Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium Reviews
Reviews
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Misty Sent on 08/04/2025
The best indoor venue for a summer wedding!
We loved using Mote as a venue! We did both the ceremony and reception in the New Pass Room. Our guests loved being able to have a drink and take pictures on the balcony. Such a perfect venue if you want to have a beachy feel but still be indoors during the hot summer months. We were able to divide the rooms for the ceremony and then open up the dividers for dinner and the dance floor -
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Hillary Sent on 04/27/2024Aquarium wedding!
Our guests were so excited to go to an aquarium wedding. We ended up doing our ceremony on the beach because we wanted it outdoors and we were not crazy about the Chickee Hut area. (Mote is in the process of building a new aquarium, so not sure where future weddings will be held.) The outdoor courtyard was perfect for the reception! It was covered, so we knew we could be outdoors rain or shine, and there was tons of space. We opened the indoor gallery for cocktail hour and our guests loved the exhibits. The rental rate is very fair and with a few restrictions on caterers, you can hire whatever vendors you want. We did rent a dance floor to make dancing easier. The volunteers staffing the exhibits were wonderful. Annabel was great to work with. I'm not sure what the future of weddings at Mote will look like given the new building, but we are so glad we chose Mote. -
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Paige Sent on 01/30/2024Beautiful and Unique
Veronica and Annabel were beyond helpful on helping us plan the perfect Florida wedding! We were able to showcase the beautiful venue and have it match my dreams- with so many of our guests commenting on how much fun they had interacting with the aquarium and city. Planning a destination wedding (I'm local to Seattle) is hard, and the team here made it easy to accomplish. Veronica allowed us to tour multiple times as I came up with our vision and even helped recommend vendors that could pull off everything we wanted! -
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Casey Sent on 01/13/2024Best place to have a beach wedding with a nautical theme!!
I have been visiting Mote since I was a little kid and my husband I recently got married at Mote. I had always wanted a beach wedding and the Chickee Hut was such a beautiful and perfect spot for our ceremony. It was also very accessible for our guest, some of who are handicapable. Both Veronica and Annabelle were super friendly and very easy to work with! The entire process working with them and our other vendors was seamless! If we were to ever renew our vows, I would come back to Mote in a heartbeat!!! -
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Krystle Sent on 10/01/2023Chickee Hut is perfect for intimate group
My husband and I were thrilled with the Chickee Hut venue at Mote. Its casual, relaxed atmosphere was the perfect Florida experience we wanted for our guests. Beautiful lawn and waterfront, easy setup for catering/bartending, and the Mote events team kept in frequent communication and were flexible with our timeline and logistical needs. I would rent this venue again for other functions. -
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Emily Sent on 05/30/2023
Dream Wedding
Everything at Mote was just perfect! The New Pass Room was gorgeous and the staff was wonderful to work with. It was my dream wedding and I wouldn't have wanted it any place else. -
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Audrey Sent on 05/02/2023Unique tropical venue
We were looking for a place to hold a rehearsal dinner. We realized our guest list was large and we would need a caterer and a venue because the restaurants we checked didn’t have a large enough room to accommodate us. We couldn’t have been happier with our Mote Marine experience. We would definitely recommend it. -
Laura Sent on 12/24/2022
Everything was perfect!!
The venue we choose was a beautiful, outdoor, intimate setting for our wedding with close family and friends, it was exactly what we wanted. Veronica, the event manager, helped insure we had everything we needed and things went smoothly. We even had some friends talk about maybe doing another event there. Thank you!!! -
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Kate Sent on 11/14/2022Dream Wedding
We don't have the word to express how lovely this venue was to work with before and during the wedding. Veronica was easy to reach and extremely attentive. We used both outdoor and indoor locations and it was a total dream. Guests have been raving about this location since! -
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Rhonda Sent on 10/25/2022Excellent location, Veronica was a pleasure to work with.
From the moment we toured until “game” day Veronica was a joy to work with and we couldn’t be happier about our selection to have Mote as our rehearsal dinner venue. Everything was perfect and I highly recommend! -
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David Sent on 10/23/2022
A flawless, unforgettable event
When we looked at "traditional" venues for our wedding and saw how over-the-top expensive they were, we expanded our search and came across Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, a place we knew well from previous visits. We decided we wanted our wedding to be about us and the experience of our guests instead of about how much money we spent.
After our experience, we would recommend Mote as a first-choice wedding venue for anyone and everyone. We had our ceremony on the beach at the Chickee Hut and our reception at the Aquarium Courtyard. From our very first inquiry all the way until the end of the event, the Mote staff was incredibly responsive and helpful, quickly giving us all the information we needed, answering every question in detail, coordinating with our vendors, and in general going above and beyond to make sure our experience was the best it could be.
The event itself was amazing, with a picture perfect wedding and a fun time at the aquarium where our guests were able to see sharks up close, pet stingrays, and see and touch other sea creatures. There were no mosquitos and there was a backup plan in case of rain, but the weather was perfect.
Mote's Events Manager, Veronica Perrelli, was tremendously helpful from beginning to end. We started our planning seven months before the wedding and even though many weeks might go by between inquiries, she was always instantly responsive and fully knowledgable of our plans, writing detailed replies within hours as if there were no break in our communications.
Even though Sarasota had just had a major hurricane, the Mote grounds were immaculate, and all the staff and volunteers made sure that our wedding went perfectly. They were on site to direct people where to go, answer anyone's questions, and help with the exhibits. We just couldn't be happier with our experience and are very glad we chose Mote Marine as our wedding place.
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Roxana Sent on 05/02/2022Wedding at Mote!
We held our daughters wedding at the Mote aquarium Laboratory. I don’t have enough words of praises for this venue! Veronica was incredibly helpful and helped ease my wedding planning stress and anxiety! She catered to all of our needs! Made it happen! Our guests were impressed by the view and overall how beautiful it was! Just a perfect setting for the ambiance that our daughter and new son in law wanted! I would highly recommend this venue and please work with Veronica! She’s amazing! ☺️ -
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Kailey Sent on 01/14/2022Our wedding reception
Planning a wedding during Covid definitely had it’s challenges, but Mote did a great job with keeping communication open, working with us, and in the end still providing the best venue one could ever hope for!! I volunteered through Mote for sea turtle watch and especially now with having had our reception there, it will forever be a special place for us. Giving our guests room to roam a bit, see sharks and marine life, and have open air, was key to a beautiful, fun and Covid free wedding! The court yard fit our guests so well and looked beautiful with our colors (seriously big thanks to Nellie’s Catering for coordinating that!)! Mote even provided a volunteer to answer questions and ensure safety of marine life (big must for me!!). It was superbly the best. Seriously. Big love to Mote.
Picture credit goes to the amazing Makenna Smith Photography. -
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Ashley Sent on 01/03/2022
Beautiful and unique event location!
I held a charity fundraising event at Mote marine this fall and couldn’t be more pleased with how everything went. The staff was helpful, professional and all around great to work with. The venue was beautiful and we got so many wonderful compliments about what an amazing and unique space it was to hold an event. Would definitely use them for future events and recommend to family/friends! -
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Caroline Sent on 04/04/2020
Mote was a fantastic venue
Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium was the perfect place for our February wedding. It was just a touch different but still just as magical as you want your wedding location to be. Our guests all commented on how fun and cool it was to attend a wedding at an aquarium (A first for most). The Mote staff was attentive and helpful, making sure the day went off smoothly. We held our ceremony at the chickee hut, and while the weather was beautiful and sunny, the atmosphere provided by the lush greenery and water of Sarasota Bay made it feel like we were in a private oasis. Cocktail hour in the aquarium was so much fun. Everyone enjoyed chatting and checking out the exhibits. The layout of the space meant that there was plenty of room and lots to check out. Our reception in the courtyard was beautiful. I think the hardest part about the courtyard is imagining how that large open space could feel beautiful and intimate for just 100 people. But it was! There was plenty of room but it never felt empty. While our decorations were minimal, we just added string lights above, everything came together for a romantic beachy/ocean feeling wedding. I highly recommend having your wedding at mote. Not only a great location but a great place to support as well. -
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Jordan Sent on 03/09/2020Wonderful Wedding-Courtyard Shark Tank
Allison, Michal and team were very nice in helping us have a memorable wedding in front of the shark tank. Our guests loved being able to touch and look at the marine life. The volunteers were kind and informative. Great experience. Also made for awesome pictures. -
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Bob T. Sent on 12/13/2019The Chickee Hut
The staff was awesome they responded to us and helped us through the process for our big day. The caterer was amazing. -
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Kayson Sent on 11/14/2019It was a great and amazing experience
It was great and beautiful scenery and would recommend it to others. -
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Julie Sent on 11/05/2019McDaniel Wedding
The entire crew at Mote Marine was amazing to work with! Allison was so understanding and accommodating to the last minute changes due to weather. I would highly recommend them and the views and scenery are perfect! We would definitely use them again! -
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Lynn Sent on 10/25/2019Out of the Blue Event
Chaired Out of the Blue Fundraiser for NAMI. Mote was a great venue! Accommodating in every way. The Band had space to expand, people danced comfortably on the dance floor. The caterer, Simply Gourmet was outstanding and also had great space to set up the buffet. Guests enjoyed the sea life exhibits, which was an added plus. I highly recommend Mote Marine. Wonderful Staff to with. And while our Florida temperatures are hot, we had a great Gulf Breeze pass though in the evening which made the covered area feel air conditioned. Phone calls, emails and FB posts keep arriving to say how wonderful our event was. Beautiful venue for any type of Party or Reception! Thank you again Mote for helping us create a Spectacular Event!
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Christine Sent on 10/15/2019Unique and Fun
If you are looking for a fun and unique wedding venue,Mote, is the way to go! We had the wedding and reception in the Aquarium and Courtyard and it was simply AMAZING! The staff went out of their way to make sure we had a perfect wedding! We got married in front of the shark tank and all of our guests LOVED being able to use the touch tanks!
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Andi Sent on 10/15/2019Beautiful, unique, unforgettable
Having our wedding at the Mote was the best decision we could have made! Everything was absolutely perfect. We had our cocktail hour in the aquarium so guests could check out the different exhibits, and the reception was in the courtyard and it looked absolutely stunning! We received so many compliments on our venue and all of our guests raved about how wonderful everything was. There were interactive "touch tanks" open during the whole reception which was really neat for the guests to be able to check out, especially the little ones. We also felt great that we were contributing to a good cause by paying for our reception to be there. The Mote does so many wonderful things for the community, we were more than happy to have it there! Now my husband and I cannot wait to go back to the Mote to go through the aquarium and reminisicne on the best day of our lives! -
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Yuliza Sent on 03/22/2019Mr. & Mrs. Kolb Wedding
We had our wedding at the Chikki hut and it was AMAZING!!! The price was super affordable and our family had such a great time! Christina was phenomenal! She took is to the best spots to take beautiful pictures! We also went with John from the Deep Sea Diner for catering services, also amazing! The overall experience was the wedding of our dreams! Definitely recommend!! -
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Emily Sent on 01/17/2019
Shkrab Wedding 12.30.18
I honestly do not have enough wonderful things to say about Allison. She is absolutely one of the nicest people I have ever met. I was in no way an easy bride. I had 5 million questions, constantly second guesses every decision I made, and changed decisions a hundred times. Allison never batted an eyelash. She was always ready to answer all my questions to the best of her ability, was patient with my constant changes and always ensured me I was on the right road with my planning which definitely helped my stress level.
Beyond Allison's amazing service... the video is just stunning. Our ceremony was in the New Pass Room, Cocktails in the Aquarium, and Reception on the Courtyard. We did family pictures by the water at the New Pass. Immediate family pictures at Chiki Hut and Our First Look as well as Bridal Party Pictutes on the back pier. Having full access to the grounds was amazing. There are so many gorgeous settings in and around Mote Marine that we got to take advantage of.
As for my wedding day Mote staff was unbelievably wonderful. Security guard was at our fingertips. He was incredibly kind. He immediately opened all the doors we needed open and he responded very quickly to our needs (such as extra chairs). Allison's co-worker (I forgot her name, but she was also wonderful. We just only worked with her on our wedding day) was great! Any question or concern I had during the getting ready part she was there and ready to help. Allison on our wedding day again was just beyond wonderful. She carted me around to every location I needed to be at any given time. She was also constantly available to cart of wedding guests who were unable to walk far distances. The volunteers were great as well! I did not personally get to meet any of them, but there were a constant presence ready to help educate people and answer questions. Having 10 plus children at our wedding made that fact perfect.
Not to mention how many people have sharks swimming in a tank behind their wedding cake?!
Amazing Venue. Great price. Phenomenal staff. I had zero issues at any point during my planning process or wedding. -
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Hanne Sent on 01/09/2019Sea-loped at the Mote!
We “sea-loped” at the Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, with just two friends (one of whom was our officiant) and my parents. We got married in front of a tank full of happy smiling (really!) bonnethead sharks and it was *perfect*. Afterward we had the whole aquarium to ourselves for a while — what a treat! The Mote was helpful and so easy to work with. We all had a fantastic time, the wedding was so much fun, and I’m so glad we did it exactly the way we did. -
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Kathleen Sent on 01/02/2019Exceptional venue with a spectacular view!
Our wedding day at Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium in the Keating Building was pure paradise!!!! Not only is the location gorgeous, the staff was exceptional in making sure our day ran smoothly and exceeding our expectations! We also hired the chef from the Deep Sea Diner, which is located in the aquarium, and the food was delicious and beautiful! I can't say enough how happy that our vision for our day was met with professionalism and perfection!
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Gabriela Sent on 12/29/2018
Great venue and staff!!
Our wedding was wonderful and lovely!! Everything was great !! We enjoyed everything and all our guests had a great time!! -
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Stephanie Sent on 04/17/2018Allison is a joy to work with. She was on top of everything from day one and made my job as the bride easy. Any question any accommodation was easily handled. We choose to have the ceremony at the shark tank and a cocktail reception in the aquarium. We headed over to the New Pass room for the dinner reception. The New Pass room had just been renovated and completed the week before our wedding. The room was even more then I could have hoped for. All of our guests commented on choosing this venue. We wanted something different but elegant. Mote pulled it off easily. The view is spectacular. Sadly it was raining at the time the reception started so we did not get those spectacular sunset pictures on the balcony. The view was still breathtaking especially with the city lit up at night. I would highly recommend this venue to anyone!
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Megan Sent on 03/02/2018Mote Marine was an absolute dream. Allison and her volunteers were so great to work with. It was exactly what I was looking for in a venue. Great price, and has everything you need. Total “wow” factor. All I can say is all of our guests had a great time, and they always mention how awesome Mote is as a venue. I would 100% do it all over again!
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Carli Sent on 11/29/2017We had our wedding on November 18th at the Chickee Hut at Mote. MANY of our guests termed the Chickee Hut, “a hidden gem.” My husband and I fell in love with the spot the very first time we saw it. Even still, we were in awe at the transformation that day. It was BEAUTIFUL. We knew we wanted a tropical, very intimate wedding and the Chickee was perfect for us. Everything turned out absolutely perfect; I would not have changed a thing.
Allison Whitten was wonderful throughout the entire process! We booked almost exactly a year out, and she was there to answer my many questions along the way. She was absolutely wonderful! -
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Lynne Sent on 11/09/2016My husband and I just got married here on November 5th. Part of the reason we booked this venue is because we're both super passionate about the ocean and protecting it. We were delighted to hear that our fees go towards education & conservation instead of some CEO's 3rd vacation home. The location is absolutely beautiful and they're incredibly eco-conscious and we loved that. We initially started working with Paula Clarke who was such a wonderful woman to work with. She decided to retire and we were nervous about who would be her replacement. Once we met Allison and found out she had previously worked for our caterer, all the nerves were calmed. Allison was awesome to work with and super helpful. I definitely recommend using Mote Marine as your wedding locale! Thank you Mote for all that you do for the ocean and everything you did for us on our wedding day! <3 -
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Lisa Sent on 02/05/2019Great experience
We had our wedding at Mote on 2/2/19
It was a wonderful experience and everyone loved it and thought it was amazing! Thanks to Allison and Christina the events coordinators who were awesome to work with. The volunteers that were there to explain things to everyone. Kenny the security guard that helped us get in every where and even helped me with carry my boxes to my car.
We also used John Mancini to cater. He owns Deep Sea Diner there at Mote. He’s there on site which makes it great. He will make any kind of menu you want. A fancy sit down or buffet or stations. Very easy to work with and very reasonable! The food was delicious his help was wonderful and he has a liquor license! Use John you will not be disappointed! Mancini Catering!
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