Southern Charm Zoo Wedding: Elegant Reception & Faith Lutheran Ceremony

Bride and groom share a tender moment on wedding day

Not only is the Zoo a unique location to hold your wedding, but when you combine it with your love of southern living you have a combo that is sure to blow minds! And we can safely say we were blown away by this southern comfort at the zoo wedding!
If you can't get enough of Wayne and Magen's fabulous wedding day we have good news! You can see all of the gorgeous photos taken by Ashley Jane Photography when you visit the full gallery here.

Bride and groom kiss sweetly at church altar wedding

Rustic Love is patient signs line church wedding aisle

Going to the Chapel

We always knew we wanted to get married in a Church so we chose Faith Lutheran Church for its beautiful stained glass windows and exposed beam ceiling. One of the most special elements of the wedding was that I was able to wear my mom’s veil she wore in my parents wedding 30 years earlier.

Smiling bride and bridesmaids in dusty blue dresses pose

Bridesmaid holding a beautiful baby's breath bouquet

charcoal grey groomsmen in suspenders @weddingchicks

Bride and groom pose on bridge for outdoor wedding

Bride in lace dress holding white rose wedding bouquet

A Wild Reception Venue

For our reception we choose Brevard Zoo’s wedding venue, the Nyami Nyami River Lodge, where I'm the wedding & events coordinator.

The Lodge has a beautiful veranda on the water and the view is incredible! I wanted to make the veranda really warm and inviting for guests so I had long flowing drapes added and rented vintage furniture and a beautiful chandelier to create a lounge area during cocktail hour.

Nyami Nyami River Lodge venue for a wedding reception

Elegant outdoor wedding reception venue with seating

gifts and generations of love table @weddingchicks

Memorial display with framed photos and floral arrangements

Rustic table with floral wedding seating chart display

Remembering Loved Ones

Our reception featured two really special elements including a memory table for Wayne’s dad who passed away our junior year in High School. The other was a collection of wedding pictures dating back to my great, great grandparents, which decorated our gift table. 

Wedding favor raspberry jam jar with rustic floral decor

Elegant rustic wedding table centerpiece with white flowers

Elegant wedding reception venue with pink linens and gold chairs

Romantic wedding sweetheart table with floral arch and chandelier

Southern Comfort Food

We both love the south so naturally we dreamed of an elegant southern affair. Food is such an important part of the south and ours certainly didn’t disappoint!

Guests were greeted with peach beer and noshed on mini chicken and waffles, and mini potato skins, while enjoying cocktail hour. They also enjoyed themed food stations, which included southern classics such as shrimp and grits, BBQ, chicken potpies and a biscuit bar.

Three-tiered wedding cake with Happily Ever After topper