Weddings and Birthday Parties

• Wedding Venue Descriptions and Charges

• Wedding Ceremony Policies

• Birthday Parties at the Zoo, Aquarium, Garden, or Tingley Beach

Wedding Venue Descriptions and Charges top

To preview rental facilities, an appointment is required. Please call (505) 848-7115 to schedule a preview visit or make a reservation. If an appointment has not been scheduled, general admission will be charged.

Botanic Garden

Ceremonial Rose Garden – Capacity 125 seated. Rental Fee: $1100

This elegant walled garden has raised rose beds and tall arbors supporting climbing roses and clematis. With its arching vine-covered colonnade and raised stage, this space is perfect for small weddings.

Festival Green – Capacity 250 seated. Rental Fee: $1100

A curved brick walkway borders the Festival Green and sweeps elegantly beneath rows of shade trees interspersed with colorful annual flowers. This broad expanse of grass and shade trees ends on the south at a freshwater pond.

Zoo and Aquarium

There are several venue options at the Zoo and Aquarium. See Facility Rental Packages and Fees for pricing and more information.

Wedding Policies

Wedding reservations are accepted eleven months in advance and scheduled for a maximum of three hours in the evening only, May through September. Call the Events Coordinator at (505) 848-7115 for more information and to reserve a space.

All catering, food service, liquor service, chairs, tables, podiums, altars, etc. must be provided by “A Taste of the Wild”   catering services – no outside food or beverage is permitted.

To reserve a facility, a contract must be completed and signed. A 50%, non-refundable deposit is due two weeks after booking the area. The balance of your fee and a separate damage deposit of $250 are due 30 days prior to the event. The damage deposit is returned two weeks after the event, providing there is no damage to the venue.

Your facility rental includes a rehearsal for the ceremony. All rehearsals are scheduled by appointment only (call 505-848-7115) and need to be scheduled no later than one month prior to the wedding date.

Facility rental also includes general parking and admission for the wedding party and all guests during the reserved time. We ask that the wedding party provide a host or hostess at the entrance to greet the guests and direct them to the ceremony.

The wedding party and their guests, musicians, florists, photographers etc. will not be admitted to the BioPark before the scheduled time. The three hours you have reserved is the only time your wedding party will have free access to the BioPark.

BioPark wedding bookings are non-refundable, rain or shine. There are no refunds because of inclement weather. Facilities are out doors and there are no dressing rooms available.

The BioPark does not provide staff, carts, hand trucks or extension cords.

Wedding photos may be taken during the three-hour rental. Otherwise, photos taken during regular BioPark hours will require regular admission for the entire wedding party. It is suggested you visit the facility the week of your ceremony to make decisions about photography locations.

For the protection of the natural wildlife and plants at the BioPark, we do not permit rice, birdseed, confetti, potted plants, glass, balloons, faux rose petals, pets or other animals. No items may be attached to anything in the gardens. Nails, staples, wire, pins and tacks are not permitted.

Alcoholic beverages may not be brought on grounds, and all containers are subject to search prior to entering the BioPark.

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Birthday Parties at the Zoo, Aquarium, Garden, and Tingley Beach

During regular business hours, BioPark visitors may celebrate a birthday without catering and bring in their own food. Birthday celebrations at the BioPark with no catering do not require a reservation.

Celebrations may be held in areas open to public picnicking, for example the Botanic Garden's Festival Green, the plaza in front of the Aquarium, the grassy peninsula at Tingley or the Zoo's Cottonwood Park. (Please remember that no food or drinks are allowed inside the Aquarium.) You may want to bring blankets or camping chairs for your gathering.

Each member of the party must pay general admission: $7 for adults, $3 for children (ages 3 -12) and seniors (over 65). There are no group discounts for birthday parties. Tickets may be purchased in advance at the ticket booths or through online sales. (Please note that you must order each ticket as a separate item in your shopping cart to be able to print each on a separate page.) Party hosts are responsible for distributing tickets.

Restrictions:

For the safety of animals and other visitors, please leave balloons, Frisbees, balls of any kind, alcohol and noise makers at home -- they are prohibited. Please plan to clean up your own trash and wrapping paper.

Catered Birthday Parties

A Taste of the Wild is the contract caterer for all BioPark facilities. No other catering services are permitted on site.

At the Zoo

A Taste of the Wild Birthday Party Packages are available at the Zoo and may be booked at (505) 764-6206. Parties are held on the patio of or inside the Cottonwood Cafe.

• Package A includes facility admission, hot dog or chicken drumstick, soft drink, quarter sheet personalized birthday cake and ice cream. The cost of Package A is $215 for 12 children and $14 for each additional child. Adult admissions must be purchased separately.

• Package B includes facility admission, soft drink, quarter sheet personalized birthday cake and ice cream. The cost of Package B is $185 for 12 children and $12 for each additional child. Adult admissions must be purchased separately.

At the Aquarium

Enjoy a special birthday meal at the Shark Reef Cafe! The cafe offers a special birthday menu and reserved seating for your group. You may order a cake and ice cream ahead of time or bring your own cake. Reservations are required. Please call (505) 848-7123. Admission is not included with Shark Reef Cafe birthday parties.

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