Chester Zoo

Chester Zoo provides the ultimate wedding package with a sustainable edge. The venue is absolutely stunning, the staff are wonderful, and the food was delicious!  We cannot recommend The Square at Chester Zoo enough.

The Square is a unique wedding venue with so much character. Designed and built with sustainability in mind, our guests were left speechless at the building and its charm. They particularly loved the claw marks on the original brick from the lions! Not only is the building beautiful, but the zoo grounds are so well-kept that you have numerous photo locations.  

A member of staff kindly took us and our photographer around the zoo in the evening for dusk/sunset photos, which was magical and a whole experience in itself. If you do this, please be aware that buildings are closed and most of the animals will be settling down for the night, so prioritise these shots in the day when the zoo is open. For example, the penguins will unlikely be in the water, so the best photo opportunity will be during the day.

In terms of the wedding schedule, we wanted to make sure our guests got as much time in the zoo as possible. We got married at 12 pm, had our drinks reception at 1 pm and then had the wedding breakfast at 4 pm. Every single person at our wedding left the venue to explore the zoo and had an amazing time. The zoo is the perfect location for family-friendly weddings.

Both of us are vegetarian and decided to make it a fully vegetarian and nut free wedding. We chose the classic package, which included a 3-course meal, tea & coffee, evening buffet, plus alcohol. We added breakfast for the bridal party, and chef very kindly put together a bespoke bread station for the drinks reception, which included bread, olive oil/balsamic dip and olives. The food was exceptional, and the portion sizes were very generous! We had so much positive feedback and I think a lot of people see vegetarian food in a new light now.

The team were all so kind, courteous and professional. Every single task was executed to perfection - from meticulously steaming the table linen, to delicately laying out the doughnuts we ordered from Krispy Kreme on the dessert table, to fluffing my dress before I walked down the aisle. The team even noticed that we hadn’t eaten any of the evening buffet and kindly put together a big doggy bag for us to take home. The bar staff were fantastic and had great humour, we thoroughly enjoyed the baby Guinness shots. Big shout out to the security team, who were so lovely and helpful. We cannot thank Jess, Natasha, chef and the whole team for everything they did for us on the day. We couldn’t have asked for a better day.

Not only did we have such a wonderful day, but knowing that the profits from our wedding went towards conservation and education just makes it even better.

The most amazing venue, staff were all unbelievable and nothing was ever too much of an ask.

We also stayed in the Reserve the night of the wedding, and again the staff were so friendly and accommodating.

Although we chose to get married in the zoo, we weren’t animal mad, and so many guests were surprised how nice the venue was and didn’t feel like you were in the middle of the zoo!

We honestly could not have chosen a more perfect wedding venue than Chester Zoo. From the very beginning, the entire team were absolutely incredible and made the whole process feel so easy and completely stress free.

A very special thank you has to go to Rachel, our coordinator, who went above and beyond for us every step of the way. She was so organised, supportive, friendly, and reassuring throughout the entire planning process and on the day itself. Nothing ever felt like too much trouble, and she made us feel completely looked after from start to finish.

The team were amazing not only with us, but also with all of our guests and the other vendors attending the wedding. Everything ran so smoothly, and you could really see how experienced and professional everyone was behind the scenes. They were also so accommodating to every little request I had as a bride and made sure everything was exactly how we imagined it would be.

One of the most unforgettable parts of the experience was staying in The Reserve. It was absolutely incredible and made the whole wedding feel even more magical and unique. Being able to wake up in such an amazing setting was something we’ll never forget.

They also made getting to and from the zoo so easy and stress free for all our guests, which was such a huge help on the day. Every guest felt welcomed, comfortable, and truly part of something special.

We genuinely cannot thank the whole team enough for everything they did to make our wedding so perfect. If you are considering Chester Zoo as a wedding venue, do it — it was the most amazing experience and a day we will treasure forever.

My partner Sara and I had a perfect May wedding day at Chester Zoo! From the moment we saw The Oakfield we couldn’t have imagined a better venue for our ceremony. Jess Hampton was our wedding coordinator and was a huge help throughout the whole process, always available to answer questions, offer recommendations and easily breakdown the many pieces of planning for our day. On the day itself the staff were all incredibly helpful and friendly throughout, which is a huge relief with so much going on! Our guests all paid huge compliments to the wedding breakfast food, the decor of the venue and Chester Zoo on the whole - many of them are already planning their return visits.

We opted for the intimate package which was perfect for the size of our wedding at about 45 people, the Library room was more than spacious enough for the ceremony and the meal in the conservatory - while cosy! - was also the right fit. Having exclusive use of that room and the terrace, it felt like we had a really nice private space even on a busy weekday at the zoo.

We both heartily recommend the Oakfield as a venue for your wedding - not only do you get a beautiful building to marry in, but you contribute to the good cause of animal conservation at an amazing zoo.

The team at Chester Zoo, especially Rachel, were so supportive with organisation, planning and delivering our wedding day.
We had such an enjoyable wedding planning process. We truly appreciated every meeting and every conversation. They accommodated our every suggestion and made the day truly unforgettable. It was so brilliant that it is surreal, we can hardly believe that it was actually our wedding day. We would love to do it all again!

I cannot fault the team in any way.

The Twilight Wedding Package offered by Chester Zoo ticked all the right boxes for us. The capacity was large enough but even if we had had less guests, the venue rooms could be made smaller. We knew we wanted a location to reflect our happy and carefree personalities, and what better place could there be than at arguably the best zoo in the country. The venue have great local suppliers, and not being local to the area, we were put in touch with people who knew what was needed and were within our budget. We had access to the zoo from 8am, the ceremony was planned for 4pm, but this gave everyone time to set up and get changed at the venue, which worked well for us. We had our own playlists playing before we exchanged our vows in The Square on a gloriously sunny afternoon, and after a few reception drinks (which included personalised cocktails), we went on a tour of the of the zoo. Our wedding party was around 140 people and we (i.e. the very capable staff) managed to get them all into small groups for a team of zoo keepers to show around. Guests loved this treat, from babies to octogenarians; we even had mobility scooters on standby! As the late summer sun started to set, we sat down to a wonderful feast, catering to our dietary needs and preferences. I cannot fault a single thing. The staff were all so considerate, helpful, accommodating and insightful. Throughout the day our wedding coordinator, Amy, worked hard so we didn't have to think about anything other than having fun with our guests. And note, this package even threw the DJ in with the price! He was brilliant at playing our songs, having engaged us beforehand to make sure he had all the right music. The evening weather allowed us to use the outdoor courtyard as well as the dance floor, so there was plenty of space for people to chat away from the hubbub when they wanted to. It will forever be the happiest day of our lives, as we have beautiful memories, pictures and stories of our perfect wedding day at Chester Zoo.

P.S. We want to especially name our Event Planning Coordinator, Jess Hampton, who first spoke with us, showed us around, listened to our ideas and really, genuinely, made our wedding dreams come true.

As one of our favourite places as a couple, we had wanted to get married at Chester Zoo for a long time. We viewed The Square shortly after getting engaged in 2023 and we both instantly fell in love with the space and the idea of getting married in such a special place.

The most important aspects that influenced our decision to get married at Chester Zoo were the sustainability focus they have within the venue, how all of the food was locally sourced, and how as a not-for-profit the proceeds from our wedding would go towards conservation. We loved all of the care and detail that has gone into the building itself, and we had lots of comments from our guests about how beautiful and welcoming the whole venue was. The Square is bright, cosy, and airy, and works fantastically as a blank slate venue so we felt it was so easy to add our own tastes and touches to it.

The full team at Chester Zoo, from our co-ordinator Jess to all the on the day staff, were all fantastic and made sure everything ran smoothly and we were kept informed at every stage of the planning. We ended up with some last minute changes of plans due to the weather forecast (having to decide to have the ceremony indoors instead of in the courtyard as we'd planned for, and the evening BBQ having to be served inside) which the team dealt with seamlessly, and they had contingency plans for everything to ensure the day still ran perfectly (such as guests being provided with umbrellas so everyone could still explore the zoo).

The catering was all fabulous - from the canapés and wedding breakfast to the BBQ buffet in the evening. The meal choices were great, with generous portion sizes, and the catering team dealt with all of the dietary requirements very professionally. The planning process of tasting and choosing the meals was great too, although we did spot a change had been made to our meat main course that was different from what we had agreed beforehand. It was a very minor issue that our guests didn't even notice and we had lots of lovely comments from our family and friends afterwards about how much they loved the food.

One of our highlights of the day was the zoo ranger discovery tour. We arranged for this to take place after the wedding breakfast and before the evening BBQ, just as the zoo was closing to the public, and the rangers offered 3 different tour groups for our guests to choose from. They took us around the zoo (despite the rain!) to see various different animals, telling us facts and behind the scenes stories about each animal we saw. Our guests loved it and we can't thank the rangers enough for showing our family and friends around a place so special to us!

We absolutely loved our zoo wedding, and we want to give a huge thank you to Jess and the Wedding & Events team for making it an even better day than we could have ever imagined. We'd 100% recommend The Square and Chester Zoo to anyone looking for a unique and memorable wedding venue.

Chester Zoo was a fantastic venue for our wedding. We’re so glad we chose to get married here!

The Square was easy to style to fit the vibe we were going for. It’s a bit of a ‘blank slate’ and suits a lot of different styles but is light and airy on its own. There was plenty of room for our guests in the Square and having the boardroom to get ready was also useful.

All the staff at the zoo were extremely professional and kind. They really did a wonderful job making the whole day feel magical. Jess did a great job keeping us on track with planning and coordinating with our other vendors. It took a lot of stress off us.

We enjoyed going around the zoo during the day and so did our guests. The food was delicious and received a lot of compliments. We would definitely recommend this venue.

Chester Zoo is a venue that is very close to our hearts as we have been member a there for a number of years. So when we got engaged (also at the Zoo) it was the first place we thought of for the wedding and I am so happy we made the decision to book. From us attending the wedding showcase and making our initial enquiry to the day of our wedding we cannot fault the Zoo or any of the staff for a single thing.

We were kept informed all the way through to the day and any questions we had were answered quickly and clearly.

On the day the staff could not do enough for us and were so attentive without being intrusive. Our day was perfect and that was in no small part to the Zoo staff and surroundings.

A perfect venue for the best day!

We couldn’t be happier with our experience with Chester Zoo. From the moment we began planning, Rachel, our coordinator, was absolutely fantastic. Her communication was exceptional, answering our many (many!) questions with patience and care, and making the whole planning process feel so much easier. The day before the wedding, the handover to Steph, our day coordinator, was seamless and reassuring. We felt completely at ease with everyone we met and worked with, and that comfort translated into a stress-free, joy-filled celebration. Everything ran so smoothly, which meant we had very happy guests!

The food was spectacular. We’ve had countless guests tell us it was the best wedding food they’ve ever had. From the canapés to the main meal and the evening buffet, everything was delicious. We had a wide range of dietary requirements and everything was handled with such care and professionalism. It was clear the team went above and beyond to make sure everyone was catered for. In addition, I was so happy that they accommodated our request to have some of canapés put to the side for us so we didn't miss out when taking photos.

The ranger team were absolutely lovely and put together a fantastic tour for us. It ended with an unforgettable moment where we got a great view of the snow leopard baby.

Communication with our vendors was also brilliant. Several of them commented on how lovely it was to work with the venue team, which made coordination effortless and added to the overall positive atmosphere. We’re so grateful to everyone involved for helping us create a day that was not only beautiful but truly unforgettable.

Chester Zoo is already such a special place for so many people, and the events team make it even more extraordinary. Even if our wedding hadn’t taken place in the zoo itself, it still would have been the best venue I could imagine. The care and attention to detail from all members of the team came together to create a day that was truly unforgettable.

The team could not do more for us. The fact that we didn’t really know they were there on the day shows how in control the were. Even the unexpected rain didn’t dampen things. And the added bonus of letting my wife and I into the zoo after hours to get some memorable photos was really special

Honestly just a fantastic experience start to finish. The venue is incredible, and so unique for a wedding. The food was fantastic and the BBQ buffet was such a hit. The staff made it so special, they explained every aspect, helped us plan the perfect day and were so generous with their time, sorting any queries rapidly, which is just what you need when your planning your big day.
We were exceptionally lucky as can be seen from the photo i have included, we were able to sneak away from the wedding party for pictures outside the venue and we had the snow leopard come right up to the glass for the best wedding pictures ever.
A fantastic day... truly....cannot speak highly enough of Chester Zoo a world famous Zoo and first class wedding venue.
Value for money for a wedding venue they were very understanding about our budget, they did not try to push extra expenses and they worked with us to bring it within the budget we had set aside.

From our very first show round up to our stay at the Reserve after the wedding, the zoo took care of us all the way! We can’t thank the team enough for all they did especially our main coordinator Rachel, she made the whole process easy and was always on hand to help with any questions we had.
All our guests are still raving about the day and how unique the venue was, as well as how amazing the food was!
On the day Steph was amazing, especially when reminding my now husband about the rings which he had left at the hotel! She was smiling the whole day and you can tell how much she loves her job!

Honestly nothing we could fault, it honestly was everything we dream of ✨

At every step in the process, the staff in the Chester Zoo events team have been nothing but professional and flexible. I don't think the wedding would have been half as good as it was without them, and can't sing their praises enough!

I can’t recommend a Wedding at Chester zoo enough. It was the perfect day for us from the stunning venue (The Oakfield), the fantastic food and access to the zoo. We had a blast and cant thank Jess and the team enough.