San Francisco City Hall + Penny Roma Restaurant Wedding » San Francisco, California » Erin Prado for VCP

// This wedding was photographed by associate photographer, Erin Prado. //

With family members in Indonesia and Wisconsin, John and Mira decided on a intimate wedding in San Francisco as they were planning to travel later in the year for celebrations closer to their families. Having been together for two years, the couple decided on a City Hall civic ceremony in May to mark the beginning of their lifelong journey together. The choice of San Francisco held special significance for them, as it was the city where they first met and live.

The short and sweet ceremony on the fourth floor balcony was a heartfelt moment, with the couple surrounded by the city's stunning architecture and the memories of their time spent there. John’s parents and Mira’s sister both flew out to San Francisco to help celebrate the nupitals while Mira’s parents were able to video chat in via cellphone so they were a part of the City Hall ceremony.

Following the ceremony, John and Mira took some time for portraits around City Hall before heading over to the Mission District for more portraits around the neighborhood, including some photos in their camper van which they love taking around the country for outdoor adventures. The couple then joined their guests for cocktails and dinner at Penny Roma, a charming venue that added a touch of sophistication and intimacy to their celebration.

San Francisco City Hall + Stow Lake + Marshall's Beach Elopement » San Francisco, California

Licco and Serhiy both have families miles away in different countries so when they decided to get married, they chose San Francisco City Hall to keep it simple yet elegant. Licco wore a small locket that held photos of her family who weren’t able to fly in from Taiwan. It was a beautiful way to keep her family close to her heart on this special day. Serhiy, hailing from Ukraine, sported blue and yellow pocket squares, a subtle nod to his Ukrainian heritage. These small details symbolized the merging of two distinct cultures and families, making the day even more meaningful.

Licco and Serhiy exchanged rings in front of a small group of close friends and some of their family. Despite those that couldn't be there in person, the love and support of those that were there filled the room.

After the ceremony, the couple, along with everyone else, headed to Stow Lake near the Chinese Pavilion to celebrate. There, they enjoyed a delightful spread of cake and champagne, toasting to their love and the bright future that lay ahead of them. The serene surroundings of Stow Lake and the iconic Chinese Pavilion added a touch of magic to this special gathering.

Just before sunset, Licco and Serhiy ventured to Marshall's Beach, a place that held a special place in their hearts. This secluded beach offers breathtaking views of the Golden Gate Bridge and is known for its dramatic coastline. The couple, dressed in their wedding attire, posed for photos against the backdrop of the iconic bridge as the sun dipped below the horizon. Truly a love letter to San Francisco.

San Francisco City Hall + Specs’ 12 Adler Museum Cafe in North Beach Elopement » San Francisco, California

With its stunning architecture and grandeur, Michele and Erik chose San Francisco City Hall for their intimate wedding celebration on a late February afternoon. The historic building, adorned with marble columns and an exquisite rotunda, served as the perfect backdrop for their vows on the fourth floor balcony. The couple kept things small with me as their only witness to the ceremony. Afterwards, we wander around the building for some portraits before heading downstairs to join their friends who were waiting on the sidewalk with Michele and Erik’s sweet pup, Cliff. As the couple emerged from City Hall as newlyweds, they were met with cheers and applause from their friends, who were waiting outside with bottles of champagne and wine. The atmosphere was electric, filled with joy and excitement. Cliff wagged his tail in approval, adding an extra layer of warmth and love to the occasion. With glasses raised high, Michele and Erik shared a heartfelt toast with their friends. It was a moment of pure joy and camaraderie to get the evening started. We jumped in a cab and headed over to North Beach, one of San Francisco's most iconic neighborhoods. Nestled in the heart of the city, this neighborhood is known for its rich history and vibrant culture. Their destination was happy hour with friends at Specs' 12 Adler Museum Cafe, a legendary bar steeped in the history of the Beat Generation poets. As the group settled into the cozy atmosphere of Specs', they raised their glasses once again, this time in a toast to the future. It was a celebration of love, friendship, and the enduring spirit of San Francisco.

San Francisco City Hall + Baker Beach Elopement » San Francisco, California » Erin Prado for VCP

// This wedding was photographed by associate photographer, Erin Prado. //

Kristi and Erhlich were married with a short and sweet ceremony at San Francisco City Hall. Afterwards, they headed to Baker Beach for some coastal portraits with the Golden Gate Bridge as a backdrop on a typical grey cloudy Northern California day.

Intimate Family Focused San Francisco City Hall + Wayfare Tavern Restaurant Elopement » San Francisco, California

Veronica and Chris first met while in college at UC Berkeley and their study breaks together slowly grew to a relationship. When it came time to get married they knew that throwing a large party wasn’t part of their vision. Veronica always loved San Francisco City Hall because of how grand it is. (It's definitely not what people normally think about when you say "city hall".) During COVID, City Hall was closed, and originally planned to get married at MacArthur Place in Napa. When City Hall announced their re-opening that summer, they jumped at the idea to pivot plans. It just felt more right to them to keep it simple and let the beauty of the architecture speak for itself. San Francisco is also home for them - Veronica is from the Bay Area, they met in Berkeley and had many dates in the city, and spent the last 5 years living in SF, so it means a lot to get married there. We started the day with some portraits at Crissy Beach before heading over to City Hall where Veronica’s sister officiated the ceremony on the fourth floor. Afterwards, we explored the building for some portraits. COVID restrictions meant that City Hall was much more quiet which allowed us to use the grand staircase for some beautiful photos. Veronica and Chris headed back to their hotel to change for their dinner reception at Wayfare Tavern. Cocktails and sweet and funny toasts kicked off the evening celebration.

Ceremony Venue: San Francisco City Hall // Reception Venue: Wayfare Tavern // Wedding Planner: Stephanie of Lally Events // Floral Design: Wild Club // Hair & Make-Up: Grace Lin // Veronica’s Outfit: Sarah Seven & Jimmy Choo // Chris’s Outfit: Franco Masoma & Santoni // Gift Boxes: Lauren Redman

SF City Hall + Starbelly Destination Elopement » San Francisco, California » Erin Prado for VCP

// This wedding was photographed by associate photographer, Erin Prado. //

Annie and Montassar live in Tunisia and when their international wedding plans fell through in 2020, they began to look for other options. Originally from Stockton and an alumni of USF, Annie always wanted to get married at San Francisco City Hall so it was the natural choice when they decided to have a more intimate celebration. Annie wore a traditional Tunisian wedding gown and got ready with her mother the morning of the wedding at Petite Auberge, a charming bed and breakfast in Nob Hill. After a quick first look with Montassar in the backyard of the inn, the couple headed over to San Francisco City Hall for their private intimate ceremony on the fourth floor balcony. After portraits around City Hall and the Castro neighborhood, Annie and Montassar celebrated with their close group of friends and family with a brunch reception at Starbelly.

Intimate City Hall + Golden Gate Park Elopement » San Francisco, California

In honor of San Francisco City Hall opening back up for civil ceremonies on June 7, I wanted to share one of the last of my pre-COVID weddings. (I had several weddings from before the pandemic that I never got to post. While I’m a stickler for chronology, I also love these wedding photos so much and want to share them with you all.)

Annie and Tomar opted for a simple and sweet San Francisco City Hall wedding with just the two of them and a good friend who brought them a yummy cake to celebrate the nuptials. After their sweet ceremony at city hall, we headed over to the Lily Pond area of Golden Gate Park for some additional portraits outside. As Annie and Tomar were planning to move away from the Bay Area in a few months, they really wanted to commemorate some of their favorite parts of San Francisco. We explored the park a bit and they were even greeted by a cute little duck family!

San Francisco City Hall + Quince Restaurant Wedding » San Francisco, California

I first met Aliya and Ryan at Aliya’s sister, Meta’s wedding several years ago. So when Aliya decided to get married with a small celebration at San Francisco City Hall, her mother reached out to me again to document the day. We met up at JW Marriott in San Francisco where Aliya and Ryan had their first look on the rooftop garden. Afterwards, we headed over to San Francisco City Hall where they had reserved the Mayor’s Balcony for their traditional Jewish ceremony. Aliya and Ryan stood underneath the chuppah held up by their close friends and family. Family members also shared their blessings before Ryan broke the glass and everyone cheered. After a few photos with the family, the couple and I explored the different levels of city hall for some portraits before heading out to North Beach where we snapped a few photos while we walked to Quince for their dinner reception. Everyone mingled and the parents shared short toasts before settling in for their intimate celebratory dinner. Special shout out to Gusto from Slow Fall Cinema for capturing all on video!

// This is a pre-COVID elopement. I have several weddings from before the pandemic that I never got to share. While I’m a stickler for chronology, I also love these wedding photos so much and want to share them with you all.

Destination City Hall + Golden Gate Park Elopement » San Francisco, California

A year ago, Alexis and Will flew all the way from Minnesota to get married at San Francisco City Hall. Before making it official, they chose to meet me at the redwood grove in Golden Gate Park where they exchanged private vows with each other. Private vows have become one of my favorite things, especially when it comes to elopements. The civil ceremony at city hall is pretty quick and doesn’t allow for a lot of personalization so taking little moments like these can really add to the magic of the day. I loved being able to photograph these two sweethearts in both a natural landscape and the iconic San Francisco City Hall.

// This is a pre-COVID elopement. I have several weddings from before the pandemic that I never got to share. While I’m a stickler for chronology, I also love these wedding photos so much and want to share them with you all.

Surprise Destination City Hall + Wayfare Tavern Elopement » San Francisco, California

When Diamond and Colin decided to get married, they knew they wanted to do something untraditional. Under the guise of a bachelor/bachelorette party, they flew out with their friends from New Orleans for a weekend of fun in San Francisco. What they didn’t tell their friends was that instead of a bachelor/bachelorette party, they were actually planning to get married at San Francisco City Hall. After the short and sweet ceremony including some livestreaming via phone for family back home, everyone headed over to Wayfare Tavern for a celebratory lunch. It was such a fun elopement and I was so grateful to be a part of the surprise!

Wedding Venue: San Francisco City Hall // Wedding Planner: A Monique Affair // Florals: Envy Floral Design // Lunch Reception: Wayfare Tavern // Cake: Cupcakin' Bake Shop

Intimate City Hall Wedding + Del Popolo Restaurant Reception » San Francisco, California

Stephanie and Matt planned a sweet and small wedding in San Francisco for their close family who were all arriving from out of town. They chose to get ready at the Palace Hotel because one of Stephanie’s favorite movies, The Game was shot there. So after meeting the couple for a first look in the famous Garden Court, we made sure to take a few photos around the hotel before heading over to San Francisco City Hall. Their ceremony took place on the fourth floor balcony and a good friend of theirs officiated. After we spent some time with their portraits, Stephanie and Matt met up with their families to toast the occasion with some champagne on the sidewalk. A few hours later, I met back up with them at Del Popolo where the families had gathered for the reception. After some cocktails and appetizers in the beautifully rustic private dining room, Stephanie and Matt shared a few words of gratitude before settling in for their delicious celebratory dinner.

Wedding Hotel: The Palace Hotel // Wedding Venue: San Francisco City Hall // Reception Venue: Del Popolo // Dessert: Two Chicks in the Mix // Wedding Florals: Ampersand SF // Hair & Make-Up: Fox and Doll // Stephanie’s Dress: Wild Bride // Matt’s Suit: Tailors’ Keep // Ceremony Music: Corelli Strings // Wedding Rings: Blanca Monros Gomez

Holiday City Hall Elopement » San Francisco, California

When Olivia and Sant contacted me about their elopement plans, I was so excited to hear from them. Olivia is the sister of one of my previous brides and I was happy to have any chance to work with her family again. Olivia and Sant chose to get married at San Francisco City Hall the day before Christmas Eve. Both of them had been so busy finishing up graduate school and med school on the East Coast, it just made sense to get married while visiting their families in the Bay Area over the holidays. The day started with a bit of a mix up with some missing paperwork but after a mad dash back home, a little sweet talking from Olivia’s sister Claire, and a very nice, accommodating county clerk, everything was back on track, albeit a bit behind. We made up for it by taking the first half of our time at city hall for Olivia and Sant to exchange private vows on the fourth floor before wandering around the rest of the building for portraits. When it was time for their ceremony, their excitement had an extra layer of joy given the uncertainty that had started the day. Afterwards, we headed over to the Embarcadero’s Pier 7 for a few more portraits before they headed off to their lunch reception with family. Truly a testament to going with the flow and trusting in the process!