Hosting your wedding at the Beardsley Zoo is certainly making a statement! Having known the bride for a number of years, I can definitively say this fit her personality to a T.
Providing DJ entertainment for a day at the Beardsley Zoo was certainly a change of pace. When the bride approached me to be their DJ and said they were having their wedding at the zoo in Bridgeport I absolutely loved the idea. Plenty of space, petting animals wandering around, a carousel right smack in the middle of the dance-floor, clearly fun was the entire point and not ‘pomp and circumstance’.
The ceremony was intended to be held at an adjacent field but weather got in the way, so we held it in the greenhouse! The couple sang their vows, of course. They met each other in theater, playing parts in theatrical plays and musicals in the area. After the ceremony, cocktail hour was held outside as the weather cleared up, joining the guests were turkeys, sheep, and other animals of the park. We then shuffled indoors to the Carousel Room for the Reception where dinner would be available via fun serving stations.
For toasts, again in theatrical fashion, the bridal party sang their toasts much to the surprise of the bride and groom. This gave way to the First dance followed by a combined parent dance. Combined parent dances are an option for folks who don’t necessarily want the spotlight but still want a special moment.
The day began a little hectic with the ceremony changing location but it was a fantastic time DJing a Beardsley Zoo Wedding!
Guests: 125
Age Groups: Mixed, 60% <40
Wedding Party: Yes
Wedding Party Introduced: No
Dinner: Seats assigned, food stations
Music Likes: Beyonce, Notorious BIG, Ke$ha, John Legend, John Mellencamp, Stevie Nicks, Rolling Stones, Lake Street Drive
Agenda
5:15 PM – Ceremony
6:00 PM – Cocktail Hour
7:00 PM – Reception, Dinner served
8:00 PM – Toasts
First Dance
Combined Parent Dances
8:30 PM – Cake Cutting
9:00 PM – Bouquet Toss
11:00 PM – Conclusion
Song Selections
- Make Our Garden Grow – Candide Suite
- They Say It’s Wonderful – Betsy Simpson
- Till There Was You – Helen O’Connell
- I Love Betsy – Betsy Simpson
- Our Children – Marin Mazzie & Peter Friedman
- What a Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
Guests: 125
Age Groups: Mixed, 60% <40
Wedding Party: Yes
Wedding Party Introduced: No
Dinner: Seats assigned, food stations
Music Likes: Beyonce, Notorious BIG, Ke$ha, John Legend, John Mellencamp, Stevie Nicks, Rolling Stones, Lake Street Drive
Vendors
Venue: Beardsley Zoo (Bridgeport)
Officiant: Peter Green (Fairfield)
Photographer: Stephanie Conti of Stephanie Conti Photography
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