General FAQs
Up to eight (8) hours exclusive use of the Aquatopia Conservatory Atrium & Greenhouse
A personal event co-ordinator on staff to assist with your event
Up to 150 vintage white Chiavari chairs & cushions
Up to eighteen (18) 5' x 5' square dining tables
A registry signing table with floor length linen
Access to Aquatopia for photography session prior to your event
Private access to our gallery lounge two hours prior to your event
High speed Wi-Fi internet access
On-site management staff for the duration of the event
Labour for event set-up & clean-up
Complimentary hotel accommodations for the newlyweds on the night of the event. (Subject to availability)
Up to five (5) hours exclusive use of the Aquatopia Atrium, Greenhouse & outdoor gardens for your ceremony & photos.
Up to Fifty (50) lime washed Chiavari cushioned chairs.
A registry signing table with white floor length linen.
Access to our bridal lounge and ensuite lavatory one (1) hour prior to the event.
An event coordinator to manage the order of the day.
Design services of our floral & decor team to realize your dream board.
Access to Aquatopia’s full catalogue of customizable floral & decor options.
In-house sound system for recorded background music.
High speed WiFi access.
All labour for event setup and cleanup.
Aquatopia is heated and maintains pleasant temperatures throughout the winter months and cooler periods during the spring and fall. In the summer, Aquatopia Conservatory is openly ventilated to the exterior, maintaining a temperature that is typically no warmer than the outdoors, but with a cool breeze from our industrial ceiling fans. 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.
Our Executive Chef 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.
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.
Aquatopia has a wedding party lounge with a private restroom for finishing touches and outfit changes. This space is well suited as a green room for the wedding party prior to the event, however there is insufficient space for bridesmaids and/or groomsmen to get ready on your wedding day. This area is ideal as a private space for corporate and non-profit staff during events and fundraisers.
Absolutely! Aquatopia has a wide variety of potted botanicals, succulents and blooming plants that can be provided as special take-away gifts for your guests.
While there are no set minimums on floral & decor, the average spend for all of our weddings in 2023 was approximately $7,500. The highest budget to date was approximately $25,000, which, in addition to floral and decor, included: fireworks, special effects, and a variety of custom tableware & furniture rentals.
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 such as glitter, rice, and pyrotechnics (please refer to your event agreement for specifics), for which there are many other fabulous alternatives.
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.
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 consult our booking minimums calendar.
Yes. The couple and their 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 if your wedding includes a ceremony. If your ceremony is off-site, your wedding party will have access to the venue 30-minutes prior to your guests arrival. Please note our events team will still be setting up the venue for your wedding at this time, so we do ask that only the wedding party be present for early arrival.
There are several major hotels within a 12-minute drive from our facility. There are also nearby rental properties available that are well suited for our clients who are seeking a spacious group accommodation setting. Our events staff can speak to you about arranging the best accommodations for you and your guests.
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.
Under a Special Occasion Permit, alcohol can be purchased for your event by either yourself, or by our food & beverage team. Any unused alcoholic beverages will be returned to you following your event.
No. The margins of the pond are built with flat granite armour stone that acts like a rumble strip on a highway warning people that an unscheduled midnight swim is imminent.
Information for Guests
Yes! There is plenty of complimentary parking space available at Aquatopia.
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.
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.
Some of our recommended hotels can be found below:
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.
There is no need for cash at Aquatopia. Our bar is run as either a fully open alcoholic bar, or as an open non-alcoholic bar. Cash would only be necessary if you wish to tip the bartenders!
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.
Local Taxi Service:
Blue Line Taxi: 613-238-1111
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.