A San Diego Safari Park Wedding: Leslie and Paul
Leslie and Paul's San Diego Zoo Safari Park wedding paired open landscapes, sunset vows, animal encounters, and a warm lodge reception.
Leslie Chase and Paul Cooper celebrated at San Diego Zoo Safari Park, where open hills, wildlife, and warm evening light shaped the entire wedding story. The setting felt expansive without losing the intimacy of the ceremony.
Their gallery moves from quiet preparation into bright first-look portraits, outdoor vows, a close animal encounter, and a lodge reception filled with candid energy.
A Personal Start to the Day
The invitation suite featured an illustrated elephant, immediately tying the details to the setting. Leslie prepared in warm window light while Paul finished his cuff links and watched the morning unfold.
We used the darker rooms intentionally, allowing small pools of light to isolate expression and create a calm opening.
First Look in the California Light
Leslie and Paul met outside among grasses and low trees. The bright landscape created a clean first-look sequence focused on their reactions and the movement of Leslie's veil.
A wider wedding-party portrait beneath the timber pavilion then introduced the larger group and the rustic architecture of the reception setting.
Sunset Vows Over the Hills
The ceremony faced the open hills as the sun dropped lower. Guests watched from the lawn while Leslie and Paul exchanged vows against a deep blue sky.
We photographed both the couple and the reactions around them, then followed the recessional as the ceremony shifted quickly into celebration.
Wildlife and an Evening Reception
One of the day's most distinctive moments came when Leslie and Paul met a kangaroo with its handler. It added a genuine sense of place without interrupting the wedding narrative.
After blue-hour portraits, the reception moved into the lodge, where guests crowded around the couple and kept the room energetic through the final frames.
Planning a San Diego Destination Wedding?
A complete wedding gallery should preserve both the setting and the relationships that made the day personal. See Katie and Blake's Ebell wedding for another celebration photographed with the same story-first approach.
Explore Los Angeles wedding photography, destination weddings, see collections and pricing, or contact us to begin planning.
