6 Herndon Ave
Annapolis, MD 21403
888-728-3229
View their website
Average Base Cost: $27,000
Our average base cost for a Chesapeake Bay Foundation/Philip Merrill Environmental Center wedding is calculated by figuring a 125-person guest list for a Saturday ceremony/reception using a food/beverage cost of $125/pp. Entertainment, flowers, furniture, additional decorations and rentals, transportation, and photography are NOT included. Price is rounded up to the nearest thousand. Gratuity and sales tax is included.
*Prices subject to change
How it breaks down:
Facility Rental Fee: $5,500-$7,000 (Fridays are $5,500, Saturdays are $7,000, and Sundays are $5,000); Rental fee is for private usage of the Philip Merrill Environmental Center venue for 8 hours (five-hour event time, two-hour pre-arrival, and one-hour departure). Additional hours can be purchased if needed.
Extras: $500/extra hour; $25 or $50 for liquor license
What’s Included:
- Private use of beach, deck and facility
- Indoor or outdoor dining space
- 125 parking spots
- Bridal suite
- 3 tents with ceiling fans
- Stringer lights and 10-foot clear sidewalls for maximum views
- 10 60″ round tables
- 4 36″ cocktail tables
- 24 3×5 foot rectangular tables
- 125-foot dock that allows for arrival and departure by boat
- Additional décor items
Food and Beverage: Catering must be provided by one of their preferred caterers, such as Absolutely Perfect Catering and The Main Ingredient.
Other Vendors: Outside vendors (aside from catering) are allowed.
More Stats:
Space Type: Inside/Outside
Size: 170 for a seated dinner 200 with stations. Inside space can seat up to 100 for a seated dinner; tent covered deck can seat to up to 170 for a seated dinner; Private beach for ceremony and cocktail hour space as well.
Bridal Suite: Yes. There is a suite with an adjacent private deck that has views of the Chesapeake Bay
Parking: Yes, the venue rental includes 125 parking spots
How Will Grandma Get There? Grandma would most likely stay in downtown Annapolis which is only about 4 miles away and has a slew of hotel options, including the Westin Annapolis. The Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport is about 33 minutes away from the venue.
Party On! Friday- music has to be off by 10:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday- music has to be off by 10 p.m.
The Report:
Philip Merrill Environmental Center, which ranks among the world’s “greenest buildings,” is the headquarters for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and is where the events are held. Surrounded by 33 wooded acres of land and a waterfront location with inside/outside views of the Chesapeake Bay, some couples choose to have their ceremony on the private beach, seated dinner in the inside space, and cocktails/dancing on the tented deck.
Woman Getting Married Says:
Oh, hello, new favorite waterfront wedding venue. I really love the unique, modern, yet homey vibe of this wedding venue, and it’s includes a lot of great amenities to boot (a wedding tent–and they offer 3–would cost you hundreds alone). Plus, it’s super close location to downtown (while still feeling remote and private) is the best of both worlds. I’d run to this venue to check it out and see if it works for you.
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