Let your imagination run wild!
AWARD WINNER (1X)
Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is a unique wedding venue in Cleveland, OH. This zoo allows couples to host their celebration in an exciting, unique setting to make for an event their guests will never forget. With various indoor and outdoor event sites and a dedicated event team, it provides everything needed to make your dream wedding a reality.
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is home to many excellent event spaces to accommodate every phase of your special day. If you're looking to host an intimate celebration, you and your guests can enjoy the Wolf Wilderness Lodge, a trappers cabin that can accommodate up to 56 guests. With a stone fireplace, an antler chandelier, and viewing areas of grey wolves, Northern birds, and aquatic life, it provides an unforgettable setting for a smaller wedding. Or, if you'd like to host a larger event, consider Stillwater Place, an elegant reception area that can accommodate up to 500 guests in a combination of indoor and outdoor spaces. It features picturesque views of Waterfowl Lake, a spacious patio, and an outdoor fireplace, making it an idyllic location to celebrate your forever union. However, if you're looking for an event space that truly embraces the wilderness of the zoo, you can host your wedding in the Rainforest, surrounded by lush surroundings, animal exhibits, and a tiki-thatched dance floor. This area can accommodate up to 300 guests for a seated meal or up to 800 for a standing reception.
Their dedicated event team will work with you throughout the planning process to ensure every detail is accounted for and to help you choose the best event spaces for your unique event. Venue rentals include tables, chairs, china, glassware, silverware, and linens. Ample free parking is available for your guests' and vendors' convenience.
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Pricing details
Starting prices
Reception
$1,200
Reception
$1,200
Ceremony
$500
Bar services
$28 per person
Catering
Contact for price
- Couples usually spend $10,300
- Starting prices don't include service fees, taxes, gratuity, and rental fees.
- Guest count and seasonality may also affect prices. Peak season for this venue is Apr-Oct.
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Amenities + details
Amenities
Ceremony Area
Dressing Room
Handicap Accessible
Indoor Event Space
Outdoor Event Space
Reception Area
Wireless Internet
Ceremony Types
Civil Union
Commitment Ceremony
Elopement
Interfaith Ceremony
Non-Religious Ceremony
Religious Ceremony
Second Wedding
Vow Renewal Ceremony
Guest Capacity
300+
Settings
Ballroom
Beach
Waterfront
Tented
Venue Service Offerings
Bar & Drinks
Cakes & Desserts
Food & Catering
Planning
Service Staff
Awards and Affiliations
Any questions?
Availability
Reviews
4.6
out of 5.052 reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.
Review Summary
This AI-generated summary is a snapshot of this vendor's ratings and feedback.
The Cleveland Zoo's Stillwater Place is highly recommended as a wedding venue, with guests praising the excellent service, beautiful setting, and unique experiences including animal encounters and carousel rides. Event coordinators like Kira and Emma are commended for their professionalism and attentiveness, making the planning process stress-free. The in-house vendors provide delicious food and efficient service, with linens and dinnerware options included in the packages. Overall, guests had a fantastic and memorable experience at the Cleveland Zoo, with many recommending it for couples looking for a fun and extraordinary wedding venue.Review photos
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Danny D
5.0
1/07/2025
The Cleveland Zoo has always held a special place in my partner’s and my hearts. It’s one of our favorite local spots, and it’s even where we got engaged. So, when it came time to choose a venue for our wedding, it only felt natural to hold our celebration there. While some might see it as unconventional, we believe it’s the perfect place for a wedding, and it was truly a magical choice for us.
We were lucky enough to have a December wedding, and one of the special touches we were able to offer our guests was tickets to the Winter Lights exhibit. It added an extra layer of romance to the evening, and everyone loved it.
We were impressed by so many aspects of the zoo’s venue—from its spaciousness and affordability to, most importantly, the incredible staff who made everything run so smoothly. From the moment we booked, the event planning team was professional, clear, and attentive. They asked all the right questions and worked their magic to bring our vision to life. We were blown away by how many details the zoo had covered: they provided everything from colored table linens and runners to flatware, silverware, and lighting options—all included.
The zoo’s in-house vendors were equally fantastic. The bar service was top-notch, and the drinks were flowing all night long. The food was absolutely delicious—so many of our guests commented on how much they enjoyed it. The entire experience made us feel welcomed, valued, and honestly, like royalty.
One of our favorite parts of the process was selecting our menu. We were invited to a tasting at the Rainforest and were encouraged to bring a few more guests along. It was hard to choose just a few dishes because everything was so delicious! During the tasting, we also had the chance to meet our event planner and serving staff, which made everything feel more personal and helped break the ice early.
I know a lot of couples say that finding the right venue is one of the most stressful parts of the wedding planning process. But with the Cleveland Zoo, we always felt we were in great hands. They made everything so easy, streamlined, and stress-free. If you’re looking for a unique, unforgettable venue that provides excellent service and an extraordinary experience, I cannot recommend the Cleveland Zoo enough.
Angelina M
5.0
1/04/2025
I can’t imagine having our reception anywhere else!! Kira & Mary made our wedding planning and day so seamless. We were in CONSTANT communication from the moment we booked, and day of wedding, Kira was ON it! Our cocktail hour was at the carousel, and it was a hit! And then the rest of the night was perfect! We truly could not have had as good of a night without Kira. I recommend this venue 10/10!!
Any questions?
Stephanie C
5.0
11/19/2024
Our coordinator Kira and Mary with Aramark made the planning process so easy! They were both so communicative with us to ensure everything went smoothy the day of. Stillwater Place is a gorgeous building! Out guests loved the carousel, Photo Booth, and the ability to walk around the Asian Lantern Festival in the evening as well. We would recommend Stillwater Place to anyone for a wedding venue!
Nicky P
5.0
11/05/2024
My husband and I just got married on 10/26 at the Zoo/Stillwater Place and it was the best experience! Our wedding coordinator Kira and her assistant Milo were amazing! We had so much fun! The animal encounter and carousel made our wedding magical! The venue is gorgeous and we are so happy we had our big day here! Totally recommend!!!
Cassandra P
5.0
11/01/2024
We had such a fantastic experience working with the teams at the Cleveland Zoo. We got married on the patio at Stillwater Place, and had a reception inside afterwards, with cocktail hour at the carousel. We can’t say enough about the professionalism, positive energy, and efforts made by everyone to ensure we had the best day ever. They made sure everything was accounted for, that we stayed on schedule, and truly that we had NOTHING to worry about day of. Great communication throughout the entire process, and they were ready to answer any and all questions we had. Huge shoutout to Mary from Aramark and Kira the event coordinator for making sure the day went smooth, and Jersey who was so wonderful at making sure we were fed, had drinks, and enjoyed every part of our reception to its fullest. Our guests had so much fun, and it’s all because of this incredible team, we can’t thank them enough!!
Leah R
5.0
10/01/2024
Cannot begin to describe how wonderful my wedding was at the Cleveland Zoo in the Primate, Cat and Aquatic building! The entire staff from the Zoo to Aramark were absolutely wonderful to work with and handled everything seamlessly. I did not have any worries and my wedding was spectacular. Kira and Mary are wonderful to work with and wonderful at their job. My husband and I highly recommend weddings at the Zoo!
Greer G
5.0
8/16/2024
There aren’t enough words to describe how happy we are that we got married at the zoo. Emma from the Zoo and Mary from Aramark were an absolute joy to work with - very accommodating, professional, understanding, and responsive. Highly recommend getting married at the zoo if you want a unique/fun venue or even just a beautiful place!
We love the outdoors and wanted to get married somewhere fun – mission accomplished! It’s been over a month since we got married and our guests are STILL raving about how much fun they had, how delicious the food was, how incredible and unique the experience was, and praise the staff.
Logistics were a big deal for us. With a lot of guests, some with mobility issues, we wanted to make things as easy for our guests as possible. Having the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception at one location took a huge burden off of us and it was one of the best decisions we made. Guests that had mobility issues felt well taken care of and could easily navigate the space, and the staff treated everyone like gold. There was one small issue with the last tram up breaking down part way through the trip before the ceremony, but the staff remained in contact with each other and handled it without us having to stress/worry.
Mary and the Aramark staff were fantastic to work with. Mary replied promptly to all of our questions, countless “what if” inquiries and requests about allergies, was gracious about any and all accommodations and changes and so much more. We had a plated meal for 200 guests and everyone was served in a timely manner with delicious meals well executed. The contract also included linens, china, silverware, etc. so having a one-stop-shop for that took away a LOT of additional contracts/stress. With a lot of different allergies, some severe – they took the time to understand each of them and accommodate everyone which went a long way with our guests. They often times go places and have to bring their own items, and to be included/accommodated meant a lot to them!
Emma was an absolute dream to work with and her staff was amazing. The Zoo will assign a day-of coordinator and Emma went above and beyond to make the day special for us, and take as much stress off of us as possible leading up to the wedding. From accommodating separate visits to the venue to help alleviate stress/anxieties that our parents, officiant, baker, etc. had – I can’t imagine other places handling it with such grace and poise. They also set up our place cards, centerpieces, chairs for the ceremony, tables/chairs for the reception, etc. that we (and our family and friends) could just focus on what we wanted to that day – it was a huge relief and help.
From hearing the lion roar during our ceremony, to riding the carousel during happy hour, or exploring the Asian lantern festival and being in the beautiful Stillwater, we loved all of it (as did our guests). Great value for the cost and amazing people to work with. We love the zoo and are so happy that our guests now love the zoo, too.
Cecily M
5.0
8/14/2024
"The most fun wedding ever!", "OMG you had a carousel, animals, and even zipliners going by...what else could a wedding have!?", "The food was SO good", "Every single staff member was so wonderful and helpful", "The service during dinner was impeccable" - Feedback from our guests
Holy moly, our wedding was phenomenal. The zoo is such a cool venue at a reasonable price point - literally, it comes off as a MUCH more expensive venue than it is - and offers so many little options to make your day the coolest party ever without breaking the bank. Emma, our coordinator, was so helpful, thoughtful, communicative, professional (enter endless other positive things here...) and was always so thrilled to be part of our day and even helped us coordinate a mini photoshoot with our pup right out front. She helped make everything so smooth and I can't imagine approaching my wedding without such solid support from the venue.
Mary and her team with Aramark was equally fantastic. Extremely thorough, responsive, and on top of all things food and drink. I was a little nervous going into the contract with the zoo because we weren't certain what the food would be like, but it was DELICIOUS. If you're concerned about food, don't be, just relax into not having to worry about tracking down a separate caterer. The price per person was reasonable but also there were lots of package options depending on what you're looking for.
Between the incredible staff at the zoo and my other awesome vendors, I am deeply impressed and grateful for the easy, stress-free planning process and the absolutely unbelievable memories we'll have forever. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts <3 Cecily and Jon
Rachael U
5.0
12/30/2023
Emma and her team at the zoo were an absolute dream. My husband and I had our reception at Stillwater place in December and everything was better than we could have ever imagined. The lights from the zoo lights could be seen throughout the windows and pavilion at the reception. It was such a huge hit. Emma and her team worked hard to ensure it was the best night of our lives. They had everything set up perfectly and she was always quick to respond during the planning process. I wouldn’t have had it any other way. If you’re thinking about looking at Stillwater place for a possible location for your wedding you won’t regret it.
Sophia C
5.0
10/06/2023
We had the most amazing wedding at the Zoo! Stillwater place was everything my husband and I wanted when deciding on an indoor/outdoor wedding. Courtney was our event coordinator and her team was phenomenal. Aramark… crushed it! All of our guests had the best time and couldn’t believe how amazing our wedding was at the Zoo. My husband and I went into our wedding day stress free because everyone at the Zoo handled everything. Highly recommend!!!!
Angelica C
1.0
9/08/2023
I didn’t even book with this venue but I’d give them 0 stars. Kelly and Cindy are very unorganized. My appointment to tour was canceled 3 times. The 3rd time they didn’t even show nor did they even try to apologize or reschedule. If they can’t get a tour right, I definitely wouldn’t trust them to get the wedding right
Susan W
5.0
8/22/2023
We had the best experience working with everyone at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and I would recommend Stillwater Place to anyone planning a larger wedding. We had 265 people and there was still plenty of room for a dance floor, photobooth, and food stations. The Zoo staff were so communicative and professional (they assign an event coordinator to work with you throughout the planning process and help on wedding day!) and open to our ideas (we rented the zipline for our guests during the reception). Mary from Aramark was also a dream to work with - my partner is a chef and had a million thoughts about how he wanted to do the food and Mary was so patient with us. We ended up doing prime rib and pasta stations with a bunch of appetizers dispersed around the venue and it was perfect. Our guests all raved both about how delicious the food was and how they never had to wait for something to eat (a huge pet peeve of mine at other weddings). We would do it all over again in a heartbeat.
Jenna S
5.0
8/15/2023
I’m still on cloud 9 from our big day at the zoo. We had our ceremony outside under the pavilion, cocktail hour at the carousel and reception in Stillwater place. A few days later and I am still receiving messages from guests that it was one of the best weddings they have ever attended… we feel the same way! We primarily worked with Emma and Mary through the planning process and let me tell you, it was a well oiled machine! The communication was perfect, they both went above and beyond for us. I will never be able to thank them enough for helping my vision come to life. Emma and the rest of the staff exceeded all our expectations the day of the wedding. They didn’t let the thunderstorms or rain interfere to the slightest and made sure everything we wanted still happened. Jersey was our primary server at the reception, she made sure me, my husband and our families were never empty handed and had everything we needed. I couldn’t recommend the Cleveland Zoo and Stillwater place more for your wedding venue. We miss it already and can’t wait to go back and visit!
Sarah S
5.0
8/15/2023
I literally cannot say enough good things! From the beginning of the process, booking the venue, working with the event coordinators, the caterers, literally everybody was absolutely amazing from beginning to end. Everything was perfectly planned down to a T. The communication was excellent, the service was excellent, the food was excellent, and the venue looked like an absolute dream. I would absolutely recommend this venue to everybody and I can promise you that everybody involved will make sure that you have the wedding of your dreams! We absolutely could not have asked for a better day or a better venue!
Jenna K
5.0
7/26/2023
I can’t say enough wonderful things about the zoo! We had our wedding ceremony at Wade deck, cocktail at the carousel, and reception in Stillwater place. It was everything and more we could have dreamed of! Great communication for us through the whole process (Emma is the best)! All of our guests said it was the most fun and unique wedding they have ever been to! Also who can say they fed a giraffe, rode a zip line, and got multiple photos during the Asian lantern festival for their wedding?!?! Also they set up and tear down everything for you, as well as coordinate and set up times with all of your vendors! Book it, you won’t regret it!
Stephanie L
5.0
7/07/2023
We had our ceremony at wild wonder pavilion, cocktail hour at the carousel, and our reception in Stillwater, and all venues were very beautiful. I will say in the beginning communicating with our coordinator was a little rough around the edges because there was some miscommunication, however, it did improve in areas and ultimately we had a new coordinator at the end (due to issues out of our control), which was Cindy, and she really did an amazing job with everything in such little time and really allowed us to have a stress free day. I was very impressed when the night was over and all my stuff was packed up ready to go and I had not one thing to worry about, she also accommodated some things for us to make our lives easier which really made a difference. The food was wonderful, the staff was wonderful, the bartenders were great and super friendly. Our server brought us (bride and groom) drinks on arrival, she also served us appetizers from the cocktail hour that we missed due to taking pictures, so we could actually enjoy what we were paying for which I felt was really thoughtful. I would recommend the zoo, I also thought the price of the venue was pretty reasonable in comparison to other venues in the area.
If I do have any suggestions, since wedding planning is usually a first time experience, I definitely learned that I should ask more questions before immediately agreeing to a venue. Granted, venues book up fast so the pressure is definitely on, so here is my advice, ask lots of questions in advance. The zoo has their own catering company that you have to use, which we knew, but there were definitely some unexpected fees in the Aramark contract that we weren’t expecting since we have never done this before. Ask for as much information as you can, with any venue, before you commit. We would have still chosen the zoo for the record if we knew about the additional fees in advance, but we just felt a little blindsided which takes away from the positive experience, we just wanted to make sure we had the venue we wanted and that was our only focus. Additionally, you do have to pay a deposit (half of total) right away and then the remaining balance a couple months later, which seemed very quick to pay in full to us since we paid in early 2022 but our wedding was summer 2023. I’m sure there was a reason for it, so again, just ask questions so you don’t get frustrated with the process. Lastly, the zoo is meaningful to me, so it was important to get married there, we had a very small wedding with our closest friends and family, and everyone had only wonderful things to say about it, which solidified feeling like it was money well spent. It really was a beautiful and memorable day with a great team and an overall very positive experience.
Allison B
5.0
12/12/2022
Sooo happy we booked this venue! Everything was perfect and the coordinators were so helpful and responsive! Emma was great! Highly recommend getting married here!
Kelly D
5.0
11/19/2022
Amazing! Cannot recommend this venue enough, so blessed to have gotten married here. :)
First off, the space is awesome! New facility, clean, high ceilings and spacious. Any style you choose will fit in here perfectly. Lots of areas to get away and chat during the reception. You also have an event coordinator assigned specifically to your event, and we loved Mia!
We chose to have our ceremony on the premises and there are many options for that as well. We actually ending up using the dance floor as an "isle" and it worked out well. One of the reasons we chose this venue was because their indoor options ceremony space options were just as good as outdoor their options. (Being in Cleveland you have to be prepared for any weather at any time.)
The carousel was a great add-on for cocktail hour. I wasn't sure if my guests would use it, but many did-multiple times (even older guests)! It made the whole experience much more exciting for everyone.
The animal encounter was so cute and my guests were able to take photos with the animals as well.
Aramark does the catering and the food was all delicious. And Mary, our Aramark rep was awesome! Everyone was raving about how good it was - even a week later!
The "accommodations" were great too - not only is there a "bridal suite" but also a separate "groom's room" and a coat room- which made it feel like a very classy affair. There is also a separate family restroom, so if you're worried about trying to go the bathroom in your wedding dress you will have plenty of space...
I really felt like my wedding was a big event by having it at the zoo rather than an ordinary venue.
My only caution is that if your dreams are bigger than your budget, be careful because the options here are virtually limitless - but is that really a bad thing? :)
Money well spent. Very happy.
Alana B
2.0
8/30/2022
We really didn't want to do this, but after a poor response from some of the venue team, we wanted to provide a warning about hosting a wedding at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. The zoo's events team is split between the special events group and Aramark catering. Although the special events team worked hard to ensure our special day would take place as planned, there were some major communication issues both on their part and especially on the part of the Aramark catering group.
First, we were assured that only weddings or similar special events would take place on our wedding day. Six weeks before, we found out the Asian Lantern Festival was scheduled for the same day. We had to scramble to understand how to prevent wedding crashers, avoid the music and noise, and ensure the lanterns would not be part of our wedding photos. Although we were told all of the Asian Lantern Festival music would be shut off near Stillwater Place, the back patio still had the festival music playing all night.
During the initial venue tours, we were also told that the wedding party could feed the giraffes. This message is clearly not communicated to the entire zoo staff, who tried to bar us from feeding the giraffes and caused a major issue once my bridesmaids and I arrived. They insisted we could not feed the giraffes as the other paying guests deserved priority. I'm not exactly sure how much each guest paid for the zoo, but we paid close to $18,000k and we even offered to pay petty cash for the lettuce as well. The staff members at the giraffe enclosure were rude and flustered by the request to feed the giraffes...even though the sales team mentions it as a highlight of hosting a wedding at the zoo.
Finally, the Aramark team completely mishandled the alcohol orders; ordering the liquor only a week in advance, neglecting to order standard alcohols like vodka and gin, and most importantly, deciding on the wedding day to completely omit the cocktail hour bar without consulting me, my husband, or our wedding planner, even though their signed contracts and numerous emails clearly mentioned the cocktail hour bar. Our guests were left to enjoy a cocktail hour without the actual cocktails...which put pressure on us to finish up pictures quickly to rectify the situation.
We share this information not to complain, but to warn other couples considering a wedding at the zoo. The communication issues and drama disrupted the week before the wedding and the wedding itself. The Aramark team owned no responsibility for their mistakes and tried to blame me. Fortunately, I saved all the paperwork and fought hard to pay what was promised and not the thousands they were trying to overcharge us.
If you're considering a wedding at the zoo, make sure you get everything in writing and that you check in with them proactively in the days and weeks leading up to the wedding. Follow up often and overcommunicate. Don't trust that they will get the details right without several concrete reminders. We never imagined being so stressed with the venue on the day of the wedding; it really tainted the whole experience when we should have been able to enjoy the day without drama.
Kerry M
5.0
8/04/2022
I can't say enough good things about our wedding at the zoo. We had the best day ever thanks to Jenna, our main contact at the zoo. Shelbie and her team at Aramark did a fantastic job as well. All of our guests told us what a wonderful time they had and how it was such a cool wedding experience. I would definitely recommend renting the carousel for cocktail hour. I am so happy we decided to have our wedding at Stillwater Place.
Allison W
5.0
11/22/2021
I cannot recommend Stillwater Place enough! Our 11/13 wedding went off without a hitch. Cindy and the staff were wonderful the day of and leading up to the event. We had our cocktail hour at the carousel with the small animal experience. Our guests (and us) took full advantage of the carousel and loved the animals - they are more than worth the extra cost. I brought my own decor and Cindy/team decorated with it better than I could even imagine. They thought of the little things that really made the day feel even more special - they enclosed the carousel when it was chilly, gave my fiancé and I our own plate of apps and brought us our signature drinks right when we sat down. Food was amazing as well! I really cannot recommend Stillwater Place, Cindy and the zoo as a wedding venue enough.
Elisabeth S
5.0
10/31/2021
Stillwater place is a must for your wedding! From Cindy the coordinator to all the Aramark staff- everything was amazing! Every guest complimented the food and how beautiful the space was.
Virginia C
5.0
8/22/2021
We just hosted our daughter and son-in-law's wedding reception here. It was an AMAZING experience!! From the very beginning of the planning process to the very last moment of the reception was made so easy by our event coordinator Alascia and her staff. Alascia is so kind and professional and anticipates your every need. And the food from Aramark got rave reviews! Wish we could do it all over again!!
Pembroke S
5.0
6/08/2020
We picked the zoo for our wedding because the venue is absolutely stunning, but the service is even better. We were not able to have our wedding as planned due to COVID, but the events staff (Sam and Alascia) at the zoo was incredibly kind and understanding as everything unfolded. Although we ended up having to do a smaller wedding and couldn’t use the venue at the zoo, I would HIGHLY recommend this venue. You will be taken care of no matter what happens!!
Kerry S
5.0
2/09/2020
We're so glad we picked Stillwater Place as our reception venue. Our guests absolutely loved the carousel and animals at cocktail hour and enjoyed being able to spend time outside on the patio during the reception. Alascia really made our wedding experience with Cleveland Metroparks Zoo phenomenal. She was easy to get in touch with and provided quick and detailed responses to our seemingly neverending questions. Alascia went above and beyond in helping my maid of honor set up a surprise for us as part of her wedding speech which really meant a lot to us. It was such a relief knowing Alascia and her team were taking such good care of our guests and event! Our day would not have gone so smoothly without them! We are so happy we chose to have our reception at Stillwater Place. We all had an amazingly fun time!
Morgan L
5.0
9/27/2019
I cannot say enough about the venue and the entire team at the Cleveland Zoo. They did a fabulous job with our wedding from day one and were so helpful with everything. Our coordinator was Alascia and she was the absolute best. So attentive, patient, and sweet. She made our day and all the planning leading up to the day so smooth and easy. Both her and the catering team were extremely responsive and accommodating. The venue was beautiful and set up was perfect. I would give more than 5 stars if I could.
Lauren L
4.0
9/04/2019
Stillwater Place was a gorgeous venue! Everyone kept commenting on how wonderful the venue, flowers and Wade Deck looked all weekend long! After our Ceremony at Wade Deck, one of the shuttle drivers took us around to some of the animal that were still outside and we got amazing photos from that! Overall, we had an amazing time! The only issues we had were not being told until two days before the wedding that we would have to stay and clean up all the decor, take it with us at the end of our wedding night.. This would have been great to find out prior too and make arrangements instead of having Parents, Bridal Party, Bride and Groom stay to do this. The staff night of didn't seem to be on the same page because when you asked a question no one seemed to know the answer.. (like where to direct people to go for cocktail hour was an issue until our DJ helped with that). Stillwater was gorgeous and I'd definitely recommend it overall!
Alycia B
4.0
8/22/2019
The Stillwater Place venue is absolutely stunning! We have nothing but beautiful pictures of the venue and were extremely lucky to have wonderful weather. Our guests loved the back patio and all the little details that make this an elegant and romantic setting. The zoo partners with Aramark catering and the food was fantastic! We loved working with Nicole, our catering manager who delivered on a beautiful dinner and excellent service. With this being a Zoo first and a wedding venue second, we ran into a few logistical issues. Just keep in mind that zoo visitors are also their guests and that you may need to enact a couple backup plans and have a little patience to get everything to work out just right.
Katherine K
5.0
6/27/2019
Stillwater Place at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is a bright and beautiful reception venue, with a great combination of indoor and outdoor spaces, and a wonderful staff! We had our ceremony on the deck nextdoor, our cocktail hour on their covered patio, and the reception inside. The whole place is spacious, and has wonderful natural lighting and settings for pictures too. Plus, the zoo offers all kinds of extra details to enhance the day, from a shuttle for your guests to the option of having small animal encounters during the cocktail hour. I would highly recommend this venue, especially for an outdoor or summer wedding!
Melissa M
5.0
6/18/2019
There is no where else we could have imagined getting married! The ceremony, cocktail hour at the carousal, and the reception were PERFECT. Cindy is absolutely amazing to work with and made our day the absolute best!
patty b
5.0
4/09/2019
Excellent venue! Professional staff did an excellent job . Alascia Jones was our coordinator. Very professional and clued us in on all details. Kept us informed on timeline and did exactly what was promised. Would recommend to any future wedding couple. Very happy! Also the food was spectacular. Our guests enjoyed the menu and served promptly.
James B
5.0
4/07/2019
My Daughter recently had her wedding and reception at Stillwater Place. The place is amazing for a wedding and the reception was top notch.
I can't say enough about how helpful and professional the Event Planning Staff and the Caterer, (Aramark), were. I give them my highest recommendations
Chloe W
5.0
2/14/2019
We got married on September 8, 2018. The zoo and all the staff we interacted with were amazing! Alascia was our coordinator, and I could not have asked for a better person to work with! She was detail oriented, she thought of things that we forgot, and I could tell that she took the time to read all the long emails I sent her over our engagement. The zoo staff was very concerned with making our event what we wanted.
We ended up having our ceremony on Wade Deck. It looked beautiful. The reception was at Stillwater Place, which is a stunning building. Stillwater Place is building, but it has an outdoor patio with a fire. This was a bit hit among our guests; we received a lot of compliments on how beautiful the venue was. It allowed our guests to either stay in and dance or go outside and chat, where it was quieter. We also opted for a carousel rental during our cocktail hour, and a zoo volunteer came with an owl and an armadillo!
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and the staff we worked with (especially our coordinator Alascia) helped us get the unique, creative, and fun wedding we wanted. I recommend them to anyone.
wendy m
5.0
12/01/2018
Thank you Cindy for making our night magical. Matt, the food was amazing and people are still talking g about how fabulous it was. Putting together an interfaith marriage is not easy, but our cantorial leader Annice Benamy, my sister, did an exceptional job. Kyle and Ilana, my niece and nephew, sang our song while being walked down the aisle. Thank you everyone from the Baker to the DJ to my best Rosanne for taking on a huge job from me, the flowers. We will never forget "our night."
Sarah L
4.0
8/13/2018
Overall, our experience with the Zoo staff was fantastic! Alascia was so incredibly helpful and made sure our day was perfect. The entire staff went above and beyond on our wedding day! The only thing that I was not a fan of was the fact that our contacts for both the zoo and Aramark (the catering company through the zoo) changed at least two or three times, and sometimes things would fall through. For example, we had a big deposit to be put down that we had no idea about due to miscommunication. That was the biggest problem that comes to mind. But at the end of the day, we had a fantastic time!
5.0
6/23/2018
My husband and I had our ceremony and reception at Stillwater Place in May 2018. Everything was perfect, and the staff at Stillwater Place was awesome. My main contact throughout the whole planing process was Cindy. She was easy to work with, professional, and willing to help in any way she could. Our day would not have gone as smoothly without her. Our guests made so many comments about how nice the venue was and how delicious the food was. Aramark did a great job with the food, and they were willing to accommodate any dietary restrictions. Overall, I was very happy with our wedding, and I would highly recommend Stillwater Place to future couples!
Natalia C
5.0
10/28/2017
TLDR: Beautiful venue, helpful staff, had a dream wedding.
We got married in September at Wade Deck, with our reception at Stillwater Place, and it was like a dream wedding I didn't know I had. The facility is absolutely beautiful, and it was wonderful to have a back-up indoor location for the wedding in case of bad weather. I worked with Cindy Roebuck and she was great! She ensured the set-up of the name cards, table cards, and our table names and photos went smoothly. She and her team also coordinated the ceremony entrances so that we knew when to leave Stillwater Place to head over to Wade Deck. We paid extra for the guaranteed animal experience during the cocktail hour, with someone from the Education Department because we figured we might as well get the most of the zoo location. Our guests LOVED this part. We had a fennic fox and a barn owl that folks got to take pictures with and hear interesting facts about.
We limited our costs at this venue by not having a beef menu option, having donuts rather than cake (to eliminate the cake-cutting fee), cutting out the dessert that comes with the meal (saves $2 per meal), and having a consumption bar. The consumption bar was CLUTCH. If you have a crowd of moderate drinkers, this is the way to go, as opposed to an open bar. Guests don't know the difference, but you save huge amounts if your guests aren't averaging >5 drinks each.
Overall, I had the best wedding I could have possibly imagined for myself. I never thought I could afford to get married in such a beautiful place, and the staff helped make up for our DIY/cheap approach to the rest of the wedding (friend officiating, no centerpieces, no decorations, self-made table/name cards and table names with national park photos). I made checklists and thought we'd be running around with our wedding party getting stuff set-up in the hour between our photos and the wedding ceremony, but when we walked into the venue, the team was already hard at work and I just walked around and made sure everything was going well. Such a relief and load off that it was all taken care of.
Another bonus - guests can go to the zoo for free on the day!
Amanda B
5.0
9/11/2017
We had nothing but a positive experience!! Everything was great!!
kelsey H
5.0
8/24/2017
We got married in New Years Eve this past year and couldn't have had a better time. The venue looked beautiful. The staff was amazing, more than helpful, and took care of EVERYTHING! They eliminated so much stress for my family by setting everything up, cleaning everything up, and being super organized! They are relatively new, so they usually check out and try to make any idea you throw at them work. I cannot say enough good things about this venue!
Ashley H
5.0
8/01/2017
We had our reception at Stillwater place and it was amazing. We continue to get compliments on the venue! The staff were incredible too, continually going above and beyond! Amazing experience!
Lauren M
5.0
7/27/2017
I can't say enough about how AWESOME my ceremony and reception were at Stillwater Place in the Cleveland Zoo. Everything was impeccable. I didn't have to worry about anything during our special night - everything from set up to tear down was taken care of. Aulbrie, my wedding coordinator through the zoo, was a lifesaver. They are extremely professional and efficient. I would recommend over and over to check it out!!
Sierra P
5.0
7/21/2017
We just had our wedding and reception at the Primate, Cat, and Aquatics Building at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo on July 7th. I have nothing but wonderful things to say about the coordinators, and catering department at this location! When we were looking for the venue, and we met with Aulbrie, we absolutely fell in love with the ceremony location, and the reception location. They have so many options at the zoo too depending on budget. Aulbrie and Leah were the best coordinators I could have asked for! They were so helpful, and eased my stress with trying to plan out the wedding and keep everything on track. Aramark is the catering, and the food was AMAZING!! Kristin was great to work with, and was always quick to respond to any of my questions I had throughout the planning process. Depending on the amount of people and location you choose within the zoo, I can see it might get a little expensive, but it is worth every penny! The food choices were fantastic, and very reasonably priced in comparison to other locations available. And you won't get a more unique wedding than here!
Dana A
5.0
5/22/2017
My husband and I were married at the Stillwater Place just last week, May 13, 2017. We could not have asked for a better day and the staff was more than accommodating. The venue itself was gorgeous, everyone extremely helpful, taking a lot of pressure off of me as the bride. The food was to die for, people raved about it all night. We had a nice fire in a huge stone fireplace on the patio going all night. Most of our guests said it was the best wedding they've ever been to. I highly recommend the zoo and especially the Stillwater Place for anyone looking for a unique wedding venue. I am extremely grateful
5.0
1/26/2017
Aulbrie and her crew were outstanding! The venue was perfectly set up for a New Years eve wedding reception. Last minute adjustments were handled graciously and to our satisfaction. The event ran smoothly and the staff couldn't be nicer. Excellent experience!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2.0
12/28/2016
Do not be distracted by the looks of this venue. While it is a beautiful venue, the staff lacks the competence, professionalism, and communication skills needed to orchestrate an event as important as your wedding. It is impossibly hard to get ahold of anyone on staff at this venue. My weekdays were filled with my parents, fiance, and myself using lunch breaks to try to get ahold of this venue. They are very unorganized and due to a "computer error" they gave my wedding date away. Like I said, Stillwater Place is the most beautiful venue I have ever seen but if trust and professionalism is important to you, Stillwater Place is not the venue for you.
Rachel S
1.0
11/18/2015
We were just in the initial planning phase of our wedding. My fiancé and I have to pay for the wedding ourselves. Cindy was a no show to our first appointment, then blamed us for not finding her. Then when I began asking about receiving back part of the deposit she quickly answered NO and that I miss read the contract, then ignored my emails. Tells me she has proof in her email box that all that information was sent. I also have proof of everything I received. The communication is horrific and if you miss understand something then it may cost you a lot of money! We lost $700 that "just goes in their budget as unused funds." While im sure my attitude was not great, I have worked in customer service for a long time. Telling a customer that they are wrong then proceeding to mumble under your breath while FINALLY getting you the information makes for a great service. My wedding should be a happy time. If you are a bride on a tight budget less than 30000, DO NOT PICK HERE! If you feel that you want someone responsible DO NOT PICK HERE!!! Paying for a wedding is a scary thing, I was just looking to view the property before putting down a deposit with my fiancé. Now every time I go to the zoo or see signs for all I see feel is distaste and regret for putting down any money at all. We are not even requesting our money back, we would just like it to go in as a donation for the animals. But apparently that is not allowed.
Beth F
4.0
5/24/2015
Great venue to have a wedding! It was reasonably priced. We're very happy with our wedding! They were very accommodating to anything we asked. Prices were reasonable. We dropped off centerpieces/favors before hand which they set up for us. They allowed a cookie table with homemade cookies. Other vendors required us buy their cookies! Linens and dinnerware were included.
Mildly frustrating: We were under the impression that we were allowed in the RainForest at 5:30 for pictures/set-up. When we got there, we were kicked out until 6:30 so they could clean and set-up. We planned for pictures inside and to have time for a break b/f the cocktail hour started. They said it was in our contract that we couldn't come in until 6:30, but that was not accurate. The contract says "The Guest Group is permitted to begin to set up for their event alongside the Zoo's staff once the Zoo and the RainForest close to the public....Between Labor Day and Memorial Day, and Monday through Friday set up can begin at 5pm." Our planner was able to get things resolved, but it delayed and prevented us from the much needed rest before guests arrived. This was 1 out of 3 frustrating moments of the day for us, and it was the 1st real issue we had with the zoo. Luckily it was a nice sunny day in Cleveland, OH for once, so we didn't get rained on while waiting outside.
(partly us, partly zoo) mild Frustration 2/3: There is no sound system in the Storm Room which is where dinner is held. Dancing and DJ are set up out in the cafe area. The DJ brought an extra sound system to set up where dinner was held and he set it up right by the door. The Zoo should recommend in the future that he move it more towards the center of the room. Since the room is a half circle, people on the other side of the storm exhibit could not hear any of the toasts! It is a huge regret of mine. Another solution: Do toasts/first dances during cocktail hour before everyone goes in for dinner.
Caterer – Aramark is the exclusive caterer for the Zoo. They were among the most reasonably priced provider when compared to other venues and offered a wide array of choices when it came to the Menu. They also offer a tasting experience before finalizing the menu. Quality of the food was good and they offered flexibility in the menu and bar service. Our main contact for the event switched 3 different times during our planning. This caused a few lapses in communication and planning but the issues were quickly addressed when we brought them to attention.
Complaint 3/3: We wanted dessert to be served out by the dance floor after dinner. This is where we were going to cut the cake as well. However, the caterer wanted cake to be served where dinner was because they had already put out a dessert fork. I felt pressured to cut our cake in the storm room instead of the cafe area where everyone was. I cut my cake on a dirty dinner table rather than the cake table on which it was set up. I wish I would've been more upfront about my feelings. The RainForest is a unique location for a reception, and requires special considerations for all aspects of the meal.
We wouldn't change our venue! We loved it very much and all of our guests were so impressed with how fun it was! Any complaints made here are so people can adjust communication so things can go even more smoothly next time. All in all, everything was great and everyone was really easy to work with!
Chad B
5.0
2/09/2014
My wife and I were married in June 2012 are completely satisfied with the service, value, and location of our wedding reception at the Primates building at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.
We were especially impressed with all the people that we met. We dealt with Mary for the food, and she was awesome. She took care of everything behind the scenes and made it look easy. Mary and the awesome chefs were willing to work with us and our special request to create a totally vegetarian menu - and they did a great job.
We worked with Ann from the Zoo for all the details on the location. She bent over backwards to meet with us several times and answer all of our overly detailed questions. Ann and the Zoo staff did all the behind the scenes work to coordinate with the other vendors and to get the location set up. Again they made it look easy and took all the weight off of our shoulders as far as work and worry.
The location itself turned out to be really interesting. We were not looking for a normal (read boring) reception venue. My wife and I met at the local dog park and are animal lovers, so this location seemed like a good bet. And now that we have had our wedding, we are sure that we picked the right location. It was interesting, unique, beautiful, fun, and hip.
The layout of the building was the only drawback. The parking was not right next to the building (although not far), and the room was sort of broken up into two levels. But the Zoo staff helped us to figure out how to make it work well.
Overall, we were really happy with the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. Our guests still talk about what a great time they had at our wedding and at our awesome reception location!
Julie T
4.0
9/17/2012
Scary at night!!ots of fun
Kate B
5.0
10/06/2011
The staff were very professional and helpful throughout the entire process. They set up all the tables and chairs and even helped my family and friends decorate the room. I would recommend this venue to anyone who wants something fun, interesting and unique
Megan R
5.0
7/20/2011
Our reception at the Primates, Cats, and Aquatics building was great! The service was fantastic. Mary and Stacy were so attentive, calm, and helpful. I think a lot of our guest arrived unsure of what a wedding at the zoo would be like, but we got so many genuine compliments on what a fun place it was for a reception.
Mary W
5.0
9/28/2010
Stacy and Mary could not have been easier and more wonderful to work with. Our wedding was unique and wonderfual and everything we could have imagined. The staff for the evening was fantastic and our guests had a wonderful time.
Our ceremony was at the Wolf Lodge.
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