Saint Louis Zoo

tarted with our first look at the Bird House Gazebo and took many photos on Historic Hill. My woods ceremony theme turned out absolutely perfect and I could not believe the transformation of Lakeside Cafe into the reception of my dreams. The set-up, lighting, and decorations were exactly what I wanted and the food was so tasty and presented beautifully. The service was exceptional from the set-up crew to the servers and bartenders, everyone was so kind. Thank you to Danielle, Nancy, Sydney, Chef Brett, J.B., Shawn, and everyone else at the Zoo. We plan to come back every year for our anniversary and I will always have the beautiful memories from our wedding day. The Saint Louis Zoo was the perfect venue!

nely great at what they do. From start to finish, they made the process easy and stress-free, and we are so grateful for their hard work. Samantha was our first point of contact, and she was amazing at helping us navigate the zoo’s booking policies and secure our dream venues. She answered all our questions and made sure we felt confident moving forward. Sydney, the Zoo's event coordinator, was an absolute dream to work with. She was so organized and thoughtful, always asking the right questions and helping us with every step of the planning process. Her friendly, upbeat personality made it easy to trust her, and she had so many great ideas that helped bring our vision to life. She even stopped by our reception to say hi, which was such a sweet and personal touch. Nancy was our day-of contact, and honestly, she is a total powerhouse. She also helped with our rehearsal the day before and made sure every detail was handled. She’s incredibly organized, keeps everything running like clockwork, and somehow still manages to make you feel completely supported the whole time. Nancy was also there for me emotionally—calming any stress that came up (not that there was much, thanks to how on top of things the zoo staff was). The catering and bar staff deserve a special shoutout too. They went above and beyond to make sure everyone was taken care of, especially guests with mobility challenges, which really meant a lot. And the food—wow. So many of our guests told us it was the best wedding food they’ve ever had, and we completely agree. Everything was delicious. The Saint Louis Zoo is truly a hidden gem when it comes to wedding venues. They offer everything you could possibly want—an amazing team, beautiful spaces, and incredible value. They’re also much more reasonably priced than other venues we looked at, and since they’re tax-exempt, you don’t have to worry about sales tax, which is a huge plus. If you’re looking for a venue that will make your wedding day feel effortless and unforgettable, I can’t recommend the Saint Louis Zoo enough. We are so glad we chose them and will cherish the memories they helped us create forever.

ndors hired outside of the zoo as well. I'm a nursing mom, and the two ladies in charge of the reception hall were so sweet and accommodating to make sure I had a private place to pump. It's so important to have supportive staff to make sure a wedding goes smoothly for the bride and groom, and you will find that at the Saint Louis Zoo!

The staff made the space look so classy and elegant that our guests were awestruck the entire evening. The staff went above and beyond to make our day perfect, from helping set up things, to coordinating our vendors and wedding party day of, to helping pack and clean up all our decorations. The food was also absolutely delicious and the guests commented on how good it was the entire evening. We were all very impressed. The St. Louis Zoo was our first choice for our wedding and I would never change that for the world. We would recommend this to any engaged couple!

ilable to pet during cocktail hour, which was magical! The whole staff was an absolute pleasure to work with from beginning to end. If you're thinking of having your reception or any other event here, DO IT! It was the most special evening.

ing of the planning, until the end of the night, the staff members were available and on top of everything. It was so easy to communicate with Danielle, the coordinator, and she made sure our daughter had everything she wanted on her special day. The food was amazing and the transformation of the Lakeside Cafe into a beautiful reception area was impressive. The cost of the venue was also a great value. We are still hearing from guests that it was the best wedding they have been to and that they really enjoyed the food, train ride and overall atmosphere.

o the moment we were driven off the property after the wedding were so kind and attentive. They all enjoy their job and it really shows, they helped make my wedding day beautiful!

ll of the questions I sent her throughout the planning process, from layout changes to switching our bakery a month before the event. Vikki and Wendy were our day-of coordinators with the St. Louis Zoo, and they were fantastic. They went above and beyond to make sure everything went smoothly. Our original plan was to have them set up our decorations while our wedding party took photos out in the zoo, away from the venue. A sudden storm meant a change of plans, and they had to decorate with our wedding party (which included very active children!) inside the venue. They didn't complain, they worked around us, and they got me plenty of food and water to help me not pass out while I freaked out about the weather! I received countless complements about the food served by the zoo's in-house catering service. Even our DJ, who knows a thing or two about wedding food, said it was some of the best he'd ever had.

ea how it all worked but Sydney answered all my questions and helped me think of things I would never have considered, providing photos of what previous couples had done in the same spaces that we used. Nancy and the day-of team were all very responsive and helpful, from getting guests seated for our entrance to the reception to choreographing the entire ceremony without blinking an eye, this team is full of professionals that will help your big day go smoothly. The Zoo was already a place my husband and I loved, now we have even more wonderful memories to add to the collection.

d for a better venue and I would not change a thing about our wedding!

oordinator) was in touch with me about every detail - she was practically a wedding planner without necessarily having that title. She was always professional and on top of the ball! She made each part of my wedding vision come to life with such ease (or what she at least made look like ease!). To break things down a bit more granularly: Booking: This was easy, the down payment affordable, and numerous dates were open, I chose Lakeside Cafe due to the beauty of the outdoor area which is also covered and the large indoor space available Food: I was hesitant about this at first but let me tell you - it was fantastic! We chose a plated salmon/filet combo and I have to say it was the best wedding food I've had (I was literally shocked at how good it was at the tasting and so pleasantly surprised they could actually re-create that for a large group of guests as well!). We got so many compliments! Also, BEST appetizers ever - we got the bacon covered dates and egg rolls and I wanted to eat about a dozen of each! Cake: Comes with the zoo package - we chose the Sweet Divine and I've gotten more compliments on our cake/cupcake combo than I could have imagined (so delicious!!) Decor: Despite initial hesitation with a location normally used as a cafeteria, I booked the Lakeside Cafe after seeing photos of how it could look for events - on the night of my reception I was actually blown away by how beautiful it looked. I worked with the lighting team and the Zoo team, letting them know how I was hoping it would look and they were able to make it truly look like the elegant wedding of my dreams! The ambiance was beautiful! Bar: The bar was well staffed, with bartenders fast and willing to accommodate any request (including friends ordering shots). The Zoo even allowed me to order special craft beer choices (any of which we didn't drink/open they loaded into my dads car at the end of the night for us to take home!). I don't think there is another venue around with such an affordable and comprehensive bar service available. Extras: We hired the train service during the cocktail hour and despite a heavy downpour of rain the guests LOVED it! COVID: The zoo was great to work with on this front. With the constantly changing guidance from the city they were able to navigate everything with grace and were able to reassure me throughout - I never felt as though we were in unstable waters. They were able to make things safe and work out for my dream wedding! Staff: There is not enough that can be said about the wonderful zoo staff. They were impeccably professional and not even the slightest detail was missed during our reception. They mentioned they host numerous events a month during a normal year which is what leads them to being such a well-oiled machine. Overall, I absolutely could not be more grateful to the entire zoo team from Sydney, to the lighting crew, to all of the day-of event staff. They made planning an out of town wedding easy and fun and worked so flawlessly to create the best night I could have imagined possible!

r all of our questions and concerns. They also scheduled several meetings to make sure we were comfortable with the space for the ceremony and reception. The event space was perfect for our small wedding. It was an added bonus to have it in October so the entire zoo was decorated for Halloween with lights everywhere and having an evening wedding made it that much better. The food and staff were wonderful, everyone from the zoo were very attentive, polite, and wonderful to ourselves and our guests. Everyone who attended our wedding complemented how much of a good time they had and enjoyed themselves. It was without a doubt the best fit for us. We would very highly recommend the zoo to anyone for either their wedding or reception or like we did both.

antastic) to help through the whole planning process, and day-of coordinators who take care of everything during the wedding so you can relax and enjoy the party! The entire service staff was very friendly and attentive. We were able to hire a golf cart driver so we could take pictures all around the Zoo before the wedding, as well as to shuttle our guests between the parking lot and the venue if they didn’t want to walk. The food was delicious. The Zoo has their own caterer, and they were very easy to work with for the allergies and dietary restrictions our guests had. We got married at the River Camp venue, with the ceremony on the patio and the reception inside for about 70 people. The patio for the ceremony was beautiful and didn’t need any extra decoration. The reception space inside features a fish tank wall which was a big hit. A super fun and unique aspect of an event at the Zoo is the Animal Greeter option - we and our guests loved meeting the Zoo keepers and the animals they brought by during cocktail hour.

ding was so kind, knowledgeable, helpful, and professional! We did the River Camp venue, which held up to 120 people and featured a fish tank in the room! It was perfect for our aquarium themed wedding. My guests kept telling me how beautiful it looked, how delicious the food was, and how unique the wedding was, which is what I was going for. The cost was very reasonable for us: the zoo has their own catering (which is DELICIOUS), and the price per head included the entree, appetizers, open bar, and a basic cake from bakeries in St. Louis. They even gave us a wedding present which was so thoughtful! We worked with Danielle and Sylvia, and they were so amazing. Everything about the zoo was perfection. Don't hesitate, book them now!!!!

derful and so easy to work with! They took care of all the coordinating between vendors; it was truly a stress free and magical day. The food is still one of the most talked about parts of our wedding, and their onsite lighting tech created a beautiful ambiance. Again, we truly cannot say enough wonderful things about our zoo wedding. We had both our ceremony and reception at Lakeside Cafe and the pictures are all beautiful. We had 200 guests and everyone was able to fit comfortably in Lakeside with plenty of room for our bar and dance floor. Maybe we’re biased because it was our wedding, but it was truly the most amazing setting for an amazing day.

e event coordinator for the numerous events taking place at the Zoo every week. (She's that good). Here's a list of the reasons why I LOVED getting married at the Zoo. - set-up and take down of all chairs included, you need only provide center pieces -appetizers, 2 champagne toasts, dinner all organized through 1 place - bartenders poured strong drinks ;) -cake included in price - non-profit so no taxes on paying the venue - fit as many people as you like (we hosted 250 for sit down dinner) - Staff is AMAZING ( I even had professionals during the event to make sure everything was going smoothly) -get creative, Danielle will work with you to make sure the Zoo can do what they can TIP: We hosted in the Living World, ask for the house lights to be turned off for a better dance floor and ambiance. (The ones on the very top ceiling of the venue!) We purchased full up-lighting and it was all the decorations we needed - it was beautiful.

nses to all of my questions and kept my mind at ease. The staff did a phenomenal job making sure everything came together perfectly the day of the wedding. They were able to totally transform the Lakeside Cafe into a beautiful, elegant reception venue. The food was delicious. Their wedding packages knock other venues out of the water when it comes to price and the extras that are included--even our wedding cake was included! Plus, there are so many unique places to take pictures at the zoo. I wish I could relive the experience--I wouldn't change a thing!

ng together. Food was really good! They were so easy to work with and everything came together to make for a incredible day.

tions so quickly and met with us to walk through how the event would look. The actual reception was absolutely amazing. We wouldn’t change even one thing. We had it at the lakeside cafe, which easily accommodate our wedding size (180 people). We got so many compliments on how great the food and service was. The staff the day of (led by Sylvia and Brad) were accommodating with every request. The tables were cleaned up so quick and so easy to get our drinks. The amount of staff working the event was amazing! We had never been to a wedding before that was that quick with everything. We also loved the animal greeters! Such a fun addition to a unique event. We also got the golf carts so people didn’t have to walk as far into the zoo. Would definitely recommend this. Lastly, everything was so affordable compared to other locations. We loved knowing that our money was going to a local place. Oh and the cake was included! We truly loved our wedding and wouldn’t change a thing!

e fantastic and prompt with phone calls and emails. The catering staff was wonderful and accommodating for our guests with dietary restrictions. Lakeside Cafe was a beautiful setting for our fall reception. Despite multiple receptions happening at various spaces throughout the Zoo, we did not at all feel crowded or rushed. It was a great value for the price. We would absolutely recommend the Zoo to anyone planning an STL wedding!

the staff here were super helpful in helping us to adapt and adjust our wedding to still make it absolutely beautiful. Everyone was so helpful in helping plan our big day and were able to take a call or meet up with us as many times as we needed to ask questions or make decisions. Great wedding packages (catering, bar, cake, linens, tables/chairs, A/V), numerous locations available for events, very accommodating staff and where else can you have animal greeters at your reception? So many compliments on the food at the reception. Can not thank the zoo staff enough for all their hard work. Overall, everything was amazing. We could not have chosen a better place.

The food was great and the drinks were strong :) The only thing we ran into an issue with was that our open bar cut off at 10pm when the event ended at 11pm. However, this may very well have been an oversight on my part and it is certainly something that can be fixed prior to your wedding day. The January before my April wedding, my mother passed away very suddenly. Danielle (my event coordinator) stepped up in an amazing way. She answered all of my questions, worked with me to get things that I needed or wanted, checked in on me if she hadn't heard from me....she was such a blessing in a hard situation. I really can't say enough about how she made my situation so much more positive. The Zoo will give you a wonderful experience with plenty of gorgeous photo-ops! Our very generous golf cart driver (who drove us around for pictures) let us stop by Kali and let us in to Sea Lion Sound so we could get the ULTIMATE sea lion photo bomb! Overall, I would not have chosen anywhere else to have my wedding.

primary job. I never should have worried. First of all, having your wedding at the zoo means that the money you're spending on the event goes in to animal research and conservation. So if you're an animal lover like me, this was the primary reason why we decided to have our wedding at the zoo. That being said, their prices were extremely reasonable compared to so many of the other venue spaces we were looking at. The event coordinators, Jason and Josh, were always prompt about answering my questions. They were willing to go the extra mile to accomodate different things that we wanted in our wedding. On the day of the wedding, a woman named Jackie was there the entire day to help our vendors set up. She made it so my family members who showed up early to help weren't stressing out. The zoo also does all it's own catering and Oh My Goodness what catering it is. The prices were very reasonable and I was amazed by the quality and portions of the food. My husband has food allergies, and the chef himself came out to explain how he and his staff would be keeping the kitchen peanut free for the evening. Overall, the Saint Louis Zoo made for a very unique and fun wedding atmosphere. I would recommend it to anyone!

. They handled all the details with charm and professionalism. The complete wedding package was perfect for our event and included everything we needed which took away so much stress from planning. Their recommended vendors were wonderful professionals. They happily accommodated a variety of requests, including helping me arrange a surprise custom a capella performance as a surprise for my husband. Everything--from the animal greeters to the champagne toast to riding the carousel and getting asked if I was a real princess--was absolute perfection. And our guests loved every second almost as much as we did! Cannot say enough great things about the Zoo. BOOK THEM NOW!

e Zoo did everything they could to fix the issues and make our reception great! The Zoo does their own catering and the food is also very good! We even asked for a few extra touches and the chef did just that! They have multiple locations at the zoo to do receptions, but we chose the lakeside cafe and loved the space! The patio is used for cocktail hour and is beautiful, we got to rent sting ray city for an additional fee for just our wedding guests, and the cafe was used for the seated dinner. The only downside to this venue is the short turn around time you have to decorate, but the zoo assists you and makes it less stressful! Would definitely have another event here!

our contact person throughout the planning process and he was so accommodating. The planning was so painless and simple, I wish everything could be so easy! The day of staff, from our coordinator to the service staff, were just stellar. Everyone raved about the food and the atmosphere. If you are considering a smaller wedding, the McDonnell Center at River Camp is stunning. The Zoo has its own catering that you must use, but that just made planning so simple. The food was outstanding. Plus, if you use one of their partnered bakeries, your cake is also included in your package! I could go on and on about how wonderful it was, but we'd be here for weeks.

h minimal stress and I know it had a lot to do with the staff at the zoo! I cannot say enough good things about this venue. We had guests from all over the USA and everyone was blown away by our reception venue, the food, and just how smooth the whole night went. The Zoo makes everything so easy for the bride and groom- from working with us to coordinating with our outside vendors to catering to any special requests we had. Our wedding reception at Lakeside Cafe was perfect in every way!

ork with. Nancy our day-of coordinator was great. We had a buffet and received many compliments on the quality of food. The large open space is great and allowed for a large dance floor. The outdoor veranda was perfect for cocktail hour and continued to be used throughout the evening. I loved everything!

eet our needs. Side note, there are many options to pick from, depending on availability, and they were all beautiful! The zoo does all catering in house, works with specific bakeries for your dessert option (we picked Sugaree), and provides linens, plates, and a champagne toast; which are all included their quote. The tasting at the zoo was a lot of fun, and our small group had a great time figuring out our event menu. For events, the zoo also offers complimentary parking to guests, which is convenient if there is an event in Forest Park on the night of your event. Our day of coordinators were Don and Lisa, and I appreciated that they made sure to introduce themselves to me, early on at the reception. They were never hovering, but always seemed to be easy to find when I had a question or request. The zoo event staff were great- very professional and very friendly. All of the guests after the event were so complimentary of the food, the service, the location, and appearance of the venue. We are re so happy (and lucky) to have had our reception at the zoo!

wedding cake! Almost one stop shopping!

itely helped make our special day one to remember.

of the small details behind the scenes. The zoo catering dinner was amazing - the guests raved about the food and beverage selection! I would recommend the zoo to everyone!

and ensured we had the best experience possible. The Zoo included catering, and the wedding package was incredibly affordable. Because the Zoo is a non-profit, there is no sale-tax which is also a perk. The food was amazing! We ordered lemon-pepper chicken and it was fantastic. Our wedding took place in the McDonnel Center which was smaller and included a private outdoor patio with a waterfall, and an indoor fish tank. We also had animal greeters so our guests could experience more of the zoo atmosphere. The Zoo provided us with a day-off coordinator, Christine, and she was also incredibly fantastic. She called the day before to tell me that everything was under control and that she was excited to work with us. That day, she was available to drive us to and from the event space in a golf-cart and to ensure that the entire event ran smoothly. She stayed all the way until the end and was a real joy to work with. Overall, the Zoo was amazing. The Wedding Package is incredibly affordable and it includes champagne entrance and toast, four hour open bar, appetizers, dinner and cake. The Zoo even got us a super fun wedding gift! If you are looking for a unique wedding experience in a beautiful local place with excellent service, this is for you!

nue was by far the most affordable, all inclusive space. For a sit-down dinner, everything--the 4 hour open bar, two passed appetizers and one stationary appetizer, champagne toast, salad, entree plus two sides, AND cake--was included in the entree price (~60 per person for chicken, not including gratuity). We also agreed that we were more happy to give our money to the zoo than some company. In addition, the zoo event staff was wonderful to work with. Jason Moder was my contact during the planning process, and he was very good about answering emails and figuring out logistics. He was also very patient with my mother, who was more worried than me about everything. He was a pleasure to work with. Don was my day-of event coordinator, and he was great too! Anything we wanted or any concerns we had, they were attended to. Lastly, all of our guests agreed that the room (River Camp), which had an outdoor terrace with a waterfall and an aquarium inside, was absolutely gorgeous. Perfect venue. Absolutely perfect.

, who was just awesome, and he was able to fulfill all our requests. The packages that are offered are affordable and everything (including cake with local bakeries) is included in the price so there's no need to work with mulitple vendors. The only downfall was the "day of coordinator" didn't seem to know all the details that Jason and I had discussed, but everything turned out great in the end! If you're looking for a fun and unique wedding spot, I highly recommend the STL Zoo.

ah was wonderful; she was great with communication and answered all of our questions. I was my own wedding planner so it really helped when she made sure we had everything for the reception, down to our toasting glasses and things I never would've thought of! Our meeting and walk-through went well, and everything was organized how it should have been. All of our guests raved at how magnificent the transformation was between what you see during the day versus the event space at night. We were even able to rent the train for an hour; we had our guests meet all of us at the train station. Choosing the Zoo was definitely the best choice we made regarding the wedding and I would do it again in a heartbeat!

neat aquarium, and the ability to use their outdoor patio. Jason, our event coordinator, was very gracious with us. We were planning this wedding from a distance (we live in NY) but he was very responsive to our emails and calls. They do require that they use the on-site catering services, but the wedding package is a great value and made catering decisions very easy. My guests loved the food. Day of, the event staff were incredibly helpful and ensured everything went smoothly. The food service staff were wonderful as well. The room size ended up being perfect for our 115 guests, even when the bar had to be moved inside due to spotty rain. A very good experience from beginning to end; made planning our reception incredibly easy.

rofessional, responsive, and knowledgeable. Jason made our vision come to life! Everything was perfect from start to finish! I strongly recommend the St. Louis Zoo for anyone looking for a stress free and unique reception venue.

il hour outside and the dancing and dinner inside. The event staff was very helpful in the planning process leading up to the wedding.

erywhere. We didn't know any of this until after the reception. They had our corner of the Zoo in prestine condition. They were organized, polite, accomadating, and wonderful. The food and bar service was great. I can't say enough good things about our experience there.

tor) and Mary Foster (the site manager) were nothing but patient and helpful. We did hit a few snags with security not allowing some of our vendors in promptly, but overall we were very pleased. The Lakeside Cafe is really transformed for weddings--I've eaten there several times while visiting the Zoo, and it was truly unrecognizable as the casual dining fast food area it is during the day. The waitstaff were all extremely friendly and efficient, and the food was good. We ordered some wines through their distributor, and found the markup to be quite reasonable ($23 for a $18 bottle). Being a non-profit, they really don't try to nickel-and-dime you--all set-up and clean-up is included in the price they quote you, and they are willing to throw in extras (gift and cake tables, sweetheart table, extra chairs) without charging extra. The other advantage of their non-profit status is that they do not charge sales tax on the food, which we calculated saved us $600. We highly recommend having your wedding at the Zoo. Jason and his staff will bend over backwards in order to accommodate whatever requests you have, and you'll enjoy the double-takes when you tell people where it is!

wood ceiling & walls. They provided free parking & a free golf cart to take guests to & from the site. Easy to work with staff - very flexible & professional.;We had a tasting prior to the reception. We loved the food. However at the reception I knew that it wasn't the same as soon as they set it in front of me. It definitely didn't taste the same either. About 1/2 of our guests didn't like it, including myself.