Big Daddys Antiques Wedding Potrero Hill San Francisco

Big Daddy’s Antiques Wedding – Portrero Hill

Part 4 of 4 SF City Hall/2nd Line Parade/Trolley Tour/Big Daddy’s Antiques

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Big Daddy’s Antiques Wedding : Portrero Hill – Sasha & Andrew

Sasha & Andrew’s wedding, phew, this was one of those parties you really don’t want to miss, it just kept unfolding and unfolding. While we were galavanting through the city on a trolley tour, an incredible team of wedding vendors led by the inimitable wedding planner, Jenni Grubba, was hard at work turning Portero Hill’s Big Daddy’s Antiques into a wedding wonderworld. Look at those gorgeous climbing florals from Max Gill on the column, what is that, ionic? (It is. I looked it up.) Big Daddy’s Antiques is already a beautiful cavernous and fascinating space, but it was completely transformed with the king’s table for 80 oozing with Max Gill’s genius floral centerpieces.

As guests arrived, they were offered champagne garnished with edible flowers in vintage crystal coupes. Gardenias were placed in the entryway to give off their intoxicating scent. The menus were folded in the shape of fortunetellers, and unfolded to reveal all the goodness to come.

When we arrived, Sasha & Andrew’s dog was patiently awaiting them, and we took the chance to make a few family portraits of the three of them with the lovely late afternoon light. Fogcutter passed their always gorgeous hors d’oeuvres, I especially love those flower-petal-dusted deviled eggs, and they plied guests with course after course of family style platters from nasturtium-speckled salads to roasted wild mushrooms to duck confit. Pika Pika set up their quirky Japanese-style photobooth. Golden Bells Music kept everybody dancing through the night with a 5 piece band, heavy on the brass. You know it’s my kind of wedding when there are not one, but two brass bands! At some point after the first dance, and before the dance party got jumping, Sasha slipped away to change into a 2nd gold sequin number, but this one was sequins all the way from head to toe, and was built for dancing. As the night grew long, a garage door mysteriously opened out to the street. A taco truck was parked in front of the building ready to dole out midnight snacks of al pastor and barbacoa.

Ceremony Venue : San Francisco City Hall 4th Floor North Gallery
Reception Venue : Big Daddy’s Antiques
Photographer : Hazel Photo
Florist : Max Gill Design
Wedding planner : Jenni Grubba
Makeup : Kelly Jo Makeup & Hair
Makeup : Kelly Jo Makeup & Hair
Wedding attire : Grooms Suit: Custom, Bride’s gown: Sachin & Babi
Cake : Butter &
Catering : Fogcutter
2nd line Band : MJs Brass Boppers
DJ/Band : Golden Bells Music
Wedding Transport : Hornblower Cable Cars
Photobooth : Pika Pika

Industrial Chic Wedding Bok Building

Industrial Chic Wedding Bok Building – Eliza & Dirk

Eliza & Dirk had the distinct pleasure of walking from their home in their South Philadelphia neighborhood to their wedding venue, The Bok Building. Part of the vision for the day, as far as photography, was a walk through the neighborhood with bridal portraits in front of Eliza & Dirk’s favorite murals. We got lucky, and happened upon an Italian street festival, replete with red white and green pendants strung across the street. Philadelphia is a city of hidden magic on tiny alleys, and we found that magic again and again as the day unfolded.

Eliza is an urban planner, Dirk a geographer, so it was apt that the backdrop for their wedding was a view of the city grid of Philadelphia from above. The florals were fantastic. I love the arrangement at the altar with the city peeking through beyond. Post-industrial splendour exploding with flowers!

Sometimes as I photograph a wedding I pick up on a subtle dynamic I didn’t see coming. On their wedding day, from getting ready, through the ceremony, into toasts, I was struck by what an exceptionally strong chosen family Eliza & Dirk have cultivated, and now cherish.

Let’s also not forget that there was an astronaut in attendance, and he made every photo he graced with his presence ten times better.

I could write volumes, but these photos!! I won’t keep them from you any longer.