Cath & Si’s Story
Cath and Si had a stunning wedding day at Chester Zoo surrounded by their family and friends.
I first met Cath at the I Do Wedding Exhibition at Sheffield Ice. When she told me that her wedding was going to be at Chester Zoo I couldn’t hide my excitement. The idea of getting married just feet away from the lions blew me away.
A few months before the wedding we all headed down to Chester Zoo for the pre-wedding shoot. It was clear how much both Cath and Si loved being there; it was like having a personal tour of the grounds. Even though it was the height of the summer holidays there were still plenty of quiet garden areas to capture some of their images.
On the morning of the wedding I met Cath and her bridal party getting ready at the Doubletree by Hilton hotel. Anna and Vicky from Bridal Hair and Makeup Cheshire had already made a start on the hair and makeup and the ladies were looking beautiful. After a very relaxed morning we headed out into the car park to meet the wedding car.
Chester Zoo Wedding
Meanwhile, at Chester Zoo, Si was meeting all the guests and enjoying some time in the sunshine before the wedding ceremony. The base for the day was Oakfield house. It was originally built by the Mayor of Chester over 100 years ago, and then sold to George Mottershead in the early 1930’s. It was George Mottershead that developed the surrounding gardens into the zoo we know today.
Part of the wedding package was a private tour around the zoo. After it had closed to the public, two zookeepers came to collect the wedding party and take us to see some of the animals. We managed to capture images next to bears, elephants and giraffes, who were all hiding earlier in the day.
When we arrived back at Oakfield house the DJ was in full swing and quickly announced the first dance. Guests flooded the dancefloor and danced right into the evening.
My favourite part of the day was capturing images with the giraffes. They were all inside during the day, and it was only by the brides request that we got to see them on the private tour later on.
