Weddings

Yes, wedding venue tours are welcomed and encouraged. We offer private tours of our facilities at no cost. These tours take you through both ceremony and reception venues for any of the locations you are interested in. Contact us at (403) 232-7770 or at SalesInfo@CalgaryZoo.com to book your tour.

You may book a reception, or a ceremony and reception together.

You have the right to cancel your wedding and terminate your Contract Agreement by giving the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo written notice. Cancellation will result in the forfeiture of your deposit(s). Please note that there are no refunds for weddings regardless of the amount of written notice provided. Weddings cancelled within two months of the wedding date will result in the full anticipated charges being invoiced.

Our wedding pricing has three essential components:

1. Venue rental fee (varies depending on the venue selected)
2. Venue food & beverage minimum spend (varies depending on the venue selected)
3. Ceremony fee ($3 per guest if you choose to hold your ceremony at the zoo)

In order to guarantee your wedding date and venue selection, you must provide your initial deposit along with the signed Contract Agreement. This deposit includes the venue rental fee for your selected venue. 50% of the remaining anticipated charges are due 60 days prior to the wedding date, with the remaining balance due 10 days prior to the wedding date.

We have one of the largest catering teams in Calgary, which are led by our talented Chef Kenneth Titcomb. Our team delivers exceptional dining experiences to you and your guests that suit your tastes. No outside food or drink is permitted with the exception of a wedding cake.

Personalized decorations are very welcome. Please consult with your Event Sales Coordinator to see the full list of items that are prohibited to protect the safety and wellbeing of our animals. This list includes but is not limited to balloons, rice, confetti, piñatas, sparklers, fireworks, and all open flames. All décor must be free standing. You will have three hours allocated for setup (which includes time for Catering to set up the venue). Upon request, your Event Sales Coordinator can check on the availability of your venue for earlier setup.

You are welcome to hire wedding vendors of your choosing. If you have not already selected vendors, we are happy to provide you with a list of preferred (independent) partners that are familiar with the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo. Please note that vendors are required to carry their own WCB Insurance and should provide proof of insurance when asked. Uninsured vendors will be required to sign a waiver before being permitted on grounds.

Generally, we allow setup to begin three hours prior to the agreed upon ceremony or reception time. Upon request, your Event Sales Coordinator can check on the availability of your venue for earlier setup. It is not uncommon to be granted access to your venue the day before the wedding for setup purposes only, but we cannot guarantee this.

Guest parking will be determined by your venue selection. Weddings taking place in the ENMAX Conservatory on Saturdays and Sundays will be permitted to have their guests park in the Administration lot. Weddings taking place in Safari Lodge and Grazers Restaurant will have guests park and enter through the North Lot on St. George’s Drive. Please note that the cost of parking is not included in the cost of your wedding. Parking costs $13 daily per vehicle. Any attendees with a membership can have free parking if they are successfully registered with ParkPlus. All vehicles must be used by 11:00 a.m. by the following day or they will be towed at the owner’s expense.

For all wedding questions, please contact us at SalesInfo@CalgaryZoo.com.