Alison and Dan tied the knot at a beautiful Central Park Zoo wedding in New York. This iconic spot has you surrounded by natural elements and animals, making it a fun and unique spot to get married in the city. We were so thrilled to capture the fun and candid wedding photos that marked this happy couple’s big day.

Romantic Central Park Zoo Wedding in NYC

The Central Park Zoo wedding venue is located within the park itself which means, no matter what day of the week you get married, there’s a chance for rain. But this couple was up for a challenge and wanted to get married outdoors despite the possibility of inclement weather. We couldn’t be more impressed with how beautiful their creative wedding day turned out.

Unique New York Wedding Venue in Central Park

We started the day at the One Hotel NYC, with Alison getting ready in a suite surrounded by family and friends. This hotel is perfect for couples looking for a high end, unique experience on the morning of their wedding. With hair and makeup by Curled and Contoured, they treated Alison like a queen while she was preparing for the big moment.

Where to Get Married in Central Park, New York

After putting on their wedding attire, it was time to do their first look. The couple chose the Conservatory Garden wedding photos for their couples, family photos, and wedding party photos. This was the perfect spot to take photos, as it allowed for a little more privacy than your typical Central Park wedding photo session. To be able to do your event photography in this part of the park, you’ll need to obtain a permit ahead of time. It’s very important to ensure you’re taking photos with a permit at the Conservatory Garden on your wedding day.

Rainy Wedding Photography in NYC at Central Park

After the photos were over, it started to rain. It felt like perfect timing that these two had golden hour sunset autumn wedding photos in New York prior to this. The rain was perfectly timed so it didn’t disrupt any of the major photo moments of the day. We took a shuttle over to the Central Park Zoo wedding venue afterward for the ceremony and reception.

Stunning Central Park Zoo Wedding in the Rain

Our favorite part of this Central Park Zoo wedding was the couple’s completely unique ceremony. Held near the penguin area of the zoo, the couple stood under a beautiful arch with florals by Anthony Brownie Florals. Surrounded by candles, this wedding took place after sunset, creating a bit of extra dramatic flair in the setting.

Fall Wedding at Central Park Zoo in NYC

After the Central Park Zoo wedding ceremony, guests were taken into the reception tent for drinks and dancing. The two were met with lovely speeches and a lively band and dance floor. They did their first dance under the tent in the rain, making some stunning photos with their loved ones behind them.

Jaw-Dropping Central Park Wedding Celebration at the Zoo

Everything was so lush and pretty, filled with lovely florals and candles. We especially loved the amazing personalized reception food. Not only did they have amazing catering by Thomas Preti, but these two also had unique additions. From Doughnuttery came a fresh mini donut station for guests to feast at dessert. For those who love a good bourbon, they also had a station by High West Distillery for liquor and chocolate pairings. Everything from start to finish was so creative and suited their personalities.

How to Get Comfortable and Relaxed Wedding Photography in New York

Alison and Dan wanted comfortable and relaxed wedding photography in NYC. This was super important to them on their big day. For many couples, it may be a challenge to relax and your Central Park Zoo wedding photos. However, there are ways that you can work on taking more relaxed wedding photos in the city. We’ve got some tips to take relaxed pictures.

Doing a First Look on Your Central Park Wedding Day

You could ask for a “first look” just before the ceremony. This is a sweet moment between bride and groom when they see each other before the ceremony. It also takes away some of the nerves of having that big moment be in front of all of your guests. Sometimes, couples just need to see each other to calm down on their wedding day at the Central Park Zoo.

Get Ready with Your Friends and Family on the Wedding Day

You could set up a time for your wedding party to get ready together. Having friends and family around ahead of the big event can make things feel more comfortable. Exchange emotional words with family members or friends in advance of the ceremony. This is a great way to make everyone feel calm and prepare for a wonderful day ahead!

Communicate with Your Brooklyn Wedding Photographers

Let your photographers know about your nerves ahead of time. A great way to work this out is to do an engagement session ahead of time. Alison and Dan did their DUMBO engagement photos a few weeks prior to the wedding to shake their nerves out. Spending that time getting to know your New York wedding photographers can make a huge difference on the day of. They can help you to take more relaxed wedding photos!

A Personalized Central Park Zoo Wedding

Dan and Alison wanted their Central Park Zoo wedding day to be very personal. We think they had a wonderful evening with their family and friends, enjoying some of New York’s finest food and entertainment. There were so many lovely details too between all the amazing food stations and fabulous decor.

Beautiful Wedding Photography at Central Park Zoo

Dan and Alison’s Central Park Zoo wedding was stunning. We’re so glad that they found us for their candid New York wedding photography. We can’t wait to come back to this unique wedding venue in the future. As Brooklyn wedding photographers, this spot is seriously a dream event space for a truly creative wedding day.

Hire New York wedding photographers for Fun and Candid Memories

If you’re thinking about having a Central Park Zoo wedding, let us know. We’d love to help capture some beautiful memories of your uniquely iconic celebration. As a married wedding photo and video team in NYC, we’d love to make your dreams come to life.