Ragini & Brandon | Berkeley City Club Wedding Photography
Before we even begin, please take a couple minutes to watch the highlight film created by our sister company, Seaglass Cinema. It captures the day beautifully!
Ragini and Brandon | 07.02.11 from Seaglass Cinema on Vimeo.
The easiest, most obvious thing to say about Ragini and Brandon is that they are both incredibly brilliant. You could even say that’s what brought them together. They first met at Duke before either one of them had even matriculated because they were selected for an exclusive scholarship program. Their families met before school started at freshman orientation on campus. Now Brandon is in the Mathematics Ph.D. program at Stanford and Ragini is in the Ph.D. program in Rhetoric at Berkeley.
But the most remarkable thing about these two has nothing to do with their dazzling resumes and everything to do with the way in which they’ve grown together. They have such different personalities and strengths, and they’ve come to support and complement each other so beautifully. Every day, they empower each other to become better, stronger versions of themselves. Ragini with her beautiful, easy smiles, words just pouring out of her, and Brandon with his silent gestures of support. Together, they are just unstoppable.
On a beautiful Saturday afternoon at the timeless Berkeley City Club, Ragini and Brandon were married in a multicultural interfaith ceremony that they personally crafted, blending Indian, Hindu, Jewish, and Christian traditions and involving their families on both sides. Unique, personal weddings are my absolute favorite, and I was just so happy to be a part of this day!
I loved the Indian elements of the wedding– the mehndi on her hands really makes that diamond pop! Ragini wore this gorgeous orange sari for the ceremony and later changed into a purple dress for the reception.
I just love the romance through the window pane.
Brandon’s grandparents and parents
Ragini and Brandon wrote their whole ceremony and incorporated Hindu, Christian, and Jewish traditions. On the left, Ragini’s parents light the Kerala lamp. On the right, the glass used for the Jewish wine blessing.
Below, the couple walk around each other in a circle seven times as part of a Hindu blessing. Thanks to my second photographer Kirsten for capturing the side angles.
Ragini recited her vows flawlessly and had the room in tears within the first two seconds.
The floral decorations were impeccably done by Chestnut and Vine.
After the outfit change, we found some gorgeous light in a stairwell, and we made the most of it.
Love the photo on the right below. Look closely at the shadows!
And this is one of my favorites. Divine.
At the end of the night, a lively round of Hava Nagila was played for the Horah, a Jewish tradition of raising the couple up on chairs while everyone dances in a circle around them.
The best part of this horah? Not only did the bride and groom go up on the chairs– so did the parents on both sides!
One last shot of the dance party at the end of the night.
Thank you again Ragini & Brandon for having me at your wedding. I feel so, so lucky to know you both. I hope you are having a fantastic time on your honeymoon in Paris!
Wedding Vendors:
Ceremony & Reception Venue: Berkeley City Club
Hair: Dale Oxley Hair Studio
Makeup: Ruby’s Beauty Studio
Mehndi: Kamala’s Henna World
Florist: Chestnut and Vine
Catering: Berkeley City Club
DJ: Jason Shires,Quantum Music
Day of Coordinator: Kit Shires, Quantum Music
Lighting: Just De’Lights
Wedding Cake: Sweet Adeline Bakeshop
Videography: Seaglass Cinema
Photography: Anna Wu Photography, assisted by Kirsten Julia.
