Zoo Weddings

I have entertained the idea of a zoo wedding for many years, and rather recently largely convinced my partner that we should get married at the Auckland Zoo. While this will not happen for at least 18 months, and we haven't made any definite plans, it is still very exciting, and there appears to be many options to consider regarding different venues within the zoo, etc. The photography options, which include entering enclosures of various species (lemur, flamingo), or being in close contact with others (elephant, rhino, etc), is also exciting.

The zoo's weddings information is here: Auckland Zoo - Weddings at Auckland Zoo

Anyway, I was wondering if anybody had actually wed in a zoo, or had any other significant, private functions at a zoo before? How did they go? Any good/bad/interesting stories?

 

One of four jobs i have at the zoo is with the functions section. there is generally a large function every saturday night and various other functions/conferences throughout the week. zoos provide a unique setting (our main function room overlooks the primate islands and is very green around it) when its time id say ill be getting hitched there as its a beautiful setting. Highly recommend zoo weddings.

 

I'm not married, but weddings in the Singapore Zoo / Bird Park are popular with several nice venues (there's one banquet hall by the lake at the Zoo and one overlooking the Bird Park's flock of 600 flamingos). I've been to a Zoo wedding where the bride/groom made their grand entrance on elephant back - very memorable. The Bird Park has a trained cockatoo that flies the wedding ring to the groom.

For a zoochatter, i think a zoo wedding is perfect.

 

Wow, that sounds really cool. I wonder if Auckland can offer a special appearance by their elephant, or maybe have their macaws fly rings down...

 

Suppose the cockatoo flew away with your ring? Or dropped it in the bushes? Or swallowed it? Oh man.

 

Double post.

 

I am doing an article on zoo weddings and was wondering if any of you have any non-copyrighted photos you would be willing to donate to me?

This would be MUCH appreciated!! I'm trying to portray how stunning a zoo wedding can really be.

I would love to feature any of your personal pictures in the article as well (like "Kayla from Indiana", etc) in case you yourself had a zoo wedding!

 

My wedding reception was held , many years ago , at Marwell Zoo . It was in a marquee on the back lawn behind the Manor House . This area was then not open to the public , being the Knowles' private garden . This was way before zoos became popular for such functions , and before it was possible to get married anywhere other than a Place of Worship or Registry Office. Happy days !!!

 

Photos?

Hey, would you be willing to submit any photos for an article on zoo weddings?

 

I think its an great idea of arranging wedding in a zoo if it not disturb animals over there.

 

The zoo I work for does weddings (and other events like company picnics) quite frequently and my husband and I were married there in 2010. We have an African penguin trained to walk down the aisle as "ring bearer" (we don't give her the rings, obviously). She makes it about 75% of the time (if she doesn't get distracted by something shiny). We also took tons of photos with the animals. Our zoo is known for its interactive exhibits, so we were able to take photos with the giraffes, lemurs, kangaroos, and Charlie, our camel (who tried to eat my bouquet!).

 

And two and a half years later... we looked at the cost and realised it actually wasn't feasible, no matter how amazing the photos would have been.

Still, I did get married over the Christmas break, on a farm back in NZ, and managed to get my partner to vow to keep going to zoos with me (among other things of course!), despite not understanding "the significance of a pangolin"!

Anyone else had a zoo wedding yet?

 

Congratulations zooboy!

 

If I ever get married and decide to have a ceremony, I'd consider doing it at a zoo. If I don't have a ceremony, I'd at least consider having the reception at one. The Houston Museum of Natural Science allows ceremonies in their butterfly house.

 

Congratulations zooboy28.

A couple of years ago a keeper in the Indo-Malaya region of Toronto Zoo got married near the orangutans. Asha, an old blind hornbill that he has been caring for for many years was best bird and Puppe, the eldest orang was given a hat to wear and appears in the background of their pictures. They asked for permission to have a piper but were only allowed to have a recording (??). When that was played the gibbons and hornbills started a big racket to rival the bagpipes!

 

The first Zoo wedding I saw was one on the T.V. show 'Neighbours'- was it in Melbourne's tropical house? Had never heard of them happening, at least in the UK, before then. Maybe the idea caught on from that....

 

Destination weddings in general have gotten more popular, possibly due to the rise in social media use. In the US, the population is slowly getting more secular, meaning church weddings fall out of style.

 

Congratulations zooboy28 I hope you both have a long, healthy, happy and prosperous married life together.
Personally I don't think it would have been a good a decision to marry at the zoo, to many distractions and interesting things going on around you.

 

Thanks for all the kind words guys!

I think you may have been right, it would have been a bit awkward to be gawked at by randomws during the ceremony as if we were just another exhibit! But still, getting the photos done in the zoo, especially with some of the animals, would have been great.