Atlantis Banquets + Events makes your dream photo shoot a reality, whether you want selfies with butterflies, sharks, sea lions, or penguins!
Wildlife tourism is big business, predicted to surge to $2.45 billion by 2034, according to Future Market Insights. But travelling to exotic locales such as the Maldives or Isla Mujeres isn’t always necessary when the Long Island Aquarium and Atlantis Banquets + Events can arrange amazing photo ops with sea lions, penguins, sharks, or butterflies for personal experiences or private events like weddings, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, corporate parties, or other occasions.
“You and your guests can enjoy unique animal experiences with our amazing marine life,” said Craig Alexander, Catering Sales Manager. “What’s more memorable than a souvenir photo with one of our African Penguins or a sea lion? For couples we also offer a shark dive wedding and a butterfly habitat for wonderful proposal and engagement photos.”
Here are 5 ways to incorporate animals into your special day or occasion with Atlantis Banquets & Events:
1. Bring the Beauty of Butterflies Into Your Photos
Butterflies represent transformation, moving from chrysalis to a colorful winged creature — a journey comparable to two individuals merging into a couple. Bring the gracefulness of the butterfly into your proposal, engagement, wedding, or event photos with Atlantis + Banquets’ 2,700-square-foot Butterfly Garden.
Wander this beautiful tropical flower garden and delight in the hundreds of free-flying butterflies. While you pose and stroll along the pathways, a friendly sweet flutterer might just photo bomb your 20- to 25-minute photography session, making for extraordinary images.
2. Say Your Vows With the Sharks
Sharks fascinate us — the most recent Shark Week, an annual cable event featuring apex predator programming since 1988 — garnered more than 25-million viewers. If you, too, feel the power of these predators, you can celebrate your wedding shark dive style with sand tiger and nurse sharks in a 120,000-gallon tank, no scuba certification required.
The bride and groom don white and black wet suits and scuba masks as they get married underwater as circling sharks and tropical fish swim by them.
Your guests will witness everything, including an underwater high-five in lieu of a kiss (that’ll happen later) after the bride and groom have showered and dressed for their on-land reception in the main Aquarium, or the Sea Star Ballroom.
3. Photo-Ops With Sea Lions, Penguins, and Nature
Images with animals create the quintessential social media shot — and Atlantis Banquets & Events can facilitate stunning animal experience moments. The Penguin Meet & Greet, for instance, allows you to pose with the aquarium’s adorable African penguins or you can get a photo opp with the sea lions. This creates unforgettable photographs for the engaged, newlyweds, party guests, or corporate occasions.
Looking for something to do during the lead-up or wind-down of a big event? Hop on the Atlantis Explorer Tour Boat for a 90-minute ride down the Peconic River into Flanders Bay and you and your attendees can observe the marine life as part of a wedding weekend, corporate outing, or event activity.
4. Invite Animals Into Your Occasion
Atlantis Banquets & Events also offers pet friendly areas like the Boardwalk, perfect for photo ops because of its view of the Peconic River and its lush waterfront foliage. Not every venue can accommodate your furry friends (service animals are the exception), but the 1800-square-foot Riverside Pavilion provides a perfect space to hold your ceremony, outdoor event, or cocktail hour. After the parties end, the Hyatt Place Long Island and The Preston House and Hotel happily host pets as well as humans.
5. Infuse Sea Life Into Any Occasion
Atlantis Banquets & Events makes any variant of an “Under the Sea” theme possible. Our spaces feature a unique ambience, such as our 290-seat Coliseum Room, where giant windows allow you to observe the aquarium world during your event or the intimate 30-seat Shark Tunnel Room that offers access into the 120,000 gallon Lost City of Atlantis Shark Exhibit, which can host corporate functions, luncheons, and children’s parties. Another option is the Treasure Cove Resort Marina that allows you to have events right on the Peconic River, with opportunities to add water sports such as kayaking and canoeing for team-building and family fun.
From corporate affairs (meetings, installation dinners, fundraisers, and events) to weddings, to other parties like Sweet 16, Bar and Bat Mitzvah and Quinceañeras, Atlantis Banquets & Events can make your occasion special. Tell us what you want and we’ll help you build the perfect event.
To schedule an appointment with one of our Sales Professionals, please click HERE.