Every once in a while, a wedding crosses your path that is so fabulously unique, creative and full of joy, that it makes you want to shout about it from the rooftops. Laura and Jonathan’s safari-themed wedding will go down as one of my favourite ever celebrations to shoot. This lovely, warm couple pulled off an eclectic, artistic and exuberant wedding day that was the perfect match for their personalities.

These two both have collected the sorts of life experiences that make you want to sit by a fire and listen to their stories for hours on end. Laura is a Doctor of Forestry and works with genetic forestry and nutrition- she can often be found doing research in central America or the wilds of the Chihuahua desert (wow, right?) Not to be outdone, Jonathan is a zoologist, science author and very talented artist and sculptor. They’ve been together for many years, but felt that the time was right to tie the knot, and decided to bring elements of their travels and their combined passions into every aspect of their wedding. The result was a beautifully eccentric explosion of colour and creativity.

Art, Music, Food and Laughter

These were the lynch pins of Laura and Jonathan’s safari-themed wedding day. They hosted the whole occasion at a friend’s converted barn, decorated it with splashes of colour and pattern, and used sculpture made by Jonathan as the table centrepieces. Their guests were dressed in their best and brightest clothes, too, and their humanist ceremony, led by celebrant Ian Willox, made for a beautifully vibrant and joyful experience to photograph.

One of the things that really made this day stand out for me was the music. Laura and Jonathan call both Oxfordshire and Rome their home, and they split their time between the two places. Near their house in Rome, there is a street musician named Claudio (also known as The Birdman). His impish, chaotic and characterful performance style is truly something to behold, and can’t help but inspire dancing and smiles. The couple knew they wanted his music and infectious revelry at their wedding, so they flew him over for their big day. How amazing is that?

You can see The Birdman in action in the video at the end of this post, and it will give you a good idea of the joyful atmosphere that was felt all the way through Laura and Jonathan’s wedding day.