Saint Louis Zoo Reviews
Reviews
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.
-
![Trae]()
Trae Sent on 10/27/2025Most iconic STL wedding spot
We knew we wanted to get married at the zoo, as both of us are animal lovers. There are 4-5 different venues to pick from. We chose the McDonnell River Camp for our wedding. We were married on the beautiful patio with a waterfall and entered the River Camp for a beautiful indoor reception. The kitchen was accommodating to our guests' dietary restrictions (gluten free, nut free, etc) and the staff was attentive to our guests' needs. The bar staff rocked it and we never noticed a wait for our patrons. We were so pleased with our decision to use the Saint Louis Zoo. I wouldn't change anything! -
-
Amanda Sent on 10/28/2024
So Amazing!
Sydney was amazing all year long! She helped me plan everything out, and covered things I hadn’t thought about. James was patient and incredibly helpful the day of! My wedding was beautiful and perfect! Thank you all! -
-
![Taylor]()
Taylor Sent on 09/16/2024Best day ever!!
Between the venue and the facilitator(s) the whole evening was better than I expected! James was great! Making sure everything was perfect, to asking if I needed anything. After the ceremony he took just my groom and myself away for 20 mins just for us to be alone, they brought appetizers and waters down for us! The zoo was a beautiful place for the zoo! I highly recommend. Samantha and Sydney were the best at coordinating our day and making it come to life! I can’t think everything at the zoo enough for such a great and beautiful day!! -
-
![Amy]()
Amy O. Sent on 07/17/2024Lakeside Cafe Reception
We had the most incredible experience with the Saint Louis Zoo for our wedding day. The staff were not only amazing and wonderful, but also extremely accommodating and attentive to our needs. From our first meeting to the day of the event, they made the entire process so easy and stress-free.
We were pleasantly surprised by the attention to detail provided by the team, ensuring that every aspect of our special day was taken care of. They sat down with us and helped us plan out every detail of the evening. We created a timeline together. We had a meeting to trial food and discuss those details. We had a meeting with the lighting department to make sure the venue met our expectations.
One thing worth mentioning is their impeccable communication throughout the planning process, always keeping us informed and updated on any changes or developments. They were quick to answer any of my questions.
In conclusion, our wedding day at Saint Louis Zoo was made unforgettable not just by the stunning venue but by the incredible team behind it. We highly recommend them to any couples looking for a unique and special place to celebrate their love. Thank you for being a part of our journey and helping us create lifelong memories. -
Ally Sent on 07/11/2024
Best Wedding Venue Ever!!
Our experience with Saint Louis Zoo was beyond magical. From the moment we walked in, we were met with exceptional service from the staff who went above and beyond to ensure our wedding day was absolutely perfect. The venue itself was stunning, providing a picturesque backdrop for our special day.
One aspect that stood out was how accommodating the staff was throughout the planning process. They were attentive and responsive to all our questions and requests, making the entire experience smooth and stress-free. It truly felt like they were there to support us every step of the way.
On the day of the wedding, the team at Saint Louis Zoo exceeded our expectations. They flawlessly executed every detail, ensuring that everything ran seamlessly. We were able to fully immerse ourselves in the joy of the day knowing that we were in capable hands.
We are extremely grateful to the team at Saint Louis Zoo for creating such a memorable and enchanting wedding day for us. Their dedication, beautiful venue, and impeccable service truly made our celebration one to remember for a lifetime. -
-
![Anna]()
Liam Sent on 07/01/2024Magical, Unique, and Professional Venue
We had our wedding reception in the Living World building on 6/29/24 and the Zoo knocked it out of the park! Our coordinator, Danielle, was absolutely amazing. We had the stingrays available for guests (and us lol) to pet during cocktail hour, which was magical! The whole staff was an absolute pleasure to work with from beginning to end. If you're thinking of having your reception or any other special event here, DO IT! It was the most special evening. -
![Marissa]()
Marissa Sent on 06/27/2019I want to get divorced just to get married again at the zoo.
The zoo not only was a unique and gorgeous venue for us, but the staff are completely amazing. They are so attentive to you and your guests all night, the catering is surprisingly DELICIOUS, it's a great value, and your coordinators are amazing when planning. They are basically free wedding planners! We did not want a very typical wedding, we got married on Star Wars day and wanted to include nerdy themes, wanted as many animals as possible (especially snakes and reptiles), and basically when people asked what our wedding colors were I just said "black." I was honestly needlessly self-conscious when planning a lot, because while I've always been my own goofy self, I knew this wedding would be looked at oddly. I didn't think it would come together very well, or be... "nice" and "wedding-y". However, the zoo staff pulled it all together, and we had this seamless, super elegant, goofy wedding with animals galore. I didn't feel like I had an "odd" wedding, just an awesome one. They are miracle workers.
We chose to splurge a bit in some areas, requesting extra lights, animal greeters, and to rent the Herpetarium for the ceremony, but honestly they have options that fit most budgets, and we could have done it for a fraction of the cost if we wanted/needed to. Even with us splurging, I find that we spent a lot less than what other people seem to be spending at more "traditional" venues when you add up the cost of the setting, the catering, the bar, the cake, the decorations, the everything. I was certain I couldn't afford the zoo on my small salary that is supporting the both of us, but I COULD.
Seriously, book with the zoo. They are fantastic. -
-
![Kerry]()
Kerry Sent on 05/02/2019St. Louis Zoo River Camp
I can't say enough great things about the zoo. Everyone I worked with along the way was so kind, professional, and helpful. The catering package was really reasonable for my price range, and it made planning so easy! I loved the venue, I chose the River Camp room since I had about 100 people. The room features a fish tank which was so unique and perfect for my ocean themed wedding! I had the best time, and so many people were commenting on how different and fun my wedding was. You NEED to book with the Zoo! -
![Marie]()
Marie Sent on 12/10/2018September Lakeside Cafe Wedding
We seriously cannot say enough good things about our zoo wedding! We got married at the beginning of September, and it was 100% the most amazing day. Danielle and her team were wonderful and so easy to work with! They took care of all the coordinating between vendors; it was truly a stress free and magical day. The food is still one of the most talked about parts of our wedding, and their onsite lighting tech created a beautiful ambiance. Again, we truly cannot say enough wonderful things about our zoo wedding. We had both our ceremony and reception at Lakeside Cafe and the pictures are all beautiful. We had 200 guests and everyone was able to fit comfortably in Lakeside with plenty of room for our bar and dance floor. Maybe we’re biased because it was our wedding, but it was truly the most amazing setting for an amazing day. Definitely recommend the animal greeters - such a fun touch! -
![Robyn]()
Robyn Sent on 07/20/2018I can’t say enough great things about working with the Saint Louis Zoo for our wedding! We had an evening ceremony and reception at River Camp, which was an absolutely beautiful venue for our ~115 person event. We worked with Josh R. throughout the planning process, and he was always quick to respond and provide assistance when we had questions. We also had three day-of facilitators, who were amazing in helping get the room set up in a short amount of time and ensuring the night went off without any issues. We had a dedicated golf cart to take us through the zoo before the ceremony to get pictures, and our driver was absolutely wonderful. He took us to all of the best places and helped us get some amazing shots. We did a plated dinner, and chose the prime rib, pork loin, and vegetarian portobello dish for our entrees. The food was delicious - we got so many compliments on how great the food was, as well as how professional the event staff was. And the prices are so reasonable, as far as weddings go! I’m so glad we chose the Saint Louis Zoo for our wedding. It was an extremely memorable day for us, and nearly stress-free, thanks to the hard work of many of their staff. -
Carrie Sent on 10/03/2017We had one of the most amazing nights of our lives at the Zoo on our wedding night.The staff from beginning to end was great to work with.Our guests are still talking about the appetizers.
-
-
![Brittney]()
Brittney Sent on 12/29/2014*Full review on Yelp due to character limitations*
Centrally situated in the beautiful Forest Park, it's hard to beat the lovely surroundings of the park alongside the manicure grounds the Zoo offers.
The Zoo has quite a few unconventional facilities to choose from. And the Zoo is a turn-key alternative for the Brides who fancy natural space!
The process in booking and detailing your wedding is efficient and effective. The Zoo's catering procedures are cut and dry; and explicitly outlined online.
It's not hard to highlight all the staff as well-polished at the Zoo. Operations seem to be a beautiful hybrid of museum structure meets attentive catering. There was never an instance where I felt my persnickety ways were undermined. They truly defined what it meant to listen and execute my precise visions.
The Zoo knows how to throw a party! Through consideration of the Chef, I was able to craft a menu custom to my needs and palate. I seeked for a menu serving passed appetizers, an array of displayed cheeses and not the typical proteins of salmon and pork-loin. I received a variety of compliments on the menu and how greatly tended the bar was.
As a non-profit, public attraction, the Zoo can save you thousands as it is Tax-Free. Having your wedding at the Zoo means you're doing it for the animals! I was able to give back AND celebrate. All proceeds go directly back into the habitats that our community frequents year round.
Holding an event at the Saint Louis Zoo isn't about all the reasons you can't go wrong, it's about how you will get it right. -
![Camille]()
Camille Sent on 06/02/2014I cannot say enough great things about our reception at the St. Louis Zoo - Lakeside Cafe! First of all, the venue itself was amazing. It was a really nice evening, so we fully-utilized the huge deck over the lake. We had a run-time from 6:30-11pm, and did a cocktail hour on the deck, then dinner and dancing inside. With 160 people and a seated dinner, 8-piece band, there was plenty of room. The food - FANTASTIC. We're still hearing compliments. The Zoo has their own catering company, which was nice because I thought the value was much better and food was MUCH better than the other venues in Forest Park who have specific caterers. We worked mainly with Sarah, who I cannot say enough good things about. She was attentive, friendly, very responsive! and truly cared about the event. The on-site staff was amazing, and made my Husband and I feel as though we had no worries that night! The animal greeters were my favorite part :)
If I were to do it over again, I wouldn't change a thing. The Zoo was such a special venue, and it was SUCH a fun night! -
![Anne]()
Anne Sent on 10/18/2012We had our reception at the lakeside cafe. rave reviews for every step of the process. Sarah was great to work with, and Maggie (the night of coordinator) even delivered our cake topper to our hotel at 2AM after the reception to make sure that we got it! Would do it all over again at the zoo in a heartbeat. -
Mallory Sent on 09/19/2025
Fantastic team of professionals
This team was so easy to work with and you could tell everyone involved in helping our big day run smoothly genuinely loves what they do! From the day of coordinator, to the waitstaff at the reception, every single person had a smile on their face. The price was incredibly reasonable for such a unique venue. I HIGHLY recommend the Saint Louis Zoo for your wedding venue!!! -
-
![Alex]()
Alex Sent on 09/13/2024Heveroh/King Wedding
Our wedding at Saint Louis Zoo truly felt like a fairytale come to life! From the moment we stepped into the venue, we were amazed by the beauty and charm that surrounded us. The staff went above and beyond to ensure every detail was attended to, creating a magical atmosphere that exceeded all our expectations.
Throughout the planning process, we were impressed by how accommodating and responsive the team at Saint Louis Zoo was. They were always quick to address any questions or concerns we had, making the entire experience stress-free and enjoyable. We felt supported and valued every step of the way.
One aspect that stood out to us was the seamless coordination of the event. The team at Saint Louis Zoo worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make sure everything ran smoothly on the big day. From the setup to the timing of events, everything was executed with precision and care.
While there were a few minor details that could be improved upon, such as the timing of certain transitions during the reception, overall, our experience with Saint Louis Zoo was overwhelmingly positive. We are grateful for the wonderful memories created at such a unique and picturesque venue.
In conclusion, we highly recommend Saint Louis Zoo to any couple looking for a magical and unforgettable wedding experience. Thank you to the entire team for making our special day truly spectacular!
Are you interested?
Are you interested?