Intimate City Hall Wedding and Dinner Party

David and Madeline wanted to include and honor their family, friends, and community as part of their wedding, and bring a sense of closeness to the ceremony. They decided on a three-part wedding celebration, spread over several months: an intimate City Hall ceremony, a weekend away with close friends, and a traditional Chinese banquet.   

They were very clear on part one: Today would be an close-knit ceremony for family—the people who helped shape them individually and would always support their partnership. 

After spending a quiet morning together getting ready, and overlooking a foggy cityscape, they met their 13 loved ones in the North Gallery at City Hall to share their personal vows and bless the rings (which they made themselves!).

For dinner, the couple arranged the private tasting kitchen upstairs at flour+water. Food and wine and Wednesday night date nights are significant features of their relationship, and a private pasta-filled Wednesday night with their dearest seemed a fitting kick off to their marriage!

Venue: San Francisco City Hall and  flour + water   |   Hair + Makeup: Leslie Song    |   Flowers: Farm Girl Flowers   |   Gown: BHLDN   |  Suit: Armani   |   Pies: Three Babes Bakeshop    | Officiant: Cynthia Gregory   |   Rings: handmade by the couple   |  Videography: Matter Video  

Golden Hour Sutro Baths Engagement

Daryl and Kelly decided on a San Francisco engagement session highlighting the rocky terrain and greenery at Lands End. While you can't really go wrong with Sutro Baths as your backdrop, something about this golden light and Kelly's crimson skirt was really entrancing. On top of it all, the two pulled out a ukulele for a quick jam sesh by the water! 

Sutro Baths, San Francisco

San Francisco City Hall Elopement (and Mini-Moon!)

Erin and Rick plan to celebrate with their families back home in Philadelphia, but wanted to avoid the awkward obligations of a traditional wedding and share a special, stress-free time together. In a unique move, they decided to combine their wedding with a mini-moon in California, a place they both love. Between days spent exploring San Francisco, wine country, and Santa Cruz, the pair worked in a ceremony at City Hall. The backdrop of San Francisco's beautiful City Hall was the perfect setting for their intimate ceremony, and we even squeezed in a little time to wander in the California redwoods!

San Francisco City Hall    |   Hair + Makeup: Fox & Doll     |     Flowers:   Farmgirl Flowers

Intimate Candlelit Dinner at Folktale Winery, Carmel Valley

After sharing an intimate elopement ceremony at Carmel Beach, Erica and Neal choose to invite 40 of their closest family and friends to an intimate dinner party at Folktale Winery. They'd visited a number of  "corporate" venues, and they loved the relaxed atmosphere, rustic feel, and beautiful views of Carmel Valley that Folktale offered their out-of-town guests. 

In lieu of a guestbook, guests wrote out "vintage California" postcards under a typewriter holding their favorite Pablo Neruda poem. Handwritten name cards on parchment paper were placed on an assortment of floral china. They embraced the approaching holiday season and turn in weather with rich tones and romantic candlelight, an intimate family-style meal followed by heartfelt toasts and dancing in front of a cozy fireplace.  

Read more of Erica+Neal's story here! 

Venue and Catering: Folktale Winery   |   Music: Kelly Productions in Monterey   |   Cheesecake: Il Grilo   |   Rings: Liza Shtromberg