Emma and Daisuke’s Santa Barbara Zoo wedding was a personal, well-curated celebration of the couple and their loved ones. Without too much production or over-the-top preparations, every detail had its purpose and there were so many nods to the couple’s heritage on both sides.
This sweet bride and groom, who both live locally in Santa Barbara, got married in late February at the Palm Garden at the Santa Barbara Zoological Gardens, a fun ceremony location that is both tucked away and wildly scenic. The ceremony took place on a lawn surrounded by palm trees, Bird of Paradise plants, and views of the Pacific Ocean in the background. Getting married at the zoo has its own whimsical specialness, with lion roars and macaw squawks serving as background noises during the ceremony.
Family was at the center of the day: Emma and Dais had loved ones travel from all over the world, including Emma’s grandmother from Holland and Dais’s family from Japan. Their ceremony was officiated by Emma’s brother, which added such a personal layer right away. They also honored Dais’s Japanese heritage with a “San San Kudo” ritual, led by the groom’s father and performed in Japanese.
Emma’s mother, Monica, also poured her own creativity into the day by designing the wedding stationery and signage. Her wildlife and floral illustrations tied everything together so beautifully, from the setting itself to the couple’s love of gathering their people somewhere unexpected and full of life. The couple’s cat, Lily, also made an appearance on the bar signage with her signature cocktail, the “Tiger Lily.”
After the ceremony, guests got to experience one of the best parts of having a wedding at the Santa Barbara Zoo: giraffes! Emma and Dais (who also wore tiny illustrated giraffes on his tie and giraffe-print socks) headed over for a giraffe feeding nearby. Offering leaves of lettuce to the giraffes was so fun and wildly photogenic. A giraffe basically joining cocktail hour is very hard to beat.
For couples considering a wedding at the Santa Barbara Zoo, Events by Rincon leads weddings and private events at the property, including catering, beverage service, rentals, and event support. The zoo offers daytime and evening celebrations, with options like animal encounters, private train rides, giraffe feedings, and keeper talks available as guest experiences. For example, in addition to the giraffe feeding, Emma and Dais also offered their guests an encounter with the zoo’s scarlet macaw during cocktail hour.
The Santa Barbara Zoo itself has a pretty special history, too. It opened to the public in 1963, but the property’s story goes back to the late 1800s, when it was originally part of an estate called Vega Mar (Meadow by the Sea). Today, the zoo spans nearly 30 acres of lush gardens overlooking the ocean, bird refuge, and mountains.
Dais and Emma’s wedding felt like the best of what this venue can be: meaningful, relaxed, family-centered, and just the right amount of unexpected. And honestly, more weddings should come with a giraffe cameo.
Venue: Santa Barbara Zoo
Videography: Agápe Films
Florals: Ella and Louie
Catering: Events by Rincon
Entertainment: Ybarra Music
Wedding dress: The Dress Bride
Menswear: Brooks Brothers
Meet your Santa Barbara Zoo wedding photographer
I’m here for the big feelings and the dance floor chaos.
As your Santa Barbara Zoo wedding photographer, my specialty is capturing effortless images without pulling you away from the moments that actually matter (the giddiness, happy tears, tiny details, and everything in between).
My approach is all about keeping you present, relaxed, and feeling like your very best self while I document your day from start to finish. If you want a photography experience that feels seamless, personal, and genuinely joyful, let’s create something unforgettable together.
