Weddings

Basecamp Northwest features a view of our Western Pond Turtle habitat. It’s a great space for wedding party to gather before an Elk Overlook ceremony or an additional location to set up a photo booth, board games and other activities in tandem with a dinner reception at Nysether Riverhouse.

Times Available:

May – September | 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
October – April | 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. *excluding during WildLanterns

With two sides of nearly floor-to-ceiling windows and a wrap-around patio, the 1899 Grove looks out onto the zoo’s lush greenery. This large atrium-style space feels open and airy with a vaulted ceiling and two dramatic rows of pillars, allowing natural light to flood in.

Times Available:

May – August | 7:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.
September – April | 6:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. *excluding during WildLanterns

Built in 1918, the Historic Carousel is the perfect backdrop for a cocktail hour with whimsical photo opportunities. Your guests will delight in the magic of the carousel lit up in the evening. A party room inside the building provides plenty of room for mingling.

Times Available:

May – August | 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. or 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
September – April | 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. (2-hour rental) or 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. (excluding during WildLanterns)

Tucked between the grizzly bear and North American river otter exhibits, Nysether Riverhouse immerses your guests in the naturalistic setting of the Living Northwest Trail. Your guests just might be delighted with mountain goat, grizzly bear, and river otter sightings during the event.

Times Available:

May – September | 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
October – April | 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. *excluding during WildLanterns

Zoomazium offers a fun and whimsical setting that will inspire guests to let loose and enjoy the atmosphere including two slides and a mountain to climb on. It comes equipped with many audio visual capabilities including a large video screen, sound system, and more.

Times Available:

May – August | 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. (2-hour rental) or 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
September – April | 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. (2-hour rental) or 6:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. *excluding during WildLanterns

Briar Oak offers a unique and charming feel to a ceremony, reception or cocktail hour. Located across from our expansive North Meadow, the rustic venue, complete with wood flooring and skylights, provides a beautiful setting for a wild time.

Times Available:

May – August | 7:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.
September – April | 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. *excluding during WildLanterns

Awe your guests by hosting an outdoor cocktail hour or small dinner reception among the lush, tropical rain forest of Central and South America – the natural habitat of jaguars. The award-winning Jaguar Cove offers the thrill of a majestic creature overlooking your soiree.

Times Available:

May – August | 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
September | 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Celebrate your private event in the zoo’s beautiful Banyan Wilds exhibit. Banyan Wilds features a glimpse into the wild world of Southeast Asia’s wildlife including sloth bears and tigers!

Times Available:

May – August | 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
September | 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Party along the rocky coastline of Peru! The award-winning Humboldt Penguin exhibit is a large, meandering space with plenty of nooks and crannies for your guests to explore. Watch the penguins’ playful antics from many angles as you enjoy a ceremony or cocktail hour.

Times Available:

May – August | 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
September | 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Idyllic and serene, the Rose Garden offers a naturally breathtaking backdrop for your wedding ceremony. Featuring over 280 varieties of roses, the soft sounds of a fountain, a lily pond, and a focal gazebo, the Rose Garden is an urban oasis with architectural touches blended with nature and color.

Times Available:

April – September | 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. or 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Please note: Roses are typically in bloom from June to mid-September

Make your event unforgettable with a stylish and elegant social hour in our beautiful Rose Garden. Elevate your event by adding on a sophisticated cocktail hour in our enchanting Rose Garden before or after your ceremony. You and your guests can enjoy exclusive access to our charming terrace.

Times Available:

April – September | 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. / 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Cocktail Hour is added into your ceremony reservation time

Suspended amid the lush tree canopy at the end of the Northern Trail, Elk Overlook is the perfect natural setting for an intimate ceremony. The raised boardwalk creates a dramatic aisle overlooking the 360 degree view of the Northern Trail, including the elk exhibit and wolves in the distance. Your guests will be immersed in the beauty that comes so naturally to the Pacific Northwest. Located close to both the Nysether Riverhouse and Basecamp NW, Elk Overlook is a convenient and beautiful complement to your small reception venue.

Times Available:

May – August | 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
September | 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Surrounded by huge old-growth beech trees, the Beech Grove is a beautiful and naturally secluded space for a ceremony. While large enough to seat up to 200 people, this beautiful outdoor setting still feels intimate and private, thanks to the lush foliage that envelopes the space.

Times Available:

May – September | 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Located behind the Molbak’s Butterfly Garden exhibit, this beautiful oasis is surrounded by an abundance of Pacific Northwest greenery and flora. This event space is perfect for an intimate wedding ceremony.

Times Available:

May – August | 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
April & September | 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Welcome your guests to an event space unlike any other in Seattle. Your guests will be drawn into the beautiful view overlooking the award-winning Savanna exhibit!

Times Available:

May – August | 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. (Overlook closes at 9:00 p.m.)
September – October | 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. (Overlook closes at 9:00 p.m.)