Every once in a while a wedding comes along that is truly like no other that I have photographed! Living in the diverse San Francisco Bay Area is one of my favorite things about being a wedding photographer: I get to photograph an array of cultures coming together for something that is universal—love. This celebration beautifully wove together the bride’s Afghan heritage and the groom’s Palestinian heritage. The Berkeley Brazilian Room was transformed into a earthy, luxurious style that was truly inspiring. The wedding was held on the summer solstice, and was filled with beautiful rituals and lively dance performances which all came together and intertwined their respective cultures. It was important to the couple that they pay homage to their Afghan and Palestinian backgrounds, but also their affinity for the natural world and a respect for the local space of Berkeley and Tilden Park. That vision of the wedding day was designed by and came together with jaw-dropping results by Chanda Daniels from A Monique Affair, and was perfectly accentuated by Berkeley grown lush greens, herbs, and flowing wildflowers from Bluma Farms.

Bride and groom relax together on their tufted sage green outdoor lounge at the Berkeley Brazilian Room’s patio.

Getting ready at the historic Claremont Hotel, nestled in the Berkeley hills, and the wedding invitation with the bride’s gold jewelry.

The bride’s aunt made her embroidered wedding dress.

The bride’s dress was custom sewn by a family member, with incredible gold thread and accents of green embroidery. Traditionally the color green signifies prosperity, so Afghan brides often wear green.

The bride’s shoes and embroidered wedding cap.

I loved the bride’s beautiful glowing expression, right when she finished getting ready! This is always a favorite moment on the wedding day. When the wedding attire has been slipped on and make-up and hair completed. The cap she wore had exquisite embroidered detail and had a veil sewn into it.

The bride having just finished getting ready and wearing her embroidered traditional afghan wedding clothes.

The groom arrives the First Look with the bride at the Claremont Hotel.

The groom looked dashing in his tux! The couple’s sophisticated style was perfectly complimented by the florals, and I love the bride’s cascading and wild bouquet with pops of peachy tones. Their wedding was held in June on the summer solstice, when LOTS of flowers are in bloom. That included a lot of unique, ephemoral wildflowers that are not often seen in bride’s bouquets because they can’t be transported easily. But because the florals were sourced and grown locally right there in Berkeley, some of the special flowers and beautiful greens included were: corn cockles, passion vines, chocolate cosmos, thornless blackberry, flox, and zinnias. Even more amazing is that the bride was able to help in the growing of the flowers for her bouquet, at Bluma Farms! It’s not very often a bride takes part in growing her own bouquet!

The lovely bride in her traditional afghan wedding attire and a wildflower bouquet and boutonniere.

Details of the bride’s embroidered dress and the groom in his tux!

The wedding couple embraces outside the Claremont hotel.

The Berkeley Brazilian room fully decked out for this “earthy Moroccan” styled wedding!

A variety of fresh herb sprigs at each place setting: sage, rosemary and oregano.

A beautifully tiered cake adorned with chocolate cosmos and sliced almonds, and the sweetheart table with cascading eucalyptus greenery.

Love the copper piping framing the signage details from Bower Bird Atelier.

Chanda Daniels of A Monique Affair, wonderfully described the decor as “earthy Moroccan.” That included lots of fresh greenery along with the wildflowers, to honor this very eco-conscious couple. All of the florals, greenery, and herbs were locally sourced by Bluma Farms or other local flower growers, such as the roses that were grown from Front Porch Farms in Healdsburg. The goal of the wedding style and decor was to “enhance where we were and honor the cultures of the couple,” said Chanda.

The social hour on the patio outside the Brazilian Room.

Refreshing locally made kombucha was served during the cocktail hour at this multicultural Berkeley Brazilian Room wedding.

The patio was sunny and warm, and among the refreshments at the social hour was white peach and sun blossom kombucha, on tap, from the House of Kombucha. The couple also wanted to be sure to provide a space for their guests to have prayer and honor their Islamic faith, so a section of the patio, facing east, was covered in rugs for anytime during the wedding in which guests wanted to pray.

Incense carried by the groom’s brother before the ceremony started, and the bride and groom’s grand entrance.

Prior to the ceremony, the groom’s younger brother walked around the Brazilian Room carrying incense. Then the bride and groom entered, with the groom’s other brother carrying a copy of the Koran over them. The couple chose to honor specific traditions from each of their backgrounds. If you are wondering how to have a multicultural wedding, the answer is in honoring ceremonies and traditions that are most important to you and your partner. Pick the ones that are meaningful to you and how you feel they will best fit into your day. If you are blending two cultures or religions, then having a discussion about key elements to weave together, while perhaps leaving aside some traditions that you may not want to (or have time) to incorporate into your day. Also consider including your parents or other important relatives on their thoughts about how to bring in those key traditions.

The henna tradition that signifies the joining of the bride and groom, performed by the bride’s parents.

A performance by an Afghan dance troupe, Ballet Afsaneh.

Afghan dancer performance while guests started the dinner reception in family style.

Velvet sage lounge area, a perfect place to cool off when the sun was setting.

This inviting chic outdoor lounge was provided by Suite Treatments, who names all of their furniture rentals after the first clients to use them. So here is the Stevie (Nicks) Sofa and the Neil (Young) Chair!

The bride and groom take a stroll at sunset.

An Afghan and Palestinian Wedding at Berkeley’s Brazilian Room.

It was such an honor to photograph this wedding for such a beautiful couple, both inside and out! They put together a truly unique celebration that represented who they are and what is important to them. Their wedding honored the union of their families, their cultures, and their values. And they are clearly, very much in love, and that shone through the day.