“ thought the landscape was beautiful and could not believe how neat it was to see animals walking around as the backdrop during the ceremony and cocktail hour,” Courtney says.Īlso available for weddings is the option to add on a 30-minute giraffe feeding experience for an additional fee, says Januzzi. “Our guests loved getting to see the animals … people still talk to us about how the penguin entered and did a beeline to the bar!” Courtney says.Īnother perk of the Columbus Zoo for the Marsdens was that the Africa Event Center overlooks the African savanna exhibit. They first meet privately with the newlyweds for portraits before joining guests during the cocktail hour. Don’t get me wrong the Cleveland Zoo has a lot to offer, but the animal experience at the Columbus Zoo really made it stand out!”Īt the Columbus Zoo, the animal ambassadors visit for 30 minutes, Januzzi explains. “We only looked at Cleveland as a potential venue. “We are from the Northeast Ohio area, so our local zoos are in Cleveland and Akron,” Courtney says. The animal ambassadors were the main reason that Stow residents Courtney and Mike Marsden chose to wed at the zoo, which they had never even visited until they started searching for wedding venues. “They’re dressed for the occasion, so of course we try to get them there,” Januzzi says. While there’s no guarantee as to which animals will show up at your event, due to their various schedules and availability, the most popular and common visitors include baby kangaroos and cats, sloths and penguins. “It’s one of the aspects that makes our location unique.” She’s referring to the zoo’s animal ambassadors-special critters that make guest appearances at various zoo events. “When you book your wedding at the zoo, included are our animals that visit during your cocktail hour,” says wedding group sales representative Amanda Januzzi. For couples who host their weddings there, those same animals provide an exclusive experience unlike any other in Central Ohio. “A horse-drawn carriage going over to the river would be wonderful,” Hoffman notes.Īnimals are, of course, the main attraction at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. A half-acre of land was donated to the historical society to allow for an expansion of the property’s museum, Hoffman says, and plans for a pergola or another outdoor structure are in the works to accommodate outdoor ceremonies. Next year, The Barn at Stratford will have another new element: riverfront weddings. They were back on the property within two weeks. “Connie put pictures up,” after the wedding, Eliza says, and requests for the horse and carriage came quickly. “When she pulled around, I couldn’t believe it.” The gentle giant was a huge draw among guests, the Lees note, as well as for other couples. “I don’t usually get surprises pulled off on me,” Justin says. Winters acted as chauffer, with Allen leading the Clydesdale as an extra precaution, to deliver Eliza and her father to the outdoor ceremony. The pair recently acquired a former Budweiser Clydesdale, which Justin’s father and Eliza hired to draw a carriage on the big day-unbeknownst to Justin. (mixture of film + digital shot on Canon Mark iii + Canon EOS1-V + Penta圆45n.A mutual friend of the Hoffman and the Lee families, Diane Winters, co-owns All Win Stables with her partner, Pat Allen. (I’m obviously KIDDING here about this being the most important part!)Įnjoy their wedding story, as I saw it, below. More importantly, it was drip your face off hot out here at the Zoo’s Watersedge venue, and if you follow me on Instagram, you know I’m pretty much down on the winter round Ohio. And, of course their sweet son, Dylan was just icing on the cake. They incorporated elements, and people into their day that magnified their love so perfectly. I feel like maybe I experienced that a lot this year (which says I’m doing something right about the people I’m reaching ) is that you!?) that like, they haven’t know each other ages, but it feels like it. Kathleen + Josh have this magic sort of love. When I was in it I knew I was creating these timeless, amazing, absolutely beautiful images I was really proud of…but fast forward to 25 weddings later, nonstop editing, and a circus of children in my home life, and it’s pretty easy to have forgotten about all that beauty! Thank goodness for the “off season” if for nothing else, for me to look back in wonder with absolute awe at the job I am lucky enough to do.
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