Laurel + Sunny | Flower-Filled Indian Wedding with a Mariachi Band | San Diego, CA

Laurel and Sunny’s Wedding at Balboa Park’s Japanese Friendship Garden was easily one of the most fun weddings I’ve had the pleasure of capturing. Sunny is of Indian descent, and Laurel is half-Mexican and half-Filipino. The ways they chose to blend their cultures was so creative!

An important part of an Indian wedding day is a celebratory wedding processional called a Baraat. It’s a bit like a lively and spirited parade for the Groom before the ceremony while his guests lead him to the venue with music and dancing. Back when this tradition was first formed, it was common for the Groom to be seated atop a horse for his Baraat. In Sunny’s case, he and his groomsmen rode in on vintage lowrider convertibles. The Baraat weaved its way down the hill toward the Japanese Friendship Garden, where it met up with a traditional Mexican Mariachi band. In my experience in weddings, Baraats are always a blast, and I also love me a Mariachi band. So, I was super excited that Laurel and Sunny planned to blend these two cultural traditions into what I endearingly dubbed a “Bariachi.”

The seasonal timing of their wedding was perfect for the setting of their Japanese Friendship Garden ceremony. After an extended San Diego winter with lots of rain, the cherry blossoms and other florals found in the Garden were at their peak and looked absolutely stunning!

Their reception kept the party going strong with more energetic dancing, sparklers, raining money, and entertaining speeches, most notably one by the Best Man, the Groom’s brother, who had written his speech on his phone that had run out of power before the reception. He improvised a warm and heartfelt speech anyway; you never would have known!

Venue: Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa Park

Day-Of Coordinator: Kami of Date Night Designed

Event Design: The Two Group

Photography: Paul Michael Cooper Photography

Cinematography: Gottyn Studios

Florist: Floral Villa and Co

Catering & Bar: Terra Catering

DJ & Lighting: 3D Sounds

Dholies: Dholnation

Lowrider Car Rentals: Flaco Lowrider Mugshot