SF City Hall + Grand Harbor Chinese Banquet Wedding » Burlingame, California

Alina and Joe knew what they wanted: something simple, elegant, and theirs. On the first day, they reserved the fourth floor balcony at San Francisco City Hall to exchange vows in front of a small gathering of family, one of the most intimate ways to use one of the city's most storied spaces. Afterward, we wandered City Hall for portraits before driving over to the Presidio to spend some time under Andy Goldsworthy's Wood Line, the winding eucalyptus installation that runs through the forest floor and has a quiet way of making everything around it feel considered. The day wrapped up on Clement Street with a small family lunch at B Star, unhurried and easy. The following day the celebration continued, starting at Alina and Joe's home where they got ready together before heading south to Grand Harbor Restaurant in Burlingame, where floor to ceiling windows look out over the bay and the lights of SFO blink in the distance at dusk. They had always wanted a traditional Chinese banquet, and the setting delivered. Before dinner we stepped outside for sunset portraits along the water, and the evening moved through toasts and festive table visits where every guest had a moment to share their well wishes with the couple directly. Two days, two very different settings, one throughline: Alina and Joe, exactly as they are.

Ceremony Venue: San Francisco City Hall // Reception Venue: Grand Harbor Dim Sum & Seafood // Floral Design: Our Vessel // Hair + Makeup: Julie Dy + Camilla Betteridge // Alina’s Outfit: Custom // Joe’s Outfit: Thom Browne + Dior // Jewelry: Hoorsenbuhs + CH Premier Jewelers // Rentals: U and Me Wedding