Imagine getting married at a zoo. Elephants are in the background of your wedding photos. The Sea Lions come out to swim when you walk through their exhibit. Peacocks roam around during cocktail hour. This is what Laura & Jeremy experienced with their wedding at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo.
Zoo Wedding at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo is one of the top 5 zoos in the entire world. When you pull up to the zoo it is clear that the Omaha Zoo isn’t any ordinary zoo. It’s a whole other level of an experience. If you’re thinking of planning your wedding at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo they offer 9 different areas in the Zoo to host your wedding. Check out their website for the details!
Zoo Wedding Venue Cost
Rental fees for various locations throughout the zoo range from $1,000-$5,500. You may have to rent one area for your ceremony and another area for your cocktail hour/reception.
Wedding Ceremony at Garden of the Senses
Laura & Jeremy chose to have their wedding ceremony at Garden of the Senses. Garden of the Senses is a colorful garden in the park with beautiful bronze statues of animals throughout the space. Plus, it was a really short walk for their wedding guests to head to the African Lodge after the ceremony for the reception.
Getting married at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo
Laura and Jeremy are both obsessed with the Omaha Zoo. They often will go to the Zoo after long work days to walk and catch up. The Zoo is a place they go to relax, escape, and connect with each other. Plus, Laura has always been a lover of animals.
Laura said “The best part of our day was being surrounded by our loved ones in our favorite place. I always feel so calm when I am at the zoo, and it is just such an amazing setting for us to forget where we are. We absolutely loved that we (and everyone else) got to enjoy the beauty of the elephants, and the gorgeous venue overlooking them. I’m especially grateful because we can visit our wedding venue any time we want and relive the day.”
Photographing Laura & Jeremy’s zoo wedding was truly a dream! These two were such a joyful, loving, and thoughtful couple to get to work with. Photographing a wedding involving Zoo animals and a Zoo wedding venue is a rare opportunity!
Zoo Wedding Venues
Are you dreaming of a Zoo wedding, but aren’t local to Omaha? Here are other cool Zoo Wedding Venues to look into:
Vendors
Wedding Venue: Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo | Planning: Lovestruck Events | Florals: Ethereal Floral Studio | Officiant: I Tie The Knots | Hair & Makeup: Amanda Lee Artistry | Dress: Bridal Traditions Omaha | Videographer: Suit & Tie Films | Cake: The Confectionist | Catering: Attitude on Food | DJ: A Final Take
Destination Wedding Photography
I’m a wedding photographer based in Colorado, but I am always up to travel to your destination! Don’t hesitate to get in touch here!
About the Couple
Laura and Jeremy met in medical school at the University of Nebraska. They started out as friends, joking over professors and bonding over the crazy world of medicine. They studied together and began to spend every day with one another during their second year of medical school. Their relationship quickly evolved into partners.
After dating for two years, Jeremy set up a sunrise proposal at their second favorite spot, Lake Zorinsky. (Of course the Zoo is their number one favorite place.) Jeremy made a scrapbook of their memories. He flew in one of Laura’s best friends, Bailey, to be ready with champagne. After Laura said yes, they went to breakfast where all their friends were waiting to surprise and congratulate them.
In one of my forms I asked Laura what makes their relationship work and these are some of the things she said: Their relationship is busy and ambitious. They are both supportive of one another’s goals and are both driven people. Jeremy is an excellent listener and Laura is an amazing support system. They love giving back to their community and supporting other people. They also enjoy doing little things together like going on long walks or visiting the zoo to relax. Together they can do anything
Wedding Photos with Elephants
Right after their wedding ceremony we knocked out the rest of the family portraits. Then we noticed that the elephants were out walking around and eating. So Laura and Jeremy got to have a few minutes together to just watch the elephants. While they watched we did a few more portraits.
Wedding Photos with Sea Lions
After we took pictures with the elephants, we took a tram to the Sea Lion exhibit. As we walked through the exhibit, the Sea Lions were swimming around. It was magical!
Wedding Reception at the Truhlsen African Lodge & Elephant Family Quarters
Laura & Jeremy’s cocktail hour and reception took place at the Truhlsen African Lodge. From this area guests could view the Elephant quarters. The Truhlsen African lodge was modeled similarly to lodges found in the African Savannah. It was the perfect location for a zoo themed wedding reception!
Zoo Wedding Theme
The florals for this wedding completed their Zoo Themed wedding. Laura had a wild bouquet of greens with pops of yellow and pink. On the reception tables, guests had various green plants and more arrangements with yellows and pinks. The tan and black whicker chairs really completed their zoo inspired tables.
For more destination wedding inspo check out this dreamy Airbnb wedding I photographed in California.
