Brandon and Heather had quite possibly THE rainiest wedding day ever. As luck would have it, though, Mesker Park Zoo is basically the best place ever to have your wedding on a rainy day. Their Amazonia exhibit offers the effects of an outdoor area – in the rainforest, mind you, but you’re completely covered and dry! SCORE!

Getting Ready for the Wedding Day

Before I get ahead of myself, let’s start from the beginning. Heather got ready for the day at Brandon’s parents house, and it was a beautiful space for doing so. Their home sits on the river in Newburgh and multiple large picture windows offer gorgeous views. The neutral walls on the inside are complemented by high ceilings and classic decor. In case you were wondering, this is a dream for a photographer to walk into on your wedding day!

Heather and her bridesmaids had their hair and makeup done by Lindsey Deer at LDJD: Hair and Makeup, and the bride wore an adorable Kate Spade robe covered in ice cream cones to get ready for the day. She put on her gown from House of White Bridal with help from her mom, and shortly thereafter she shared a tearful first look with her dad. It was such a special moment for both of them!

The First Look and Ceremony

Heather and Brandon decided to share their first look at Mesker Park Zoo. The skies actually cleared by this time, but we still stepped inside of Amazonia for fear that they would open back up and pour buckets of rain on the beautiful bride and groom mid-first look. I’m fairly certain that’s a situation no one wants to find themselves in!

When they saw each other for the first time they embraced and fully took in the moment. It was emotional and so special for both of them.

The rain came pouring down again during the time we had allotted for family and bridal party photos, but by the time the ceremony rolled around, the rain was out of sight! Talk about perfect timing, right?

Heather and Brandon were able to have their ceremony outside on the deck as they had originally planned. The rain held out until the very end of their ceremony when it started sprinkling again. They made it through, though, and everyone was able to find cover before it picked up again!

The Wedding Reception at Mesker Park Zoo

As the reception began, the new Mr. and Mrs. went right into their first dance. They enjoyed mingling with friends and family throughout the night and were eventually able to open the dance floor up outside near the fountains once the rain had cleared for good. They also rented the zoo’s carousel for an hour for their guests to enjoy, and it was a hit!

All in all, it was such a beautiful and unique wedding and I’m so thankful that they chose me to be a part of it. Congrats to you, Mr. and Mrs. Woolen!

Be sure to check out the slideshow below for additional photos not found in this blog post from Brandon and Heather’s day!

Wedding Vendors
Venue :: Mesker Park Zoo
Bridal Gown :: House of White Bridal
Florist :: It Can Be Arranged
Bridesmaids’ Dresses :: N/S at Macy’s
Men’s Attire: Paul’s Menswear
Cake and dessert table :: Donut Bank with special thanks to Monica Blanc
Hair and Makeup: Lindsey Deer and LDJD:Hair and Makeup