Surround yourself with the splendor of wildlife! Our unique venues offer the perfect exotic setting for your guests from intimate gatherings to large-scale corporate functions. By choosing the Zoo for your private event, you support our animal care, education, and conservation programs and help preserve species and habitats for generations to come.
To start planning your event or to schedule a tour, contact 412-365-2536 or [email protected]
All Zoo
Capacity: Up to 10,000
Availability: April-September, Evening
Ideal for: Corporate Events
Aquarium
Capacity: 180 seated or 500 cocktail-style
Availability: Year-Round, Evenings Only
Ideal for: Weddings, Mitzvahs, Corporate Events, Holiday Parties
Garden Tent
Capacity: 300 seated for weddings, 350 seated for non-weddings, or 500 cocktail-style
Availability: Late April-October, Daytime & Evenings
Ideal for: Weddings, Corporate Events, Picnics
Water’s Edge Pavilion
Capacity: 175 seated
Availability: Year-Round, Daytime
Ideal for: Picnics
Village Pavilion
Capacity: 80 seated
Availability: Year-Round, Daytime (pending gates construction)
Ideal for: Picnics, Showers, Family Reunions
Kids Kingdom Pavilion
Capacity: 30 seated
Availability: Year-Round, Daytime
Ideal for: Birthdays, Picnics
Worlds of Discovery Birthday Room
Capacity: 30 seated
Availability: Year-Round, Daytime
Ideal for: Birthday Parties
Lecture Hall
Capacity: 120 seated or 250 cocktail & theater-style
Availability: Year-Round, Daytime
Ideal for: Corporate Events, Meetings, Showers
Water’s Edge Meeting Room
Capacity: 32 seated
Availability: Year-Round, Daytime
Ideal for: Meetings, Showers
Have an event in mind? Use this form to get in contact with our team!
Meet the Team
Caroline Novak
Private Events Manager
Caroline has worked in events at the Zoo since 2017. She worked her way from a Special Events Intern to the Group Sales & Rentals Assistant while studying hospitality and events at Slippery Rock University. Just prior to commencement, she was promoted to Group Sales & Rentals Coordinator and once again promoted to Private Events Manager in 2021. Caroline’s passion for customer satisfaction, knack for detailed planning, and effective communication allows for an enjoyable planning process and stress-free event. Her favorite parts of event days are the hustle and bustle during set up, photos in the park with wedding clients, the intensity and pressure that come with ceremonies, and lining the wedding party up for introductions.
What are three words to describe your approach to event planning?
Transparent, methodical, and understanding.
What is a highlight of your time at the Zoo?
I love our Garden Tent so much that I hosted my very own reception here! It was an unforgettable night with the perfect backdrop of tropical plants and string lighting. Our Chef is so accommodating and created a fully gluten free menu, as I am gluten intolerant, so I didn’t have to worry about accidentally eating something.
How do you spend your personal time?
I can typically be found chasing after, wrestling with, and caring for my two sons. Being 16 months apart, they certainly keep my husband and I on our toes and are true mama’s boys!
What is your best piece of advice for couples looking for a wedding venue?
Figure out what’s included in the venue (F&B, alcohol, set up, tear down, cake cutting/plating, cookie table set up/replenishing, tax, service charge, etc.) and get to know who you’d be working with. It’s important to trust your venue/day-of coordinator!
Why should someone consider the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium as their wedding venue?
We include and take care of so much from the entire planning process (no need to hire outside wedding planners and day-of coordinators!) to full set up and tear down! If hosting your wedding ceremony onsite, we’ll handle the intricate details in the planning stages so that we deliver day-of! From coordinating with your DJ to gathering and lining up your wedding party to sending everyone down the aisle, the team will take good care of you. Our exclusive onsite caterer works closely with us to customize your menu to your liking and will assist with designing the most beautiful tablescapes to extend your color scheme into your china, flatware, and glassware. As one unit, we design, set up, and replenish your Pittsburgh Cookie Table and so much more!
Ariana Scott
Lead Events Assistant
Ariana has worked in events at the Zoo since 2022, when she took on a seasonal role for the summer. Three months quickly turned into three years of employment with the Private Events Department! She feels honored to be a part of clients’ special days and helping to make memories that will last a lifetime. Ari’s favorite aspect of her job is seeing the months of planning come to life on event days. Her tip for the Zoo’s wedding couples is to do a first look before arriving on grounds and to arrive early before their event to take photos in the park while animals are still on exhibit!
What are three words to describe your approach to event planning?
Honest, empathetic, and creative.
What is one aspect of your job that people may not know about?
Coordinating events at the zoo often means that we are the last people in the park. At first, being one of the only people left in the zoo at night was a little scary but now I find it very peaceful.
How do you spend your personal time?
I have been a gymnastics coach for over ten years, and I love it dearly! Growing up I was a competitive gymnast which is probably where some of my perfectionism comes from. I find immense joy in teaching kids and being a part of their childhood.
What was one of your best “thinking on your feet” moments at an event?
At one of the first weddings I worked, the couple brought extremely fragile wooden table numbers that broke in transit to the Zoo. The team hadn’t realized this until we began setting up. Instead of panicking, I found super glue from our office and used generic brown paper towels to fill in the areas of the table numbers that were missing. We were able to use the table numbers without anyone suspecting a thing!
If you could be one animal in the Zoo, who would you be?
I would love to be a sea lion! They are so playful, curious, and friendly. If I was sea lion, I would definitely photo-bomb wedding couples’ photos in the park when they go to the tunnel in Water’s Edge!
