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Aquatopia Water Garden Conservatory

General FAQs

CAN I MAKE CHANGES TO MY ESTIMATE?

Absolutely! Your preliminary estimate is designed to allow you to secure a date for your event before all the details are finalized. If there is anything you would like to change or add, we are happy to update your estimate as many times as required throughout the planning process.

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE FLORAL & DECOR SERVICES?

Our in-house floral & decor team can assist you with designing all floral & decor elements of your wedding day and will bring your design visions to life. Specific pricing is provided after a design consultation with our floral & decor professionals, who will give you a custom quote based on your requirements and style!

DO YOU ALLOW PETS?

Domesticated pets are permitted to participate in a wedding ceremony or presentation, but they are required to be leashed or caged and under the care of a responsible handler at all times. Following the ceremony or presentation, and once the food is being served, pets are required to leave our premises. In the event that the pet damages or soils the facility or merchandise, the client will be responsible for the clean-up costs and/or repairs. Service animals are welcome anytime at Aquatopia.

WILL THE CONSERVATORY BE TOO WARM OR COLD?

Aquatopia is heated and maintains pleasant temperatures throughout the winter months. In the summer, the Aquatopia greenhouse is openly ventilated to the exterior, maintaining an ambient temperature that is typically no warmer than the outdoors. For summer events held during warm weather, guests are encouraged to dress appropriately as if the event they are attending was being held outdoors. We recommend that events held in June, July or August start no sooner than 5:00pm.

CAN I COME IN EARLY FOR PHOTOS?

Yes. The couple and wedding party are permitted to arrive two (2) hours before ceremony start time for a Traditional Wedding and one (1) hour before for a Zen Wedding. Please note our events team will still be setting up the venue for your wedding, so we do ask that only the wedding party be present at this time.

DO YOU DO OFF-SITE PLANNING?

Yes, on occasions we will do off-site planning. If you need a coordinator at another location for a short period of time, like an off-site ceremony, please notify our events team.

WHAT ARE THE MINIMUM AND MAXIMUM CAPACITIES FOR GUESTS?

Our maximum capacity is 150 guests and our minimum is 25 guests. We do reserve certain dates and times to accommodate smaller events. For further information regarding guests capacities, please speak to our events team.

ARE THERE ACCOMMODATIONS CLOSE BY?

There are several major hotels within a 15 minute drive from our facility. In addition, there are spacious rental properties available nearby for group accommodation. Our events staff can speak to you about arranging the best accommodations for you and your guests.

CAN YOU HOLD PREFERRED DATES FOR MY EVENT?

We do not place soft holds on dates. To reserve a date we would require a signed event agreement along with your $4,000 retainer payment to secure your preferred date.

HOW DO I ARRANGE CATERING FOR MY WEDDING?

Our culinary team will work with you to discuss guest counts and appropriate selections for your event. Aquatopia is the exclusive provider for all food & beverage services at our facility.

MAY I PROVIDE MY OWN FLORAL & GREENERY FOR MY EVENT?

The interior of Aquatopia is an organic working ecosystem with a valuable plant collection. We practice a strict biological protocol for managing all plant material coming into our facility. As such, our expert floral team are the exclusive suppliers for all floral & decor elements for all events held at Aquatopia.

ARE THERE ANY LIMITATIONS ON THE FLORAL & DECOR?

At Aquatopia, we want to create your wedding just as you envisioned. As such, our talented design team can source, build, or create just about any wedding design element for you. In the best interest of the health and safety of our fish and plant life, we do have a few limitations for items such as glitter, rice, and pyrotechnics (please refer to your event agreement for specifics), for which there are many other fabulous alternatives.

HOW DOES YOUR BAR SERVICE WORK?

We offer an open bar service. As part of our standard bar service fee, our food & beverage team will purchase any alcohol for your event on your behalf at LCBO cost under a Special Occasion Permit. Any unused alcoholic beverages will be returned to you following your event. A hybrid cash bar option is also available, if required.

WILL MY PRICING STAY THE SAME IF I BOOK FOR 2026/2027?

If you are looking to book a date for the upcoming year(s), we will add a contingency budget to your proposal estimate to help prepare you for any potential pricing increases.

Information for Guests

Is Aquatopia wheelchair accessible?

We are wheelchair accessible! However, the tiling on the floor of Aquatopia is uneven, so we advise that someone be available to assist any friends or family with other mobility issues.

Is there parking on site?

Yes! There is plenty of complimentary parking space available at Aquatopia. 

Can I leave my car at Aquatopia overnight?

Absolutely. You may leave your car in the parking lot at Aquatopia overnight however, we request that you return to pick up your vehicle by noon the following day as we often have other events taking place that afternoon. 

Are there accommodations close by?

There are several major hotels within a 12-minute drive from our facility in Kanata. In addition, there are nearby rental properties available for spacious group accommodation settings. 

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Some of our recommended hotels can be found below:

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Brookstreet Kanata Hotel

Holiday Inn & Suites Kanata

Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Kanata

What's the temperature like in the greenhouse?

Think of Aquatopia as an outdoor venue that is shielded from the weather. During the summer months, it does get very warm in the greenhouse, similar to the temperature outside however, our large industrial ceiling fans allow us to create a constant breeze. During the cooler months, our facility is continually heated to standard room temperature. We recommend that you dress appropriately as if you are attending an outdoor style wedding event. 

Do I need to bring cash to the venue?

Cash would also be handy if the event you are attending has a open host bar and you wish to buy drinks and/or you wish to tip the bartenders! 

Is there a taxi service or uber available?

There are both taxis and Ubers that serve Aquatopia. Taxis do tend to be a more reliable transportation service as Ubers operate in densely populated areas and we are located about 10-15 minutes from a city. 

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Local Taxi Service:

Blue Line Taxi: 613-238-1111

When should I arrive on the wedding day?

The doors to our venue open for guests 30 minutes prior to the ceremony or event start time. Please check your invitation for the start time of the event. 

Where is the closest gas station?
We are fortunate to have a 24-hour Shell gas station directly across the street from Aquatopia.
Is there a baby changing table at Aquatopia?

We do have a changing table available for families in a private bathroom.