Chabot Space & Science Center

Select services venue

The venue will provide the space, plus a few extras.

Full wedding (ceremony and reception) pricing

Starting at $4,900

Packages

Prices start at $1,700

Guest capacity

Up to 1500 seated guests

About this venue

Whether you want to get married under the stars or just party among them, Chabot specializes in Celestial Ceremonies sure to dazzle. Imagine getting married in the Planetarium on a spot-lit stage beneath a 70-foot dome of gorgeous night sky thick with stars, while your guests sit spellbound in comfortable tiered seats. The Observatory Complex offers incredible a breath of fresh air with stunning views. Your guests will delight in the sunset over surrounding Oakland Hills forests. Join us for our Open House on March 26th to see the Center brought to life for an event, and meet our vendor partners!

Seated guest capacity

1-1500

Venue type

Museums, Galleries
Parks, Gardens

Venue setting

Indoor
Outdoor

10000 Skyline Blvd, Oakland, CA 94619

Our event spaces

Astronomy Hall

Beautiful hall high in the Oakland Hills redwoods.

Astronomy Hall is the museum's largest contiguous space, perfect for banquets. The hall houses temporary or travelling exhibits that your guests can enjoy, and has outdoor access to Chabot's Observatory and our three historical telescopes.

Guest capacity

1-300 Seated

1-450 Standing

Square footage

3,500

Ideal for

Wedding ceremony, Wedding reception, Rehearsal dinner, Wedding shower, Engagement party, Welcome party, After party, Farewell brunch, Cocktail hour

Included in this room:

*Built-in projection, screen, and overhead audio *Direct Loading Dock access for easy vendor load in *Movable museum exhibits

Room cost

$6,900 Sunday-Friday, $8,900 Saturday

Planetarium

A ceremony under the stars with no risk of rain

The Planetarium offers a completely customized celestial experience. Choose to be wed under the aurora borealis, the constellations on the day and time you met, or a rising moon while your guests sit spellbound in cozy tiered seats. Follow the ceremony with a star or laser show of your choosing!

Guest capacity

1-241 Seated

1-250 Standing

Ideal for

Wedding ceremony

Guests often feel this space is

“Surprised and delighted”

Included in this room:

-Customized celestial projection -Microphone -Amplified Music -Lighting -1-hour ceremony rehearsal

Room cost

$2,900 for 2 hours

Observatory

Ceremony under the stars

Set high in the Oakland Hills, the Chabot Observatory is a perfect space for ceremonies and cocktail hours. Enjoy the sunset over the surrounding redwood forests, then treat your guests to star viewings with a team of astronomers on our three historical telescopes.

Guest capacity

1-175 Seated

1-250 Standing

Ideal for

Wedding ceremony, Wedding reception, Rehearsal dinner, Wedding shower, Cocktail hour

Guests often feel this space is

“Surprised and delighted”

Included in this room:

-Three historical telescopes for viewings (weather permitting) -Educators and Astronomers to guide you through the universe -Patio tables & chairs for a partially seated roving cocktail hour -

Room cost

$2,900 for 2 hours Sunday-Saturday, $5,500 for 7 hours Sunday-Thursday

Spees Building

2 Levels of Space & Science Exhibits to enthrall your guests

Featuring 2 levels of an open atrium skylight and museum exhibits, the Spees building can be used for fully seated receptions or as a cocktail hour space for guests to rove with drinks in hand. Chabot exhibits are designed to be hands-on and highly engaging for all ages.

Guest capacity

1-350 Seated

1-600 Standing

Square footage

9,000

Ideal for

Wedding reception, Cocktail hour

Guests often feel this space is

“Surprised and delighted”

Room cost

$4,900-$10,500

Courtyard

Museum garden space amid the forest

The Chabot Courtyard is perfect for casual garden receptions, cocktail hours, and ceremonies. It features views of the surrounding redwood forest, a sunken amphitheater, space for dining and dancing. When used privately during the day, guests receive admission to enjoy the rest of the museum.

Guest capacity

1-200 Seated

1-300 Standing

Square footage

10,000

Ideal for

Wedding ceremony, Wedding reception, Rehearsal dinner, Wedding shower, Farewell brunch, Couples luncheon, Cocktail hour

Guests often feel this space is

“Relaxed”

Included in this room:

-Includes 14 54" round tables -Amphitheater seats 130 -Space for additional tables

Room cost

$4,500 Sunday-Friday

-Includes 14 54" round tables -Amphitheater seats 130 -Space for additional tables

Room cost

$4,500 Sunday-Friday

Chabot Space & Science Center packages

Across the Universe Package

1-241 guests

Peak pricing $10,500-12,900

Off-peak pricing $10,500-12,900

Description

Celebrate a celestial ceremony by getting married on a spot-lit stage beneath the gorgeous night sky thick with stars, while your guests sit spellbound in comfortable tiered seats in the planetarium. Guests enjoy our most popular spots across the museum with cocktail hour on the 2nd Floor of Spees among interactive exhibits, and dinner and dancing in Studio 3: Astronomy Hall. »» Accommodates up to 241 guests »» 2-hour Planetarium rental with 7-hour rental of reception spaces

Written in the Stars

1-241 guests

Peak pricing $8,900-11,500

Off-peak pricing $8,900-11,500

Description

Celebrate throughout the night with dinner, dancing, and drinks among the levels of interactive exhibits and the architectural magnificence of the Spees Building after a starlit ceremony in the Planetarium. »» Accommodates up to 241 guests »» Two levels of exhibits with the outdoor courtyard »» 2-hour Planetarium rental with 7-hour Spees building rental

Moonlight Package

1-175 guests

Peak pricing $7,900-9,900

Off-peak pricing $7,900-9,900

Description

Dazzle your guests with a stunning ceremony at the Chabot Observatory with a view of the sun setting over the surrounding forests. Enjoy dinner, dancing, and toasts in neighboring Studio 3: Astronomy Hall. Guests will have easy access to our three historical telescopes for evening viewings with our astronomers. »» Accommodates up to 200 guests »» Largest contiguous space for reception »» 2-hour Chabot Observatory rental with 7-hour Gruener Astronomy Hall rental

Open Sky Package

1-100 guests

Peak pricing $5,500

Off-peak pricing $5,500

Description

Say your vows at the Chabot Observatory overlooking the majestic redwoods. Watch the sun go down as you wine and dine on the Observation Deck before telescope viewings. »» Accommodates up to 100 guests on Sundays-Thursdays »» 2-hour exclusive Telescope Viewing with 7-hour Observation Deck rental

Available services that can be provided by Chabot Space & Science Center

Services & amenities

Dressing room / Bridal Suite
Pet friendly
Wifi

Transportation & access

Self parking - free

Reviews

Write a review

5.0 out of 5

12 reviews

Write a review

A unique and beautiful venue
•Verified review
•Melanie C.•Sep 30, 2024
The Chabot Space and Science Center was an INCREDIBLE venue for our wedding! From the very start, the staff was incredibly responsive and clear in their communication, which made the planning process smooth and stress-free. We never felt like they were trying to sell us hard on booking with them - there was no pressure during or after our consultation, which I appreciated so much. It gave me confidence that everything they told us was an accurate representation of the venue and experience we would get with them, and that was absolutely true. The venue is also a great value - the museum vibe with access to the large telescopes and spacious indoor and outdoor areas created such a unique and memorable setting. On first glance the space does give a more industrial vibe (it's a space and science center, after all), but the setup and decor we added warmed up the space and it did not feel at all inappropriate for creating a warm and beautiful wedding space. We had 145 guests and the space felt very spacious for that headcount. We could have added more guests comfortably. Our guests absolutely loved the museum aspect, especially the kids who got to interact with the exhibits we chose to have displayed in our reception hall. Chabot was a fun, unique venue with lots of character, and it exceeded our expectations in every way. Plus, it's a nonprofit! If you have to spend money on a venue, you might as well have it go to a good cause and fund some field trips for local kiddos :)
Response from vendor•Sep 30, 2024
Thank you so much for your incredible review Melanie! We're absolutely thrilled to hear that your experience this past weekend was everything you hoped for and more. It was our pleasure to be part of your special day and ensure the planning process was as smooth and stress-free as possible. We take pride in providing an honest and transparent experience, so it's wonderful to know that you felt confident and comfortable throughout. We're glad the unique blend of space, science, and your personal touches helped create such a memorable setting for your wedding. Knowing that your guests—especially the kids—enjoyed interacting with the exhibits makes us so happy. And we love that our nonprofit mission resonated with you as well! Thank you again for choosing Chabot, and for helping support local students in the process! Wishing you both a lifetime of love and adventure. Warmly, The Chabot Space & Science Center Team
Thank you Chabot!
•Verified review
•Audrey F.•Sep 9, 2024
We loved having our wedding reception at the Chabot Space and Science Center! The venue coordinator, Rasheda, was so prompt and kind in all of her communication during the planning process. She was always just a phone call away whenever we had a question and offered helpful suggestions. On the big day itself, Rasheda made sure that all of the vendors were exactly where they needed to be and any questions were answered. The space itself was so unique and fun for a wedding, with the telescopes being a big hit to guests. It felt spacious for our guest count and was very affordable compared to traditional wedding venues. Our guests are still raving about how memorable it was! A special shout out to Rasheda and Alex who were phenomenal, as well as the friendly astronomers who engaged our guests.
Response from vendor•Sep 10, 2024
Thank you for such kind words, Audrey! It was a pleasure to host you and we are wishing you so much joy!
The best venue your guests won’t forget!
•Verified review
•Melissa M.•Dec 3, 2023
Words can express how wonderful it was to have our wedding at Chabot! My husband and I were looking for a venue that was different than your traditional wedding location and Chabot was the perfect place. We booked the “Across the Universe” package which allowed us to have the ceremony in the Planetarium, cocktail hour upstairs & the reception in Astronomy Hall, 3 different places! We were in love with the idea that our guests could enjoy different settings all in the same location. The ability to customize the Planetarium in terms of lights, music & projections allowed us to really personalize the space. We got married October 7, 2023 and Chabot was able to project the sky from October 7, 2016, the day that we met which was super special! We had 150 guests and Astronomy Hall had the perfect amount of space where everyone had enough room to be comfortable to sit down but also move around and dance. We decided to go with their recommended vendors for wedding coordination (Simply Elegant by Diana), catering (Blue Heron), and lighting/DJ services (Verducci Event Productions) which really made the coordination process so easy! The Chabot team, Alex and Chelsea, are very organized and great to work with. They did an amazing job bringing our vision for the wedding to life and we are truly grateful for them! And because they are a non-profit, the rental cost of the venue goes back to fund the center, it was a no brainer for us to choose Chabot! If you’re looking for a unique and fun wedding venue, you will not regret picking the Chabot Space & Science Center!
An out of this world experience!
•Verified review•Incentivized review
•Aldo M.•Oct 30, 2023
We are very happy with how our wedding went! Chelsea, Alex, Rasheda, and the rest of the Chabot staff were an absolute joy to work with. They are knowledgeable, professional, and shared our excitement. They guided us on every step of the process from vendor walk throughs of the venue to the lighting and content for the planetarium dome. Their planning packet made helped make the process easy to navigate as well. The venue itself is very beautiful and we would absolutely recommend it for couples who love space or just want a cool location that is different than the norm. Our guests enjoyed mingling in the unique space and interacting with the exabits during cocktail hour. Being in a redwood park, the venue makes a perfect indoor or outdoor wedding location. While we booked an indoor space for our wedding, we absolutely had to use the outdoor spaces at golden hour for a our wedding photos. We can't recommend the Chabot and the wonderfully staff there enough!

Preferred vendors of Chabot Space & Science Center

Katharina Stuart Floral Art And Design

5.0 (4)

El Cerrito, CA

Caterer

Mccalls Catering & Events

5.0 (3)

Real couples who got married at Chabot Space & Science Center

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The venue, parking, hospitality room, an on-site facility coordinator, a 1-hour ceremony rehearsal, two 1-hour walkthrough vendor planning meetings, security, and the taxes. Complimentary telescope viewings on Friday and Saturday nights, weather permitting.

Your reservation in most venues includes seven hours from start to finish from 5 PM to 12 AM, including the time it takes for vendors to set up and clean up. Additional hours after midnight are available for a fee. The Courtyard is additionally available for daytime events from 9 AM to 4 PM.

Yes, you will need $1,000,000 in coverage.

It is highly recommended that clients coordinate with one of Chabot's 11 preferred caterers who are all well-versed with the museum's policies, although a buyout option of $1,000 is available for outside caterers. The caterer provides all service personnel, equipment, and they handle rental orders for tables, linens, dishware, etc. as well as set up and clean up.

April-October

January, February, March

All alcohol must be served by certified bartenders. Only companies with a liquor license may serve liquor on-premises. You may provide your bar company with alcohol to serve.

There are over 400 free parking spaces.

Yes, the entire facility is wheelchair accessible.

If a booking is canceled in writing 150+ days prior to the event, 100% of the deposit minus a $600 processing fee will be returned; 90–150 days prior to the event 50% of the deposit will be returned. Cancellations received less than 90 days in advance do not qualify for a refund.

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