved $$ by providing our own alcohol. It takes more work planning at a site like this where nothing is included but two rectangular tables and the empty facility, but it was totally worth it! We had the time of our lives.

    Note: Our biggest concern was potential mosquitoes during an evening ceremony, but the winds kicked up minutes before our ceremony and it was a great breeze. Chris said that it's usually breezy right on the shore like that, so no worries about bugs. Also, our wedding was on a Sunday and we didn't know until after we signed the contract that music must be shut off NLT 10pm. Keep in mind that when you rent your 8-hour block that you must reserve 1 hr after the festivities for clean-up too.
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    Kara Sent on 06/21/2009
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    Once we saw The Chesapeake Bay Foundation we knew it was the perfect place for our wedding. The building, the deck, and the beach are beautiful. It is a unique venue which is nice; our wedding certainly did not look like other weddings we had been to. While we were fortunate and the weather allowed us to have the ceremony on the beach, the back-up plan of having it on the deck would make for a beautiful ceremony as well.
    We had a great experience working with Chris at CBF. The rental fee is higher than many places, however it is comforting to know that the money is going to such a wonderful organization rather than a venue that is making a profit.
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    Kira Sent on 08/09/2017
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      3.5 out of 5 rating
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      4 out of 5 rating
    We got married here in June 2017 and we absolutely loved the venue! The views of the bay and the building are gorgeous, so you don't have to do a lot to the space in terms of decorations or embellishments. CBF fills up quickly for summer weekend weddings, so we had to book our date about 2 years out. Over the two years we ended up working with two different event coordinators, but both were helpful and responded quickly when I had questions. The cost of the venue is a bit expensive, but it does include some tables, chairs, and decorations. We needed to rent additional tables and chairs through a rental company for our wedding size. We also had to do all of the organizing of the other vendors, which worked out well for us, but may not work out well if you're not the planning/ organizing type. Again, we absolutely loved the space and loved being able to get married on the beach, so we were completely happy with the way everything turned out and would absolutely recommend getting married at CBF!
  • E
    Emily Sent on 08/08/2010
    4.4 out of 5 rating
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      5 out of 5 rating
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      4 out of 5 rating
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      5 out of 5 rating
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      4 out of 5 rating
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      4 out of 5 rating
    We loved having CBF as our wedding venue!! It was an absolutely beautiful and unique location. So many of our guests commented on the building and how interesting they thought it was. It's definitely not for those looking for a "traditional" location.

    We decided to have our wedding on a Friday, which saved us a lot of money. We were able to come a little earlier and stay a little later...basically the Friday time slot is more flexible with the 8 hours.

    CBF is probably more cost economical than other package venues, but you still have to bring in everything yourself. If you have a great caterer, this isn't a problem but it does lead to more decisions for you. This can be a pro or con, depending on how much you want to plan! It also helps that a lot of vendors in the Annapolis area have a lot of experience at CBF, so do yourself a favor and choose one that has been there a lot!

    Chris was good to work with but sometimes I felt like he was slow in responding. He is really the only contact to help with weddings (as far as I know), so if you have an urgent question, it might not get solved right away. Overall, CBF was a great venue and you will have beautiful pictures!!
  • U
    User2129284 Sent on 05/12/2015
    4.3 out of 5 rating
    • Quality of service
      4.5 out of 5 rating
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      3.5 out of 5 rating
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      4.5 out of 5 rating
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      5 out of 5 rating
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      4 out of 5 rating
    This was the first wedding venue I vistied and i fell in love instantly. I love how you can see the bay from every room of the venue. The value of this venue is unbeatable, especially for the location. Amanda was very helpful through the whole process. Because Chesapeake bay foundation is a "green" facility, that made things a bit more complicated with tableware and the bathroom facilities. Overall, awesome wedding venue!
  • R
    Rebecca Sent on 08/20/2023
    4.2 out of 5 rating
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      4 out of 5 rating
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      5 out of 5 rating
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      5 out of 5 rating
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      5 out of 5 rating
    • Flexibility
      2 out of 5 rating

    Great Venue with a later opening time

    I love this venue. It is absolutely stunning. My wedding was beautiful. They were responsive. They offered all of these extra decor items which was very helpful. They really aren’t too pricey. The deck and dining room is outstanding. There is just one flaw that a new bride will not necessarily think is an issue. On the day of the wedding, they do not open the doors until 3 PM. You can set up the deck and the ceremony area, but not the dining room or go inside at all. This doesn’t seem like a huge deal if you’ve never planned a wedding. But it is. They need to allow vendors and the wedding party in at 1 or 2 o’clock. It is too much on those decorating and other vendors setting up to make them wait until two hours before the ceremony. It was the most stressful part of the day. This caused a delay in my pictures because we had to get dressed and take pictures within an hour before the groomsmen showed up. I also noticed little things that my other vendors missed for decor, which was not a huge deal (It’s still looked beautiful). However, I feel as though those little things happened because they were so rushed during set up. There’s no one at the building all day Saturday, so it would be very easy for them to push that time up. As a new bride, you’re not going to think it’s a big deal, until it is. In order for the set up to be as you planned without any hiccups, and to get photos in prior to the wedding, It really needs to be open earlier. At the very least, if they don’t change it, you’ll want to consider how busy it gets in that timeframe and plan your photo times accordingly. Because of that I lowered some of the ratings (primarily flexibility).

    Chesapeake Bay Foundation's reply:

    Thanks for your feedback Rebecca, we're glad to know you were pleased with the overall look of the wedding. I am sorry to hear you felt your vendors were rushed. Although your event has already taken place, we do offer a discounted rate to add an additional hour for set up only for the couple who feel they need more time. Congratulation again on your gorgeous wedding and marriage. We wish you the best in your lives together!
  • Taina
    Taina Sent on 11/18/2021
    4.2 out of 5 rating
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      5 out of 5 rating
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      3 out of 5 rating
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      4 out of 5 rating
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      5 out of 5 rating

    Gorgeous View & great cause!

    I loved this space from the moment I walked up the ramp and saw the waves through the glass doors and windows. The building is beautiful and it's eco-friendly designation was a big selling point for us. While looking for a venue I knew I wanted to be near water and there a lots of very pretty locations in Annapolis to get that but not of them really stood out to me. However, at CBF, there's something about walking through the tall open foyer and onto the spacious wooden deck to see the beautiful sparkling bay waters that just hits you differently. The venue is truly special because you're not just experiencing a life milestone there, you get to support an amazing organization that works to save those very waters and local natural areas.
    We picked this location not just for the amazing view but because it was really a one stop shop. We had our ceremony on the beach under the big tree that provided shade for our guests on the hot summer day. The deck served as cocktail hour and dance floor area (and is also big enough to have been our backup ceremony area in case of rain). Lots of my guest were very COVID conscious so we were able to split the dining tables five indoors and three outdoors.

    I wish I knew more people getting married there just so I could go back and enjoy another party on that deck lol!
  • V
    Vivi Sent on 08/02/2018
    4.2 out of 5 rating
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      4 out of 5 rating
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      4 out of 5 rating
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      4 out of 5 rating
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      5 out of 5 rating
    • Flexibility
      4 out of 5 rating
    CBF is stunning and unique. I looked at several venues in the Annapolis and MD eastern shore area and CBF was by far the most stunning and natural. What sold us even more is that it's not your typical commercial wedding venue. CBF is a non profit organization commmitted to saving and maintaining the Chesapeake bay. The venue rental fee, although high, goes directly to CBF and the mission so we felt a lot better putting a lot of money for our wedding with this in mind. As a couple, we try to be as environmentally friendly as we can be and so we loved that our wedding would be, too.

    It MONSOONED on our wedding day in July. Well, it was a flash flood ...so it rained ALL day and the winds were pretty intense. CBF has an incredible rain plan-- right on the deck overlooking the bay. Although I had my heart and mind set on getting married on the beach, the rain plan could not have been better and I am so thankful for that. I heard that a different couple got married on the same day on grass underneath a tent and the wedding was under 4 inches of water the entire time- people, tables, everything! yikes!! I am SO glad CBF has a high deck, a tent with removable side panels, and an indoor space.

    Emily is super sweet and is happy to answer any questions along the way. The venue does not provide a day-of coordinator and it really is a DIY type of place, if that's your thing. I liked being able to bring in our choice of catering, alcohol and decor. We really saved a lot of money doing so but I did have to plan a lot. If you can afford a planner or a day-of coordinator, I would highly recommend doing so. In hindsight, this would've helped in some stressful moments. Nonetheless, we had an incredibly amazing wedding even in the most challenging of weather and we are SO glad it was at CBF. There is no other place on the eastern shore as naturally beautiful and unique.

    Thanks CBF and Emily! We will be back to visit the beach throughout our marriage!

    Chesapeake Bay Foundation's reply:

    Thanks for the review, Vivi! We are so glad that the rain plan worked out so well and that you were able to get some beach pictures-come back and visit us anytime!
  • S
    Stacey Sent on 12/04/2008
    4.2 out of 5 rating
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      5 out of 5 rating
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      5 out of 5 rating
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      5 out of 5 rating
    • Value
      2.5 out of 5 rating
    • Flexibility
      3.5 out of 5 rating
    We picked CBF because of its location on the water and the 'green-ness' of the building. Chris is the event manager there and he is excellent to work with. The wedding was beautiful and we had a perfect day. My only complaint is that the cost of renting for us was $5000 and that came with nothing, but some square tables on wheels and the electricity we used. We probably only required at max-5 hours of Chris' time and the 8 hours of the wedding day for someone else's time. They are also a nonprofit and we can't even deduct part of the fee on our taxes which is completely absurd. Chris wasn't there the night of the wedding, I think some other person was but I didn't see her/him and she/he didn't help with anything unless she helped the catering staff. I think $5000 is way too much especially when you don't get anything for it. I recommend Chris and the location, but they need to start allowing at least half of it as a tax break or providing something with it.
  • Lauren
    Lauren Sent on 11/29/2022
    4 out of 5 rating
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      4 out of 5 rating
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      4 out of 5 rating
    • Professionalism
      4 out of 5 rating
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      4 out of 5 rating
    • Flexibility
      4 out of 5 rating

    Wonderful Wedding Experience!

    CBF was the first venue we looked at and though my first experience was a virtual tour, my (now) husband and I loved what I saw! I wanted waterfront and my husband wanted rustic- CBF was a great mix of mix of both with the bay views and the rustic building! We looked no further and booked the venue! The events coordinator and staff were all super friendly, helpful and supportive during the entire wedding planning process and all the way up to our wedding day! All my guests commented on how beautiful our venue was and genuinely enjoyed their time at the venue and on the grounds. I would 10/10 recommend CBF for anyone looking for a beautiful and affordable venue space for a wedding/party/baby shower/etc.!

    Chesapeake Bay Foundation's reply:

    Lauren thank you so much for the positive review. We are so glad you and David had such a wonderful time with us at CBF. The photos you shared are gorgeous!
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