Lands End + Manus Lux Tattoo + Chez Maman COVID Elopement » San Francisco, California

After waiting exactly a year to reschedule their elopement, Shannon and Matt were finally able to have the tiny celebration they originally planned on April 20, 2021. The day started by getting ready together at their home and a quick first look in their backyard. We then headed over to Lands End for their ceremony. In front of their families, Shannon and Matt exchanged tearful vows and high fives overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge. After the short and sweet (and windy!) ceremony, Shannon and Matt met up with their tattoo artist, Nakona at Manus Lux Tattoo. Both of them have Nakona’s work on their bodies so it only seemed fitting that they both get wedding ring tattoos from their favorite artist. Matt works with his hands so a traditional wedding ring wasn’t very practical. Nakona (who is also my tattoo artist and an all around lovely human being) took his time creating complimentary designs for their ring fingers and set to work in his beautifully remodeled shop. After the session, we headed over to Potrero Hill for the classic city skyline portraits before joining their families for a delicious dinner reception at Chez Maman. Not one for traditions, I absolutely adored capturing Shannon and Matt’s uniquely San Francisco celebration and spending time with our mutual friend, Nakona.

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.

Lands End Labyrinth COVID Elopement » San Francisco, California

Emily and Akshai knew they didn’t want their original wedding date to pass by without some sort of celebration. In honor of the day, they invited their immediate families and a few close friends for quick ceremony at the Labyrinth at Lands End in San Francisco. What normally is often a cold and foggy time of year, this June afternoon was sunny, warm and very windy. After a brief hike over to the cliff, we found a spot for their ceremony overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge and the Marin Headlands. Their close friend officiated while everyone, including their pup, Jasper watched on with excitement. After the ring exchange and kiss, there was more celebrating with throwing rose petals which promptly blew away in the high coastal winds. We snapped a few more portraits along the cliff before hiking back home. It wasn’t the day they had originally planned but it was just as special.

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!

Intimate Muslim City Hall Wedding » San Francisco, California

Michelle and Mustafa threw an intimate wedding party for themselves on a warm spring day in San Francisco. They chose to celebrate with their immediate families at City Hall and at home so they could immediately start their lives together after 10 years of friendship and three years of dating. Coming from big families, they knew City Hall would be easy and that their large wedding celebration with extended family could wait for a later date. I met up with the couple at their Glen Park home where they were getting ready together. Their living room and dining room was in the middle of being transformed into a chic dinner party venue for their evening celebrations. We snapped a few photos with their beloved dogs before hopping into the car to head to San Francisco City Hall for their ceremony on the fourth floor. Once we arrived, their close family and friends gathered around as their imam lead the couple in a traditional Muslim wedding ceremony. Afterwards, we wandered around the building for additional portraits before I sent Michelle and Mustafa back home to enjoy their dinner celebrations.

Destination City Hall + Marin Headlands Elopement » San Francisco, California

Tammy and Kan are floral designers that live and work in Brooklyn, New York. Tammy is originally from the Bay Area so when they decided to get married, they knew that San Francisco City Hall would make the perfect destination for their simple elopement. Most of Tammy’s family was already here and Kan’s mother flew in from Japan to join the couple. On their wedding day, they present each other with bouquets that they had designed for one another. Tammy and Kan both of such distinct floral design styles that they were both excited to see what each other came up with. After the simple ceremony at San Francisco City Hall, we all headed out of the city to the Marin Headlands for some gorgeous California coastal portraits.

Destination Palace Hotel + City Hall Wedding » San Francisco, California

Amber and Nikhil have been together for over five years and when they chose to get married they knew they didn’t want a huge party. After considering several different options, they settled on flying up from Los Angeles to get married at San Francisco City Hall. This way they could keep it intimate with just their immediate families and two of their friends. I met Amber and Nikhil at the Palace Hotel on a sunny Thursday morning where they had gotten ready. We took a few photos in the Garden Court before heading out to city hall to meet up with the rest of the family for their ceremony. Because of a super nice officiant, Amber and Nikhil got upgraded from the rotunda and got married on the fourth floor balcony. After group portraits, we walked around the building for their portraits before they headed off to their delicious lunch reception.

Intercontinental Mark Hopkins + SF City Hall Elopement » San Francisco, California

When Monica and Braylen decided to elope, they knew it had to be in San Francisco. Monica said “San Francisco has a permanent place in my heart as my mother and I took a very special trip there together before she passed away in 2016.” Before the ceremony, we met up for portraits at the Intercontinental Mark Hopkins Hotel. Being at the Mark Hopkins was in honor of Monica’s mother due to the fond memories the place held. Afterwards, we headed over to San Francisco City Hall where they had a sweet and short ceremony under the rotunda. It was the perfect way to elope by keeping things simple and meaningful.

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

On an overcast San Francisco summer day, Helen and Ben gathered a few of their dearest friends for a sweet little San Francisco City Hall elopement. They wanted the day to be easy and chill and city hall was able to deliver. After the nuptials, we headed to the small redwood grove in Golden Gate Park for additional portraits.

Simple San Francisco City Hall Elopement » San Francisco, California

Gillian and J kept it simple by eloping at San Francisco City Hall and flying their parents in celebrate the occasion. It was sweet and neat, just as Gillian had hoped!

Winter San Francisco City Hall Elopement » San Francisco, California

Jen and Mark were married on a warm and sunny December day at San Francisco City Hall. They kept it small and simple, inviting only their close friends and family. City hall was decorated for the holidays so we were treated to a beautifully lit Christmas tree in the rotunda for the ceremony. Afterwards, we shot portraits in the lovely diffuse light before heading outside for a few more photos under the cafe lights of Civic Center plaza.

An Intimate City Hall + Greens Restaurant Wedding » San Francisco, California

Anne and Michael chose to have a small and intimate family only wedding at San Francisco City Hall. We started the day getting ready at Hotel Drisco before heading over to the historic building where we spent some time shooting portraits before their ceremony. Afterwards, we headed over to Crissy Beach for some iconic Golden Gate Bridge portraits. A light drizzle and cold high winds prevented us from spending too much time outside so we headed over to Fort Mason where Anne and Michael met back up with their families at Interval Coffee Bar for some pre-dinner cocktails. Their dinner reception at Greens was held in the private room with views of the Golden Gate Bridge framed by gorgeous sunset. Everyone was treated to a delicious vegetarian meal and Green's famous chocolate flourless chocolate cake. It was exactly the simple and low key wedding Anne and Michael were hoping for.