1. Real Weddings

A Zoo-Themed Wedding in Powell, OH

Tara and Michael had both been on a few unsuccessful dates through an online dating website -- before they happened upon each other’s profiles. After

Tara and Michael had both been on a few unsuccessful dates through an online dating website -- before they happened upon each other’s profiles. After a few weeks of emails, they decided to meet in person. After talking for hours, they got nervous and said an awkward good-bye that left them worried that the relationship wouldn’t continue. Fortunately, Mike worked up the courage to call Tara the next day, sparking an almost yearlong courtship. The Bride Tara Hoefs, 31, an elementary teacher The Groom Michael McGaugh, 32, a high school teacher The Date July 11 The day before their one-year anniversary together, Mike brought Tara a dozen roses, took her on a trip to the scene of their first date, and then took her home where he proposed with a photo album full of his favorite memories that they had shared. To honor the state where they had both lived before moving to Virginia, the two planned a cheerful yellow destination wedding at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Ohio.

Even though Tara knew she wanted yellow shoes, she had difficulty finding the perfect pair (she’s almost 5’9” and didn’t want too high of a heel). She finally found it the week before the wedding.
Tara’s mother assembled the wedding favors: bright yellow boxes of lemon jelly beans tied with white ribbons.
The boutonnieres were comprised of green hypericum and freesia -- white for Mike and yellow for the groomsmen.
To play up their vintage zoo theme, Tara and Mike designed their escort cards with each guest’s name and an animal image from children’s author and illustrator Eric Carle. They displayed the cards in trays full of animal crackers.
Ivory lanterns surrounded by scattered yellow rose petals served as centerpieces at the reception. In lieu of table numbers, each table had a different Eric Carle animal flashcard to distinguish between the tables.
Tara and Mike’s two-tiered yellow wedding cake was covered with white and yellow abstract flowers. They also served an assortment of cupcakes in lemon, white chocolate empress, and chocolate devil’s food frosted with pale yellow white chocolate truffle icing and yellow-colored chocolate shavings.