Golden Gate Club Wedding Presidio San Francisco

Golden Gate Club Wedding San Francisco

Golden Gate Club Wedding San Francisco – Kate & Rishi

Kate & Rishi were married at the Golden Gate Club in San Francisco’s Presidio. The day was a hybrid of Western and Indian wedding traditions. (I also had the pleasure of documenting their sangeet on Friday at the Westin St. Francis.) All day long the legendary San Francisco fog moved quickly overhead letting sunshine through at a few key moments. I was especially grateful for the glow of the sun during the baraat, and just after the ceremony.

For the baraat, Rishi was escorted to the front doors of the Golden Gate Club riding high on the back seat of a sweet vintage Pontiac GTO convertible instead of the traditional horse or elephant. One of my favorites photos of the day is of Rishi and a spray of balloons reflected in the car’s glossy paint.

For the Barat and the ceremony, Kate & Rishi wore western dress: an elegant white dress with lace shoulders; and a sharp royal blue three-piece suit. After the ceremony they changed into Indian dress for the reception. Kate’s scarlet dress was covered in elaborate beadwork.

I love how the surrounding cypress trees made dramatic appearances all day long, whether through the great wall of windows that looks out onto the San Francisco Bay, or with the blue night sky as a backdrop for the night portraits we made.

At the end of the evening, Kate & Rishi’s sweet puppy made an appearance. How could he have known what a momentous occasion he was witnessing.

Special shoutout to the ever gracious and talented Sam Soto-Suver of Bowerbird for his work as a 2nd photographer.

And a special shoutout to Stacy Wicelhaus from They So Loved Events who managed about a zillion moving pieces effortlessly.

Vendors

Venue : Golden Gate Club

Photographer : Hazel Photo

Wedding Attire : Bride’s ceremony dress, Alt Brides
Bride’s reception dress Madsam Tinzin
Groom’s ceremony suit Indochino

Florist : Erica Rose Design

Wedding planner : Stacy Wichelhaus, They So Loved Events

Hair : Skyla Arts

Makeup : Skyla Arts

DJ : DJ Kingh Official Wicked Entertainment

Videographer : Creations by Sam

Cake : Mariposa Baking Company

Catering : Presidio Foods Catering X Amber India

Invitations: Save the dates, programs, and other paper goods by Sasha Head

Isabella Freedman Wedding Jonah & Rebecca

Rebecca and Jonah had a full wedding weekend at the Isabella Freedman Center in Western Connecticut. The Center is set around a lovely lake. It hosts retreats, and houses a sustainable farm. I was brought in to document festivities on the Sunday. When I arrived, Jonah and Rebecca had already been celebrating for a couple days, and their guests had settled into a palpable comfort and warmth.

I met Rebecca in one of the cabins where a couple of her closest friends were accompanying her as she got ready. She wore a floral crown from Tiny Hearts Farm.

Jonah had his Tisch in the synagogue space, which is almost a greenhouse in the best possible way, just check out that wall of windows. There was much singing and laughing and toasting. One of my favorite moments was when it got so raucous that the table was shaking, and somebody had to secure the refreshments so they didn’t tumble over.

Rebecca had her Tisch in the library, where she signed her half of the Ketubah. Jonah signed his half and they were joined together under the chuppah.

From their Tisch’s the two were lead out onto the lawn to the sounds of a chorus of voices and a few guitars. I love the moment of elation when they turned around and saw each other for the first time on their wedding day.

The day kept unfolding. The Schtick was particularly joyous and funny. Acrobatics, paper airplanes, juggling, reading, dancing, push ups. It had it all.

Bride’s dress : BHLDN

Florist : Tiny Hearts Farm

Wedding planner : Cindy Sanchez-Lark of Detaille

Hair : DIY

Makeup : DIY

DJ : Avi Maza

Catering : Isabella Freedman/Hazon

Invitations : Designed by Alahna Watson (portrait artist and friend)

Thompson Inn & Fuller Gardens Wedding – New Hampshire – Meaghan & Carleton

Meaghan & Carleton were married on the New Hampshire Seacoast at the historic Union Chapel. We made portraits across the street at the gorgeous Fuller Gardens, and down the road looking out over the ocean. It rained hard for a moment while the two were getting ready, and it was still coming down for the first look, but in true New England fashion, the rain cleared up, and we had some lovely sunlight for our portraits.

If you aren’t familiar with the history of Union Chapel, definitely check it out. The first services were held in 1877.

Carleton’s best man’s father officiated the wedding. Also, fun fact, his best man is engaged to Meaghan’s sister, one of the co-maids of honor. One of the most striking things about the wedding was how close knit Meaghan and Carleton’s community is.

After the wedding we headed up to the Thompson Inn for dinner and dancing. I loved the first dance. They looked as happy as could be, and they really cut a rug.

Also making an appearance, in the guest book, a delightful engagement session at Arnold Arboretum form last September.

Venue : The Thompson Inn

Ceremony Venue: Union Chapel

Portraits Venue: Fuller Gardens

Florist : F as in Flowers – Lynn Curcio

Wedding planner : Paul & Liz Calabria – Weddings in New England

Hair : Randi Iverson

Makeup : Donna Cotnoir, Custom For You NH

DJ : Jeff Erwin – Rethink the DJ

Ceremony music : Artful Noise

Catering : The Thompson Inn

Cake : Beach Pea

Invitations : Minted

The Hideout at Kirkwood Wedding – Lake Tahoe, California

The Hideout at Kirkwood Wedding – Lake Tahoe, California – Allie & Dave

Allie and Dave held their wedding at The Hideout at Kirkwood near Lake Tahoe up in the Sierra Mountains. It was a very bright and sunny day, and it cooled down pleasantly when the sun went down. The approach to the Hideout is majestic, miles down a winding dirt road, a clearing opens with a lake and a lodge in the distance. This place feels both tucked away and expansive. Don’t miss the night photos that show the natural beauty of the setting.

Allie and Dave have particularly complimentary personalities. There was this one moment where, as part of his vows, Dave painted a picture of the moment he was given entry to Allie’s relaxed side. All the sudden he broke into a lively dance. Allie’s wedding dress was adorned with the most gorgeous intricate beadwork. She wore her hair in wrapped loose braids, which complimented the dress perfectly. Allie’s mother and sister were exceptionally sweet as they helped her into her dress.

All of the vendors Allie and Dave brought in were lovely, and worked together well. This totally makes sense, because Allie and Dave are genuine, warm people. I was particularly appreciative of Shannon of J Jasper Events who helped us to make time for a couple sunset photos, which are some of my favorite from the day.

Venue : The Hideout at Kirkwood
Wedding attire : Dress: Anna Campbell Suit: J. Crew
Florist : Kathy’s Wedding Flowers
Wedding planner : Shannon Boling of J Jasper Events
Hair : Salon Be (Tahoe)
Makeup : Salon Be (Tahoe)
DJ : Quantum Party Productions
Catering : Mother Lode Market & Deli
Invitations : Minted

Reconstructionist Jewish Wedding – Commander’s Mansion

Reconstructionist Jewish Wedding – Commander’s Mansion – Alex & Adam

Alex and Adam held their wedding on a pleasant cloudy June day at the Commander’s Mansion in Watertown, Massachusetts. The Commanders Mansion is a stately old building dating back to 1865. The history of the building is not without minor controversy, and is certainly worth a read. Take a look at that light filtering in through the old glass windows, that, my friend, is a photographer’s dream. The ketubah signing, in particular, shows off the charm of the building.

Rabbi Alex Weissman and Rabbi Adam Lavitt are both, well, rabbis, so, as you can imagine, the day’s ceremonial bits were very well orchestrated. This was to be expected, but still, the eloquent and heartfelt words of their friends and family during their tisches, and Rabbi Jacob Staub‘s words as he officiated under the chuppah, were overwhelmingly moving.

What I couldn’t have seen coming, was that Adam and Alex would be so delightfully, infectiously, playful. This made our portrait session a total pleasure. The duality of attending to the spiritual realm with intelligence and intention, while holding deep reserves of playfulness, was brought to light metaphorically in their dress. Both wore a harmonious and subtle blazer-shirt-tie-pocket square combo, that matched their boutonnières to a T, but down below, they wore silver and gold Chuck Taylors!

One of my favorite moments of the day happened during a toast Alex’s mother gave. She quoted at length from a beautiful poem, and not until she was through, did she reveal that she was quoting Rabbi Adam Lavitt, her new son in law. I leave you with the poem:

Ma’ariv

By Rabbi Adam Lavitt

This is balance:

The world is entirely consumed by darkness,

then brimming with light.

The seasons approach one after the other,

bring unbearable heat, bitter cold and everything

in between. Joy fades. Loss

makes space for growth and new life.

Balance is not a perfect blend

of extremes. It is something that takes place

inside a larger system. It is a perspective,

an awareness that makes space for us

to fully experience winter and then spring,

light and then darkness.

Darkness and then light.

Life of all Worlds, thank you

for giving us the strength

to allow our world, our heart,

to be big enough for it all.

Venue : Comander’s Mansion

Catering: Cuisine ChezVous

Officiant : Jacob Staub

Florals : Celebrated Flower

DJ : DJ Red Dawn

East Bay Regional Parks Botanic Garden Wedding Berkeley CA

East Bay Regional Parks Botanic Garden Wedding Berkeley, CA

Eli and Tobie were married in a shady grove of towering redwood trees in the East Bay Regional Parks Botanic Garden in Berkeley, California. They are both super charismatic, and they were great in front of the camera. When the connection between a couple is electric, like it is between Eli and Tobie, my job is easy.

Yes, Eli and Tobie’s wedding was overflowing with glorious colorful outfits, but Tobie’s pants — come on! They brought a burst of color to every image he was in. Tobie’s parents constructed a freestanding chuppah that looked like an erector set in the best possible way. There is one image of Tobie’s dad seeming to summon the chuppah from the earth. Poems were read, songs were sung, Eli’s family staged a production of the Owl and the Pussycat, replete with costumes and props. Eli is a talented musician, namely a singer songwriter. Throughout the ceremony and toasts, there were references to songs Eli had written, including a love song he wrote when he was first falling in love with Tobie. At the reception, guests were served the fanciest, most delicious, vegan barbecue you might ever encounter, especially that chimichurri sauce, yum! It was a typical Bay Area day, sunny and hot in the middle, cloudy and windy in the afternoon. I loved how one couple grabbed their travel quilt and got cozy.

Vegan Catering by It’s From the Garden

« First ‹ Prev 2 3 456 7 8 Next ›Last »