A Walk on the Wild Side: Mary and James’ San Diego Zoo Safari Park Wedding
There are weddings that are beautiful, and then there are weddings that tell a story so meaningful it takes your breath away. Mary and James’ celebration at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park was definitely the latter. When they approached me to design their wedding stationery, I knew we were creating something that would honor not just their love story, but also a deeply meaningful family connection.
I met Mary when we both worked at Nickelodeon. We were coworkers in the partner marketing department. A few years later, we had both moved on to different jobs and careers, and Mary remembered that I now did wedding invitations with personality. A new working relationship bloomed from there.
The San Diego Zoo Safari Park wasn’t just a unique venue choice for Mary and James – it was a place that held profound significance for the bride. This special location in Escondido had been the former employer of her late father, making it the perfect setting to celebrate love while keeping his memory close. Against the backdrop of towering giraffes and sweeping safari landscapes, Mary, radiant in her Vera Wang gown, and James, striking in forest green, created a wedding day that perfectly balanced elegance with wild beauty.
From our first design consultation, I knew the stationery needed to capture both the majesty of the venue and the personal touches that made their day unique. For their invitation suite, I created an original watercolor painting of their ceremony spot, carefully capturing the natural beauty of the Safari Park’s landscape. The artwork needed to give guests a glimpse of the extraordinary experience awaiting them, while maintaining the sophistication expected of a wedding invitation. The couple’s vision was “a zoo wedding but where you want to wear a tux.”
Here was our mood board:
The day-of details were another area where we could really let our creativity roam free. One of my favorite elements was the escort card display, where we incorporated a playful giraffe motif that tied into the venue’s stunning backdrop. Each table was cleverly named after the couple’s favorite romance movies and love stories, adding a personal touch that sparked conversation among guests. The cards themselves featured delicate watercolor illustrations that complemented the invitation suite while adding a touch of whimsy.
Adding an extra layer of personality to the celebration, we designed custom napkins featuring illustrations of Holly, the couple’s beloved pup, surrounded by the same florals that would grace their wedding day. This thoughtful detail created a beautiful connection between their home life and their wedding celebration, while the botanical elements tied everything together visually with stunning boho floral arrangements.
The signature cocktail sign was another opportunity to blend sophistication with fun. We incorporated elements from both the invitation suite and the day-of theme, creating a piece that felt both elevated and perfectly at home in the safari setting. The design featured the same watercolor style used throughout their stationery, ensuring a cohesive look across all elements.
What made this wedding truly special was how the stationery worked in harmony with the overall experience. Before the ceremony, guests were treated to a walk through the Safari Park and even had an unexpected encounter with an anteater during a live animal presentation. These unique moments were reflected in subtle ways throughout our designs, creating a cohesive story that unfolded throughout the day.
The natural elements woven into every aspect of the wedding, from the floral designs to the stationery details, created a seamless connection between the celebration and its stunning setting. Against the backdrop of the Safari Park’s breathtaking landscape, every piece we created helped tell the story of Mary and James’ special day while honoring the meaningful connection to Mary’s father.
This wedding reminded me why I love what I do – the opportunity to create designs that go beyond the basic to tell deeply personal stories. Every element we crafted for Mary and James, from the initial invitations to the smallest day-of details, worked together to create an experience that was uniquely theirs while honoring the memories that made this venue so special.
If you’re dreaming of a wedding that tells your own unique story, whether it’s in an extraordinary venue or somewhere close to heart, I’d love to help bring your vision to life through thoughtfully crafted stationery and details that capture what matters most to you. Contact me for more details.
Vendor Team:
Planning: FRUITVALE DESIGNS (@fruitvaledesigns)
Photography: KAMARIN ANN PHOTOGRAPHY (@kamarinann_photo)
Videography: AMARI PRODUCTIONS (@amariproductions)
Venue & Catering: SAN DIEGO ZOO SAFARI PARK (@sdwildweddings)
Florals: RUBY BLOOM (@ruby.bloom)
Hair: ALL THINGS HAIR (@allthingsshair)
Makeup: ERIN KELLY (@erink.artistry) from BLUSH BY M. MARIE (@blushbymmarie)
Cake: CUTE CAKES BAKERY & CAFE (@cutecakes)
DJ & Photo Booth: DANCING DJ PRODUCTIONS (@dancingdjproductions)
Face Painting: AMANDA PARKER (@amandasfacepaint)
Officiant: HEIDI MERRIGAN of LOVE STORY VOWS (@lovestoryvows)
Rentals: ARCHIVE RENTALS & DESIGN HOUSE (@archiverentals)
Stationery: Cotton & Bow (@cottonandbowpaper)
