New England Aquarium
Updated
New England Aquarium Photos
About This Vendor
Congratulations on your engagement!
Capture the romance of Boston's historic harbor with one of the most unique venues in the city. With stunning settings, one-of-a-kind views and a backdrop of awe-inspiring aquatic animals, the New England Aquarium is the perfect Boston location for your upcoming waterfront wedding reception.
Amenities & Details
Ceremony Area, Covered Outdoors Space, Dressing Room, Handicap Accessible, Indoor Event Space, Outdoor Event Space, Reception Area, Wireless Internet
Guest CapacityUp to 250
Ceremony Types Venue Service OfferingsFood & Catering, Planning
SettingsBeach, Waterfront, Museum, Tented
Business AttributesPricing for New England Aquarium
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New England Aquarium Reviews
Brittani Davenport (other) 1 out of 5 Rating
We got married on 12/15/2023 and although the venue itself was wonderful and we enjoyed celebrating with the penguins, if we could go back in time, we would not have chosen this venue. Letâs start with communication. From the beginning, communication was lacking on their end. After submitting our deposit, we were told by the event manager that catering would reach out to us in January, but that did not happen. Finally, at the end of February we had to reach out to initiate a conversation. After meeting with the catering manager, we were told we could hear from her in July to set up a date for our tasting. That did not happen. In August we tried reaching out to schedule our tasting, but we never received a response. So, I made a phone call to the catering manager and was told she would contact me later that day, that did not happen. We did not hear from her for a week! At this point, I was stressed because we were four months away from our wedding and our invitations had to be sent out, but we could not do that until we knew what food options we were offering. At the tasting, everything went perfectly. The food was incredible, and I felt confident that the wedding would go off without a hitch, but boy was I wrong. At the rehearsal, we were told the ceremony would not take place at the coral reef because of a lighting issue. Fine. No big deal. On the day of the wedding, we were lining up to get ready to walk down the aisle when they informed us we would not be standing where we practiced the night before, but we would standing where we were supposed to originally, by the coral reef. Everyone was stressed because this was not what we practiced the night before. As a bride, my stomach was already in knots and the last thing I needed was more stress, but I let it go. The show must go on. The ceremony was lovely and when my groom and I walked out we were greeted by our attendant with champagne. At that moment, I was able to relax, and I thought the rest of the evening would go smoothly, but I was wrong again. During dinner service, my husband and I were served the wrong meal, our steak was cold, and close to being raw. The sauce and sides were disgusting. I was shocked. This was not what we tasted and chose during our tasting. While walking around to our guest tables, we noticed nobody was touching their food and we heard whispers of people complaining about their meal. This is not something we wanted to hear. We were embarrassed and this caused so much stress, but we tried our best to stay calm. For the remainder of the evening, my blood sugar kept dropping due to the lack of carbs and protein from not eating our meal, as a type 1 diabetic, this was concerning. We have reached out to the catering manager to address our concerns and while she did seem genuinely apologetic and she refunded us our money for the meals, we still donât have an answer about what went wrong. We are go with the flow kind of people, and it would be ridiculous to assume everything would go perfectly at our wedding, but this mistake was one that shouldnâtâve happened. People pay a lot of money for weddings, and the bride, groom, and guests not having an edible meal to eat was unacceptable. We were told by the catering manager she went home after salads were served, but weâre having a difficult time understanding how she was not aware that the chef was not serving the food we chose. Letâs assume they accidentally ordered the wrong food for our wedding. Fine. At least say something to use. At least acknowledge that you made a mistake. Weâre very understanding people and the fact that nobody besides the catering manager has reached out to apologize is absurd. I strongly advise any couple considering this venue to consider it carefully.
Reviewed on 07-01-2024
We got married on 12/15/2023 and although the venue itself was wonderful and we enjoyed celebrating with the penguins, if we could go back in time, we would not have chosen this venue. Letâs start with communication. From the beginning, communication was lacking on their end. After submitting our deposit, we were told by the event manager that catering would reach out to us in January, but that did not happen. Finally, at the end of February we had to reach out to initiate a conversation. After meeting with the catering manager, we were told we could hear from her in July to set up a date for our tasting. That did not happen. In August we tried reaching out to schedule our tasting, but we never received a response. So, I made a phone call to the catering manager and was told she would contact me later that day, that did not happen. We did not hear from her for a week! At this point, I was stressed because we were four months away from our wedding and our invitations had to be sent out, but we could not do that until we knew what food options we were offering. At the tasting, everything went perfectly. The food was incredible, and I felt confident that the wedding would go off without a hitch, but boy was I wrong. At the rehearsal, we were told the ceremony would not take place at the coral reef because of a lighting issue. Fine. No big deal. On the day of the wedding, we were lining up to get ready to walk down the aisle when they informed us we would not be standing where we practiced the night before, but we would standing where we were supposed to originally, by the coral reef. Everyone was stressed because this was not what we practiced the night before. As a bride, my stomach was already in knots and the last thing I needed was more stress, but I let it go. The show must go on. The ceremony was lovely and when my groom and I walked out we were greeted by our attendant with champagne. At that moment, I was able to relax, and I thought the rest of the evening would go smoothly, but I was wrong again. During dinner service, my husband and I were served the wrong meal, our steak was cold, and close to being raw. The sauce and sides were disgusting. I was shocked. This was not what we tasted and chose during our tasting. While walking around to our guest tables, we noticed nobody was touching their food and we heard whispers of people complaining about their meal. This is not something we wanted to hear. We were embarrassed and this caused so much stress, but we tried our best to stay calm. For the remainder of the evening, my blood sugar kept dropping due to the lack of carbs and protein from not eating our meal, as a type 1 diabetic, this was concerning. We have reached out to the catering manager to address our concerns and while she did seem genuinely apologetic and she refunded us our money for the meals, we still donât have an answer about what went wrong. We are go with the flow kind of people, and it would be ridiculous to assume everything would go perfectly at our wedding, but this mistake was one that shouldnâtâve happened. People pay a lot of money for weddings, and the bride, groom, and guests not having an edible meal to eat was unacceptable. We were told by the catering manager she went home after salads were served, but weâre having a difficult time understanding how she was not aware that the chef was not serving the food we chose. Letâs assume they accidentally ordered the wrong food for our wedding. Fine. At least say something to use. At least acknowledge that you made a mistake. Weâre very understanding people and the fact that nobody besides the catering manager has reached out to apologize is absurd. I strongly advise any couple considering this venue to consider it carefully.
Reviewed on 07-01-2024
Jacquie Sharma (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 25-06-2022
My wedding at the New England Aquarium was a dream!!! The team there worked so hard to make my vision become a reality. Amanda and Krystal are miracle workers. By the last few weeks, they were able to finish my sentences, they knew my event inside and out! I felt so prioritized and taken care of. The ceremony space is stunning and who can beat a cocktail hour inside the aquarium around all of the penguins!! We had a blast, and now I am trying to figure out how I can have another event there. I wish I could give them 100 stars!!!
Reviewed on 05-07-2022
Wedding Date 25-06-2022
My wedding at the New England Aquarium was a dream!!! The team there worked so hard to make my vision become a reality. Amanda and Krystal are miracle workers. By the last few weeks, they were able to finish my sentences, they knew my event inside and out! I felt so prioritized and taken care of. The ceremony space is stunning and who can beat a cocktail hour inside the aquarium around all of the penguins!! We had a blast, and now I am trying to figure out how I can have another event there. I wish I could give them 100 stars!!!
Reviewed on 05-07-2022
Marty Zeve (bride) 2 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 16-10-2021
The aquarium itself is greatâ a unique and beautiful venueâ and the staff are super responsive, organized, and efficient. If I were basing this review just on the aquarium staff then it would be five stars, hands down. Unfortunately, though, they work exclusively with the Patina Group for catering, and this company is a disaster. Iâll spare the internet the full details, but the short of it is this: They deferred our requests to schedule our tasting dinner until four weeks before the wedding (which was in mid October). The day after we finally had it and firmed up our menu, they emailed to let us know us know that they were increasing our contract cost by $10,000, or a full 33% of the original cost. Again, they did this four weeks before our wedding, with no forewarning, in a breezy 3 line email that referred vaguely to âunexpected price increases.â Notably, the increases were mostly associated with labor costs and managerial fee mark-ups, not food costs based in our selections at the dinner. We were blindsided. When we protested, they told us they would âwork with us.â This largely consisted of leveraging the fact that we had fewer guests attending than originally estimated and also revising the number of hors dâoeuvres served down to 2/3rds of our guest countâ because why should we want there to be enough for everyone? They also told us that we were the only couple to complain about a last-minute price hike in our contract, as if we were in the wrong. (Mind you, when I told people about the increase, the most common response was an astonished, âIs that legal?â ) To make matters worse, the night of our wedding, the service was a mess. They carved the wrong name for me into a decorative watermelon accompanying a flavored water station set out for guests before the ceremony; they repeatedly ignored our requests to open the sides of the reception tent (we wanted to minimize chances of COVID transmission and had discussed this explicitly days before the wedding, and then repeated it day of); they forgot to set aside wedding cake slices for me and my husband, so that we didnât get any; they neglected to set out our wedding favors until all but the final guests remained, so lots of guests didnât get them after we spent hours curating and copying a customized playlist onto 130 thumbs drives. The whole thing was disorganized, impersonal, and seemed sort of thrown together. We felt disappointed and taken advantage of, which was a real bummer because we love the aquarium and their staff members were great. If anything, I would just strongly urge the aquarium to consider dropping their exclusive contract with Patina and allow couples to explore other vendors. Iâm sure there are lots of great local groups to work with. As it stands, with Patina as the only caterer/ event mgmt group to contract with, I sadly canât recommend having a wedding at the aquarium.
Reviewed on 19-04-2022
Wedding Date 16-10-2021
The aquarium itself is greatâ a unique and beautiful venueâ and the staff are super responsive, organized, and efficient. If I were basing this review just on the aquarium staff then it would be five stars, hands down. Unfortunately, though, they work exclusively with the Patina Group for catering, and this company is a disaster. Iâll spare the internet the full details, but the short of it is this: They deferred our requests to schedule our tasting dinner until four weeks before the wedding (which was in mid October). The day after we finally had it and firmed up our menu, they emailed to let us know us know that they were increasing our contract cost by $10,000, or a full 33% of the original cost. Again, they did this four weeks before our wedding, with no forewarning, in a breezy 3 line email that referred vaguely to âunexpected price increases.â Notably, the increases were mostly associated with labor costs and managerial fee mark-ups, not food costs based in our selections at the dinner. We were blindsided. When we protested, they told us they would âwork with us.â This largely consisted of leveraging the fact that we had fewer guests attending than originally estimated and also revising the number of hors dâoeuvres served down to 2/3rds of our guest countâ because why should we want there to be enough for everyone? They also told us that we were the only couple to complain about a last-minute price hike in our contract, as if we were in the wrong. (Mind you, when I told people about the increase, the most common response was an astonished, âIs that legal?â ) To make matters worse, the night of our wedding, the service was a mess. They carved the wrong name for me into a decorative watermelon accompanying a flavored water station set out for guests before the ceremony; they repeatedly ignored our requests to open the sides of the reception tent (we wanted to minimize chances of COVID transmission and had discussed this explicitly days before the wedding, and then repeated it day of); they forgot to set aside wedding cake slices for me and my husband, so that we didnât get any; they neglected to set out our wedding favors until all but the final guests remained, so lots of guests didnât get them after we spent hours curating and copying a customized playlist onto 130 thumbs drives. The whole thing was disorganized, impersonal, and seemed sort of thrown together. We felt disappointed and taken advantage of, which was a real bummer because we love the aquarium and their staff members were great. If anything, I would just strongly urge the aquarium to consider dropping their exclusive contract with Patina and allow couples to explore other vendors. Iâm sure there are lots of great local groups to work with. As it stands, with Patina as the only caterer/ event mgmt group to contract with, I sadly canât recommend having a wedding at the aquarium.
Reviewed on 19-04-2022
Colleen Deese (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 12-03-2022
The New England aquarium was a unique venue and wowâd all of our guests. Excellent communication, catering by Patina group had great service and amazing food, and coordinators were timely and efficient. Our special day was as stress free and amazing as possible.
Reviewed on 24-03-2022
Wedding Date 12-03-2022
The New England aquarium was a unique venue and wowâd all of our guests. Excellent communication, catering by Patina group had great service and amazing food, and coordinators were timely and efficient. Our special day was as stress free and amazing as possible.
Reviewed on 24-03-2022
Allison DiScipio (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 12-02-2022
My husband and I just had our reception at the Aquarium and it was gorgeous. We and our guests loved the food (especially the taco bar) - it was delicious and we had a variety of options for different tastes/diets. Amanda from Patina (the catering company) was wonderful about answering my questions and tweaking some menu items to fit our preferences (I do not eat pork/shellfish). She was very pleasant to work with especially on the day of the reception, and kept everything running smoothly.
Reviewed on 03-03-2022
Wedding Date 12-02-2022
My husband and I just had our reception at the Aquarium and it was gorgeous. We and our guests loved the food (especially the taco bar) - it was delicious and we had a variety of options for different tastes/diets. Amanda from Patina (the catering company) was wonderful about answering my questions and tweaking some menu items to fit our preferences (I do not eat pork/shellfish). She was very pleasant to work with especially on the day of the reception, and kept everything running smoothly.
Reviewed on 03-03-2022
Jill Yuen (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 14-08-2021
Our wedding day at The New England Aquarium was absolutely perfect! Through the pandemic, they were extremely accommodating and kind when we had to postpone and re-plan for the following year. Since we didn't get married on-site, we used the South Terrace area for cocktail hour and it was magical with the sunset and breeze! The tent right on the Boston Harbor is one of, if not the best, location in Boston for a wedding. You can't get any closer to the water than that! Our guests also loved having access to the Aquarium for the entire evening. Thank you to all the staff and amazing vendors for making our dream wedding come to life!
Reviewed on 31-08-2021
Wedding Date 14-08-2021
Our wedding day at The New England Aquarium was absolutely perfect! Through the pandemic, they were extremely accommodating and kind when we had to postpone and re-plan for the following year. Since we didn't get married on-site, we used the South Terrace area for cocktail hour and it was magical with the sunset and breeze! The tent right on the Boston Harbor is one of, if not the best, location in Boston for a wedding. You can't get any closer to the water than that! Our guests also loved having access to the Aquarium for the entire evening. Thank you to all the staff and amazing vendors for making our dream wedding come to life!
Reviewed on 31-08-2021
Erika Robshaw (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 16-04-2021
Amazing!!! Everyone from the aquarium was super helpful with everything from planning to executing. Very communicative. Plus it's the aquarium!!! The pictures were cooler than cool. Also the food was SO good. Patina catering is amazing. 10/10 would recommend 100 times over. I also love that they stay committed to sustainable fishing so the food choices are dependent on what's available. An environmentally responsible vendor.
Reviewed on 22-06-2021
Wedding Date 16-04-2021
Amazing!!! Everyone from the aquarium was super helpful with everything from planning to executing. Very communicative. Plus it's the aquarium!!! The pictures were cooler than cool. Also the food was SO good. Patina catering is amazing. 10/10 would recommend 100 times over. I also love that they stay committed to sustainable fishing so the food choices are dependent on what's available. An environmentally responsible vendor.
Reviewed on 22-06-2021
Lindsay McSweeney (bride) 3 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 04-06-2021
The aquarium is a gorgeous space for a wedding between the cocktail hour inside and the reception outside in the tent; that's why my husband and I signed a contract with them 2 years ago. If we ended up having our reception at the aquarium, I might feel differently however after having the unique experience of working closely with two venues, there are places that do it better. My husband and I were supposed to have our June 2020 wedding at the aquarium and rescheduled it for June of 2021. We reached out to the aquarium in January of 2021 to let them know that regardless of the status with Covid, we did not want to postpone again and were going to move ahead with our June date no matter what that looked like (limited capacity, etc). As the wedding approached in the spring, they never reached out to us. Even as government phases started to roll out, it was always us reaching out to them and getting a response maybe a week later; they never reached out to us and never replied in a timely manner. Fast forward to April and it's go time! We needed answers and to start reaching out to our guests and they were still like \"we have time, we'll figure it out.\" Very wishy washy. We were about 60 days out from the wedding and had a conference call with them where they only had answers to about 50% of our questions. I understand a pandemic is unchartered territory for all of us and we are all just trying to do out best, but it seemed like the topics we were bringing up were things they hadn't even thought about, yet they are the event experts (I should say that actually the catering and planning is through a partner company called the Patina Group, which is where most of my frustration is directed). For example, a covid restriction was supposedly that we couldn't have a live singer in Boston but we already had a contract with a band. The aquarium/Patina Group just choose to say \"no\" instead of offering solutions. Meanwhile, our band and other vendors were bending over backwards to come up with solutions that worked in a covid world. 50 days out from the wedding we still didn't have answers from them on many of our questions, and their entire team was on vacation. Odd. Finally at about day 45 out from the wedding we changed to a different venue. Our new venue immediately started scheduling calls with us, and would answer any of our questions within 24 hours, because they are event experts and understand it's go time when you are within 45 days of a wedding.The aquarium would be an absolutely iconic place to hold and event, and I'm bummed it couldn't work out. However, my in depth experience with both venues was a night and day difference. The aquarium/Patina Group added stress when they should have been relieving it. I'm sure they run beautiful events if there are no wrenches thrown into plans, but they are not solution oriented or responsive if you need to make a Plan B.
Reviewed on 21-06-2021
Wedding Date 04-06-2021
The aquarium is a gorgeous space for a wedding between the cocktail hour inside and the reception outside in the tent; that's why my husband and I signed a contract with them 2 years ago. If we ended up having our reception at the aquarium, I might feel differently however after having the unique experience of working closely with two venues, there are places that do it better. My husband and I were supposed to have our June 2020 wedding at the aquarium and rescheduled it for June of 2021. We reached out to the aquarium in January of 2021 to let them know that regardless of the status with Covid, we did not want to postpone again and were going to move ahead with our June date no matter what that looked like (limited capacity, etc). As the wedding approached in the spring, they never reached out to us. Even as government phases started to roll out, it was always us reaching out to them and getting a response maybe a week later; they never reached out to us and never replied in a timely manner. Fast forward to April and it's go time! We needed answers and to start reaching out to our guests and they were still like \"we have time, we'll figure it out.\" Very wishy washy. We were about 60 days out from the wedding and had a conference call with them where they only had answers to about 50% of our questions. I understand a pandemic is unchartered territory for all of us and we are all just trying to do out best, but it seemed like the topics we were bringing up were things they hadn't even thought about, yet they are the event experts (I should say that actually the catering and planning is through a partner company called the Patina Group, which is where most of my frustration is directed). For example, a covid restriction was supposedly that we couldn't have a live singer in Boston but we already had a contract with a band. The aquarium/Patina Group just choose to say \"no\" instead of offering solutions. Meanwhile, our band and other vendors were bending over backwards to come up with solutions that worked in a covid world. 50 days out from the wedding we still didn't have answers from them on many of our questions, and their entire team was on vacation. Odd. Finally at about day 45 out from the wedding we changed to a different venue. Our new venue immediately started scheduling calls with us, and would answer any of our questions within 24 hours, because they are event experts and understand it's go time when you are within 45 days of a wedding.The aquarium would be an absolutely iconic place to hold and event, and I'm bummed it couldn't work out. However, my in depth experience with both venues was a night and day difference. The aquarium/Patina Group added stress when they should have been relieving it. I'm sure they run beautiful events if there are no wrenches thrown into plans, but they are not solution oriented or responsive if you need to make a Plan B.
Reviewed on 21-06-2021
Nita Vaidya-Zannino (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 09-11-2019
The venue was everything we hoped for and made planning our wedding so easy and painless! Our guests cannot stop talking about the unique experience they had and how our wedding will be one they will never forget! We got married 11/9/19 and did the ceremony, reception, and cocktail hour all inside NEAQ. It was so fun and unique to host everything inside the building with the penguins as extra wedding guests! I cannot stress enough how easy it was to plan our wedding NEAQ wedding coordinator, Kelcee. She knew everything there was to know about all of the options the aquarium can offer to make your wedding go off without a hitch. We had a lot of questions about pretty much everything wedding related and Kelcee listened to our vision the entire time and helped make the event come to life! NEAQ understood our vision and executed it seamlessly so that we could fully enjoy the entire night with our guests. We were so not stressed on the day of the wedding that we were about to truly be present in the moment. If we had to do it again I would hands down choose the aquarium every time! Our wedding day will be a day that we never forget and we are so thankful to the aquarium for providing such a unique and memorable venue and easy to work with staff to help us really bring our day to life. 10/10 would recommend to anyone and everyone looking for a wedding venue!
Reviewed on 15-11-2019
Wedding Date 09-11-2019
The venue was everything we hoped for and made planning our wedding so easy and painless! Our guests cannot stop talking about the unique experience they had and how our wedding will be one they will never forget! We got married 11/9/19 and did the ceremony, reception, and cocktail hour all inside NEAQ. It was so fun and unique to host everything inside the building with the penguins as extra wedding guests! I cannot stress enough how easy it was to plan our wedding NEAQ wedding coordinator, Kelcee. She knew everything there was to know about all of the options the aquarium can offer to make your wedding go off without a hitch. We had a lot of questions about pretty much everything wedding related and Kelcee listened to our vision the entire time and helped make the event come to life! NEAQ understood our vision and executed it seamlessly so that we could fully enjoy the entire night with our guests. We were so not stressed on the day of the wedding that we were about to truly be present in the moment. If we had to do it again I would hands down choose the aquarium every time! Our wedding day will be a day that we never forget and we are so thankful to the aquarium for providing such a unique and memorable venue and easy to work with staff to help us really bring our day to life. 10/10 would recommend to anyone and everyone looking for a wedding venue!
Reviewed on 15-11-2019
Jessie Logeman (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 20-07-2019
We had the wedding of our dreams at the NEA! The experience of exploring the entire aquarium with your wedding guests drinking cocktails by your side and then having the reception out by the boardwalk was nothing other than incredible. Our guests were blown away by the entire experience â it was a huge hit! The NEA event planning staff came ready to help plan and were always available when I needed them. They made it easy for me to make decisions and were flexible with payments. Overall, we would enthusiastically recommend having your wedding at NEA (and kissing a seal while youâre at it!)
Reviewed on 30-10-2019
Wedding Date 20-07-2019
We had the wedding of our dreams at the NEA! The experience of exploring the entire aquarium with your wedding guests drinking cocktails by your side and then having the reception out by the boardwalk was nothing other than incredible. Our guests were blown away by the entire experience â it was a huge hit! The NEA event planning staff came ready to help plan and were always available when I needed them. They made it easy for me to make decisions and were flexible with payments. Overall, we would enthusiastically recommend having your wedding at NEA (and kissing a seal while youâre at it!)
Reviewed on 30-10-2019
Cam & Sven (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 24-08-2019
Overall, we would highly recommend the New England Aquarium to any of our friends as their wedding venue. The venue is special and getting married right at Boston Harbor as a fantastic feel to it. Guests enjoyed the ability to venture off and explore the aquarium at night. The tent allows for a lot of areas for personal touches. In terms of communications, Della did a fantastic job in the sales process. There was a slight change of personnel in between us signing and our wedding which led to a couple of minor communication hiccups. Overall though we were very pleased with the level of service and support weâve received from Erin in the lead up to the wedding. The food is fantastic for wedding standards and honestly would still be very good for a restaurant standard. The service during the event was impeccable and very attentive. A couple of things to note that you should consider before going with this venue: your wedding day will be fairly packed if you try to have both ceremony and reception at the venue (earliest start is 6 PM on a Saturday and end by midnight). Also consider there is a public walkway behind the area where the ceremony takes place (i.e. make sure you have ushers on docket to help move people along; the NEA staff is not legally allowed to do so). Besides this, we loved everything about this place and would gladly do our wedding there again.
Reviewed on 30-10-2019
Wedding Date 24-08-2019
Overall, we would highly recommend the New England Aquarium to any of our friends as their wedding venue. The venue is special and getting married right at Boston Harbor as a fantastic feel to it. Guests enjoyed the ability to venture off and explore the aquarium at night. The tent allows for a lot of areas for personal touches. In terms of communications, Della did a fantastic job in the sales process. There was a slight change of personnel in between us signing and our wedding which led to a couple of minor communication hiccups. Overall though we were very pleased with the level of service and support weâve received from Erin in the lead up to the wedding. The food is fantastic for wedding standards and honestly would still be very good for a restaurant standard. The service during the event was impeccable and very attentive. A couple of things to note that you should consider before going with this venue: your wedding day will be fairly packed if you try to have both ceremony and reception at the venue (earliest start is 6 PM on a Saturday and end by midnight). Also consider there is a public walkway behind the area where the ceremony takes place (i.e. make sure you have ushers on docket to help move people along; the NEA staff is not legally allowed to do so). Besides this, we loved everything about this place and would gladly do our wedding there again.
Reviewed on 30-10-2019
Andie M (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 27-07-2019
We really enjoyed our wedding at the New England Aquarium. What a unique experience for us and our guests to be able to enjoy cocktails wit the penguins and celebrate with friends and family right along the Boston harbor. We had a beautiful ceremony on the back pier just before sunset. There were a few passing boat noises during our ceremony, but for us, was good to help cut the tension and add some giggles. We had perfect weather for our reception in the big pier tent, not too hot with the nice ocean breeze at the end of July. We opted for station meals and our guests commented that they really enjoyed the food. We arranged for just a few lantern lights on ceiling and uplighting in the tent with Groove Events and are happy we did because it looked really great (especially in photos). We did have a little stress in the weeks leading to our event with 3 rapid coordinator changes, however, the staff really pulled together for the night of and we are thankful for their attention to our every need. We only wish we could have celebrated longer, but that is a sign of a good wedding!
Reviewed on 28-10-2019
Wedding Date 27-07-2019
We really enjoyed our wedding at the New England Aquarium. What a unique experience for us and our guests to be able to enjoy cocktails wit the penguins and celebrate with friends and family right along the Boston harbor. We had a beautiful ceremony on the back pier just before sunset. There were a few passing boat noises during our ceremony, but for us, was good to help cut the tension and add some giggles. We had perfect weather for our reception in the big pier tent, not too hot with the nice ocean breeze at the end of July. We opted for station meals and our guests commented that they really enjoyed the food. We arranged for just a few lantern lights on ceiling and uplighting in the tent with Groove Events and are happy we did because it looked really great (especially in photos). We did have a little stress in the weeks leading to our event with 3 rapid coordinator changes, however, the staff really pulled together for the night of and we are thankful for their attention to our every need. We only wish we could have celebrated longer, but that is a sign of a good wedding!
Reviewed on 28-10-2019
Kate Tsui (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 16-03-2019
The New England Aquarium isn't the typical wedding venue, and that's why we chose it. Both our ceremony and reception were inside the main gallery. Our ceremony was conducted on the penguin platform, and our guests had epics views of us while standing on the spiral around the Giant Ocean Tank. They really made us feel like stars. Our whole wedding planning experience with NEAQ was amazing. They provide an event coordinator. Ours, Tie, guided us the whole way through. She arranged nights for our private food and wine tasting and a separate night, at our request, for a sound check of their audio system when we started to freak out about getting a DJ or not. She answered all of our questions in a timely and friendly manner and worked closely with our own wedding planner to arrange all of the crazy details we came up with. She provided complimentary parking for all of our appointments. On the day of our wedding, Tie also had her staff to help set up our centerpieces which was above and beyond (normally a separate vendor would do that).The wedding night itself was magical. The staff was extensive and all very professional (wait staff, servers, bar tenders, our 2 roaming educators, security, and everyone behind the scenes). All of the floors were open to our guests to enjoy the exhibits, and the bars were opened on each floor as the night progressed, which was excellent given the size of the venue. We kept the touch tank open and staffed during cocktail hour. The food was incredible, especially the salmon. They accommodated all special requests for allergies (vegetarian and gluten free). Our guests raved about the food. Surrounded by penguins, we danced the night away.NEAQ has everything you need for a wedding (well actually, for any event) and if they themselves don't handle it, they have preferred vendors for everything else. We didn't have to think about renting tables, chairs, dinnerware, etc; it was all included. The couples' night tasting happened about 2 months before our big day. All of the details that we stressed out about and/or didn't get around to, we found answers to that night. Yes, we hired the DJ, who was DJ'ing for the couples' night. We also went with their preferred limo company and rented 2 busses. Phew!If you want to experience what an evening event could look like, get tickets for the NEAQ Valentine's Day event, \"That's A-Moray\" which is also when the proposal happened (2018) and our engagement photos (2019). The overall cost for having NEAQ as our ceremony site and catered reception was on-par with other venues we looked at. NEAQ captured our heart, and we are so glad to get married there. Every time we visit, we remember our wedding day all over again. We would do it again in a heart beat!(This review was written together by both the bride and the groom. We are both very happy with NEAQ.)
Reviewed on 24-10-2019
Wedding Date 16-03-2019
The New England Aquarium isn't the typical wedding venue, and that's why we chose it. Both our ceremony and reception were inside the main gallery. Our ceremony was conducted on the penguin platform, and our guests had epics views of us while standing on the spiral around the Giant Ocean Tank. They really made us feel like stars. Our whole wedding planning experience with NEAQ was amazing. They provide an event coordinator. Ours, Tie, guided us the whole way through. She arranged nights for our private food and wine tasting and a separate night, at our request, for a sound check of their audio system when we started to freak out about getting a DJ or not. She answered all of our questions in a timely and friendly manner and worked closely with our own wedding planner to arrange all of the crazy details we came up with. She provided complimentary parking for all of our appointments. On the day of our wedding, Tie also had her staff to help set up our centerpieces which was above and beyond (normally a separate vendor would do that).The wedding night itself was magical. The staff was extensive and all very professional (wait staff, servers, bar tenders, our 2 roaming educators, security, and everyone behind the scenes). All of the floors were open to our guests to enjoy the exhibits, and the bars were opened on each floor as the night progressed, which was excellent given the size of the venue. We kept the touch tank open and staffed during cocktail hour. The food was incredible, especially the salmon. They accommodated all special requests for allergies (vegetarian and gluten free). Our guests raved about the food. Surrounded by penguins, we danced the night away.NEAQ has everything you need for a wedding (well actually, for any event) and if they themselves don't handle it, they have preferred vendors for everything else. We didn't have to think about renting tables, chairs, dinnerware, etc; it was all included. The couples' night tasting happened about 2 months before our big day. All of the details that we stressed out about and/or didn't get around to, we found answers to that night. Yes, we hired the DJ, who was DJ'ing for the couples' night. We also went with their preferred limo company and rented 2 busses. Phew!If you want to experience what an evening event could look like, get tickets for the NEAQ Valentine's Day event, \"That's A-Moray\" which is also when the proposal happened (2018) and our engagement photos (2019). The overall cost for having NEAQ as our ceremony site and catered reception was on-par with other venues we looked at. NEAQ captured our heart, and we are so glad to get married there. Every time we visit, we remember our wedding day all over again. We would do it again in a heart beat!(This review was written together by both the bride and the groom. We are both very happy with NEAQ.)
Reviewed on 24-10-2019
Michaila Oliveira (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 22-06-2019
NEAQ was an amazing venue to work with. They were able to accommodate my dietary restrictions (a completely gluten free menu and bar), the food was fantastic, and they did a great job helping us find vendors and then coordinating with them on the day of. My ceremony coordinator was fantastic and my bridal attendant made the night so easy for me. There was some coordinator turnover during our planning process that required extra/repetitive communication, but I was very happy with the product I received, not to mention just how beautiful and unique the venue itself is.
Reviewed on 23-10-2019
Wedding Date 22-06-2019
NEAQ was an amazing venue to work with. They were able to accommodate my dietary restrictions (a completely gluten free menu and bar), the food was fantastic, and they did a great job helping us find vendors and then coordinating with them on the day of. My ceremony coordinator was fantastic and my bridal attendant made the night so easy for me. There was some coordinator turnover during our planning process that required extra/repetitive communication, but I was very happy with the product I received, not to mention just how beautiful and unique the venue itself is.
Reviewed on 23-10-2019
Matt Bachmann (groom) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 10-05-2019
Our wedding at the aquarium was truly amazing. The staff were super helpful making sure that everything kept in track and we have gotten positive reviews from several of our wedding guests. They worked great with our vendors, they made us special cocktails and did not go light on the booze :-DAlso during the day they had a waiter just for us who made sure we did not have to worry about anything!I will say there was some confusion on the day involving the food. Everything was delicious however there seemed to be some mixups around the appetizers we picked out and one of the entrees was significantly different from the tasting. While that was frustrating they did acknowledge the issue and worked with us to try and make it right.That aside we are really with the process and the evening overall!
Reviewed on 23-10-2019
Wedding Date 10-05-2019
Our wedding at the aquarium was truly amazing. The staff were super helpful making sure that everything kept in track and we have gotten positive reviews from several of our wedding guests. They worked great with our vendors, they made us special cocktails and did not go light on the booze :-DAlso during the day they had a waiter just for us who made sure we did not have to worry about anything!I will say there was some confusion on the day involving the food. Everything was delicious however there seemed to be some mixups around the appetizers we picked out and one of the entrees was significantly different from the tasting. While that was frustrating they did acknowledge the issue and worked with us to try and make it right.That aside we are really with the process and the evening overall!
Reviewed on 23-10-2019
Amanda Ward (bride) 4 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 01-09-2019
Overall, we had a wonderful experience at the Aquarium with our coordinator Kelcee! Kelcee stepped in later in the process; however, the day came together more beautifully than we could have ever imagined. Food was great, space was beautiful, and it was a really unique venue.
Reviewed on 21-10-2019
Wedding Date 01-09-2019
Overall, we had a wonderful experience at the Aquarium with our coordinator Kelcee! Kelcee stepped in later in the process; however, the day came together more beautifully than we could have ever imagined. Food was great, space was beautiful, and it was a really unique venue.
Reviewed on 21-10-2019
Dan Mc (groom) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 12-10-2019
My wife and I just had our wedding at the New England Aquarium and it was absolutely incredible. The food was amazing, our guests were thrilled to be at such a unique venue and on top of that, the staff was incredibly kind and helped with every one of our needs. Kelcee in particular made sure that everything that night went great. We couldnt have been happier choosing the Aquarium to host our wedding and definitely recommend it to everyone!
Reviewed on 19-10-2019
Wedding Date 12-10-2019
My wife and I just had our wedding at the New England Aquarium and it was absolutely incredible. The food was amazing, our guests were thrilled to be at such a unique venue and on top of that, the staff was incredibly kind and helped with every one of our needs. Kelcee in particular made sure that everything that night went great. We couldnt have been happier choosing the Aquarium to host our wedding and definitely recommend it to everyone!
Reviewed on 19-10-2019
Alanna Hughes (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 06-07-2019
I cannot say enough good things about our experience with NEAQ!!! We adored the venue, and many of our guests complimented us on how unique our wedding was and how fun it was to be in the aquarium space. The NEAQ staff was absolutely incredible throughout the twists and turns of our planning, including adapting to the rain plan when a summer shower was identified for the hour of our ceremony. (getting married amidst the penguins was so memorable!) The food was amazing; we also received many complements from our guests there. And the pictures! We got some awesome images unlikely any of our friends' wedding pictures given how special and different NEAQ is. If only we could do it all over again! :) Thank you, NEAQ team!! (Erin, Della, and Tie in particular)
Reviewed on 19-10-2019
Wedding Date 06-07-2019
I cannot say enough good things about our experience with NEAQ!!! We adored the venue, and many of our guests complimented us on how unique our wedding was and how fun it was to be in the aquarium space. The NEAQ staff was absolutely incredible throughout the twists and turns of our planning, including adapting to the rain plan when a summer shower was identified for the hour of our ceremony. (getting married amidst the penguins was so memorable!) The food was amazing; we also received many complements from our guests there. And the pictures! We got some awesome images unlikely any of our friends' wedding pictures given how special and different NEAQ is. If only we could do it all over again! :) Thank you, NEAQ team!! (Erin, Della, and Tie in particular)
Reviewed on 19-10-2019
Lisa Bellis (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 05-10-2019
I knew I wanted a unique venue from the start, and right away the NE Aquarium delivered. It is an amazing place, with superior service and amenities. From the moment I contacted them, they were timely and informative. I loved working with Kelcee, the Catering Manager. She was thorough and detail oriented which I definitely appreciated. Everything was delivered exactly as promised, I couldn't have asked for a better experience!
Reviewed on 15-10-2019
Wedding Date 05-10-2019
I knew I wanted a unique venue from the start, and right away the NE Aquarium delivered. It is an amazing place, with superior service and amenities. From the moment I contacted them, they were timely and informative. I loved working with Kelcee, the Catering Manager. She was thorough and detail oriented which I definitely appreciated. Everything was delivered exactly as promised, I couldn't have asked for a better experience!
Reviewed on 15-10-2019
Christine Chisholm (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 15-06-2019
A little over a week ago, I had the most whimsical, magical wedding at the New England Aquarium! I am still getting messages about how much of an incredible time guests had that night! There's something about drinking and eating alongside the penguins that can't be replicated. I cannot thank Erin enough for going along with my crazy, random, ideas and setting up all of my decorations: mermaids, lobsters, pirate ships, treasure chests, vinyl records, disposable cameras- she met with me once, and set it up perfectly! The food was absolutely delicious and every single person that worked the wedding was so attentive and friendly. The incredible views was an added bonus! If you are looking for a unique venue that gives your guests an enjoyable experience, I can't recommend the New England Aquarium enough!
Reviewed on 25-06-2019
Wedding Date 15-06-2019
A little over a week ago, I had the most whimsical, magical wedding at the New England Aquarium! I am still getting messages about how much of an incredible time guests had that night! There's something about drinking and eating alongside the penguins that can't be replicated. I cannot thank Erin enough for going along with my crazy, random, ideas and setting up all of my decorations: mermaids, lobsters, pirate ships, treasure chests, vinyl records, disposable cameras- she met with me once, and set it up perfectly! The food was absolutely delicious and every single person that worked the wedding was so attentive and friendly. The incredible views was an added bonus! If you are looking for a unique venue that gives your guests an enjoyable experience, I can't recommend the New England Aquarium enough!
Reviewed on 25-06-2019
Liz Doolin (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 01-06-2019
You want a unique wedding with awesome food and stellar staff. Than go party with the penguins, my guests are still talking about how great the entire wedding was especially the food. They were credibly helpful and caring with some requests for a family member with a health issue which I will forever be grateful for them for being so kind on this special day to make things easier. Specially Cynthia who was constantly in communication with my planner and myself over every detail . Thank you to the Aquarium I wouldnât have changed a thing
Reviewed on 18-06-2019
Wedding Date 01-06-2019
You want a unique wedding with awesome food and stellar staff. Than go party with the penguins, my guests are still talking about how great the entire wedding was especially the food. They were credibly helpful and caring with some requests for a family member with a health issue which I will forever be grateful for them for being so kind on this special day to make things easier. Specially Cynthia who was constantly in communication with my planner and myself over every detail . Thank you to the Aquarium I wouldnât have changed a thing
Reviewed on 18-06-2019
Sarah Ciardi (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 11-05-2019
We did our ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception at the New England Aquarium and it was one of the best decisions we've ever made! Erin was absolutely incredible making our dream day come true. Our guests raved about the experience from seeing the seals and fish down to the guac bar we had at the cocktail hour and the stations for dinner. A month later we are still having friends and family tell us how much fun they had. The aquarium has this down to a science and you will not regret getting married here. We went with mostly the preferred vendors and are happy we went that route! They know the aquarium inside and out, which helps especially with the flowers (there is a list of flower types you can have!). The tent is spacious and our guests did not feel on top of one another, even though we had close to 200 guests. I cannot thank The New England Aquarium enough for making my dream wedding come true. My husband and I are so thankful for their team and for everything they did!
Reviewed on 12-06-2019
Wedding Date 11-05-2019
We did our ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception at the New England Aquarium and it was one of the best decisions we've ever made! Erin was absolutely incredible making our dream day come true. Our guests raved about the experience from seeing the seals and fish down to the guac bar we had at the cocktail hour and the stations for dinner. A month later we are still having friends and family tell us how much fun they had. The aquarium has this down to a science and you will not regret getting married here. We went with mostly the preferred vendors and are happy we went that route! They know the aquarium inside and out, which helps especially with the flowers (there is a list of flower types you can have!). The tent is spacious and our guests did not feel on top of one another, even though we had close to 200 guests. I cannot thank The New England Aquarium enough for making my dream wedding come true. My husband and I are so thankful for their team and for everything they did!
Reviewed on 12-06-2019
Kayla Cataldo (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 15-09-2018
Oh my gosh, words cannot describe how unbelievable our wedding day was at the NEAQ. We wanted a venue that was different than the norm, and the Aquarium absolutely met that criteria. Tie was so above and beyond what we could have hoped for in a planner and coordinator; we felt like we were friends with her from the second we met her. She helped us plan our perfect day and was incredibly well organized. Our ceremony was on the back patio outside and we were so lucky to get perfect weather. Tie made sure everything went off without a hitch and she made it so I didnât have to worry about any of the logistical details (which I normally worry about!). Our guests loved the atmosphere of the aquarium and had a great time inside at the cocktail hour. Our reception was out back in the tent and it was a dream come true. Tie helped us stay on track so we accomplished all the major things we had to accomplish and didnât leave until everything was taken care of. She answered all of our many questions during the planning process and was always prompt and clear. The space was gorgeous and far surpassed our expectations, and Tie was a dream to work with. Five stars just arenât enough. Thank you so so much!
Reviewed on 29-10-2018
Wedding Date 15-09-2018
Oh my gosh, words cannot describe how unbelievable our wedding day was at the NEAQ. We wanted a venue that was different than the norm, and the Aquarium absolutely met that criteria. Tie was so above and beyond what we could have hoped for in a planner and coordinator; we felt like we were friends with her from the second we met her. She helped us plan our perfect day and was incredibly well organized. Our ceremony was on the back patio outside and we were so lucky to get perfect weather. Tie made sure everything went off without a hitch and she made it so I didnât have to worry about any of the logistical details (which I normally worry about!). Our guests loved the atmosphere of the aquarium and had a great time inside at the cocktail hour. Our reception was out back in the tent and it was a dream come true. Tie helped us stay on track so we accomplished all the major things we had to accomplish and didnât leave until everything was taken care of. She answered all of our many questions during the planning process and was always prompt and clear. The space was gorgeous and far surpassed our expectations, and Tie was a dream to work with. Five stars just arenât enough. Thank you so so much!
Reviewed on 29-10-2018
Laura Maytorena (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 08-09-2018
So happy we chose the Aquarium. The venue was beautiful and so much fun. The staff (especially Tiesha) were all so helpful and accommodating. The day/night of out wedding was seamless thanks to them. Tie had everything under control and I didn't have to worry about a thing. The team also set up the venue beautifully. We received endless comments about how much fun guests had - cocktail hour in the aquarium was a hit. Very happy with our choice and very appreciative that we had such a great team at the Aquarium helping us from day 1.
Reviewed on 29-10-2018
Wedding Date 08-09-2018
So happy we chose the Aquarium. The venue was beautiful and so much fun. The staff (especially Tiesha) were all so helpful and accommodating. The day/night of out wedding was seamless thanks to them. Tie had everything under control and I didn't have to worry about a thing. The team also set up the venue beautifully. We received endless comments about how much fun guests had - cocktail hour in the aquarium was a hit. Very happy with our choice and very appreciative that we had such a great team at the Aquarium helping us from day 1.
Reviewed on 29-10-2018
Arlene Shainker (parent) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 29-09-2018
My daughter and son-in-law are still smiling from ear to ear about their wedding at the New England Aquarium! From start to finish, Tie (the event coordinator), was fantastic to work with and handled all our concerns with warmth and professionalism. She interfaced with all the other wedding vendors and made sure everything was very organized. The Aquarium was beautiful, the food was delicious, and all our guests are still raving about this unique venue. In addition, we had lots of little guests and they had a ball as well.
Reviewed on 08-10-2018
Wedding Date 29-09-2018
My daughter and son-in-law are still smiling from ear to ear about their wedding at the New England Aquarium! From start to finish, Tie (the event coordinator), was fantastic to work with and handled all our concerns with warmth and professionalism. She interfaced with all the other wedding vendors and made sure everything was very organized. The Aquarium was beautiful, the food was delicious, and all our guests are still raving about this unique venue. In addition, we had lots of little guests and they had a ball as well.
Reviewed on 08-10-2018
Michelle Felton (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 14-09-2018
We couldnât be happier with our whole experience with the Aquarium! From the first tour until the end of the wedding all the staff were very helpful, friendly, and quick with responses. At noon the day of the wedding we dropped off the center pieces, signs, random decorations and stuff for a taffy bar. I gave Tiesha (the social catering manager) little to no direction on how to set it up and everything came out amazing. She came up with creative ways to use all our decorations. We got lucky and had nice weather so had the ceremony on the harbor walk and got the best sunset. After cocktail hour the guest raved about the venue and how unique it was. As well as how nice it was to have the whole aquarium just for the wedding guest. After dinner I even had one guest tell me the steak dish was the best wedding food they have ever had. I would recommend this venue to anyone! Itâs amazing how much adults love running around the aquarium with just themselves :).
Reviewed on 05-10-2018
Wedding Date 14-09-2018
We couldnât be happier with our whole experience with the Aquarium! From the first tour until the end of the wedding all the staff were very helpful, friendly, and quick with responses. At noon the day of the wedding we dropped off the center pieces, signs, random decorations and stuff for a taffy bar. I gave Tiesha (the social catering manager) little to no direction on how to set it up and everything came out amazing. She came up with creative ways to use all our decorations. We got lucky and had nice weather so had the ceremony on the harbor walk and got the best sunset. After cocktail hour the guest raved about the venue and how unique it was. As well as how nice it was to have the whole aquarium just for the wedding guest. After dinner I even had one guest tell me the steak dish was the best wedding food they have ever had. I would recommend this venue to anyone! Itâs amazing how much adults love running around the aquarium with just themselves :).
Reviewed on 05-10-2018
Melissa Palardy (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 04-08-2018
I would leave NEAQ 1,000 5-star reviews if I could. My husband and I had our ceremony and reception there in early August. Tie and her team were INCREDIBLE to work with. We booked the venue about a year in advance and Tie was phenomenal from the start. She was so responsive, she honestly made us feel like we were the only couple she worked with. From the food, to reviewing the space, to rentals, to day-of execution, everything was perfect. I was so anxious about the weather on the day of (we were supposed to have our ceremony outside) and Tie texted me throughout the day about how things were looking. I felt so much better about everything knowing we were in such good hands and, ultimately, the weather ended up being perfect! The whole night was just absolutely flawless. Guests still text me about how good the food was (I wish I had eaten more than two bites that evening!) but I'm so so grateful for the NEAQ team. The venue is simply stunning and we couldn't have asked for a more perfect evening. Thank you, thank you NEAQ for making our day so special!!
Reviewed on 02-09-2018
Wedding Date 04-08-2018
I would leave NEAQ 1,000 5-star reviews if I could. My husband and I had our ceremony and reception there in early August. Tie and her team were INCREDIBLE to work with. We booked the venue about a year in advance and Tie was phenomenal from the start. She was so responsive, she honestly made us feel like we were the only couple she worked with. From the food, to reviewing the space, to rentals, to day-of execution, everything was perfect. I was so anxious about the weather on the day of (we were supposed to have our ceremony outside) and Tie texted me throughout the day about how things were looking. I felt so much better about everything knowing we were in such good hands and, ultimately, the weather ended up being perfect! The whole night was just absolutely flawless. Guests still text me about how good the food was (I wish I had eaten more than two bites that evening!) but I'm so so grateful for the NEAQ team. The venue is simply stunning and we couldn't have asked for a more perfect evening. Thank you, thank you NEAQ for making our day so special!!
Reviewed on 02-09-2018
Lauren Stellato (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 23-06-2018
Our wedding on June 23, 2018, at the New England Aquarium, was an absolute dream! We had our ceremony outside on the Harborwalk looking out on the Boston Harbor, an hour cocktail reception inside the Aquarium and our reception/dinner/dancing inside the tent behind the Aquarium also on the Boston Harbor. It was such a memorable night that not only my husband and I cannot stop talking about but many of our guests are still talking about as well! Planning events can be very stressful but in this case, it was very easy. From the first email I sent to the NEAQ to the last person to clean up after our event, everyone at the Aquarium was a pleasure to work with - especially our Catering Manager, Tiesha Cole. GOSH, Tie thank you, thank you, thank you! Tie was beyond organized, professional, unbelievably timely in her responses, and just an absolute joy and pleasure to work with! I had A LOT of questions, from the cocktail hour food, bar options, signature cocktail, entree/dessert, venue restrictions and overall evening timeline and Tie listened to each and every question and made it ALL come to life. It was supposed to rain on our wedding day and Tie knew how concerned we were with moving the whole ceremony inside. She was very accommodating and understanding and let us make our decision as late in the day as possible. Everything turned out perfect (and didn't rain) and the seals helped us celebrate by barking in approval while we said our vows. Overall, it was the most amazing day and one that I know everyone will remember forever. Thank you, NEAQ for helping us create something so memorable.
Reviewed on 09-07-2018
Wedding Date 23-06-2018
Our wedding on June 23, 2018, at the New England Aquarium, was an absolute dream! We had our ceremony outside on the Harborwalk looking out on the Boston Harbor, an hour cocktail reception inside the Aquarium and our reception/dinner/dancing inside the tent behind the Aquarium also on the Boston Harbor. It was such a memorable night that not only my husband and I cannot stop talking about but many of our guests are still talking about as well! Planning events can be very stressful but in this case, it was very easy. From the first email I sent to the NEAQ to the last person to clean up after our event, everyone at the Aquarium was a pleasure to work with - especially our Catering Manager, Tiesha Cole. GOSH, Tie thank you, thank you, thank you! Tie was beyond organized, professional, unbelievably timely in her responses, and just an absolute joy and pleasure to work with! I had A LOT of questions, from the cocktail hour food, bar options, signature cocktail, entree/dessert, venue restrictions and overall evening timeline and Tie listened to each and every question and made it ALL come to life. It was supposed to rain on our wedding day and Tie knew how concerned we were with moving the whole ceremony inside. She was very accommodating and understanding and let us make our decision as late in the day as possible. Everything turned out perfect (and didn't rain) and the seals helped us celebrate by barking in approval while we said our vows. Overall, it was the most amazing day and one that I know everyone will remember forever. Thank you, NEAQ for helping us create something so memorable.
Reviewed on 09-07-2018
Lyndsay Wehrum (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 02-06-2018
Our wedding reception at the New England Aquarium was everything we ever dreamed of and SO MUCH MORE! Our guests cannot stop raving about the unique experience they had from start to end which is the exact response you want from guests after all the time/effort that goes into wedding planning. We got married 6/2/18 & did a 75 minute cocktail hour inside the aquarium followed by dinner, dancing, & dessert outside under the tent on the Boston Harbor. Words cannot express how much we LOVED planning our wedding with the NEAQ wedding coordinator, Tiesha. She knew everything there was to know about all of the options the aquarium can offer to make your wedding unique. Tiesha was organized, professional, very quick in her response time, and just an absolute joy to work with! We had A LOT of questions, from the cocktail hour food, bar options, entree/dessert, and overall evening timeline and Tie listened to our vision the entire time and made it ALL come to life! We selected to do a Ben & Jerry's ice cream station as one of our dessert options & it was one of the biggest hits of the entire evening, for all ages! Tie also made our \"day-of\" timeline, incorporating aspects that we had forgot to consider and giving us full freedom to change items / timing as we saw fit .NEAQ understood our vision and executed it seamlessly so that we could fully enjoy the entire night with our guests. If we had to do it again (maybe in a vow renewal) I would ALWAYS choose the aquarium, and not change a single thing! Our wedding day will be one of the happiest days of our lives together and we are so thankful to the aquarium for providing such a unique and memorable venue and staff to make it all possible.
Reviewed on 27-06-2018
Wedding Date 02-06-2018
Our wedding reception at the New England Aquarium was everything we ever dreamed of and SO MUCH MORE! Our guests cannot stop raving about the unique experience they had from start to end which is the exact response you want from guests after all the time/effort that goes into wedding planning. We got married 6/2/18 & did a 75 minute cocktail hour inside the aquarium followed by dinner, dancing, & dessert outside under the tent on the Boston Harbor. Words cannot express how much we LOVED planning our wedding with the NEAQ wedding coordinator, Tiesha. She knew everything there was to know about all of the options the aquarium can offer to make your wedding unique. Tiesha was organized, professional, very quick in her response time, and just an absolute joy to work with! We had A LOT of questions, from the cocktail hour food, bar options, entree/dessert, and overall evening timeline and Tie listened to our vision the entire time and made it ALL come to life! We selected to do a Ben & Jerry's ice cream station as one of our dessert options & it was one of the biggest hits of the entire evening, for all ages! Tie also made our \"day-of\" timeline, incorporating aspects that we had forgot to consider and giving us full freedom to change items / timing as we saw fit .NEAQ understood our vision and executed it seamlessly so that we could fully enjoy the entire night with our guests. If we had to do it again (maybe in a vow renewal) I would ALWAYS choose the aquarium, and not change a single thing! Our wedding day will be one of the happiest days of our lives together and we are so thankful to the aquarium for providing such a unique and memorable venue and staff to make it all possible.
Reviewed on 27-06-2018
Sandra Leahy (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 03-03-2018
Three months after our wedding, I still cannot believe I got married at one of my favorite places in Boston- The New England Aquarium! The NEAQ helped us have the most amazing wedding ever and went above and beyond for me, my husband and our 125 guests. There was a hurricane the day before our wedding (super stressful!) but the NEAQ and the staff ensured everything went smoothly for us the day of. We chose to get married inside over the penguins, leaving us with a super unique and unforgettable ceremony-the penguins were cute and made noises during the ceremony (as if they had rehearsed!). And the entire reception was inside the aquarium. Our guests were wowed by everything and so were we. After touring many places, we knew the aquarium was perfect for us because not only was it a super cool location- so much was included in the wedding packages- we didnât want to have coordinate lots of vendors the day of our wedding. I was worried reading through all the paperwork- there are a fair amount of restrictions- (noise level, decorationsâŠ) rightfully so to protect the sea life first- but at the end of the day this did not hinder us having a fun and beautiful wedding. The music was plenty loud and everything looked amazing. The food was delicious- at the tasting and at the wedding- and the aquarium was easy to make alterations for our food preferences. Coordinator Tiesha (Tie) worked with us to ensure everything was set up to our preferences and went above and beyond to make sure we were happy. Thank you Tie!We had a personal attendant for the evening which I didnât realize how important would be the day of. My husband and I got to enjoy the entire evening without worrying about a thing. One super cool thing at the aquarium â beyond the fish, Myrtle the turtle and staff- is that you have unique options to add on to your wedding. We chose to add on a costume character- who we call the DANCING SHARK! Bonnie the shark came out to kick off the dancing and it was amazing and so fun. Our guests probably took thousands of photos and it was like we had a celebrity at our wedding. At the end of the night Bonnie returned to send our guests off with a good bye and shark high five. Thank you NEAQ for making our wedding so fun, unique, romantic and unforgettable.
Reviewed on 03-06-2018
Wedding Date 03-03-2018
Three months after our wedding, I still cannot believe I got married at one of my favorite places in Boston- The New England Aquarium! The NEAQ helped us have the most amazing wedding ever and went above and beyond for me, my husband and our 125 guests. There was a hurricane the day before our wedding (super stressful!) but the NEAQ and the staff ensured everything went smoothly for us the day of. We chose to get married inside over the penguins, leaving us with a super unique and unforgettable ceremony-the penguins were cute and made noises during the ceremony (as if they had rehearsed!). And the entire reception was inside the aquarium. Our guests were wowed by everything and so were we. After touring many places, we knew the aquarium was perfect for us because not only was it a super cool location- so much was included in the wedding packages- we didnât want to have coordinate lots of vendors the day of our wedding. I was worried reading through all the paperwork- there are a fair amount of restrictions- (noise level, decorationsâŠ) rightfully so to protect the sea life first- but at the end of the day this did not hinder us having a fun and beautiful wedding. The music was plenty loud and everything looked amazing. The food was delicious- at the tasting and at the wedding- and the aquarium was easy to make alterations for our food preferences. Coordinator Tiesha (Tie) worked with us to ensure everything was set up to our preferences and went above and beyond to make sure we were happy. Thank you Tie!We had a personal attendant for the evening which I didnât realize how important would be the day of. My husband and I got to enjoy the entire evening without worrying about a thing. One super cool thing at the aquarium â beyond the fish, Myrtle the turtle and staff- is that you have unique options to add on to your wedding. We chose to add on a costume character- who we call the DANCING SHARK! Bonnie the shark came out to kick off the dancing and it was amazing and so fun. Our guests probably took thousands of photos and it was like we had a celebrity at our wedding. At the end of the night Bonnie returned to send our guests off with a good bye and shark high five. Thank you NEAQ for making our wedding so fun, unique, romantic and unforgettable.
Reviewed on 03-06-2018
Kaitlin Kelly (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 16-09-2017
My husband and I got married at the New England Aquarium in September and I cannot recommend it enough. They made the night the most amazing night for us, our families, and all of our guests. Since that night, so many people have told us it was one of the best weddings they have ever been to, and that it truly a testament to the staff at the Aquarium. We booked the venue fairly early as we we loved the space, it was exactly what we were looking for in terms of providing a unique and memorable location for our wedding, but also providing the highest level service and experience. While Renee was not with the Aquarium when we originally booked, when she started, she seamlessly transitioned into the coordinator role there and was beyond helpful and responsive. Renee, Sandra and the rest of the staff impressed my fiance, me, and our parents from the very first time we met them at the tasting. We also could not believe how delicious the food was! It was amazing, some of the best food I've every had. The chef is amazing, and they were not only completely fine with responding to our special requests for the menu, they came up with unique ideas as well.We got married on the South Terrace, and had the cocktail hour in the aquarium, with dinner and dancing in the tent. Everything moved seamlessly, including the set up of the jenga and cornhole on the terrace afterwards for some extra entertainment. My wedding day was one of the best days of my life, and I have the NEAq team to thank for that!
Reviewed on 26-11-2017
Wedding Date 16-09-2017
My husband and I got married at the New England Aquarium in September and I cannot recommend it enough. They made the night the most amazing night for us, our families, and all of our guests. Since that night, so many people have told us it was one of the best weddings they have ever been to, and that it truly a testament to the staff at the Aquarium. We booked the venue fairly early as we we loved the space, it was exactly what we were looking for in terms of providing a unique and memorable location for our wedding, but also providing the highest level service and experience. While Renee was not with the Aquarium when we originally booked, when she started, she seamlessly transitioned into the coordinator role there and was beyond helpful and responsive. Renee, Sandra and the rest of the staff impressed my fiance, me, and our parents from the very first time we met them at the tasting. We also could not believe how delicious the food was! It was amazing, some of the best food I've every had. The chef is amazing, and they were not only completely fine with responding to our special requests for the menu, they came up with unique ideas as well.We got married on the South Terrace, and had the cocktail hour in the aquarium, with dinner and dancing in the tent. Everything moved seamlessly, including the set up of the jenga and cornhole on the terrace afterwards for some extra entertainment. My wedding day was one of the best days of my life, and I have the NEAq team to thank for that!
Reviewed on 26-11-2017
Laura Stafford (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Picking the New England Aquarium for our wedding was one of the best decisions we made in the whole planning process. I just can't speak highly enough for what an incredible job they do there -- the staff are incredibly helpful, charming, responsive, and easy to work with. They are a real full-service venue, and they can handle a lot of the wedding details in-house, which is so valuable for busy brides. They made the planning process a breeze!! There are some limitations on what you can bring in to the Aquarium -- understandably, because of the animals! -- but the staff does a great job of explaining those limitations and working with you to make sure the day still goes just as you envisioned it. They even had a special server dedicated to making sure that my groom and I had all the food and drink we wanted during the wedding.On the day of, our guests were just blown away by the space, and couldn't stop talking about how great it was to watch the penguins, see the sea turtles, etc.! The food also really exceeded my expectations. Everything was really delicious!!
Reviewed on 17-11-2017
Picking the New England Aquarium for our wedding was one of the best decisions we made in the whole planning process. I just can't speak highly enough for what an incredible job they do there -- the staff are incredibly helpful, charming, responsive, and easy to work with. They are a real full-service venue, and they can handle a lot of the wedding details in-house, which is so valuable for busy brides. They made the planning process a breeze!! There are some limitations on what you can bring in to the Aquarium -- understandably, because of the animals! -- but the staff does a great job of explaining those limitations and working with you to make sure the day still goes just as you envisioned it. They even had a special server dedicated to making sure that my groom and I had all the food and drink we wanted during the wedding.On the day of, our guests were just blown away by the space, and couldn't stop talking about how great it was to watch the penguins, see the sea turtles, etc.! The food also really exceeded my expectations. Everything was really delicious!!
Reviewed on 17-11-2017
Chris Fielding (groom) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 25-08-2018
The New England Aquarium is a dream setting to have a wedding. My wife and I could not be happier with our wedding there and services they provided. I mean come on, we got married with the penguins, seals, and all the other amazing \"guests\" that call the aquarium home. Its a picturesque setting on the beautiful Boston Harbor located in the heart of the city. Who could ask for more. The Aquarium and their staff run a great operation and do an excellent job to make sure your wedding day is as perfect as you dreamed. Its safe to say the Aquarium will always hold a special place in our hearts.
Reviewed on 15-11-2017
Wedding Date 25-08-2018
The New England Aquarium is a dream setting to have a wedding. My wife and I could not be happier with our wedding there and services they provided. I mean come on, we got married with the penguins, seals, and all the other amazing \"guests\" that call the aquarium home. Its a picturesque setting on the beautiful Boston Harbor located in the heart of the city. Who could ask for more. The Aquarium and their staff run a great operation and do an excellent job to make sure your wedding day is as perfect as you dreamed. Its safe to say the Aquarium will always hold a special place in our hearts.
Reviewed on 15-11-2017
Tasha Bracken (wedding party) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 12-11-2016
As event coordinators, we get to work at many venues and have been able to experience the best of what is out there. The New England Aquarium is a fun, unique space with gorgeous views of the harbor. The staff was amazing to work with, through the planning with Renee and execution Keleigh and the rest of the staff , we created a special and memorable event for our client. We hope to have the opportunity to work there again soon!
Reviewed on 10-11-2017
Wedding Date 12-11-2016
As event coordinators, we get to work at many venues and have been able to experience the best of what is out there. The New England Aquarium is a fun, unique space with gorgeous views of the harbor. The staff was amazing to work with, through the planning with Renee and execution Keleigh and the rest of the staff , we created a special and memorable event for our client. We hope to have the opportunity to work there again soon!
Reviewed on 10-11-2017
S S (groom) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 23-09-2017
Amazing venue! We were so happy with everything involving the aquarium, from the planning process to the day of our wedding. They had thought of every little detail and were extremely responsive in all of our questions. We were approached by so many guests afterwards who were raving about how unique a venue it was, and how much they enjoyed the event. Couldn't be happier with our choice!
Reviewed on 02-11-2017
Wedding Date 23-09-2017
Amazing venue! We were so happy with everything involving the aquarium, from the planning process to the day of our wedding. They had thought of every little detail and were extremely responsive in all of our questions. We were approached by so many guests afterwards who were raving about how unique a venue it was, and how much they enjoyed the event. Couldn't be happier with our choice!
Reviewed on 02-11-2017
Danielle Burke (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 09-09-2017
My husband and I got married at the NEAQ on 9/9/17. We cannot say enough about the Aquarium and the entire staff there. From our booking with Sara to planning with Abigail then Renee to our day of coordinators (Keleigh and Sandy), we had top notch service throughout. The Aquarium has been planning events for a very long time and it is clear by how smoothly everything unfolded. We loved that they have their own kitchen (where the food is delicious and expertly prepared) and their own tables/chairs/linens/silverware/etc. (which you get to choose the details of). In addition, the NEAQ provides a lot of extras we took advantage of (table numbers, toasting glasses for the bride and groom, display at the bar for signature cocktail). Whatever was not included was clearly communicated in case we wanted to provide these extras for our guests (i.e. guestbook, bathroom amenity baskets, ceremony programs, reception menus, dance floor flip flops). We were able to drop those off the day before the wedding and the staff set up everything! Further, the week of the wedding, our wedding event coordinator at the NEAQ contacted each of our outside vendors (cake, band, tent/table decor) to make sure all deliveries were set for the big day. Which, as we got closer to the wedding, was a huge load off our backs! And last, but certainly not least, I have to mention that we looked at a lot of venues in Boston and Cape Cod and we found the NEAQ to be very reasonably priced for a wedding venue in the heart of Boston.The NEAQ was such a unique wedding venue. Our guests have been raving about our wedding ever since 9/9! Everyone was so impressed with each part of the ceremony and reception! My husband and I highly recommend having your wedding (or any event really) at the NEAQ if you can. From the planning to the celebration, we were beyond impressed. We didn't worry about a thing prior to or the day of because it was all meticulously planned and executed. Thank you to the staff for creating and facilitating the best setting possible for the most memorable day of our lives!!
Reviewed on 01-11-2017
Wedding Date 09-09-2017
My husband and I got married at the NEAQ on 9/9/17. We cannot say enough about the Aquarium and the entire staff there. From our booking with Sara to planning with Abigail then Renee to our day of coordinators (Keleigh and Sandy), we had top notch service throughout. The Aquarium has been planning events for a very long time and it is clear by how smoothly everything unfolded. We loved that they have their own kitchen (where the food is delicious and expertly prepared) and their own tables/chairs/linens/silverware/etc. (which you get to choose the details of). In addition, the NEAQ provides a lot of extras we took advantage of (table numbers, toasting glasses for the bride and groom, display at the bar for signature cocktail). Whatever was not included was clearly communicated in case we wanted to provide these extras for our guests (i.e. guestbook, bathroom amenity baskets, ceremony programs, reception menus, dance floor flip flops). We were able to drop those off the day before the wedding and the staff set up everything! Further, the week of the wedding, our wedding event coordinator at the NEAQ contacted each of our outside vendors (cake, band, tent/table decor) to make sure all deliveries were set for the big day. Which, as we got closer to the wedding, was a huge load off our backs! And last, but certainly not least, I have to mention that we looked at a lot of venues in Boston and Cape Cod and we found the NEAQ to be very reasonably priced for a wedding venue in the heart of Boston.The NEAQ was such a unique wedding venue. Our guests have been raving about our wedding ever since 9/9! Everyone was so impressed with each part of the ceremony and reception! My husband and I highly recommend having your wedding (or any event really) at the NEAQ if you can. From the planning to the celebration, we were beyond impressed. We didn't worry about a thing prior to or the day of because it was all meticulously planned and executed. Thank you to the staff for creating and facilitating the best setting possible for the most memorable day of our lives!!
Reviewed on 01-11-2017
Joey Cui (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 21-10-2017
Wedding planning can be extremely stressful and we had some doubts initially about the venue itself, especially upon learning that there would only be one hour for set up on the day of the event! And while the hour did fly by, along with the rest of the evening, there was a literal army of staff on site to help ensure that the evening ran as smoothly as possible. The venue itself, though, is what made the evening so memorable for us. Our event was in the Main Exhibit, with reception held on the 4th floor where the top of the giant tank was, and dinner held on the first floor by the penguins. It was both fun and elegant, which was exactly what we wanted as our guests included families. Everyone in our party, from kids to adults, enjoyed being able to walk around and see the exhibits throughout the evening. We had a bit more than 90 guests and managed to just fit the 10 tables on the first floor for dinner. I think the setting would work even better for a slightly smaller party, as the tables are placed in a row, and some of our guests did have to move up and around a bit for better viewing. Also if you are thinking of coordinating everything yourself, rather than using an event coordinating, we highly recommend communicating your vision for the event early on and with as much detail as possible. As mentioned before, set up time is extremely tight, and you are really dependent on the aquarium (and your DJ if you have one), for making all the necessary announcements for each event of the evening. Also, do bear in mind that for the safety of the animals, there are strict rules for vendors and around décor.Overall, we highly recommend the NEA if you are looking for a highly memorable, unique, and fun venue for a special event!
Reviewed on 31-10-2017
Wedding Date 21-10-2017
Wedding planning can be extremely stressful and we had some doubts initially about the venue itself, especially upon learning that there would only be one hour for set up on the day of the event! And while the hour did fly by, along with the rest of the evening, there was a literal army of staff on site to help ensure that the evening ran as smoothly as possible. The venue itself, though, is what made the evening so memorable for us. Our event was in the Main Exhibit, with reception held on the 4th floor where the top of the giant tank was, and dinner held on the first floor by the penguins. It was both fun and elegant, which was exactly what we wanted as our guests included families. Everyone in our party, from kids to adults, enjoyed being able to walk around and see the exhibits throughout the evening. We had a bit more than 90 guests and managed to just fit the 10 tables on the first floor for dinner. I think the setting would work even better for a slightly smaller party, as the tables are placed in a row, and some of our guests did have to move up and around a bit for better viewing. Also if you are thinking of coordinating everything yourself, rather than using an event coordinating, we highly recommend communicating your vision for the event early on and with as much detail as possible. As mentioned before, set up time is extremely tight, and you are really dependent on the aquarium (and your DJ if you have one), for making all the necessary announcements for each event of the evening. Also, do bear in mind that for the safety of the animals, there are strict rules for vendors and around décor.Overall, we highly recommend the NEA if you are looking for a highly memorable, unique, and fun venue for a special event!
Reviewed on 31-10-2017
Michael Lightman (groom) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 31-12-2018
The New England Aquarium was beyond what we could have expected. Team: The team was incredible to work with from the first tour through the end of the wedding. Everyone was attentive, they knew all the vendors across Boston, and they were always there to help us brainstorm and prepare. My wife and I don't live in Boston. However, that didn't matter as everyone was so attentive and detail focused!Food: They designed a custom menu based on our taste (lamb, pasta, tagine). Our guests told us it was the best food they ever had at a wedding (I may be biased, but I agree).Event: We had a cocktail party with penguins and fish. Our guests LOVED it! The tent at the water was perfect. Everyone had access to the water, and if people wanted to they could sneak back at any time and watch the penguins cuddle as they fell asleep.Seriously...if you are even the tiniest bit nerd or love animals, stop your venue hunt and contact the New England Aquarium!
Reviewed on 31-10-2017
Wedding Date 31-12-2018
The New England Aquarium was beyond what we could have expected. Team: The team was incredible to work with from the first tour through the end of the wedding. Everyone was attentive, they knew all the vendors across Boston, and they were always there to help us brainstorm and prepare. My wife and I don't live in Boston. However, that didn't matter as everyone was so attentive and detail focused!Food: They designed a custom menu based on our taste (lamb, pasta, tagine). Our guests told us it was the best food they ever had at a wedding (I may be biased, but I agree).Event: We had a cocktail party with penguins and fish. Our guests LOVED it! The tent at the water was perfect. Everyone had access to the water, and if people wanted to they could sneak back at any time and watch the penguins cuddle as they fell asleep.Seriously...if you are even the tiniest bit nerd or love animals, stop your venue hunt and contact the New England Aquarium!
Reviewed on 31-10-2017
Stephanie L (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 18-08-2017
We chose to tour the aquarium as a wedding venue on a whim (and persistence from me) and immediately knew it was where we wanted to get married. From the start, Sara was absolutely phenomenal to work with and answered all of our questions in a timely manner and made sure we were comfortable with each detail the aquarium had to offer. A few months before our wedding, Abigail had moved on to another job and we were nervous about the transition to a new coordinator but we were blown away again. Renee was fantastic, helping us with every little thing. The day and night of was a bit rocky with how many DIY stuff we brought but we managed. The rain plan was last minute but the staff and Renee were great and made everything go smoothly. The food was absolutely amazing and we keep hearing about it from all of our friends and family. Thank you to everyone at the aquarium who made our day great!
Reviewed on 31-10-2017
Wedding Date 18-08-2017
We chose to tour the aquarium as a wedding venue on a whim (and persistence from me) and immediately knew it was where we wanted to get married. From the start, Sara was absolutely phenomenal to work with and answered all of our questions in a timely manner and made sure we were comfortable with each detail the aquarium had to offer. A few months before our wedding, Abigail had moved on to another job and we were nervous about the transition to a new coordinator but we were blown away again. Renee was fantastic, helping us with every little thing. The day and night of was a bit rocky with how many DIY stuff we brought but we managed. The rain plan was last minute but the staff and Renee were great and made everything go smoothly. The food was absolutely amazing and we keep hearing about it from all of our friends and family. Thank you to everyone at the aquarium who made our day great!
Reviewed on 31-10-2017
Kristen Butler (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 19-05-2017
If I could give NEAQ more stars I would, what an amazing venue! We had our wedding here on a Friday evening in May and it was beautiful. Our ceremony was outside on the water, it created a gorgeous backdrop! Our guests are still talking about what a fun and unique experience our wedding was! The staff was phenomenal from booking the date to service throughout the night I have nothing but praise! I also havenât stopped hearing about how amazing the food was. Our wedding was a dream come true and I would not have had my wedding anywhere else!
Reviewed on 30-10-2017
Wedding Date 19-05-2017
If I could give NEAQ more stars I would, what an amazing venue! We had our wedding here on a Friday evening in May and it was beautiful. Our ceremony was outside on the water, it created a gorgeous backdrop! Our guests are still talking about what a fun and unique experience our wedding was! The staff was phenomenal from booking the date to service throughout the night I have nothing but praise! I also havenât stopped hearing about how amazing the food was. Our wedding was a dream come true and I would not have had my wedding anywhere else!
Reviewed on 30-10-2017
Amy Dearth Consider It Done Special Events (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
I am a lucky planner that worked with the NEAQ team for a couple of events. They are surely a world class team that is so incredibly helpful. Not to mention, they have the incredible back tent with wonderful harbor views. I can't wait to come back again!!
Reviewed on 30-10-2017
I am a lucky planner that worked with the NEAQ team for a couple of events. They are surely a world class team that is so incredibly helpful. Not to mention, they have the incredible back tent with wonderful harbor views. I can't wait to come back again!!
Reviewed on 30-10-2017
Renee Sabo (professional) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 30-10-2018
The New England Aquarium is quite simply one of the best venues in Boston!! From their beautiful waterfront backdrop under the tent to the unique spaces inside the Aquarium and delicious and creative menu options, we cannot speak highly enough of the venue and catering team!
Reviewed on 30-10-2017
Wedding Date 30-10-2018
The New England Aquarium is quite simply one of the best venues in Boston!! From their beautiful waterfront backdrop under the tent to the unique spaces inside the Aquarium and delicious and creative menu options, we cannot speak highly enough of the venue and catering team!
Reviewed on 30-10-2017
Sarah Narcus (wedding party) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 03-12-2017
Working at the New England Aquarium is a breeze! Our team loves working with the team there. They are always working on behalf of the clients and it's a truly special space. Not to be missed!
Reviewed on 30-10-2017
Wedding Date 03-12-2017
Working at the New England Aquarium is a breeze! Our team loves working with the team there. They are always working on behalf of the clients and it's a truly special space. Not to be missed!
Reviewed on 30-10-2017
Angelina G (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 17-06-2017
Abigail and then Sara helped us plan and execute our wedding perfectly. We were (obviously) unfamiliar with the process and appreciated the detailed wedding planning that came with the rental space and catering. We didn't even realize how delicious the food would be, but it was some of the best food we'd had at weddings! We went with the food stations and people loved milling around and picking out what they wanted to eat (the short ribs and waffles station had the longest line). Our outdoor ceremony was beautiful with the Tall Ships in the background. They do a great job of keeping the public back during the ceremony, and the guests had water and lemonade while they were waiting for it to begin. The tent was spacious and beautiful for our 165 guests. The reception was great (or so we heard) - we were taking photos during the whole thing, but had an attendant following us and making sure we had everything we needed. Up until the last couple of weeks we were easily communicating any updates/changes and Sara handled them all effortlessly. We had many people tell us it was their favorite wedding of the summer! As people that really aren't obsessed with the details (we skipped a lot of things, like decorations at the ceremony), we were so happy to have a venue that speaks for itself with staff that executed flawlessly. Another great thing about choosing this venue is that with every visit leading up, you get to be at the aquarium! I know some people asked us if there was any issue with smells from the tank/penguins, and this was not an issue - they actually hose down before the wedding begins so the little guys are...fresh for the occasion. My florist had no trouble putting together beautiful center pieces and bouquets with the restrictions on flowers, either. All and all, everything we hoped the night would be!!
Reviewed on 15-09-2017
Wedding Date 17-06-2017
Abigail and then Sara helped us plan and execute our wedding perfectly. We were (obviously) unfamiliar with the process and appreciated the detailed wedding planning that came with the rental space and catering. We didn't even realize how delicious the food would be, but it was some of the best food we'd had at weddings! We went with the food stations and people loved milling around and picking out what they wanted to eat (the short ribs and waffles station had the longest line). Our outdoor ceremony was beautiful with the Tall Ships in the background. They do a great job of keeping the public back during the ceremony, and the guests had water and lemonade while they were waiting for it to begin. The tent was spacious and beautiful for our 165 guests. The reception was great (or so we heard) - we were taking photos during the whole thing, but had an attendant following us and making sure we had everything we needed. Up until the last couple of weeks we were easily communicating any updates/changes and Sara handled them all effortlessly. We had many people tell us it was their favorite wedding of the summer! As people that really aren't obsessed with the details (we skipped a lot of things, like decorations at the ceremony), we were so happy to have a venue that speaks for itself with staff that executed flawlessly. Another great thing about choosing this venue is that with every visit leading up, you get to be at the aquarium! I know some people asked us if there was any issue with smells from the tank/penguins, and this was not an issue - they actually hose down before the wedding begins so the little guys are...fresh for the occasion. My florist had no trouble putting together beautiful center pieces and bouquets with the restrictions on flowers, either. All and all, everything we hoped the night would be!!
Reviewed on 15-09-2017
Jen Labovitz (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 02-09-2017
We had the most amazing wedding at the aquarium!!!! The venue is right on the harbor and the backdrop of our ceremony was incredible. We then had the added bonus of having the entire aquarium to ourselves during the cocktail hour! People could not stop talking about it!! To top it all off, the staff here was beyond helpful and attentive. You can tell they really care about the couples getting married here. As if I didn't have enough good things to say about the aquarium, the food was delicious!!!!!! 10/10! If you want a waterfront wedding in Boston with the added bonus of an entire aquarium, this is the place!! Thank you Renee and team!!!
Reviewed on 09-09-2017
Wedding Date 02-09-2017
We had the most amazing wedding at the aquarium!!!! The venue is right on the harbor and the backdrop of our ceremony was incredible. We then had the added bonus of having the entire aquarium to ourselves during the cocktail hour! People could not stop talking about it!! To top it all off, the staff here was beyond helpful and attentive. You can tell they really care about the couples getting married here. As if I didn't have enough good things to say about the aquarium, the food was delicious!!!!!! 10/10! If you want a waterfront wedding in Boston with the added bonus of an entire aquarium, this is the place!! Thank you Renee and team!!!
Reviewed on 09-09-2017
Lora Keleher (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 25-03-2017
We had a fabulous wedding at the New England Aquarium. The views were stunning and being able to have special aquatic guests at our wedding made it unique and memorable. Guests raved about the location and the food!Our planner, Abigail Stephens was on the ball from day one and made our planning process as easy as possible. She kept me on track and coordinated every detail perfectly. I would highly recommend this venue for your dream wedding. - Ours certainly was a dream.
Reviewed on 16-07-2017
Wedding Date 25-03-2017
We had a fabulous wedding at the New England Aquarium. The views were stunning and being able to have special aquatic guests at our wedding made it unique and memorable. Guests raved about the location and the food!Our planner, Abigail Stephens was on the ball from day one and made our planning process as easy as possible. She kept me on track and coordinated every detail perfectly. I would highly recommend this venue for your dream wedding. - Ours certainly was a dream.
Reviewed on 16-07-2017
J Richter (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 07-08-2018
We loved our aquarium reception! From the very beginning the staff was warm, friendly, quick to respond to questions and happy to help us make our day what we wanted! They anticipated our questions and needs and definitely made planning less stressful! Our guests had an AMAZING time, we had an AMAZING time and the New England Aquarium is definitely a venue that can't be beat!
Reviewed on 07-06-2017
Wedding Date 07-08-2018
We loved our aquarium reception! From the very beginning the staff was warm, friendly, quick to respond to questions and happy to help us make our day what we wanted! They anticipated our questions and needs and definitely made planning less stressful! Our guests had an AMAZING time, we had an AMAZING time and the New England Aquarium is definitely a venue that can't be beat!
Reviewed on 07-06-2017
Laurel Vuong (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 09-07-2016
We were so excited to book NEAq for our wedding reception (July 9, 2016) and even more ecstatic the day of. It was a memorable night for the two of us and our guests to spend the cocktail hour in the exhibit area and then to spend the rest of the evening in the tent by the water. Thank you to Abigail for working with us from the very beginning to prepare for the day. You are such a patient and wonderful person! And the staff for the evening was great. Everything went smoothly without a hitch. We would highly recommend NEAq to anyone considering this location.
Reviewed on 03-01-2017
Wedding Date 09-07-2016
We were so excited to book NEAq for our wedding reception (July 9, 2016) and even more ecstatic the day of. It was a memorable night for the two of us and our guests to spend the cocktail hour in the exhibit area and then to spend the rest of the evening in the tent by the water. Thank you to Abigail for working with us from the very beginning to prepare for the day. You are such a patient and wonderful person! And the staff for the evening was great. Everything went smoothly without a hitch. We would highly recommend NEAq to anyone considering this location.
Reviewed on 03-01-2017
Megan Donnachie (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 05-11-2016
We had our dream wedding at The New England Aquarium! We got married in the Café - a gorgeous space that looks out onto the harbour and is magical at night. Our cocktail hour was in the West Wing with the Shark and Ray exhibit open which was a lot of fun for our guests. The food is amazing and service is top notch! Our event coordinator made planning our reception so easy.
Reviewed on 09-11-2016
Wedding Date 05-11-2016
We had our dream wedding at The New England Aquarium! We got married in the Café - a gorgeous space that looks out onto the harbour and is magical at night. Our cocktail hour was in the West Wing with the Shark and Ray exhibit open which was a lot of fun for our guests. The food is amazing and service is top notch! Our event coordinator made planning our reception so easy.
Reviewed on 09-11-2016
Kristen Pastor (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 16-07-2016
We had an absolutely wonderful experience at the aquarium. The staff was attentive, respectful, and hard working. We heard over and over again from our guests that the venue was incredibly unique and memorable.
Reviewed on 05-10-2016
Wedding Date 16-07-2016
We had an absolutely wonderful experience at the aquarium. The staff was attentive, respectful, and hard working. We heard over and over again from our guests that the venue was incredibly unique and memorable.
Reviewed on 05-10-2016
Amanda Grillo (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 13-08-2016
Pat and I had our dream wedding at the Aquarium. It is such a gorgeous and fun venue and the staff is amazing. Abigail is the point person throughout the planning process and she is amazing! I never had to worry about anything and she always kept me on track with helpful reminders. Thank you!
Reviewed on 01-10-2016
Wedding Date 13-08-2016
Pat and I had our dream wedding at the Aquarium. It is such a gorgeous and fun venue and the staff is amazing. Abigail is the point person throughout the planning process and she is amazing! I never had to worry about anything and she always kept me on track with helpful reminders. Thank you!
Reviewed on 01-10-2016
Erika Bareiss (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 07-08-2016
We had such a positive experience getting married here! From the very beginning when we signed the contract until the end off the evening of the big day Abigail, our wedding coordinator was awesome. She helped us navigate through picking our menu, the layout of the ceremony, cocktail hour and reception and just making sure all the little details were in place. She also helped us get information about rehearsal dinner venues and chuppahs. On the day off everything went smoothly and looked beautiful. We couldn't have asked for anything better and we really appreciate everything that Abigail and the aquarium did for us.
Reviewed on 10-08-2016
Wedding Date 07-08-2016
We had such a positive experience getting married here! From the very beginning when we signed the contract until the end off the evening of the big day Abigail, our wedding coordinator was awesome. She helped us navigate through picking our menu, the layout of the ceremony, cocktail hour and reception and just making sure all the little details were in place. She also helped us get information about rehearsal dinner venues and chuppahs. On the day off everything went smoothly and looked beautiful. We couldn't have asked for anything better and we really appreciate everything that Abigail and the aquarium did for us.
Reviewed on 10-08-2016
Diane Chan (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 02-07-2016
We had a fairytale wedding at the New England Aquarium! Yes, you wouldnât believe it because it is a ânontraditionalâ venue but Abigail made sure everything went smoothly and the evening was perfect. The aquarium is such a cool place filled with beautiful tanks, amazing photo ops inside and out on the harborwalk as well as at the nearby parks. Your guest will forever remember that you got married in the aquarium and there were penguins there who so happen to be mated for life (with their color coordinated wing bands)! The tent is huge and can accommodate large weddings but can also be made quite intimate for smaller groups. We had 130 guests and it felt like just the right size. The tent can be decorated beautifully and the chairs and linens offered at the aquarium made everything come together beautifully. We had an orchid purple, creamy off white color scheme and they had the perfect linens for us. The food was great and cocktail hour inside the aquarium was so much fun! We got married on Saturday, July 2nd and we even had free fireworks on the Harbor!! There are so many amazing things about working with Abigail, I can barely list all the wonderful things but I will try. She is organized and knows all the vendors and is so pleasant to work with. She makes sure youâre on target with your planning and helps with getting all your vendors together for your big day. It is clear that she loves her job because she does everything so well and everyone (vendors and guests and everyone) loves her! The biggest miracle that she somehow pulled off was this â there was going to be a concert for Boston Harborfest on the pier next to the aquarium that was going to be loud and start at the same time as my quiet wedding ceremony on the harbor! I was so worried that we would be drowned out as we say our vows and our pianist would not be heard at all. SOMEHOW, Abigail worked it out with the Harborfest coordinator to start the concert later! My guests who were all waiting for the ceremony to start were so surprised that the loud music suddenly stopped as the wedding ceremony began! Abigail saved the day and our wedding ceremony! There were many more amazing miracles thereafter and we canât thank Abigail enough! THANK YOU, New England Aquarium!
Reviewed on 22-07-2016
Wedding Date 02-07-2016
We had a fairytale wedding at the New England Aquarium! Yes, you wouldnât believe it because it is a ânontraditionalâ venue but Abigail made sure everything went smoothly and the evening was perfect. The aquarium is such a cool place filled with beautiful tanks, amazing photo ops inside and out on the harborwalk as well as at the nearby parks. Your guest will forever remember that you got married in the aquarium and there were penguins there who so happen to be mated for life (with their color coordinated wing bands)! The tent is huge and can accommodate large weddings but can also be made quite intimate for smaller groups. We had 130 guests and it felt like just the right size. The tent can be decorated beautifully and the chairs and linens offered at the aquarium made everything come together beautifully. We had an orchid purple, creamy off white color scheme and they had the perfect linens for us. The food was great and cocktail hour inside the aquarium was so much fun! We got married on Saturday, July 2nd and we even had free fireworks on the Harbor!! There are so many amazing things about working with Abigail, I can barely list all the wonderful things but I will try. She is organized and knows all the vendors and is so pleasant to work with. She makes sure youâre on target with your planning and helps with getting all your vendors together for your big day. It is clear that she loves her job because she does everything so well and everyone (vendors and guests and everyone) loves her! The biggest miracle that she somehow pulled off was this â there was going to be a concert for Boston Harborfest on the pier next to the aquarium that was going to be loud and start at the same time as my quiet wedding ceremony on the harbor! I was so worried that we would be drowned out as we say our vows and our pianist would not be heard at all. SOMEHOW, Abigail worked it out with the Harborfest coordinator to start the concert later! My guests who were all waiting for the ceremony to start were so surprised that the loud music suddenly stopped as the wedding ceremony began! Abigail saved the day and our wedding ceremony! There were many more amazing miracles thereafter and we canât thank Abigail enough! THANK YOU, New England Aquarium!
Reviewed on 22-07-2016
allie Lockberg (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 25-06-2016
The Aquarium is the perfect unique Boston wedding venue. We loved how the Aquarium was one of the only truly outdoor wedding venues on Boston Harbor and you were able to have a waterfront wedding in a tent combined with the urban feel with the city of Boston in the background. The entire evening went so smoothly and we credit much of that to the attention to detail and planning that went into every aspect of the day from all the vendors and especially the coordinators the NEAq. The food was delicious and we had many friends tell us it was the best meal they've had at a wedding. The ability for guests to walk around and enjoy the Aquarium all evening was so fun and enjoyed by all. We are so incredibly happy with our decision to have our wedding at the NEAq!!
Reviewed on 19-07-2016
Wedding Date 25-06-2016
The Aquarium is the perfect unique Boston wedding venue. We loved how the Aquarium was one of the only truly outdoor wedding venues on Boston Harbor and you were able to have a waterfront wedding in a tent combined with the urban feel with the city of Boston in the background. The entire evening went so smoothly and we credit much of that to the attention to detail and planning that went into every aspect of the day from all the vendors and especially the coordinators the NEAq. The food was delicious and we had many friends tell us it was the best meal they've had at a wedding. The ability for guests to walk around and enjoy the Aquarium all evening was so fun and enjoyed by all. We are so incredibly happy with our decision to have our wedding at the NEAq!!
Reviewed on 19-07-2016
Jessica Chen (groom) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 26-06-2016
In short, our wedding was amazing beyond our expectations. I reached out to Abigail before we signed the sales contract to walk through my questions and concerns, and this was instrumental in winning us over. I would really recommend people who are on the fence about the aquarium to do so. We did everything at the aquarium itself (ceremony on the water, cocktail hour on the top floor, and the reception on the first floor by the penguins - 70 guests in total), and felt this was a very unique and special place to have our wedding. Our out of town guests were all blown away by the choice and layout of the venue.Abigail was responsive and helpful every step of the way during our 12+ month planning process. We even asked her to meet us in person at the aquarium a few times to discuss logistics, and she was happy to do so. She was quick to respond to any surprises or oversights, no matter who was ultimately at fault. Of course, no venue or vendor is perfect, but the aquarium responded to obstacles in a professional and efficient manner, helping us feel that they were personally vested in our wedding rather than just a business partner expecting to only fulfill the âbare minimumâ in terms of their duties. My favorite experience was how the staff surprised me with two entrees at the reception, since I couldn't commit to only one. This just shows how well they pay attention to their clientsâ needs and preferences and readily adapts to accommodate the uniqueness of each coupleâs needs and situations.The staff performed like a well-oiled machine. There were moments where I had no idea what to do next and had to just trust that they had everything under control. Twelve months of planning led to a 4.5 hour event that went by faster than we could ever imagine, but the staff were always on top of things. We couldnât have asked for a better experience and were extremely blessed to have our special day at the New England Aquarium.
Reviewed on 28-06-2016
Wedding Date 26-06-2016
In short, our wedding was amazing beyond our expectations. I reached out to Abigail before we signed the sales contract to walk through my questions and concerns, and this was instrumental in winning us over. I would really recommend people who are on the fence about the aquarium to do so. We did everything at the aquarium itself (ceremony on the water, cocktail hour on the top floor, and the reception on the first floor by the penguins - 70 guests in total), and felt this was a very unique and special place to have our wedding. Our out of town guests were all blown away by the choice and layout of the venue.Abigail was responsive and helpful every step of the way during our 12+ month planning process. We even asked her to meet us in person at the aquarium a few times to discuss logistics, and she was happy to do so. She was quick to respond to any surprises or oversights, no matter who was ultimately at fault. Of course, no venue or vendor is perfect, but the aquarium responded to obstacles in a professional and efficient manner, helping us feel that they were personally vested in our wedding rather than just a business partner expecting to only fulfill the âbare minimumâ in terms of their duties. My favorite experience was how the staff surprised me with two entrees at the reception, since I couldn't commit to only one. This just shows how well they pay attention to their clientsâ needs and preferences and readily adapts to accommodate the uniqueness of each coupleâs needs and situations.The staff performed like a well-oiled machine. There were moments where I had no idea what to do next and had to just trust that they had everything under control. Twelve months of planning led to a 4.5 hour event that went by faster than we could ever imagine, but the staff were always on top of things. We couldnât have asked for a better experience and were extremely blessed to have our special day at the New England Aquarium.
Reviewed on 28-06-2016
XX Jacewicz (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 03-04-2016
We're so glad we had our wedding at the aquarium. We had to plan our wedding long distance (I was in California), but Abigail was always very responsive to our questions (same-day response during the week) and always friendly and professional, even if some of my questions were borderline dumb. Plus, she made last minute adjustments to the guest list when a few people canceled. Our guests were really excited about the venue as well and can't stop talking about how great the wedding was! Food was excellent as well. One note: If you get a plated dinner with a selection of entrees, the per guest price will be set as the most expensive entree. This was in our contract after we selected our entrees, but we missed it, so were a little surprised to realize this later, so just be aware of that. Truly a wonderful evening with a staff that definitely knows how to throw a wedding in a friendly and elegant fashion.
Reviewed on 25-06-2016
Wedding Date 03-04-2016
We're so glad we had our wedding at the aquarium. We had to plan our wedding long distance (I was in California), but Abigail was always very responsive to our questions (same-day response during the week) and always friendly and professional, even if some of my questions were borderline dumb. Plus, she made last minute adjustments to the guest list when a few people canceled. Our guests were really excited about the venue as well and can't stop talking about how great the wedding was! Food was excellent as well. One note: If you get a plated dinner with a selection of entrees, the per guest price will be set as the most expensive entree. This was in our contract after we selected our entrees, but we missed it, so were a little surprised to realize this later, so just be aware of that. Truly a wonderful evening with a staff that definitely knows how to throw a wedding in a friendly and elegant fashion.
Reviewed on 25-06-2016
Kristin Fahy (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 23-04-2016
The New England Aquarium was a spectacular venue. The Aquarium is an unique and beautiful venue. There were so many guests who loved cocktail hour so they could see all the different exhibits. The venue itself is amazing as well as the food and staff. The food is outstanding and the people that we worked with went above and beyond. Abigail, the aquarium's coordinator, is amazing to work with. Our wedding was perfect and I would recommend the aquarium as the venue. There are many different options for the reception depending on what you would like as well as your wedding size. My wedding was 4/23/16, it was a beautiful evening and we had the ceremony outside on the terrace in the back of the aquarium. The views are amazing!!! We had cocktail hour in the main hall with the penguins! The guests loved this! The reception was then in the outdoor tent in the back of the aquarium and it was an amazing evening of good food and dancing!
Reviewed on 09-05-2016
Wedding Date 23-04-2016
The New England Aquarium was a spectacular venue. The Aquarium is an unique and beautiful venue. There were so many guests who loved cocktail hour so they could see all the different exhibits. The venue itself is amazing as well as the food and staff. The food is outstanding and the people that we worked with went above and beyond. Abigail, the aquarium's coordinator, is amazing to work with. Our wedding was perfect and I would recommend the aquarium as the venue. There are many different options for the reception depending on what you would like as well as your wedding size. My wedding was 4/23/16, it was a beautiful evening and we had the ceremony outside on the terrace in the back of the aquarium. The views are amazing!!! We had cocktail hour in the main hall with the penguins! The guests loved this! The reception was then in the outdoor tent in the back of the aquarium and it was an amazing evening of good food and dancing!
Reviewed on 09-05-2016
Christina Wilks (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 22-08-2015
From the moment we toured the Aquarium, we knew that this is where we wanted to have our wedding. We were looking for a place on Boston's waterfront that was unique but that would host the ceremony, the cocktail hour, & the reception all in one. This was the spot for it all. The sales manager Emily walked us through everything to help us envision our day. She made us feel so excited to set the date. The catering manager & day of coordinator, Abigail, was the next person we met with. She was FABULOUS from start to finish, efficient in returning emails throughout our planning, wonderful in coordinating with our other vendors, & fantastic at dealing with week of stress that a bride can bring to the plate! She went above and beyond to make everything work.. All more fantastic than I could have ever imagined! We had our ceremony outside overlooking the water. The cocktail hour was hosted inside around the fabulous exhibits all dressed up to host such an event & very interactive for the guests! The reception was in a covered tent behind the aquarium with the water as the backdrop. The waitstaff was prompt, courteous, & very professional. The bartenders were fabulous & even helped \"design\" one of our specialty drinks. The night was seamless & I wasn't stressed thinking about anything that night, as I was so comfortable in knowing the the AMAZING Abigail was there to help with any last minute issues to put all of us at ease. The food was amazing. Who would think that food prepared in a kitchen at an aquarium would be so fantastic?! We were blown away and still have guests that say to us.. The food at your wedding was incredible! Not many people can say that their food was memorable at a wedding! Overall, The New England Aquarium blew us away with their ability to meet all of our needs of hosting our dream wedding. Thank you for the best night of our lives.. Thanks Abigail! xo, The Genoas
Reviewed on 28-12-2015
Wedding Date 22-08-2015
From the moment we toured the Aquarium, we knew that this is where we wanted to have our wedding. We were looking for a place on Boston's waterfront that was unique but that would host the ceremony, the cocktail hour, & the reception all in one. This was the spot for it all. The sales manager Emily walked us through everything to help us envision our day. She made us feel so excited to set the date. The catering manager & day of coordinator, Abigail, was the next person we met with. She was FABULOUS from start to finish, efficient in returning emails throughout our planning, wonderful in coordinating with our other vendors, & fantastic at dealing with week of stress that a bride can bring to the plate! She went above and beyond to make everything work.. All more fantastic than I could have ever imagined! We had our ceremony outside overlooking the water. The cocktail hour was hosted inside around the fabulous exhibits all dressed up to host such an event & very interactive for the guests! The reception was in a covered tent behind the aquarium with the water as the backdrop. The waitstaff was prompt, courteous, & very professional. The bartenders were fabulous & even helped \"design\" one of our specialty drinks. The night was seamless & I wasn't stressed thinking about anything that night, as I was so comfortable in knowing the the AMAZING Abigail was there to help with any last minute issues to put all of us at ease. The food was amazing. Who would think that food prepared in a kitchen at an aquarium would be so fantastic?! We were blown away and still have guests that say to us.. The food at your wedding was incredible! Not many people can say that their food was memorable at a wedding! Overall, The New England Aquarium blew us away with their ability to meet all of our needs of hosting our dream wedding. Thank you for the best night of our lives.. Thanks Abigail! xo, The Genoas
Reviewed on 28-12-2015
Brian Stenson (groom) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 24-10-2015
Every piece of the wedding was perfect. From our first visit through the end of the night it was amazing. The staff, particularly Abigail, was incredibly helpful. She guided us through the process, gave us a lot of good advice kept things on track! She also made every crazy request we had seem routine whether it was adding beer from small local brewers, last minute photobooth addition or changing our menu! \r\rAnd the actual wedding -- I can't imagine a better location. The food was spectacular. everyone had a blast in the building and then we rocked out the dance floor all night. It was the perfect night for us and we could go on raving about every aspect of the people, the facility, the location and well...everything.
Reviewed on 09-12-2015
Wedding Date 24-10-2015
Every piece of the wedding was perfect. From our first visit through the end of the night it was amazing. The staff, particularly Abigail, was incredibly helpful. She guided us through the process, gave us a lot of good advice kept things on track! She also made every crazy request we had seem routine whether it was adding beer from small local brewers, last minute photobooth addition or changing our menu! \r\rAnd the actual wedding -- I can't imagine a better location. The food was spectacular. everyone had a blast in the building and then we rocked out the dance floor all night. It was the perfect night for us and we could go on raving about every aspect of the people, the facility, the location and well...everything.
Reviewed on 09-12-2015
Samantha Gibson (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 15-08-2015
As soon as we visited the Aquarium and toured the space with Sales Manager Emily, we were sure it was the perfect place for our wedding. The Aquarium is such a unique and cool venue and the Special Events team was amazing, from our first visit, through the whole planning process, and managing every detail of our special day. Abigail, our Catering Manager, was incredibly organized, responsive, and thorough in her responses to all of our questions along the way and provided great recommendations for other vendors including the officiant we ended up hiring. We really appreciated the personalized attention we received including a private tasting; even though NEAQ hosts weddings almost every weekend, it never felt like it! On our wedding weekend, we had total confidence in Abigail and the Events team, but we were particularly impressed and grateful for the amazing service we received from all of the attendants and other event staff as well. Our guests had an amazing time and, from the ceremony to the reception, our wedding was everything we had dreamed of and more!
Reviewed on 12-10-2015
Wedding Date 15-08-2015
As soon as we visited the Aquarium and toured the space with Sales Manager Emily, we were sure it was the perfect place for our wedding. The Aquarium is such a unique and cool venue and the Special Events team was amazing, from our first visit, through the whole planning process, and managing every detail of our special day. Abigail, our Catering Manager, was incredibly organized, responsive, and thorough in her responses to all of our questions along the way and provided great recommendations for other vendors including the officiant we ended up hiring. We really appreciated the personalized attention we received including a private tasting; even though NEAQ hosts weddings almost every weekend, it never felt like it! On our wedding weekend, we had total confidence in Abigail and the Events team, but we were particularly impressed and grateful for the amazing service we received from all of the attendants and other event staff as well. Our guests had an amazing time and, from the ceremony to the reception, our wedding was everything we had dreamed of and more!
Reviewed on 12-10-2015
Kimberly Olson (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 19-09-2015
The aquarium was the best venue from initial contact through the end of our wedding. Emily was so helpful when we were booking the venue. She answered all of my questions and never made me feel silly for the random things I asked. She was always prompt and very pleasant to work with.\rOnce we booked the venue we were transferred to Abigail's care. She is also fantastic! Her attention to detail and responsiveness was always appreciated. She knows her stuff! She is really helpful in the planning process and helps everything go smoothly the day of the wedding.\rOur guests loved our venue, the food, the staff, everything! We couldn't have asked for a better day or venue for our wedding.
Reviewed on 08-10-2015
Wedding Date 19-09-2015
The aquarium was the best venue from initial contact through the end of our wedding. Emily was so helpful when we were booking the venue. She answered all of my questions and never made me feel silly for the random things I asked. She was always prompt and very pleasant to work with.\rOnce we booked the venue we were transferred to Abigail's care. She is also fantastic! Her attention to detail and responsiveness was always appreciated. She knows her stuff! She is really helpful in the planning process and helps everything go smoothly the day of the wedding.\rOur guests loved our venue, the food, the staff, everything! We couldn't have asked for a better day or venue for our wedding.
Reviewed on 08-10-2015
Janet Berrios (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 12-09-2015
We recently got married at the NEAQ and I don't think I can accurately express how happy I am with their service. First of all, we did a tour with Emily who was so responsive and wonderful in getting us started with our contract. \r\rOnce we picked the place the planning process began with Abigail who is not only INCREDIBLY professional and amazing at her job but who responded to every concern within a day of my emails. We had such a pleasant experience planning the wedding that we weren't sure it could get any better. \r\rHowever, the day of was incredible. Everything went on without a hitch and Abigail was beside us every step of the way and always made sure we were fed, happy, and stress free. Planning a wedding can be an incredibly stressful experience but having a good time around you is essential to making this process less so. The team at the NEAQ is not only a good team, but an amazing one. Not one detail was overlooked and I have gotten the greatest compliments on how fabulous, unique, and delicious everything was for our wedding day. \r\rDo not have doubts about having your wedding here, it is 100% worth it!!!!! You will not be disappointed.
Reviewed on 17-09-2015
Wedding Date 12-09-2015
We recently got married at the NEAQ and I don't think I can accurately express how happy I am with their service. First of all, we did a tour with Emily who was so responsive and wonderful in getting us started with our contract. \r\rOnce we picked the place the planning process began with Abigail who is not only INCREDIBLY professional and amazing at her job but who responded to every concern within a day of my emails. We had such a pleasant experience planning the wedding that we weren't sure it could get any better. \r\rHowever, the day of was incredible. Everything went on without a hitch and Abigail was beside us every step of the way and always made sure we were fed, happy, and stress free. Planning a wedding can be an incredibly stressful experience but having a good time around you is essential to making this process less so. The team at the NEAQ is not only a good team, but an amazing one. Not one detail was overlooked and I have gotten the greatest compliments on how fabulous, unique, and delicious everything was for our wedding day. \r\rDo not have doubts about having your wedding here, it is 100% worth it!!!!! You will not be disappointed.
Reviewed on 17-09-2015
Alla Hoffman (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 23-08-2015
My partner and I had an amazing wedding at the Aquarium. We had the ceremony and reception outside on the deck overlooking the harbor and cocktail hour inside the Aquarium by the penguin enclosure. It's a beautiful area, and it's a ton of fun being able to look at the animals during the party. The food is delicious, with a New England-y slant, and there are good options for vegans and people with other food restrictions.\r\rAbigail, the venue coordinator, was unbelievably helpful. She helped us keep track of everything we needed to do and provided us with vendor recommendations and reminders as time went on. On the day of, she was great about accommodating surprise food changes, taking care of details that never occurred to us, and even helped us finish one of our DIY projects last minute. \r\rEveryone on staff worked hard to make sure that we weren't worried about anything and had a good time. The venue was totally welcoming to offbeat ideas and queer couples, and I'd highly recommend working with them to anyone.
Reviewed on 17-09-2015
Wedding Date 23-08-2015
My partner and I had an amazing wedding at the Aquarium. We had the ceremony and reception outside on the deck overlooking the harbor and cocktail hour inside the Aquarium by the penguin enclosure. It's a beautiful area, and it's a ton of fun being able to look at the animals during the party. The food is delicious, with a New England-y slant, and there are good options for vegans and people with other food restrictions.\r\rAbigail, the venue coordinator, was unbelievably helpful. She helped us keep track of everything we needed to do and provided us with vendor recommendations and reminders as time went on. On the day of, she was great about accommodating surprise food changes, taking care of details that never occurred to us, and even helped us finish one of our DIY projects last minute. \r\rEveryone on staff worked hard to make sure that we weren't worried about anything and had a good time. The venue was totally welcoming to offbeat ideas and queer couples, and I'd highly recommend working with them to anyone.
Reviewed on 17-09-2015
Allison Shapanka (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 25-07-2015
Our wedding was so wonderful. The aquarium was the perfect setting and surprising romantic...couples could mingle with others, or go off and see the marine life. Everything went off without a hitch, and Abigail was a huge help in the whole panning process.
Reviewed on 16-09-2015
Wedding Date 25-07-2015
Our wedding was so wonderful. The aquarium was the perfect setting and surprising romantic...couples could mingle with others, or go off and see the marine life. Everything went off without a hitch, and Abigail was a huge help in the whole panning process.
Reviewed on 16-09-2015
Anonymous (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 18-07-2015
My husband grew up boating and on the water. I grew up with a love of sea animals, so when my husband suggested the New England Aquarium as our wedding venue, I knew it was the perfect choice. The experience exceeded our expectations. Everything the staff did--from the coordinator Abigail Stephens down to the wait staff--was perfect. We had a simple ceremony outside, cocktail hour in the Aquarium, and reception in the tent outside. Leading up to the wedding, Abigail answered our questions speedily and had helpful suggestions. When we changed our minds about adding a champagne toast like 5 days before the wedding, she added it without a bat of the eye. She also worked with our vendors--DJ, String Trio, Photographer, Cake, Flowers, etc.--during the planning so that they vendors were comfortable and ready to go on the big day. The day of the wedding, everything was laid out perfectly from our seating chart to card table and guest book to wedding cake to gifts for our guests. The ceremony went off without a hitch and the staff moved the guests smoothly to the cocktail hour inside. I've had so many guests tell us it was the best wedding cocktail hour they ever attended. The setting was unique and fun and the food was delicious. On to the tent for the reception. Again, everything flowed smoothly and on schedule. We had the buffet dinner and people were not standing around waiting, but got food timely and were able to enjoy themselves. And the food was terrific. Almost everyone made it a point to tell us how much they loved all the dishes, especially the short ribs. My husband and I had wait staff assigned to us and our plates were full and we never had to look for so much as a glass of water--it was all taken care of. I honestly can't think of one thing that went wrong. I highly recommend this venue if you are looking for a unique and fun venue, with great water views and also very elegant.
Reviewed on 06-09-2015
Wedding Date 18-07-2015
My husband grew up boating and on the water. I grew up with a love of sea animals, so when my husband suggested the New England Aquarium as our wedding venue, I knew it was the perfect choice. The experience exceeded our expectations. Everything the staff did--from the coordinator Abigail Stephens down to the wait staff--was perfect. We had a simple ceremony outside, cocktail hour in the Aquarium, and reception in the tent outside. Leading up to the wedding, Abigail answered our questions speedily and had helpful suggestions. When we changed our minds about adding a champagne toast like 5 days before the wedding, she added it without a bat of the eye. She also worked with our vendors--DJ, String Trio, Photographer, Cake, Flowers, etc.--during the planning so that they vendors were comfortable and ready to go on the big day. The day of the wedding, everything was laid out perfectly from our seating chart to card table and guest book to wedding cake to gifts for our guests. The ceremony went off without a hitch and the staff moved the guests smoothly to the cocktail hour inside. I've had so many guests tell us it was the best wedding cocktail hour they ever attended. The setting was unique and fun and the food was delicious. On to the tent for the reception. Again, everything flowed smoothly and on schedule. We had the buffet dinner and people were not standing around waiting, but got food timely and were able to enjoy themselves. And the food was terrific. Almost everyone made it a point to tell us how much they loved all the dishes, especially the short ribs. My husband and I had wait staff assigned to us and our plates were full and we never had to look for so much as a glass of water--it was all taken care of. I honestly can't think of one thing that went wrong. I highly recommend this venue if you are looking for a unique and fun venue, with great water views and also very elegant.
Reviewed on 06-09-2015
Kate Blair (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 24-07-2015
I could not be happier with our choice to go with the New England Aquarium for our reception and ceremony venue. Since the wedding, all my parents have heard and I have heard is that everyone just loved the venue. It was such a unique place and memorable. The staff was outstanding. Emily was great to work with at the beginning of the process and Abigail - I think Abigail is a total saint in the eyes of my mom! Once we signed the contract, they passed us off to Abigail and man, does she know her stuff! She was so efficient at managing the process - making sure that we knew exactly what to be prepared with, asked all the right questions, and on the day of, she managed everyone like a pro - ring bearer and flower girls included! From the tasting to the night off, the entire staff was incredible. You could tell they all wanted it to go great and it showed through in every interaction I had with them. \rIf you are looking for a great Boston location with a beautiful waterfront view and fantastic service - look no further! Plus, it's kind of cool that at least the obscene price tag you have to pay for a wedding reception in the city is at least going to support a great organization! :)
Reviewed on 11-08-2015
Wedding Date 24-07-2015
I could not be happier with our choice to go with the New England Aquarium for our reception and ceremony venue. Since the wedding, all my parents have heard and I have heard is that everyone just loved the venue. It was such a unique place and memorable. The staff was outstanding. Emily was great to work with at the beginning of the process and Abigail - I think Abigail is a total saint in the eyes of my mom! Once we signed the contract, they passed us off to Abigail and man, does she know her stuff! She was so efficient at managing the process - making sure that we knew exactly what to be prepared with, asked all the right questions, and on the day of, she managed everyone like a pro - ring bearer and flower girls included! From the tasting to the night off, the entire staff was incredible. You could tell they all wanted it to go great and it showed through in every interaction I had with them. \rIf you are looking for a great Boston location with a beautiful waterfront view and fantastic service - look no further! Plus, it's kind of cool that at least the obscene price tag you have to pay for a wedding reception in the city is at least going to support a great organization! :)
Reviewed on 11-08-2015
Anonymous (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 11-07-2015
We had our wedding reception at the Aquarium and it was amazing! Everyone is so wonderful and easy to work with. It was virtually seamless from the day we booked until the event. We could not be more pleased. Our guests were raving about the view! We highly recommend the New England Aquarium for any event!
Reviewed on 14-07-2015
Wedding Date 11-07-2015
We had our wedding reception at the Aquarium and it was amazing! Everyone is so wonderful and easy to work with. It was virtually seamless from the day we booked until the event. We could not be more pleased. Our guests were raving about the view! We highly recommend the New England Aquarium for any event!
Reviewed on 14-07-2015
Anonymous (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 27-06-2015
The Aquarium was a fabulous wedding venue. The event planner helped us each step of the way to plan our perfect wedding with experience, attention to detail and a smile. The tent looked beautiful with a great view of the harbor. \rThe fact that our guests could wander through the aquarium during the reception made it unique. The chef worked with us to choose a wondeful meal and the wait staff took care of our every need.We received many compliments! Thanks Abigail!
Reviewed on 02-07-2015
Wedding Date 27-06-2015
The Aquarium was a fabulous wedding venue. The event planner helped us each step of the way to plan our perfect wedding with experience, attention to detail and a smile. The tent looked beautiful with a great view of the harbor. \rThe fact that our guests could wander through the aquarium during the reception made it unique. The chef worked with us to choose a wondeful meal and the wait staff took care of our every need.We received many compliments! Thanks Abigail!
Reviewed on 02-07-2015
Anonymous (groom) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 20-06-2015
Everything was fantastic! Weddings are never easy and non-stressful affairs but Abigail took as much off of our plate as possible and was extremely helpful and kind from start to finish. The venue was fantastic, our guests raved and many said it was the best wedding they've ever been to. Once in a lifetime experience!
Reviewed on 24-06-2015
Wedding Date 20-06-2015
Everything was fantastic! Weddings are never easy and non-stressful affairs but Abigail took as much off of our plate as possible and was extremely helpful and kind from start to finish. The venue was fantastic, our guests raved and many said it was the best wedding they've ever been to. Once in a lifetime experience!
Reviewed on 24-06-2015
Anonymous (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 23-05-2015
I just had my wedding reception at the New England Aquarium a couple weeks ago and it was just beautiful. The emails and calls and personal notes keep rolling in from our wedding guests about how much they loved our wedding especially the venue. The food was absolutely delicious, the staff was awesome, venue beautiful. Abigail who is the wedding coordinator is so, so wonderful to work with. She made the entire process so easy. It was such a unique wedding venue and so beautiful. The New England Aquarium impressed us so much and we are beyond happy that we made the choice to have our reception there. Abigail and team did an amazing job, Thank you Thank you!!!
Reviewed on 15-06-2015
Wedding Date 23-05-2015
I just had my wedding reception at the New England Aquarium a couple weeks ago and it was just beautiful. The emails and calls and personal notes keep rolling in from our wedding guests about how much they loved our wedding especially the venue. The food was absolutely delicious, the staff was awesome, venue beautiful. Abigail who is the wedding coordinator is so, so wonderful to work with. She made the entire process so easy. It was such a unique wedding venue and so beautiful. The New England Aquarium impressed us so much and we are beyond happy that we made the choice to have our reception there. Abigail and team did an amazing job, Thank you Thank you!!!
Reviewed on 15-06-2015
Lindsay Woods (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 21-03-2015
We were looking for atypical wedding venues and since most of our guests were coming from out-of-town, we wanted something that would show off Boston. We looked at several museums and other area landmarks and the aquarium was one of the few places that were actually within our price-range. It was probably the best possible place we could have asked for in terms of both service and quality.\r\rFor summer weddings, they rent a tent in back on the harbor but since we were married in March, we needed to do it inside. We were given the harbor-view cafe for ceremony and reception and the west-wing gallery (shark and ray touch tank and jelly-fish room) for the cocktail hour. This was PERFECT for our small wedding (around 70 people). \r\rThey assign you an event-planner from the minute you contact them and she was the best person I could have asked for. She led me through everything from day one and the aquarium took care of everything from catering to furniture and linens. They also had multiple people also on-hand during the event to make sure everything went smoothly. They completely transformed the room from ceremony to reception. \r\rDuring the cocktail hour, my guests and I got to touch sharks and rays--you couldn't ask for a cooler wedding activity! And the harbor-view cafe has the most gorgeous view of both the city and the harbor. We got tons of amazing photos in and around the aquarium.\r\rThis location made for an incredibly memorable wedding and the service was AMAZING. I could not have asked for a better venue.
Reviewed on 09-04-2015
Wedding Date 21-03-2015
We were looking for atypical wedding venues and since most of our guests were coming from out-of-town, we wanted something that would show off Boston. We looked at several museums and other area landmarks and the aquarium was one of the few places that were actually within our price-range. It was probably the best possible place we could have asked for in terms of both service and quality.\r\rFor summer weddings, they rent a tent in back on the harbor but since we were married in March, we needed to do it inside. We were given the harbor-view cafe for ceremony and reception and the west-wing gallery (shark and ray touch tank and jelly-fish room) for the cocktail hour. This was PERFECT for our small wedding (around 70 people). \r\rThey assign you an event-planner from the minute you contact them and she was the best person I could have asked for. She led me through everything from day one and the aquarium took care of everything from catering to furniture and linens. They also had multiple people also on-hand during the event to make sure everything went smoothly. They completely transformed the room from ceremony to reception. \r\rDuring the cocktail hour, my guests and I got to touch sharks and rays--you couldn't ask for a cooler wedding activity! And the harbor-view cafe has the most gorgeous view of both the city and the harbor. We got tons of amazing photos in and around the aquarium.\r\rThis location made for an incredibly memorable wedding and the service was AMAZING. I could not have asked for a better venue.
Reviewed on 09-04-2015
Anonymous (groom) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 14-03-2015
My wife and I recently held our ceremony, reception, and dinner at the NEAQ. The service, quality, and professionalism exceeded our expectations.\r\rThis was a march wedding and the NEAQ hosted our wedding entirely indoors. We received multiple comments that this was the coolest wedding they've ever been to and also received wonderful comments on the food, especially the h'orderves. There is no question that the NEAQ is more likely to be a pricier venue then some other more traditional venues - but we loved the aquatic theme and the event coordinator, Abigail Stephens, was incredibly helpful in getting all our specifications and needs just right. My wife and I would highly recommend the venue to those who are interested in a non-traditional venue.\r\r-J
Reviewed on 24-03-2015
Wedding Date 14-03-2015
My wife and I recently held our ceremony, reception, and dinner at the NEAQ. The service, quality, and professionalism exceeded our expectations.\r\rThis was a march wedding and the NEAQ hosted our wedding entirely indoors. We received multiple comments that this was the coolest wedding they've ever been to and also received wonderful comments on the food, especially the h'orderves. There is no question that the NEAQ is more likely to be a pricier venue then some other more traditional venues - but we loved the aquatic theme and the event coordinator, Abigail Stephens, was incredibly helpful in getting all our specifications and needs just right. My wife and I would highly recommend the venue to those who are interested in a non-traditional venue.\r\r-J
Reviewed on 24-03-2015
Courtney kelley (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 01-11-2014
My experience from start to finish was amazing! Abagail is so much fun to work with and makes sure every detail is perfect! She reached out to each vendor I chose to work with to figure out every detail with them! I was told by everyone who attended this was the best wedding they have ever been to. The staff was amazing as well!! Would choose this wedding all over again if I could! Most amazing day of my life thanks to Abagail!! Would reccomend to everyone!
Reviewed on 05-11-2014
Wedding Date 01-11-2014
My experience from start to finish was amazing! Abagail is so much fun to work with and makes sure every detail is perfect! She reached out to each vendor I chose to work with to figure out every detail with them! I was told by everyone who attended this was the best wedding they have ever been to. The staff was amazing as well!! Would choose this wedding all over again if I could! Most amazing day of my life thanks to Abagail!! Would reccomend to everyone!
Reviewed on 05-11-2014
Meredith Calvey (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 06-09-2014
The venue was amazing. Guests were so excited and stunned that they could have free roam of the aquarium. Being right on the water in boston harbor was amazing too!! Abigail was my wedding coordinator and he was fantastic! she answered all my emails right away and really made me feel so so special. they did a GREAT job setting everything up and just really made it a perfect event. It was a little pricy because everything is al la carte. Meaning.. you chose your apps and pay per piece. So no packages. We chose the scallops and chicken with prosciutto and raviolis for main dishes. Everyone loved it! The main dish came with salad and bread. We chose the Cesar salad and heard from MANY people it was the best they ever had. I would highly highly recommend this venue to anyone who wants a fun and unique location! you really cant get any better than partying with penguins. \r\rfyi- there are restrictions on flowers and what you can bring into the aquarium because of the animals, so check with them before you get your heart set on any particular flower.
Reviewed on 24-09-2014
Wedding Date 06-09-2014
The venue was amazing. Guests were so excited and stunned that they could have free roam of the aquarium. Being right on the water in boston harbor was amazing too!! Abigail was my wedding coordinator and he was fantastic! she answered all my emails right away and really made me feel so so special. they did a GREAT job setting everything up and just really made it a perfect event. It was a little pricy because everything is al la carte. Meaning.. you chose your apps and pay per piece. So no packages. We chose the scallops and chicken with prosciutto and raviolis for main dishes. Everyone loved it! The main dish came with salad and bread. We chose the Cesar salad and heard from MANY people it was the best they ever had. I would highly highly recommend this venue to anyone who wants a fun and unique location! you really cant get any better than partying with penguins. \r\rfyi- there are restrictions on flowers and what you can bring into the aquarium because of the animals, so check with them before you get your heart set on any particular flower.
Reviewed on 24-09-2014
Jackie Sims (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 31-08-2014
I cannot say enough amazing thing about the New England Aquarium!! From the beginning, Abigail (our catering manager) did an INCREDIBLE job assisting us with any questions or special requests we have. I would email her various ideas and pictures and she would always respond promptly and professionally. In addition, she worked with us on dropping off our centerpieces/decorations/etc early in order to avoid stress the weekend of. As far as the venue itself, it is so unique and lends itself perfectly to a wedding cocktail hour and reception. We held our cocktail hour at the West Wing Gallery and our reception at the Harbor View Cafe. Our guests kept coming up to us and telling us how much fun they were having and what a good idea it was to have it there! The Harbor View Cafe, while it looks somewhat like a cafeteria during normal aquarium hours, was transformed into an elegant reception venue. In fact my family couldn't believe it was the same space as when they first looked at it. \r\rOverall I would HIGHLY recommend the New England Aquarium, based off of both the service as well as the venue itself.
Reviewed on 23-09-2014
Wedding Date 31-08-2014
I cannot say enough amazing thing about the New England Aquarium!! From the beginning, Abigail (our catering manager) did an INCREDIBLE job assisting us with any questions or special requests we have. I would email her various ideas and pictures and she would always respond promptly and professionally. In addition, she worked with us on dropping off our centerpieces/decorations/etc early in order to avoid stress the weekend of. As far as the venue itself, it is so unique and lends itself perfectly to a wedding cocktail hour and reception. We held our cocktail hour at the West Wing Gallery and our reception at the Harbor View Cafe. Our guests kept coming up to us and telling us how much fun they were having and what a good idea it was to have it there! The Harbor View Cafe, while it looks somewhat like a cafeteria during normal aquarium hours, was transformed into an elegant reception venue. In fact my family couldn't believe it was the same space as when they first looked at it. \r\rOverall I would HIGHLY recommend the New England Aquarium, based off of both the service as well as the venue itself.
Reviewed on 23-09-2014
Melissa Connors (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 17-08-2014
I can't say enough good things about the process and our actual wedding at the NE Aquarium! From the planning process with emily to the planning and day of events with Abigail, these ladies are calm, collected, and are top notch! The venue is a dream and the ceremony was beautiful. Guests are still calling me a month after to tell me how much fun they had at the wedding and how great the venue is! FYI the food is also killer here! If I were to do it again I would absolutely chose the team at the NE Aquarium! (seals and penguins included)
Reviewed on 21-09-2014
Wedding Date 17-08-2014
I can't say enough good things about the process and our actual wedding at the NE Aquarium! From the planning process with emily to the planning and day of events with Abigail, these ladies are calm, collected, and are top notch! The venue is a dream and the ceremony was beautiful. Guests are still calling me a month after to tell me how much fun they had at the wedding and how great the venue is! FYI the food is also killer here! If I were to do it again I would absolutely chose the team at the NE Aquarium! (seals and penguins included)
Reviewed on 21-09-2014
Leah Winthrop (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 19-07-2014
We absolutely loved having our wedding at the New England Aquarium! We were looking for a very Boston location that was not a hotel, and we could not have been happier. The staff were wonderful to work with, Abigail (the event coordinator) especially. She was organized, energetic, positive, and a pleasure to work with so closely! On the day of everything went off without a hitch. The flow from the ceremony on the back terrace (they block off the walkway so strangers aren't watching or in your pictures) to the cocktail hour was seamless. So many people commented how amazing it was to be in the NEAQ for a formal event and how much they loved the venue. The reception was just as seamless. The timeline we planned worked beautifully, the food was delicious (as we were told by all our guests - we loved it at our tasting), and everyone danced till the night ended. If you have the opportunity to hold your wedding at the NEAQ, we highly suggest you grab it!
Reviewed on 21-09-2014
Wedding Date 19-07-2014
We absolutely loved having our wedding at the New England Aquarium! We were looking for a very Boston location that was not a hotel, and we could not have been happier. The staff were wonderful to work with, Abigail (the event coordinator) especially. She was organized, energetic, positive, and a pleasure to work with so closely! On the day of everything went off without a hitch. The flow from the ceremony on the back terrace (they block off the walkway so strangers aren't watching or in your pictures) to the cocktail hour was seamless. So many people commented how amazing it was to be in the NEAQ for a formal event and how much they loved the venue. The reception was just as seamless. The timeline we planned worked beautifully, the food was delicious (as we were told by all our guests - we loved it at our tasting), and everyone danced till the night ended. If you have the opportunity to hold your wedding at the NEAQ, we highly suggest you grab it!
Reviewed on 21-09-2014
Laura Gaylord (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 23-08-2014
I can't say enough good things about Abigail and the event team at the NEA. We planned our wedding from over 400 miles away, which could have complicated matters significantly, but the team at NEA did everything they could to make us feel confident and happy about our choices. Every step of the planning process, from the tasting, to the drop-off of our wedding accessories the day before, and all of the last-minute decisions in between, were handled with grace and efficiency. \r\rThe day itself was a joy- our guests are still raving about our unique cocktail hour in the Exhibit Hall (where else can you party with penguins!?) and the seated dinner we planned was wonderful. Abigail worked with us throughout the planning process to recommend vendors who were familiar with the venue and to help coordinate plans with those who were not. The result was a beautiful evening that ran smoothly, leaving us free to enjoy ourselves.\r\rWe highly recommend the NEA if you are looking for a beautiful venue- and a significant reduction in stress during the planning process!
Reviewed on 16-09-2014
Wedding Date 23-08-2014
I can't say enough good things about Abigail and the event team at the NEA. We planned our wedding from over 400 miles away, which could have complicated matters significantly, but the team at NEA did everything they could to make us feel confident and happy about our choices. Every step of the planning process, from the tasting, to the drop-off of our wedding accessories the day before, and all of the last-minute decisions in between, were handled with grace and efficiency. \r\rThe day itself was a joy- our guests are still raving about our unique cocktail hour in the Exhibit Hall (where else can you party with penguins!?) and the seated dinner we planned was wonderful. Abigail worked with us throughout the planning process to recommend vendors who were familiar with the venue and to help coordinate plans with those who were not. The result was a beautiful evening that ran smoothly, leaving us free to enjoy ourselves.\r\rWe highly recommend the NEA if you are looking for a beautiful venue- and a significant reduction in stress during the planning process!
Reviewed on 16-09-2014
J E (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 26-07-2014
The Aquarium offers not only a beautiful and unique setting for a downtown Boston wedding, but a great team. Emily in sales and Abigail the event coordinator were both accessible and easy to work with. From the initial venue tour to planning the details as the day approached, everything was transparent, organized and professional. We really appreciated how proactive Abigail was in finalizing details and timelines, and she was an excellent resource. When my husband and I arrived at the Aquarium for our reception, we could fully relax and enjoy the party, knowing that we and our guests were in such good hands. \r\rAnd it's a great place for a party! Our cocktail hour was outdoors on the harbor and the dinner/dancing was in the tent. The setting on the water is beautiful, and guests could explore the aquarium throughout the night. If the weather hadn't cooperated or if we had preferred, we could have had cocktail hour in the aquarium itself, which is a great option. The food was excellent and everything ran seamlessly. We heard so many complements about the venue from guests.\r\rThe setting is beautiful on its own and there are less expensive food and beverage options available, but it would also be possible to go all out with food, beverages and decor. There's a lot of flexibility, and we felt it was a good value relative to other Boston venues we considered. We would absolutely recommend the Aquarium to other couples and would do it all over again if we could!
Reviewed on 16-09-2014
Wedding Date 26-07-2014
The Aquarium offers not only a beautiful and unique setting for a downtown Boston wedding, but a great team. Emily in sales and Abigail the event coordinator were both accessible and easy to work with. From the initial venue tour to planning the details as the day approached, everything was transparent, organized and professional. We really appreciated how proactive Abigail was in finalizing details and timelines, and she was an excellent resource. When my husband and I arrived at the Aquarium for our reception, we could fully relax and enjoy the party, knowing that we and our guests were in such good hands. \r\rAnd it's a great place for a party! Our cocktail hour was outdoors on the harbor and the dinner/dancing was in the tent. The setting on the water is beautiful, and guests could explore the aquarium throughout the night. If the weather hadn't cooperated or if we had preferred, we could have had cocktail hour in the aquarium itself, which is a great option. The food was excellent and everything ran seamlessly. We heard so many complements about the venue from guests.\r\rThe setting is beautiful on its own and there are less expensive food and beverage options available, but it would also be possible to go all out with food, beverages and decor. There's a lot of flexibility, and we felt it was a good value relative to other Boston venues we considered. We would absolutely recommend the Aquarium to other couples and would do it all over again if we could!
Reviewed on 16-09-2014
Anonymous (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 05-07-2015
Our wedding was July 5, 2014 at the Aquarium and I cannot say enough about the venue, staff and incredible location. Abigail was our main contact and she handled every single thing from A to Z. Her attention to detail is incredible. The catering staff was amazing from the first tasting to the actual day of and the food was beyond expectations. The Ben & Jerry's ice cream bar was one of the most talked about parts of our whole wedding. We got married at the aquarium as well and had the reception and cocktail hour there. They closed the sidewalk off around the ceremony site so it was still private and the views out to the harbor were incredible. It's kind of like you're on a boat. Having the aquarium to your self during the cocktail hour with the cool lighting, passed apps and the bars set up is an unreal experience. I would get married here again in a heartbeat.
Reviewed on 15-09-2014
Wedding Date 05-07-2015
Our wedding was July 5, 2014 at the Aquarium and I cannot say enough about the venue, staff and incredible location. Abigail was our main contact and she handled every single thing from A to Z. Her attention to detail is incredible. The catering staff was amazing from the first tasting to the actual day of and the food was beyond expectations. The Ben & Jerry's ice cream bar was one of the most talked about parts of our whole wedding. We got married at the aquarium as well and had the reception and cocktail hour there. They closed the sidewalk off around the ceremony site so it was still private and the views out to the harbor were incredible. It's kind of like you're on a boat. Having the aquarium to your self during the cocktail hour with the cool lighting, passed apps and the bars set up is an unreal experience. I would get married here again in a heartbeat.
Reviewed on 15-09-2014
Kelly Parks (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 30-08-2014
I was so incredibly happy with my experience at the Aquarium. Abigail, our event planner, was so efficient and professional and made everything from the tasting to rehearsal to the actual day so incredibly easy. I was so impressed with her and her team's efficiency. My guests loved it and enjoyed our venue very very much.
Reviewed on 10-09-2014
Wedding Date 30-08-2014
I was so incredibly happy with my experience at the Aquarium. Abigail, our event planner, was so efficient and professional and made everything from the tasting to rehearsal to the actual day so incredibly easy. I was so impressed with her and her team's efficiency. My guests loved it and enjoyed our venue very very much.
Reviewed on 10-09-2014
Adam Kropelin (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 25-05-2014
Our wedding at the NEAQ far exceeded our (high!) expectations as well as those of our guests. Every aspect of the planning process as well as the event execution itself was flawless. \"Catering manager\" does not adequately describe the efforts put forth by Abigail Stephens who assisted us throughout the process. Every time we contacted her, she treated our small event as if it was the single most important thing she was working on. The result was a perfect wedding. We honestly cannot think of a single complaint. We would not hesitate to host another event there and would wholeheartedly recommend it to others.
Reviewed on 26-08-2014
Wedding Date 25-05-2014
Our wedding at the NEAQ far exceeded our (high!) expectations as well as those of our guests. Every aspect of the planning process as well as the event execution itself was flawless. \"Catering manager\" does not adequately describe the efforts put forth by Abigail Stephens who assisted us throughout the process. Every time we contacted her, she treated our small event as if it was the single most important thing she was working on. The result was a perfect wedding. We honestly cannot think of a single complaint. We would not hesitate to host another event there and would wholeheartedly recommend it to others.
Reviewed on 26-08-2014
Melissa Weiner (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 07-06-2014
The New England Aquarium was the perfect place for our wedding... we were able to get married outside right by the harbor; the food was amazing; and it was a unique experience for all of our guests. \r\rThe staff made the whole experience easy and stress-free... especially Abigail. She quickly responded to our numerous calls and e-mails leading up to the big day. And did her very best to accommodate any of our special requests. My outside vendors also told me it was a pleasure working with the aquarium staff.\r\rI've had numerous guests tell me this was the best wedding they've ever been too. And also say that the food was excellent and memorable. \r\rI strongly recommend the New England Aquarium to couples looking for a fun and creative wedding. I found it affordable compared to other seaside venues in Boston. The location is amazing... with fantastic views of the city. And nothing beats having the aquarium all to yourself for a night!
Reviewed on 24-07-2014
Wedding Date 07-06-2014
The New England Aquarium was the perfect place for our wedding... we were able to get married outside right by the harbor; the food was amazing; and it was a unique experience for all of our guests. \r\rThe staff made the whole experience easy and stress-free... especially Abigail. She quickly responded to our numerous calls and e-mails leading up to the big day. And did her very best to accommodate any of our special requests. My outside vendors also told me it was a pleasure working with the aquarium staff.\r\rI've had numerous guests tell me this was the best wedding they've ever been too. And also say that the food was excellent and memorable. \r\rI strongly recommend the New England Aquarium to couples looking for a fun and creative wedding. I found it affordable compared to other seaside venues in Boston. The location is amazing... with fantastic views of the city. And nothing beats having the aquarium all to yourself for a night!
Reviewed on 24-07-2014
Rachel Fertitta (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 28-06-2014
The Aquarium is an amazing place to have a wedding. Not only is the location absolutely perfect but the staff (Emily and Abigail) there to help you are extremely organized, friendly and ready to answer any questions.\r\rThe only downfall to this venue is the floral restrictions and start time (you have to wait until it is closed to the public), however for me they were outweighed by the fact that the guest pretty much had free reign of the entire Aquarium during the wedding.\r\rMy wedding was amazing and I have them to thank for all of their help. I would absolutely recommend the Aquarium to anyone!
Reviewed on 09-07-2014
Wedding Date 28-06-2014
The Aquarium is an amazing place to have a wedding. Not only is the location absolutely perfect but the staff (Emily and Abigail) there to help you are extremely organized, friendly and ready to answer any questions.\r\rThe only downfall to this venue is the floral restrictions and start time (you have to wait until it is closed to the public), however for me they were outweighed by the fact that the guest pretty much had free reign of the entire Aquarium during the wedding.\r\rMy wedding was amazing and I have them to thank for all of their help. I would absolutely recommend the Aquarium to anyone!
Reviewed on 09-07-2014
Jessica Geran (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 10-05-2014
From start to finish the service was fantastic. The entire planning process was so organized and Abigail, the coordinator, was a pleasure to work with. \r\rIt's such a fun and convenient location. All of the guests were so impressed with the cocktail hour around the tanks inside. \r\rThe event tent felt much larger than others (we had 165 guests, plus a band, plus a candy station table, gift table, etc.). It was so nice to be able to open the sides of the tent and let the breeze through and allow guests to enjoy the city skyline throughout the reception. \r\rFinally - let's face it, wedding food usually sucks. To be honesty, I wasn't overly impressed with the food at our tasting. The actual wedding night, however, the food was very good. We had the diver scallops as one option, the prosciutto wrapped chicken and the stuffed mushroom as the two others. No complaints!\r\rWe looked at what felt like TONS of venues within the city of Boston before seeing the aquarium and most felt like prom reception halls or else they cost more than tuition to a four year private college! The aquarium was the perfect combination of unique venue for the right price.
Reviewed on 28-05-2014
Wedding Date 10-05-2014
From start to finish the service was fantastic. The entire planning process was so organized and Abigail, the coordinator, was a pleasure to work with. \r\rIt's such a fun and convenient location. All of the guests were so impressed with the cocktail hour around the tanks inside. \r\rThe event tent felt much larger than others (we had 165 guests, plus a band, plus a candy station table, gift table, etc.). It was so nice to be able to open the sides of the tent and let the breeze through and allow guests to enjoy the city skyline throughout the reception. \r\rFinally - let's face it, wedding food usually sucks. To be honesty, I wasn't overly impressed with the food at our tasting. The actual wedding night, however, the food was very good. We had the diver scallops as one option, the prosciutto wrapped chicken and the stuffed mushroom as the two others. No complaints!\r\rWe looked at what felt like TONS of venues within the city of Boston before seeing the aquarium and most felt like prom reception halls or else they cost more than tuition to a four year private college! The aquarium was the perfect combination of unique venue for the right price.
Reviewed on 28-05-2014
Rebecca Spears (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 26-10-2013
This was the most beautiful and wonderful place to hold our wedding! Our guests found the venue so unique, and at night the tank really glows and looks amazing. We worked with Emily and Abigail, and we quickly found that they are seasoned professionals who really helped us create the perfect event. You won't have anything to worry about anything, and they are full of great ideas! The food was excellent, and all my vendors raved about their experiences working with the Aquarium in the past. Beyond Emily and Abigail, we had a server dedicated to myself and the groom for the entire evening. She kept an eye on us all evening, and at the end of the night had all our things packed and ready to go. I would highly recommend this venue - the space has a lot of flexibility and the harbor is so romantic at night with the city lit up in the background!
Reviewed on 26-11-2013
Wedding Date 26-10-2013
This was the most beautiful and wonderful place to hold our wedding! Our guests found the venue so unique, and at night the tank really glows and looks amazing. We worked with Emily and Abigail, and we quickly found that they are seasoned professionals who really helped us create the perfect event. You won't have anything to worry about anything, and they are full of great ideas! The food was excellent, and all my vendors raved about their experiences working with the Aquarium in the past. Beyond Emily and Abigail, we had a server dedicated to myself and the groom for the entire evening. She kept an eye on us all evening, and at the end of the night had all our things packed and ready to go. I would highly recommend this venue - the space has a lot of flexibility and the harbor is so romantic at night with the city lit up in the background!
Reviewed on 26-11-2013
Leigh Anne Bell (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 05-10-2013
We recently held our wedding reception at the New England Aquarium. We were so impressed with the Aquarium throughout the entire planning process and the day of the wedding. I initially contacted the Aquarium through email and Emily responded quickly with the catering information and prices. After a few emails back and forth I was so excited to tour the space that I booked a meeting the next morning! Emily showed us around the aquarium, answered all of our questions and even gave some great recommendations for vendors. After booking we moved on to work with Abigail. She was friendly, creative and very responsive (which is most important!). She worked so well with all of our vendors and took a huge load off our shoulders. The reception itself could not have been any better. The staff continually checked in with my husband and I to see if we needed anything (and even to make sure we were eating enough). Throughout the night our guests toured the aquarium, enjoyed the beautiful ocean views and raved about the food!! We could not have picked a better spot to celebrate with our friends and family. The Aquarium and their staff truly made it a special day for us and for that we are forever grateful!!
Reviewed on 28-10-2013
Wedding Date 05-10-2013
We recently held our wedding reception at the New England Aquarium. We were so impressed with the Aquarium throughout the entire planning process and the day of the wedding. I initially contacted the Aquarium through email and Emily responded quickly with the catering information and prices. After a few emails back and forth I was so excited to tour the space that I booked a meeting the next morning! Emily showed us around the aquarium, answered all of our questions and even gave some great recommendations for vendors. After booking we moved on to work with Abigail. She was friendly, creative and very responsive (which is most important!). She worked so well with all of our vendors and took a huge load off our shoulders. The reception itself could not have been any better. The staff continually checked in with my husband and I to see if we needed anything (and even to make sure we were eating enough). Throughout the night our guests toured the aquarium, enjoyed the beautiful ocean views and raved about the food!! We could not have picked a better spot to celebrate with our friends and family. The Aquarium and their staff truly made it a special day for us and for that we are forever grateful!!
Reviewed on 28-10-2013
Diana Santackas (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
This was the most amazing venue for a wedding and I am so pleased and satisfied by our choice to have our wedding here. \r\rThe people (Abigail and Emily in particular) are so fabulous and our wedding wouldn't have been as awesome as it was without them. The food was delicious, the views were breathtaking and the actual venue itself was a perfect backdrop, didn't require a lot of \"dressing up\". \r\rI would do it all again in a heartbeat!
Reviewed on 28-10-2013
This was the most amazing venue for a wedding and I am so pleased and satisfied by our choice to have our wedding here. \r\rThe people (Abigail and Emily in particular) are so fabulous and our wedding wouldn't have been as awesome as it was without them. The food was delicious, the views were breathtaking and the actual venue itself was a perfect backdrop, didn't require a lot of \"dressing up\". \r\rI would do it all again in a heartbeat!
Reviewed on 28-10-2013
Jessica Doherty (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 06-10-2013
The New England Aquarium was an amazing place to get married. The day was absolutely perfect. Every little detail was better than I could have imagined. The venue is fun, different, yet classy and beautiful. The guests loved interacting with the animals, and having the opportunity the wander around the aquarium during cocktail hour, and the tent outside provides a beautiful view of Boston Harbor which was magnificent at sunset.
Reviewed on 21-10-2013
Wedding Date 06-10-2013
The New England Aquarium was an amazing place to get married. The day was absolutely perfect. Every little detail was better than I could have imagined. The venue is fun, different, yet classy and beautiful. The guests loved interacting with the animals, and having the opportunity the wander around the aquarium during cocktail hour, and the tent outside provides a beautiful view of Boston Harbor which was magnificent at sunset.
Reviewed on 21-10-2013
Han Huang (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 22-06-2013
My husband and I literally could not be happier with our entire wedding planning experience at the Aquarium. The Aquarium staff never failed to impress us with their helpfulness, flexibility, and professionalism through every step of the planning process. The day went off without a hitch and it was a day we will always remember with nothing but happy memories.\r\rThe in-house catering was fantastic and accommodating (we had several guests with various food allergies) and many of our guests commented on how delicious everything was. Our guests with food allergies all showed up at brunch the next morning ready to eat again.\r\rWe opted not to hire a wedding planner, which ended up being a good move given how on top of things the staff were - they even rose to the occasion several times after we dropped the ball with this or that detail during the bustle of the last stages of planning.\r\rAs for the actual wedding itself, we could not be happier with how it went, and if we had to plan 10 more weddings we'd have them all at the Aquarium. Several of our vendors have also made a point of telling us how easy and great the Aquarium staff were to work with; we really can't thank them enough for playing such a huge part in our perfect day. \r\rAs a bonus, and feel even better (if it's even possible) knowing the money we saved for our wedding went to such a great and uniquely valuable public resource.
Reviewed on 01-10-2013
Wedding Date 22-06-2013
My husband and I literally could not be happier with our entire wedding planning experience at the Aquarium. The Aquarium staff never failed to impress us with their helpfulness, flexibility, and professionalism through every step of the planning process. The day went off without a hitch and it was a day we will always remember with nothing but happy memories.\r\rThe in-house catering was fantastic and accommodating (we had several guests with various food allergies) and many of our guests commented on how delicious everything was. Our guests with food allergies all showed up at brunch the next morning ready to eat again.\r\rWe opted not to hire a wedding planner, which ended up being a good move given how on top of things the staff were - they even rose to the occasion several times after we dropped the ball with this or that detail during the bustle of the last stages of planning.\r\rAs for the actual wedding itself, we could not be happier with how it went, and if we had to plan 10 more weddings we'd have them all at the Aquarium. Several of our vendors have also made a point of telling us how easy and great the Aquarium staff were to work with; we really can't thank them enough for playing such a huge part in our perfect day. \r\rAs a bonus, and feel even better (if it's even possible) knowing the money we saved for our wedding went to such a great and uniquely valuable public resource.
Reviewed on 01-10-2013
Meg Beste (groom) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 24-08-2013
I warned my wife that a number of people would come up to us during/after the reception and tell us it was the best they'd ever been to, and to take that with a grain of salt as it's a gracious thing for a guest to do whether they mean it or not. And while several people did, indeed, come up to us and say it was the best reception they'd ever been to, in our case I believe most of them were actually telling the truth.\r\rEvery aspect of our receptionâfrom the aquarium team greeting us as we walked up to the aquarium, to shuttling us up to our private prep room and making sure all our needs were met (Reese's Pieces? Really?), to staging our introduction, to the cocktails, dinner, and entertainmentâwas handled seamlessly by the event staff, allowing us to have fun, and enjoy the best night of our lives.\r\rI owe Abigail a special thanks for cheerfully (and skillfully) getting my wife bustled up before our entrance, as her bridesmaids were flummoxed and I was close to running down to the 7-11 for some duct tape and baling wire.\r\rI was pleasantly surprised by the number of people that checked out the exhibits during the reception, as I had assumed that maybe a handful of guests would just poke their noses in, or maybe go no further than the penguins. But it seems as if almost everyone there did in fact take advantage of our private access to tour the exhibits and take a stroll up and around the main tank, confirming for us what a perfect choice the aquarium was for a special, memorable reception. My wife and I even ended up spending more time in there than we had planned---when I checked my messages the next day there was one from the DJ, who had been trying to find us to come out for our first dance!\r\rThe site is also incredibly photogenic, and we have several hundred gorgeous photos from inside the aquarium, on the boardwalk, and in the tent to prove it. And then there's the fireworksâanother event somewhere on the harbor had fireworks, but they may as well have been for us and our guests, as they were right in front of us.\r\rAnd on top of all that, Abigail sent us a rebate of several hundred dollars a few days later, as we had, unbeknownst to us, overpaid for some line item or another, which we never would have noticed.
Reviewed on 30-09-2013
Wedding Date 24-08-2013
I warned my wife that a number of people would come up to us during/after the reception and tell us it was the best they'd ever been to, and to take that with a grain of salt as it's a gracious thing for a guest to do whether they mean it or not. And while several people did, indeed, come up to us and say it was the best reception they'd ever been to, in our case I believe most of them were actually telling the truth.\r\rEvery aspect of our receptionâfrom the aquarium team greeting us as we walked up to the aquarium, to shuttling us up to our private prep room and making sure all our needs were met (Reese's Pieces? Really?), to staging our introduction, to the cocktails, dinner, and entertainmentâwas handled seamlessly by the event staff, allowing us to have fun, and enjoy the best night of our lives.\r\rI owe Abigail a special thanks for cheerfully (and skillfully) getting my wife bustled up before our entrance, as her bridesmaids were flummoxed and I was close to running down to the 7-11 for some duct tape and baling wire.\r\rI was pleasantly surprised by the number of people that checked out the exhibits during the reception, as I had assumed that maybe a handful of guests would just poke their noses in, or maybe go no further than the penguins. But it seems as if almost everyone there did in fact take advantage of our private access to tour the exhibits and take a stroll up and around the main tank, confirming for us what a perfect choice the aquarium was for a special, memorable reception. My wife and I even ended up spending more time in there than we had planned---when I checked my messages the next day there was one from the DJ, who had been trying to find us to come out for our first dance!\r\rThe site is also incredibly photogenic, and we have several hundred gorgeous photos from inside the aquarium, on the boardwalk, and in the tent to prove it. And then there's the fireworksâanother event somewhere on the harbor had fireworks, but they may as well have been for us and our guests, as they were right in front of us.\r\rAnd on top of all that, Abigail sent us a rebate of several hundred dollars a few days later, as we had, unbeknownst to us, overpaid for some line item or another, which we never would have noticed.
Reviewed on 30-09-2013
Colleen Grady (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 18-05-2013
I would highly recommend having your wedding at the New England Aquarium if you are looking for a unique venue on the water. Our guests raved about the food and the views and loved having the Aquarium exhibits to themselves. They have some restrictions on sound and flowers, but didn't find it to be a major drawback. The sales people, wedding coordinators, and chef were all very helpful and great to work with, and we were really happy with the way the wedding turned out. Everyone had a great time!
Reviewed on 29-09-2013
Wedding Date 18-05-2013
I would highly recommend having your wedding at the New England Aquarium if you are looking for a unique venue on the water. Our guests raved about the food and the views and loved having the Aquarium exhibits to themselves. They have some restrictions on sound and flowers, but didn't find it to be a major drawback. The sales people, wedding coordinators, and chef were all very helpful and great to work with, and we were really happy with the way the wedding turned out. Everyone had a great time!
Reviewed on 29-09-2013
Michelle Lawton (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 07-09-2013
We recently had our wedding at the Aquarium on 9/7/13. From booking to the \"Big Day\" we had nothing but professional, personal, and outstanding service from Abigail, Emily and their staff. The venue is beautiful, overlooking Boston Harbor which went directly with our theme of the Boston Harbor Islands. The food was incredible, which we already knew, but surprised a lot of people! Anything we needed, they were able to accommodate for us. It will forever be a wonderful memory for us. We appreciate everything you did for us and strongly recommend this venue and will be willing to provide any more information if needed! Thanks again!
Reviewed on 25-09-2013
Wedding Date 07-09-2013
We recently had our wedding at the Aquarium on 9/7/13. From booking to the \"Big Day\" we had nothing but professional, personal, and outstanding service from Abigail, Emily and their staff. The venue is beautiful, overlooking Boston Harbor which went directly with our theme of the Boston Harbor Islands. The food was incredible, which we already knew, but surprised a lot of people! Anything we needed, they were able to accommodate for us. It will forever be a wonderful memory for us. We appreciate everything you did for us and strongly recommend this venue and will be willing to provide any more information if needed! Thanks again!
Reviewed on 25-09-2013
Rachel Barclay (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 06-09-2013
After getting engaged and basking in all of its glory, it was time to start the daunting task of finding a venue to host our wedding. My husband and I looked at lots of different places varying in style, size, and cost. \rOne day I was at the New England Aquarium (NEAq) and thought to myself 'what a great place to have a wedding!' I thought that it might be way out of our budget but I called anyway and spoke to one of the sales people. We set up at date and time to meet and I'm so glad we did! The NEAq was very accommodating to our budget and helped us to stay within our means. We loved working with each and every person we met there. \rOn our big day, we were thrilled to see how everything came together. We had the ceremony there, which was gorgeous along the water and our reception was under the big tent out back. During cocktail hour guests were able to walk around the aquarium and look at all of the fish and penguins! We had so many people come up to us through out the night saying what a lovely time they had, which made us very happy! \rThe staff was so professional and made sure my husband and I had everything we needed throughout the night. \rI am proud to say that we had our wedding at the New England Aquarium and would recommend them to anyone!
Reviewed on 24-09-2013
Wedding Date 06-09-2013
After getting engaged and basking in all of its glory, it was time to start the daunting task of finding a venue to host our wedding. My husband and I looked at lots of different places varying in style, size, and cost. \rOne day I was at the New England Aquarium (NEAq) and thought to myself 'what a great place to have a wedding!' I thought that it might be way out of our budget but I called anyway and spoke to one of the sales people. We set up at date and time to meet and I'm so glad we did! The NEAq was very accommodating to our budget and helped us to stay within our means. We loved working with each and every person we met there. \rOn our big day, we were thrilled to see how everything came together. We had the ceremony there, which was gorgeous along the water and our reception was under the big tent out back. During cocktail hour guests were able to walk around the aquarium and look at all of the fish and penguins! We had so many people come up to us through out the night saying what a lovely time they had, which made us very happy! \rThe staff was so professional and made sure my husband and I had everything we needed throughout the night. \rI am proud to say that we had our wedding at the New England Aquarium and would recommend them to anyone!
Reviewed on 24-09-2013
Courtney Smith (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 01-09-2013
Amazing! Dream Wedding!
Reviewed on 11-09-2013
Wedding Date 01-09-2013
Amazing! Dream Wedding!
Reviewed on 11-09-2013
Portia Abernathy (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 01-01-1970
We had a clambake rehearsal dinner at the aquarium (outside under the tent) followed by a dessert reception inside. The evening was absolutely magical! The food was unbelievable, the staff (especially Abigail) was wonderful and accommodating, and our guests were in awe of the venue. We had so many out of town guests who were able to have a one-of-a-kind New England experience! It was a truly unique, fun evening that we will never forget.
Reviewed on 18-08-2013
Wedding Date 01-01-1970
We had a clambake rehearsal dinner at the aquarium (outside under the tent) followed by a dessert reception inside. The evening was absolutely magical! The food was unbelievable, the staff (especially Abigail) was wonderful and accommodating, and our guests were in awe of the venue. We had so many out of town guests who were able to have a one-of-a-kind New England experience! It was a truly unique, fun evening that we will never forget.
Reviewed on 18-08-2013
Meredith Member (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 03-08-2013
I did a ton research for venues (I literally looked for a year) and I can say hands down the Aquarium was the best option for our wedding. I wanted something that was absolutely Boston, but offered me the flexibility to put my own stamp on the event. The view and location is hands the absolute best in Boston. Add to that the incredible value (relative to nearby Boston Harbor Hotel or the State Room), and it really is an amazing place to have an event- you have the best views of Boston Harbor, as well as complete access to the Aquarium itself. The tent comfortably held the 200 guests and band, so don't be worried about the size if you have a bigger wedding, it will totally work. \rThe actual planning process was also great. I originally booked the event with Emily Ferrar who was awesome to work with! She really took her time to answer all my questions and made me even more excited to book with the Aquarium then I already was. I am the type of person who really hates sale pressure, so I appreciated that Emily felt more like a friend than a sales person. I worked with Abigail during the planning process, and she was a doll who dealt with all absurd questions I threw her way. She made sure the event was executed exactly how I saw it, and the staff the night of the wedding was incredibly accommodating, with many of my guests telling me how great their waiters and servers were. I can't say enough about the experience with the aquarium and am so glad I chose this landmark location for my wedding. I would absolutely recommend this venue to other brides, without a doubt.
Reviewed on 13-08-2013
Wedding Date 03-08-2013
I did a ton research for venues (I literally looked for a year) and I can say hands down the Aquarium was the best option for our wedding. I wanted something that was absolutely Boston, but offered me the flexibility to put my own stamp on the event. The view and location is hands the absolute best in Boston. Add to that the incredible value (relative to nearby Boston Harbor Hotel or the State Room), and it really is an amazing place to have an event- you have the best views of Boston Harbor, as well as complete access to the Aquarium itself. The tent comfortably held the 200 guests and band, so don't be worried about the size if you have a bigger wedding, it will totally work. \rThe actual planning process was also great. I originally booked the event with Emily Ferrar who was awesome to work with! She really took her time to answer all my questions and made me even more excited to book with the Aquarium then I already was. I am the type of person who really hates sale pressure, so I appreciated that Emily felt more like a friend than a sales person. I worked with Abigail during the planning process, and she was a doll who dealt with all absurd questions I threw her way. She made sure the event was executed exactly how I saw it, and the staff the night of the wedding was incredibly accommodating, with many of my guests telling me how great their waiters and servers were. I can't say enough about the experience with the aquarium and am so glad I chose this landmark location for my wedding. I would absolutely recommend this venue to other brides, without a doubt.
Reviewed on 13-08-2013
Keba Schwanbeck (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 27-07-2013
I recently got married at the New England Aquarium, NEAQ, this past July 2013, and I have to say, it was an amazing experience on all levels, start to finish. Not only is the venue itself, unique, beautiful, right on the water, you have the entire Aquarium to yourself for the night, but the staff is amazing and I had the best time working with all of the staff. I always felt like I was valued and in capable hands, while having a positive, productive and fun experience!!! It is not an inexpensive wedding, but you do get alot and more for the money. All of our guests thought it was one of the best weddings they've been too, if not the best!\rHighly recommend this venue!!!!\r~ Unbiased Bride :)
Reviewed on 08-08-2013
Wedding Date 27-07-2013
I recently got married at the New England Aquarium, NEAQ, this past July 2013, and I have to say, it was an amazing experience on all levels, start to finish. Not only is the venue itself, unique, beautiful, right on the water, you have the entire Aquarium to yourself for the night, but the staff is amazing and I had the best time working with all of the staff. I always felt like I was valued and in capable hands, while having a positive, productive and fun experience!!! It is not an inexpensive wedding, but you do get alot and more for the money. All of our guests thought it was one of the best weddings they've been too, if not the best!\rHighly recommend this venue!!!!\r~ Unbiased Bride :)
Reviewed on 08-08-2013
Angie Utz (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 16-06-2013
I cannot thank everyone at the Aquarium enough. This was the most perfect day! Everything went absolutely perfect - and I mean NOTHING went wrong!! I would Highly recommend this venue to anyone for many many reasons:\r1. Staff - detail oriented, responsive, pleasant. They really lead this day flawlessly\r2. VENUE - how amazing to have a beautiful venue on the water, downtown Boston AND get the Aquarium to yourself. I continually have guests commenting on how amazing it was to have the Aquarium all to ourselves. MOST beautiful pictures also I might add.\r3. Food - they cater their own food, which is a huge plus to not have to manage more vendors. and the food is AMAZING! I still have people complimenting me on how great the food is.\r4. Flexibility - you can choose from every type of \"venue\" for each part of your day - ceremony on the harbor walk, cocktails in the aquarium, reception in the tent on the back\r5. All inclusive - they manage working with all of the vendors - you don't need to worry about renting tables, chairs, cloths, food, alcohol, ect\rTo say the least, I am so impressed and unbelievably happy we chose the Aquarium. It was more perfect than I could have ever imagined. Thank you all from the bottom, middle, side, top (all) of my heart!!!
Reviewed on 02-07-2013
Wedding Date 16-06-2013
I cannot thank everyone at the Aquarium enough. This was the most perfect day! Everything went absolutely perfect - and I mean NOTHING went wrong!! I would Highly recommend this venue to anyone for many many reasons:\r1. Staff - detail oriented, responsive, pleasant. They really lead this day flawlessly\r2. VENUE - how amazing to have a beautiful venue on the water, downtown Boston AND get the Aquarium to yourself. I continually have guests commenting on how amazing it was to have the Aquarium all to ourselves. MOST beautiful pictures also I might add.\r3. Food - they cater their own food, which is a huge plus to not have to manage more vendors. and the food is AMAZING! I still have people complimenting me on how great the food is.\r4. Flexibility - you can choose from every type of \"venue\" for each part of your day - ceremony on the harbor walk, cocktails in the aquarium, reception in the tent on the back\r5. All inclusive - they manage working with all of the vendors - you don't need to worry about renting tables, chairs, cloths, food, alcohol, ect\rTo say the least, I am so impressed and unbelievably happy we chose the Aquarium. It was more perfect than I could have ever imagined. Thank you all from the bottom, middle, side, top (all) of my heart!!!
Reviewed on 02-07-2013
Mary Klavin (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 08-06-2013
We could not have selected a better venue for our wedding. Simply put, the venue lends itself to beautiful views, lots of fun, and an unbeatable location. We booked the harbor portion of the aquarium for our wedding, which meant a tent right on the harbor with beautiful harbor and city skyline views, and a ceremony directly looking out onto the harbor as well. Our cocktail hour was inside the aquarium; we are still hearing praise and seeing people's photos from when they got to privately tour the aquarium with one another and their favorite cocktails.\r\rWe compared the price of the aquarium with downtown hotels and found the aquarium was very competitive, even less expensive when we booked secondary to the aquarium's giant ocean tank renovation. The aquarium and harbor also leant themselves to beautiful photographs. REALLY beautiful photographs. Catering is also done through the aquarium with pretty fantastic and wide-ranging options for cocktail hour, dinner, and even snack options for the end of the night. The menu was priced competitively and the food delicious. We had a lot of compliments on the hanger steak, and the vegetable wellington (we sampled at the tasting) was probably the best vegetarian dish I've ever had.\r\rThe aquarium staff was phenomenal. We worked with Deb in sales, and JP and Abigail in event management. Everyone was very sweet, responsive, and accommodating. We always felt taken care of, and everyone we worked with went out of their way to implement everything we requested. Abigail was especially wonderful, keeping us on track the day of the wedding in addition to finalizing a plethora of details with us in the weeks preceding. \r\rItâs hard to qualify how amazing it was to have our wedding at the aquarium. If you are considering having a wedding in Boston, youâd be crazy not to consider having it here. Weâre moving out of state soon but still plan to become members of the aquarium because we love it so much. âș
Reviewed on 17-06-2013
100 Reviews, with a Rating of 4.9 out of 5.0Wedding Date 08-06-2013
We could not have selected a better venue for our wedding. Simply put, the venue lends itself to beautiful views, lots of fun, and an unbeatable location. We booked the harbor portion of the aquarium for our wedding, which meant a tent right on the harbor with beautiful harbor and city skyline views, and a ceremony directly looking out onto the harbor as well. Our cocktail hour was inside the aquarium; we are still hearing praise and seeing people's photos from when they got to privately tour the aquarium with one another and their favorite cocktails.\r\rWe compared the price of the aquarium with downtown hotels and found the aquarium was very competitive, even less expensive when we booked secondary to the aquarium's giant ocean tank renovation. The aquarium and harbor also leant themselves to beautiful photographs. REALLY beautiful photographs. Catering is also done through the aquarium with pretty fantastic and wide-ranging options for cocktail hour, dinner, and even snack options for the end of the night. The menu was priced competitively and the food delicious. We had a lot of compliments on the hanger steak, and the vegetable wellington (we sampled at the tasting) was probably the best vegetarian dish I've ever had.\r\rThe aquarium staff was phenomenal. We worked with Deb in sales, and JP and Abigail in event management. Everyone was very sweet, responsive, and accommodating. We always felt taken care of, and everyone we worked with went out of their way to implement everything we requested. Abigail was especially wonderful, keeping us on track the day of the wedding in addition to finalizing a plethora of details with us in the weeks preceding. \r\rItâs hard to qualify how amazing it was to have our wedding at the aquarium. If you are considering having a wedding in Boston, youâd be crazy not to consider having it here. Weâre moving out of state soon but still plan to become members of the aquarium because we love it so much. âș
Reviewed on 17-06-2013
Contact Info for New England Aquarium
| Contact | Value |
|---|---|
| https://www.facebook.com/newenglandaquarium | |
| X (Twitter) | neaq |
| New England Aquarium | |
| Website | www.neaq.org |
| Phone | (617) 973-5205 |
| Address | One Central Wharf, Boston, MA, 02110 |
| Events@neaq.org |
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