Weddings and Receptions

"Zoos are increasing in popularity for brides & grooms celebrating their special day." Read more…

Nashville Zoo is the ideal location for a destination wedding that is conveniently located to all the excitement Nashville has to offer. With several venues ranging from the historic charm of the Grassmere Home to the whimsy of the Wild Animal Carousel, you can be assured that your wedding will be an affair that will keep your guests talking long after you say “I do”.

In addition to the Zoo’s extraordinary spaces, we offer the best in cuisine and service from Taste of the Wild, our exclusive on-site caterer. Offering a variety of menus, a la carte items and custom options, Taste of the Wild provides a delectable selection for any size group or palette.

By choosing Nashville Zoo as your venue, you are not only ensured a truly unique experience, but can feel confident in your choice knowing that your rental fees help spread the Zoo’s mission of animal education and conservation.

Call our events sales office at (615) 445-7825 or fill out an online form for more information.

Jungle Terrace Pavilion What's included

This covered 50 x 90 tent is nestled amongst a lush landscape, perfectly situated between the whimsical wild animal carousel and fanciful Jungle Gym. It is the perfect backdrop for an evening outdoor wedding reception.

Capacity:
Up to 300


Croft Historic Home What's included

Built in 1810, the Croft Historic Home Lawn is the ideal backdrop for a wedding ceremony. The picturesque scenery engages an expanse of rich history paired with a quaint and intimate setting – perfect for a romantic ceremony.

Capacity:
Up to 300

Botswana What's included

With a gorgeous view of the African Savannah and the majestic African Elephants, you and your guests will feel like you have traveled to exotic lands. Botswana is a magical spot for any type of gathering including rehearsal dinners.

Ceremonies or wedding receptions are only available in conjunction with an additional rental site.


Capacity:
60 ceremony
60 rehearsal dinner
75 cocktail reception

Wild Animal Carousel
What's included

For the couple young at heart, this whimsical setting is sure to fulfill all your wildest dreams. The Wild Animal Carousel is the ideal location for a small reception or cocktail hour. Why not let your guests take a wild spin on a giant anteater or clouded leopard?

Receptions and cocktail hours are only available in conjunction with an additional rental site.

Capacity:
75 cocktail reception
200 cocktail hour

Have another spot at the Zoo in mind? There are several other options available upon request to make even your "wildest" Zoo wedding dream come true...

Important Information regarding your wedding at Nashville Zoo

  • All weddings and receptions are only allowed after the Zoo closes. Our hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 15 through Oct. 14 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 15 through March 14. Exceptions to this based on Events Department discretion. Weddings are not available the last three weekends of October.
  • Taste of the Wild Catering is the exclusive onsite caterer for all events taking place on Zoo grounds. They can customize menus to suit your palette. To view the Taste of the Wild menu, click here.
  • Nashville Zoo has a preferred list of vendors that must be used for wedding services including floral arrangements, photography, DJ services, videographers, cake providers, and décor and rental companies. These providers have been trained on Zoo policies and regulations. To see a list of providers, click here. If you opt to go off of this list additional fees do apply.
  • Alcohol in the form of wine and beer only are allowed to be brought in by client for use after Zoo closing only. A licensed bartender(s) will be assigned through your catering contract.
  • The Zoo’s mission is “To inspire a culture of understanding and discovery of our natural world through conservation, innovation and leadership.” Our priority is our animal collection and Zoo grounds. All wedding requests and activities must not infringe or cause any undue stress on our animals. Should any concern arise during the planning or execution of your event actions will be taken to protect the Zoo.
  • For a list of Frequently Asked Questions, please click here.

Testimonies

"Our wedding at the Zoo was PERFECT! Such a unique and beautiful environment and the staff could not have been more helpful and accommodating. Our guests are still talking about it!"

"I think the day was a huge success - great weather, great support from you and your team getting everything set up, great accommodations for the wedding party and great fun for all our guests. While everything came together very nicely, I was particularly impressed by the food! I don't believe that I have ever had a buffet-style meal that was even close to what we served. Everything was appropriately hot (or cold), the quantity was just right and the flavors - wow!"

"The wedding and reception were absolute stress-free occasions. There was not a single negative moment, from our arrival up until the last dance. It was the most amazing day, and we are so very thankful and appreciate for that."

“The wedding was absolutely perfect. Everything went exactly to plan and we are still waiting to hear of a single hitch or glitch that happened and now we realize there can't have been one. The weather might have been our one 'dramatic moment' and we were just so fortunate with that too… We have heard from so many people how good they thought the meal was. A great variety and plenty of it well displayed. All your staff worked so hard and were so pleasant. My mind is a blank about so much of it. I just know that thanks to you all, we were able to be true guests at our own party and able to enjoy it all without any of the responsibilities.”

Call our events sales office at 615-445-7825 or fill out an online form for more information.