Caroline & Sam's Brazilian Room Wedding Story
The Brazilian Room in Tilden Park is one of our favorite wedding venues in the East Bay. Just minutes uphill from downtown Berkeley, this mountain retreat is a fabulous sanctuary. The rustic house is perched at the top of cascading glen full of pine, eucalyptus, and towering redwood trees. The building’s old english architecture is a dreamy compliment to the natural surroundings. It’s a deeply peaceful setting and a photographer’s paradise. Cocktail hour on the flagstone patio as the sun sets through the trees is a dreamy combination of nature and culture.
I first met Caroline and Sam at a coffee shop in Rockridge. Sipping a really strong brew, they told me that they were drawn to honest and real photography to document the feeling and the experience of their Brazilian Room wedding. After chatting for a few minutes about work and the Golden State Warriors playoff run, Caroline confided: “We weren’t in a hurry to start wedding planning with a year and a half before our date, but then we found your website and fell in love with the authenticity and vibrancy of your images. So we thought we’d reach out early before you got booked.”
We hit it off immediately. Conversation was easy, like we had already known each other for years. This type of connection is so important. As a journalistic style wedding photographer, connection and trust enable access. And it’s this access that leads to powerful photos that tell a story. Here are a few images from Caroline and Sam’s Tilden Park wedding story.
“Drew! We absolutely love our photos. They are so beautiful and fun. We love how real and romantic your photos feel - they are completely honest, which is exactly what we wanted. We had such a great time getting to know you. Thank you for everything. ”
– Caroline & Sam
“Caroline and Sam's Brazilian Room wedding was easily one of my favorites of the year. There was an elegant simplicity to the setting and the love and energy of it all made our work as documentary style photographers and absolute pleasure.”
– Drew Bird, San Francisco Bay Area Wedding Photographer
“Redwood forest wedding photos have a certain magic to them. The sacred trees create an energy that inspires. The redwood grove just downhill from the Brazilian Room is a perfect place to sneak away for a few portraits.”
– Drew Bird, Oakland Wedding Photographer
“With the sun setting through the trees, Cocktail hour on the flagstone patio at the Brazilian Room in Tilden Park is a dreamy combination of nature and culture and a fabulous setting for a wedding celebration.”
– Drew Bird, East bay and Berkeley Wedding Photographer
“Everyone in our family are just raving about the photos. THANK YOU. We love them all. Honestly, we were hoping to get 30 or 40 great photos. And, there are literally hundreds of amazing images. We love your work (and working with you!). We will recommend you to anyone looking for a photographer."
– Caroline & Sam
“Powerful storytelling always begins with planning and listening. I make a genuine effort to get to know every one of my clients. Understanding Caroline and Sam's story and establishing a friendship and rapport helped us develop a mutual trust. Once established, this trust grants access to more intimate expressions of beauty and connection. This access leads to more authentic images.”
– Drew Bird | Berkeley & Brazilian Room Wedding Photographer
Wedding Ceremony Venue: The Brazilian Room, Tilden Park, Berkeley, California.
Wedding Reception Venue: The Brazilian Room, Tilden Park, Berkeley, California.
Wedding Planner: Stacey Dillon at Stacey And Company. Marin County, California.
Catering: Trumpet Vine. Paso Robles, California.
Floral: Janelle at Green Petal Designs. San Francisco, California.
Drew Bird is recognized as one of the top 100 International Wedding Photographers in the world by the Wedding Photojournalist Association. He is currently based in San Francisco and creates photo stories for clients world-wide. Get in touch with Drew.