You know what’s EVEN better than a “perfect” wedding? One that involves vendors going above and beyond to turn a crisis into one awesome story. And with their officiant stuck in traffic as the ceremony was set to start, this couple’s caterer Katie Powers (who just so happens to be ordained) was that vendor who stepped in to save the day big time. Thanks to the talents of Amanda O’Shannessy, One True Love Vintage Rentals and Em The Gem we’ve got so much to swoon right here.
From Amanda O’Shannessy Creative…Just a stones throw away from the Golden Gate Bridge and the hustle and bustle of downtown San Francisco you’ll find the Marin Headlands. It’s home to miles and miles of hiking and running trails, cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean, and a little gem of a wedding venue called the Marin Headlands Center for the Arts. The Marin Headlands Center for the Arts is one of those venues that has a ton of character but is enough of a blank slate that you can truly make it your own. It’s definitely a designer’s dream! Needless to say, when Margaret + Gavin approached me and told me this was the venue they had selected for their July 2014 wedding I was incredibly excited to work with them!
When we sat down to brainstorm what their day would look like it was clear that they wanted to keep things simple and understated while still creating a sense of celebration. Margaret + Gavin spend lots of time at local farmers markets and are always trying out new recipes so amazing food was also a must for their wedding day. Luckily the in-house catering team at the Headlands, Katie Powers Catering, focuses on seasonal dishes, locally sourced meats and produce, recipes that are complex but still very approachable, and above all – delicious food! To keep things intimate and low-key, the couple selected a family style meal allowing guests to experience a number of different dishes. For dessert, the bride and groom chose an assortment of desserts from two of their favorite places in San Francisco: Miette Bakery + Birite Market. It was so special to know that guests, many of whom were traveling from the East Coast and Canada, were going to get to experience some of Margaret + Gavin’s favorite things!
With the food and venue nailed down it was time to focus on the design details. We first came up with a color palette and let the overall design direction take shape from there. Slate gray, denim blue, khaki, and pale pinks and peaches were accented with pops of burnt orange and copper. To bring in the blue we used chambray denim fabric to create custom napkins, ribbons for the bridal bouquet, and the fabric backdrop for the escort card display. We let the flowers, brilliantly designed by Studio Choo, bring in the vibrant shades of orange. Loose and wild greenery, including a hanging installation over the altar and adornments for the chalkboard signs, was used to keep the event feeling relaxed and unfussy. Finally, hints of copper were sprinkled throughout the event for an unexpected touch. My favorite use of copper can be found on the dinner tables where you will find salt and pepper cellars made out of copper pipe caps sourced from local hardware stores. After dinner, vintage lounge furniture from One True Love Vintage Rentals created a cozy place for guests to catch-up and hanging bistro lights created the perfect after-dinner glow.
As beautiful and fun as Margaret + Gavin’s wedding day was it was not without it’s hiccups! Due to terrible holiday weekend traffic the ceremony officiant was running very late and was still stuck on the other side of the Golden Gate Bridge at the time when the ceremony was set to begin. Unsure of when she would arrive my team and I hurriedly came up with plans B, C, and D. Margaret + Gavin were such good sports when we broke the news that their officiant “would not be arriving anytime soon”. It turned out that Katie, the owner of Katie Powers Catering, was ordained and was more than willing to jump in and marry Margaret + Gavin. Talk about saving the day! With only 5 minutes notice (and the hors dourves cooking downstairs in the kitchen!) Katie walked down the aisle ahead of Margaret + Gavin and led a beautiful, heartfelt ceremony. The best part? Most guests had no idea that Katie was the chef until they saw her downstairs in the dining room leading her team! At the end of the day, Margaret + Gavin were married and now they will always have a great story to tell!
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Photography: Em The Gem | Event Design, Planning & Creative Direction: Amanda O’Shannessy Creative | Vintage Rentals: One True Love Vintage Rentals | Floral Design: Studio Choo | Wedding Dress: Sarah Seven | Cakes: Miette Bakery | Catering: Katie Powers Catering | Make-up: Audrey Kral | Hair: John Brody Salon | Lighting:Got Light? | DJ: DJ Cams | Ceremony + Reception Venue: Marin Headlands Center For The Arts | Ceremony Pianist: Dan Zemelman | Desserts: Birite Market | Linens: La Tavola | Paper Goods: The Aerialist Press | Photobooth: Magnolia Photo Booth Co. | Shuttles: Bauer’s Transportation | Chalkboard Artist: Sarah Lynn Jones