SF City Hall Weddings for Couples Over 50

I started thinking recently about what I wanted to write about for this blog update, and I always think about the diverse couples I photograph weekly in San Francisco.

I had many maternity weddings in the Spring, and seniors followed this! I don’t mean seniors in high school, either. I mean, over fifty, and in some cases, almost one hundred!

Surprisingly, most of my couples met on internet dating sites. Who knew? It turns out the baby boomers are more tech-savvy than we thought! The most senior groom that I’ve worked with is ninety-three years old. I asked him to tell me a little bit about the two of them. He said they met online seven or eight years ago and decided” it was time.” Well, I dare say so!

One of the comments I get a lot of from the brides is that they’ve already done this before and don’t want to make a big deal out of it. Their kids are grown and don’t need another set of dishes. That’s fine, but I still recommend making it a special day. Treat yourself to having your hair and makeup done, and buy a beautiful bouquet. This won’t break the bank (even if you’re on a fixed income), but it will say that this day differs from any other day.

The marriage rate is going up for people over age 65. A study in the UK in 2012 said that the number of grooms increased by 25%, and the number of brides the same age went up by 21%. That’s a lot of confetti and streamers! So what’s going on?

Well, of course, for centuries, there was familial and societal pressure; you got married, or you were considered a failure. By the 1950s, women didn’t have to get married but seemed to feel as if they “should.” By the time we got to the 1960s and 1970s, women just said NO, we don’t want to get married, and the ones who did all started to get divorced. It’s that same generation that has now had a change of heart.

Couples who have been divorced or widowed and remarry later in life have a better sense of who they are and how to behave in a relationship to benefit both partners. Thoughtful gestures, such as bringing your partner a small gift or even a cup of coffee in the morning, make this new chapter in life so much sweeter. Studies have also proven that having a partner increases your overall health and life span, so why not?

The couples I’ve worked with have all had one thing in common: a very palpable love and affection for each other. You would have thought this was their first love! I believe this is because they have been down this road before and were crystal clear on what they wanted in a partner and what they wouldn’t tolerate. I just saw sheer joy, which gave me hope for my future as I turn fifty next year.

Not all of the weddings that I photographed were at San Francisco City Hall; one was at The Palace of Fine Arts, but both of these are San Francisco venues that can accommodate immediate friends and family or an elopement as is the case for one of my favorite couples who will be having the “big reveal” with their family this fall! Bigger is not always better, and since your parents are most likely NOT going to pay for your wedding if you’re over sixty, both venues fit the bill.

Love is always the correct answer.