2020 has been a whirlwind of a year so far, but it has ultimately led Sharleen, Michael, and their families to celebrate their wedding at the Gamble Garden in Palo Alto. Although we couldn’t party and get down on the dance floor like we planned to at the Garden Court Hotel, this intimate wedding was as beautiful as ever.

We started around 4pm on a Friday afternoon. It was quiet and serene; most of the garden was fenced off for the wedding. They have a large room with 3 window doors that the bride and groom can get ready in. They even have a smaller, separate room for the groom to get ready in (which is what Sharleen and Michael did, given they wanted to do a first look). The tree outside provided cool shade for their family members to relax and social under.

Sharleen and Michael started the afternoon with the traditional Chinese Tea Ceremony, where they showed their family members appreciation and respect through serving tea. I love tradition, so this was one of my favorite parts!

After the tea ceremony, they changed into their western wedding attire and proceeded to the first look. I scouted the location before the wedding for the first look, so we knew exactly where to go! We chose the location right behind the fountain.

For their ceremony, they set up chairs in the lawn, and Sharleen’s brother, Conrad, officiated their wedding (he was also the musician!). I love how it was simple, yet romantic. The rest of the day was a lot of photos around the garden. Unlike a traditional full day wedding, these two did not have a tight timeline to navigate through, so they had plenty of time to enjoy each other’s company and create beautiful photos for the years to come!

Overall, I think Sharleen and Michael made a great decision to hold their intimate wedding at Gamble Garden. It’s SO beautiful and cute that I would recommend it to anyone who is looking to tie the knot during COVID and need an intimate space.

I hope by next year, our lives will be more normal, and that we can celebrate again with friends and family!