Brazilian Room

My friend had her wedding here and it was gorgeous. The outdoor scape of Tilden Park in Berkeley is a beautiful backdrop to any ceremony.

After visiting 11 venues, we chose the Brazilian Room as The Place. Here's why:

It's super gorgeous. The ceremony can be held outside on the patio which overlooks a large grassy field surrounded by redwoods and pine trees. Then the reception is inside this arts and crafts-y lodge like building (which has a slight fairy tale-like stone facade) with a soaring ceiling and a fireplace.

The price can't be beat. It's one of the cheapest venues we looked at. I think that's because it's run by the Parks Department. Since there's so much demand for the Brazilian Room, I think they could get away with charging $2000 more than what they do (not that I'm suggesting it). It's 20% cheaper if you live in Alameda or Contra Costa Counties. (Why must I live in Santa Clara County?)

Downside: The bridal changing area is a public restroom. You use the tiny lounge adjacent to it to get ready. There are a lot of policies on the space such as no flower petals or rice and no hanging anything from the ceiling; plus there are candle regulations.

In order to sign a contract, you must visit the Brazilian Room during weekday business hours or during their Tuesday night wedding fairs. This is fine if you live nearby, but is nightmare-ish if you live an hour away since you have to drive there during commute hours.

Beautiful site, low prices. A major con is that because it is a regional park, there are rules and red tape that you will have to deal with. You must choose caterers from a preferred list and the time frame is a bit tight unless you are renting for the whole day.

Like: All my guests love the Brazilian Room. The weather was perfect on my day and the background looked more like a painting than real. It is a really lovely place for an outdoor wedding. Their staff were also great to work with.

Dislike: The long list of rules and forms is a bit annoying but what I really don't like is the short list of approved caterers. We could have found some much better caterers that suit our taste at a lower cost if we were not limited by their list.

Also, there is no changing room for the bride. I used the area in the lady's bathroom to get ready. My maid of honor left her purse and her jacket in the bathroom, with some jewelries that I was going to change into, and a touch up kit. They were stolen during the ceremony! It was definitely our fault for not watching our stuff, but we didn't think about it at that time! So B Room bride, beware!

Beautiful venue! Tilden park is perfect for wedding. We love the brazillian room, but our date were booked!! (We called them 14 months before our wedding, its still too late! :(

Such a beautiful venue. I loved how all the pictures my wedding photographer, Jen Good, took look like I was in a dreamy forest. It was perfect.