California Academy of Sciences 55 Music Concourse Dr • San Francisco • CA 94118
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Why You'll Love This Place
A Here Comes The Guide Wedding Venue Review
- There's only one place on Earth where you can pop the question in front of a coral reef, say "I do" among the stars and planets, and dine in the company of penguins: the California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco’s world-renowned, eco-friendly natural history museum. An event here is so much more than an event—it’s an adventure.
- With a dozen areas to choose from, your celebration flows seamlessly from one part of the museum to another. You might exchange vows in the East or West Gardens, serve cocktails in the Aquarium, then move on to a gourmet five-course repast in the African Hall, flanked by meticulously crafted dioramas depicting wild animals.
- Your gathering supports the Academy's extensive regenerative initiatives, which go beyond sustainability in a mission to repair and rebuild damaged ecosystems. This includes including their living roof—a natural climate control system—, the remarkable indoor reef, the ongoing care and wellness of resident animals, and their efforts to harvest and recreate bleached coral populations in order to reintroduce them to the natural environment. As they succinctly put it, "To save the Earth, we have to strengthen the Earth,"—and your wedding can be a part of that.
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PRICES: What's this going to cost?
Rental Fee
- $15,000–25,000/event
- Rental fee varies depending on:
- Space reserved
Venue rental fees include:
- Exclusive use of the couple's selected event space or spaces
- On-site event coordinators and audio/visual professionals
- Getting-ready suites
- Museum security
- And more!
Event Spaces available for rent include: Rainforest, Aquarium, Swamp, Piazza, African Hall, East Pavilion, West Pavilion, Main Lobby, or couples may reserve the Full Academy.
GUEST COUNT: How many people can we have here? What’s the max capacity?
| Indoors | Outdoors | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ceremony | Seated | 250 | 350 |
| Cocktails, etc. | Standing | 3000 | 350 |
| Reception | Seated | 500 | 350 |
| Meetings | Total meeting capacity for this venue is 80. | ||
CEREMONY & MEETING CAPACITY: The site accommodates 500 seated guests indoors and 350 outdoors.
EVENT/RECEPTION CAPACITY: The museum holds 500 seated or 3,000 standing guests indoors.
Venue Info & FAQs
OPTIONS: What kinds of events can we have here?
- Outdoor Ceremony
- Ceremony
- Wedding Receptions
- Outdoor Reception
- LGBTQ+ Friendly
- Elopement Packages
- Small Wedding
- Rehearsal Dinner
- Special Events / Parties
- Business Functions / Meetings
- Late Night
POLICIES: What are the food, alcohol, music, and other rules here?
Price
$$ • $$$
Catering
Preferred list
Alcohol
BYO
Must be from a licensed caterer.
Amplified Music
Indoors
Some restrictions
Wheelchair Access
Wheelchair accessible
Availability
Year-round, 6:30pm–midnight, every day except Thursday.
STYLE: What’s the style and overall vibe of this venue?
Buildings & other settings available:
- Loft / Warehouse / Industrial
- Museum
- Non-Profit
- Unique
- Zoo / Aquarium
- Patio / Deck / Terrace
VIEWS: What kind of views does this place have?
Peep the views you’ll enjoy from this venue!
- Cityscape
- Forest / Woods
- Garden
- Hills
- Landscaped Grounds
- Mountains
- Panoramic
- Park
AMENITIES: What services and amenities are available here?
Feel like a VIP with these services and amenities:
Catering: select from list
Kitchen Facilities: no
Tables & Chairs: through caterer
Linens, Silver, etc.: through caterer
Restrooms: ADA accessible
Dance Floor: CBA
Dressing Area: yes
Meeting Equipment: CBA
Parking: third party operated garage on premise, fee to extend hours
Accommodations: no guest rooms
Outdoor Night Lighting: yes
Outdoor Cooking Facilities: through caterer
Cleanup: caterer or renter
View: cityscape, park, landscaped grounds
RESTRICTIONS: What limitations or restrictions should we know about here?
Take note of the following limitations!
Alcohol: BYO licensed server
Smoking: not allowed
Music: amplified OK with restrictions
Wheelchair Access: yes
Insurance: liability required
California Academy of Sciences
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