Akilah & Ruthie – Oakland Wedding at Joaquin Miller Park

Oakland Wedding at Joaquin Miller Park\

It isn’t every week, month or even year that I get to photograph an African-American, Queer, Jewish, Christian and all together unique wedding like this! It was great to see so many traditions come together and to witness this marriage!

This wedding came on the heels of such an important and world changing election. In one

day, we came to learn that America as a nation had moved far enough beyond issues of race to elect an African-American/Caucasion president but that our struggles for freedom are still a work in process as California also voted to pass Proposition 8. I pray that this wedding and all the others that happened in the window of opportunity that preceded the election will be honored and that the increased consciousness raised by this issue and the efforts to overturn it leads to greater freedom for all.

In the meantime, Akilah and Ruthie had a beautiful wedding and here are some photos from it:

Flower Girl getting ready in mirror | Wedding – Getting Ready in Hotel Room – Oakland Wedding

Bride in her wedding dress – getting ready – hotel room – Oakland wedding

Wedding Decor – Wedding Cake – Wedding Table Design – Oakland Wedding – Joaquin Miller Park and Community Center

Wedding Program for wedding at Joaquin Miller Park and Community Center in Oakland

Reading Blessings at Wedding – Joaquin Miller Park and Community Center – Oakland – Kehillah Community

Chocolate Wedding Cake Slice – Oakland Wedding – Joaquin Miller Park and Community Center – LGBT Wedding

Two brides speaking to their guests at their wedding reception | LGBT – Oakland Wedding – Joaquin Miller Park and Community Center

Portrait of Brides in Redwood Grove – LGBT Wedding – Joaquin Miller Park and Community Center – Oakland Wedding

Brides walking down the aisle – LGBT Wedding – Joaquin Miller Park and Community Center – Oakland Wedding

Wedding Ceremony – Rabbi David Cooper – LGBT Wedding – Joaquin Miller Park and Community Center – Oakland Wedding

Rabbi David Cooper of Kehillah Community Congregation says a blessing over the wine – Wedding Ceremony – Rabbi David Cooper – Joaquin Miller Park and Community Center – Oakland Wedding

Venue: Joaquin Miller Park Community Center

Catering by: Blue Heron.

see more of my photography at Halbright Photography

See the full slide show here.