Intimate Como Zoo Conservatory Wedding | Pat + Liz • Xsperience Photography

The moment I met Pat and Liz at their engagement session, I fell in love with their love for each other. It was so playful and easy. The way Pat looked at Liz and the way they made each other laugh was contagious. I so looked forward to sharing this special day with them at the Como Zoo. I brought my daughter along to second shoot because I knew she’d have a blast spending the day with them, as well as visit the wild animals prior.

Why did you choose the Conservatory at the Como Zoo in St. Paul?

Pat – The Como Conservatory, and its Sunken Garden, are beautiful in every season, no matter what is planted there. When we saw the early summer flowers and plants just before the wedding, we knew it would be a perfect, color-filled backdrop for our wedding.

Also – Pat’s parents held their wedding reception at Como many decades prior, and an aunt got married in the Sunken Garden.

Liz – We really wanted to get married outdoors and be connected to nature, but I was nervous about the unpredictability of the weather. The conservatory solved that problem for us.

We decided to have a small wedding, with fewer than 40 guests and wedding party members. We wanted it to be personal and intimate, so that we could share it fully with those closest to us. During the reception and since, we’ve heard from many guests that they loved how much we were able to interact with one another, reconnecting with or meeting new friends.
Pat + Liz

What was your favorite part of the wedding day?

Pat – The first look was really amazing. I’d purposely not seen Liz’s dress, even though she’d bought it 1 ½ years earlier. When I turned and saw her, I was stunned and overwhelmed with emotion. My sister was watching from a distance and she joked that it looked like my knees buckled a little bit. I think they did.

Liz – I can’t pick a specific moment, more the general emotions of the day. We were surrounded by our community – I felt so loved and was able to give so much love. Pat and I both have small families, and we created a new family together. That was really beautiful. Being a bride was challenging, and I loved that my time as Pat’s wife was beginning.

Any tips or advice for engaged couples?

Check in with your venue regarding any construction they may have coming, and work a clause into your contract regarding any expected or unexpected construction-related issues.
Invest in a planner/coordinator if at all possible, especially if you don’t love managing the details.
Take time off after the wedding to rest and recuperate.
Wait a few months after getting engaged to begin wedding planning. Just enjoy the shine of engagement and take time to reflect on what you and your partner want the day to be like before committing to anything. Talk to others who have had weddings, all sorts of different kinds of weddings, to learn the pros and cons.

A few favorite lines from your vows since they were so beautifully written…

Pat chose this from Liz’s vows:

Your honesty, care, and support while I processed through my thoughts and emotions told me the story of who you are, and it only made me love you more. Your patience is unlike anything I’ve experienced. Thank you for trusting me to find balance within my head and my heart.

Liz chose this from Pat’s vows:

Our time is limited. We know that’s the deal we’re striking with time… it’s part of what makes me understand right now is the best now we’ll ever have. Nothing ahead is promised. Not one day. Right now is the best time to be loving – to be kind, patient, and forgiving. If we do this well, at the end of our time together, we’ll be crying. Not because our time is over, but because we did this life together so well.

Honeymoon plans…

Two phases – We’re going to the North Shore in early October to visit the many state parks, take in the autumn colors and spend time just looking out at Lake Superior. And we’ve already begun saving for a once-in-a-lifetime trip to New Zealand in (hopefully) about two years.

Goals for married life…

Live a quiet, calm, happy life together. Time is limited – spending it wisely and prioritizing our relationship. Grow together and be a team that communicates about all things.