Tilden Park Brazilian Room Wedding | California Wedding Photographer | Indian Wedding Photographer SF Bay Area
With green space, forests, and a nearby carousel, Himanshu & Emma’s Brazilian Room wedding in Tilden Park, Berkeley, CA was the perfect setting for their fusion Indian celebration
Indian wedding photos by Brazilian Room Berkeley wedding photographer Kathryn Cooper Weddings
A 3-day Fusion Indian Wedding in San Francisco (East Bay)
These two met at college, lived and worked in another state, and returned to Emma’s home state of California to host their 3-day fusion Indian Brazilian Room wedding. Phew, that’s a mouthful! It was a jam-packed few days during an unusually hot October long weekend, but these two had amazing family, friends, and fun.
Because their wedding was spread over several days, I’m dedicating this specific post to their Brazilian Room wedding in Tilden Park (Berkeley, California). Their Western wedding will be for another day, and I’ll just quickly brush over their fun haldi ceremony, mehndi, and choora. That’s where I first got to meet their family members, who came from New Zealand, India, Connecticut, Washington, and more to celebrate with them.
Most Indian weddings host a variety of events from start to finish, and all of the options take into account location, budget, timeline, religion, background, and more. They include:
– Haldi
– Mehndi/Henna
– Sangeet
– Choora
– Baraat
– Wedding ceremony and blessings
– Vidai
– Reception
Himanshu and Emma elected to do a Haldi, Mehndi, Choora, Ceremony, and Reception.
These two rented a house in Oakland to have their family and friends over their wedding weekend, and this is where we started off with the Haldi—which is always fun for me to capture as an Indian wedding photographer.
A Colorful Oakland Haldi
A Haldi ceremony involves family and friends blessing them with haldi paste, which is typically a turmeric powder and paste mixed and dipped with a variety of flowers, mustard oil, and more. Family members, then friends are invited to bless by “painting” couples’ feet, top of the hands, cheeks, chin, nose, and/or forehead.
It’s quite fun, as many people like to make a proper mess, and the expressions are priceless. A showering of marigolds, beads, feathers, or typically flower petals is encouraged.
Emma’s reactions were so great!
Mehndi/Henna Time
After the haldi, the mehndi ceremony took place. Mehndi, or henna as it’s often known, means that the bride (and others, often) has hands, arms, and feet has henna designs put on in intricate patterns (temporarily). Henna/mehndi is made from crushed henna leaves, and is a dark brownish-green pigment.
Tip: The longer mehndi sits, the stronger the stain (which stays on skin as a dark reddish-orange color for 2-4 weeks). Most let it sit for 2-6 hours, and rubbing it with lemon can help the color remain more vibrant. The clayish substance is then washed off, revealing the temporary tattoo that is mehndi.
Every single member of Himanshu and Emma’s family got henna, which was a first for me to document! They had two henna artists: One dedicated to getting the bride’s designs perfect, and the other doing more simple patterns, sometimes with glitter, on the groom and guests.
A Choora Ceremony of Colorful Bangles
The following day was the main wedding day, and in the morning we started bright and early with the choora ceremony.
Though not every Indian wedding does this, Emma and Himanshu elected to. The choora is a ceremony where the bride’s aunt and uncle (typically maternal aunt and maternal uncle) place red, white, and gold bangles on the bride’s arms while her eyes are closed. Blessed by a priest in milk and water or rosewater, the choora continues with many bangles being stacked on, then gold ornaments meant to hang from the bangles as the final step.
From the Oakland Choora to the Berkeley Indian Wedding Ceremony
It was a beautiful gesture with just a few family members and friends, and with that, it was time for hair/makeup and a red wedding sari for Emma. And, of course, the baraat!
Baraats are truly one of my favorite parts of an Indian wedding. Generally, the groom gets on a white horse while a drum + DJ dance party commence. It’s high energy, fun, colorful, and unique.
Tip: Baraats always take more time than what is allotted. I’ve never photographed a baraat that took any less than 50 minutes, and I’ve photographed baraats with colorful smoke grenades and 500 guests, with the groom in a car, on horseback, on a camel, and more. Some even helicopter in/out or arrive on hoverboards! That said, allowing an hour is smart.
Though they elected not to do a real baraat, they have a delightful sense of humor…so they met me at the Tilden Park carousel for their “horse” pre-wedding shots. Amazing! Too fun, and with just a few people at the carousel, we were able to get some fun photos. In fact, one of my favorites was of some carousel lights, fairy lights I brought, and reflections.
After the Tilden Merry Go Round shots, it was time for their Tilden Park Brazilian Room wedding!
Weddings at Berkeley’s Brazilian Room
Though their fusion Indian wedding was 3 days long, the Indian ceremony at the Brazilian Room was the main event. While many Indian weddings have a ceremony one day and a reception the next–for the purposes of sleep, outfit changes, ornate setup, and guest lists–they had a more intimate Indian wedding with under 100 guests.
Tip: At the East Bay’s Brazilian Room, the parking lot is small, so you’ll want guests to either shuttle in or carpool.
Himanshu and Emma’s Indian wedding ceremony took place under a colorful marigold-studded mandap. Because of the crazy heat, guests were given parasols to hide from the blazing hot sun. Their ceremony was sweet and intimate, and perfectly suited for the Brazilian Room patio right outside.
Following the flower petals as the new couple walked down the aisle, guests were invited to mill about and explore the grounds with passed appetizers and drinks.
For their Brazil Room reception, they decorated with simple vibrant flowers, photos and locations from their travels, and bud vases.
Once the music started, the dancing started! Many Indian weddings mean that families prepare dances for the couple, and the groom’s parents, sister, and others danced to entertain the guests. There were tons of smiles and laughter all around, and once they were finished, the crowd started dancing, cooling off outside, and dancing some more. There may have been under 100 guests, but they danced their hearts out for sure.
Weddings at Tilden Park’s Brazilian Room, Berkeley, California
Following their last chats and dances, the couple had their grand exit in Tilden Park—with the remaining guests throwing the last of the flower petals. It was a delightful exit, and a beautiful end to a very long, full day of celebrations.
Vendors for H&E’s Tilden Park wedding are listed below, and as always—feel free to reach out to me with any questions about Brazilian Room Tilden Park weddings, Indian wedding photography, or nearly anything else.
This couple was so easy to work with, and their families and friends were so full of personality over the days I was with them. Plus, I’ve been an Indian wedding photographer all around the world, so getting to photograph a fusion celebration here near where I was born in California was a perfect match~
Brazilian Room
Tilden Regional Park
Berkeley, California
Reservable Hours:
Monday/Wednesday/Thursday/Friday, 8am-12midnight; Saturday & Sunday, 9am-12midnight
Address:
1500 Wildcat Canyon Road at Shasta Road, Berkeley, CA 94708
Phone:
(510) 544-3164
East Bay Parks:
1-888-EBPARKS or 1-888-327-2757
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Brazilian Room Tilden Park wedding vendors
Photographer: Instagram.com/KathrynCooperWeddings
Venue: Instagram.com/brazilianroomevents
Mehndi: Instagram.com/hennastylebyarati
Food, florals, and décor: Instagram.com/culinaryexcellence
Makeup and hair: Instagram.com/makeup_by_vimochana
Pink glasses: Instagram.com/Zenni
Park: Instagram.com/eastbayparks
Kathryn Cooper Weddings: Destination Indian Wedding Photographer | Brazilian Room Berkeley Weddings | SF Bay Area California Wedding Photographer