Bronx Zoo - NY Zoos & Aquarium

A stunning venue and experience through and through. If you are on the fence, highly recommend that you reach out to Robyn and schedule a walkthrough--from our very first interaction, she proved to us the depth of her experience and knowledge of the venue, and we knew we were in safe hands throughout the entire process. We were not wrong! Our vendors that we hired independently also loved the experience and Robyn made the entire process seamless. It's a shame we can't do another wedding... but maybe vow renewals?

We had our wedding at the Bronx Zoo on Labor Day weekend and it went better than we could have ever imagined. After picking the Zoo as our venue, Robyn worked with us for months until we finalized all of the details. Throughout the planning process, Robyn was very communicative and made herself available to not only respond to all of our questions, but to also show us around the Zoo as we scouted wedding photo locations. On our wedding day, Robyn and her team worked tirelessly to get the venue ready, and she even escorted us around the Zoo for pictures. Our wedding could not have gone so smoothly without Robyn helping us the whole way. Although we saw the locations for the ceremony and cocktail hour during our initial tour, words cannot describe how beautiful it looked once the Zoo was closed to the public and set up for our wedding. Our guests could not stop raving about the venue and how fun it was to walk through the Madagascar Exhibit to start the cocktail hour. Usually wedding food isn't very good but the food served during cocktail hour and reception was delicious. Lastly, the entire Bronx Zoo staff was exceptional. Thank you Robyn and the entire Bronx Zoo staff for an amazing wedding.

Robyn is the number one reason to book this venue! She is so kind & helpful! I truly enjoyed going around the zoo with her for photos. The whole night exceeded my expectations of my wedding. People keep telling me they can’t believe they went to a wedding with animals at it & they’ve never seen such a beautiful venue. 12/10 would recommend

All we can say is “The Bronx Zoo” is the best kept secret of all wedding venues in NYC. Working with Robyn H. was phenomenal!!! From the time we met her in August 2021 until our wedding day on Saturday, October 15, 2022, the organizing was seamless as the Zoo provided a listing of vendors to use, if you choose to. If not, Robyn worked easily with our vendors of choice. Our food Tasting Day was approximately 6 months prior to our wedding with all samples very delicious. The food was even better on our wedding day!!! Our guests were simply blown away that The Bronx Zoo was our venue given that half of our guests were from NYC with one of them saying, “This was a wonderful experience”. I could go on and on, but to sum it up, I really hated for the night to end as this was the best wedding we have attended in recent years, and it was OURS!!!! Everyone had a great time - the ceremony location, even without a lot of flowers, was grand; the outdoors reception by the sea lions pool and touring the Madagascar exhibit; the reception at the old lions den; the golf cart ride to take our wedding pictures - it was truly like being queen and king for the day!!! Lastly, I must complement all of the Bronx Zoo Team from the gentlemen at the gate who knew my name upon arrival, Keith, all of the wait staff who our guests said were extremely attentive, the golf cart staff, and the vendors we selected from the Zoo vendor listing. I’d definitely want to host another event at the Bronx Zoo.

Our Bronx Zoo wedding blew our (and our guests') expectations out of the water. It was everything we dreamed of and more. The most spectacular, romantic, and unique venue. The food was fantastic, well cooked, well presented, and hot. The staff was amazing (we got so many compliments on the service). Above all else, Robyn was PHENOMENAL. From our first meeting through the day of, Robyn was attentive, helpful, had all the answers, and even fluffed my dress for me seconds before walking down the aisle. We are so grateful for her and her staff who helped us throw a wedding people will never forget.

We had our incredible ceremony and reception inside the shark exhibit building at the NY Aquarium and it was such a magical night! We truly felt like we were celebrating under the sea with all of the marine life in the tanks. The venue team was passionate and dedicated about making our night amazing. The food was also some of the best food we’ve ever eaten!! Between the venue space, the staff, and the food/drinks, this was truly an unforgettable experience. If you’re looking for a fun and unique wedding venue, don’t hesitate to reach out!

Beyond our wildest expectations. From our first engagement to post nuptials the team at the Bronx was top notch the entire way. Robyn, our main point of contact, was responsive throughout the planning process and worked with us to tweak the out of the box package to emphasize what was important to us. On the day of the wedding the zoo was very well staffed and all staff were very attentive to all guests, to the point that guests noted to us post festivities that they never had to wait in line at the bar and they were regularly checked on at their tables, which helped keep the dance floor moving all night long. Additionally, all of the food at the zoo is delicious and plentiful. The filet mignon, one of our entrees, was cooked perfectly and you could “cut it with a butter knife.” The venue itself is breathtaking. Between the Beaux Arts style buildings of Astor Court, lush gardens, and of course the animals, the Bronx Zoo creates a stunning backdrop. Regardless of rain or shine the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception take place in different areas of Astor Court, and from our perspective the rain plan is great, which was a big selling point for us. Overall, we felt like we got a lot of “bang for our buck,” and to top things off, you and your betrothed get to spend your afternoon at the zoo! We had a fantastic wedding day, but our guests undoubtedly enjoyed the party as well. Some notable quotes from guests include “this is insane,” while pointing to the sea lions, “there were lemurs jumping,” referencing the extraordinary cocktail hour experience, “best wedding I’ve ever been to,” and the one that stood out the most: “I don’t know how you did it, but you managed to create something that felt so grand, yet so intimate at the same time.” We had a medium sized wedding with 100 guests in attendance, but there is nothing “medium” about the Bronx Zoo. Between the historical buildings and expansive manicured grounds of Astor Court to the towering ceilings of Schiff Family Great Hall, the Bronx Zoo is grand in scale and makes for a marvelously elegant day with a fun twist (it’s a zoo!). If you’re not already sold, the site fee goes directly to the Wildlife Conservation Society.

We couldn’t have dreamed of a more perfect or meaningful wedding venue. The setting was breathtaking, the ceremony and banquet spaces were spacious and gorgeous, the wedding team led by Robyn Hymowitz took such great care of all the details, and the in-house catering was delicious. Getting to take pictures with the animals and having the lemurs and sea lions and peacocks be part of our special day was incredible. Robyn was so helpful and reassuring and all the vendors the zoo connected us with were amazing.

We’re so happy that we had our wedding at the Bronx Zoo. We contacted Robyn back in 2019 and she was extremely helpful and responsive with navigating the postponement of our wedding, which happened this summer! We had a few hiccups with our vendors but it did not take away from our experience. Our guests raved about the food, especially the hors d'oeuvre, the sea lion pool and they appreciated how attentive the staff was during the reception. Our wedding party also enjoyed the group photos we took around the Madagascar exhibit (Bug Carousel!) via golf cabby. If you’re considering a beautiful venue, with a super responsive venue event’s coordinator (Robyn!), and a unique wedding experience, the Bronx Zoo is a must!

The Bronx Zoo was our first vendor choice for Venue back in the beginning of our engagement and we are so glad we were able to finally see everything come together in May 2022! Working with the staff, especially Robyn, was very easy and easy-going but professional attitude made us feel welcomed and in good hands. Robyn made every part of the process extremely easy, even when we had to postpone our original date due to COVID. She was an absolute pleasure to work with. We contracted with the Zoo for approximately 125 persons and ended up with around 135 persons, which we found there was plenty of space for in the reception hall. Everything ran smoothly the day of - all vendors were able to get to where they needed to be without issue, we had some amazing staff help shuttle us around for photos (and guests to the ceremony site) and they were able to quickly get guests into the Madagascar exhibit when it started to rain after the ceremony. The cocktail hour at the Sea Lion pool and the catering was a big hit with our guests and we also got a lot of compliments on the food. We would highly recommend the Bronx Zoo for any couples looking for a unique, guest pleasing venue.

This venue is an absolute dream! Working with Robyn and her staff was the best wedding experience I could have asked for. Robyn's attention to detail, patience with my family's many requests and quick response to emails/inquiries was so refreshing in a very stressful few months leading up to the wedding. Robyn was basically a second day-of coordinator beyond her many roles in the months leading up to the wedding. She also recommended many of the vendors we used, including the most talented Anthony Brownie, the florist. Robyn even held my dress up and traveled with my husband and the photographer when we took pictures around the Zoo on wedding day...she is the absolute best! The guests commented on how friendly the staff was, how amazingly organized the entire day was, how delicious all of the food was, and how beautiful and unique the space was. I would recommend this venue to anyone who is looking for a space that is like no other wedding venue I've ever been to.

Our wedding cocktail hour & reception at the Bronx Zoo was beyond perfect and wowed every single guest. Guests couldn't stop raving about the cocktail hour with sea lions and a private setting with the zoo closed after hours. Schiff Hall lit up and dressed up was grand yet intimate. Our highest praise, however, goes to Robyn, our events manager, and the entire zoo staff. Due to COVID (NYC was a destination wedding for us coming from overseas), we've had to reschedule from 2020, to 21, finally to 22. Through the entire process, we counted our lucky stars that we had Robyn to work with. She was beyond a dream to work with, always quick and proactive, and so easy with all our questions & requests. Planning an international wedding through Covid all remotely was not easy, but Robyn and the Zoo were by far the best and most reliable vendor. Finally, on the day itself, every zoo staff, from the attendants at the gate driving buggies picking us and the guests up, to the servers and bartenders, all catered to us not only with a smile, but with genuinely excitement and warmth. It left us with an unforgettable night. It was the perfect event worth a 3 year delay, and we couldn't imagine it without all the effort and magic of the Bronx Zoo. If you're considering this place, don't hesitate, it was the best decision we made in all of our wedding choices.

Wow!!!!!!! We can't say enough great things about the Bronx Zoo and the amazing events team. We wish we could give them more than 5 stars because they deserve it. Robyn is an absolute superstar and went above and beyond to make our day incredibly special. She was extremely responsive on email and knowledgable about the inner workings of the zoo, and the planning process could not have been more seamless. We felt we had an unusually easy time planning our wedding because the zoo does everything (catering, cake, bar, tables, linens, etc). We were initially hesitant about this, but the zoo-provided options ended up being phenomenal and so much better than anything we could have brought in ourselves, including all the incredible food. We also loved that our money will help support the Wildlife Conservation Society! Multiple guests commented that it was the best wedding they've ever been to. Truly one of the best decisions we've ever made and we still can't believe how ABSOLUTELY PERFECT everything was. Host your wedding at the Bronx Zoo!!!!!!!

We had the best experience working with the Zoo! Our guests loved the entire event - especially how friendly the sea lions where. We loved going around the zoo in our wedding attire and interacting with guests and animals. We also loved that we were able have a formal wedding with zoo flare!!

I was born and grew up in the Bronx about a mile from the Bronx Zoo. My whole family, also from the Bronx, took me here on almost a weekly basis as a little kid. Never in a million years did I ever think that it was some place I’d end up having my wedding someday, but the moment I found out they held events, I knew this was the only option for me. I coordinated and met with Robyn Hymowitz, the zoo’s event & catering specialist. Robyn is a superstar! Every communication with her was responded to quickly and thoroughly. And when my original event scheduled for October 2020 was postponed due to COVID, she kept me up to date on all NY State reopening information and COVID guidelines and made rescheduling my wedding for a new date in 2021 seamless. One of my favorite parts of the Zoo as a venue was that it was a one-stop shop. While the Zoo covers most things (catering, bar, linens, tables & chairs - even the cake!) - they do have an exclusive lighting vendor you must contract with (Frost Productions) for your event and a list of preferred vendors for all those other little details. For the location, service and experience, I found the price tag to be a steal. You also receive a one-year zoo membership and can rest easy at night knowing that all that money you shelled out for One Perfect Day™ is going back into the zoo, supporting the Wildlife Conservation Society, and not to some boring catering hall or beach club. Schiff Hall - the old lion house - transforms into the most beautiful, magical reception space. I remember walking inside for the first time with Robyn and immediately visualizing where everything would go. Attached to this building is the Madagascar exhibit, which your guests will walk through after being shuttled on golf carts from the parking lot. They will delight and marvel at the lemurs while enjoying a glass of pinot noir or a local Bronx Brewery beer and then, just when they think it can’t get any cooler - BOOM! They are let out into the area near the sea lion pool for cocktail hour. Last but certainly not least - the AMAZING catering and bartending crew at the zoo! (extra special shoutout to Kyle!) They were wonderful, always present asking if guests wanted snacks during cocktail hour or a refill on beverages during dinner service. They were so fun, professional and friendly - and it was a comfort to have both a relaxed but well-trained staff, as sometimes catering staff can be very uptight and take away from the experience. The food itself was amazing - the different catering options for both entrees and cocktail hour were plentiful, and allergies and dietary restrictions graciously accommodated (vegan and vegetarian options can be requested when putting in your final menu counts, but can also be handled on the fly). There are also numerous add-on packages and rentals (which we didn’t utilize) to enhance your event experience, no matter what the occasion. I was just so blown away by every part and person that went into truly making this the wedding of my dreams. The Bronx Zoo is such a special place and means a lot to me. Having my event here truly made it feel like they were there in spirit. My guests had the most incredible time and if I could do it (and afford it, lol) all over again, I’d have another wedding at the Bronx Zoo in a heartbeat!

Our wedding was absolutely amazing!!! It was everything we could have ever dreamed of. Everything was beautiful. Our guests loved the uniqueness and fun of having it at the Zoo just as we did. The food was so delicious! The zoo team was phenomenal! It’s an awesome pick for your special day with everything that is included in their packages. So glad my husband found them and we fell in love after our first walk through!

The Bronx Zoo was the perfect place for our wedding! Our guests are still talking about how it was the best wedding ever! Planning a wedding during Covid was extremely hard and full of anxiety, but our event was perfect! The food was amazing and all of our vendors (from the pre-approved list) were incredible!

This venue set the backdrop for an amazing day that we’ll always remember. Robyn, Nick, and the Operations team at the zoo helped us celebrate a fantastic day! I think it’s important to note that our experience mid pandemic might be different than those who came before us and inevitably after us. We booked the venue in January 2021 when at the time capacity was 50 people for an October 2021 wedding knowing that rules were fluid at that point. As NYS evolved, the zoo was somewhat slower to adjust policies and procedures. We were happy they took a lot of safety precautions and everyone remarked it felt very respectful and still celebratory. Suggestion if you book this venue - a day of coordinator is required but you’ll need a full blown month of or wedding planner /event staff. It is a unique venue and there’s a lot of small details that will need an organized eye for attention. The zoo does provide staff to help, but the set up / vendor coordination will be on your day of coordinator. Our guests can’t stop talking about what an amazing backdrop it was! Unforgettable for sure.

Having our wedding at the Bronx Zoo was one of the best decisions we could have made! The zoo’s event coordinator, Robyn, was invaluable in helping us to navigate wedding planning during COVID times. Robyn was patient, knowledgeable, and insanely kind! She was always available to respond to every one of my emails, and was able to provide her own recommendations when we were unsure of what decision to make. We were provided with a list of vendors that had worked with the zoo in the past, which made choosing a wedding planner super easy. Russell Pinto of Little Red Bean Productions was also imperative to our day! The ceremony space was stunning and Schiff Hall looked beautiful for the reception. Our guests cannot stop talking about how beautifully everything came together, and how much they enjoyed the Madagascar House and Sea Lion Pool! The catering was done in house and the food was delicious. Can you tell I am still on cloud 9 over my wedding ?! Choosing this venue for a unique, breathtaking, and stress free wedding is a no brainer.

Having our wedding at the Bronx Zoo was a dream come true. The event spaces are absolutely gorgeous. Right from the start, Robyn (the Zoo's Event Specialist) was a godsend. We had planned our wedding in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Robyn was tremendously helpful and supportive during the entire time, answering every question and providing valuable feedback and recommendations. The Bronx Zoo does its own catering, and it is well worth it! The appetizers were especially delicious and were enjoyed in the company of the sea lions. When we first arrived, we were provided with carts so that we could navigate around the zoo and get photos at various exhibits. Overall, everyone had an amazing time and we left with some of the best memories.

Choosing the Bronx Zoo as our wedding venue back in early 2019 was the best decision we made from beginning to end of the planning process… which ended up being a lot longer than expected. After our original March 2020 wedding was postponed last minute thanks to a global pandemic, fast-forward 1.5 years and 3 additional dates later and we were finally able to host the wedding of our dreams this month thanks to Robyn Hymowitz and her team at the Bronx Zoo. As their first “COVID couple” impacted by endless postponements and uncertainty, Robyn was with us every step of the way and we couldn’t be more grateful to her for all of the support, insight, patience, friendship and professionalism she provided. Her and her team made sure our wedding day (both rainy and humid!) ran smoothly despite the wrath of Mother Nature: from transporting our wedding party and families via golf cart to the on-site bridal suite with umbrellas, to saving my nose (and dress) with tissues when I got a nosebleed during a professional photo shoot at the giraffe exhibit - and literally everything in-between - Robyn and the zoo staff were THE ABSOLUTE BEST, hands-down. The rain stopped right in time for our ceremony and cocktail hour, and the entire night was so beautiful, fun, delicious and perfect. Our guests continue to rave about the cocktail hour experience weeks later (held in both the Madagascar exhibit and by the sea lion pool), the food, the drinks, the ambiance and commitment to ensuring guests felt safe by making sure all in attendance were vaccinated. One of the many perks of getting married here is the complimentary 1 year zoo membership you receive following your event, and my husband and I can’t wait to go back to the place that gave us the best day of our lives. I cannot recommend this venue and their staff highly enough!!! Save yourself the time and stress and book the Bronx Zoo for your wedding ASAP.

Robyn, the Bronx Zoo, and everyone involved made our wedding day easily the best day of our lives - The food was tremendous (wide selection, plenty to eat, options for all dietary restrictions - everyone loved the passed food and stations) - The venue itself wowed people (cocktail hour with the lemurs and sea lions, an abundance of great photo opps, and the Schiff Great Hall itself had ample space/accomodations for our 230 person wedding) - Drinks (nobody went home sober that wanted to go home sober) - Robyn and the Bronx Zoo team (They always prioritized us and our guests. there were rides in the golf carts, making sure our parents/elderlies were comfortable, and cleaning up after the reception itself) I can't say enough great things about everything we experienced. Thank you for everything you did for us Bronx Zoo and Robyn!

We had an incredible night at the zoo! Robyn was fantastic to work with. Unfortunately she was out until a few days before our wedding, and navigating some unexpected complications without her was difficult. We had a few bumps due to complications surrounding COVID, and some communication issues between our third party wedding coordinator and the zoo. Also, the kitchen ran behind and we didn't finish dinner till very late (due partly to other vendors messing up as well). However, the zoo was kind enough to tack on 15 minutes at the end. I would highly recommend the zoo to other couples. It was beautiful, economical, and Robyn was wonderful!

Where do I even begin. Best day of our lives. My husband and I knew we wanted a unique, yet iconic New York wedding and the Zoo 100% delivered. We also wanted a place where the bad weather plan would be just as fun and beautiful as the good weather plan. While we were blessed with one of those stunningly beautiful Fall days, and our guests were able to enjoy the impressive grounds of Astor court during cocktail hour – I am confident the rain plan would have been equally as spectacular. While the Zoo is of course able to offer you all the unique experiences laid out in their “About the Vendor” recap – what they don’t tell you about in that recap is the staff. Mainly Robyn. Robyn is more than just an “event sales specialist”. If you get married at the Zoo, she will be your champion, your friend, and even your therapist at times (lol). I am pretty sure if I had asked Robyn to walk me down the aisle she would have. This woman will go to bat for you and hold your hand through all the trials and tribulations of wedding planning. While we had some hiccups during our first wedding tasting (some issues with staffing and other fluke things), the food on the day of was OUT OF THIS WORLD. A year later, our guests are still talking about it. We loved our Bronx Zoo wedding and wish we could relive it every day 😊.

We did it! Yes, amid all the chaos that has been 2020, we managed to have a reduced-sized, intimate wedding, adapted for Covid-19 safety protocols, on our original day, Sunday October 4th, 2020 at our preferred venue, The Bronx Zoo. It was magical. The Events and Catering department, especially Robyn Hymowitz ensured that our special day exceeded all of our expectations in every way. Robyn is an incredible event planner. All communications and emails are responded to immediately, she is familiar with a wide variety of vendors that know the site well and she will help you to connect with the ones that will work best for you and your vision. Speaking of vendors, you won't need to hire many as most everything, chairs for the ceremony,  table linens and a gorgeous wedding and anniversary cake, are already provided by the Zoo itself. Music, photography, audio and lighting are the only things not covered by this Venue. We wisely chose to follow Robyns vendor recomendations and hired Jade O'Connell of Uplift Photography and Frost Productions for lighting and sound. Both vendors are incredibly talented and easy to work with. Our wedding photos are magical and Frost Productions elevated, the already present, natural beauty of the historic zoo architecture into individual spaces of other-worldly, dimentions suffused with ethereal color and patterns.  The events and experiences planned for ourselves and our guests throughout the afternoon and evening flowed smoothly, each organized yet relaxed in pace, from dressing in the Zoos on-site bridal suite, to a driven tour of beautiful places and exhibits across the park with our Photographer to take photos with the zoos exotic residences, to meeting for Family Portraits before our Wedding Ceremony in front of the beautiful dome of Historic Zoo Center,  to our outdoor Cocktail Hour by the Sea Lion Pool and extravagant Dinner in the Shiff Family Great Hall.  This venue has so much to offer!  The food selections served at the Cocktail Hour and Dinner were incredible. All of our guests are still raving about the quality of the food, friendly professionalism of the serving staff, how beautiful the space was and how much fun they had. We couldn't agree more.

Soon after starting looking for venues for our wedding, we knew we wanted something more unique and quirky then your typical wedding locations. A friend recommended the Bronx Zoo after getting married there the previous summer and it didn't disappoint. the TL;DR is: it was very special for both us and the guests, and we had an amazing wedding. Pros: - Well-oiled machine, they've been doing it for a while and it really shows. Most "out of the box" venues require you to do a lot of things on your own but they will supply everything, including the cake! - Their catering is actually delicious, and several of our guests noted it was one of the best wedding meals they had. - In one word: Robyn. Girl deserves a raise. Robyn is the Event Specialist @ the zoo and she was a guardian angel for us in the stressful process of planning a wedding, the perfect combination of professional yet chill. Things to keep in mind: - You can be flexible with most vendors but you do have to use Frost for lighting. I'd suggest asking for a quote before finalizing the contract. - All your vendors need a COI. - You have to bring your own "day of" coordinator. - Make sure you exhaust the picture ops the zoo presents, there are a lot of beautiful places but you need time to cover the grounds.

The Bronx Zoo did a great job and met all our expectations on our special day. The staff was excellent and courteous. The food was delicious. The venue itself was absolutely gorgeous. Robyn was a pleasure to work with. A+ all around.

My son and DIL had their wedding there yesterday and everything went perfectly. From the organization of the ceremony to the cocktail hour and then onto the actual reception. At a bit over 100 guests there was enough room to dance up a storm but not too much where the room felt sparsely filled. The food was excellent, the felafel served during the cocktail hour was better than what we have tasted in the Middle East! Everything was timed perfectly and guests led to each activity. Would heartily recommend to any couple looking for a venue in the NYC area.

I always wanted to get married somewhere unique and if it happend to have held any sentimental value, that would be the icing on the cake. My father grew up with the Bronx Zoo being quite literally his backyard so this decision was a no brainer. I knew once I met Robyn that this was where we would be getting married. Robyn is a rockstar! She was my saving grace throughout the entire planning as there was some turnover at the zoo. Even though she joined our party late, she jumped right in and made sure all the boxes were checked and that everything was handled. She took it upon herself to make sure everything was perfect (I even think she told the animals to be on their best behavior!). Robyn is an easygoing and organized person who ensured us that everything would be perfect regardless of some of the admin issues that we faced. Her priority was to make sure that my husband and I had fun and we most definitely did. Everything was perfect: from the food & event staff (even the weather!). We wish we could do it all over again!!

The venue was perfect! It was beautiful, but also fun! The room was transformed from the first time we saw it. The staff was also amazing. Robyn helped us from the first time we visited until the day of the wedding. She answered all my questions and emails so quickly, and with such a friendly demeanor. We couldn't have asked for better service. Guests also raved about the food!! It was the perfect venue!!!

The Bronx Zoo was the best and most magical wedding venue. I grew up going to the Bronx Zoo as a kid and even worked there for a few summers in high school, so it has always been special to me. When I met my husband and took him there, it quickly became one of our favorite weekend activities and became an important place to us as a couple. After we got engaged, it was a no brainer to get married at a place both so unique and so special to us, but before we decided on the Zoo we wanted to look at several different venues to make sure the Zoo was perfect for us. Nothing could come close to the Bronx Zoo. Not only is it amazing to get married surrounded by animals, but it is such a beautiful location. The buildings and architecture are stunning and make for a perfect backdrop. We got very lucky with good weather, but we were also relieved that the rain option was also great (who doesn’t want a cocktail hour with lemurs??). We opted to spend extra to have the Rainey Gates open (the BEAUTIFUL green gates) and have our guests drive in through there and enter by the beautiful fountain and steps in front of the sea lion pool. Several guests said they could not believe how beautiful the setting was - something they weren’t expecting at the zoo. I could do a whole separate review for how amazing Robyn is. What an absolute gem. She is so knowledgable and helpful - she knows the zoo like the back of her hand and made amazing recommendations. She was so responsive and helpful throughout the entire process (including day of!) and I cannot express how grateful I am to have worked with her. We had the absolute best day, and are so fortunate to have a special place made even more special to us. We cannot wait to go back to visit for years to come.

We had the best experience having our wedding at the zoo and all of our guests told us it was the best wedding they had ever been to. We got to the zoo early and took pictures at each of the exhibits (giraffes, gorillas, petting zoo), then took our bridal party to the main gates for pictures with them. We did an evening ceremony at 6pm, with cocktail hour through the madagascar exhibit, dinner and dancing in Schiff Hall. Working with the Zoo was seamless. Robyn, especially, was very accommodating and flexible with any last minute changes and her advice was very much appreciated and helpful. She was very responsive and always available for questions and guidance throughout the whole process. And she was and amazing tour guide on the golf cart taking us around the zoo all day and guiding all of the foot-traffic from visitors so that we could get pictures without other people in them. I would recommend bringing a friend with you to assist, particularly at busy times of the year for the zoo. The rest of the zoo staff was amazing (one woman save the day when I stained my dress with my bouquet), the service and food were great and the whole experience was a dream come true. It was the best day we could have ever imagined. We are so grateful for everyone involved at the zoo for making it so special and highly recommend this venue.

We recently had our wedding at the zoo in July. We had a beautiful wedding and the event coordinators at the zoo that we worked with were wonderful. We can’t thank Robyn and Priscilla enough for everything they helped us with! The venue is absolutely stunning. It is so unique and the pictures we had were unbelievable. We had a few mishaps that were all worked through seamlessly but just so other couples know for the future: a headcount for entree dinner selections must be provided before the wedding. Make sure you include your entree selections (and if giving two options for the second course) on your RSVP cards. They now require you to have a day of wedding coordinator and you must get wedding insurance. Your vendors also must have a COI. We had a friend that was our videographer and he did not have insurance. The zoo was very helpful and had our vendors sign waivers if they did not have insurance. Also see if you can attend the once a year wedding showcase. It’s a great way to get an idea of what your wedding will be like. Lastly, if your cocktail starts after 5pm you most likely won’t get to take photographs with the animals. We were very lucky because our wedding started at 630pm and we missed most of the animals but was able to take pictures with the sea lions, peacocks and flamingoes. We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect wedding and would recommend it to anyone looking to be married in a unique beautiful setting. Thank you again!

I cannot imagine a more perfect place to have gotten married - either in NYC or elsewhere. From the day we first looked at the venue to the night of the ceremony, it consistently exceeded our expectations. The location and setting give it the perfect balance: close to the city, yet you feel far away from the chaos. Multiple guests commented on how picturesque it was even though they never would have guessed that it would be such an ideal venue. The food was delicious, and we easily fit 150 guests. Multiple guests said "I wish that I had thought of doing my wedding here!" The success of the even was entirely due to Robyn Hymowitz. She is extremely thoughtful and expressed genuine care about making sure the event was as perfect as possible. She was extremely patient despite our ever-changing ideas, and gave us great advice about every part of the ceremony/reception and a much-needed pep talk when we were nervous before the ceremony. It is impossible to express the amount of gratitude we have for her for helping make the event so unforgettable. She is just absolutely amazing. In summary, have your wedding here.

If you're already reading this you already have great taste in a venue. However, you need to know that the zoo is going to exceed every possible expectation you could have had about a wedding venue. I wish I could give more than 5 stars since it just doesn't do them justice. Everything was executed to perfection because of the amazing Robyn & Priscilla. Robyn sat in 102 degree heat with us just to make sure we had water for pictures, that is some serious dedication. I thought our wedding would be really cool at the zoo, but it was more breathtaking than anything. Everything was set-up to perfection, the food was delish, and everyone made us feel like royalty all night. I've gotten so many rave reviews and I have a feeling we might be going to some future weddings at the zoo now. Robyn, seriously I feel like I owe you my first born and I'll give them to you if I can have the baby shower at the zoo.

We were married at the zoo on 5/25/19, and it was a perfect day from start to finish! Robyn and Priscilla had everything already laid out for us, so there was nothing at all for us to do that day except get married. When we arrived at the zoo, the bridal suite looked fantastic and the tables were already laid out and ready to go in the reception hall, which was amazing to see before we got ready. I can't wait to see the pictures we got from shuttling around the zoo with our photographer since we had so many great animal shots! The food was delicious and the service was great the whole evening. I think the best part was that it was just the right amount of "zoo". By that, I mean that the venue was so unique and having cocktail hour with exhibits was very special, but it also didn't dominate the whole night with too much emphasis on the fact that we were in a zoo. Seriously the best day of our lives, and we're so grateful to everyone at the zoo who worked on our big day!

Having my masquerade party at the Bronx zoo was so magical!!! My special event was held in the Dancing Crane Pavilion. I couldn’t ask for a better space. The view of the flamingos were a hit!!!! Everything was perfect!! The food was delicious! The staff was amazing! And the two lovely ladies that helped me book this were awesome! Thank you Robyn and Priscilla for all your help and guidance and making my party a success!! It was such pleasure working with the both of you!! All the best!!

We were married 4/7/2018 at the Bronx Zoo, and I cannot even begin to express what an unforgettable experience it was. My husband and I are scuba divers, and so we are definitely animal lovers -- but even though this aspect made our wedding memorable and fantastic for our guests and for ourselves, the BEST part was the staff. They are incredible from beginning to end - they truly have your best interests in mind and are not there to nickle and dime you. They want you to have an incredible day and they will break their backs to do it and help you create a vision. They are fun, energetic, and just very low-drama. They are not pretentious in any way and are just full of joy. Not only that, but your wedding proceeds go to a truly fantastic cause! Do you have any idea how unique and special it is to be the person in your friend group and family who got married at the zoo?? Plus, the bronx zoo is truly an institution so you'll be able to bring your future kids back to see where Mom and Dad tied the knot in a glorious way. It was so fun also throughout the planning process to have opportunities to pop back into the zoo and walk around together as a couple. Our pictures are breathtakingly incredible as well-- people still fawn over them. Can you say newlywed lion photos? Highly recommend -- they made wedding planning such a positive experience that I swear it even brought us closer together as a couple.

We got married last weekend at the Bronx Zoo and absolutely adored everything about it. My wife and I love animals so it was the perfect backdrop for our nuptials, and shockingly the most affordable of all the seven venue options we considered. The food was superb; all our guests raved about how great it was. They also loved having the cocktail hour in the Madagascar exhibit, watching the lemurs scurry around. The staff was attentive and friendly and they kept all the glasses full. The open bar package we selected was perfect, and we opted for an additional whiskey bar, which contained more than a dozen whiskies and bourbons. That was a massive hit with my father-in-law and with our friends. The zoo's event staff—specifically Robyn and Priscilla—are seasoned pros who literally made our day perfect. Robyn walked us through all our options and made sure we got exactly what we were promised and what we had envisioned. Robyn even stayed hours after she was to have left on our big day, after seeing that an external planner we had hired was severely deficient. In short, everything was beautiful and perfect and we highly recommend selecting the Bronx Zoo for your wedding!

We got married a few weeks ago at the Zoo and had the best time! It was a unique and fun venue that our guests really enjoyed. Priscilla and Robyn were great to work with during the planning process, and the day-of staff were wonderful. The food was delicious and plentiful (my mom can't stop raving about it). All the guests had a great time exploring the Madagascar Exhibit and watching the sea lions during cocktail hour. The inherent beauty of the Zoo, with its classic Beaux Arts architecture and plenty of greenery, made it easy to save on florals and decorations. It was a truly special place to get married, and we look forward to many future visits.

My husband and I were married last October 2017 at the Bronx Zoo. Since we are lovers of animals and the fact that the Bronx Zoo was our first date, it was only natural that we wanted to get married here! On the day of our wedding the staff was incredible - from the ushers, the waiters, to the bartenders, everyone was so professional, warm, and caring towards me and my husband and our guests. My husband and I also put a lot of thought into the food and took some chances on items we hadn't tasted before, but we were beyond blown away as the food was so delicious! The Zoo grounds and Beaux Art style architecture are beautiful and our wedding photos and portraits turned out to be so romantic. My husband and I will never forget our wedding day and everyone who made it happen!

The Bronx Zoo was one of those venues that you never even knew as an option but turned into a no-brainer after touring as a wedding venue option. You have access to an amazing amount of space, exhibits and beautiful reception hall. The staff could not have been more accommodating and friendly throughout the evening and our friends & family enjoyed every minute of the evening. Amazing shoutout to Robyn and Priscilla for making the process as seamless as possible all while providing answers and direction when we needed it most. We couldn't have asked for a better crew to put together an amazing and unforgettable night.

My wife and I had our wedding reception at the zoo in April 2018. Throughout the process Robyn and Priscilla were both extremely helpful and made sure no detail was overlooked. All of our guests had a great time, the setting was beautiful, the party hall looked great, and both the kids and adults loved walking around the zoo. Months in advance Robyn even led a tasting for us which helped us to pick out our menu. The day of everything was delicious and there were drinks flowing all night. We're forever grateful to the great work of the staff, particularly Robyn, for making our wedding party a big success.

My husband and I got married this past August and had the most spectacular day! Our guests can not stop raving about how unique the venue was and how much they enjoyed the food. Robyn and Priscilla both worked hard to make our day perfect! We especially loved being able to have the ceremony and cocktail hour outdoors. The zoo is an incredible place and allows for some out of this world pictures. We highly recommend!

Hi! My wife and I got married at the Bronx Zoo on 8/25 and it was simply incredible. From start to finish - the zoo’s events team, led by Robyn and Priscilla, were on top of every detail and eager to make everything perfect. The outdoor/indoor venues, with the grand architecture (beaux arts), the stately landscapes (Astor court), and wild exhibits (sea lion pool), made for a stunning setting for the ceremony, cocktails, and reception. On top of all that, by having our wedding at the Bronx Zoo, we also supported the Wildlife Conservation Society, a terrific not for profit that promotes ecological preservation and sustainability. Win win for everybody!

The Bronx Zoo created & provided a most unique, magical and fairy tale wedding for my son & daughter-in-law! It's splendor and architectural beauty set the stage for a most amazing and memorable celebration. Robyn provided us the utmost advice, service and coordination to generate a picture perfect day and event! Priscilla's direction of services provided outstanding professionalism. Our guests have not stopped raving about what a fantastic time they had from beginning to end. And...our entire family is still celebrating...we want another reason to have another celebration there again!!!

We got married 5/19/18. The weather stunk (not their fault) but the wedding was still perfect. We got married in the zoo center and it was standing room only but it was still beautiful. We had a bunch of kids, so we rented the bug carousel but it was a hit with all our guests. The Madagascar exhibit was also great for cocktails. My one wish is that I had thought through there being no seating in Madagascar for older guests. Not a downside, but something to be aware of (and that would not have been a problem if the weather hadn't been so bad). The food and the service was excellent - Schiff Hall is a great venue. Overall - met and exceeded all of our expectations!

Got married here in March 2018. My husband and I were so excited to have it at such a unique venue! Robyn was a delight to work with for booking. Mary (catering director) was our point-of-contact and day-of director. We had our cocktail hour at Madagascar and Reception in Schiff Hall. -Part of the paid package included a golf cart ride to take pictures with animals around the zoo! Super cool idea and we arrived extra early for it...except poor communication between staff members meant all the animals were taken inside before we got a chance to take our photos. No accommodations could be made. -When guests arrived, the zoo staff shuttled them to THE WRONG LOCATION!!! Instead of bringing people to Madagascar for Cocktail hour, they were brought directly to Schiff Hall. It was unnecessarily stressful for me and my husband to have to direct everyone to the right place, shuttle after shuttle, while we were trying to take our family photos. -We confirmed with the venue that they would have signage to the correct location and staff directing our guests. They did not end up having any signage and they had minimal staff assistance to guests. We had several guests get lost. Two families arrived late and they were refused food because the buffet had already been closed. We paid over $100 a plate to feed these guests and they were turned away. Needless to say they were unhappy but we all tried to make the best of this bad situation. Otherwise the event was good. There were miscommunications at times but there was so much going on at once that that was fine with me. If you do host your wedding here, pro tip: do not lock the door to the bridal suite as the lock is apparently broken and few people know how to open it. We got stuck in the bridal suite for 40 minutes.

We had our wedding at the zoo on 9/9/17. Overall, our experience was fantastic - the venue is unique and beautiful, there is ample space both at the ceremony and reception for 200+ guests, and the staff are wonderful. Robyn was our coordinator from the zoo and she is the best vendor that I worked with (and you work with A LOT of vendors when planning a wedding) throughout the process. She is incredibly responsive - I sometimes felt badly emailing her on weekends, holidays or evenings because I knew that she would respond immediately, even if not technically working. She provided us with a lot of perks and amenities to make the day go smoothly, and she seemed to bend a few rules for us as well. She made me feel valued and like I was in really good hands. We were a bit concerned about the food for the event, but received a lot of positive feedback especially during cocktail hour. Unfortunately, there were issues during dinner - the food came out late for several tables and was cold for some guests. This set back the schedule of the wedding so that my father's toast, the music, dancing, etc. was all delayed and shortened. Worst of all, none of the vegetarian meals that I specified were provided! When my veggie guests said they needed a different dinner, servers had no idea what they were talking about and said that they chef had not prepared vegetarian food. These guests were provided additional potatoes and veggies, and the zoo did reimburse us for this mistake. They were very apologetic. There was also a slight issue with the cake (they were supposed to alternate flavors but did not). In general, the servers and staff were incredibly nice and accommodating, despite these errors. Overall, I recommend the zoo for any wedding or event. Our guests cannot stop talking about how special and unique the space is; if you want a night to remember (and we all go to so many weddings that are exactly the same), book your wedding at the zoo.

An unexpected gem in NYC! I grew up in Jersey and have found memories for visiting the Bronx Zoo during school field trips. After reading other reviews and visiting during the winter, I was excited to host my own wedding here. None of the reviews quite captured the amazing experience we had at the zoo. We threw a full-on Indian/Hindu wedding at the Bronx zoo on August 19th and for the past 6 months, Priscilla and the zoo team worked with us to make it happen and accommodate the unique challenges of a Hindu ceremony (Baraat, Mandap, Havan (fire), Indian menu). Our guests can't stop talking about what a unique experience it was to have a zoo wedding and the Zoo Center (Modeled after a European palace), Rockafeller fountain, and sea lion pool provided stunning backdrops for our ceremony, baraat and cocktail reception. We were able to take photos around the zoo and there are so many interesting nooks to capture some really unique moments. The wedding team (Priscilla, Michael and Fatima) even worked with the sea lion caretakers for arrange for a special sea lion feeding during our cocktail reception; an unexpected surprise for our guests! A truly special venue for a special day. We also loved that this space is a non-profit and all the proceeds from our events go towards supporting the zoo and wildlife conservation. We can't wait to visit again with our 1-year free membership (that comes with every wedding package!).

The zoo was the first venue we saw and we instantly loved everything about it. We got married last September and our guests had the best time. The food was delicious and the staff members were amazing with the execution the day of our wedding. Lauren and Priscilla were great work with throughout the planning process and really made our wedding day flow as seamlessly as possible. If you want a unique wedding venue in NY, this is definitely the place! We cannot recommend it enough :)

The Bronx Zoo was a great wedding experience. Everyone was helpful and knew what they were doing. It was handled very professionally and our guests loved it. Ceri, who is a catering manager, was great. She was there through most of the day until the dining part of the ceremony. She made sure we were doing what we needed to be doing at the right times and put our minds at ease. The rest of the staff handled everything perfectly too.

Our wedding at the Bronx Zoo was incredible. First, the venue was spectacular and all of our guests absolutely loved it! It was just so unique, from having cocktail hour by the seals and in a zoo exhibit, to the wedding in the old lion den! Not only was the venue terrific, but the staff was incredible. Priscilla coordinated the entire wedding to go off without a hitch! It was just perfect. We would recommend the venue and the events staff to anyone looking to have the most memorable day ever!