February 2021

How to Plan a Brazilian Room Tilden Park Wedding

Venues

How to Plan a Brazilian Room Tilden Park Wedding The Ultimate Guide to Planning a Brazilian Room Tilden Park Wedding (with Pricing and Photos) If you are looking to have a Brazilian Room Tilden Park wedding you have come to the right place! While Tilden Park offers over 2000 acres of space for hiking, golf, a merry-go-round, and steam trains, nestled in the North Berkeley hills lies the popular Brazilian Room to host your event! With its affordable rates and prime location, it is one of the most popular Berkeley wedding venues that books out in advance. Read below on some information to planning a wedding at the Brazilian Room. TLDR Rental fee range (Alameda & Contra Costa County residents): Minimum Fee: $560 Maximum Fee: $4,615 Pricing varies by day/time slot and event duration Rental fee range (non-residents): Minimum: $672 Maximum: $5,538 Non-resident surcharge: 20% surcharge applies for renters outside Alameda & Contra Costa Counties Capacity: Main hall max seated: 150 guests Standing capacity: 225 guests No official minimum capacity listed Botanic Garden ceremony/photo add-on: max 30 people Additional key fees: $1,000 refundable security/cleaning deposit Non-catered events fee: $300 (limited days: Mon/Wed/Thu, ends by 7pm) Late load-out fee: $500 per hour if exceeded time Why a Brazilian Room Tilden Park Wedding Offering a stunning outdoor wedding venue in Berkeley, the Brazilian Room offers a classic hillside view to host your ceremony and is conveniently located next to a garden to offer a variety of images. The building itself offers floor to ceiling windows and a rustic feel for the reception, and also offers daytime elopement sessions in addition to full day celebrations of up to 150 guests. Because of its relative location away from the city, it also offers a greater chance of seeing stars in the evening! Brazilian Room Tilden Park Wedding Cost Rental Fee : $560 – $5538Capacity: up to 150 guests How to Book a Brazilian Room Wedding Email: brazil@ebparks.orgPhone: (510) 544-3164Website: https://www.ebparks.org/rentals-and-permits/event-venues/brazilian-room Tilden Park Brazilian Room Wedding Spaces The Flagstone Patio offers expansive views of the sloping lawn and the wooded hillsides for you and up to 180 guests. While wedding ceremonies are held outside, the receptions will be taken into the Brazil House with its rustic charm and exposed wood plank ceiling. The reception hall features high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows on both lengths of the wall. There is a small bridal room for quick adjusts as needed. photo by Ian Chin Photography photo by Ian Chin Photography https://youtu.be/h6WgtJ8mh7s What’s Included The Brazilian Room Wedding Restrictions A surcharge of 20% of the total rental fee applies to any non-residents of Alameda and Contra Costa counties. All parties are supposed to end before midnight. There are some restrictions on playing loud music, but you can play music in both indoor and outdoor wedding spaces. All furniture is provided for by the venue, and so is the AV equipment, including speakers, microphones, and a projector. But they are only permitted for use indoors, which means you source your own for the outdoors part of the event.  The Brazilian Room Wedding Photos Interested In More Information? Please Fill Out the Form Below! 415 756 9335  ianchinphotography@gmail.com Related Posts on the Blog

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silhouette of couple touching foreheads at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco at dusk

How to Plan a Palace of Fine Arts Wedding

Informational, Venues

How to Plan a Palace of Fine Arts Wedding Ultimate Guide to Planning a Palace of Fine Arts Wedding(complete with pricing, photos, and videos) Having a Palace of Fine Arts Wedding is one of the more popular choices for Couples that want a gorgeous venue in the heart of San Francisco. While not commonly used for the reception, this wedding venue is one of the best in the City for your outdoor ceremony. Take a look at the photos below to imagine your Palace of Fine Arts wedding and contact me to discuss your wedding! How to Book a Palace of the Fine Arts Wedding For couples that have their sights set on a Palace of Fine Arts Wedding, the most critical first step is knowing how to reserve the venue. It is administered by San Francisco Recreation & Parks. Reservations can be made one year in advance of the date, and we certainly recommend placing a reservation at that time as it is popular. If more than one person places a reservation for a date, a lottery determines who gets the space.  Reservations themselves must be for a minimum of two hours and start on the hour. Wedding ceremonies can only be conducted beneath the Rotunda; however, while the grounds are beautiful, the Rotunda is the prime spot you’ll want for your ceremony. The Palace of Fine Arts Fee Reservation Fee : $506Hourly Rate (2 hr min) : $144Refundable Deposit : $500 If you’re planning a wedding at Palace of Fine Arts, one thing you’ll have to do is do some more planning for the ceremony. The reservation only includes use of the place. This means you will need to rent tables, chairs, an audio system, photographer, and arrange for catering if hosting your reception here also. You’ll also want to determine and plan décor. Because of this, most couples choose to host their ceremony only and have their reception elsewhere for efficiency Considerations for a Wedding at Palace of Fine Arts When planning a wedding at Palace of Fine Arts, you have to consider it is a public space and it will not be completely private. The park is very popular, and people will be walking around the park it is inevitable they will curiously walk into the Rotunda area. In addition, the area under the dome is extremely windy and there are no bathrooms onsite (just in the Palace of FA Theater which is open weekends only) Experienced Wedding Photographer If you are considering a wedding at Palace of Fine Arts, know that this is the second most photographed location for me (over 75 times), so rest assured I can guide you at this location easily. We will take popular photo ideas in addition to photos that aren’t so expected and cookie cutter, I promise! Please CONTACT ME to discuss your wedding at Palace of Fine Arts and I’d love to capture some awesome memories for you! If You Have a Reception at the Palace of Fine Arts Reception Reservation Fee (min) : $5,000Refundable Deposit : $1,000Staffing Fees (3 hr min) : $88/hourTented Reception (optional) : $15,000 / day Related Posts on the Blog

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Temescal Beach House Wedding

Wedding

Temescal Beach House Wedding Sarah and Chris held their Temescal Beach House Wedding in Oakland in front of 60 of their closest friends and family. They wanted to acknowledge their Japanese and Jewish roots in the Ceremony with hundreds of handmade cranes for the chuppah and the breaking of glass. They opted to do their family formals before the ceremony, which gave me my first impression of these two goofballs. When Chris was added into a group family photo on Sarah’s side, they immediately started making crazy faces and biting each other without me even directing them! This initial impression let me know that he was so welcomed into their family and that their personalities matched perfectly. It was nice foreshadowing into what turned out to be such a memorable day! I always love personalized ceremonies in the décor, but especially in the actual ceremony. This particular wedding was interesting because they involved more audience participation that what I normally see, asking a handful of the guests to share an anecdote about the couple, based on their own personal stories. It made for touching moments that showed how much the two were loved by everyone. During the reception, after the standard parent and sibling speeches, they allowed for an open invite for the microphone and ten different people stood up to share their well wishes and stories, which further complemented the fact that they were a very loved couple. It was great to get different viewpoints from various guests and I felt that I knew them my whole life from the stories and moments that were shared about the two. Once the music started playing for the group dancing, this group continued on in their goofy ways, encouraging Chris to do his famous monkey dance to everyone’s delight. If you can find the photo, Sarah’s brother ended up mimicking this famous dance move, almost performing it with as much character and emotion as the Groom! 🙂 Sarah and Chris’s Temescal Beach House Wedding will be one to remember!  If you are interested in discussing your wedding, please CONTACT ME to chat details! Interested In More Information? Please Fill Out the Form Below! 415 756 9335  ianchinphotography@gmail.com 762 10th Ave San Francisco, CA 94118

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Swedenborgian Church Wedding – Richard and Aaron

NO INDEXED, Uncategorized

Swedenborgian Church Wedding – Richard and Aaron Richard and Aaron ‘s same-sex wedding at the Swedenborgian Church wedding in San Francisco was a very simple, yet memorable affair. They found me via Offbeat Bride which is always great, and appreciated my “creative and quirky images.” 🙂 Though they weren’t as offbeat as my other Clients, they proved you don’t need a unique outside the box theme or a wildly decorated venue to have a fun and personal wedding, perfectly suited to your needs. When people ask me what my style is, I tell them it is emotional creative journalism. First and foremost, I focus on capturing emotion (tears and laughter are definitely my favorites to capture) and I tell them no matter how elaborate or large your wedding is, there are always moments to remember and emotions to capture. Though Richard and Aaron’s wedding was more intimate with size, space, and total time for the celebration, I pride myself in being able to tell the story of the day and capturing moments regardless of these numbers. Hopefully, it shows to any future couples that whether you want the most grandiose offbeat affair, or the most intimate and low key celebration, what matters most are the moments of the day and the people you are with. For Richard and Aaron, they produced their perfectly intimate Swedenborgian Church wedding all within 4 hours, and that was their definition of an ideal wedding. Interested In More Information? Please Fill Out the Form Below! 415 756 9335  ianchinphotography@gmail.com 762 10th Ave San Francisco, CA 94118

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Shakespeare Garden Wedding San Francisco

Venues

Shakespeare Garden Wedding San Francisco Ultimate Guide for Planning a Shakespeare Garden SF Wedding (with pricing, photos, and videos) Why a Shakespeare Garden SF Wedding? Choosing a Shakespeare Garden wedding is a recommended choice for those who want an intimate wedding venue at a reasonable price in the middle of San Francisco. Being the most popular wedding venue in Golden Gate Park, couples commonly have a Shakespeare Garden wedding ceremony before holding their reception elsewhere. Run by the SF Parks and Recreation, a Shakespeare Garden wedding San Francisco is an affordable way to get married in a beautiful setting. If you want more options, check out these other locations on where to have a wedding in Golden Gate Park.  Shakespeare Garden San Francisco Wedding Cost Reservation Fee : $531Rental Fee : $152 hourly rate (2 hour min)Refundable Deposit: $500 Reservation Process for a Shakespeare Garden Golden Gate Park Wedding Email: RPDReservations@sfgov.orgPhone: 415-831-5500Rental Application: https://fs18.formsite.com/sfrpsurvey2/jtlyfqhycd/index.html Wedding reservations at Golden Gate Park can be made up to a year in advance. Payments can be made by check or card. If making a reservation less than two months form the wedding date, payment must be made in full immediately by card. Restrictions Unfortunately, there are no onsite restrooms at the Shakespeare Garden. In addition, they have strict music and decor regulations to minimize the damage to the park and do not provide tables or chairs. Shakespeare Garden does not allow any food or drink receptions so you will have to find a secondary location to celebrate. Take a look at this list of 50+ San Francisco wedding venues, if you are looking for all inclusive wedding venues similar to Shakespeare Garden. Best Times for an SF Wedding While San Francisco never gets too cold or too hot throughout the year, “Summer” in San Francisco (aka the warmest months) is actually September and October, rather than the summer months June – August. Throughout the year, it consistently averages the low to mid 60s, so there’s not really a bad time to have a Shakespeare Garden wedding San Francisco! Shakespeare Garden Wedding Walkthrough https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIF4ytamSm0 Wedding at Shakespeare Garden Photos Related Posts on the Blog Interested In More Information? Please Fill Out the Form Below! 415 756 9335  ianchinphotography@gmail.com 762 10th Ave San Francisco, CA 94118

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Ascension Greek Orthodox Cathedral Wedding

Wedding

Ascension Greek Orthodox Cathedral Wedding Tia and Ian held their Ascension Greek Orthodox Cathedral Wedding in Oakland, choosing this gorgeous cathedral in the Oakland hills with one of the nicest ceiling interiors I have seen. The murals on the ceiling above the altar provided a nice centerpiece to focus on, as I was forced to stay in one place the entire hour ceremony! It was touching to hear that Tia’s sister also had an Ascension Greek Orthodox Cathedral wedding several years back, so she was happy to give me tips on the wedding ceremony and what to expect during their hour long celebration. She mentioned to me that it is typical for the photographer to stay in one place (her photographer was forced to stay at the same spot also) once the wedding ceremony starts so as not to disrupt the solemnity of the day. The only time I was able to move around would be in the beginning and end of the ceremony, so I definitely tried to take advantage of the situation by first staying in the back balcony for images before coming up front where I would eventually stay. One of the best things about being a wedding photographer is that I am able to meet new cultures and witness so many traditions that most people never experience. This wedding at the Ascension Cathedral was my first Greek wedding, and I hope it won’t be my last! If  you are interested in other wedding venues, take a look at my San Francisco wedding venues list to help you in your search! Interested In More Information? Please Fill Out the Form Below! 415 756 9335  ianchinphotography@gmail.com 762 10th Ave San Francisco, CA 94118

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Tiburon Engagement Photos

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Tiburon Engagement Photos Kelsey and Keith chose Blackies Pasture for their Tiburon engagement photos, going with this last minute location after their original choice of Paradise Beach Park closed sooner than expected. An avid cycler, Keith initially wanted to photograph at the top of Mount Tamalpais, but that morning realized that it would take too much time to get to the top of the mountain in adequate time. Doing a quick online search we came across Blackies Pasture, named after the resident horse that was seen frequently grazing this land in the 1950s. Both preferring anything in nature and outdoors, the location didn’t matter so much to either Kelsey or Keith, and I simply focused on their chemistry and their self-proclaimed awkwardness in front of cameras and used it to my advantage 😛 One of my favorite sequences of the day involved a single bench and a little downhill slope below it. It had been years since I rolled down a hill and I knew with their carefree personalities and Kelsey’s preference of going barefoot (which she mentioned to me within the first 5 minutes of shooting), they would be completely open to letting loose and having fun for their engagement shoot. They admitted they are not into PDA, and so I knew they were the perfect types of people who didn’t care about looking silly or having wild hair for their photos. This little hill was the perfect way to let them laugh naturally and to be themselves, and not pressure them to do any “typical” kissing photos. I want your photos to be a reflection of you – whatever that means! Interested In More Information? Please Fill Out the Form Below! 415 756 9335  ianchinphotography@gmail.com 762 10th Ave San Francisco, CA 94118

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palm event center wedding bride and groom under an umbrella with the blue sky and a doorway silhouetted

Palm Event Center Wedding

Wedding

Palm Event Center Wedding Michelle and Jeremy held their wedding ceremony first at St. Bede Church in Hayward, then continued their Palm Event Center wedding in Pleasanton during the early stages of the infamous coronavirus pandemic in world history. Leading up to the wedding day, there were a lot of questions and concerns as to whether the wedding would actually take place, especially given the suggested order of staying indoors and / or complying to social distancing of at least 6 feet. With this in mind, I was a little intrigued by how the guests would react and respond during the wedding, but as soon as I entered the family home for the getting ready portion of the day, it became obvious from the very start that the spirit of the day would not be altered in any way. As you will see from the photos below the joy, love, and beautiful moments were just as evident and natural as any other day despite the world literally shutting down country by country. Having met playing on the same recreational teams, Michelle and Jeremy’s wedding details had hints of a sports theme as the decor and day showcased their love of sports. Both athletic, they utilized their active lifestyle in one of the more fun and engaging first dances I have seen in a while, with several lifts and carries to wow and impress the crowd, including me! 🙂Not settling for just one dance, they surprised the entire room with a flash mob immediately after, as about 16 of their friends and family joined them in the center of the room for a well choreographed dance that would rival BTS (just kidding, no one can touch BTS’s dance moves haha!) I had so much fun documenting this wedding day because despite the unprecedented shutdowns in the world and a little bit of rain, Michelle and Jeremy celebrated their union exactly as they planned, putting forward the same energy and zest for life that their family and friends love them for. This Palm Center Wedding turned out to be one of the most memorable wedding days not because of the historic pandemic, but rather because of the many moments of joy throughout the day, the wicked dance moves, and the constant smiles on Michelle’s face, even after being faked out by Jeremy’s euro-step during the cake cutting! 😀  Venue : Palm Event CenterVideographer : 3007 filmsDJ : Spintronix EventsFlorist : Arrangements by GlesMakeup : Kitty OlitanHair : Art of ChantelCake : Cake Creations by Bev If you would like to discuss your Palm Event Center wedding please CONTACT ME to discuss ideas! https://ianchinphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Michelle-and-Jeremy-Slideshow_2020-03-23_1080p_mp4-1920.mp4 Interested In More Information? Please Fill Out the Form Below! 415 756 9335  ianchinphotography@gmail.com Related Posts on the Blog

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