If you’re looking to design a wedding that stands the test of time, take cues from this couple who held their big day at San Francisco’s City Hall. Reminiscent of some of their favorite architecture in Paris, they played off the venue’s dramatic backdrop pulling in shades of gold, ivory and dusty gray blues. Of course, the day wouldn’t have come together without a crew of talent, and Charmed Events Group, Amy Burke Designs, Got Light and La Tavola were a few who made it happen. Caroline Tran photographed and the images are a dream day realized.
Warren and Debra both knew they wanted a wedding that was classic and timeless, yet modern with hints of Old World European elegance. One of their favorite places in the world is Paris and they chose San Francisco City Hall as their venue for its reminiscent characteristics of the Palais de l’Institut de France right in front of the Pont des Arts where they added their love lock to the once extant bridge of padlocks. The breathtaking San Francisco landmark was also the perfect backdrop for them with its high ceilings, intricate details and touches of gold. They wanted to play off of what already existed at the venue and pulled soft colors of ivory, gold and dusty gray blues from the venue to compliment what already existed. Touches of Old World European and personal sentiments were sprinkled throughout the details of our wedding. The romantic, ethereal feel of the day was brought out by the custom calligraphy from Written Word Calligraphy and gorgeous, lush arrangements of garden roses, peonies, and Debra’s favorite flower, anemones, by Amy Burke Designs.
Candles and gold trays adorned the reception to add to the dreamy mood of the elegant rotunda. A mirrored sign read, “Hold my hand and we will reach the moon”, which was what Warren had written to Debra in a birthday card when they first started dating. What was most special was the memorial table, which honored Debra’s late father. It was lit with candles in his loving memory and displayed her favorite photos of them together. Their most unforgettable moments from the wedding included their first look, exchanging personal vows in front of loved ones, the heartfelt yet hilarious toasts and the relishing feeling of finally being husband and wife during their first dance. It was simply a magical day to remember.
Her wedding dress was made by none other than Vera Wang. When searching for the perfect dress, Debra found it a little hard translating her personal style into bridal. As soon as she saw Petra in her Fall-Winter 2015 Campaign, she knew she had to try her on. The Petra embodied everything Debra wanted; it was edgy yet clean and modern with touches of subtle romanticism in the peony lace skirt. The entire dress had an insouciant feel to it. To complete the look, she paired her dress with a pair of gorgeous python pumps by Tom Ford. Debra said, “Our perfectly special day would not have been possible without our team of amazing vendors. We are so grateful for this passionate and talented group of people who exceeded our expectations and then some! BethAnn from Studio Cake created the most delicious guava and coconut cake, our guests could not stop raving about it!
To capture the beauty and intimacy of every moment, we chose the amazing Caroline Tran for her soft and airy aesthetic. She has an incredible eye and a true gift of making people feel so comfortable around her in front of the camera! And last, but certainly not least, our wedding day was absolutely faultless thanks to wedding designer and planner turned friend, Frances Liu from Charmed Events Group. It was such a privilege to work with her. Her attention to detail and chic flair helped bring our dream wedding to life.”
Photography: Caroline Tran Photography | Cinematography: The Film Squad | Event Design: Charmed Events Group, LLC | Floral Design: Amy Burke Designs | Wedding Dress: Vera Wang | Cake: Studio Cake | Bride's Shoes: Tom Ford | Hair + Makeup: TEAM Hair and Makeup | Calligraphy: Written Word Calligraphy | DJ: DJ Kenfused | Groom's Attire: The Black Tux | Venue: San Francisco City Hall | Bartender: The Bartender Company | Lighting + Draping: Got Light | Linens: BBJ La Tavola | Photo Booth: Magnolia Photo Booth Co. | Rentals: Frances Lane | Rentals: Standard Party Rentals | Ribbon + Silk: Silk and Willow | Ring Box: The Mrs Box | string trio: Corelli Strings