Katey Sent on 03/01/2026

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Wedding night

Absolutely breathtaking having our reception and ceremony in the coral reef room. Food was amazing. Service was great.

Caylee Sent on 02/11/2026

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Absolutely perfect!!

This venue is MAGICAL! The entire day was a beautiful experience. The aquarium offers a beautiful backdrop for every single photo, and a fun and unique experience for all of your guests.

The personal I worked with were all amazing! We hit a few bumps with some miscommunication on required vendors, but we were able to iron everything out. The day itself ran so smooth. The Florida Aquarium team did a fantastic job working alongside my coordinator to keep everything on track and stress free!

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Cherine Sent on 04/19/2023

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PERFECT wedding venue!

My husband and I got married at the Florida Aquarium in March 2022, so it will always hold a special place in my heart.

At first, I had no idea you could have a wedding here. It wasn't until we were looking at potential venues and saw ZooTampa listed as an option that I even thought to look into the aquarium — and once I knew it was a possibility, I pretty much had my heart set on this place. We wanted something a little different than the usual hotel ballroom (not that there's anything wrong with that, I've been to a number of gorgeous weddings in hotels... but that just wasn't what we wanted). We both love animals, and when we realized our money would be helping to support a non-profit, the decision was rather easy. After all, weddings are expensive, so if we're going to spend thousands of dollars anyway, knowing it was going to a good cause helped ease the pain in our pocketbook.

Kimberly was my main contact, and she met with me to go over all of the details of everything we wanted (plated instead of a buffet, what kind of chairs, upgrades to the open bar, etc.). They have a pretty sizable menu to choose from, and hold a showcase twice a year so you can taste all of the food (we opted for chicken and salmon, and our meals were seriously so good!). You do have to use their catering — you can't bring in an outside vendor for that. Your wedding also includes a food display table during your cocktail hour as well as a great open bar (that lasts your entire cocktail hour and reception). We opted to pay to upgrade the champagne from Riondo to Korbel, and upgrade the bourbon from Jim Beam to Evan Williams. When my husband and I wanted to go back to the aquarium to check out areas for photographs (so we could tell our photographer), Kimberly was happy to send us comp tickets so we could visit on our own. And she sent us another round of comp tickets once my month-of coordinator came on board so we could do a walk-through with her. Kimberly was always super responsive with each and every question I sent her way.

We had our ceremony in the coral reef room (which has floor-to-ceiling glass where you can see sharks, turtles, stingrays and fish swimming by). We paid extra for the "bubble curtain" that happens during the first kiss, and it looked awesome. We had also paid to have penguins walk down the aisle, but sadly 7 of their 10 penguins died about six months before our wedding, so that option was no longer available. I was pretty bummed about it, but the health of their penguins is obviously far more important. They've since gotten a new penguin colony, but I don't know if they're doing the penguin aisle walk option anymore.

After the ceremony, our guests were able to explore the aquarium on their own during the cocktail hour, or they could just head up to the rooftop (where our reception was). While they explored, our bridal party and family took photos in the coral reef room, and my husband and I then went around the aquarium and Wetlands area for more photos on our own.

We couldn't have asked for a better reception than on the rooftop, overlooking the water and downtown Tampa. The weather was absolutely perfect, and we partied until the very end (we paid for an extra hour so our reception started at 7 pm and ended at 11 pm). So many of our friends told us this was the most fun wedding they'd ever attended, and we absolutely have the aquarium to thank for that.

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Hannah Sent on 03/30/2023

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Florida Aquarium

My husband and I had the best experience at the Florida Aquarium! It truly was our best day ever. It wouldn’t have been the best without this venue and the amazing staff.

First off our guest loved the private ability to explore the Aqurium during cocktail our with a champagne glass in hand! We loved the backdrop of the tank during our ceremony and having our reception at the rooftop with the water and city views of Tampa!

Kimberly our event coordinator at the aquarium was the absolute best! Constantly stayed in communication with us throughout all the planning and went above and beyond! From helping with decorations to making sure we had food and drinks! All other staff was beyond helpful as well. For example, if a staff member noticed our drinks were empty they did not hesitate to quickly grab it for us! We also enjoy our private tasting with them!

I’ve attached photos here and our photographer was feedlebee photography!

Amy Sent on 11/28/2022

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Fantastic all the way around!

The Florida Aquarium was one of the best decisions we made! Ceremony, reception, and catering all wrapped up in one! It is a great value, bonus that it is a non-profit and the staff from booking/planning all the way through seeing to our every need the night of was stellar! The food was terrific and we can't say enough about the staff and service. Impeccable.

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Shannon Sent on 11/06/2022

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The Florida aquarium went above and beyond for our wedding

The Florida aquarium was the perfect unique venue we were looking for! It was super affordable and the aquarium staff could not have been more helpful throughout the entire process! I would recommend this venue to anyone looking for a beautiful and unique venue!

Sam P. Sent on 11/04/2022

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Absolutely unbelievable place!

Cant say enough good things about having our wedding at the Florida aquarium. From the ceremony in the coral reef room to the reception on the rooftop, everything was amazing. Couldn't tell you the amount of compliments we got about how cool this place was. Food and beverage was easy and very good as well. Would highly recommend this venue to anyone!

Raquel Sent on 08/24/2022

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Unique and Beautiful Venue

The Florida Aquarium is such a beautiful and unique venue. Our guests loved being able to take a self-guided tour of the aquarium during the beginning of cocktail hour. All the staff the night of the wedding and leading up to the wedding were wonderful and such please to work with.

Chelsea Sent on 06/30/2022

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Best Venue Ever!

We were on the search for a unique venue that gave a Florida vibe but was NOT a beach. Getting married in June we knew we wanted an entirely indoor venue, and that was hard to find! The second we stepped into the Florida Aquarium we knew we had found the perfect spot. We worked with Kim who was incredibly responsive, and we were able to tour the venue multiple times throughout the planning process. There were so many details that made the day unique, but our favorite was that during cocktail hour, our guests were able to tour the exhibits. The day of the event, the entire Aquarium staff was phenomenal. There was a torrential downpour of course as my bridesmaids and I were arriving, and multiple staff members greeted us with umbrellas, escorted us where we needed to be and even carried my train. Everyone was kind and professional and really made our day special. The catering and bar was with Aramark through the Aquarium and Erica and her staff were wonderful to work with as well. We had a private menu tasting which was tons of fun, and both Erica and Kim helped us create a menu we knew our guests would enjoy. The bar included tons of options at no extra cost, the food was delicious and again the bartenders and catering staff was wonderful. We truly couldn’t be happier with our choice to get married here!

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Veronica Sent on 05/23/2022

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An Unforgettable Experience!

We had a small wedding (40ish guests), and the Coral Reef Room in the Aquarium was the perfect, unique, and romantic venue! All our guests were awed by the ambience! On my end, as the bride planning, the staff was very communicative, friendly, and helpful every step of the way. The price was reasonable for the venue and catering for all the we got, and the food was delicious! I definitely recommend the Florida Aquarium to make a special day even more so!

Hannah Sent on 05/22/2022

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Wedding that went above and beyond expectations

The aquarium staffing crew created such a magical experience for our wedding day! It was everything that we dreamed of and more! With such a unique venue it created the most magical photo opportunities and gave our guests such an amazing night!

Laryn Sent on 04/29/2022

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My dream wedding!

Having my wedding at The Florida Aquarium was a dream come true! The staff was very friendly and accommodating. My guests were raving about how unique everything was. I recommend this venue 100%!!

Nikki Sent on 04/22/2022

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Edwards/Hadesty Wedding

Our wedding at the aquarium was so magical. The venue, staff, food, drinks, etc. exceeded my expectations.

Andrew Sent on 03/30/2022

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Simple and stress free

Our wedding was amazing. It went perfect and we couldn’t be happier.

Jana Sent on 02/28/2022

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Suppppppper

Awesome place, Great for the family and the food was super! A wonderful place to build a great start!

Jaime Sent on 02/23/2022

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Absolutely Amazing!!

Our wedding at the aquarium was incrediblt perfect! From the service, responsiveness, helpfulness, food, and everything in between. It was so perfect and amazing!!

Merryl Sent on 02/10/2022

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Best Wedding Ever at the Florida Aquarium

The Florida Aquarium is an extraordinary environment to have a wedding.

In my opinion, it is imperative to have your wedding inside the Aquarium’s Coral Reef room. There is not a more spectacular backdrop than living fish, sharks, stingrays, and giant turtles. We were told a giant turtle hovered over us as we shared our vows. We were staring into each other's eyes while our guest witnessed sea life joining us.

The Florida Aquarium has a wedding package that makes planning a wedding very convenient. They make the catering is easy. You just pick out delicious food from their many dinner options and hors d’oeuvres. With just a last second notice they were able to accommodate a child’s meal. The aquarium has in house decorations and extras like Stingray petting during cocktail hour and dancing with the fish in a second large tank room during the reception that will push the event over the top. Ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception all in one mind blowing venue. Everybody will want to come and attendance is limited due to the size of the room, your biggest issue will be keeping to the agreed guest size. Weather is never a concern since everything is indoors.

Your wedding will be unforgettable as it becomes one of the most phenomenal experiences your guests will ever experience. Kim and Racheal are remarkable event specialists. They are kind, respectable, experienced, and they are excellent communicators. They will guide you as they assist you. They were so patient with us. We had never been married before and did not realize all the details needed to organize a wedding. They listened to our vision and helped us create the unique wedding we were fantasizing about. We really wanted an out of the ordinary wedding and they pulled it off for us.

We are so very happy !!! Everyone there was WOWed.

Racheal and Kim are detail oriented and have so much to offer to help assemble all the particular segments needed for this type of wedding. Working alongside them is the other aquarium staff. The entire staff at the aquarium are well-organized, efficient, and friendly. We and our guests were very well taken care of and had everything we needed. The transitions from ceremony to cocktail to dinner were seamless and everything was done as we had requested it be done.

It is essential to have a professional photographer that is familiar with the aquarium. We were so very lucky to find Roberts Imagery. Joe was experienced with the aquarium and knew just how to do the lighting so there was no glare or reflection in his pictures. He is a true artist and he creates stunning Images. Since he knows the aquarium, he knew how to work with the many interesting hidden areas within the cave like hallways and rooms. He brought with him some extra colored lights which enabled him to create some very sensational, and intimate photos. He is outstanding.

The Florida Aquarium has so many interesting living tanks, from jellyfish to seahorses your guests will be astonished as they enjoy the event. Just the entrance to the ceremony will amaze all.

We highly recommend the Florida Aquarium as a marvelous unique venue for anyone planning a wedding.

Emily Sent on 01/25/2022

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Wonderful Venue for a Wedding

The Florida Aquarium exceeded my expectations for a wonderful wedding! We used all their recommended vendors and everyone was great. The staff were responsive to our needs and my guests loved the food especially the mac and cheese bar. Several guests commented that our wedding was over the top/the best wedding they ever attended even though the price was very competitive for the Tampa area and we didn't spend much money on decor, favors or anything like that. (In fact my wedding dress was from Amazon so I was definitely no bridezilla.) We had both the ceremony and reception in the Coral Reef room and you don't need much in terms of decor since that room itself is so beautiful. The recommended vendors are vetted through the aquarium so you don't have to worry about their reputation and if they're gonna show up, etc. All their vendors are very professional as is the aquarium staff. Also, let me add that my wedding was a destination wedding but it was easy to plan since the aquarium is easy to work with. We opted to have a cocktail reception with the string ray tank open, which many of our guests loved. I was worried throughout the wedding planning since I knew I was going to have a small wedding of roughly 50 people, but the aquarium welcomed us (I heard some venues don't want to be bothered with a small wedding). I had absolutely positively the best wedding a bride could ask for despite planning it during the pandemic. I would definitely recommend a wedding at the Florida Aquarium.

Maureen Sent on 11/19/2021

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Wedding at the Florida Aquarium Tampa FL

It was an absolute dream having our “under the sea” wedding here. Everything was perfect and the staff was so easy to work with. I hired all my vendors from the aquariums preferred vendor list and I couldn’t have been happier with each and every one of them. Made planning so much easier

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Lydia Sent on 10/16/2021

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20/10 would highly recommend

We could not have asked for a better venue to have our wedding! Kim and Rachel at the aquarium were AMAZING! They made sure we had everything we needed to make our night memorable, and they were both so incredibly sweet. This venue was more than we could’ve asked for! All of our guests kept raving about it all night and the days after! No complaints from anyone about anything. If you’re looking for a venue that is basically all inclusive, stress free, and super fun, you need to book the aquarium!

Stephanie Sent on 09/08/2021

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The wedding was beautiful! A true fairytale

I loved how the staff was attentive and caring, they all worked together smoothly and gave us the most beautiful wedding that our friends and family cannot stop raving about.

Laura Sent on 06/29/2021

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Wonderful & Memorable

My husband wanted a unique wedding everyone would remember and this venue was perfect! A breath taking back drop for the ceremony, and everyone had such a great time! The staff was friendly and very helpful! Jaclyn was amazing and reassuring planning through a pandemic!

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Sarah Sent on 06/16/2021

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Perfect!

Very reasonably priced! If you’re thinking about booking this place, just do it! My wedding here was perfect and then some! The staff and coordinators are kind and helpful!! 10/10!

Kara Sent on 06/16/2021

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Perfect day!

We had our wedding here on 3/15/2020. The staff were knowledgeable, responsive, friendly, and easy to work with. I have a severe dairy allergy and the chefs were able to work with me to provide me something safe and yummy. The venue itself was beautiful and made for incredible pictures. We hired the penguins to walk down the aisle and got to take photos with them afterwards. The reception was held on the deck outside and was a perfectly-sized space for our 70 guests. The food was delicious. My guests especially raved about the mac and cheese bar--make sure this is a part of your dinner if you book your reception here! Overall, our wedding could not have been more perfect and the Florida Aquarium is one of the best places to have such a special event.

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Kat Sent on 06/16/2021

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Beautiful venue and great to work with!

My wedding was 6.12.21. It was an early ceremony and they helped make sure things ran smoothly. The lighting was great and they were great with communication during the planning process.

Virginia Sent on 06/08/2021

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Stunning & Unique

The staff is amazing! From our points of contact to the servers during the wedding. They were accommodating, helpful, & went all out to make sure we were happy. The food was great & the included full hosted bar was a bonus. Our guests told us repeatedly it was one of the most beautiful weddings they had ever attended. We have some great memories & are so glad we choose the aquarium for our special day.

Denise Sent on 04/17/2021

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A totally wonderful experience!

Perfect venue; I have already recommended it to several friends. The wedding pictures are beautiful, our guests got to tour The Florida Aquarium while the photographers and videographers were taking pictures of the Newlyweds and Family. There were food stations with appetizers throughout the "tour". Jaclyn and Kim were so attentive and responsive to our request; and the staff was completely and totally amazing. Catering was fantastic, with many meals and plans to choose from. All in all, we had a fabulous, terrific, marvelous, and magnificent experience having my daughter's wedding at Florida Aquarium.

Christina Sent on 05/14/2020

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Exciting venue

This venue is a gem. Our guests were so excited to attend a reception at such a beautiul and unique location. The package prices are very affordiable, especially since they include alcohol. Jaclyn from the sales deparment was prompt, responsive and so easy to work with.

Sarah Sent on 03/20/2020

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The Wedding of Our Dreams

Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow.

Wow.

"Best wedding I've ever been to."
I've never heard those words so many times. Never would have guessed those words would be said at MY wedding! AH!! Literally the wedding of my dreams!! Having the ceremony in the Coral Reef room was INCREDIBLE and I still stare obsessively at the photos taken of just the room. The staff were above and beyond, especially when they found out my foot was broken. The head of security helped me out of my heels and my giant dress and into an ECV so I could get off of it when it began to hurt. The penguin team (YES YOU CAN HAVE A FREAKING PENGUIN AT YOUR WEDDING AND IT IS SOOOOO WORTH IT) were hilarious and awesome when Shelly decided to take an alternate route to the alter. They even let my flower girl, a rambunctious little 4 year old, pet Shelly (BEST WEDDING GIFT EVER) which totally made her night!! They were so nice and wonderful--major props and love. We felt pampered and taken care of in the fullest extent at all times. Kimberly and Jaclyn were our 2 contacts and so professional! Answering all my questions and understand of my horrible communication. They even helped pull a few strings for our ceremony, which technically broke the alcohol contract which was AMAZING!! The food was delicious and the catering staff as wonderful and kind as the food was incredible.

I CANNOT RECOMMEND THIS VENUE ENOUGH!! Like seriously! Your guests get to enjoy the aquarium and the animals!! You will not regret it! Our Friday the 13th was magical and special and we will be visiting every Friday the 13th to celebrate!!

Nicole Sent on 03/01/2020

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Beautiful Venue

Beautiful venue! A breath taking back drop for the ceremony, and everyone had such a great time! The staff was friendly and very helpful!

Brooke Sent on 02/19/2020

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Amazing Wedding Venue

The FL Aquarium is such a unique and beautiful wedding venue. All my guests were amazed and said this is a wedding they will never forget. I even had a penguin walk down the aisle! They were so easy to work with and did an amazing job! I highly recommend. It was beautiful!

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Joshua Sent on 02/05/2020

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Amazing Ceremony and Reception

We chose The Florida Aquarium to host our wedding at. We first met with Danny Workman who gave us a tour and explained how the different areas would be utilized. The aquariums give the venue an amazing lighting effect that can't be beat. We then sat down and discussed different reception area options. We later had a tasting, and the food was absolutely amazing. All in all, I don't think we could have chosen a more magical venue than this.

Ashley Sent on 01/17/2020

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Dream wedding

Beautiful wedding venue was defiantly more than a wedding it was an experience. The areas for the before photos are beautiful. The staff is extremely helpful and makes everything perfect as far as ceremony.

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Tia N. Sent on 10/14/2019

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Love this venue!

So far the venue is amazing. They are willing to help out and are respond quickly to inquiries and planning. The venue is absolutely beautiful and unique. I would recommend.

Amber Sent on 06/30/2019

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Beautiful!

We had our wedding ceremony and reception in the Coral Reef room over a month ago and we still receive compliments on the food (they work with Aramark) and that it was the most beautiful wedding our guests have ever been to- even compared to their own!
Jaclyn was very accommodating, especially when we had to move our wedding date up by 6 months, due to a family emergency. It was definitely not ideal to plan a wedding in such a short amount of time, but she worked through the whole process with my planner, CJ, and myself. It was not a cheap wedding but if you have a limited budget, they will work with you so that you don't go over.
I am so happy that we chose this venue and I cannot imagine having a more intimate and beautiful wedding than this.

Danielle Sent on 02/25/2019

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Mesmerizing

Danny Workman was extremely helpful in answering all my questions and explaining how the flow of the ceremony and reception would tie into the landscape of The Aquarium. Our guests get to enjoy the aquarium experience during cocktail hour, we are so excited about out 2/26/20 wedding!!

Tiffany Sent on 11/20/2018

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Out of this world, guests will be talking about our venue for a lifetime!

This venue is so unique, beautiful, and creates the setting for a fairytale wedding!

Tyler Sent on 12/28/2017

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I could not have been happier with the Florida Aquarium. They take care of you. We had our ceremony and reception here and worked with Jaclyn Rhodes for our coordinator and she was incredibly responsive and involved throughout the whole process.
They work with Aramark and provided inclusive packages that include venue fees (ceremony and/or reception), food, and open bar along with day of coordination. The pricing was super competitive and we felt like we got the most out of our budget.
They will let you bring in your own decorations (if you wish) and will help set out if you need it. They let you tour the aquarium anytime between booking and your wedding with guests or vendors. They provided full coordination with your vendors so you don't have to worry about a thing the day of and you also don't need to hire a day of coordinator!
Not to mention, the venue is absolutely stunning. So many great photo locations and our guests all said it was the most unique and beautiful wedding they ever attended. It was more than we ever dreamed. I would highly recommend to any and everyone.

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Sadie Sent on 01/23/2017

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My wedding was truly magical. The aquarium was the perfect venue. The staff was all fantastic and helped me so much with planning everything and making sure it was all perfect. All my guests were so impressed with how beautiful everything was. You will not be disappointed if you get married at the aquarium. Most of my guests told me that it was the best wedding they had ever attended and even surpassed their own. I wish I could give 10 stars because it was the PERFECT place.

Kerin Sent on 12/05/2016

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Our wedding at the Florida Aquarium was absolutely flawless! It was seriously a dream and all of our guests said they had the best time at the most beautiful venue!! Jaclyn was just everything! I cannot thank her enough for making sure everything was perfect for us! The whole team was very helpful, friendly, and professional! They really wanted everything to be perfect and I just can't thank them enough! Worth ever penny??

Lisa Sent on 08/29/2016

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I would 100% recommend the Florida aquarium! I was planning a destination wedding and fell in love with this venue from the pictures alone. I booked our wedding without ever seeing the venue in person till after I booked. The initial response for information was very prompt and and I felt very much at ease once I started talking with a representative from the sales department. Although I had started with 2 differnt managers I was lucky enough to have Lara as my point of contract. What impressed me the most was when I made the trip down to see venue (after I had booked) she literally started with me from square one as if I was a new client and made the process that much easier. She was very prompt and paid attention to every detail. I trusted her and her team and the wedding was perfect start to finish. And since I wasn't able to make trip down for tasting I can say that the food tasted great! I can say that our guests are still talking about the wedding and its definitely unforgettable. Our guests even commented on how attentive the server staff was. If your looking for great service, unique venue, and even value look no further. You'll be extremely happy to choose this venue.

Bill Sent on 07/29/2016

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The Florida Aquaium was the perfect place for our wedding and reception. We just loved the aptmosphere and our guest were so really impressed with it. Abigail and Bill

Susan Sent on 04/28/2016

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If you are looking for something Unique this is the place. We had both our ceremony and reception here and it came out beautiful. The best part we didn't have to do a lot of decorating since the tanks where the back drop. You get assigned your own coordinator and they help you with everything. You can add different options or keep it simple. The food was amazing and everything went perfect!

Jennifer Sent on 10/26/2015

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The Aquarium was a perfect venue for our wedding. Ashley was there to help us every step of the way. They allowed us to come anytime, always available by phone for questions, and very easy to work with. The wedding was incredible, both our ceremony and reception were in the coral reef room. We had the penguins and the fog screens and definitely suggest both! We would highly recommend this venue to anyone! You will not find a friendlier staff or more unique location!

User2481709 Sent on 10/15/2015

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We will be getting married at the aquarium this upcoming May and are absolutely thrilled about the venue. I mean how can you say no to a wedding where the backdrop is a gorgeous tank with beautiful sharks and tropical fish, plus penguins walking down the aisle?! and a sting ray touch tank at the cocktail hour where penguins also mingle?!.....it was an obvious choice for my fiance and I. They keep the exhibits open for your guests to enjoy and they have options to decorate everything! The price is extremely reasonable and the venue is spectacular. Only word of warning, they fill up fast! So if you get engaged and want a Saturday be quick with securing this spot as their Saturdays are limited. Can't wait to write a review after our wedding!

Katelyn Sent on 09/11/2015

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Our wedding Coordinator was Natalie, she was very enthusiastic, approachable, and friendly with us and our guest for every need we had. Natalie made our day so magical and go by so smoothly with everything that went on she was there for everything especially during any stressful moment she was resilient and quick to solve the problem and make us feel reassured. She was so precise with every detail and moment that was going on during the wedding. I couldn't imagine how that day would have gone without her, but I'm so happy that we did!

User2449786 Sent on 08/24/2015

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Choosing the Florida Aquarium as my venue was best decision I made for the wedding. Not only did the Aquarium make for a super fun and incredibly beautiful venue with unique and gorgeous picture opportunities, but the Aquarium gives you an events coordinator who is a fantastic resource for wedding planning. I had the great luck of working with Ashley and to say that she went above and beyond for my wedding is an understatement! She answered questions which hadn’t even occurred to me yet, provided an incredibly helpful list of suggested vendors, coordinated with all my vendors, and held my hand through the entire process. She kept us on time, guided us through the day, positioned my train to head, made sure we got to eat, and even added her own special touches, for which we were extremely grateful and overwhelmed by her kindness. I would have been lost without Ashley! Every single staff member we encountered at the Aquarium was so nice and made me genuinely feel like our wedding was super important to each of them, rather than one wedding out of a million. We used the Coral Reef room for both the ceremony and dinner and it was simply incredible. Just over a month later, our guests are still talking about it! It was a fun night for everyone! At the Florida Aquarium, you are contracted to use Aramark Catering: they were phenomenal! The food was delicious; the staff was so kind and totally on top of everything, and all my partying guests were thrilled with the bar! I got to work with both Mary and Anna and they took great care of us in the planning process and took excellent care of our guests night of. Our wedding was everything I had hoped it would be, and it is all thanks to the Florida Aquarium and the staff there. I absolutely recommend the aquarium, it is worth every penny and you will be in such good hands!

Beata Sent on 08/21/2015

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Words cannot express how magical The Florida Aquarium is for a wedding venue. It's been 12 days since my wife and I exchanged our vows in front our friends, family, fish, and penguins. Our guests are still raving about how unique and entertaining the venue was. We worked closely with Natalie Melillo who was our wedding coordinator and she has been absolutely amazing from the very start to the last minute of our wedding night. My wife and I are from NJ, and at first thought planning a destination wedding seemed a bit overwhelming and stressful, that is until we met Natalie. After that, everything was smooth sailing! She was excellent with communicating with us via email and phone. All our requests were fulfilled and taken care of. The day of our wedding we didn’t worry about a thing, everything was beyond perfect. The Coral Reef room was set up beautifully with rose pedals along the sides of the aisle. Natalie and her team transformed the room after the ceremony to our reception area in the blink of an eye. Our guests couldn’t believe the speed of the flawless transition.
Natalie, I can write a book about how wonderful you are at what you do. We are forever grateful for your passion and dedication in making our wedding day the Best Day of Our Lives.

I would marry my wife again just to re-live that magical night.

Kristine Sent on 08/20/2015

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Better Than You Will Ever Dream - That's the only way I can describe our wedding at the FL Aquarium! We are only 11 days into our "happily ever after" and not a day has gone by that guests from our wedding haven't contacted us about the incredible, memorable time they had!
We had an intimate destination wedding with about 42 guests which allowed us to utilize the coral reef room for both our ceremony and reception. Our guests couldn't get over the backdrop we had in this room - views of sharks above our heads as we said our vows made for some unbelievable photos.
Mary coordinated our menu and gave us an amazing array of foods that everyone was able to enjoy....from the shrimp cocktail display at the cocktail hour to the build-your-own mashed potato bar, the food was wonderful. Mary worked so well with us and made sure everything was just as we requested.
Enough complimentary words can't be said about Natalie Melillo - our wedding coordinator/planner at the aquarium. We are from NJ and we happened to find the FL Aquarium in a search for unique wedding locations. We had serious concerns about trying to plan a destination wedding, but once we met Natalie, all our worries disappeared. She responded quickly to all of our MANY emails and went out of her way to help us coordinate all aspects of the wedding. After a year and a half of planning from afar, the week of the wedding was upon us. We arrived in FL a week before our wedding and were able to remain relaxed and enjoy our time with friends and family who had flown in early knowing that Natalie had everything under control. On our actual wedding day, our only focus was each other......we knew everything would be perfect.....and it was! Natalie kept us calm, well-fed, and enjoying every minute of our magical day. Natalie ..... you rock!
My wife and I couldn't be happier and we will remember our wedding in this incredible venue for the rest of our lives!

User1602526 Sent on 08/18/2015

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2 months later people are still talking about how amazing our venue was. If you want to have an extent aiming mom traditional venue, THIS IS THE PLACE! Natalie was our coordinator ans helped so much! Mary was a doll at helping with our picky food requests. Hands down the best decision ever!

Lindsey Sent on 07/09/2015

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We chose the Florida Aquarium in Tampa for our wedding. It was a perfect and unique venue. We live in Jacksonville, but the venues there did not work for our style. Ashley was a great events coordinator and made sure everything was in order for us for our big day. We had our ceremony and the reception in the Coral Reef room. The room was beautiful with the sharks and turtles swimming around. Our guests loved the location since it was fun and different for them as well. Having our wedding at this venue was an amazing experience.

Chelsea Sent on 07/09/2015

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my sister had her rehearsal dinner here and it was amazing. we were in the room with the hugggggeeee glass wall. it was amazing. you really don't even need decorations isn't it is so breath taking. people try to said thing like " oh but it will smell like fish"....... the fish aren't flopping around LOL. it doesn't smell like fish or anything like that. the food was great and during the cocktail hour before they brought out a penguin! which we couldn't hold since they poop a lot apparently. but still it really was a great time and it was so fun to just watch all the sea life and have that as the backdrop for the rehearsal dinner. also the big sea turtle kept swimming into rocks so that was pretty sad yet hilarious since it seemed like he was drunk. while the father of the groom was giving a toast the turtle was right behind him the whole time. it really is an overlooked venue that is gorgeous!

Lauren Sent on 06/15/2015

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Our wedding was absolutely AMAZING! Everything we had hoped for and even more! Natalie was our coordinator and she helped us so much. She was so organized and also patient with our rowdy wedding party during the rehearsal. Mary was amazing at catering to us for the food. We wanted a custom menu and she didn't even blink an eye and it turned out perfect! Our guests have not stop texting us about how this was the most entrainment and beautiful wedding they have ever been to!

Jessica Sent on 06/12/2015

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My husband and I were married at the Florida Aquarium on June 6th, 2015, and could not have been any happier with our decision! Our guests are still talking about how unique it was to have the wedding at the Aquarium and what a great time they had! Everyone raved about how the food was amazing, too! The staff at the Aquarium made sure that that had every little detail in place so that our night was special!
We worked with Ashley in the planning of our wedding, she really made everything seem so simple and kept it stress free! Ashley was always very responsive to our questions and concerns throughout the planning process. The day of the wedding Ashley kept everything running so smoothly, we really could not have asked for anyone better!

We definitely had the wedding of our dreams, and one that didn't break the bank!

I can't thank the staff at the Aquarium enough for making my wedding the prefect day!

User2172207 Sent on 06/09/2015

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This is an amazing venue! ALL of our guest kept telling us that we had the best wedding that they have ever been to. The event staff at the aquarium and their partner Aramark are absolutely beyond amazing. I felt like I didn't have to put in as much effort to plan the wedding because the aquarium provides these amazing people to help you ever step of the way. They respond to emails very quickly and during the big day they are there every step making sure you get what you need and everything is perfect.

Danielle Sent on 06/05/2015

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We got married in March of 2015. I cannot begin to say how AMAZING Ashley and her team were throughout our planning process and our big day! Any questions that we had were answered without hesitation and they really put together the best wedding we could've imagined (and the tanks are just breathtaking). The bustle of my wedding dress was ripped out by one of our guests and without second thought, Ashley was there to fix my bustle. Their team always made sure we had what we needed throughout the night. Professional would be an understatement and they were so much fun throughout the night (the perfect addition to our wedding). All of our wedding guests commented how smooth the whole night went and how into our wedding the Florida Aquarium staff was. We were worried at first about how the food at the aquarium would be but it was nothing short of superb. The staff helped make our day feel as special as they would want theirs to be..it didn't feel like they were just working "another" wedding . We cannot thank Ashley enough for being so wonderful and for having an amazing team! We can't wait for another excuse to have a party so we can work with this staff again!

Amanda Sent on 05/30/2015

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The Florida Aquarium is THE BEST VENUE for weddings EVER!!!! It is a wonderfully unique venue, with a one-of-a-kind background, incredibly helpful staff, and fantastic food. I booked the Coral Reef room at TFA for my wedding ceremony and reception for 5 hours, and also purchased the underwater lighting affect, and a penguin to walk down the isle during our ceremony. My wedding planner, Natalie, was incredibly helpful. Anytime I (or my mom) had a question, she was able to respond via email or phone call. She made planning my wedding very easy. Also, because the venue was such a unique venue, they have a list of preferred vendors to use (photographers, officiants, DJs, hotels, etc), and that was INCREDIBLY helpful. I am a destination bride, so I did not have the option to visit with vendors, so having that list made it much easier with the selection of my vendors. It was also great that their venue rental was all-inclusive. I did not have to worry about having to pay a separate fee for cake cutting, top-shelf liquor, silverware, chivari chairs, etc.
During my wedding weekend, Natalie was very helpful, especially since she was my day-of wedding coordinator. She helped me around the venue, keeping us on schedule, and even fluffed my dress when I was walking down the isle. I could have not asked for a more perfect venue or staff assisting me, and making my wedding day perfect!
Also, they have their own on-site caterer, and their food is delicious! Their appetizers for the cocktail hour, and their plated dinner was phenomenal. And Mary, the catering person who worked with on our wedding, was also incredibly helpful throughout the process.

Lindsay Sent on 03/28/2015

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I worked with Ashley at the Florida Aquarium to plan my wedding and reception. She was responsive and easy to work with - which was important since I was planning my wedding from another state and could not meet with her in person often. On the day of our event, Ashley handled every detail. She coordinated with our vendors, oversaw the setting of furniture and decorations, and made sure our event moved along in a timely and efficient manner. At the end of the evening, she even made sure that her staff packed up everything we brought with us - meaning my wedding party got to enjoy the reception instead of having to pack up. It was an amazing night at a unique venue.

I worked with Mary to coordinate all of the catering. We had a sit down dinner, and considering the price we paid included appetizers and an open bar, the price was more than reasonable. Our food tasted amazing, and the portions were generous - far more than I expected. There was an unfortunate accident where an entire tray of food was dropped, but the staff handled it well and worked quickly to get food to guests as fast as possible. All of our guests were pleased with their meal.

Alex Sent on 03/27/2015

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The Florida Aquarium has the perfect backdrop for a ceremony in front of the giant shark tank, so decor is minimal! The staff at the aquarium for weddings is so professional and unbelievably organized. They do this all the time so everything went perfectly. Natalie was our wedding coordinator and she was so awesome and relaxed. It helped me relax! I realized early on that email is best way to get in touch with their staff. They work odd hours for events so they will answer back usually within 2 days. Much faster than waiting for someone to call you back. Our cocktail hour was on the outside deck and reception in the explore-a-shore outside area. Weather was perfect in March, and was underneath an overhang just in case of rain. My husband and I were so impressed with how everything turned out! Our guests raved about the food and the venue. Everything was perfect!

Amber Sent on 03/21/2015

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My husband and I were married at the beautiful Florida Aquarium on February 21, 2015. Since then, I have heard nothing but rave reviews from friends and family about what a unique and special venue the aquarium is! And I must agree ;) Everything went absolutely perfect the day of the wedding, and I attribute this to the amazing staff at the aquarium. Our coordinator was Natalie Melillo, and she was more than willing to answer my many, many e-mails and was helpful whenever I needed suggestions. The catering staff was also wonderful- the food was delicious and there was plenty for everyone! Being from an Italian family, having enough food was my main concern, and they delivered! I really can't say enough good things about the aquarium-it truly was a perfect day! Thank you to Natalie and the rest of the staff for making the wedding stress-free for me!!

Jo Sent on 03/12/2015

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First, the venue is unique and beautiful. My guests had an amazing time; they had never attended such a fun and fascinating wedding before. If you go during the day, you will not see the real beauty, but trust me - it is the most beautiful setting imaginable.

Second, Natalie the event coordinator is PHENOMENAL. She held my hand through every step, and I had no idea what I was doing or what I wanted. She offered suggestions when I was lost without being pushy, and she always made us feel completely comfortable. I had a million questions, and she never made me feel rushed or like I was an annoyance. She helped me choose my other vendors, and THEY all did a great job as well! She was calm and cheerful, and even when things went wrong (we forgot our escort cards), she handled everything and I never had to worry about a thing. My guests couldn't say enough about how amazing she was.

Third, Mary, the catering manager shared many of Natalie's qualities. She was patient and helped us choose a menu that suited a variety of guests. The staff was extremely attentive and helpful, and the food was so delicious!!!

Everything was absolutely perfect, and I highly recommend the Florida Aquarium for your wedding (ask for Natalie, she's the best!!!!)

Corrie Sent on 03/08/2015

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It is hard for me to put into words how beautiful my wedding was (not to brag or anything). I had my ceremony in the Coral Reef Room (in front of the panoramic window), then cocktail hour on the second floor while they flipped the room, then the reception in the Coral Reef Room. The room was more than I ever could have imagined with the decor and uplighting (from 2 other vendors). Natalie was my contact and she was amazing throughout this whole process. I had a planner as well so most of the contact was between the two of them. Mary was the catering manager and she was very prompt in getting me the information that I needed and very sweet and patient with me. I cannot imagine having my wedding anywhere else, because everything was just so perfect. The food was great, the venue was awesome for some very unique pictures, and overall my wedding was perfect! I would recommend this venue to anybody who asks me! I loved it!

Ruth Sent on 01/20/2015

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I can not say enough about everything they did. What an absolutely fabulous place for a wedding. There was always something going on from the touch tanks to the penguins. It was simply beautiful. We worked with Natalie she was awesome!!! She made sure the bride and groom ate and helped out with everything.

Christie Sent on 11/20/2014

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From the moment we met with wedding coordinator Natalie Melillo we we're immediately hooked. We knew that the Aquarium was the perfect place for us to get married and our dream location. Not only did it combine our love of animals and the sea but with this location you will never have to worry about rain or climate control. Natalie took care of us and made us feel like we were her only clients. She kept in touch throughout the planning process any time we needed to get a hold of her whether by phone or emails he responded promptly. There were many answers we didn't have and several options we weren't aware of but Natalie walked us through each and every detail and put our minds at ease. On the day of our wedding she made sure everything ran smoothly and we did not have to worry about a thing. It was an honor having Natalie as our coordinator and the Aquarium as our venue. We still receive compliments from people on how beautiful our wedding was. I have to say getting married in front of a huge shark tank was absolutely amazing and made our wedding even more memorable. If you plan on getting married in Tampa and you’re stuck on choosing, search no further as this place had amazing views, incredible catering, polite and knowledgeable staff to help coordinate your event and an Aquarium for your guests to walk through while the happy couple takes pictures.

User1932154 Sent on 11/20/2014

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As soon as we found out that the Florida Aquarium hosted weddings, we knew that this was it for us! We chose to book the Aquarium for both the ceremony and reception for $2500. You pretty much are paying for the decorations too, because you really don't need any with the huge wall tank! You have to use their caterer, but we really enjoyed their hors d'oeurves (the coconut shrimp is a MUST!) and the dinner was delicious. Another plus is that they include an in-house wedding planner for free. We had Natalie Melillo, and she was just fantastic and everything flowed just perfectly at the wedding. We couldn't have done it without her. Everyone kept complimenting about what a unique venue this was and how it was the best, most intimate wedding that they had ever been to. Plus, just look at the incredible photos you get from having your wedding here (I would seriously recommend hiring a good, professional photographer who has shot at the Aquarium before because you'll be kicking yourself if you don't. The glass tanks make it hard to get photos, but if they are done right, they are just phenomenal). The night went way too fast though! It was incredible fun, and I would highly recommend this venue to anyone!

Mike Sent on 10/15/2014

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The Florida Aquarium was an amazing place to have our wedding. The room we were in was fish tank from ceiling to floor. Our event coordinator was Ashley and couldn't have been more helpful. The whole process with the Aquarium was so easy. Everyone was so easy to work with, and they were eager to help in any way they could. They also catered the event, and did a great job. The food was very good, and the open bar had a great selection of top shelf spirits. The catering and bar staff were exceptional. Our every need was met!

Adam Sent on 09/29/2014

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This venue was absolutely beautiful for a wedding. We had our wedding here and we could not even imagine a better venue for such a great event. Thank you for all staff involved with our wedding especially our wedding coordinator Ashley Valentine. She made everything so easy and she was able to help out with anything we requested. Thanks for making our day perfect.

Chantharaphon Sent on 09/24/2014

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I cannot even begin to tell you how amazing The Florida Aquarium was in helping us organize and execute our perfect day. Everyone kept telling me how stressed I must be planning this wedding because we were planning a Tampa wedding from all the way in D.C. The truth of the matter is that everyone at the aquarium from Carolyn, to Mary, and especially Natalie, our coordinator, were so helpful and amazing that I never once felt stressed or that I was missing something integral to the big day. I cannot say enough wonderful things about Natalie. She was amazing. She was a zen presence the entire time and I am beyond thrilled that she was our coordinator. The catering staff that took care of me and my husband(!) at the reception were also so wonderful to us, they really took care of us all night. The best part of is that we were able to host a wedding that our friends and family really felt was unique and special. If you are looking to get married in Tampa and you really want something out of the ordinary that is going to WOW your guests, look no further than The Florida Aquarium.

Karen-Sue Sent on 08/06/2014

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First, Ashley and Mary are the greatest. It does not matter what your issue is they meet you with a positive, kind, understanding attitude. On the day of my wedding Ashley was so enthusiastic and fun and efficient, she really is just amazing. She keeps things moving and fixes hiccups as they come so quickly you never know they're happening! She encourages you through your entire day but she started being helpful and encouraging long before that!

The venue is just fantastic! There was not a single guest who was not amazed, who did not gush and rave about our wedding and the venue. The penguins walked me down the aisle which thrilled all of our guests but really, the entire atmosphere just made everything magical and beautiful.

When we went to the tasting we met Chiquita and requested that she bartend for us at our wedding. Everyone loved her and made sure to tell us! That is the way with the entire staff at the aquarium! It's beautiful, it's unique, it's affordable and the amazing extras like the penguins will make anyone's wedding absolutely unforgettable! I'm so in love with my wedding and that's because of Florida Aquarium!

Rosalyn Sent on 07/16/2014

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I am so happy about having my wedding at the Florida Aquarium. Staff was so helpful through the planning process. It was unique and beautiful ceremony. Loved every aspect of this venue and it was worth every penny we invested. The pictures are so beautiful. I love Florida Aquarium!

Katie Sent on 07/11/2014

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Very unique venue! My guests were all raving about the fact that the coral reef room at the Florida Aquarium was one of the coolest venues they'd ever seen for a wedding!

Pictures were amazing (if you can find the right photographer)! Wouldn't recommend their preferred vendors list for photography...we used Life's Highlights instead! Lighting in the room is really tricky because of all the aquarium glass!

Food was fantastic! We received so many compliments from our guests about the food and fast service!

Our day-of coordinator, Ashley, was included in the price (which was very affordable btw) was great! I felt at ease the entire night thanks to the aquarium team!

Yolanda Sent on 06/30/2014

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Ashley Valentine is a superb event planner. She is a shining star. She made everything so easy to plan and was with us every step of the way. My daughter said her wedding day was the best day of her life. Ashley played a huge part in making it a perfect event. Mary Patterson was equally helpful and the food and beverages were a delight.

Beth Sent on 04/09/2014

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My daughter's wedding was held at The Florida Aquarium. The venue is so unique and a wonderful place to host an event. Ashley Valentine was our coordinator and she was a pleasure to work with. She was very responsive to all of our questions and changes/additions made along the way. I never doubted that everything would be taken care of. The day of the event there was not a single detail that was not attended to and if we were to do it all over again, there is not a single thing we would change. In addition, we worked with Mary Patterson in catering and the food was delicious. We have received many positive remarks on both the venue and the food. Many compliments have been received on the servers and all event staff. Thank you for making my daughter's wedding day exactly as she had envisioned it.

Shelby Sent on 03/10/2014

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Having our wedding here was magical! We had the ceremony in front of their huge tank, capturing great photos of fish, sharks and turtles. Amazing place for ceremony. Reception was outside on their deck, having a beautiful view of The bay. Ashley was our coordinator and was so sweet and amazing, very helpful and always there for any questions along the way. I would not have changed a thing about our wedding. It was breathtaking! I would recommend this for everyone's wedding!

Susan Sent on 03/02/2014

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Ashley is amazing. She was there for us from day 1 answering all my questions, big and small, and then answering them again when I was going crazy and forgot I asked. The aquarium is such a beautiful venue and they really make it easy planning a wedding. I am from Tampa but live in Wisconsin so I knew I needed a venue that I could trust would deliver on my needs without having to hand hold them. Because it is public facility, the aquarium was able to cater to my guests wide range of needs. If you have a large family, friends relatives with food allergies, specials needs, or children, this venue is PERFECT. (It's perfect anyway, but that stuff is a bonus). All my quests complimented the venue, service, and food. Ashley was there to help along the way and really helped out on the day of! I had no worries because I knew any issue was being addressed by her team. I had one issue with the food vendor, but we were able to quickly and professionally resolve it. Thank you supporting us on our big day and making our dream wedding a reality! - By the way, LOVE THE MERMAIDS!!!!!! XO, Darren and Susan

Michael Sent on 02/24/2014

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More than a month after our wedding, our guests can't stop gushing about how our wedding was the best, most original wedding they've ever been to. This was in large part to the amazing venue of The Florida Aquarium, which is easily one of the most unique places to get married in Tampa Bay. Where else can you get married in front a giant shark tank, and have penguins walk down the aisle? Your guests will love it.

The best part about the Aquarium is how affordable it was. For a 5 hour rental that included a ceremony in the Coral Reef Room and reception in the Main Lobby, the rental fee was $2300 (we didn't have to pay sales tax, since the Aquarium is a non-profit). That included our own personal venue coordinator (Natalie, who was amazing and helped us make our wedding absolutely perfect), as well as including the reception tables, chairs, and place settings. That's a price you absolutely cannot beat, and it allowed us to add on extras (such as the penguins, draping, fog screens, gel lighting, etc), that we wouldn't have been able to afford otherwise.

You do have to use their caterer if you get married there, but that wasn't a problem at all, as Aramark Catering provided great food at a very affordable price. Having an in house caterer actually made planning easier, as our catering manager Mary worked closely together with Natalie to make sure everything was right for our wedding. Catering also does a great job of setting up center pieces for a nominal fee, and made our fairly complex centerpiece setup look even more beautiful than we imagined.

If you do book the Aquarium, make sure that you find a photographer on their recommended list (we used the absolutely amazing Wes and Liz Weber at "Your Story By Us"). Done right, your photos will look phenomenal, but it can be a tricky venue to photograph, so experience is a must.

We loved our aquarium wedding, and highly recommend it to couples looking for a truly unique venue.

Loren Sent on 01/15/2014

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I highly recommend this venue. They were very friendly and accomadating. We had ashley as our coordinator and she was beyond helpful and sweet. The venue and staff were helpful to all of our wedding party and guest guest and went above and beyond to help us out. Nothing went wrong, everything was pefect!

Julia Sent on 11/02/2013

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Looking for a truly amazing venue, some place that is exotic, unique and you wouldn't think would make sense for a venue for a wedding????? This is it! The staff was all so friendly and truly made my event wonderful. From Ashley who was the event coordinator and kept my wedding party on track, to Mikayla the catering manager who put me at ease when I came in super stressed the day of my wedding! We did our event in the coral reef room and it was simply breathtaking, we even got to have a live penguin walk down the aisle and then after the ceremony take pictures with him! My guests were impressed, I was impressed, this is definitely an A+++ venue and all in all it cost a little less then having my event at a hotel on a beach! So worth it! Oh and the food was to die for! My guests were super impressed with how fresh and flavorful it was.

Heather Sent on 10/24/2013

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Ashley Valentine and the entire team at The Florida Aquarium made my wedding dreams come true. From the event planners to catering to set-up, this venue knows exactly what they're doing to ensure you have the party of your dreams! Having met with several people at other venues, I cannot say enough about The Aquarium staff's expertise and professionalism, they made everything so easy for us and went out of their way on our actual wedding day to ensure we had the BEST time possible...thank you from the bottom of my heart for the best day of my life!

Jody Sent on 09/19/2013

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Working with Natalie at the Florida Aquarium was a great experience, she was professional and friendly. She was available the entire time and any little thing we needed she got for us. The place looked wonderful and the night was magical thanks in part to Natalie's help. I would suggest this venue to anyone who is looking for a different kind of wedding venue. It was beautiful and peaceful, it also allows your guests a different experience.

Joanne Sent on 09/16/2013

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I loved loved loved my venue!! All of my guests were so amazed with it and thought it was so unique to have a wedding here. All of my event coordinators did a great job and were able to ease my nervousness. I could not have asked for a better venue to celebrate my big day!! I would recommend this venue to anyone. Hopefully in 10 years, I can throw a reunion wedding there!!

Jonesha Sent on 08/05/2013

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Want something that you have to do little to no decorating this is the place. Let the aquarium scenery work its magic. At first no one could believe we chose the aquarium out of all places but when the day came they could not believe how beautiful it turned out and to believe that it was at the aquarium lol.
We worked with Ashley Valentine she is soo soo soo awesome just pure greatness she makes sure everything is running smoothly and made sure everyone (groomsmen) knew what they needed to do.. I dI'd not have to worry about anything and I owe that all to her.. we got married july 26 2013

Tracy Sent on 06/04/2013

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We had the most beautiful backdrop for our ceremony and reception in front of the coral reef tank. Our wedding at the Florida Aquarium was amazing, wonderful, beautiful,,,it was perfect. We worked with Ashley Valentine and she was fantastic. She followed every detail that we wanted. She worked with us from start to finish and guided us through the entire process as well as through the entire evening. We had the penguins walk down the aisle and that was a highlight for us and we also added the fog screens which added a special extra touch. Our guests had a great time and are still telling us what a beautiful and different wedding it was because of our venue. I cannot imagine having had the wedding anywhere else. Our Catering manager Mikayla was also wonderful, every detail was perfect and the food was excellent. The catering staff were professional, friendly and very accomodating to us and our guests. If you truly want to get married in a beautiful place this is it!!!

Autumn Sent on 02/25/2013

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Ashley Valentine was such a pleasure to work with. She was helpful from the very first time I inquired about having our wedding at the Florida Aquarium to the day of our wedding. She answered all my questions promptly and everything went perfectly at our wedding. I would and already have recommended the Florida Aquarium to anyone getting married as a great venue and also a wonderful staff to work with! :)

Jin Sent on 02/09/2013

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A beautiful and unique setting for an amazing wedding night. The aquarium staff was amazing in every stage of planning and execution with clear communication the entire time. Truly watching our guests enjoy the scenery and ambiance of the aquarium made us truly proud of the evening we put together.

Melodi Sent on 02/06/2013

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Ashley Valentine is absolutely incredible! She was so very helpful in the planning of our dream wedding. The Florida Aquarium was an extremely unique setting and we couldn't have asked for a better venue.

Heather Sent on 10/31/2012

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The first time we walked into the Florida Aquarium we knew it was the perfect wedding venue for us. We choose to have our ceremony at the Panoramic Window and our reception in the Explorashore area outside. We worked with Ashley Valentine (she is awesome); she walked me through all the planning and answered every question throughly. I have to say, I knew my wedding would be great but the Florida Aquarium made it better than I expected. The food was delicious and there was plenty of food for all my guests. The reception was excellent, everything went as planned and the staff was very attentive and helpful. Even weeks later, all my guests keep telling us how much fun they had at our wedding. I highly recommend the Florida Aquarium for your wedding!!

User899516 Sent on 08/14/2012

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We chose to get married at the Aquarium because we wanted a different venue and wanted an experience for our guests. We were absolutely thrilled with how everything turned out. Our guests loved our special guests, penguins!!!! They walked down the aisle and everyone was so surprised!!!! The staff was great!! We had such a good time from the beginning of the planning through the night of our wedding. We were really happy with everything. Would 100% recommend this as a venue for anyone looking for a unique place to be married or hold an event!!!

Shelly Sent on 07/05/2012

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THE most amazing venue I have ever seen (even if I am a bit biased!) Ashley was beyond fantastic as our coordinator and made sure everything was perfect. Our servers and bartenders were phenomenal! I couldn't have asked for anything better. This is a must-do

Anne Sent on 07/01/2012

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My husband and I were married at the Florida Aquarium on June 24th, 2012. Our guest could not stop talking about how unique and how beautiful the coral reef room was! We decided to add the pasta bar to our choice of buffet and could not have been happier with our decision. The food was amazing! We also added the penguin promenade and our guests were thrilled to have a little entertainment durning cocktail hour! Every little detail made our night special! We worked with Ashley in the beginning of our planning process and she made everything seem so simple. She was always very responsive to all of our questions and changes durning our planning process. Due to a family reunion Ashley was no longer able to continue working with us so Natalie finished planning with us for the last 6 months. She was a huge help the day of the wedding and we could not have asked for someone better! We definitely think we had the wedding of our dreams without any hassle and we can honestly say it was worth every penny! Thank you so much Florida Aquarium Team! You made our wedding day perfect <3

Sean and Anne Borgo

Amanda Sent on 03/29/2012

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The Florida Aquarium was the most BEAUTIFUL place I could have picked to get married. My husband and I are both tied to the ocean and it was so symbolic of our relationship. Many of our guests told us this was the most beautiful wedding they had ever been to, and while I wasn't striving to make that goal- it sure was nice to hear. Along with this venue, I was assigned a wedding coordinator, Natalie Melillo, who was so helpful and answered all my questions thoroughly- which made planning a wedding so much easier. She was there on my wedding night to make sure everything fell into place and pieced together perfectly. I did not have to worry about a thing all night! I had the most amazing experience ever!

Nikki Sent on 03/22/2012

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I had my ceremony and reception at The Florida Aquarium. It was the absolute best time I have ever had. My coordinator was Natalie Melillo and she was such a joy to work with. Very diligent and made me feel so comfortable and confident that everything would be perfect. And it was! I don't have ONE horror story about my wedding day, everything was wonderful! I had guests come up to me after my wedding and tell me how nice the staff was and what a great time they had. The venue is so unique; it provides so many different options for ceremony and reception space. The scenery is beautiful, inside and outside, serene, calm and gorgeous. Not only does it create a beautiful backdrop for the wedding party, but the guests really enjoy themselves at well. The Florida Aquarium will turn your wedding into an event; one unforgettable event :-)

Laquia Sent on 03/01/2012

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I want to say thank you to the entire staff for making my wedding soooo wonderful. A special thanks to Ashley and Ms. Pat for their timely responses and helping hand. It's truely appreciated and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts! The Randolph family

Nicole Sent on 11/22/2011

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We had such a great wedding thanks to the staff at the Florida Aquarium. The set up was beautiful. Ashley was our event coordinator and she was AMAZING! She made every wish I had come true and took care of it all. She was so easy to work with and so professional, not to mention sweet as can be! She was there for me to answer any question I had no matter how silly it was. Without her, our wedding would not have gone over so smooth and I cannot thank her enough for that. Their prices are quite affordable compared to other local venues and this one sure is unique! I recommend all bay area brides at least check it out!

Jennifer Sent on 11/13/2011

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I can't say enough good things about The Florida Aquarium. Our wedding was beautiful and they made it so easy. Ashley Valentine was THE BEST coordinator I could ask for. When I began planning my wedding, I was a little nervous on how it would all come together since I didn't have a wedding planner. The aquarium staff are so hands on, it felt like I did! Any time I had a question or needed a vendor recommendation, they were there for me. I thought since I didn't have a planner, I'd have to run around organzing things during my wedding, but they took care of EVERYTHING and executed my vision perfectly! My family is a little flighty/erratic but Ashley managed to wrangle them and made sure everything went smoothly. So many of our guests are still raving about the wedding! We had our ceremony and reception in front of the coral reef and everyone said it was the most beautiful wedding they had ever been to. Pick the aquarium and you won't be sorry! They are THE BEST!

Pamela Sent on 10/23/2011

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The most incredible wedding ever!! The venue, decor, food, wait staff, chef, catering manager (Pat Discianno) and our wedding planner, Natalie Melillo were the absolute best. As our ceremony was being performed, a sea turtle came gliding across the reef almost like it was planned. Everyone was so kind and helpful, the wedding went off without a hitch. All the guests were blown away and marveled at the entire event. If you are looking for something unique and memorable, please consider making this your choice, you will not regret it. Thank you Florida Aquarium and staff for helping us create a wedding that will never be forgotten.

Samantha Sent on 09/07/2011

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My sister got married at the FL Aquarium in Ausgust 2011 and I had the pleasure of planning it for her. If anyone is looing for an amazing place to have a wedding then look no further than the FL Aquarium!! It was the MOST amazing wedding EVER. The staff there is amazing and my sister couldnt be happier. The whole place was beautiful and they went above and beyond to make her day special. Ashley Valentine was our even coordinator and she is FABULOUS and Susan Clay was our Catering manager and she was AMAZING as well. It definitely was a night none of us will forget!!! We love you guys!!! Thanks so much!

Allison Sent on 08/29/2011

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The Florida Aquarium was an amazing place to get married! Not only did we have a gorgeous back drop of the coral reef tank for our ceremony, we also were able to relax and have a great time at our reception on the tiki deck! Besides having such a great venue, I could not have imagined my wedding day without the help of the amazing staff at the Florida Aquarium. Natalie was so much fun to work with and helped us navigate our way through the craziness of planning a wedding! I could not have done it without her! She made my wedding day perfect and stress free! It was a wonderful day and I would recommend this venue to anyone!

Amber Sent on 08/22/2011

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My wedding ceremony and reception took place at the Florida Aquarium this past March. I was never one of those little girls that dreamed of what my wedding would look like, yet somehow the wedding I had was the one of my unrealized dreams! I worked with Natalie Melillo and she was by my side every step of the way. She was in constant contact with me through the whole planning process and she was able to give this not so girly, non-wedding knowledgable bride helpful opinions and advice on what selections would be best for me. Natalie truly went above and beyond the call of duty and I am sure her job description. She did not just help me with aquarium related things but also with some more practical wedding advice like how to handle bridesmaid dress selections and drama filled relatives. She made an effort to get to know me and my now husband as people and not just clients, and the end result was a wedding that was such an extension of us as a couple that people are still talking about how perfect our wedding was for the two most marine concious people they know. Our photographer snapped a picture of Natalie and us on the wedding day and she signed our guest book surfboard....she was not just a wedding planner but an important and integral part of our big day. She is the sweetest person and we were so lucky to have her with us!
Everything about this venue was perfect for us and all the staff members made an effort to ensure our day turned out perfectly. They helped with my husband's rushed DJ efforts and treated our guests and vendors like gold. The food was superb, the drinks were yummy and the catering staff members made sure everything was presented perfectly. One of the most important part of my wedding were the animal encounters we selected; I am obsessed with penguins I made sure Natalie knew this from the start. She made sure they brought them out to me and my husband for pictures. The trainers made sure I got the time I wanted with the animals I loved and it was one of the most special memories I have of that day.
To make a long story short, my husband and I are full time students who did not approach wedding planning with a ton of cash in our pockets. I can say that the money we spent on this venue was worth every penny and cannot imagine having my wedding anywhere else.

Kelly Sent on 08/12/2011

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We had the most spectacular and impressive wedding at the Aquarium, with a huge help from Ashley (our coordinator) and Pat (our caterer). Our expectations were far surpassed with the amazing water effects lighting (you have have have to get this), organization and planning, incredible food (I received more compliments on this), and INCREDIBLE background. There's no way I could have imagined how amazingly cool it would be to say our vows in front of a shark and moray eel. The staff were fantastic and I'd highly recommend them for anyone to work with. Unless you're a pain. Then you should leave them alone. :) We had the best time ever! -The Peloquins

The Florida Aquarium Reviews

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The Florida Aquarium