San Francisco City Hall Mayor’s Balcony Wedding

I remember that Ruth and Tom originally found me and reached out because they were attracted to a specific photograph I made of a couple walking across the street in front of San Francisco City Hall with the blur of a US Postal Service truck passing by behind them… so I knew we would become fast friends.

The couple has a classic Bay Area – Los Angeles love story, complete with a first meeting halfway in between at the lot behind Brooks Brothers in Bakersfield, CA. Their San Francisco City Hall Mayor’s Balcony Wedding was a beautiful event that celebrated their time together living in San Francisco.

The Mayor’s Balcony provides the opportunity for customization with up to 100 guests, room to read your own vows, have a friend officiate, have musicians serenade you down the aisle, and stomp on a wine glass wrapped in a napkin if you like.

The Mayor’s balcony looks out on the grand staircase, the lobby, and the rotunda. I typically make group portraits in the Fourth Floor North Gallery. There are a million spots in City Hall to make couples’ portraits, the building’s nooks and crannies provide an embarrassment of riches. We lucky enough to create a few photos while no one else was on the grand staircase. We also had the chance to make a few photographs that captured Ruth’s dress with movement.

After City Hall we headed to Ruth and Tom’s apartment in the Inner Sunset for an intimate cocktail hour with their closest friends, their dog, pizza, and homemade cookies by Ruth. They had decorated the apartment with Japanese cranes a friend made for them, a good omen for a prosperous marriage. After resting our feet, and filling our bellies, we set out for Golden Gate Park with the dog and friends in tow. One of my favorite moments of the day was when Ruth and Tom bumped into a neighbor on our walk, and I was able to capture an earnest neighborly greeting. I enjoy making photographs in a variety of settings because I’m able to capture a range of feelings as each distinct space is activated. When everything goes well, the images can take on some of the complexity of a partnership.

From here we hopped on MUNI where the party continued. It’s fun to be out on the town in wedding finery as passersby often shout out celebratory greetings – and you feel welcomed and celebrated by the city at large.

See Part 2 for details on the reception at Wayfare Tavern… 

For a four part post about a San Francisco City Hall Fourth Floor North Gallery wedding, click here.

san francisco city hall mayor's balcony wedding, musician
san francisco city hall mayor's balcony wedding
san francisco city hall mayor's balcony wedding
san francisco city hall mayor's balcony wedding
san francisco city hall mayor's balcony wedding
san francisco city hall mayor's balcony wedding
san francisco city hall mayor's balcony wedding
san francisco city hall mayor's balcony wedding
san francisco city hall mayor's balcony wedding
san francisco city hall mayor's balcony wedding
san francisco city hall mayor's balcony wedding
san francisco city hall mayor's balcony wedding
san francisco city hall mayor's balcony wedding
san francisco city hall mayor's balcony wedding
san francisco city hall mayor's balcony wedding
san francisco city hall mayor's balcony wedding, fourth floor north gallery
san francisco city hall mayor's balcony wedding, fourth floor north gallery
san francisco city hall mayor's balcony wedding, fourth floor north gallery
san francisco city hall mayor's balcony wedding, fourth floor north gallery
san francisco city hall mayor's balcony wedding, fourth floor north gallery
san francisco city hall mayor's balcony wedding, fourth floor north gallery
san francisco city hall mayor's balcony wedding, fourth floor north gallery
san francisco city hall mayor's balcony wedding, fourth floor north gallery
san francisco city hall mayor's balcony wedding, fourth floor north gallery, bride and groom portraits, documentary photography
san francisco city hall mayor's balcony wedding, fourth floor north gallery
san francisco city hall mayor's balcony wedding, fourth floor north gallery, bride and groom portraits, documentary photography
san francisco city hall mayor's balcony wedding, fourth floor north gallery, bride and groom portraits, documentary photography
san francisco city hall mayor's balcony wedding, fourth floor north gallery, bride and groom portraits, documentary photography
san francisco city hall mayor's balcony wedding, fourth floor north gallery, bride and groom portraits, documentary photography
san francisco city hall mayor's balcony wedding, fourth floor north gallery, bride and groom portraits, documentary photography
san francisco city hall mayor's balcony wedding, bride and groom portraits, documentary photography
san francisco city hall mayor's balcony wedding, bride and groom portraits, documentary photography
san francisco city hall mayor's balcony wedding, bride and groom portraits, documentary photography
san francisco city hall mayor's balcony wedding, bride and groom portraits, documentary photography
san francisco city hall mayor's balcony wedding, bride and groom portraits, documentary photography
san francisco city hall mayor's balcony wedding, bride and groom portraits, documentary photography
inner sunset, documentary wedding photography, couple portraits
inner sunset, documentary wedding photography, couple portraits
inner sunset, documentary wedding photography, couple portraits
inner sunset, documentary wedding photography, couple portraits
inner sunset, documentary wedding photography
inner sunset, documentary wedding photography
inner sunset, documentary wedding photography
inner sunset, documentary wedding photography
inner sunset, documentary wedding photography, muni
inner sunset, documentary wedding photography, muni
inner sunset, documentary wedding photography, golden gate park portraits
inner sunset, documentary wedding photography, golden gate park portraits
inner sunset, documentary wedding photography, golden gate park portraits
inner sunset, documentary wedding photography, golden gate park portraits
inner sunset, documentary wedding photography
inner sunset, documentary wedding photography, muni
inner sunset, documentary wedding photography, muni
inner sunset, documentary wedding photography,
inner sunset, documentary wedding photography,
inner sunset, documentary wedding photography,
inner sunset, documentary wedding photography,
inner sunset, documentary wedding photography,
inner sunset, documentary wedding photography,

Wedding attire: BHLDN

Hair and Makeup: Kristina Curtis (@bykristinacurtis)

Wedding Ceremony Venue: San Francisco City Hall Mayor’s Balcony

Wedding Reception Venue : Wayfare Tavern


Documentary Style Wedding Photography San Francisco City Hall – Kathryn & Brian

Kathryn & Brian were complete infectious delight from beginning to end. They made each other laugh in every room and hallway and trolley car, and tree shadow, and ocean breeze throughout their wedding day, from San Francisco City Hall, out to Land’s End for portraits, and back to Nopalito for the reception. I had known this was a possibility. We had met up beforehand to think through the wedding timeline over cocktails at the Garden Court in the Palace Hotel, and that had been all laughter from the get go.

Ahhh… San Francisco City Hall, after ten visits to photograph weddings back in those halcyon days of 2019, you strike me an old friend. We hear you are open for weddings again all the way out here in 2021! A sure sign the pandemic is slowing down here in San Francisco.

San Francisco City Hall is a functional space from where the city is governed, but it also tends to feel a bit of a ruin in its age and grandness. Every San Francisco City Hall Wedding is also an exploration of generous halls, and gorgeous light, the sound of oxfords echoing against the marble floors, the coolness of the stone as one leans, shoulder meets tulle meets stone wall. In every corner a brass bust of a mayor of yore . But it is far from ruin alone. As I remember, there was a Zumba class dancing their way to fitness when I arrived for Kathryn & Brian’s wedding.

After the nuptials in the rotunda, we stepped outside into the sun, where more of Kathryn and Brian’s beloveds had gathered for a Hornblower trolley tour of the city. We passed another wedding at the Haas-Lilienthal House which sparked cheering and shouts from trolley to house, and house to trolley. Out at Land’s End we were greeted with lovely light for wedding portraits. As the day unfolded, more and more of Kathryn & Brian’s closest people arrived, first for the trolley tour, and then at Nopalito later in the evening. It total it was a glorious day from start to finish with very little fuss.


San Francisco meets New Orleans 2nd Line Wedding

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

To begin at the beginning click here.

San Francisco meets New Orleans 2nd Line Wedding – Sasha & Andrew

So… when Sasha and Andrew threw open the front doors of San Francisco City Hall to the sunlight, there was a full on New Orleans style 2nd line with a 7 piece brass band awaiting them (the fantastic MJs Brass Boppers.) A friend reached into her coat and magically revealed a pair of decorated Mardi Gras umbrellas. One of my favorite photos from the day happened when Sasha’s veil blew over Andrew’s face during those first moments of extreme joy as they held each other very tight and attempted to somehow parade down the street at the same time. Somebody distributed these sweet white handkerchiefs printed with a private joke of a dapper frog for the waving. Eventually the party wove its way past the War Memorial Court, through Hayes Valley, to a side street, where we danced for a few more minutes before boarding a pair of Hornblower trolley cars. So, even though they didn’t get to have their wedding in New Orleans, Sasha and Andrew still had a big brass band, they still had Mardi Gras umbrellas, and they still got to 2nd line through the streets of Hayes Valley.

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

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


San Francisco City Hall Wedding Photographer

San Francisco City Hall Wedding Photography Packages:

III $2700

4 hours of coverage from Paul, San Francisco City Hall, and up to two other locations in the city. This can be good for a small reception at a nearby restaurant.

II $1800

2.5 hour hours of coverage from Paul, San Francisco City Hall and one other location: Golden Gate Bridge Overlook / Land’s End / Crissy Field / Golden Gate Park / Tank Hill / Grandview

I $1200

1.5 hours of coverage from Paul, San Francisco City Hall only.

All Packages include:

{ Wedding planning phone consult

{ Proofing gallery

{ High-resolution downloads of files.


Boston City Hall Wedding – Briitta & Mathijs

Boston City Hall Wedding – Briitaa and Mathijs

Briitta and Mathijs had such a lovely Boston City Hall wedding. It was just the three of us, and the justice of the peace. We built time in before and after the ceremony to explore the city and make portraits. They were so very happy, and easy in front of the camera. Afterward they took me to a super fun hotel with a great view of the Boston skyline.

San Francisco City Hall Wedding

San Francisco City Hall Wedding

San Francisco City Hall Wedding

San Francisco City Hall Wedding

San Francisco City Hall Wedding

San Francisco City Hall Wedding

San Francisco City Hall Wedding

San Francisco City Hall Wedding

San Francisco City Hall Wedding

San Francisco City Hall Wedding

San Francisco City Hall Wedding

San Francisco City Hall Wedding

San Francisco City Hall Wedding

San Francisco City Hall Wedding

San Francisco City Hall Wedding

San Francisco City Hall Wedding

 

San Francisco City Hall Wedding

San Francisco City Hall Wedding

San Francisco City Hall Wedding

San Francisco City Hall Wedding

San Francisco City Hall Wedding

San Francisco City Hall Wedding

San Francisco City Hall Wedding

San Francisco City Hall Wedding

San Francisco City Hall Wedding

San Francisco City Hall Wedding

San Francisco City Hall Wedding

San Francisco City Hall Wedding

San Francisco City Hall Wedding

San Francisco City Hall Wedding

San Francisco City Hall Wedding

San Francisco City Hall Wedding


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