London Zoo Wedding Photographers
A long time ago before becoming London Zoo wedding photographers…..After David’s first visit to London Zoo at the age of seven he left with a plastic Rhino from the souvenir shop, which for a time was his favourite toy, he still has it, in fact it now belongs to his youngest son who is seven years old himself. Joanna, growing up as a little girl in London, often gazed longingly at the outside wall of the Zoo in Regents Park, wishing she was could be on the other side, looking at the animals rather than the flowerbeds around her (not that there was anything wrong with the flower beds…) More about this below.
Neither of us imagined that as adults today we would be returning most often as London Zoo wedding photographers, and not just parents taking our children there. Since the days of our childhoods the wonderful Victorian zoo has changed immensely (for instance the classic penguin pool of the 1960’s and featured below in a London Zoo wedding of ours is now a curiosity piece, and there’s no elephants anymore…oh well) One of the biggest changes of all is that you can now get married at London Zoo! What a wonderful chance for a memorable day, whether a couple are animal lovers or not.
Big Day Weddings with David and Joanna have been thrilled to photograph there, because it has combined our childhood love of the zoo with our passion for photography. There are many fantastic opportunities and iconic areas of the zoo for wonderful wedding photography – if you know what you are doing. Knowing what you are doing at the zoo on a wedding day is crucial, because not only do you have to get incredible well taken shots and great natural expressions from your newlyweds, you have to manage crowds, and on a typical Friday or Saturday those crowds are large. Thankfully although starting out as rather shy children, we have turned into very confident wedding photographers! In the two sample shots below David literally “parted the red sea” at the penguin pool and reptile house, while Joanna kept the waiting crowds out of the shots and good humoured. Another benefit of having two photographers rather than one! So if you are looking at having your wedding at London Zoo or another unusual and original location like Tower Bridge, have a chat with us. We know how to get the best from a hustle and bustle London wedding, and not just the more genteel settings of the home counties (we like them too, particularly the fresh air…)
To see over 100 wedding images just click on the link here: GALLERIES OR just scroll through this blog, it’s full of images! By David Green.
We always look forward to a big day as it is a creative thrill to capture and help create images that are going to be looked at and loved for generations.
So 7am on a Sunday morning our alarm clock rings, and it is time to grab a quick coffee and toast, and head into Marylebone for Barbara’s wedding prep at the aptly named Marylebone Hotel.
As Asia House was the venue for the civil wedding ceremony and it was only literally a few hundred yards around the corner, I improved my fitness levels by jogging between there and the hotel. I wanted to capture Andrew and his families arrival, but also keep an eye on how Barbara was getting on back at the Marylebone. I was definitely the best dressed jogger that chilly Sunday morning!
The ceremony took place on the first floor in what the venue calls “fine room 2” and it certainly was a very fine affair too! Barbara and Andrew during their marriage vows were what I would describe as a “photographers dream” in the sense that they were expressive, looked at each other lovingly, but also found time for laughter and interaction with their wedding party during the vows. Having said that, in terms of photography it still takes discretion experience and skill to capture unrepeatable moments well.
A special mention for the registrars, as we have consistently found with all central London wedding officials, that they were relaxed friendly and very good at what they did. It really does makes a big difference to the feel of a wedding ceremony to have sensitive and aware registrars conducting the proceedings.
The wedding party now made the fairly short journey across the centre of the capital past Oxford Circus to the reception venue Sketch on Conduit Street.
Sketch, what a venue, quirky, classy with a real variety of internal locations. Yet another fine example of an eighteen century classic London building. Speaking to the staff inside they say they are always trying to keep the look fresh and ever evolving. The venue is Time Out Recommended like ourselves. In fact Sketch is as much a gallery as a restaurant, and has the most amazing toilets! Now I don’t think we have ever mentioned toilets in a wedding day blog post before, but these are a series of white pods in a wonderfully futuristic space that we just had to photograph the couple in.
Food and service at Sketch was magnificent, and was a wonderful way to round off a lovely and memorable wedding day. Special mention to Barbara and Andrew’s friends and family who were delightful to work alongside and spend time with.
