Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium Reviews

I cannot recommend the staff and venue at the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium enough. My wife and I‘s first date was at the zoo and when we were looking for a venue we wanted to see if they hosted weddings, which they did! From the beginning Caroline and Nicole were fantastic. They walked us through each of the venue options at the zoo. It has three, an outdoor tent venue and two indoor venues, The Water’s Edge and the actual aquarium. And since we were getting married in March we chose an indoor venue, the actual aquarium. We decided to do both our ceremony and reception there.

They had a list of preferred vendors to choose from which was so helpful, but all catering was done in house. They walked us step by step through their catering and day of options. One thing I loved is that they provided a day of coordinator the wedding, Caroline herself! But Caroline was also there the entire planning time, about a year before to help us plan. Nicole, who was in charge of catering also walked us through all of our food choices. They did not provide a tasting but the reviews on the food were so good that we were excited to choose. There were a plethora of options! We told them that we wanted an entire vegetarian menu and they were able to accommodate that. And the food was amazing. Everything was delicious, and everybody said that they had more than enough to eat. They were also able to accommodate a few special allergies and diet on very short notice.

They were also really accommodating with our traditions. My mom is Haitian and so the dessert table was very important. They let us bring in whatever we wanted for that table. They also let my mom customize it however she wanted. They also helped us match colors and decor, and they worked with us to create a unique day of schedule. They answered emails and phone calls whenever we had them, and the planning was so simple. The even accommodated zoom calls with my parents who live in a different part of the state and couldn’t make it out for every meeting. We kept them posted with any changes and they kept track of everything.

We also had a nice window of time to drop things off for the wedding, and we had a full meeting two days before to explain every single item and what we wanted to do with them. And they set it up perfectly! Because the aquarium is open to guests we were not able to have an actual rehearsal but the meeting where we set up everything was so thorough that we felt that the day would go smoothly. Caroline Took us through the day step-by-step and told us exactly where everything would be, where we would stand, and how we would move from part to part. They also were able to accommodate a room for my new wife and I to have some moments alone which was wonderful. And they were available for anything we needed during the wedding and reception.

The day of was smooth and amazing. We were driven around the zoo in golf carts when we arrived and were able to shoot with our photographer at any outdoor place in the zoo. It was really cold and snowy that day but Caroline and her crew took us around wherever we wanted to go for photos. They also took extra trips to take our family, who was there early, to the venue. And once the actually event started we had a shuttle that ran continuously.

We are so happy we chose the aquarium venue. It was like getting married in a rainforest. So it was nice and warm on a very cold day. We really didn’t have to do any decorating at all, other than centerpieces, because of all the lush greenery, and Nicole and Caroline were able to walk us through exactly where we’re the best spots we should set up certain parts of the day such as the ceremony and the dance floor.

We also really liked that there were a lot of other things to do at the aquarium besides dancing during the reception. Because it was an aquarium, guests were able to walk around the venue and look at the exhibits. We have a lot of introverted friends so this was appreciated. It also allowed for people to take a little time away from the action when they got overwhelmed. They also have ambassador animals. We had a tenrec, a bearded dragon, a blue tongued skink, and python visit our wedding during the cocktail hour.

I had heard horror stories from my friends about things not going right at their wedding or them not knowing exactly what was going to happen. We didn’t have this problem at all. The zoo and the entire staff were so kind, informative, accepting and and understanding that I wish I could get married again just to have another wedding there. I recommend this venue to anyone looking for somewhere unique to have your wedding. And I want to thank Caroline and Nicole and the whole staff at the zoo for making the day beautiful amazing and low stress.

I am so thankful for Caroline and team, it was truly magical night! I didn't feel like I had to stress or worry about a single thing once I came through the front gates. Everything was taken care of and I could finally relax and enjoy myself. Everything was spectacular. I've received so many compliments about the venue, as well as the food. The food was absolutely delicious! The docents were truly lovely and adding a magical touch to the night as well. Your organization and assistance took a huge weight of my shoulders during the planning process. It was absolutely invaluable, and I truly feel I wouldn't have been able to realize my vision without them. It was everything I could've hoped for and then some.

Our wedding was amazing! There was not one part of the night that wasn't amazing
A week after, we are still getting compliments about every aspect of it.

Caroline and Samantha were fantastic to work with! They were very timely in answering the millions of questions that I had. If I had to do my wedding all over again, I would still pick the PPG Aquarium all over! They set up and take down all of the tables and decorations. And they do it all beautifully! All of the guests had so much fun looking at the exhibits and playing in the touch tank. Bonus was the shuttle that took us and the guests to and from the aquarium. I couldn't have asked for a better night, and a better group of people to work with to create my dream!

Gabby,Caroline, JJ and Calvin were amazing to work with! Their team made the process of planning this wedding reception enjoyable and stress-free!

After coordinating numerous weddings, their staff was by far one of the nicest and most accommodating I have ever worked with! On top of everything else the food was DELICIOUS! Several guests kept remarking on how excellent everything tasted.

I will definitely recommend the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium to future clients!

Thank you Again!
Tracy Cook

I love animals so when my fiance and I decided to have our reception at the zoo, I was ecstatic! I knew it would be beautiful, but was still blown away when we arrived! The zoo staff were amazing to work with. They made sure the evening went smoothly and checked on us throughout the evening. The food was out of this world! Some of the staff even came up to us just to congratulate us! They kept everything so organized and stress free! Thank you so much to all the staff at the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium for helping to make our reception one of the best nights of our lives! :)

Sincerely,
Leeanne and Kevin Jones

This venue was the perfect choice for our wedding reception! The staff was extremely helpful, patient, and flexible, and took great care of everything on the evening of the reception!

The Pittsburgh Zoo was the perfect choice to host a wedding reception. Dave, Gabby, and the rest of the Pittsburgh Zoo staff were so accommodating and incredible to work with from our very first meeting all the way through planning to even days after the reception. We could go on and on about every little detail of how each staff member made our day absolutely perfect! They were extremely helpful and quick at getting responses back to us and we can really say that they made us feel as if we were the only wedding in the world. We felt so special and it is because of their excellent professional skills. They made wedding planning fun and easy. I would highly recommend this vendor to any couple who is thinking about booking with them. It was affordable in comparison to other local vendors.---We had our wedding in the garden tent and choose to go with food stations in stead of a sit down dinner. Our guest loved every minute and complemented how wonderful everything was. They did everything we asked from set up to clean up and we did not have to worry about anything. I honestly can not say one negative thing about this vendor or our wedding reception at the Pittsburgh Zoo. Thank you for making our day magical!

The Pittsburgh Zoo did a fantastic job putting together our wedding. Dave and Gabby were great and they all answered any questions very quickly. My guests really enjoyed the location, and had a great time in the aquarium. The Pittsburgh Zoo is a great place to have any event. They really made our special day into a wonderful memory. It was also much easier to plan the wedding by coordinating with the zoo staff, and by having a package that included linens and such.

I held my wedding reception in the PPG Aquaurium and couldn't have had a better time. I got several compliments from guests who only had positive things to say about the whole event. The staff is great as well, and they were more than willing to help. The night was smooth and I couldn't have asked for more. I would do it all again!

Our wedding reception was at the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG aquarium in the Water's Edge space. We had 125 guests for a Friday evening reception (6:00-11:00pm). From the moment we finished the tour of the space we knew this was where our wedding reception would be - it was very "us" and the atmosphere was wonderful. Besides the great space, we got so much more from our decision. The staff was phenomenal! Throughout the entire process it was very effortless for us and very organized. Gabby was the coordinator that we dealt with initially and throughout with setting up space details but we also spoke with several other staff members including Ashley and Carly who aided in the catering menu. We chose the Diamond package because we wanted a sit-down dinner for our guests. There was no tasting option but we had heard (and read) about the quality of the food so this did not bother us. At the reception the food was AMAZING and all guests ranted about the food. We also choose to have an ice cream bar that was executed wonderfully. The week of the event the zoo was beyond helpful. We dropped all decorations off at the space with directions and everything was set up for us for the reception by the staff. Very easy and effortless for us. David assisted greatly with this process. Day of, Lauren and David were there to escort us (bride, groom and bridal party) through the zoo for pictures and to the reception space. They were helpful with anything we needed throughout the reception and the dining staff was also very pleasant and wonderful! Could not have asked for a better day and we are very thankful and grateful to all the staff for making our day wonderful

The Aquarium staff were so accommodating and I had guests complimenting our venue choice throughout the night. I was a little bothered that the catering does not allow a tasting of their food before the event, but we were very impressed by how delicious everything was.

The zoo was an intriguing place for a reception. We ultimately chose the zoo bc we wanted something slightly different and we lived the food and price! The fact we could bring our own alcohol in was perfect!!

I can't say enough about this place. They went above and beyond my expectations, I highly recommend for all that love animals to have their event here. Everything was on time and food was delicious!!!

The Pittsburgh Zoo is the best venue if you are looking for non-traditional and amazing service. Our guests were stunned at the Garden Tent and the layout and decor that we had. The tent is surrounded by lush greens and the landscaping was done perfectly. The staff is amazing and so helpful, they listen to every detail you ask for and do not miss a beat during your event. They are there until the end and will help with anything you ask- truly the best venue- we couldn't be happier with how it turned out!

I could not be happier with this venue! We had our wedding at the aquarium and it was amazing. The setting was incredible and the staff went above and beyond to make sure our reception went off without a hitch. I have not one bad thing to say about the zoo. Food was delicious, staff were friendly and helpful, scenery was amazing, linens and table settings were perfect...the list goes on. The staff did all set up and clean up, which is not always included. There were no hidden charges. Definitely worth the price!!!

Absolutely great service and food, I highly recommend to anyone!!!

We had our wedding in the outside Garden Tent which holds the largest amount of people. Working with Bob in the catering department was a breeze, and the food was amazing. Every guest raved about the beef. Any and every question I had on the venue or for decorating ideas, Kristi responded almost immediately. I'm from Maryland, and having them help with all of the planning and scheduling for our Pittsburgh wedding was a blessing. I don't think our wedding would have been as successful if it weren't for the staff and their amazing venue. All of our guests had nothing but great things to say about everything (food, venue, the staff, etc.). If you are having a large wedding, I highly suggest the Pittsburgh Zoo Garden Tent to help make it perfect.

The zoo was amazing! Every e-mail that I wrote was responded to so quickly. It helped make planning out of town so easy. Jaime and Bob were wonderful to work with. My mom asked to have my grandmother's special gravy for the pierogies in our Pittsburgh station. Bob made it happen. I dropped off 3 boxes of our guest book, welcome table decorations, escort cards, and table numbers two days before the wedding. I gave them some information on how I would like it set up and I could not believe how awesome it looked when I got to the reception. They decorated it better than I could have imagined. They took all of our candy. candy jars, and cookies and made the most amazing cookie/candy table I have ever seen. Everything was bright and beautiful. When my bustle broke, Kristi found me 5 safety pins right away. They had everything (even the extra cookies) boxed up for us and ready to pick up two days after the wedding. I can't speak highly enough about the zoo. They were one of our most favorite vendors. I would recommend them to anyone!

The zoo was wonderful They were easy to work with and the service all around was great. They followed my directions for set up beautifully. The food was good and the service stuff was freindly and helpful. I thought the prices were great for everything we got. They made our day so special.

They were great to work with, the aquarium was unique and beautiful, and the food was excellent. I would highly recommend them!

Everything was absolutely perfect! Us and our guests loved the atmosphere and the food. Bob (the catering manager) was excellent. We couldn't have dreamed of a better day thanks to everyone at the Pgh Zoo & Aquarium.

Wow! We are still getting compliments on how fun and unique our wedding reception was at the Water's Edge at the Pittsburgh Zoo. Very few people can say they got to watch otters "dance" to the Village People, view the polar bears before dinner, and meet a few animals during cocktail hour at their wedding. This was such a fun way to bring 100+ people together and start conversations in what was a very classy, organized environment.

We decided on the zoo for our reception because of our history patronizing zoos across the country. This just seemed to fit us, and we were looking for something unique that our friends and family would find interesting. This definitely fit the bill! It was a very classy event - not at all what many people imagine when they hear of a wedding reception at the zoo.

We were a little concerned at first when I called to rent the space, and they said they have their on-site catering as the only option. However, once we saw the menu and saw other reviews of the food, we were settled. We dealt with the zoo and catering sides pretty much simultaneously, and they worked hand-in-hand to make sure everyone involved was on the same page and we were on schedule.

We dropped off our wine and centerpieces 3 days before the wedding, and they set up everything after the zoo closed before our guests arrived. Everything was beautifully set up! They cleaned up everything afterward - my Mom drove back to the Zoo a few days later to pick up the centerpieces and anything else that was left there. The Zoo included a shuttle (really a nicely appointed mini-bus) from the front entrance to our reception spot so no one had to walk far to our reception.

Bob Monroe and Jaime Szoszorek were both very responsive by phone and email when I had questions about anything, and things were explained very well. When we needed suggestions for bakeries and beer distributors that delivered to the zoo, they had a list they'd used for Zoo functions in the past. They also provided all of the tables, chairs, linens in the colors of our choosing, dishes, silverware, and glassware. They were all included in the price of the per-person dinner fee, so we didn't have to arrange for anything additional.

We opted to pay for a few education animals and their keepers to mingle with our guests during cocktail hour before the reception, and we were able to specify which types of animals we preferred (or really didn't want), and we were pleased with the keepers and the animals. We had a chinchilla, baby opossum, and snake, and the keepers answered all of our guests questions about their animals.

The bartenders and staff assisting with our reception were all professional, polite, and friendly. They did (appropriately) cut off one friend who seemed to have too much to drink, but were very quiet about it. Once the reception really got into full swing, the evening just flowed seamlessly. We chose a buffet-style dinner, and everyone was able to get food relatively quickly. The food was FANTASTIC! The apple and almond stuffed chicken was amazing, the side dishes were very tasty, the prime rib was perfectly cooked, and the staff were always around when people had dietary questions about the food. I had 2 vegetarian and 1 gluten-intolerant guests, and they let me have 3 special dishes for those guests instead of making me pick my entire entree selections to accommodate those 3 people.

Overall, if I had to pick a place to do it again, I would absolutely choose the Water's Edge at the Zoo again. It was an amazingly perfect event. I'm sure there was a lot going on behind the scenes to make it seem perfect, but Bob, Jaime, and the rest of the Zoo staff made it look easy and seamless. Again, we are still getting compliments ten months after the fact - it definitely made a positive impression on us and on our guests!

Great reception! Everything was beautiful. Everyone loved the food. Couldn't of ask for a better day!