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Weddings

Zoo Knoxville Reviews

Zoo Knoxville View more information

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 rating
93 Reviews
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84% Recommended by couples

Awards

93
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2024 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2023 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2022 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2021 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2019 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2018 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2017 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2016 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2015 Winner
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    Megan W. Sent on 12/26/2023
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    Wildly fun - and wildly easy!

    We eloped at Zoo Knoxville and it was everything we could have wanted and more!

    Price: For an elopement I would say the price is extremely reasonable, especially considering what is included. For our price we got access to the Zoo after hours for our event, access early for ourselves and our guests and vendors, two private areas to get ready, a golf cart tour for photos, a walk through before hand to map our photos and the event plan, an arch (we brought in a few flowers to decorate), chairs, a table and linens for cake and cards, several dedicated event staff who coordinated locations and timelines and music, and access to the carousel after hours for the most incredible photos. We were able to add on Champagne for a toast for a very reasonable cost too! We didn’t add on an animal encounter package but they were a bit more expensive. Since this venue is a non-profit, we felt good about our money going back into the Zoo and animals.

    Venue/Location: we got engaged at this location, so it was an easy choice for us. I will say the animals are animals so some were more active and willing to show off for photos than others - but we counted on none of them and were pleasantly surprised by anyone who did show up. There were so many beautiful spots around the zoo for photos (bamboo forests, wooden covered bridges, caves, rock formations, a waterfall, a tree house, the carousel, and more!) so even without the animals we loved the space. There was more than enough parking and it was easy to get downtown immediately after for our dinner and reception.

    Events Team/Coordinator: Truly the best group of people on the events team to work with! We worked primarily with Marie - and she was INCREDIBLE!!! Even though our event was relatively small, pulled together within ~6 weeks, and right before Christmas/the end of the year, Marie and the team treated it like it was their number one priority and the most important event they could possibly be working on. We appreciated their responsiveness - especially to my many lists of questions - so much as we pulled together an event in a short time frame. They helped us customize the event to exactly what we wanted/needed and were so flexible in terms of our timeline and accommodating of all of our preferences. Marie gave us a walkthrough and showed us all the best photo spots and personally drove around our golf cart for photos on the day of. She also set up the arch with the florals we brought. The laptop we brought for music died and they immediately adapted and pulled up their own music that fit the vibe of the playlist we had made and covered it so seamlessly that I never even knew that our playlist wasn’t the one that was played! They truly made the day an easy and smooth dream for us.

    We would choose this venue again in a heartbeat, and we would highly recommend it to anyone who is interested!
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    Tayler M. Sent on 10/11/2023
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    8/26 Wedding

    If you are considering booking the zoo for your wedding, this is your sign to do it. Every single aspect exceeded our expectations! I honestly can't emphasize enough how accommodating they were. They truly listened to everything we wanted, and even then went above and beyond what we asked for to make our day perfect. I was honestly surprised in the best way at how much they did for us. On our wedding day, they had an event that morning that more people showed up for than they had accounted for, and even still, they made us priority. Everyone was so friendly and helpful, the catering was top notch, and the set up and breakdown were effortless. For a day that everyone warned me was chaotic and stressful, that was just simply not the case at the zoo. Miranda was our coordinator and I will forever be grateful for her and how she made our special day (and the months leading up to it) the best way we could've asked for.
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  • Natalee
    Natalee H. Sent on 10/16/2023
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    Amazing and Calming day

    They were extremely responsive about any questions. I did not have to worry about any form of setup or breakdown, they took care of it all. Miranda was amazing at helping with minor details and the day went amazing!
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    Olivia M. Sent on 08/02/2023
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    An absolute dream

    From finding out we could get married at the zoo, to email correspondence, to a walk through to phone calls and the rehearsal, our planner was so patient and helped make our dreams a reality
  • Leigh
    Leigh W. Sent on 05/29/2023
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    Once in a Lifetime Experience

    When we were deciding on a venue we looked at several places in and around Knoxville we found two very common themes - barns and warehouses. While many of the locations we looked at were beautiful we wanted something fun and unique, which is how we found Zoo Knoxville. We knew that it would allow for a once in a lifetime memory for ourselves and our guests, and boy oh boy it did not disappoint. We held our ceremony in front of the elephants, the cocktail hour was in the treehouse near the gibbons, and our reception was in their event tent near Kid's Cove. The Zoo was great to work with from the beginning to the end, we had a team of coordinators to work with and they had their own catering/bar service so it was on stop shop. I can't recommend Zoo Knoxville enough if you want a unique wedding experience that your friends and family will be talking about, this venue is for you. Plus it's somewhere we can easily go back to relive all of our memories. 
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    Kelsey W. Sent on 05/22/2023
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    Best Wedding Venue!

    When my husband proposed, we both knew immediately that Zoo Knoxville was the only venue we'd want to have our wedding at (otherwise we would have inevitably eloped.) We're big on travel and animals, so anytime we visit a new place, we always make time to peruse the local zoo; getting married in one of our favorite places only seemed appropriate. We had agreed on a plan A (our intended itinerary of events) and plan B (in case it rained), and boy did it rain - but it all worked out! Our wedding coordinator (Miranda) and team (Maria and other staff) worked fast to move our chairs/ metal trellis/ signage/ etc. all indoors, including cocktail hour items to a new location. Although I was nervous about how the day-of events would turn out, all tasks went smoothly and without a hitch, AND we were able to capture a ton of photos with animals before the downpour, which made the day even more special. Another added plus was the food. Although my husband and I had no time to snag a bite (lol), our guests raved about the items we chose! If I could do it all over again, I would choose Zoo Knoxville every time!
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    Sarah W. Sent on 04/21/2023
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    Book Zoo Knoxville NOW!

    Zoo Knoxville provided my husband and I with an INCREDIBLE experience. On top of that, our guests had the time of their lives. Nobody has been able to stop talking about how unique and fun it was! The value of this venue is impossible to explain. There are a team of staff the day of just to help and support you. They take care of every detail and concern and they truly work with you to achieve YOUR vision. They are a well-oiled machine and everything went off without a hitch. You could not have a more special experience if you tried! We did a photo tour around the zoo during the cocktail hour and enjoyed an animal encounter (feeding the tigers) with our guests as well. Having one-on-one encounters with different animals after-hours is an indescribable experience. At our adults-only wedding, everyone was able to let their inner "kid" out, especially on the merry-go-round! Zoo Knoxville is well-organized, responsive, helpful, and FLEXIBLE. Book Zoo Knoxville NOW! You won't regret it!
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    Brittany H. Sent on 11/22/2022
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    I Do at the Zoo!

    The staff at the Zoo, Miranda, Suzi, & Britney were absolutely fantastic and great to work with. They were very flexible and made our wedding day perfect! I highly recommend having your wedding at the zoo!
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    Owen Sent on 12/21/2022
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    Magically Unique

    Zoo Knoxville was truly the best place that we could have found to get married. My now husband and I found out the Zoo was an option for our wedding after a chance encounter with a incredibly friendly and kind event coordinator, Suzi. We were excited about the idea of such a unique venue, and were floored with the ease of planning our wedding/reception. Zoo Knoxville not only has a lot of services in-house, but their services are all top notch and made incredibly accessible but their ASTOUNDING event staff! They were responsive, caring, professional, and supportive every single step of the way! I wish that I could throw a party for every major event in my life at Zoo Knoxville! Our wedding day was unique and magical in so many ways, and I would not have changed a single detail!
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    Colleen C. Sent on 10/22/2022
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    Best and most unique wedding venue and best wedding coordination

    Suzi and the team at Zoo Knoxville are incredible! We had the easiest time planning our wedding at the Zoo in September. All of our guests said it was one of the funnest and coolest venues they have ever been too. We even had a sloth experience at the rehearsal, a pig as our ring bearer, and giraffe feeding experience for our bridal party. The food was prepared by the Zoo chef and his team, and it was delicious. They were even able to accommodate all our guest food allergies.
    Suzi and her team also went above and beyond with decoration set-up and even gave us a painting as a gift. They coordinated all the decorations and vendors which made our wedding day a breeze. We literally just had to show up, get ready with our friends in the huge bridal room. and then party all night. I wish we could get married again at the zoo, and we will be sure to host many more events at the zoo.
    Also, Suzi drove us around with our photographer before the wedding, and we were able to get the most unique wedding photos with the animals.
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    Ashley K. Sent on 09/10/2022
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    Our Zoo Wedding

    We had such a beautiful wedding at the zoo. Suzi and Britney helped us with special orders for the bar, and choosing our animal ambassadors! The animals were a hit with our guests, and we really enjoyed feeding the giraffes with our wedding party. Everything went smoothly and without any issues! That’s all a bride can ask!! We really loved that the zoo was all-inclusive and we didn’t have to spend time and energy choosing from a list of vendors for food, bar, etc… We also chose our photographer from the list of preferred vendors the zoo supplied us with, and we loved her as well! All around, our expectations were exceeded!
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    Nichole F. Sent on 03/31/2021
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    If you're looking for something a little different, this is it

    We honestly cannot say enough great things about Zoo Knoxville and their Event Sales Manager, Suzi! We got married in a time where everything was up in the air and nothing could be certain anywhere. Suzi was absolutely amazing at making sure we had plenty of backup options for every single detail well ahead of time, and then implementing option B, F, or W the day of without us ever having to ask or even be involved and try to make more decisions. The staff took our vague decorating ideas and decorations, and made an absolutely stunning reception space that surpassed our expectations. Suzi took the time to get to know the two of us before the big day, and used that to create and incorporate some wonderful and unexpected details for us throughout the day. The entire process, from meeting Suzi at a bridal expo to going back to pick up things left behind, was just so effortless. Everything had been thought of for us and we just had to fill in the blanks with our own personal touches. It really doesn't get any better than that. The day ended up being a lot colder than we had anticipated, and I have Suzi and few other staff members to thank for keeping me from getting hypothermia and I will forever be grateful! While it wasn't exactly the wedding we had planned (thanks, COVID!), it was the best wedding we could have possibly had thanks to Suzi and her staff.

    Zoo Knoxville's reply:

    Thank you Nichole- you and Jonathan were a joy to work with and we are so glad everything turned out wonderful!!
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    Brittney B. Sent on 12/14/2021
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    Better than expected

    Everything went better than I expected. Suzi and Brittany were amazing, Suzi kept everything in check. The food was absolutely amazing the whole set up was perfect! So many places to get good pictures. Lots of amazing options to choose from.

    Zoo Knoxville's reply:

    Thank you Brittney - we loved hosting your gorgeous wedding here at Zoo Knoxville! Your dark colors we perfect with your dress change!
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    Marissa Z. Sent on 12/07/2021
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    Nothing short of amazing

    We couldn’t have asked for a better wedding. The staff, the venue, literally everything was perfect. If you’re thinking of a non traditional wedding don’t think twice!

    Zoo Knoxville's reply:

    Thank you Marissa! Your families were so much fun to host here at Zoo Knoxville & everything turned out beautiful!
  • Natalia
    Natalia A. Sent on 12/02/2021
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    Absolutely perfect

    I would not have change anything about it. The staff was great at making our day super special. Everything was perfect.

    Zoo Knoxville's reply:

    Thank you Natalia! You are Steve were wonderful to work with and everything turned out gorgeous on your wedding day!!
  • Amelia
    Amelia H. Sent on 11/04/2021
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    Wedding of Our Dreams!!

    We absolutely loved getting married at Zoo Knoxville! The Zoo crew made the whole experience very seamless and stress-free, as they handled rentals and day-of coordination. Plus the catering is in-house, with an amazing chef!! The staff made sure we got everything we wanted, and we wouldn’t change a thing! All in all, Zoo Knoxville was such a fun, unique, and beautiful venue for our wedding, and we’re so grateful to the Zoo staff for helping to make our day perfect!

    Zoo Knoxville's reply:

    Thank you so much for the kind words Amelia- you both were such a joy to work with and your photos came out beautifully! Please come back to see us!
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    Sky C. Sent on 07/18/2021
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    Wedding of my dreams!

    My zoo coordinators (Suzi and Britney) did everything in their power to make my wedding everything i dreamed of and more!

    Zoo Knoxville's reply:

    Thank you so much Sky and Rob! We loved be a part of your special day and partying with you under the watchful eyes of our giraffe herd!
  • Lauren
    Lauren Sent on 05/24/2021
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    Amazing experience

    Suzi, Brittany and their team were able to coordinate our wedding perfectly. They gave us an experience of a lifetime and zoo has the most beautiful backdrops for photos

    Zoo Knoxville's reply:

    Thank you so much Lauren! We loved being a part of your and Jordan's special day - your final dance was the most adorable, I'm so glad the weather was perfect and you had a wonderful time!
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    Samantha B. Sent on 05/21/2021
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    Zoo Wedding!!!

    Venue was absolutely perfect for a blended family wedding!!! Staff was amazing! Food was great! They worked very hard to make it a perfect and relaxed wedding day! Definitely a dream come true to feed my favorite animal!!!

    Zoo Knoxville's reply:

    Thank you so much for choosing Zoo Knoxville for your wedding - we loved being able to make your dreams come true for you to meet Jumbe!
  • Ashley
    Ashley T. Sent on 05/06/2021
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    “Funnest” Wedding Ever!

    Most magical night of my life.

    Zoo Knoxville's reply:

    Awesome! We are so glad you and your guests had a blast and we are thankful to be a part of the evening. Look at those photos- love it!
  • Katherine
    Katherine D. Sent on 10/22/2020
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    There for us every step of the way- the staff made sure our experience was perfect!

    My husband and I checked the zoo out on a whim, and quickly found exactly what we were looking for. The selection of ceremony and reception areas was diverse and absolutely stunning, and we discussed everything from the weather to lighting in advance. They also were very responsive to questions regarding additional parts to the event. We had photos taken all over the zoo and got to do a lovely meet up with a crowned crane!
    The reception planning was a similar story. Lots of choices, and a full tasting and meeting with the chef in charge well ahead of the wedding.
    They even rolled with the changes that COVID brought on. Everything was well sanitized and distanced, and so far (knock on wood) we have not had anything negative come of the wedding as of a month out.
    We spent under $3000 overall, counting rentals and catering, which is well below what I had expected initially.
    All in all, we had a wonderful wedding at a very manageable price!

    Zoo Knoxville's reply:

    Thank you so much Katie! Your Wedding was so sweet and fun to be a part of. Lt. Dan, our crowned crane, posed so perfectly with your bridal party while eating out of your hand. Such a fun Tuesday!
  • Amy
    Amy J. Sent on 09/21/2020
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    Beautiful, Affordable Zoo Wedding

    We had the most beautiful wedding at Zoo Knoxville. The staff made our day perfect & were very flexible when it looked like we had rainy weather moving in. I could not recommend this place enough!

    Zoo Knoxville's reply:

    Congratulations guys! You both were wonderful to work with and we wish you all the happiness- loved getting to be a part of your special day!
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    Rebecca C. Sent on 08/12/2020
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    Highly recommend!

    Highly recommend! The staff was incredible and the on-site catering was amazing. Everyone commented that it was the most unique wedding they have been to and that it was the best wedding food they have ever had. The chef was very accommodating to our gluten and dairy free and vegan guests. Suzi worked with me for months and answered my questions quickly and did everything so that we had the best wedding I could ever imagine. She even surprised us by letting us feed the giraffes! Truly the best day of my life (:

    Zoo Knoxville's reply:

    Thank you Rebecca! Your wedding was so beautiful- the light pink and green were gorgeous choices for the Grasslands Patio and even the Giraffe loved watching your first dance!
    Thank you guys for letting us celebrate with you!
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    Dakota L. Sent on 05/17/2021
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    Wild Good Time!

    Suzi and her crew helped make the day perfect and very low stress for us. We knew we didn't want to do a ton of planning but wanted a unique and enjoyable wedding. We were able to nail down specific details we wanted and add in the uniqueness of being at a zoo! Everything was straightforward, customizable, and the communication was great. I would highly recommend considering Zoo Knoxville for your wedding. Not only will the day go perfectly, but you'll also get a wild good time! :D

    Zoo Knoxville's reply:

    Thank you so much Dakota! You and Corey are the sweetest and were very relaxed, even planning throughout a pandemic. We are thrilled to be a part of your story!
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