San Diego Zoo Safari Park Glamping Wedding Editorial

The designer behind today’s styled shoot, Nicole George Event Planning & Design, describes the venue as a pattern and texture lover’s dream, but we’d go a step further and say the same applies to this editorial itself! With a backdrop of the San Diego Zoo Safari Park’s African Plains Overlook, the team (including Shelly Anderson Photography and Blooms by Breesa Lee) aimed to highlight the natural beauty of the land and animals while also sharing some inspiring details for all you brides and designers out there, and it’s safe to say it’s a runaway hit. Let’s jump right on in:

From the event designer, Nicole George Event Planning & Design: The San Diego Zoo Safari Park recently opened their newest venue, African Plains Overlook. This was a great opportunity to showcase a modern and fun wedding inspiration overlooking to vast and open safari that the Safari Park has created. It is a wedding designer’s dream and there was so much to work with when it came to the sunset views and natural hues. It is a pattern + texture lover’s dream!

Respectful to the surroundings, we created a modern glamping editorial to honor the lively atmosphere of the Safari Park. We chose to shy away from traditional zoo themes or utilizing any animal objects or patterns to be respectful to the wildlife and focus our attention on the bare bones of why the Safari is so eclectic, playful, and beautiful. The most important design element was melding a variety of patterns, texture, and the color palette of the natural grasslands. The palette is warm, reflecting the sunset, with tones of amber, burnt orange, brown, ivory, and pops of indigo. We chose a wide variety of organic textures and patterns with woven blankets, wicker furniture, and heavy and light fabrics, balanced with heavier elements like the iron candelabra, black trunks, and hand carved wooden benches. The furniture mixes elegance with casual comfort, creating this really unique juxtaposition of design. Subdued peach, burgundy, and amber hues filled our wedding bouquet and whimsical table centerpiece, but overall, we chose less flowers and more décor to focus on the natural landscape. The canvas tents, mismatching ceremony décor, and relaxed lounge all give this shoot so much character and play into the environment that you would typically walk into a real safari camp. Styling our bride with a custom NEWhite Gown and modern jewelry and our groom with a burgundy suit really played up the playful and eclectic nature of the surroundings. One of my favorite pieces of the shoot is the invitation suite. It gives an old-world feel with its wax seal, map, and hand-written wording. It adds a refined elegance to the playful atmosphere.