Riverbanks Zoo & Garden
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Limited services venue
The venue will provide the space, plus a few extras.
Full wedding (ceremony and reception) pricing
Starting at $10,000
Guest capacity
Up to 450 seated guests
About this venue
Riverbanks Zoo and Garden is an exotic alternative to the traditional wedding venue and provides a magical backdrop for your special day! Riverbanks Zoo and Garden is home to more than 2,000 magnificent animals and provides an extraordinary setting for social events. By day, the meeting rooms and picnic areas of Riverbanks Zoo boast such unusual backdrops as elephant habitats and tropical gardens. By night, the sounds of exotic animals may be heard as guests arrive for their cocktail parties and wedding receptions. Event spaces are versatile in style and appearance, with capacities ranging from 20 to 5,000. Riverbanks holds an exclusive partnership with one of the country’s most innovative event specialist caterers, Service Systems Associates, Inc. ‘SSA’ is committed to quality, sustainability and supporting local farmers. In addition, a significant portion of your event’s proceeds support animal conservation, helping protect endangered animals and their habitats around the world.
Our event spaces
- Ndoki Lodge
- Magnolia Room
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Available services that can be provided by Riverbanks Zoo & Garden
Services & amenities
- Bar services
- Catering services
- Clean up
- Event rentals
- Event staff
- Lighting/Sound
- On-site accommodations
- Service staff
- Set up
- Wheelchair accessible
- Wifi
Transportation & access
- Self parking - free
Rentals
- Lighting
- Sound / AV
No, Riverbanks Zoo & Garden has an exclusive on-site event specialist caterer who is contracted for all Food & Beverage in the Zoo and Garden. This ensures maximum efficiencies, as the layout and logistics of our venue is quite unique. Popular options include our set menus, but we can be flexible in customizing a menu to your taste, budget and vision.
During the peak wedding season, we ask for a minimum spend on food & beverage. An example could be a minimum of 100 guests @ $45 per person (excl. service charge and tax) or simply achieving a minimum spend of $4,500. We can certainly be more flexible during the off-peak season!
We recommend that guests arrive at least one hour after the Zoo closes to the public. In fall and winter months ceremonies may begin at 6:00pm. In the spring and summer this will change to 7:00pm.
No. All events at Riverbanks require a minimum Food & Beverage spend. A solution would be to have a cocktail hour or cocktail party immediately after such a ceremony.
The Botanical Garden’s ceremony area will hold a maximum of 150 chairs. Chairs can be rented through your event sales representative and styles start from $1.65 per chair, delivery fee not included.
Yes; however, decorations other than centerpieces must be pre-approved by your event sales representative in writing (email is fine) prior to your wedding day. Decorating outdoors cannot begin before the park closes, unless pre-approved in writing.
You have exclusive use of the event space for an agreed timeframe. In addition, furniture of indoor chairs, banquet tables and cocktail tables are included. Black or white linens and napkins are also included. Any quantities other than what are owned by the venue must be rented at your own cost. For all inclusions, please ask.
Yes, although if you do not choose a vendor from Riverbanks’ list of ‘Preferred Vendors’, then you must seek written approval from your event sales representative. Your new vendor must agree to Riverbanks’ ‘Vendor Procedures’ in order to receive such approval or they will not be allowed to enter the premises.
Depending on your chosen wedding space and date, we may be able to accommodate a place for you to change at no extra cost. Please ask your event sales representative for more information if you’re interested in reserving a bridal space on the day of your wedding.
No, we do not provide a wedding planner. We do provide an event manager on your wedding day; however, the event manager is not responsible for setting up personal decorations, helping the set-up of other vendors, helping the bride get ready, and so on. These are more event planner responsibilities.
Yes, we will be happy to place a temporary 14-day hold on your date and space(s) and during this time no other parties can hold it. After 14 days, and possibly without notification, we must be fair and accept other offers.
To confirm your event we require 1.) a signed contract, and 2.) a deposit which is the value of your Facility Rental plus 25% of all remaining charges. When we receive both items, your event is firmly secured in our event calendar. Until both requirements are received, we reserve the right to accept other offers for the date and space(s) you are considering for your event.
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