The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk

day of too making sure that things were getting done, including serving food when needed. The getting ready room is a conference room, but with a nice window and lots of space right next to the ceremony area. It big enough for us to get ready in and had enough space for everyone to leave their stuff during the event. We did our first look outside in the park, which is right outside of the aquarium on the water. Our ceremony was in the cascade café, which has very nice industrial exposed wood beam vibes. One minor issue was that the TVs on the wall used to display food during the day were still on and the groom had to turn them off right before the ceremony. The cocktail hour was in the first floor of the aquarium, Kayleen spaced  tables all throughout the exhibits. Our guests kept raving about how much they loved wandering through everything, especially the shark and jellyfish rooms. The bartenders made excellent cocktails and the head bartender went out of his was to make sure the groom and I had drinks all night. Our reception was in Newman’s own hall, right next to the seal tank. The lighting in the space could be dimmed, but is pretty high up from the tables. The dance floor was surrounded by tables and big enough for everyone to dance at the same time. We had about 100 guests, which felt like enough to fill the space, but it could definitely fit more. The food was pretty good and the set meal we selected came with dessert for everyone, so we had cake we provided plus crème brulee on a dessert table. Everyone raved about the crème brulee. Overall, we had a great time and would strongly recommend the Maritime to other couples! 

tion. They even had volunteers to give tours. The food was delicious! Elisa made the planning process easy to get through and organized everything for us. All our guests commented on what a fun and unique venue the aquarium is. It was wonderful.

g their designated caterer and your future experience may be different. But the space itself is fantastic! There are so many great photo opportunities inside, and the nearby park along the waterfront makes for some beautiful backdrops for outdoor photos. Our ceremony was held in the cafeteria. If, like me, you might be worried that your big day could smell like hot dogs, put your mind at ease--it's actually a gorgeous space, and when the tables are put away, you can barely tell it's a dining room. Wooden beams support a high, airy ceiling, and the red brick walls and iron accents make the space feel warm and welcoming, while also recalling the building's origins as an ironworks. A HUGE ceremony might be awkward to hold here, since the pillars could block the view for some guests in the back, but it was perfect for our smaller gathering. We did cocktail hour among the exhibits, which was beautifully atmospheric and provided an exciting space for people to offer their congratulations and get to know one another. The Newman's Own Hall, where we did dinner and dancing, was plenty big enough for dinner tables and a sizable dance floor... though honestly, once dinner was over, our guests were so busy at the touch tanks that not everyone had time to dance. You should be aware that whatever seasonal decor is in place at the time of your wedding likely cannot be changed. For instance, our June wedding was accented with giant rainbow banners for Pride Month. I barely noticed, but a few of our guests commented on it, so if you have a very specific "look" in mind for your wedding, it's something to be aware of. Also, don't count on any specific animals to be present--they may be asleep (especially the seals), hiding, or off exhibit during your event. Like all aquariums, this one books up WAY in advance. We booked a year out and we only barely got the date we wanted. Make your plans far enough ahead so that you don't wind up disappointed. Getting married here is a really special experience--I'll never forget the moment when I pulled my new husband aside for a quiet moment in front of the flamboyant cuttlefish, watching hypnotic waves of colors roll down its body. I would wholeheartedly recommend the Maritime Aquarium to any prospective couple.

ur actual day Catherine really helped us de-stress. Catherine and her staff made sure all our decorations were beautifully placed, made sure we had everything we needed to feel confident and assuage our fears, and most importantly, tamed our wild mothers who wanted to assert some last minute control. Just as we thought, the Norwalk Aquarium gave us the best wedding experience we could have possibly had! The venue was incredible for photography and our guests absolutely loved the experience; many of our guests have reached out after the event to tell us that it was the most fun they’ve ever had at a wedding, and we believe them! The staff were so attentive to our needs, making sure we had drinks, (both water and alcoholic beverages), and food! You could also really tell that the staff genuinely cares about the well being of the animals for whom the aquarium is home. Lastly, Catherine we really really appreciated having you there!! You can really get down on the dance floor, and you were so much fun to hang out with!! We were so honored to have you manage our day, you really made every moment count and did everything you could to make the day a success. We really couldn’t have done it without you! We plan to wholeheartedly recommend a wedding at the Norwalk Aquarium to anyone who loves the sea and the creatures who live in it! Thank you again for helping us celebrate the start of our life together. We couldn’t have picked a better host!