Saurabh & Holly’s Wedding at Basilica of St. Joseph and Alameda

This was a wedding for the books! Saurabh & Holly had such an epic wedding day with multiple locations, costume changes, and a boat cruise! They had an East meets West wedding celebrating traditions from both of their cultures for something that was totally unique and totally them.

They were married in a traditional Catholic ceremony at the Basilica of St. Joseph in San Jose but incorporated Indian traditions during the service. One amazing piece of the ceremony was Holly’s transforming dress. She walked down the aisle in a white top and skirt with a white dupatta and white flowers. Right before the rites of marriage, her skirt unzipped to reveal an intricate red skirt underneath. Her bridesmaids whisked away the white portion of her skirt and added a red dupatta over her shoulders and switched her flowers with dark red flowers for a more traditional Indian marriage look.

After they said their “I Do’s,” we traveled to Alameda for their reception boat cruise on the bay. Before the boat launch, we took a few minutes to capture their romantic portraits. They looked absolutely stunning with the water and the City behind them! It was also a fun call back to their engagement session that also took place on the coast a few months before their wedding.

We loved the fact that their wedding reception was on a boat cruise around the Bay. What an amazing idea! The boat cruise launched from Alameda and traveled around the Bay and San Francisco. Guests were treated to incredible views of the Bay Bridge, downtown SF, AT&T Park, and Oakland and the East Bay hills. After several really touching and humorous toasts, Holly and Saurabh shared their first dance before their guests took to the dance floor. Even though it was an intimate wedding of approximately 30 guests, the whole cruise was one big dance party! They even provided their guests with colorful Dandiya- traditional Indian dancing sticks- for both dancing and for clapping together to have the newlywed couple share a kiss, much like clinking a glass in traditional Western weddings.

Congrats, Saurabh & Holly! We are so excited for the two of you and absolutely loved sharing in their incredible day!!