Chesapeake Bay Foundation

Raw space venue

The venue will provide just the space. You’ll bring in your own caterer and vendors.

Full wedding (ceremony and reception) pricing

Starting at $6,500

Guest capacity

Up to 200 seated guests

About this venue

Celebrate your love at Chesapeake Bay Foundation surrounded by beautiful nature, both indoors and outdoors. Experience the peacefulness of the Bay while enjoying modern amenities. We understand the allure of celebrating love in the stunning outdoors while ensuring that you and your guests are content. Our spacious deck, is elegantly tented to guarantee the comfort of you and your guests, rain or shine. After your beach ceremony, your event moves seamlessly into a climate-controlled dining room connected to the outdoor deck. Here, guests can enjoy the comfort of the indoors while still being surrounded by the breathtaking waterfront views. Our unique wedding venue combines the best of both worlds, giving you an unforgettable celebration in a captivating setting.

Seated guest capacity

  • 200

Venue type

  • Ballrooms, Banquet Halls
  • Beaches, Waterfront Settings

Venue setting

  • Indoor
  • Outdoor
6 Herndon Ave, Annapolis, MD 21403

Our event spaces

Chesapeake Bay Foundation

Celebrate Nature and Elegance with an Indoor Outdoor Wedding Experience at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

• Private Beach: You will be in awe of the natural beauty and scenery surrounding our private beach! As a picture-perfect backdrop for your ceremony or cocktail hour, our private beach is sure to wow your guests. • Lawn and Grounds: Our spacious lawn is a great location to host a cocktail hour to immerse your guests in our natural beauty. • Lobby: Our spacious two-story lobby is the perfect place to set the tone for your special day! • Tented Deck: Our 2,400-square-foot tented deck provides the best atmosphere to dance the night away, sip on some bubbly, or have your guests enjoy dinner with the most spectacular Bay views! • Canvasback Dining Room: With 1,600 square feet of sweeping waterfront views, our Canvasback Room is sure to set the stage for a memorable meal. The room is adjacent to our tented deck and allows you to catch the sunset over Blackwalnut Creek while enjoying dinner, toasts, and cake cutting with your new spouse!

Guest capacity

Up to 200 Seated

Ideal for

Wedding ceremony, Wedding reception, Rehearsal dinner, Welcome party, Cocktail hour, Engagement party, Other

Guests often feel this space is

“Relaxed and Stylish”

Chesapeake Bay Foundation

Celebrate Nature and Elegance with an Indoor Outdoor Wedding Experience at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

• Private Beach: You will be in awe of the natural beauty and scenery surrounding our private beach! As a picture-perfect backdrop for your ceremony or cocktail hour, our private beach is sure to wow your guests. • Lawn and Grounds: Our spacious lawn is a great location to host a cocktail hour to immerse your guests in our natural beauty. • Lobby: Our spacious two-story lobby is the perfect place to set the tone for your special day! • Tented Deck: Our 2,400-square-foot tented deck provides the best atmosphere to dance the night away, sip on some bubbly, or have your guests enjoy dinner with the most spectacular Bay views! • Canvasback Dining Room: With 1,600 square feet of sweeping waterfront views, our Canvasback Room is sure to set the stage for a memorable meal. The room is adjacent to our tented deck and allows you to catch the sunset over Blackwalnut Creek while enjoying dinner, toasts, and cake cutting with your new spouse!

Guest capacity

Up to 200 Seated

Ideal for

Wedding ceremony, Wedding reception, Rehearsal dinner, Welcome party, Cocktail hour, Engagement party, Other

Guests often feel this space is

“Relaxed and Stylish”

Reviews

Write a review
Rating: 5.0

5.0 out of 5

1 review

  • RF

    Riley F.

    Rating: 5
    •Zola
    •Sep 19, 2026

    The Wonderful CBF!

    While there were many aspects of our wedding day that we will love and be thankful for, when people ask us what was our favorite part of the day, we instantly knew that it was simply "just having our wedding at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation." We only looked at CBF as the venue for our wedding because after seeing it, we knew it checked all the boxes and that we didn't need to look anywhere else! The venue is perfect for a couple that wants an intimate location that also highlights the beauty of nature. We loved that CBF allowed our guests the opportunity to either dance away on the deck or wander on the sand and dip their toes in the Bay. It brought us a lot of joy that before the wedding we saw our younger guests playing with a football while they waiting for the ceremony to begin and then later in the night playing yard games! We also learned that being at CBF was the first time one of our wedding guests had seen a large body of water before- so the day was magical for so many reasons thanks to CBF!

With our amenities, we can host 200 guests maximum. Our dining room seats 130 with the overflow on the connected tented deck.
The total rental is for 8 hours, which includes 2 hours for setup, 5 hours for the event, and 1 hour for cleanup. Music has to be off by 10:00 p.m. (most people choose to have their event time from 5:00-10:00 p.m.).
You will have access to the venue 2 hours prior to your event start time to set up, get ready, etc.
Tables are included in your rental, we have 6o” round guest tables, rectangular tables and high tops. Our tent equipped with clear side panels, bistro lights and fans are also included in the rental fee. Linens, chairs, and additional needs (silverware, glassware, plates, etc.) will be rented through your chosen caterer.
You must choose a caterer from our preferred caterer listing. Our catering list has been carefully chosen due to their knowledge of our facilities and their service to prior clients. All caterers listed are full service and will handle setup, cleanup, and all rental items on your behalf. The catering list is updated yearly, and we regularly evaluate the service levels of our preferred caterers. Please inquire for information on exceptions for cultural and/or religious needs!
Yes, you can! You will obtain the required one-day liquor license with Anne Arundel County depending on your caterer.
Rehearsals are included in the venue fee and will be finalized 30 days prior to the event, as we schedule these around other events. If there is a wedding the day before you, your rehearsal will be based around their rental time. CBF staff does not assist with rehearsals, but you are welcome to use our beach or our dock for the rehearsal.
All proceeds from the venue rental fee go back into the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and towards saving the Bay!
We have a total of 125 parking spaces available for each event. Cars may be left overnight but must be picked up the following morning.
We do not allow for anything to be applied anywhere throughout the facility that may be permanent (nails, staples, tacks, etc.). We are an environmental organization, so it is very important to us that event decor does not pollute the bay (NO confetti, loose glitter, etc.). All open flames need to be in a hurricane or a votive, and we do not allow sparklers or fireworks on the property. Otherwise, you are free to customize your event as you wish!
Yes our building is completely ADA accessible. The building includes elevators, ramps and double doors.
While our property is routinely maintained, our grounds embrace the natural beauty of the Chesapeake Bay and its unique ecosystem. Our outdoor spaces flourish with native species that are all beautiful in their own season.
Absolutely—we love adventurous couples! We have a 125-foot dock, and the boat utilized must have no more than a 2-foot draw.
Upon contract, a 50% venue deposit and $500 security deposit are due. The remaining 50% deposit will be due 90 days prior to the event. An additional hour are $500. The $500 security deposit will be returned after the event so long as there is no damage to our facilities.
Our covered deck is the perfect plan B in the event that weather does not permit a ceremony on the beach. Rain or shine, we can accommodate you and your guests for an intimate, memorable day.

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