Well, everything was happening at the Zoo on Saturday! My neighbours had their wedding at the Maryland Zoo and it was just the perfect venue, the most fun event and the best location.
The Maryland Zoo dates to the late 1800’s and is Victorian in its original look. As a child, I remember iron cages with lions and tigers pacing in them. There was a huge elephant house and lots of fancy ironwork around the 600+ acre property. Now, it’s been modernized with “natural” habitats for the animals. If you look closely, you can see a snowy egret standing on the lake’s edge.
However, much of the Zoo’s Victorian look still remains, and this wedding took advantage of that. The ceremony was held on a small lake with a beautiful picnic pavilion overlooking it. 
The bride looked stunning coming down the old stairs towards the water’s edge and her wonderful, loving groom! 
The service was warm and personal, funny and poignant. 
After it was over, the bride and groom were exuberant – as were all of the guests.
The reception was held at the Zoo’s mansion, a wonderful Victorian-era summerhouse with a huge porch, 
perched on the top of a hill overlooking the city of Baltimore. 
Even though the mansion is now used for the Zoo’s administration, there are still a lot of the original details remaining.
The porch surrounding the house is enclosed by dozens of windows, and the evening was cool enough that they could be thrown open to the early evening breezes. 
One of the most fun aspects of the evening was the bride’s attention to detail, including the animal theme of the Zoo. Each table was represented by a different animal, and the cake, with its elaborate decoration, was one of the most creative I’ve ever seen.
The cake topper was a little penguin bride and groom, complete with a bow tie and veil – all created by the bride, an art teacher.
This was perfect because of the special guest who came in his own tuxedo!
I had a chance to get up-close and personal with this dear wee fellow, and as I made silly kissy noises at little Tails, he bobbed his head back and forth in time with me.
His handler put him on the floor and he just waddled around, not a care in the world! He even followed some of the guests. It was so much fun to see this and really made the wedding unique.
All of my love to the wonderful bride and groom!!! I’ll miss you when I move. xoxo
What a great location for a wedding. It definitely was a beautiful day, and I love how happy they look. And the cake...amazing!
ReplyDeleteWhat a delightful wedding! Perfectly darling.
ReplyDeleteCharming wedding!
ReplyDeleteHow funny as i was just thinking of this as a great blog title, but had to accompanying post.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful wedding and that may be the best cake ever.
Looks like a fantastic wedding! I too love that zoo and went there many times as a child. It was the first one I took my daughter too as well. Such a beautiful setting!!
ReplyDeletePerferct wedding ... beautiful bride, handsome groom & happy couple!! What a great Victorian venue, location & set-up! Cake is so creative & fun - way to design the wedding topper Jen!! Kudos on the nuptials!
ReplyDeleteWhy hadn't I thought of the zoo before as a wedding venue...what a fabulous idea! It looks like it was a terrific wedding, indeed.
ReplyDeleteThat cake is fantastic! And as for the little penguin...
ReplyDeleteThe steel band that was there was awesome too ;)
ReplyDeleteHow absolutely adorable he is! Penguins have always been special to us as my daughter was absolutely smitten with them for many many years. We have bags full of all sizes and kinds. We read every book there was; she knew each kind and all their habits etc etc.
ReplyDeleteAnd your house Meg: well, I (along with everyone else) cannot wait to see all that you will do with it! I have had so much fun working on this house...and yes, I agree, lots of light is the key. I couldn't live without it.
And, of course, so glad Connor is happy!
That cake looks magnificent!
ReplyDeleteWow, the bride looks so beautiful. I had no idea she was getting married. She looks stunning.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful wedding,and beautiful bride. Penguins are a new idea, but they are birds with personality. I went to see a nesting sight for Magellan penguins in Patagonia once, and ended up taking picture of penguins deliberately posing for photographers, for hours (no food involved). It was very funny.
ReplyDeleteI would just like to say that Yia Yia's Bakery in Baltimore County did our cake and that Teresa Lancelotta was the cake designer. I gave her an idea and she ran with it. It was as yummy as it looked (so everyone says, I didn't even have time to eat!) Meg, thanks for blogging! xo Jen
ReplyDeleteMeg (and Jen!)
ReplyDeleteThis is terrific. How charming are those silhouetted elephants?! I'll have to Google Yia Yia.
All of your photos of the zoo are wonderful. You do have a special place in Baltimore. I loved visiting zoos as a kid -- including the nearby one in D.C. of course -- so I think this is such an inspired venue.
Thanks for sharing
One thing about penguins, they always know what to wear.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous couple, venue, cake and French manicure! ...and perfect weathah.