Chabot Space & Science Center

was the perfect place. We booked the “Across the Universe” package which allowed us to have the ceremony in the Planetarium, cocktail hour upstairs & the reception in Astronomy Hall, 3 different places! We were in love with the idea that our guests could enjoy different settings all in the same location. The ability to customize the Planetarium in terms of lights, music & projections allowed us to really personalize the space. We got married October 7, 2023 and Chabot was able to project the sky from October 7, 2016, the day that we met which was super special! We had 150 guests and Astronomy Hall had the perfect amount of space where everyone had enough room to be comfortable to sit down but also move around and dance. We decided to go with their recommended vendors for wedding coordination (Simply Elegant by Diana), catering (Blue Heron), and lighting/DJ services (Verducci Event Productions) which really made the coordination process so easy! The Chabot team, Alex and Chelsea, are very organized and great to work with. They did an amazing job bringing our vision for the wedding to life and we are truly grateful for them! And because they are a non-profit, the rental cost of the venue goes back to fund the center, it was a no brainer for us to choose Chabot! If you’re looking for a unique and fun wedding venue, you will not regret picking the Chabot Space & Science Center!

doors in the planetarium, but the Chabot also has outdoor spaces available and is surrounded by redwoods that make a beautiful backdrop for photos. The Chabot events team is AMAZING! They were super responsive throughout the entire planning process, and their recommended vendors list was a lifesaver. I can't recommend the Chabot enough!

times a bit slow to respond -- they are a museum that holds multiple weddings at a time, so it is understandable. It can be a little on the pricier side but it is definitely worth it to support an educational organization!

, lots of space for tables, bar, food, dancing, band...the staff was extremely organized, nice and professional. We planned this wedding from France and they were very helpful with everything that comes with planning an event from abroad. Our guests all raved about having access to the telescopes, and the volunteers made it that much more fascinating by going above and beyond with their explanations of what we were gazing at.

ion. We worked with Chelsea and Alex through the process and they were very helpful and worked well with our vendors. We would definitely recommend Chabot if you are hosting an event where you want a cool and neat place that you and your guest will enjoy.

ream and our guests will not stop talking about how incredible the venue was. The Astronomy Hall and the patio area was the perfect size for our wedding of 145 and our guests loved going out to the telescopes to view the stars. I couldn't have picked a better venue, it was amazing!

ith the beautiful weather and clear skies to dine and dance under the stars. Only tip I would let you know is that it gets really dark after sunset. All the staff were helpful and wonderful to work with. If you're a science buff like us, then this is the place to exchange you vows.

hoose Chabot as our venue, and we are so glad we did. Everyone at our wedding had a blast. We had so much fun, but so did our guests, and I’ve never seen kids enjoy a wedding so much. Afterwards we heard from our guests that it was the happiests/funnest/most unique wedding they’d ever been to. It was such a joy. We chose the Across the Universe package, which was so unique: getting married in the planetarium (thanks to Nicole for helping us with the planetarium A/V!), cocktail hour among the museum exhibits, and dinner and dancing in the Astronomy Hall. Our guests all loved the public telescope viewing, too. In addition to how cool the space itself is, the museum staff were great to work with. Samantha and Nicole were both friendly, and they were so helpful as we navigated changing COVID safety requirements on top of all of the usual wedding challenges. They were very communicative and worked well with all of our other vendors. We had a perfect wedding day, and a big part of that was working with such a rad venue.

ocktail hour was in the museum (second floor of Spees) and our reception was in Astronomy Hall. Since Chabot is in the middle of a redwood forest, there are lots of great places for photos. Chabot looks so cool that you don’t need many decorations. And the public telescope viewings on Saturday night provide an awesome activity for wedding guests who don’t like to dance. Our guests thought the venue was awesome. Perhaps the best thing about Chabot, however, is how helpful the staff is. Samantha Stevick, the Associate Director of Events, was particularly amazing. She was on top of everything and gave us so much helpful advice and good vendor recommendations. If she wanted to start a side business as a wedding planner, she absolutely could do it. It’s also great that you can pick your own caterer so you’re not stuck with some venue’s boring food. There were enough great options on Chabot’s preferred caterer list that we went with one of them, but we could have paid a bit extra to have any caterer we wanted. We were strongly encouraged by Chabot to choose a preferred caterer as the caterer has to do all of the set up of tables, chairs, etc. (for ceremony and for reception) in addition to food. The caterer can only do setup starting at 5pm when the museum closes, which does not give them much time (our ceremony started at 6pm), so it helps to have a caterer who is experienced with the venue. We went with Blue Heron and we really loved their food; they also did a great job with event setup. Note that if you go with Chabot, the biggest expense of your wedding budget will be the caterer as the caterer will provide all of the setup and furniture for the event in addition to food and drink service. Therefore, if budget is of concern, I would recommend getting a rough quote from one or more of Chabot’s preferred caterers prior to booking the venue so that you can get an idea of what the rough cost of the venue + furniture + setup + catering would be. Worth noting: Chabot has strict rules about fire and anything that could make a mess. Candle flames must be two inches below the glass. No sparklers. No flower petals, glitter, rice, bird seed, etc. But it’s worth it, it’ll just force you to be creative. We had our flower kids use bubble guns (a suggestion from Samantha) instead of flower petals.

ecorating was easy because it already had it all! Everything was beautiful and we had many guests rave that it was their favorite space for a wedding that they had attended.

Strengths: - Nicole, Samantha, and the other staff at the CSSC were helpful and professional. They assisted in planning the event (thinking through what spaces work well for what activities), worked well with other vendors (including our band who was new to the space), and were accessible and effective on the day of the wedding which helped ensure the event went smoothly and was fun for all - The event space is visually interesting so you do not need much (if any) decoration - we did no florals beyond bouquets and simple table decorations - Exhibits and telescope viewings allow guests more options for activities beyond the common drinks and dancing (which you can also do) - Venue offers the option to rent furniture, which is one fewer thing to think about - CSSC provides a list of recommended vendors can be useful for narrowing search (even for services where they do not require you to select from the list) Things to think about - Some restrictions on vendors (catering specifically) mean you cannot fully customize and does add costs, but also means that vendors are pre-vetted - Renting rooms/areas for pre-wedding prep is extra - be advised - Telescope viewings subject to weather - While we have heard it can be difficult to get rides to/from the venue, none of our guests had issues (but several did opt to carpool) Overall, it was a great experience made possible by the site and the team at the CSSC and we are very happy with our choice

0, two months after we got engaged, and right in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic. We worked with Samantha, Nicole, and Victoria, who were all awesome. From the get-go the Chabot staff were extremely flexible and accommodating, and that only continued throughout our experience with them (we had to reschedule once due to Covid). Rain was threatening the day of our ceremony, and the Chabot staff did not miss a beat with helping us through a backup plan. Our guests had a great time, we had an awesome time, and we can't recommend Chabot highly enough as a venue for geeky weddings.

Samantha at Chabot was very flexible and understanding, and made it easy to change our date. She was very communicative with us during the entire process of planning the wedding and postponing the wedding, and kept us up-to-date with the goings on of the museum as protocols shifted. Getting to finally have the event we'd been planning for almost three years was totally worth the wait. The backdrop of the telescope domes on the observation deck were beautiful and romantic, and our guests really enjoyed the unique venue. They also had a great time with the telescope viewings. It was exactly the cool experience we were hoping for. It also felt great to put money towards a nonprofit venue that uses the funds for educational purposes. We can't wait to go back and visit the museum again!

d we had everything we needed. We got to use the telescopes after and it was truly unforgettable!

w cool of a venue it is. Stargazing is a magical way to end the night, and we definitely learned lots of cool space facts from Chabot's astronomers! Samantha is a joy to work with, she was willing to hop on calls with us, answered all of our many emails we sent her while planning, and even gave us a tour of the venue before the wedding. She was able to present us a very affordable package for our microwedding and worked with us and our caterer to ensure that everyone had everything they needed for our big night. Nicole is also amazing, she helped us make sure everything ran smoothly the day of. Protip: Chabot is nestled away in a redwood forest, and there are some groves about 5 minutes that make great photo spots!

ork with!

was responsive, professional, and exceedingly flexible. She let us look at the venue before our wedding so we could get a sense of the space and recommended a great florist to help us decorate. When the weather changed 48 hours before our scheduled ceremony and authorities recommended evacuating the Hills because of high winds, a red flag warning, and an imminent power outage, Samantha worked with us to reschedule our ceremony so that it happened five hours earlier, allowing us to avoid the inclement weather. This obviously means that we weren't able to do the telescope viewing that is normally included in Chabot's wedding packages, but we're looking forward to using the telescopes eventually when it's safer to do so. We were so impressed by Samantha's efficiency and competency. During a really stressful weekend when we had to make quick decisions with less than a day's notice, we knew we could count on Samantha to support us and help make sure that in the end we got married. The venue is also beautiful. It's set in the middle of a redwood forest on the top of a mountain. It's extremely quiet except for birds and the odd daytime hiker, which we only saw because we had to move it to the daytime (and didn't mind anyway). Samantha also helped us find a spot in the redwood forest to take pictures, and they turned out great! If you are looking for a place to safely get married with a small number of people during the pandemic (we only had our immediate families there), I highly recommend the Chabot Space & Science Center. The bathrooms felt safe (the stalls and extra sinks are closed to support social distancing), you can use the office to change (and it's mostly empty because astronomers work in the middle of the night!), and there's plenty of room outside for everyone to socially distance and yet still hear each other because of how quiet it is up there.

r BYO) and offers telescope viewings after sunset for your guests (hosted by Chabot astronomers!) The museum is surrounded by redwood trees, which created the perfect backdrop for pre-wedding photos. The observatory itself sits on top of a hill that catches a beautiful sunset during the ceremony and reception. Chabot provided chairs and tables for our reception and set them up in advance for us. We were able to bring our own food and drinks, which was important to us. Most of all, the staff and venue coordinator (Samantha) were all incredibly kind and patient with us as we navigated planning a wedding during COVID. Would 10/10 recommend them any day.

res when we happened upon this and could not be happier with how it turned out, all planned within a couple days! Samantha at the Chabot was incredibly helpful and reassuring about everything. The caterers she referred us to were incredibly helpful and able to handle our sudden needs. The facility and everything was set up for distancing and safety. The Astronomers were awesome, thank you Gerald and John! I would give 6 out of 5 stars if I could!

g also happened to be 2 days before the Bay Area Secure in Place. Two Weeks Later, we are happy to report that no guest is sick. Chabot’s proactive response and professionalism was a big factor. The museum went above and beyond in communicating with us at every step of the rapidly changing circumstances that were occurring at that time. Nicole P and her team did such a good job. We used the planetarium and the “stage direction” and cues involved were something we hadn’t even considered, but it went off without a single problem. The museum has so much to offer guests and is a wonderful space. It also feels so good to work with a community nonprofit and not a corporate hotel space. Besides being our wedding venue , it’s just a special place and you should go there and learn about space.

team was incredibly knowledgeable and helpful with programming. The entire team is professional and helped make the planning process so much easier. The venue itself is beautiful and unique.

orable venue. We did the whole shebang and rented out the entire venue - so our ceremony was in the planetarium (kicked off the night with a planetarium show), our cocktail hour was upstairs in the 2nd floor Spees exhibit area, and our reception/dancing was in the astronomy hall. We had 145 people and fit great. The sky was clear and the telescopes were a huge hit (it was a bit chilly outside so there weren't really many members of the public there which worked well for ensuring our guests didn't wait in too long of a line). We did minimal decorations (mostly lighting) since the venue has so much personality. We worked with Amy initially and Nicole later in the planning process and they were both very responsive and helpful. Amy moved a few months ago and the transition to Nicole was seamless - we were in great hands. Nicole was also our planetarium operator and she was extremely helpful in crafting our planetarium ceremony, particularly with editing the show (flying through stars with a custom playlist we made) and programming various visual effects during the ceremony (we had a nebula in the sky when guests walked in, some shooting stars during the ceremony and two galaxies collide when we kissed!) Chabot offers so many different variations on rental packages so you can rent out different portions of the museum across a broad spectrum of price-points (other museums we looked at were WAY more expensive, and didn't really have price variations in their options). Also, it's an education non-profit so it feels nice that the venue fee is going towards science education. (Budgeting note: you more or less have to go off of their pre-approved caterers list, so I'd recommend getting catering quotes early since that has a big budget impact)

this was our best option. The space was beautiful and fun for all ages. There was no need for extra decor due to all of the exhibits and the options within the planetarium.

loor of the Spees building for around 120 people and, though it was a little tight, everything worked out great. Our guests loved being able to walk around the museum to see the exhibits during the cocktail hour. Since we had the wedding on a Saturday the telescopes were open for viewing - unfortunately it was raining so we couldn't use them but the staff still let us go up and take some pretty amazing photos with the telescopes. We ended the evening with a Pink Floyd laser show, which was also a big hit. Overall it was a great venue and I have no regrets on having our wedding there.

great events coordinator there!

d the museum that day to try to keep the smoke smell from entering the venue. I wasn’t too worried about the smoke but I really appreciated the extra consideration she went through to help our day go a little smoother. I really wanted to do our first look on viewing deck but breathing well comes first! Later on in the evening while we were dancing she comes and finds me to tell me that the sky has magically cleared up and they’d open a telescope! Astronomy hall was already a party so I said it was ok. She was so thoughtful and accommodating. Back to the review. My husband and I were lucky enough to have a tour on Monday, a day they’re closed. We were just blown away. Then my ‘celestial theme’ wedding all came together. It’s just an incredible venue especially with the updated second floor. Everyone kept telling me it was the best wedding they’ve ever been to and I know it’s cause of the venue. Also being there in the evening is a completely different experience. The lights pops and it makes for beautiful photos. I LOVE Chabot Space and Science Center.

all our needs. Specifically Amy went above and beyond for us and was a pleasure to work with throughout the planning process. She also worked very well with our other vendors and made sure the execution of the event was precise and as planned. Some benefits of getting married at Chabot include using the surrounding redwoods for photography (first look photos, family portraits, etc.). The facility itself provides easy parking and is very accessible to everyone and is well equipped to handle weddings. We had so many guests tell us that this was the most unique and fun wedding they've ever attended. With all the personal touches Chabot provided and allowed us to incorporate it never felt like a one-size-fits-all venue (you can get a laser show!). The spaces available within the Center allowed us to customize the size and scope of our event to what we wanted. Our only con would be that they have a preferred providers list for caterers with a $1000 buyout to use an outside caterer. The catering list includes many well respected outfits- however, given the cost of catering a wedding in the Bay Area we felt slightly constrained due to the limited size of the list. Overall we were extremely pleased with Chabot as a venue and the staff were professional, organized, and outstanding to work with.

its as well as the telescopes (which were open to the public, and came with volunteer scientists!). Our guests couldn't stop raving about how beautiful the space was. I absolutely recommend working with Sam and Chabot for your event needs!

d the Observatory, we knew it was perfect. The different levels allowed us to have the ceremony in one spot, then reception in another, differentiating the two events without having to go far. The view was spectacular, looking out over the bay area, during a fabulous sunset. We had rented one of the telescope observatories to view the Jupiter, but it also provided shelter for when the cold weather set in, which is hard to avoid in the Bay area at night. The main center was also open to the guests for visiting, this was really interesting for those people interested about space. We were so far up in the hills and as far away from civilization as possible, that we were able to play our music as loud as we wanted with out any complaints. Which made for a great night of dancing. The event coordiator for the site also provide us, without charge, 2 seperate rooms for both bridal parties to get ready in, which was a nice surprise. The coordinator was a great help in everything as well. The even provided a security guard to keep the general public out of the party. The coolest thing that most guests liked was the way the fog rolled in later in the evening. It created a blanket-like effect and kept much of the heat in. It also created a real dramatic sci-fi apperance that many liken to the movie, 'Log;The main thing I would warn people about the site would be the possible foggy and windy weather. We did rent the telescope, but because of the fog in July, was unable to view anything. However the observatory did remain open for visiting and keeping warm. The wind kept blowing out the candles set up, but we knew this was a possiblity when we chose this time of year. Also, because the center is a public facility, it had to stay open until 5 which meant we couldn't start setting up until 4:30, luckily I wanted a sunset wedding.