Call me crazy but I think the zoo might be the next hot venue trend! From San Diego to Australia, we’ve seen some pretty amazing weddings in these wild settings. Uplift Photography brought us this gorgeous wedding from one of the most famous ones – The Bronx Zoo. I love that they incorporated a little wild side into their decor with fun animal escort cards and a zebra cake but didn’t lose an ounce of elegance in the process. See it all here in the full gallery!
Click here for the FULL wedding!
There’s even more to love in this film by Diana Diroy!
From the Bride… When my husband proposed (by hiding a ring in a box of Cracker Jacks!), we knew we wanted our wedding to be a celebration of all we’ve shared and the many more adventures we hope to have together. We approached the day with a respect for tradition, but a desire to showcase our own style, personality and love for family and friends.
We picked the Bronx Zoo as our venue because when we saw it, everything about it just felt right. It was elegant and chic, but also quirky and fun. The historic architecture was a beautiful complement to our more modern style. (And how can you beat a cocktail hour IN the Madagascar Exhibit!?) It was “us.” All other decisions fell into place in a similar fashion, from brightly-colored florals and fun footwear to a zoo-inspired invitation suite and animal theme to play off the location. As a very detail-oriented person, I really enjoyed giving meaning to the details of the day. Our readings were all song lyrics because we love music. My husband and I both wore jewelry from grandparents who are no longer with us. The biggest and most rewarding project was our chuppah, which was made of quilt squares that guests designed and returned with their RSVP cards. I’ll never forget the moment I reached the end of the aisle and stepped under the chuppah with my groom. I was overwhelmed with happiness. For me, part of what made our wedding day so special was that it was so distinctly a reflection of our loves and our love for one another. My advice to other brides is to remember that there is no “right” way to do anything, only the way that makes you and your fiance feel right (even if it’s a zoo!).
A tremendous amount of gratitude is owed to our vendors. All of our vendors had personalities which matched ours, and it allowed us to trust them completely. Every minute of research to find the “right” vendor was time well spent because on the day of our wedding we knew that the team of people around us would make sure everything was fantastic!
Wedding Photography: Jade & Tim O’Connell of Uplift Photography / Wedding Venue: Bronx Zoo in Bronx, New York / Day-Of Coordination: Jennifer Fitzmaurice / Floral Design: Rachel Cho / Wedding Cinematography: Diana Diroy / Wedding Cake: Baking by Jamie / Band: Arcadia / Lighting: Morris Grey of Shades of Grey Productions, Inc. / Graphic Design Details: Lauren Panepinto / Wedding Dress: Watters / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Wtoo