An Outdoor Animal Inspired Wedding at Santa Barbara Zoological Gardens in Santa Barbara, California

Ashley Porter (27 and an attorney) and Cameron Boulton (27 and an engineer) met while they were undergrads at the University of California, Santa Barbara. They went on their first date at Cold Spring Tavern up in the foothills and instantly realized a connection between them. The couple moved to Sacramento and took a trip to Antigua in the Caribbean. On the second night of their trip, Ashley and Cameron went hiking on a hill that revealed an amazing view of the beach. When they got to the top during the sunset, Cameron got down on one knee and proposed to Ashley with a diamond ring in a recycled platinum setting. The couple had their wedding at the Santa Barbara Zoological Gardens to reflect their love for animals in the city where they fell in love. They had their ceremony and reception on a hilltop at the venue, overlooking the panoramic views of the Santa Barbara Riviera. The color palette of orange and purple decorated the wedding details, from the flower centerpieces at the reception to the flower girl’s dresses. Tables were marked with zoo animal sketches for seating assignments, and guests enjoyed feeding the giraffes and watching the flamingos while exploring the grounds at the zoo.