Sarah and Matt had an intimate wedding at Joaquin Miller Park in Oakland, California, which is located across from Robert’s Regional Park. It was a perfect warm afternoon in June when they waited under dappled sunlight for their ceremony to begin. Matt and Sarah met performing theater together, and they are an incredibly fun, goofy, and warm-hearted couple. I could tell that their guests felt special to share this meaningful moment with them, and I also felt fortunate to be there watching two beautiful souls get married.
Music and community were two important features of their ceremony, and they asked several friends to participate musically. I have two favorite moments from the ceremony. One, there was a moment where Sarah and Matt broke out into a very silly song in unison, singing something they had sung in a performance together years ago. And my other favorite moment was the epic moment of excitement they shared when their friend and officiant announced them married. They hooted, and they jumped up and down. These two know how to have a good time!
After the ceremony, we took portraits in the forest. The sunlight was streaming through the long tree trunks in dramatic shafts of light. They are very loving and caring with one another, and it was a real treat to photograph them.
Next, it was time to move on to their reception at Tessier Winery in Berkeley. They gathered and celebrated with their community, and ate delicious tacos for dinner. I loved the chance to take a totally different set of photos than the ones in the forest that were quiet, intimate, and almost ethereal. At the winery, it was so incredibly urban and the light was direct and bit harsh, but it added to the cool vibe. We took pictures by an incredible structure above the street. I wish I knew what it was for originally made for, but it made for some good pictures for us.
// Venue + Vendor Information // Wedding Ceremony Venue: Joaquin Miller Park, Oakland | Reception Venue: Tessier Winery, Berkeley | Taco Bar Catering: Dos Raicez | Photographer: Manali Anne Photography
Information about Getting Married in the Redwoods at Joaquin Miller Park, Oakland.
Something special for me about Sarah and Matt’s wedding was that it was actually the first wedding I’ve done in Joaquin Miller Park, even though I have photographed there dozens of times before! I’ve photographed family photos, maternity photos, engagement sessions, and proposals, all in this location, but I haven’t done a wedding here before. I obviously think it’s a beautiful place, otherwise I wouldn’t return so often, and it turned out to be a stunning place to get married. It was very private, especially because they got married on a Thursday.
I asked Sarah and Matt how they decided to get married here, and they said that at first, they were considering San Francisco City Hall for its convenience. But when they thought about it, San Francisco City Hall didn’t quite feel like the right fit, so they kept searching. When they discovered Joaquin Miller Park, they realized that being in nature and in the woods felt much more like them than getting married at San Francisco City Hall. As someone who photographs at San Francisco City Hall regularly, I can see how that makes sense. This did feel more intimate than a San Francisco City Hall wedding, even with 30 guests. I was curious and asked them about what it was like to reserve the space. They said it was easy and it only cost about $250 with insurance. To gather 30 folks in City Hall, couples need to book a private balcony for over $1000, and spots go fast. Folks often have to book a year in advance or more. This place seems like a win-win by comparison. They did, however, have to put more effort in since they chose to rent chairs. Oakland is pretty reliably warm from May through October, and they happened to book a perfect warm day in June. So getting married at Joaquin Miller Park in the redwoods turned out to be a great alternative to getting married at San Francisco City Hall.
If you’re planning an intimate wedding outdoors in the San Francisco Bay Area, take notes! I thought their wedding felt special and unique, and very uniquely East Bay. How many places can you get married in a redwood forest, then a short while later be hanging out, eating tacos, and dancing at a wine bar? And if you can’t choose between the beauty of the forest or industrial vibes, why not choose both?
A big congratulations to Sarah & Matt! Enjoy the photos!
