Wedding Photographers & Videographers at Erie Zoo, Erie

A wedding at the Erie Zoo happens after the gates close, when the paths are quiet and the animals are settling in for the evening. Your wedding photos can include the gardens, the walkways and, if you add an animal encounter, a penguin or a lorikeet or two, so your photographer and videographer will have pictures no other venue in Erie can give you.

The zoo hosts the wedding ceremony, the reception, or both. Ceremonies take place on the Front Lawn (up to 160 guests), the Primate Patio (up to 100) or a Small Habitat Area for 15 to 25. Rent half the zoo or the full zoo and your wedding reception can be on the Primate Patio, the Front Lawn, by the Tiger Exhibit or along the Cat Walk, with guests free to wander the grounds. Cocktail hour can move to spots like the Greenhouse Patio or Kiboka, and full-zoo rentals add train and carousel rides in season. There are private changing areas for the wedding party.

Events start no earlier than 5:30 PM and end by 11 PM, and the packages don't include tables, chairs, tents, linens, catering or flowers, so you bring in your own vendors from the zoo's recommended list or beyond. A security guard is required. Music is welcome at an animal-safe level, which also means quieter background noise for your wedding video. Animal appearances depend on the animals' wellbeing that day, so treat any animal moment on your wedding day as a bonus.

• Book at least six months ahead; a deposit holds your date.
• Walk your ceremony spot and reception route with your photographer before sunset.
• Ask the special events manager about photo and video guidelines.

A little about the Erie Zoo

Erie has had a zoo since about 1927, when an elephant arrived as a gift to the city, and the zoo's main building was dedicated in August 1930. Today it covers 15 acres in Glenwood Park, with more than 400 animals and a botanical garden and greenhouse.