KARINA & TIM | A TEA CEREMONY & WEDDING RECEPTION AT KOI PALACE

KARINA & TIM

Chinese Tea Wedding Ceremony | Daly City, California

Karina and Tim's wedding was a full celebration of love, family, and tradition, and I was so honored to document it. The day unfolded at Koi Palace in Daly City, beginning with a Chinese tea ceremony — that beautiful, intimate moment where the couple honors their parents and elders and is welcomed into each other's families. From there it opened up into a reception full of color and joy: heartfelt speeches, a lively lion dance that filled the room with drumbeats and energy, dancing, and guests who clearly adore these two.

Days like this move fast, with so many meaningful moments happening at once, so I stayed close and ready, catching the quiet glances during the tea ceremony alongside the big, loud, happy chaos of the celebration. Cultural celebrations like this are some of my very favorite work.

If you're planning a wedding or cultural celebration anywhere in the Bay Area, I'd love to help you remember every part of it.

Two people in red traditional Chinese attire stand among red, yellow, and gold Chinese lion dance costumes in a decorated indoor setting.
A couple dressed in traditional red Chinese attire smiling and close together during a celebration, with a green tiled roof in the background, and decorated table with gold pineapple ornaments and small figures in the foreground.
A couple dancing closely at a celebration, smiling and looking into each other's eyes, with warm lighting and a blurred background.
A red tray with two cups of tea and a small blue and white teapot on a white table, with a blurred menu in the background and a gold tinsel decoration on the right.
A group of people in traditional Chinese attire, smiling and engaged in a conversation at a social gathering.
Two round decorative boxes with embroidered intricate colorful designs on the lids are placed on a patterned fabric surface. The boxes are woven with a basket-like texture and are decorated with yellow tassels.
Woman dressed in a traditional red Chinese dress with intricate gold embroidery, wearing gold jewelry, participating in a cultural or celebratory event.
People gathered at a social event, exchanging gifts and smiling, with some holding cups, in a festive setting.
People participating in a traditional Chinese tea ceremony, with two women wearing red outfits holding a red tray with tea cups, and an older man with white hair and a suit seated, shaking hands during a festive event.
A group of elderly and middle-aged people, some dressed in traditional Asian attire, pose for a photo inside a decorated restaurant with a large screen and colorful artwork in the background.
Two individuals wearing traditional Chinese wedding attire, bowing down in front of a seated guest at a wedding celebration.
People raising glasses of red wine in a toast at a social gathering or dinner event.
A congratulatory card with a photo collage on the left and handwritten message on the right, surrounded by various craft supplies including scissors, washi tape, and a marker.
A large group of people at an indoor event, smiling and raising their hands, with some taking photos, in a room with wood-paneled walls and a decorative pillar.
A group of people at a celebration or party, with some dancing and smiling. The setting appears to be indoors with a wooden wall background.
A man in a black shirt and glasses holding a gold pineapple-shaped trophy at a celebration or award ceremony, with a woman in a blue dress and pearl necklace extending her hand for a handshake, and other people smiling in the background, inside a dec
People dancing at an indoor celebration with Asian cultural elements, including a man in a traditional red attire and a man with white hair in a dress shirt.
People participating in a traditional Asian wedding ceremony, holding hands, dressed in formal and traditional clothing, in an indoor setting.
Happy women and girls at a celebration or party, engaging in conversation and smiling.
A red Chinese lion dance costume performer at a restaurant or banquet, with blurred guests in the background.
An elderly man in a tuxedo with a bow tie raising his arms in celebration inside a restaurant or banquet hall, with a woman in a plaid shirt and glasses beside him, and a decorative stone pillar in the foreground.
People seated at tables during a social gathering in a restaurant or banquet hall with Christmas decorations
People dancing and celebrating at a lively event, with some dressed in traditional Asian clothing, in an indoor venue with decorative pillars and green tiled roof design.
A woman in a floral dress with a pearl necklace holding a microphone and a piece of paper, speaking at an indoor event.
Two people dressed in traditional Chinese clothing, laughing and interacting with a seated guest at a celebration or gathering.
A woman wearing a floral dress smiling as she takes a tray of small cups during a celebration, with other people in the background.
People celebrating a traditional lion dance performance at a restaurant, with a yellow lion costume and a woman with long dark hair interacting with it.
A group of four people, dressed in formal attire, standing together at a lively banquet or celebration, smiling at the camera. The women are wearing red dresses, and the men are in suits, holding drinks, in a decorated banquet hall filled with other
A person dressed in a traditional Chinese lion dance costume performing at a banquet or celebration with guests seated at tables, some taking photos and smiling in the background.
People participating in a traditional Chinese dragon dance, with two large colorful dragon costumes and performers in red costumes, inside a decorated room.
People gathered around a table at a social event, with one woman writing with a pen on paper and colorful art supplies in the foreground.
A group of people celebrating around a dining table with food and drinks, with two individuals standing and toasting in the center, one woman in a red dress and one man in a red outfit, in a decorated restaurant setting.
Three people standing together indoors, smiling at the camera. The group consists of two women with long hair and a man with short white hair. The woman on the left has long brown hair and is wearing a black jacket, the man in the middle has a purple
People celebrating a Chinese cultural event with a lion dance, including two performers in traditional lion costumes and a woman in a red dress standing in an indoor venue.
A traditional Chinese lion dance performer on a green-tiled wall, with two people smiling and holding cabbage in a banquet hall filled with seated guests.
Group of people posing for a photo at a formal event in an indoor venue with traditional Asian decor. Some are dressed casually, while two individuals in the front are wearing traditional Asian attire and leis.
A traditional Chinese lion dance performance with colorful lion costumes in a restaurant celebrating a festive occasion, surrounded by seated and standing spectators.
A group of people at a social event, including a man in a white shirt and floral tie, and a woman in a red dress, holding drinks and engaging in conversation.
A group of people, mostly women and children, gathered at a cultural event with a Chinese lion dance costume in the foreground, featuring bright yellow, red, and gold decorations.
People celebrating at a Chinese New Year event, dressed in traditional red clothing, with lion dance costumes and vibrant decorations in the background.
A woman and a man dressed in traditional Chinese clothing, smiling and holding heads of lettuce, at a celebration or event.
A celebration featuring a traditional lion dance with two lions, one red with a mask and one yellow. Two people in red traditional Chinese clothing are smiling and holding cabbage, standing in front of a gathering of Asian and Caucasian people in a d
A man and woman dance together, embracing and smiling during a celebration in a large room with a crowd watching, some taking photos, with metallic green roof tiles and beige stone pillars in the background.
Two people dressed in red traditional clothing celebrating at a table decorated with gold pineapples and a pineapple-themed cake, with a green tiled roof in the background.
Traditional Chinese lion dance costumes in red and yellow with decorative face masks, lying on a table in an indoor setting.
A couple is dancing closely, smiling at each other. The man is wearing a red patterned shirt and has gold bracelets, while the woman is dressed in a red lace gown with a small floral hair accessory.
Two people smiling at a celebration table decorated with gold pineapple ornaments and a red Chinese wedding decoration, with others in the foreground, celebrating a wedding.
An Asian man in a black tuxedo and glasses speaking into a microphone at a formal event, with a blonde man in a navy blue suit standing nearby holding papers, and an audience seated at tables in the background.
People enjoying a meal at a restaurant or banquet, with one man laughing outwardly and others eating and conversing, surrounded by dishes and beverages on the table.
A young girl with dark hair and wearing a cream-colored sleeveless dress, sitting at a table with a pineapple-shaped cup she is holding, in a dimly lit setting with a wooden ceiling and some out-of-focus elements in the foreground.
A table with various Asian dishes, including sliced roasted meat, egg rolls, and mixed vegetables, with small bowls of dipping sauces.