Yorkshire Wildlife Park Wedding Photographer

I’m Dave, a wedding photographer based in West Yorkshire, and I love weddings where the couple’s personality runs through every part of the day. My style is relaxed and natural: I’m there to catch the laughter, the happy tears and the little moments in between, not to keep you posing for hours.

Yorkshire Wildlife Park near Doncaster is unlike any other wedding venue I photograph. Where else could a bride feed a polar bear in her wedding dress, or a giraffe lean over a couple mid-kiss? Looking for a wedding photographer for Yorkshire Wildlife Park? I’d love to hear about your plans.

Yorkshire Wildlife Park at a Glance

Photographing a Wedding at Yorkshire Wildlife Park

I photographed Rhiannon and Craig’s wedding here on a blazing hot August day, and it’s a venue that rewards a bit of planning. The ceremony room is bright, with big windows and plenty of space for a long aisle, which means soft, even light on faces and room for me to move around quietly without getting in anyone’s way.

After the ceremony, guests spill outside for hugs and drinks. On a sunny day the light is strong, so I look for open shade for the group pictures and keep the formal list short, because nobody wants to stand in the midday sun for forty minutes. A big everyone picture works well on the open ground, and ice creams are a brilliant way to keep everyone cool and laughing.

The animals are what make this venue special, and they need a little organising. Rhiannon and Craig spent time with the keepers feeding polar bears, a giraffe and a tiger, and those moments only work when the keepers set the timing. I keep my distance, use a longer lens and let the animals do their thing, then grab a few calm couple portraits nearby once the excitement settles. Allow a good chunk of time between the ceremony and the meal if you’d like to do this, as the park is big and the enclosures are spread out.

For couple portraits away from the animals, the woodland is my favourite spot. In the evening the ferns glow and the trees give soft, dappled light, and from there it’s a short walk to a wooden boardwalk and the lake, which catch the last of the sun beautifully. Fifteen or twenty minutes after the speeches is usually all it takes.

Inside Tsavo Lodge, the marquee can be blacked out with a starlight ceiling, which looks lovely but is dark, so I bring off-camera lighting for the speeches, the cake and the first dance. If the weather turns, the venue moves outdoor ceremonies indoors, and between the ceremony rooms and the marquee there are still options for portraits under cover.

Location of Yorkshire Wildlife Park

The park’s entrance is at the Yorkshire Hive, Hurst Lane, Auckley, Doncaster, DN9 3QY. It’s just off the M18 at junction 3, close to Doncaster and easy to reach from Sheffield, Rotherham, Barnsley and the rest of South Yorkshire. The Hex Wildlife Hotel is right at the entrance for anyone staying over. If you’re comparing venues nearby, take a look at my Mount Pleasant Hotel wedding photographer page too.

Real Weddings at Yorkshire Wildlife Park

Rhiannon & Craig

Rhiannon and Craig had their first date at the park, so marrying there was an easy decision. Their lilac-filled day included polar bears, a giraffe kiss and an Only Fools and Horses cake. Read Rhiannon and Craig’s Yorkshire Wildlife Park wedding story.

Why Choose Yorkshire Wildlife Park?

If you want a wedding your guests will still be talking about years from now, this is it. You get your ceremony, wedding breakfast and evening party in one place, a dedicated wedding coordinator, a resident DJ and the chance to share part of your day with some of the world’s most remarkable animals.

It suits couples who like to do things a little differently: relaxed, fun and full of personality. Your guests can explore the park during the day, there’s a hotel on site, and with spaces ranging from intimate suites to a 160-guest marquee, it works for small weddings and big ones alike.

Planning Your Yorkshire Wildlife Park Wedding

Hex Connect, in the Yorkshire Hive, looks out over the park’s Atlantic Forest Reserve, and your wedding party can explore the walkthrough wildlife areas too, so there are lots of fun places for pictures. If you prefer a darker, more dramatic evening, the Tsavo Lodge can be set up with a starlight ceiling, drapes and spotlights instead of the African theme.

Remember that you book the registrar yourselves with Doncaster Register Office, so it’s one of the first things to sort once you have your date. And if you’d love pictures with the animals, ask about the optional animal photography package early, as it shapes the timings of the day. To plan everything around the light, get in touch.

Yorkshire Wildlife Park Wedding Questions

More Yorkshire Wedding Venues

If you are still choosing a venue, have a look at my guide to the top wedding venues in Yorkshire, or my Doncaster wedding photographer page.