If you’re an animal-loving couple looking for a wedding venue unlike any other, let me introduce you to the San Diego Safari Park! As a San Diego wedding photographer, I can say this is EASILY one of my favorite venues and I had the absolute best time capturing a wedding here.
I’m so excited to share why this venue is perfect for adventurous couples who want a wedding experience that’s wild—literally!
Why Have a Safari Park Wedding?
Stunning Ceremony & Reception Locations
Two words: Animals & Nature! The Safari Park is overflowing with the most beautiful plants and animals, making every moment feel like a magical experience. From the moment I arrived, it was clear that this wasn’t just another wedding venue—the photo opportunities were endless (insert the happiest photographer!!).
The park offers tons of incredible ceremony and reception spaces, from open-air locations overlooking the savanna (where giraffes and rhinos roam!) like my couple had for their day to more private, jungle-like settings surrounded by lush greenery. Whether you want an intimate ceremony on a lagoon, a tropical-inspired wedding, or a full safari-style celebration, there’s a spot here that’s perfect for you! Explore all the Safari Park venues here.
No matter which spot you choose, you’ll be surrounded by nature, exotic animals, and one-of-a-kind scenery—making your wedding day feel like a true adventure.
A Full-Day Experience for Guests
One of the biggest perks of having a wedding at the Safari Park? All wedding guests receive all-day admission to the park on your wedding day!
Your guests can arrive early, explore the zoo, visit the exhibits, and enjoy the wildlife before your ceremony even begins. This makes it the perfect venue for couples who want their wedding to be a full day experience!
As an added bonus, the Zoo gives each couple that gets married there a complimentary one year pass each so you can keep going back to relive your day and see all the animals over and over again!
A Wedding Day at the San Diego Safari Park
Getting Ready & First Look
I started the day with the bride getting ready with her mom in the bridal suite. We then went over to have a beautiful first look on a secluded pathway lined with trees. This quiet moment was the perfect way for the couple to soak in the excitement before their adventure-filled day. After the first look we got some quick photos of the wedding party before sneaking off to explore the zoo!
Exploring the Park for Portraits
One of my favorite parts of the day was when we got to explore the zoo and take photos in the coolest spots! Here’s just some of the things we had the option to explore before heading to the couples ceremony spot:
✨Bamboo forests (surrounded by tigers!)
🌟Cactus gardens that bring out those earthy desert vibes
✨The Walkabout Australia area, where you can literally be next to the wallabies an kangaroos! You can check out the space here: Walkabout Australia
🌟Bamboo Walkways that lead to so many spots and make the prettiest photo backgrounds!
The light here is absolutely incredible. Since there are so many different shaded areas, we were able to get gorgeous portraits even in the harsh afternoon sun—which can be a lifesaver for outdoor weddings in San Diego. It also saved us time to do something REALLY cool during golden hour later on.
The Perfect Ceremony Witness- a Cheetah?!
Yes, you read that right! My couple chose to have their ceremony at Harusi Lawn. This unique spot overlooks the vast safari area where rhinos, giraffes, elephants, and gazelle roam in the distance. But the best part? The cheetah enclosure sits right at the front of the lawn (like literally behind their ceremony spot!). One cheetah sat and watched my couple exchange vows for such a long time. It was one of the coolest ceremony moments I’ve ever seen.
The Harusi Lawn itself is stunning, filled with lush greenery and shaded by towering African trees. It’s a perfect spot for couples who want a unique, nature-filled ceremony space with a view that’s hard to beat. Fun fact- Harusi means “wedding” in Swahili.
A Cocktail Hour Surprise: The Animal Encounter
I previously mentioned that we did the bride and grooms portraits early in the day and had something REALLY cool planned for Golden hour, well this is is! While I typically do portraits during golden hour, my couple opted for an add-on animal encounter during cocktail hour instead—and it was 100% worth it! Here’s how it works: The animals are a complete surprise to both the couple and their guests. One by one, different animals were brought out, and everyone got to interact with them up close. The bride and groom even got to pet every single animal.
The bride and groom got to meet:
✨ A porcupine (adorable and surprisingly chill)
🌟 An armadillo (rolled up in a ball—SO cute!)
✨ An echidna (like a spiky little hedgehog)
🌟 A sugar glider (yes, a tiny gliding marsupial!)
✨ And finally, the grand finale—an anteater, which the couple even got to feed!
It was such a fun and unexpected experience that had all of the guests completely engaged while they enjoyed their cocktails. If you love animals, this is the venue for you.
Reception Inside the Sambutan Longhouse
After cocktail hour, guests were shuttled to the Sambutan Longhouse at Tiger Trail—one of the most unique reception spaces I’ve ever seen. The reception area is inside the tiger enclosure viewing area, which means guests were dining right next to floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the tigers. It doesn’t get cooler than that!
The reception space itself was beautiful my bride did some of the best DIY decor I’ve ever seen and had amazing flowers. The Sambutan Longhouse is surrounded by lush greenery and hidden away in a peaceful part of the park (theres even a waterfall!). To get there, guests walk through a bamboo forest, adding to the immersive experience. Meanwhile, my couple and I took advantage of the now-closed zoo for some epic nighttime portraits.
Once the reception kicked off, the couple celebrated with all their closest family and friends. Some of my favorite moments included:
✨ The photo-rush to the dance floor, where each table took turns coming up for a group photo with the couple
🌟 A delicious dinner (the Safari Park’s catering team really knows their stuff!)
✨ Danced the night away to Taylor Swift
🌟 The most beautiful cake and a fun cake cutting in front of guests!
✨ And finally, a grand exit right outside the tiger viewing area—because how else do you end an epic wedding like this?!
San Diego Wedding Vendors
The great vendor team who helped make this day happen!
Venue: San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Coordinator: Events Inspired
Florals: Native Poppy
Dress: Posh Brides SD
Final Thoughts: Should You Get Married at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park?
If you’re an adventurous couple who loves animals, this venue is a dream come true. Between the breathtaking ceremony and reception locations, places to explore to have the best photos, and once-in-a-lifetime animal encounters, there’s no other wedding venue quite like it.
Want to plan your San Diego Safari Park wedding? Let’s chat! If you’re looking for a San Diego wedding photographer who knows how to capture this one-of-a-kind venue, I’d love to document your day. Let’s make some magic together! 🦒💍
Thinking about an adventurous engagement session before your big day? See a nature-filled adventurous San Diego engagement session here.
