CHESTER ZOO

PRE WEDDING SHOOT

This pre wedding shoot was at Chester Zoo. I am a child at heart and was secretly looking forward to doing this shoot as I had an excuse to go to the zoo. Chester Zoo is also a wedding venue and hosts its ceremony’s at Oakfield Manor, in the actual zoo grounds. This is where the couple photographed will be getting married. Oakfield Manor is a Victorian Mansion surrounded by beautiful gardens and the zoo. If you are looking for a wedding venue with a twist then the Zoo could be your twist. Your wedding guests are given access to the Zoo after the ceremony. This is a great incentive and your guests will love it.

There are so many places to take photographs at Chester Zoo and so many animals that I was spoilt for choice at where to start. I decided that starting with these two beautiful creatures called Avril and Pete would be the best place to begin.

We took a coffee break and got to learn how the couple got together.

Where did you meet?
We met through our best man Graeme. He’s best mates with Pete and I knew him through the band he was in. I got him a gig at my university and as a thanks he did an acoustic set for my 21st birthday. He brought Pete with him although we didn’t speak a great deal that night. It was a couple of months later we found out we both liked football and both supported Shrewsbury Town, we went to the play off final at Wembley….Shrewsbury lost but it was after then we started to get to know each other more and the rest as they say is history!

What is it about each other that you love?
We are best friends and look after each other, we always make one another smile!

What is your favourite way of spending time together?
We have a lot of the same interests. As previously mentioned we are big football fans and season ticket holders at Shrewsbury Town so we go to many matches home and away. We also like going to gigs, visiting zoos and spending time at home lazing with our cat Obi.

How did you propose?
It was our 4 year anniversary last June and we went across to Jersey in the Channel Islands. We love Durrell Wildlife Trust, which is over there and I volunteered there for 2 months just after we met. We stayed on site at the park in luxury pods. The evening before our anniversary Pete took me to a very fancy restaurant by the beach. After this we headed back and watched the lemurs whose spacious enclosure is right by the campsite! Heading back to our pod I had no idea what Pete had planned and then he proposed.

What do you think the secret is to a long lasting relationship?
I think being there for one another during both the happy and sad times. Don’t be afraid to be yourselves, laugh lots and be silly sometimes. Express your love, share your experiences and be excellent to each other always.

Next stop was the Giraffes

Penguins!

Two things I love about spring, that bring a big smile to my face.  Cherry Blossom Trees and baby animals. I had the pleasure of seeing both today!