4.6
Verified reviews from real couples
Paradise Found
Recently updated
This vendor updated their storefront within the last 15 days.
The wedding of our daughter and son-in-law was large( 225 people) and the staff at Como did a phenomenal job of serving our needs! The food courses were served in a timely way, were accurate and all at the right temperature. Wait staff graciously and efficiently dodged wedding guests who sometimes mingled in inconvenient places! The crew clearly worked as a well-oiled machine. They were friendly and accommodated the many needs of the guests.
House wines were really good and the food was delicious ( and remarked upon by many of the guests).
The seating area was beautiful and guests enjoyed the fern room and play area for the many young children in attendance!
Anne K.
5.0
Robin was so helpful and understanding with what we needed, coming from a different state and all. The sunken garden was set up so beautifully! The color of the flowers went so well with everything. The covered porch was set up perfectly! The catering was amazing. Our food came out so fast, and the bartender was phenomenal. Overall, Como did an outstanding job, and we couldn't have asked for anything better.
Shannon R.
5.0
AWARD WINNER (2X)
Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot
Based in Saint Paul, MN, Como Park Zoo & Conservatory is a museum venue that hosts weddings and special events. This property offers a one-of-a-kind setting for newlyweds-to-be who want to celebrate their day in style. Couples who choose to celebrate their day here can expect truly exceptional surroundings, with a plethora of opportunities for breathtaking wedding photos.
Como Park Zoo & Conservatory contains an incredible range of event spaces for couples to choose from. The Bullard Rainforest Auditorium offers incredible views of the Zoo’s bird exhibit, providing a truly spectacular setting for receptions. This space can accommodate up to 200 guests for a banquet-style meal and up to 300 for a cocktail-style reception. The Ordway Gardens offers a serene backdrop for ceremonies, while couples can also choose to exchange their vows in one of the breathtaking garden areas. The Japanese Gardens also provides a spectacular setting for ceremonies, as well as incredible wedding photos.
Como Park Zoo & Conservatory welcomes all ceremony types, including civil unions, second weddings, vow renewals, and religious and non-religious services. This venue offers a plethora of services and options to ensure a seamless flow for newlyweds-to-be. You can avail of the resources of a dedicated event planner, who will work to take care of every detail of your nuptials. Catering and bar packages can be provided by the venue, along with service staff for your banquet. Staff will take care of the setup and cleanup of your event, allowing you to relax and enjoy your day. Along with ceremonies and receptions, this venue is also ideal for pre-nuptial celebrations, including engagement parties and showers.
111+ years in business
Speaks English
Just me
Amenities + details
Amenities
Handicap Accessible
Indoor Event Space
Liability Insurance
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
Settings
Ballroom
Garden
Park
Venue Service Offerings
Bar & Drinks
Cakes & Desserts
Food & Catering
Planning
Rentals & Equipment
Service Staff
Awards and Affiliations
2-Time 'Best of Weddings'
2025.2024.
Best of Weddings
The Knot independently assesses vendors for this award—it’s never self-reported. We base it on firsthand experiences from real couples and guests, and they must have a 4.5-star average across 7+ reviews in the qualifying year.
Join couples who chose award-winning vendors for their wedding
Reviews
4.6
out of 5.076 reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help
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Review Summary
This AI-generated summary is a snapshot of this vendor's ratings and feedback.
Como Conservatory offers stunning, versatile spaces (Sunken Garden, Covered Porch, Rainforest Auditorium) that create beautiful photo backdrops and roomy receptions. Staff and catering are repeatedly praised as friendly, organized, responsive, and professional, delivering timely, delicious food and seamless day-of coordination. Highly recommended; the Sunken Garden can get hot in summer, so bring fans and water.Review photos
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Anne K
5.0
11/03/2025
The wedding of our daughter and son-in-law was large( 225 people) and the staff at Como did a phenomenal job of serving our needs! The food courses were served in a timely way, wer...
e accurate and all at the right temperature. Wait staff graciously and efficiently dodged wedding guests who sometimes mingled in inconvenient places! The crew clearly worked as a well-oiled machine. They were friendly and accommodated the many needs of the guests.
House wines were really good and the food was delicious ( and remarked upon by many of the guests).
The seating area was beautiful and guests enjoyed the fern room and play area for the many young children in attendance!
Shannon R
5.0
7/06/2025
Robin was so helpful and understanding with what we needed, coming from a different state and all. The sunken garden was set up so beautifully! The color of the flowers went so wel...
l with everything. The covered porch was set up perfectly! The catering was amazing. Our food came out so fast, and the bartender was phenomenal. Overall, Como did an outstanding job, and we couldn't have asked for anything better.
Any questions?
Tosha G
5.0
6/19/2025
We loved Robin! She's very responsive and on top of everything. She changed the diagram of the space whenever we changed numbers of people, added a harpist, etc... She was so helpf...
ul as a point of contact. We loved the sunken garden for our ceremony. So beautiful! We could not have asked for better. The covered porch was such a wonderful space for our reception. There was another reception going on upstairs and some of their guests were hollering down, but thankfully the doors were shut to our space.
Rachael B
5.0
11/12/2024
Como Park and Lancer Catering were a dream come true.
The entire planning process was so straightforward and I always felt like I could contact Robin and her team whenever I neede...
d!
The day of operations were seamless, from set up to tear down I felt like everyone from the maintenance staff to the waitstaff did just an incredible job. We are forever thankful for the part they played in making our big day a true dream come true!
Allison I
4.0
10/27/2024
We recently celebrated our wedding at Como Park Zoo and Conservatory, and we couldn’t be happier with how it turned out. The venue was stunning, with our ceremony held in the encha...
nting garden and our reception on the covered porch. It was truly a picturesque setting, and our guests loved the atmosphere and the delicious food provided by Lancer Catering. We are incredibly thankful to have been able to host our wedding in such a beautiful and unique place.
For those considering Como Park as a wedding venue, there are a few things to keep in mind. Parking can be challenging, especially with other events happening in the park or nearby. We had several friends on hand to assist our out-of-town guests with finding spots, which was a lifesaver.
Additionally, bathrooms in the zoo and conservatory are unavailable from 6:00-6:30 pm due to a routine security sweep. Timing is also something to consider; you only have two hours before the reception to decorate, which usually falls during the ceremony. Without our day-of coordination team, pulling everything together within this window would have been difficult.
Another point to keep in mind is that the enchanted garden and the covered porch have different event coordinators, who can sometimes be hard to reach depending on their schedules. We’d recommend this venue to anyone seeking a beautiful location for a wedding or special event, but we highly suggest working with an event planner or day-of coordinator for a smooth experience.
Overall, our day turned out perfect, and Como Park Zoo and Conservatory provided a magical backdrop that made it unforgettable.
Jake W
5.0
9/25/2024
Como Conservatory was absolutely perfect for our wedding! The space was breathtaking, and the team there was so accommodating and helpful throughout the planning process. On the da...
y of, everything was set up exactly as we envisioned, and it felt like the entire staff went above and beyond to make sure our day was special. The setting provided the perfect backdrop for photos, and the overall atmosphere was magical. We couldn’t have asked for a better venue!
Bridget R
5.0
8/31/2024
It was a pleasure working with Como Park Zoo and Conservatory! Our guests had such a wonderful time, and I was so impressed by their staff. They were incredibly organized, professi...
onal, speedy, and great at what they do! My guests raved about the food, especially the appetizers (chimichurri steak skewers and coconut chicken skewers). We worked with Robin from Lancer and Noah and Kaia with the Zoo leading up to the event, and they were excellent to work with, and gave great advice when I had questions. They were also kind in working with me right before the event to prepare for hotter than expected weather to keep my guests cool and safe. The day went so smoothly - thank you Como!
Annie R
5.0
6/30/2024
We had an excellent experience having our wedding at Como Conservatory. We had the reception in the Covered Porch and the wedding ceremony in the Sunken Garden. Robin, Kaia, and No...
ah were all so helpful and really care about their work. The catering staff was top notch. Our guests commented on how beautiful the venue was and how excellent and hot the food was! We were on a budget and Robin was so understanding of this and was respectful and mindful of each expense. We really could not be happier and we thank all the staff who made our special day, extra-special!
Be aware that the Sunken Garden can get hot in the summer but you can prepare by bringing hand fans and water for your guests. We also set up fans for us where we would stand for the ceremony (bring extension cords).
The customer service is genuine here, people are talented and caring. Noah would respond to any email so quickly we could hardly believe how quickly.. and the care and kindness from Kaia and Robin were easily felt and they had excellent follow-through. Thank you and keep up the excellent work!
We highly recommend this venue for your consideration— we really could not be happier with our decision!
Anna C
5.0
6/24/2024
Our wedding reception in the rainforest auditorium was amazing! The space, service and coordination was put together wonderfully! I think our guests really enjoyed seeing this bea...
utiful space in the city. I can't say enough good things about Robin, with Lancer Catering who walked us through every single step and met with us multiple times to make sure our timeline and vision was perfect! She even brought us our own drink choices when we were ready to sit down for dinner! Amazing! Como Park will always be a special place!
Sidnee H
5.0
6/11/2024
Great place to have a wedding!! So beautiful! We had our ceremony in the Sunken Garden and it turned out beautifully! We had our reception area in another area in the Como and it t...
urned out beautiful. We loved how much space we had with the room, bar area, and the large balcony. There was lots of space and the food was great!! The catering staff was amazing. We invited them onto the dance floor for a bit and they did not disappoint!!!! Best service ever!!
Communication leading up to the day was good, sometimes it took a few days for them to get back to us, but other than that they could answer any questions and were very flexible.
If I ever need an event for anything else or my friends need recommendations, I would 100% go back to the Como. It is beautiful, clean, good service, and even better staff!! 10/10.
Emily A
5.0
11/04/2023
My wedding at como was a dream come true. Noah (ceremony coordinator) and Robin (Lancer catering/reception coordinator) made each step so easy. They explained every step of the way...
, made suggestions, answered questions, and were so fun to work with. Everything was so elegant; they provided so much for us, making it less stressful for planning. 100% recommend this venue for your ceremony AND reception!
Olivia T
5.0
11/01/2023
I really had the best day ever! It was so easy and we got so many compliments on the food.
Jessica M
5.0
8/23/2023
We could not have picked a better location for our ceremony and reception. All of the staff were friendly and accommodating, the pricing was reasonable and the venue was BEAUTIFUL!...
None of the guests could believe how great it was. Highly recommend!!
Michelle R
5.0
8/13/2023
We got married in the Sunken Garden with our reception in the Covered Porch and absolutely loved our venue! It felt unique but accessible. It's obviously a beautiful venue and any ...
location there is going to be gorgeous. Staff worked with us to make all aspects of our day run smoothly. The in house catering (Lancer) made decisions easy. The food, bar, wait staff, decor, and clean up are all taken care of for you.
Charles F
5.0
6/30/2023
The staff at the Como Zoo & Conservatory are the absolute finest! Throughout our entire wedding planning process leading to the day of, they instilled us with confidence and a stea...
dy guiding hand of wisdom to help put together a day worth remembering. At the actual ceremony we were blown away by the kindness, flexibility, & support that came from each staff member. We were at ease due in large part to the way that they navigated surprises, changes, and general wedding woes lol. The venue itself is an absolute marvel! Our guests were delighted to have access to the fern room and gardens to decompress & socialize. The Conservatory was the most amazing backdrop for photos 📸. Overall we are so happy with our choice and will be happy to recommend it to other future couples. Anyone would be lucky to work with Robin, she really is a true superwoman! Thank you so much for all of your support and for helping to make our days so very special.
-Ray & Charles
Rhys L
5.0
6/08/2023
Made it super easy to get everything done and were a great help with getting things set up. Our contacts Robin and Tessa were the absolute best!
Corbyn J
5.0
6/06/2023
We loved our wedding experience at Como Park Zoo & Conservatory!
We had our ceremony in the enchanted garden and it turned out just beautiful! The staff on site was helpful and o...
ur ceremony venue contact, Noah was great communicating with us multiple times ahead of time to make sure we had everything needed and made sure it was there on the day of. It was such a gorgeous space and felt so magical!
We had our reception in the covered porch and that was so wonderful. We also rented the fern room alongside it and guests loved being able to take photos inside. The Lancer Catering staff was professional and so helpful and our guests couldn't stop raving about the food! We did a plated dinner and everything went so smoothly. Our venue contact, Robin was so great to work with and scheduled multiple meetings leading up to the big day and did everything she could to find answers to all our questions. She was even able to find a way to get us a keg of our favorite beer, gluten free pizza, and a ton of other small details that we appreciated so much. Overall, she made everything so easy and I couldn't recommend working with her and Lancer Catering more.
We got our cake and cupcakes through Como's preferred vendor, Buttercream and they were delicious! Our guests raved about them and the experience we had with them was also positive. Highly recommend going with them if you book this venue.
I could go on and say so much more, but overall we had such a good experience and I would recommend this venue to anyone looking for an affordable space full of great staff and beautiful views!
Seema M
5.0
5/26/2023
Leading up to the big day there is anxiety but the day turns out great.
THEY DELIVER!
The venue is incredible and affordable.
Recommend doing butler passed appetizers if you have...
a mix of older and young people.
Earlier in the process Recommend setting up
phone meeting every 8-12 weeks. It keeps everyone and everything on track.
Zachary R
5.0
3/29/2023
We chose to do our ceremony, dinner, and reception at Como because of how absolutely stunning the venue is. For the ceremony, we used the sunken garden, which is easily the most be...
autiful location in the Twin Cities. All of our guests were commenting on how great the location was. The venue provided a sound system at a reasonable price, and really the whole ceremony was very reasonably priced.
The reception was upstairs in the Bullard Auditorium. Robin (with Lancer Catering) helped us to plan everything since we didn't have an official wedding planner, and she made sure we had thought of everything. She was on site throughout the wedding to make sure that anything we needed was taken care of, and she helped so much to make sure that our plan was happening. The food at dinner was excellent, the Buttercream cake was excellent, and the rest of the venue staff were just fantastic throughout the night. We had such a wonderful time at Como and I would recommend them to anyone looking for a wedding venue in the Twin Cities.
Gabriela D
4.0
12/13/2022
Overall very convenient in terms of having a space for both ceremony and reception. We had the ceremony in the Sunken Garden and it was so beautiful with no need for additional dec...
oration. The reception was great; everything from the staff who were able to accommodate us in setting up to the servers and chefs who prepared the meal. We worked with Robin and she was really helpful, meeting with us several times before the big day.
Emily U
5.0
11/30/2022
The Como Park Zoo & Conservatory was a beautiful venue that will forever hold a special place in our hearts. The communication between us and the staff was efficient and clear whic...
h made our day happen without any issues. Robin (Lancer Catering) and Noah (Como Zoo) are the dream team, they work in tandem to ensure that you have no concerns on your day. Well priced and there are a lot of add on rooms you are able rent if you would like, we were able to add on most of the downstairs and outside gardens for additional charges.
Maureen C
5.0
11/06/2022
We had our reception in the Covered Porch. Robin was our coordinator for the space and catering and she was FANTASTIC. She answered all of our questions, met with us multiple times...
, and went above and beyond to make our party amazing. She was also so much fun to work with and so supportive. The venue was stunning, food was delicious (highly recommend the mac & cheese station), and everyone had a great time. Loved everything about it, and thank you Robin!
Cindy T
5.0
8/11/2022
Como Park Zoo, Lancer Catering, and Robin did a wonderful job with our recent wedding and reception. They were helpful, flexible, and reliable. Our event was held in the Covered Po...
rch. Robin did a great job of helping us plan the event and the staff that day did a great job with set up and service. The venue was beautiful and the food was delicious. Thanks for a wonderful event!
Rachel H
3.0
7/13/2022
In terms of aesthetic the venue is a 10/10- that’s why we chose it in the first place. We initially toured and signed a contract with a coordinator who left long before our wedding...
, and her replacement was very difficult to work with. Very unorganized and get ready to hear NO…a lot. I would honestly only recommend booking Como if you have an amazing planner to back you up and help navigate the messiness and red tape that comes with this vendor.
Samantha W
5.0
11/24/2020
It was so beautiful getting married inside the Conservatory in the Sunken Garden. The only downfall was that they wouldn't let me in to use the restroom before the ceremony. They...
directed me to a porta potty which was out of toilet paper and super dirty. Other than that, it was a beautiful location!
Victoria S
5.0
10/16/2019
We LOVED this space for our ceremony! It was the perfect amount of space for our guests (90) and it was beautiful! It was a bit awkward to figure out the best placement for our pho...
tographer, but that just comes with the territory of not being a standard room.
Noah and his team were very accommodating and helpful when it came to email communication, the rehearsal and the Cremona itself. Pricing was very straight forward.
Response from Como Park Zoo & Conservatory on 10/21/2019
Hi Victoria! Congratulations! Thank you so much for your kind words. We appreciate the gre...
at feedback.
Danielle C
4.0
3/23/2019
We held our ceremony in the Sunken Garden and our reception in the Bullard Rainforest Auditorium. The Sunken Garden backdrop was nothing short of amazing - we were so thrilled. We ...
opted for the ceiling drapery decor and the Bullard Rainforest Auditorium and it looked beautiful!
Working with Como's Catering staff was great and they were super responsive from Day 1 planning all the way to our Wedding Day. Our guests had a great time, the food was amazing and we had fantastic vendors. We also had a Zoo Ambassador - a parrot -during our cocktail hour, definitely worth the extra $.
I deducted a star for the following reasons:
1. There are constraints in regards to your and your vendors' access to the ceremony/reception space. Work with the Como Catering Manager to reduce rental time obstacles. For example, our [professional D.J. service could not complete sound set up for both the ceremony and reception space within the available window. Also our reception decor was being set up while the ceremony was occurring - so we did not see it until we arrived at the reception.
2. One, and only one, of the Como ceremony staff members was rude the day of - not only to our photographer, but to members of the wedding party, and to the bride. It was completely unacceptable and unprofessional. The remaining, and numerous, ceremony staff and catering staff were wonderful, helpful, and kind - we were so appreciative given the winter weather conditions they were able to make it safely in and home.
Response from Como Park Zoo & Conservatory on 04/05/2019
Thank you for the 4 stars. We are so happy to hear all your positive comments about our sp...
aces, staff responsiveness and great food! Glad the parrot could join the party! With the venue being a public facility we do have some restrictions on access times to our spaces and do our best to accommodate our couples and their vendors. It is very important to us that every staff member is professional and courteous to everyone they are in contact with. We have passed this note along to our teams. Thank you for your feedback and for letting us host your special day!
Frances K
5.0
1/11/2019
The sunken gardens were the most beautiful backdrop for our wedding! It was surprisingly not as expensive as some other venues (just for ceremony), and very accommodating for the w...
inter weather. They had staff waiting to meet you to open doors for guests, large coat racks, and helpful directions to the gardens. If you are doing a night wedding in the gardens, I recommend doing the candles. It was breathtaking. We also had a string trio and it was just amazingly classy. The only issue we had was the sound system that didn't work but they refunded us for it. For a ceremony space that required 0% work or decoration, I would highly recommend this venue to anyone looking for effortless beauty.
Response from Como Park Zoo & Conservatory on 02/06/2019
Thank you for the 5 stars! We are so happy to hear you had a beautiful wedding ceremony in...
the Sunken Garden! The candles really do add an intimate element to the setting. The Sunken Garden is the perfect spot for a ceremony since the flowers are already provided for you! Thank you for hosting your wedding at Como Zoo. We wish you all the best!
Brittany J
5.0
11/25/2018
We held our ceremony in the Sunken Garden and our reception in the Bullard Rainforest Auditorium. The people at Como were great to work with and super responsive. Our pictures are ...
gorgeous and all our guests had a great time -- everyone commented that they loved the food and the ceremony space. We had the sloth (Chloe) come for cocktail hour - definitely worth the extra $. She was so adorable and everyone loved it.
Response from Como Park Zoo & Conservatory on 01/04/2019
Thanks so much for the 5 stars! The staff was more than happy to work with you to create y...
our special day. We are so glad to hear everyone loved the food and the venue space! Chloe was also happy to join the party! Thank you for hosting your wedding at Como Zoo and letting us be a part of your memories.
Britney H
5.0
8/29/2018
We used the Sunken Gardens for our ceremony venue. We had 15 guests, bride and groom, and 2 photographers. We were able to have an intimate ceremony with our closest family and fri...
ends. Como Zoo was a pleasure to work with as a remote bride. I booked Como Zoo sight unseen and not knowing what flowers would be featured during the summer season. I was so surprised and in awe when I walked in the Monday before my wedding. The staff are all very accommodating. I could not have asked for a better place to start my new chapter with my husband!
Response from Como Park Zoo & Conservatory on 10/09/2018
Thanks so much for the 5 stars! We were pleased to host your wedding in the Sunken Garden ...
at Como Park Zoo! It is a beautiful space for an intimate ceremony and are so glad you were in awe of the flowers. Our staff were more than happy to accommodate any and all of your needs and requests to make your day one to remember. Thanks again for choosing Como Zoo and we wish you both the best!
Karin H
5.0
8/15/2017
The minute I saw photos of the covered porch all setup for a wedding reception, I knew I wanted to have my reception here as well. I'm so glad I made that choice! I worked with Kel...
ly from Como to help plan the reception and she was absolutely amazing to work with! She was very fast to respond to all my questions and emails and whenever something came up she emailed me as quickly as she could to let me know. The communication was outstanding!
I absolutely loved the food we picked for our wedding. Using Como as the reception meant we had to use the in-house caterer, but I couldn't be happier with their food and service, everything was perfect!
We also decided to reserve the fern room for our reception and we had luminary bags lining the pathway and guests could have cocktails surrounded by the ferns, it was beautiful and definitely worth the extra price!
Como isn't a cheap location, but it won't break the bank either if you're smart with your choices. I'm so glad it was within our budget to afford this beautiful location!
I would definitely recommend Como to anyone looking to have their wedding or reception in a unique location surrounded by greenery and gorgeous gardens!
Response from Como Park Zoo & Conservatory on 08/18/2017
Thank you for the 5 stars! Our team was happy to assist you in planning your wedding and a...
nswer all of your questions. Communication is very important to us so that all of our couples feel well informed. We are thrilled to hear you were pleased with the food and service at your wedding. We appreciate your high recommendation and for letting us host your big day! Best of luck to you both!
Sue B
1.0
8/08/2017
Wish I did not have to give the conservatory or staff even 1 star. Horrible place to have a wedding! Had to ask for everything no one available to help control the public running a...
round. No one there to help with pictures. No parking for anyone including the wedding party. Called both the event staff and the manager of the event coordinators and they clearly do not care if you have a positive experience or not.
Response from Como Park Zoo & Conservatory on 08/18/2017
Thank you for providing us with your feedback. We are very disappointed to read the review...
of your experience. We are following up with our staff on the issues you’ve raised. It is important to us that our brides feel taken care of on such a big day in their lives. We appreciate your input as all comments can only help us improve our operations and service.
Bonnie S
5.0
8/02/2017
ComoPark Terrace and gardens were perfect for our venue. Everyone loved it and Kelly was the best venue director. I would recommend and do it all over again.
Molly L
4.0
7/25/2017
We had our reception in the Covered Porch. The venue was incredible. It is amazing how they turn a hallway into a such beautiful venue! If you are looking for an intimate space for...
200 people or less, look here! Add the fern room and splurge on the chair covers. You won't regret it!
Megan V
5.0
7/17/2017
We just got married in The Covered Porch at Como Zoo, and I would highly recommend it. We had a cocktail hour in the patio out front, and it was just beautiful with all the gardens...
. Once we were inside, I loved the wall of windows, and it made you feel like you were outside. Something else I appreciated that I hadn't thought of before, was that once the dance got started, people who weren't interested in dancing or who wanted to be able to have a conversation could go out to the lobby area where there were high tops set up. It allowed for guests to be out dancing or to have a quiet conversation. You can also rent a zoo animal for an hour. We rented the sloth, and it was a huge hit with our guests.
We worked with Kelly from Lancer Catering, and she was AWESOME. She made everything so easy. She was super flexible and helpful, and she helped me think through all the small details. Kelly and the staff at Como Zoo made everything so easy and stress-free. I highly recommend them!!
Response from Como Park Zoo & Conservatory on 07/20/2017
Thanks so much for the 5 star review! We are glad you were pleased with the set up of high...
tops in the lobby for guests to socialize at if not dancing. It's great to hear that the sloth was a big hit with your guests! Kelly enjoyed helping you plan every detail of your special day! We appreciate the recommendation and for letting Como Zoo host your wedding!
Ashleigh K
5.0
11/08/2016
Did you know you could have a penguin at your reception? The Bullard Auditorium was a perfect venue for us! The waitstaff was professional, all the Lancer Reps were super respons...
ive, and the food was great! We also did our ceremony in the Sunken Garden room, we were told that we were reserved more space, but they let us use the fern room as well.
Response from Como Park Zoo & Conservatory on 11/11/2016
Thanks for the 5 stars! We are so happy you enjoyed the space at our venue for your weddin...
g! It is so nice to hear you had a great experience with Lancer Catering and their cuisine. We appreciate you choosing us to have your wedding ceremony and reception at and wish you a happy marriage!
Linnea T
4.0
10/26/2016
My fiance and I just had our wedding at Como a few weeks ago, and the location could not have been better. We had a beautiful outdoor wedding, then went inside for the reception. I...
recommend a later time for the wedding, as the reception cannot begin until 6:30 pm, but a 5:30 wedding worked great for us!
There was some turnover of staff during our engagement, but then again it was very long. I was so pleased with the promptness of replies, the guiding hands, and the follow through from all of the staff that helped make our wedding special.
Some of the rental items--cafe lights, for example, ended up being very expensive for what they actually were, so unless that's something you absolutely HAVE to have, I'd advise against renting "extras" from them.
Response from Como Park Zoo & Conservatory on 10/27/2016
Thank you for the 4 star review! We are happy to hear you enjoyed the different spaces of ...
our venue for your wedding. We are so glad our staff made your wedding day special and could help you through the planning process. Thanks for letting us celebrate with you!
Anonymous
5.0
6/30/2016
We had both our ceremony here (sunken gardens) and reception. Our ceremony was beautiful, the sunken gardens was beautiful and well worth the price. The food was great, we are stil...
l getting guests comments to this day, our wedding was more than a year ago. We paid for the sloth to visit, it was the perfect touch and a big hit.
Response from Como Park Zoo & Conservatory on 07/05/2016
Thanks so much! We are so happy to hear you are still getting compliments a year later!
Lolita W
5.0
1/19/2015
I would highly recommend anyone looking for a unique place for their wedding photography to check out the Como Zoo sunken garden. Our wedding was on December 27th, 2014 and we need...
ed a good option for indoor pictures between the wedding and reception. The pictures turned out wonderfully, and I've received so many compliments on what a unique and beautiful location it was. The staff was incredibly helpful in making sure we got into the garden on time, and had sufficient amount of time to take all of our pictures. Thank you Como Zoo for making our wedding so memorable!
Amy T
5.0
9/17/2014
N/a
Austin R
5.0
8/31/2014
There really wasn't an alternative location we were considering. The sunken garden was absolutely lovely. The staff was helpful and protective of our weddings privacy. The flowers ...
were great.
Alison O
5.0
7/08/2014
My guests loved this venue! It is pricey, and you have to use their catering, but everyone kept saying that was the best wedding food they ever had. I would definitely use this ven...
ue again if I had to do it all over again!
Sarah B
5.0
7/07/2014
We had our wedding on 6/20/14 in the Sunken Garden. It was a beautiful day outside, but not wanting to chance the weather we opted for the indoor location. While it was a bit ste...
amy inside (we warned guests ahead of time to dress appropriately), the gardens were gorgeous and exactly what we wanted. The staff was very helpful setting things up ahead of time with me and then being on-site. Como says that you can fit 90 people in the Sunken Garden, but with our guest list of 40 it felt quite full. Your guests must stand (a few chairs are provided if you ask ahead of time), and there is wheelchair access if needed. Beware due to the humidity some musicians do not like to play this venue (we had a classical guitarist who used his 'outdoor' guitar for the ceremony which was not a problem!). One downside is that there isn't really a waiting room area for bride and groom, but we made it work with me hiding out by the restroom area and the groom greeting guests as they arrived.
Ashley D
4.0
7/20/2013
We were double booked initially and had to switch rooms. We actually ended up getting the covered porch room, which is gorgeous and some freebies for are trouble, which helped a l...
ot. We paid to have the fern room extra, which I decorated with luminary bags and it looked like a fairy tale. The room in gorgeous! It is a little more pricey overall and it was really hard to keep the price down. Our main contact switched once during the year, but our new contact Lauren was really helpful. My biggest problem was that there was supposed to be 2 bars open initially and then one was going to shut down after the happy hour. We only had one bar and there was 20-30 minutes at the beginning of dinner with no drinks available. Our guests then waited in a long line during our speeches to get drinks. The service was good. Overall it was a great wedding venue and como was easy to deal with.
Claire S
4.0
7/18/2013
We loved the idea of having the reception at the zoo - we rented some of the animals for the cocktail hour, the reception space was great (in the upstairs room with access to the o...
utside porch), and the food was pretty good when we sampled it. The service was a little lacking - before the wedding, our contact person changed and no one ever notified us, we waited much longer than we were told to get the estimate, and at the wedding the champagne wasn't poured until after the toasts. Minor things in hindsight; we ended up with a great wedding in the end!
Stephanie F
4.0
7/07/2013
Como itself was easy to work with, my their in-house catering company not so much. They were also strict on the rental times, which I wish were longer so you wouldn't have to rush...
the pictures. I wouldn't change the venues though. We had the ceremony in the Sunken Garden, followed by the reception in the Covered Porch. Everything was beautiful!
Megan J
4.0
6/04/2013
We had our ceremony in the Sunken Gardens. It was absolutely beautiful and we saved a bundle on flowers!
However, keep in mind the strict policies. You only get an hour and a ...
half inside the venue. It seems like a lot of time, but it goes by quickly!!
The Como Weddings staff was responsive to all my emails and requests.
Kalee H
5.0
4/02/2013
Como Park's sunken garden was absolutely gorgeous! The cost to rent the garden was $1000.
You are allowed certain time slots in hour and half increments. Your ceremony and all of...
your pictures MUST be in this hour and a half time frame. The bridal couple is also allowed in the sunken garden with their photographer during the business hours. Although I admit it was difficult to do this at times due to visitors walking in front or near our photographer.
You are allowed up to 90 guests (including your wedding party) and they must stand. Up to 10 chairs are allowed for elderly/parents/children to sit during your ceremony. However your remaining 80 guests must stand.
If you can adhere to Como's policies and deal with strict staff then Como makes an elegant and gorgeous place for your ceremony. The flowers and garden are amazing.
We were married March 16, 2013 and had the 4:30-6:00pm time slot.
Rianna M
4.0
2/17/2013
I could not have asked for a more beautiful location for our ceremony. The staff was polite and helpful, and the gardens are AMAZING. Just make sure you get a photographer that is ...
VERY organized because you only get 1.5 hours to do pictures and the ceremony.
Christina C
5.0
11/18/2012
I fell in love with the Sunken Garden the minute I toured it. It is so beautiful - a perfect backdrop for our wedding. We got married on October 12 and everything was perfect. The...
coordinator was so helpful, yet behind the scenes. I think we did everything by phone! When I walked into the ceremony, everything was in place and wonderful. I couldn't have asked for a better venue, thank you to Como Zoo Staff for making my day memorable!
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Como Park Zoo & Conservatory
Robin Fortney
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Wedding vendors in Saint Paul
Como Park Zoo & Conservatory
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