Seymour Marine Discovery Center 100 McAllister Way • Santa Cruz • CA 95060
We'd love it if you would mention that you found Seymour Marine Discovery Center on the Here Comes The Guide website.
Why You'll Love This Place
A Here Comes The Guide Wedding Venue Review
- Perched on a secluded bluff above an unspoiled stretch of the Santa Cruz coast and Monterey Bay, you'll experience nature is at its finest at this 100-acre marine science center. The complex, comprised of several rustic, wood-planked buildings carefully crafted to showcase their remarkable natural surroundings, offers more than just a stunning backdrop—it's also an experience. From playful exploration in the seawater touch tanks to dramatic photo ops before enormous whale skeletons, you're sure to have a one-of-a-kind celebration surrounded by a vast, ever-changing sky and seascape.
- Soak in unobstructed ocean views from the expansive, sunlit Shipwreck Deck, where your exchange of vows will be surrounded by a landscape of coastal prairie grasses and wetlands and accompanied by the soft sound of the nearby surf. Just inside, you'll find the Exhibit Hall, where your guests can gather around the touch tables to mingle with the live marine animals and explore interactive exhibitions, while you steal away for golden hour portraits among the salt-swept hills and before dramatic bluff-top sunsets.
- Dance the night away beneath an enormous gray whale, suspended from the open beams of the center's lobby. Dinner unfolds in the spectacular La Feliz Room, where panoramas of native meadows and the bay's curving shoreline are enjoyed through wood-framed windows that accent the soaring ceilings. Best of all, your fees go directly towards supporting the center's mission and funding its ongoing programs, ensuring its legacy continues forward for future generations to enjoy.
DEALS: What discounts, special offers, or packages are available here?
FREE WEDDING-DAY ADMISSION
One of the "perks" of celebrating your wedding at the wonderfully unique Seymour Marine Discovery Center: your guests get free admission to the exhibit center on your wedding day. What a fun, interactive way for friends and family to amuse themselves before the ceremony! You also have the option to add on time at the "touch table" during your cocktail hour. How's that for a memorable experience? Contact the events team for more info by using the form on the right!
Off-Peak Discounts!
- Recieve $600 off on Friday or Sunday dates
- Receive 15% off non-peak dates (November 15–March 15)
- Inquire about Monday–Thursday disounts
PRICES: What's this going to cost?
Rental Fee
- $9,300–12,100/event
- Rental fee varies depending on:
- Day of week
- Time of year
- Package chosen
- Type of event
The rental fee for a ceremony + reception ranges $9,300–12,100 and includes:
- 11- or 13-hour venue rental time, including the all-day use of the La Feliz Room and after-hours access to the Exhibit Hall
- Ocean-view ceremony on Shipwreck Deck or La Feliz Deck
- Staffed seawater touch table during cocktail hour
- Free Seymour Center admission for guests during its open hours on the wedding day
- Ceremony rehearsal
- Tables & chairs
- Lighting, sound system, microphones, and projectors
- Service kitchen and mobile bar
- Dual membership to the Seymour Center
- Changing/storage room and overnight storage (upgraded packages only)
Reception-only packages start at $7,800; ceremony-only packages start at $1,900.
Additional Info
Additional costs include event insurance, a refundable security deposit, and third-party event staffing.
GUEST COUNT: How many people can we have here? What’s the max capacity?
| Indoors | Outdoors | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ceremony | Seated | 100 | 120 |
| Cocktails, etc. | Standing | 200 | 150 |
| Reception | Seated | 120 | 100 |
| Meetings | Total meeting capacity for this venue is 110. | ||
CEREMONY, EVENT/RECEPTION & MEETING CAPACITY: For seated receptions, the venue holds up to 120 indoors or 100 outdoors. The entire center accommodates up to 200 for a standing/cocktail reception. For ceremonies, it seats 100 indoors and 120 outdoors.
Venue Info & FAQs
OPTIONS: What kinds of events can we have here?
- Outdoor Ceremony
- Ceremony
- Wedding Receptions
- Outdoor Reception
- LGBTQ+ Friendly
- Small Wedding
- Rehearsal Dinner
- Special Events / Parties
- Business Functions / Meetings
POLICIES: What are the food, alcohol, music, and other rules here?
Price
$ • $$
Catering
Preferred list
BYO
Caterers not on the venue's preferred list must provide a certificate of insurance -- please consult your events director for details.
Alcohol
BYO
Amplified Music
Indoors
Outdoors
Some restrictions
Wheelchair Access
Wheelchair accessible
Availability
Year-round, daily (except holidays), 10am–10pm. All guests must be off premises by 11pm.
STYLE: What’s the style and overall vibe of this venue?
Buildings & other settings available:
- Non-Profit
- Patio / Deck / Terrace
- Unique
- Beach / Ocean
- Zoo / Aquarium
VIEWS: What kind of views does this place have?
Peep the views you’ll enjoy from this venue!
- Meadow / Fields
- Ocean / Bay
- Panoramic
AMENITIES: What services and amenities are available here?
Feel like a VIP with these services and amenities:
Catering: select from list or BYO
Kitchen Facilities: fully equipped
Tables & Chairs: provided
Linens, Silver, etc.: BYO
Restrooms: wheelchair accessible
Dance Floor: BYO, depending on space rented
Dressing Area: CBA
Meeting Equipment: BYO
Parking: medium-sized public lot, shuttling encouraged
Accommodations: no guestrooms
Telephone: guest phone
Outdoor Night Lighting: provided
Outdoor Cooking Facilities: no
Cleanup: renter
View: panorama of ocean/bay, coastline and fields
Other: picnic area, AV equipment, ocean view decks, aquarium and exhibit hall availability
RESTRICTIONS: What limitations or restrictions should we know about here?
Take note of the following limitations!
Alcohol: BYO
Smoking: not allowed
Music: amplified OK indoors until 10pm, outdoors until 7pm
Wheelchair Access: yes
Insurance: liability required
Seymour Marine Discovery Center
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