Intimate SF City Hall Wedding and Reception

This couple has the cool and sweet factor from the get-go! Lauren emailed me and told me that she and Scott had booked the Mayor’s Balcony at San Francisco City Hall, which rents for about a thousand dollars for an hour-long ceremony and family photo session afterward. We spent some time talking about a fun spot for the reception, and after NOT getting phone calls back from some local venues, they decided that the Noir Lounge, which is just a twelve-minute walk from City Hall, would be their spot of choice. Why? Because it’s where they had their first date, it’s cozy, calm, and has old black and white movies playing on a giant screen. How fun is that?

But let’s go back to the start of the day. This wedding was a family affair right from the beginning. Lauren’s godmother was their officiant, and her mother walked her down the aisle. Her sisters, who are as lovely as Lauren (But Lauren was the queen on her big day, to be sure!), were her bridesmaids. The groom’s close friends stood up for him.

Lauren has a background in dance, and one of their wishes was to have a first dance, something we rarely see at a city hall, but we found the perfect way to work it right after their ceremony. The events department allows couples to hire acoustic musicians to play for them. At the same time, they rent the balcony, and I have a nice vendor list with cello, violin, harpists, and a Spanish guitarist that I can recommend. We moved all of the guests back behind the balcony to a lovely atrium that they have there in front of the mayor’s office with big wooden doors. As their friends and family circled them, they performed a choreographed dance that they’d worked on for a while to the music of their hired cellist. As soon as they finished the dance, her sisters all reached out their arms to encircle the newlyweds in a huge hug, and it’s a moment that will stay with me.

We have a whole team at our couple’s disposal, and these are very trusted vendors that we work with many times throughout the month. Lauren used Adelina, our incredible hair and makeup artist, to create her look and flowers from our florist, Marina. When you book your photography or wedding video with us, you can access the team and special prices for weekday weddings. Although Lauren and Scott didn’t use our officiant, we have one with a Ph.D. in theology who does charming ceremonies at any location in San Francisco you choose.

We had started their couples session the hour before the ceremony and balcony rental, so when the wedding and family photos were completed, everyone was free to walk over to the Noir lounge for the wedding reception and cocktail hour. The walk over was an enjoyable part of the whole experience. It was a crisp, sunny day, and just taking in the city and the trendy shops on Hays Street was a nice part of the experience for the guests. I’d never been to Noir Lounge before this event, but I’ve been back a few times since their wedding. They were able to set up a huge table and chafing dishes on the sidebar for a make-your-own taco bar and all kinds of delicious desserts to complement the whole bar. Everyone was talking, eating, and having a blast. They set up a coloring and crafts table for the kids, and everyone had something fun to do.

This is just one of the many ways you can make a San Francisco City Hall wedding work for you. What do you want for your dream wedding? For this couple, it was a walk down the aisle with family and friends, stunning couple portraits, and a first dance with live music, followed by a fun and funky party. What’s on your shortlist?

We aren’t just a wedding photography company anymore. Affordable photography is our starting point, but we’ve spoken with many brides with a core list of wedding day wishes and think they must pay a fortune to create a dream experience. So..we’ve started arranging their days for them, and it’s the right fit for us. More about that coming very soon in our next blog. There’s a LOT on the horizon!