About this vendor
Imagine exchanging your vows in front of your family, friends and 2,000 coral reef fish. Say "I do" with our 500,000 gallon floor to ceiling panoramic window as your backdrop. Our event and catering professionals will help you create a truly unique and memorable experience.
Coral Reef Ceremony Photos: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B7UJqgwTnfXIMDJndXc5SHY4X00?resourcekey=0-T9s29cgZUQx8wF7uEOVtww&usp=sharing
Photo Credit: AisPortraits, AStewart Graphics, Carrie Wildes, Limelight, Lifelong Studios, Your Story By Us
Facilities and Capacity
The wedding venue has three beautiful and unique event spaces, including the Coral Reef Room, Rooftop Terrace and First Floor Lobby. Their all inclusive wedding packages ease the planning process to make sure your special day is worry free.
Services Offered
The Florida Aquarium is committed to providing a remarkable wedding experience to each and every couple they host. They will ensure that your wedding is a night that your guests will never forget by providing interactive animal encounters such as Birds of Prey or a Two Toed Sloth. The venue’s in-house catering services make for a complete wedding experience.
Location
The Florida Aquarium sits along Water Street Tampa within walking distance of Water Street, Sparkman Wharf, the Tampa Riverwalk, Downtown Tampa, the TECO Line Streetcar System and so much more.
Amenities + details
Covered Outdoors Space
Handicap Accessible
Indoor Event Space
Outdoor Event Space
Reception Area
Wireless Internet
Dressing Room
Liability Insurance
On-Site Accommodations
Ceremony Types
- Civil Union
- Commitment Ceremony
- Elopement
- Interfaith Ceremony
- Non-Religious Ceremony
- Religious Ceremony
Settings
- Beach
- Waterfront
- Cruise
- Garden
- Museum
- Park
Venue Service Offerings
- Bar & Drinks
- Cakes & Desserts
- Destination Weddings
- Destination Wedding Packages
- Destination Wedding Planning
- Food & Catering
Awards and Affiliations
2-Time 'Best of Weddings'
2012.2011.
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.
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Reviews
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4.8
out of 5.056 reviews
My husband and I got married at the Florida Aquarium in March 2022, so it will always hold a special place in my heart.
At first, I had no idea you could have a wedding here. It w...
asn't until we were looking at potential venues and saw ZooTampa listed as an option that I even thought to look into the aquarium — and once I knew it was a possibility, I pretty much had my heart set on this place. We wanted something a little different than the usual hotel ballroom (not that there's anything wrong with that, I've been to a number of gorgeous weddings in hotels... but that just wasn't what we wanted). We both love animals, and when we realized our money would be helping to support a non-profit, the decision was rather easy. After all, weddings are expensive, so if we're going to spend thousands of dollars anyway, knowing it was going to a good cause helped ease the pain in our pocketbook.
Kimberly was my main contact, and she met with me to go over all of the details of everything we wanted (plated instead of a buffet, what kind of chairs, upgrades to the open bar, etc.). They have a pretty sizable menu to choose from, and hold a showcase twice a year so you can taste all of the food (we opted for chicken and salmon, and our meals were seriously so good!). You do have to use their catering — you can't bring in an outside vendor for that. Your wedding also includes a food display table during your cocktail hour as well as a great open bar (that lasts your entire cocktail hour and reception). We opted to pay to upgrade the champagne from Riondo to Korbel, and upgrade the bourbon from Jim Beam to Evan Williams. When my husband and I wanted to go back to the aquarium to check out areas for photographs (so we could tell our photographer), Kimberly was happy to send us comp tickets so we could visit on our own. And she sent us another round of comp tickets once my month-of coordinator came on board so we could do a walk-through with her. Kimberly was always super responsive with each and every question I sent her way.
We had our ceremony in the coral reef room (which has floor-to-ceiling glass where you can see sharks, turtles, stingrays and fish swimming by). We paid extra for the "bubble curtain" that happens during the first kiss, and it looked awesome. We had also paid to have penguins walk down the aisle, but sadly 7 of their 10 penguins died about six months before our wedding, so that option was no longer available. I was pretty bummed about it, but the health of their penguins is obviously far more important. They've since gotten a new penguin colony, but I don't know if they're doing the penguin aisle walk option anymore.
After the ceremony, our guests were able to explore the aquarium on their own during the cocktail hour, or they could just head up to the rooftop (where our reception was). While they explored, our bridal party and family took photos in the coral reef room, and my husband and I then went around the aquarium and Wetlands area for more photos on our own.
We couldn't have asked for a better reception than on the rooftop, overlooking the water and downtown Tampa. The weather was absolutely perfect, and we partied until the very end (we paid for an extra hour so our reception started at 7 pm and ended at 11 pm). So many of our friends told us this was the most fun wedding they'd ever attended, and we absolutely have the aquarium to thank for that.
We were on the search for a unique venue that gave a Florida vibe but was NOT a beach. Getting married in June we knew we wanted an entirely indoor venue, and that was hard to find...
! The second we stepped into the Florida Aquarium we knew we had found the perfect spot. We worked with Kim who was incredibly responsive, and we were able to tour the venue multiple times throughout the planning process. There were so many details that made the day unique, but our favorite was that during cocktail hour, our guests were able to tour the exhibits. The day of the event, the entire Aquarium staff was phenomenal. There was a torrential downpour of course as my bridesmaids and I were arriving, and multiple staff members greeted us with umbrellas, escorted us where we needed to be and even carried my train. Everyone was kind and professional and really made our day special. The catering and bar was with Aramark through the Aquarium and Erica and her staff were wonderful to work with as well. We had a private menu tasting which was tons of fun, and both Erica and Kim helped us create a menu we knew our guests would enjoy. The bar included tons of options at no extra cost, the food was delicious and again the bartenders and catering staff was wonderful. We truly couldn’t be happier with our choice to get married here!
Having my wedding here was truly a dream come true. Every single person involved in planning and organizing was helpful and dedicated to making sure the big day went smoothly! The ...
catering is amazing and honestly so worth the cost. The venue of the ceremony was fairtyale-esque and unforgettable. I wish I could go back in time and do this day all over simply because it was that amazing getting married here. Big shoutout to Kimberly, Sheila, and Dara! Love love love this venue!!!
The Florida aquarium was an absolute DREAM of a venue!!! Being a huge fan of ocean life, being surrounded by sharks, rays and other fish while saying “I Do” could not have been mor...
e enchanting! The guests all loved the uniqueness and beauty of the venue as well!
Wonderful experience! it has been very tough with the pandemic but even with all of the changes the coordinators for the venue and food were absolutely amazing! Kimberly was amazin...
g through everything and was a great help through all of it, especially with rehearsal and day of! Rachel the coordinator for food & beverage was awesome as well! They made everything so perfect and I wouldn't have changed a thing.
This venue is a gem. Our guests were so excited to attend a reception at such a beautiul and unique location. The package prices are very affordiable, especially since they include...
alcohol. Jaclyn from the sales deparment was prompt, responsive and so easy to work with.
The wedding coordinator Jaclyn and Karen were very helpful and very responsive. They made the planning seamless and were accommodating for last-minute planning and changes. In addi...
tion, on the night before the wedding, they set up the entire venue after we brought all our decorations to them and made the reception area look amazing. Overall, a beautiful and unique venue that made for a memorable day.
We had our wedding ceremony and reception in the Coral Reef room over a month ago and we still receive compliments on the food (they work with Aramark) and that it was the most bea...
utiful wedding our guests have ever been to- even compared to their own!
Jaclyn was very accommodating, especially when we had to move our wedding date up by 6 months, due to a family emergency. It was definitely not ideal to plan a wedding in such a short amount of time, but she worked through the whole process with my planner, CJ, and myself. It was not a cheap wedding but if you have a limited budget, they will work with you so that you don't go over.
I am so happy that we chose this venue and I cannot imagine having a more intimate and beautiful wedding than this.
The best ever!
I cannot say enough good words about having our wedding at the Aquarium. It was one, absolutely stunning. Just the overall atmosphere, it is so well kept! We had our ceremony in...
front of the floor to ceiling tank, and our reception in their new Mosaic ballroom that overlooks the bay. We used the aquariums preferred vendors for everything, and they were all just perfect. We also did the penguin encounter (walk down the aisle) for an added cost which was SO worth it- our guests will be talking about this for the rest of their lives. Our sales/catering manager, Jaclyn, was always responsive and receptive to my many emails and questions. The catering from the Aquarium through Aramark is also something I cannot say enough amazing words about. The food was absolutely delicious! They made sure to have a special table ready for the wedding party immediately following the ceremony, which was so nice as many weddings I've been in this was not done and you starve until dinner time! We also added the 3 passed appetizers for cocktail hour and our guests are still raving about them. Again, I cannot say enough kind words- thank you for making this the best day of our lives!
The Florida Aquarium was absolutely fantastic. The venue itself is incredible, but the staff really pushed it over the top. They were constantly making sure everyone was happy, tha...
t everything we wanted, we got, and that our special day was as perfect as we could ever imagine! Jaclyn was awesome! She was always on it when it came to planning and was a huge help! Her and the manager that night were so amazing. It's hard to even put it in words, but they just did so many little things to make sure that everything was perfect and going smoothly. The mosaic room was absolutely gorgeous, and the penguins were a huge hit! The food was delicious, and everything was just so much better than we imagined. If we ever have another big event, we'll definitely be doing it here. It was just so beautiful and so perfect!
The venue sells itself!!! It was beautiful and getting the penguins to walk down the isle and to be at the cocktail hour was worth every penny!!! the pictures and picture opportuni...
ties were fantastic. The food was very delicious and my guests still cannot stop talking about the wedding - many saying the best wedding they have ever been too. They do require you to use their wedding coordinators - and have limits on what vendors are allowed into the facility based on their contracts - this can be limiting and something to keep in mind. We were able to navigate through those limitations and were overall thrilled with the outcome.
I could not have been happier with the Florida Aquarium. They take care of you. We had the ceremony and reception there and had Jaclyn Rhodes for our coordinator and she was incred...
ibly responsive and involved throughout the whole process.
They work with Aramark and provided inclusive packages that include venue fees (ceremony and/or reception), food, and open bar along with day of coordination. The pricing was super competitive and we felt like we got the most out of our budget.
They will let you bring in your own decorations (if you wish) and will help set out if you need it. They let you tour the aquarium anytime between booking and your wedding with guests or vendors. They provided full coordination with your vendors so you don't have to worry about a thing the day of and you also don't need to hire a day of coordinator!
Not to mention, the venue is absolutely stunning. So many great photo locations and our guests all said it was the most unique and beautiful wedding they ever attended. It was more than we ever dreamed. I would highly recommend to any and everyone.
Our wedding at The Florida Aquarium was amazing! We had such a wonderful experience with the staff, especially with Jaclyn Rhodes. She did such an excellent job at answering all of...
my questions, coordinating all of our vendors and giving us advice or input for our special day. From the time we stepped in the door to the moment we left, we felt like we were being catered to. Staff always made sure we had something to drink, that we were comfortable or making sure we were in the right place at the right time. Of course, the venue was spectacular, our guests loved every moment because there was always something to look at or learn about. The food was very tasty and perfect temperature. When it came to coordination and execution of our wedding, The Florida Aquarium nailed it!
Natalia Day was the most incredible wedding planner a bride could ask for - she is kind, caring, and passionate about creating the most special day for the bride and groom. Her am...
azing and loving heart shine through in her work as one of the Best Wedding Planners Ever! She definitely made my Wedding Day one of the most remarkable and incredible memories a bride could ask for! Staff at the aquarium night of the Wedding were absolutely amazing as well, cordial, pleasant, and very accommodating. Steak and Chicken, mashed potatoes and green beans (little al dante) were also surprisingly delicious! I was happy because I had one option regarding catering and they definitely nailed it - it was great! Cake was made by Jovana at Artistic Whisk - absolutely perfect. Everything we could have asked for - my husband designed the cake himself - so me being the (mini) hoarder that I tend to be, wanted to keep the cake - so we went with styrofoam option - great until no one at the wedding knew were to "slice the real cake." It totally ended OK, but if you choose this option - make sure you clarify exactly where the real cake is hidden in your styrofoam piece - just a heads up. It was very humorous, I'll have to admit but this could have easily been avoided. I loved every minute of my Wedding Day at the Aquarium, and if anyones looking for a unique place to promise their vows and/or hold an event - its pretty amazing, I strongly recommend, and hope that you have just as an amazing event as we did!
In a single word: Spectacular.
My husband and I planned our entire wedding from start to finish in under two months. I never could have imagined planning such a dramatically stunn...
ing event in that time frame without the help and support of the incredible staff there.
We started our initial planning working with Nevar, who was always readily available for questions and helped put together an incredible venue arrangement for us right from the start. Later on in the planning process she also met up with us on a last minute tour of the venue over a weekend, even with her mom in town.
After we signed the contract, we mostly worked with Jaclyn, the catering manager, and Abby, the assigned wedding planner. We loved them both! Jaclyn went to bat for my husband and I every step of the way. She offered suggestions on how we could make the most out of our experience there (such as the bubble curtain for the first kiss and recommendations for vendors) and made special arrangements for us whenever she could. You could tell she made the effort to listen to who we were as a couple and put thought into an experience that would be special just for us. Her experience and skill at throwing these events really shined through in her organization and attention to detail.
Abby was also incredibly helpful and made herself available at all hours of the day, even if just for a quick reassuring text. During our wedding night, she was a pro at making sure the event ran smoothly. Because we planned our wedding in such a short time frame, there were of course logistical details my husband and I hadn't considered. Abby was right there to correct those minor glitches right on the spot without any hiccups or stress. She also came up with some last minute ideas on how to use spare decorations we had as a complete and welcome surprise to us when we walked into the reception (truely stunning).
All of the staff members mentioned went the extra mile in making our night feel special and unique. There were of course a host of other staff members present that night, all of whom were friendly, professional, and thoughtful. We were met with such considerate suprises such as a personal tray of food right after the ceremony just for my husband and I to ensure we got a chance to eat. You can tell the people who work there genuinely enjoy what they do.
The venue itself, with the remarkable coral reef backdrop would have made the night memorable on it's own (our guests continue to express their delight from that evening). Staffed with all of these wonderful people, we ended up with an event that was flawless and extraordinary. All of our thanks to the Florida Aquarium Staff.
Very picturesque. Wonderful service and everyond said it was the moat fun and well organized wedding they've ever attended. They are very strict on time so if your the soet of pers...
on that runs late, might not be fore you. But other than that everything was stellar.
This is a beautiful venue but please, do yourself a favor and hire a coordinator to deal with the venue as communication is not their strong point. Emails went unanswered for month...
s, lack of communication and a last minute switch of event coordinators lead to a very rocky night. Originally we worked with Natalie, who was really great about fixing the breakdown of communication. A week before the wedding the day of coordinator changed and we ended up working with Ashley, who we just didn't mesh well with. She seemed angry the first time we met, the night before the wedding, and was missing most of the night of the wedding. The penguin encounter was not worth the extra $500, the fog screen was broken and we only found out about it the night before the wedding. Our wedding party had to finish setting up the chairs because the aquarium staff had not finished. We missed all of our pre-wedding photography because of it. You are locked in using Aramark as a caterer and their food is expensive and average at best. Aramark rents linens but be prepared for their cost, example $4 per bow per chair, to RENT. The AC was not working the night of the wedding and a whole tray of food was dropped. Half of our cake "disappeared" and many guests said they never even had a piece. It took four people and over an hour to track down our toasting flutes. Needless to say, it is months later and I still cry because of the mishaps of the night. The venue was not apologetic at all and we were blamed for "not understanding what a event coordinator does". I understand there are a multitude of great reviews and I honestly wish that Ashley hadn't had such a chip on her shoulder, which ruined my wedding.
It's a beautiful backdrop for a wedding but do your homework and be prepared to pay for a lot of extras to make it work. Ask for Natalie or anyone but Ashley.
They did a fantastic job. We could not have asked for a better venue.
The Aquarium was a perfect venue for our wedding. Ashley was there to help us every step of the way. They allowed us to come anytime, always available by phone for questions, and...
very easy to work with. The wedding was incredible, both our ceremony and reception were in the coral reef room. We had the penguins and the fog screens and definitely suggest both! We would highly recommend this venue to anyone! You will not find a friendlier staff or more unique location!
Better Than You Will Ever Dream - That's the only way I can describe our wedding at the FL Aquarium! We are only 11 days into our "happily ever after" and not a day has gone by tha...
t guests from our wedding haven't contacted us about the incredible, memorable time they had!
We had an intimate destination wedding with about 42 guests which allowed us to utilize the coral reef room for both our ceremony and reception. Our guests couldn't get over the backdrop we had in this room - views of sharks above our heads as we said our vows made for some unbelievable photos.
Mary coordinated our menu and gave us an amazing array of foods that everyone was able to enjoy....from the shrimp cocktail display at the cocktail hour to the build-your-own mashed potato bar, the food was wonderful. Mary worked so well with us and made sure everything was just as we requested.
Enough complimentary words can't be said about Natalie Melillo - our wedding coordinator/planner at the aquarium. We are from NJ and we happened to find the FL Aquarium in a search for unique wedding locations. We had serious concerns about trying to plan a destination wedding, but once we met Natalie, all our worries disappeared. She responded quickly to all of our MANY emails and went out of her way to help us coordinate all aspects of the wedding. After a year and a half of planning from afar, the week of the wedding was upon us. We arrived in FL a week before our wedding and were able to remain relaxed and enjoy our time with friends and family who had flown in early knowing that Natalie had everything under control. On our actual wedding day, our only focus was each other......we knew everything would be perfect.....and it was! Natalie kept us calm, well-fed, and enjoying every minute of our magical day. Natalie ..... you rock!
My wife and I couldn't be happier and we will remember our wedding in this incredible venue for the rest of our lives!
Choosing the Florida Aquarium as my venue was best decision I made for the wedding. Not only did the Aquarium make for a super fun and incredibly beautiful venue with unique and go...
rgeous picture opportunities, but the Aquarium gives you an events coordinator who is a fantastic resource for wedding planning and nothing less than a life saver on the day of. I had the great luck of working with Ashley and to say that she went above and beyond for my wedding is an understatement! She answered questions which hadn’t even occurred to me yet, provided an incredibly helpful list of suggested vendors as well as coordinated with all my vendors, and basically held my hand through the entire process. She kept us on time, guided us through the day, gave helpful reminders, positioned my train to head down the aisle, made sure we got to eat, and even added her own special touches, for which we were extremely grateful and overwhelmed by her kindness. I would have been lost without Ashley! Every single staff member we encountered at the Aquarium was so nice and made me genuinely feel like our wedding was super important to each of them, rather than one wedding out of a million. We used the Coral Reef room for both the ceremony and dinner and it was simply incredible. During my father’s speech, three sharks kept swimming by the window! The whole night was magical! My husband and I found a quiet moment to ourselves between pictures and reception introductions to look at one of the tanks and talk and enjoy and it was amazing. We really had the best time and, just over a month later, our guests are still talking about it! During the cocktail hour, guests can roam and enjoy the Aquarium and they all have great pictures too. It was a fun night for everyone! At the Florida Aquarium, you are contracted to use Aramark Catering: they were phenomenal! The food was delicious; the staff was so kind and totally on top of everything, and all my partying guests were thrilled with the bar! I got to work with both Mary and Anna and they took great care of us in the planning process and took excellent care of our guests night of. Our wedding was everything I had hoped it would be, and it is all thanks to the Florida Aquarium and the staff there. I absolutely recommend the aquarium, it is worth every penny and you will be in such good hands!
The Florida Aquarium is THE BEST VENUE for weddings EVER!!!! It is a wonderfully unique venue, with a one-of-a-kind background, incredibly helpful staff, and fantastic food. I book...
ed the Coral Reef room at TFA for my wedding ceremony and reception for 5 hours, and also purchased the underwater lighting affect, and a penguin to walk down the isle during our ceremony. My wedding planner, Natalie, was incredibly helpful. Anytime I (or my mom) had a question, she was able to respond via email or phone call. She made planning my wedding very easy. Also, because the venue was such a unique venue, they have a list of preferred vendors to use (photographers, officiants, DJs, hotels, etc), and that was INCREDIBLY helpful. I am a destination bride, so I did not have the option to visit with vendors, so having that list made it much easier with the selection of my vendors. It was also great that their venue rental was all-inclusive. I did not have to worry about having to pay a separate fee for cake cutting, top-shelf liquor, silverware, chivari chairs, etc.
During my wedding weekend, Natalie was very helpful, especially since she was my day-of wedding coordinator. She helped me around the venue, keeping us on schedule, and even fluffed my dress when I was walking down the isle. I could have not asked for a more perfect venue or staff assisting me, and making my wedding day perfect!
Also, they have their own on-site caterer, and their food is delicious! Their appetizers for the cocktail hour, and their plated dinner was phenomenal. And Mary, the catering person who worked with on our wedding, was also incredibly helpful throughout the process.
It is hard for me to put into words how beautiful my wedding was (not to brag or anything). I had my ceremony in the Coral Reef Room (in front of the panoramic window), then cockta...
il hour on the second floor while they flipped the room, then the reception in the Coral Reef Room. The room was more than I ever could have imagined with the decor and uplighting (from 2 other vendors). Natalie was my contact and she was amazing throughout this whole process. I had a planner as well so most of the contact was between the two of them. Mary was the catering manager and she was very prompt in getting me the information that I needed and very sweet and patient with me. I cannot imagine having my wedding anywhere else, because everything was just so perfect. The food was great, the venue was awesome for some very unique pictures, and overall my wedding was perfect! I would recommend this venue to anybody who asks me! I loved it!
I worked with Ashley at the Florida Aquarium to plan my wedding and reception. She was responsive and easy to work with - which was important since I was planning my wedding from a...
nother state and could not meet with her in person often. On the day of our event, Ashley handled every detail. She coordinated with our vendors, oversaw the setting of furniture and decorations, and made sure our event moved along in a timely and efficient manner. At the end of the evening, she even made sure that her staff packed up everything we brought with us - meaning my wedding party got to enjoy the reception instead of having to pack up. It was an amazing night at a unique venue.
I worked with Mary to coordinate all of the catering. We had a sit down dinner, and considering the price we paid included appetizers and an open bar, the price was more than reasonable. Our food tasted amazing, and the portions were generous - far more than I expected. There was an unfortunate accident where an entire tray of food was dropped, but the staff handled it well and worked quickly to get food to guests as fast as possible. All of our guests were pleased with their meal.
The Florida Aquarium has the perfect backdrop for the ceremony in front of the giant shark tank, so decor is minimal!
The staff at the aquarium for weddings is so professional a...
nd unbelievably organized. They do this all the time so everything went perfectly. Natalie was our wedding coordinator and she was so awesome and relaxed. It helped me relax!
I realized early on that email is best way to get in touch with their staff. They work odd hours for events so they will answer back usually within 2 days. Much faster than waiting for someone to call you back.
Our cocktail hour was on the outside deck and reception in the explore-a-shore outside area. Weather was perfect in March, and was underneath an overhang just in case of rain.
My husband and I were so impressed with how everything turned out!
I can't rant enough about this place! Ashley was the most amazing wedding coordinator, she handled so many things and I will never be able to thank her enough for everything she di...
d! She went above and beyond to make our day special! The venue was gorgeous, food excellent, and service was awesome! Thanks so much for letting us host our dream wedding here!
As soon as we found out that the Florida Aquarium hosted weddings, we knew that this was it for us! We chose to book the Aquarium for both the ceremony and reception for $2500. You...
pretty much are paying for the decorations too, because you really don't need any with the huge wall tank! You have to use their caterer, but we really enjoyed their hors d'oeurves (the coconut shrimp is a MUST!) and the dinner was delicious. Another plus is that they include an in-house wedding planner for free. We had Natalie Melillo, and she was just fantastic and everything flowed just perfectly at the wedding. We couldn't have done it without her. Everyone kept complimenting about what a unique venue this was and how it was the best, most intimate wedding that they had ever been to. Plus, just look at the incredible photos you get from having your wedding here (I would seriously recommend hiring a good, professional photographer who has shot at the Aquarium before because you'll be kicking yourself if you don't. The glass tanks make it hard to get photos, but if they are done right, they are just phenomenal). The night went way too fast though! It was incredible fun, and I would highly recommend this venue to anyone!
I cannot even begin to tell you how amazing The Florida Aquarium was in helping us organize and execute our perfect day. Everyone kept telling me how stressed I must be planning th...
is wedding because we were planning a Tampa wedding from all the way in D.C. The truth of the matter is that everyone at the aquarium from Carolyn, to Mary, and especially Natalie, our coordinator, were so helpful and amazing that I never once felt stressed or that I was missing something integral to the big day. I cannot say enough wonderful things about Natalie. She was amazing. She was a zen presence the entire time and I am beyond thrilled that she was our coordinator. The catering staff that took care of me and my husband(!) at the reception were also so wonderful to us, they really took care of us all night. The best part of is that we were able to host a wedding that our friends and family really felt was unique and special. If you are looking to get married in Tampa and you really want something out of the ordinary that is going to WOW your guests, look no further than The Florida Aquarium.
First, Ashley and Mary are the greatest. It does not matter what your issue is they meet you with a positive, kind, understanding attitude. On the day of my wedding Ashley was so...
enthusiastic and fun and efficient, she really is just amazing. She keeps things moving and fixes hiccups as they come so quickly you never know they're happening! She encourages you through your entire day but she started being helpful and encouraging long before that!
The venue is just fantastic! There was not a single guest who was not amazed, who did not gush and rave about our wedding and the venue. The penguins walked me down the aisle which thrilled all of our guests but really, the entire atmosphere just made everything magical and beautiful.
When we went to the tasting we met Chiquita and requested that she bartend for us at our wedding. Everyone loved her and made sure to tell us! That is the way with the entire staff at the aquarium! It's beautiful, it's unique, it's affordable and the amazing extras like the penguins will make anyone's wedding absolutely unforgettable! I'm so in love with my wedding and that's because of Florida Aquarium!
Our wedding was Amazing. Everything about the Florida Aquarium was perfect! Everyone that came to the wedding said it was the best wedding venue they have ever been to and it was b...
eautiful.
My event planner was Natalie, and I've been planning my wedding for two years, so I got to know her and she is such a beautiful person on the inside and out! Whenever I had an iss...
ue/question I knew I could count on her to give me a honest answer. My food planner was Rebecca and she is also completely great! She was an awesome Halloween date ;)
The staff at the aquarium was fantastic! They were professional, and really went out if their way to make my special day amazing! The coral reef room was beautiful and I even was a...
ble to have an actual penguin walk down the aisle!!
The Florida Aquarium was the perfect and unique location we dreamed of! After our first visit with Natalie, we did not want to look any where else. Natalie was professional and har...
d working for the entire year of our planning process. The entire wedding was PERFECT! Natalie, Mikayla and all of their staff are experts at the wedding process and anticipated any need we had before and during the wedding. The costs are very reasonable in comparison to other wedding venues!! We continue to hear how amazing our wedding was from all of our guests! This was a once in a lifetime experience and could not have been better!!
Lauren and Allen Haley
We could not have had a better wedding! The scenery was beautiful. The staff was professional and wonderful. Although a few mistakes happened along the way they were fixed and we w...
ere pleased with how the staff handled them. I would recommend the aquarium to anyone.
Absolutely incredible!!!! By far the most magical, unique, intimate wedding venue of anything I've seen. We had the most beautiful wedding because the venue was so amazing. Ashley ...
Valentine was a god send. She was extremely helpful throughout the entire wedding process.
We had our wedding at the aquarium, and it was the prettiest wedding venue I've ever been to. We had a small (50 guest) wedding, and chose the coral reef room for the ceremony and ...
reception, adding water effect lighting and a penguin encounter during cocktail hour. It was amazing. The aquarium displays provide instant ambiance and everyone said it was the most unique place they'd been for a celebration. Make sure you ask about the add-ons before you set your budget, though, because there's a lot that you can do to personalize the space.
We got married on 10-11-12 and yes, we chose it for the date. We're in our 40's with kids and wanted a relatively casual venue in Florida where everyone's kids could have fun but ...
would also be nice for adults. We were first looking to do a beach wedding but then couldn't find "the place" for our wedding of 120. As I frantically searched for options that weren't too far from my parents' home in Orlando, I came across a wedding picture taken at The Florida Aquarium and knew this could the be it. After a tour and chatting via email with Natalie, a wonderful event coordinator, our decision was set.
This was a destination wedding in that no one in or coming to the wedding lived in Tampa. We were able to visit a couple times but it would not have been necessary as Natalie patiently answered all our questions via email, shared a ton of pictures from other weddings and helped us in any way she could. We did a lot of DIY stuff but you can let the Aquarium do a much or little as you choose.
We ended up with about 85 guests and every since person, from 2 up to 87 years old truly enjoyed the choice of venue. I don't know how many people told us it was the best wedding they'd ever been to. We did the wedding ceremony in the Coral Reef room then everyone went out to the 2nd floor balcony for the cocktail hour and could wander through the Wetlands and Bays exhibits. After an hour, everyone returned to the Coral Reef room where they had set it back up for the dinner reception. Susan, in catering, modified the buffet menu to our liking and even did a vegan meal for my Dad. The buffet was set among the Sea Horse exhibit. Then, for cake and dancing, you just meandered down to the Shark Tank area. It was great to have two separate areas so people could mingle in the quieter area dinner area or dance to the music down the hallway. We had our wedding "logo" and text put up on the fog screen and people loved it. I tossed the bouquet from the 2nd floor landing down to the 1st floor, which my nieces thought was just great. Then we had a big sparkler exit. A lot of fun for everyone!!
The only thing that some couples might not like is that the dressing areas are classrooms. We didn't mind but if you do then consider dressing at your hotel and taking a limo to the Aquarium as it can drop you right out front. Another thing that I would have liked to do is use the Streetcar system to take guests to/from the Aquarium as we all stayed in Ybor City. But, because our wedding was on Thursday, it was too expensive when the streetcars shutdown at 10:00pm and our wedding went until 11:30pm.
We really couldn't have asked for a better venue or better staff to assist. I wholeheartedly give 5 stars to the Florida Aquarium!
We were extremely happy with our wedding and reception at the Florida Aquarium. It was an event that both our families are going to remember for a long time to come -- which is exactly what we wanted.
Couldn't believe we found this place on The Knot! Absolutely perfect for our wedding theme because my fiancee proposed to me while diving underwater! When we booked the venue we we...
re told we would have the ENTIRE AQUARIUM the whole night! It was so great to see our guests wandering around all of the exhibits during the cocktail hour! The panoramic tank in the coral reef room was absolutely amazing and made the perfect backdrop for our ceremony/reception. The guests loved it! We haven't stopped getting compliments on how original and unique our venue was!
The only negatives were that it was a little difficult to stay in contact with the wedding coordinator because she was always so busy! And we also went through two different caterers and had SEVERAL communications problems with them, but it all turned out perfect on the wedding day! Just a little stressful during the planning process, but absolutely worth it!
**You have to use their catering department- but the food was SPECTACULAR and the servers were absolutely fantastic!**
I had a wonderful experience with the Florida Aquarium. Our coordinator, Ashley, was beyond helpful. The wedding was beautiful and ran smoothly because of Ashley's help. I have hea...
rd nothing but good things from ours guests. The food was amazing and the back drops were, of course, just gorgeous. We were definitely pleased.
Our experience with the Florida Aquarium staff was wonderful! We mostly worked with Natalie and Susan. They were always so attentive, professional, and personable. They went above ...
and beyond our expectations. I always had tons of questions and I never felt rushed during our long meetings. For just one example of a way we feel they went above and beyond our expectations, Natalie invited our photographer and videographer to the aquarium and walked around with them to explore lighting and picture location options. She did this for us just because I mentioned in one of our meetings that I was a little bit concerned since neither had ever worked at the aquarium before. In every meeting, email, and phone call, they made me feel like my wedding was their top priority. My family joked that if the wedding day went half as well as all the pre-wedding preparations went, then it would be a success. The wedding day turned out to be amazing as well and everything exceeded our expectations. We got tons of compliments on the food. All of the centerpieces and decorations were set up for us by Susan and her team and they looked just like we wanted. We can not thank Natalie, Susan, and everyone else that helped make our wedding day amazing! The overall price did end up being fairly expensive, but we felt like the value of what we received was great. I would highly recommend The Florida Aquarium to anyone looking for a unique wedding venue with an AMAZING support staff.
Our venue was unique and beautiful. I recommend paying for the extra hour to the reception, as the four hours include the ceremony and cocktail hour which makes the reception pass ...
way to fast
I give the aquarium venue five stars if you like something different! It was great fun and I abhor ballroom weddings so this was a perfect fit for us! But dealing with the venue is...
a different story! I had heard from vendors and review alike that anyone at the aquarium would take very good care of us so I was sorely disappointed! My coordinator at the aquarium was ineffectual at best- I really liked her but I felt I was always getting pushed away whenever I had an issue! Very rarely did I ever get an email returned or question answered in a timely manner so I ended up doing all the planning myself and having to tell her what the plans were on rehearsal night! I do hope that our experience was an oops on their part but when I kept hearing "oh you have plenty of time", "don't worry we'll take care of it (although refusing to update contracts), and "our email system has been giving us issues" (for over 6 months)- well needless to say, I really lost confidence in them caring at all about our wedding!
I must say that things turned out incredibly beautifully but that was through no help of the aquarium staff! Be aware as well that pictures you see on the website are high end weddings and none if that is included in the price! You have to spend another $5000 at least to get the idea of "aquarium" out of your mind for the reception! The only thing included in the rental fee is tables, chairs, white or black tablecloths and whit or black napkins! Also you must use the aquarium caterer which was an absolute blessing (I'll review them separately) but if you have other ideas then this isn't for you!
So although my wedding was incredibly gorgeous I sincerely felt like it was like pulling teeth to get there!
Both my husband and I love aquariums so it was our first choice and it was awesome! The sea turtle in the Coral Reef tank was very active during the ceremony and our guests really ...
enjoyed the tank during both the ceremony and reception. They also got a chance to explore the exhibits at cocktail hour. The only catch is that you have to use the on-site caterer, but the food was delicious and we got to bring in our own cakes. The staff is incredibly professional and very helpful. I highly recommend having your event here if you love sea life.
Our wedding was beautiful and unique taking place at the Florida aquarium. The waters matched our theme colors of purple and turquoise and the sealife added that extra touch. Our g...
uests loved seeing the sharks, bright colored fish and seaturtles. Although the room was decently priced, the catering does sneak up on you. The buffet we chose was lovely, but there weren't many leftovers we were allowed to take home. The end of the night was very rushed and our party was being kicked out as fast as we could blink but the event was something we will never forget.
I really liked having the wedding at the aquarium. The staff was really friendly and helpful. Our coordinator, Ashley, really pulled things together for us in the end and everyth...
ing turned out gorgeous. Only downfall is that they require you to use their catering service which is expensive and the food isn't very good. Other than that it was a great time!!
I was just married at the Florida Aquarium and it could not have been more beautiful! Our wedding coordinator from the aquarium Ashley made sure everything went smoothly and that ...
everyone was where they should be when they should be there. Our ceremony was in front of the big coral reef tank, and all the guests said it was the most beautiful wedding they had seen, and that it was cool there were sharks swimming behind us!! We had our reception in the lobby, and there were about 80 people-- there was plenty of room for everyone. The catering was a little on the pricey side (but very tasty!), which is why I only gave the value four stars. I was hard-pressed, however, when comparing prices to find anything much better. If I had to do it again, I would pick them again!!! I highly recommend the Florida Aquarium.
Everything was wonderful from the food to the service. You have to use their caterer but the food was excellent and they have a wide variety to choose from. The staff treated us li...
ke royalty on the day of. Just remember to let everyone aware of what you don't want thrown away at the end of the night! And the penguins are worth the extra money!
Beautiful aquarium and bigger than I thought but not a place for a wedding unless you are going for the sea theme
If ypu are looking for a WOW wedding, this is the place. Ask for Natalie. She was our wedding planner there. We just got married 6/22/11. Natalie was amazing. We are so grateful of...
how she took care of us. She’s been a joy to work with over this past year. She’s friendly, fun and goes above and beyond. The only thing is that we wish there was a way water could have been provided at a lower cost. The price of water is ridiculous. But other than that, the crew was friendly, welcoming, and I’d refer anyone to the aquarium. It was truly a one of a kind experience.
Contact
701 Channelside Drive, Tampa, FL
The Florida Aquarium