Planning a Multicultural Wedding in the Bay Area
Bay Area weddings are truly unique. The Bay Area has incredible diversity, and with that, couples deciding to get married are making decisions on what cultural and religious traditions to represent in their wedding, and how to personalize their wedding to make it a true reflection of who they are.
This is one of my FAVORITE things about being a Bay Area wedding photographer!! It is an honor to have witnessed these traditions and see new ones created by how the couple chooses what elements to intermingle into their wedding. There is also a diversity of wedding venues, from venues surrounded by towering redwood forests, opulent city ballrooms, curated lush gardens, rolling vineyards in wine country, and resorts perched on coastal bluffs. It’s an understatement to say that I feel so lucky to be a wedding photographer in the San Francisco Bay Area.
So I’m sharing some favorite weddings from couples that curated the traditions they chose to honor, and also brought in some of their own personalized touches. Having photographed many multicultural weddings, I have picked up some helpful insights, and I’ll share these with you to help your multicultural wedding planning and photography go smoother—and be more meaningful.
Communication is Everything
The most successful multicultural weddings I have captured have one thing in common: clear communication. This means not only between you and your partner, but also among families, planners, vendors, and yes—even your wedding photographer. Make sure to share cultural expectations early on, especially if there are traditional rituals, dress codes for guests, or timeline considerations. A good photographer will adapt and plan ahead for moments that might not be familiar to them—like a tea ceremony, Baraat, or Sofreh.
The Persian Sofreh. The couple each dips their pinky into the honey, symbolizing sweetness of their marriage.
2. Educate Your Vendors (and Choose Wisely)
Not every vendor is familiar with the intricacies of multicultural events. In the Bay Area, we’re lucky to have a diverse pool of wedding professionals, but it’s still essential to find those who are either experiences in multicultural celebrations, or are eager to learn. As a photographer, I always appreciate when couples and planners send me a breakdown of significant traditions, so I know where to be and when—not just logistically, but emotionally. For example a tea ceremony where the couple is presenting tea to their parents or elders, I want to be sure to photograph all their faces and emotions for this intimate tradition.
A tea ceremony at the Westin St Francis in San Francisco.
3. Build a Blended Timeline
Multicultural weddings often include multiple ceremonies, outfit changes, or even back-to-back celebrations across different days. I encourage couples to work with their planner to build a photo-friendly timeline that honors all aspects of their day, without creating stress. For example, leave extra buffer time during outfit transitions or rituals that may take longer than expected, like a Ketubah signing. The goal is to stay present—not rushed.
4. Honor the Visual Story
One of the best parts about multicultural weddings is the incredible visual variety—from vibrant saris and lehengas to embroidered hanboks, colorful chuppahs, or traditional African kente cloth. As your photographer, I see these as a way to tell a powerful story through images. I recommend discussing your cultural elements ahead of time so I can highlight them thoughtfully. This includes decor details, ceremonial objects, and symbolic clothing. Or personalized touches like a the groom riding in on a decorated segway for the Baraat!
Make an entrance! For the Baraat, the groom decided to enter and lead the processing group on a segway as a nod to his tech roots.
5. Celebrate Inclusivity in Portraits
When photographing family formals or group portraits, I always ask for a quick rundown of who’s who—especially in intercultural families. It’s helpful to know which elders need to be prioritized, who should stand beside whom, and how to respectfully pose blended or extended families. These portraits are often the most cherished over the years to come, and deserve special care. To help you with this, I send all my couples a sample family formal photo list during their planning process, so that I’ll have that detailed list in hand at their wedding.
A celebration of Afghan and Palestinian cultures at a wedding at the Berkeley Brazilian Room.
6. Embrace the San Francisco Bay Area (and Wine Country’s) Backdrop
The Bay Area and its surrounding cities have an AMAZING diversity of wedding venues to compliment a multicultural wedding. Your venue choice will be a backdrop to your wedding and a reflection of you as a couple. Depending on the vibe you are going for, and the capacity needed, here are some faves:
Feeling outdoorsy? For the nature loving couples, places like Muir Woods or the gardens of Filoli in Woodside are greenery gems.
Want oceanfront views? The Ritz Carlton Half Moonbay and Sea Ranch Lodge sit right over rugged coastal cliffs.
Going for a chic, urban feel? Check out the modern Blanco Urban in San Jose, the classic San Francisco University Club on top of Nob Hill, or the grand Beaux Arts style of San Francisco City Hall.
How about rolling vineyards? Casa Real at Ruby Hill Winery in the Pleasanton/Livermore wine country has it all with a vineyard, charming terraced garden, and a large capacity ballroom. Auberge du Soleil in Napa offers luxurious amenities with incredible views of the Napa Valley.
Smashing the glass! A Jewish wedding ceremony under a chuppa in the Presidio at the Golden Gate Club.
Questions about photography for your multicultural wedding? Contact Sonya here.