Thoroughly Metropolitan and Catholic San Francisco Wedding

08-14-2018
Catholic wedding at the Palace of Fine Arts

Christine and Jack are total sweethearts who happen to have left their hearts in San Francisco. Which explains why they opted for a whirlwind San Francisco wedding.

I first met these two on a rainy December day that they had booked for their engagement session. Honestly, I was more than a bit nervous to venture out in the Sierra Nevada foothills with them on such a gray and wet day. But all my fears were put to rest when Christine and Jack pulled up with comfy smiles on their faces, and ideas to spare.

They had packed high school sweatshirts—the very same ones they had worn when they first started dating. And they had even brought a few photos from those early days of their love. They lounged casually around their family’s cabin as naturally as ever while I captured photos. Even better still? They were game for venturing out in the rain to make some moody and cozy engagement photos. This eased into one of my favorite sessions yet with some truly wonderful people whose sweetness and patience carried their relationship all the way through high school, college, and grad school.

On a not-at-all-rainy day one year later, the time arrived for Christine and Jack to become one. Here’s the story of their San Francisco wedding day…

Black and white photo of a suspended wedding dress
When dresses like these are hanging around, you know it’s a big day.
A bride and her bridesmaids huddle together on a bed.
When all your girls break out matching outfits, you know something’s up.
Photo of bridesmaids standing on a bed behind a bride
Or at least Christine suspected something was up.
Photo of a bride pouring champagne into flutes.
Well, one thing led to another.
Photo of bridesmaids and the bride enjoying champaign.
The party moved outside…
Photo of a bride and her bridesmaids making a champagne toast on a rooftop above San Francisco.
…Up to the rooftops of San Francisco.
Photo of a bride enjoying champagne in a white robe on a rooftop in Sacn Francisco.
The leading lady herself, all smiles.
Photo of a bride and bridesmaids toasting with chapagne on a Bay Area rooftop.
Ask yourself: How many lovely ladies can you fit on your deck?
Photo of bridesmaids and brides with personalized Starbucks tumblers.
The champagne was so tasty it required a personalized Starbucks chaser.
Close up photograph of a wedding dress and heels.
Christine faced the fact that she’d have to put the dress and heels on at some point.
Close up photo of a portrait of a bride's mother and father on their own wedding day.
Her mom and dad said “I do”. She knew she could keep the tradition alive.
A bride changes into her dress with some help from her sister and mother.
Mom and sis were happy to lend a hand with the preparations.
Photo of a bride being dressed and primped by her bridesmaids.
In the end, everybody lent a hand.
Black and white photograph of a bride applying makeup.
A bit of this…
Black and white photo of a maid of honor helping the bride get dressed.
…A bit of that.
Portrait photo of a young italian-american bride.
Simply lovely.
Overhead photograph of a beautiful pastel bridal bouquet.
Simply stunning.
Photo of a bride's bouquet wrapped with a photo in memorial of the groom's father.
Simply bittersweet. Christine’s bouquet commemorated Jack’s father, who passed just a few months before the wedding.
Photograph of a groom getting ready for his wedding in front of photos of his deceased father.
Meanwhile, back at Jack’s place, he commemorated his father as well.
A young italian-american groom watches as his mother pins a bouttonniere on his lapel.
See, boys need help getting ready too.
Portrait photograph of a young italian-american groom in a dark suit.
Jack, in all his groomly glory.
Moody photo of a young italian-american groom on his wedding day.
“Groomly” is a word, right?
Photograph of a groom and groomsmen posing around an old hot rod.
Jack assembled the posse alongside his father’s hot rod.
Photograph of a groom and groomsmen pretending to surf.
Eventually, the boys got to cut loose a bit as well. ‘Cause you know, San Francisco guys are into surfing.
Black and white photograph of groomsmen looking at the groom sitting in a hot rod.
“Aww man, why does Jack always get to drive?”
A groomsman sits in an decorative rocking chair following a groomsman portrait session.
I fully recommend taking a load off after a not-so-hectic photo session.
Portrait of a bride walking down an alleyway with her bridesmaids huddled behind.
Meanwhile, back in the city, it was time for the ladies to head to the church.
Black and white photo of a bride climbing into a limo with some help from her bridesmaids.
They opted for the limo.
Photo of bridesmaids riding to the church in a limosuine.
And, you know, riding in a limo is, like…
A black and white photo of a bride riding in a limosuine on her wedding day.
…No big deal.
Photo of the exterior of Saints Peter and Paul Church in San Francisco, California.
The San Francisco wedding day destination? Saints Peter and Paul Church in San Francisco’s North Beach neighborhood.
Photo of a Bride with her bridesmaids on hand outside the limo.
“You’ve reached your destination.” Thanks, Siri.
A young italian-american bride poses with her bouquet in the entryway to Saints Peter and Paul Church.
Yep, Christine was still bursting with excitement.
Black and white photo of a bride reaching out to embrace a driend.
Then Christine spotted an old friend for whom she had played flower girl many years before.
A bride and her friend reenact a photo taken when the bride had once been the flowergirl.
Reversing the roles from the original flower girl photo.
Photo of a little flowergirl looking on as the bridal party starts a processional into a cathedral.
Psyching up for flower girl success, most likely.
A trio of little flower girls walk down the aisle of Saints Peter and Paul Church in San Francisco.
Total flower girl success!
A trio of flowergirls finish the processional and exit, stage left.
Now to deliver the bribery candy they were promised. Probably.
Black and white photo of a bride entering a church building with her father for her wedding ceremony.
Then it was time for Christine’s entrance.
Photo of a groom looking on in anticipation of seeing his bride.
Jack was more than ready to get this show on the road.
A bride and her father walk down the aisle of Saints Peter and Paul Church in San Francisco.
Whoa.
Black and white photo of a groom's first look at his bride on their wedding day.
Whoa, again.
A father and daughter walk down the wedding aisle, arm in arm.
Remember what I said earlier about Christine being all smiles? Still true at this point.
Photo of a bride and her father walking the aisle on her wedding day.
Closer, closer.
Black and white photograph of a father delivering his daughter to her groom.
Handing off one lovely lady.
Photograph of a groom's mother and grandmother looking on at the wedding ceremony.
Mom and grandma had earned their front row seats to the celebration.
Black and white photograph of a bride and groom kneeling at the altar during a Catholic wedding.
The “I’m totally getting married right now” look.
Interior photo of a catholic wedding at Saints Peter and Paul Church in San Francisco, California.
Saints Peter and Paul Church—kneeling where Christine’s parents were married years before.
Close-up photo of a church pew during a Catholic wedding.
Okay, I’m a sucker for weddings with pews…especially ones as beautiful as these.
Interior 3/4 shot of a wedding at Saints Peter and Paul Church in San Francisco.
What a beautiful and sprawling space for a wedding!
Photograph of a lasso ritual during a Catholic wedding ceremony.
The mothers had a part to play in lassoing Christine and Jack together in marriage.
Wide photo of guests and bridal party looking on at the bride and groom.
The drama! The lights! The colors!
Photo of a catholic communion during a wedding
A beautiful symbol of Jesus giving his life for us, just as these two vowed to give their lives for each other.
Photo of an illuminated bride and groom as they receive communion.
Communion + lights.
Photo of bridesmaids wearing purple looking on at a wedding ceremony.
Jack’s sister watched as her brother ventured into married life.
Wide angle shot of a wedding at Saints Peter and Paul Church in San Francisco.
Fine lines.
Photo of stringed lighting during a Catholic wedding ceremony.
No magic dust–just the love of God and love for each other.
Black and white photo of a priest offering communion to bridesmaids
#CommunionSquadGoals
Bride and groom look back from the altar at their guests receiving communion.
Quite the view from up at the altar.
Black and white photo of a old man kneeling with a camera at a wedding.
We weren’t the only wedding photographers in the audience. Turns out, grandpa is a retired wedding photographer. Great taste in camera gear, grandpa!
An italian-american bride and groom step down from the alter after their wedding ceremony.
Mission: accomplished!
Black and white photo of a bride and groom walking back down the aisle after their wedding ceremony.
What a walk!
Sweet black and white photograph of italian american newlyweds walking down the aisle after their ceremony.
Happy sigh.
Candid black and white photo of a bride and groom walking past pews.
Pews for days.
A beautiful photo of a bride holding her wedding bouquet as she walks away from the camera.
One of those rare magic bouquets that looked better as the day went on.
Formal wedding portrait taken at Saints Peter and Paul Church in San Francisco.
Same place, different couple. They recreated her parents’ wedding photo at the same exact spot.
Family wedding portrait in a Catholic church.
His crew.
Family portrait captured during a wedding in a beautiful cathedral.
Her crew.
Black and white candid photo of a bridesmaid looking on at the bride after a wedding.
The bridal party was flying just as high.
Photo of a bride and groom cheering as they leave their wedding ceremony.
I’ll bet that cheer had been bubbling up inside her for years.
Black and white photo of a bride and groom walking out of a church after their wedding.
Believe it or not, nobody tripped over that lovely, lengthy train.
Candid wedding photo of a mother carrying a tired flower girl.
You can take the flower girl out of the wedding, but you can’t take her flowers.
A bridal party portrait captured with the Palace of Fine Arts in the background
Next destination: San Francisco’s Palace of Fine Arts.
A bridal party looks on as bride and groom kiss.
An entirely public display of affection.
Black and white photo of bridesmaids joking near the Palace of Fine Arts.
Ladies, ladies…
Bridemaids and a bride pose with their bouquets in a cluster with an colonnade in the background.
When you got ’em, flaunt ’em!
Groomsmen and a bride holding bouquets in a cluster in front of them.
Well, why not?
Photo of bridemaids fawning over the groom.
Just can’t get enough.
Imposing photo of groomsmen and a groom at the Palace of Fine Arts.
Ocean’s Eight, perhaps?
Candid photo of a bride and groom walking along a pond at the Palace of Fine Arts.
A moment to themselves.
A ride and groom walk with the Palace of Fine Arts Theater in the background.
Can you blame ’em for loving a place like this?
A bride and groom dance with each other alone at a colonnade.
When the sun sets and the February chill sets in, grab your guy and dance!
Blakc and white photo of a bride and groom cuddling in the cold.
…Or you cuddle for warmth.
Black and white photo of a brunette bride embracing her new husband.
Jack’s a warm-hearted guy, after all.
Photo of a bride and groom posing underneath the dome at the Palace of Fine Arts.
So there’s this massive dome at the Palace of Fine Arts…
Black and white photo of a bride and groom kissing underneath the dome at the Palace of Fine Arts.
…And we just couldn’t get our fill of the place.
Black and white photo of italian-american newlyweds preparing to kiss.
Warmer…warmer…
A bride rests against her groom while clutching her bouquet.
Sometimes you need a bit of rest when running around with photographers.
Close up photo of a bride's hand, wearing her ring.
Love that look in her eyes.
Photograph of a bride and groom resting against an ornate wall at the San Francisco Palace of Fine Arts
The light was fading…
Photo of a groom letting his bride wear his suit jacket for warmth.
…And temperatures were sinking fast around these warm hearts.
Interior photo of a wedding reception at Dominic's at Oyster Point.
Time for a change of venue: Dominic’s at Oyster Point.
A bride and groom make their grand entrance at their wedding reception.
And wouldn’t you know it? These two came wandering in…and the party began.
Young newlyweds sit at the head table, looking on at the camera.
Someone even had the forethought to save them seats!
Photo of a bridal party toasting the newlyweds.
Happiness and toasting ensued.
Close up detail photo of a luxurious diamond wedding ring, engagement band
Gratuitous ring posing also ensued.
A bride and groom share their first dance as married couple.
So did this…
Black and white photo of a bride and groom dancing at Dominic's at Oyster Point.
…and this…
A bride and groom lean in for a kiss after their first dance.
…with a little of this!
A father dances with his daughter on her wedding day.
Christine’s dad cut in for a the next dance.
A father twirls his daughter while dancing with her on her wedding day.
Christine’s dance card was fully-punched!
A mother dances with her son on his wedding day at Dominics at Oyster Point.
Jack and his mom had their own moment on the floor.
Close up photo of a mother dancing with her son at his wedding reception.
I’d say she was enjoying herself.
A full dance floor at a wedding reception at Dominics at Oyster Point.
Soon enough, the floor was filled…
A bride dances the chicken dance with some young wedding guests.
…And yes, the chicken dance was on the playlist.
Photo of a bride and groom preparing to cut their wedding cake.
But someone still had to cut the cake, after all!
Black and white photograph of a bride and groom prepare to cut their wedding cake with a knife.
Christine and Jack were more than ready.
Black and white candid photo of a bride and groom with cake smashed on their faces.
A cake crime of passion.
Split-toned photograph of a bride and groom kissing inside a vintage car.
Remember that hot rod from earlier? Totally back, and totally great for stealing a kiss.
A bride and groom drive away in a restored hot rod at night time.
Also a totally great getaway car for newlyweds on the run!

Joining Christine and Jack for their San Francisco wedding day offered us a deep dive into their past, and a hopeful glimpse into their future. While driving between different corners of their fair city, we got to see just who they are, who they care about, and how they look at life. Friends as playful and faithful as these eventually become the old married couples that we all want to be around.

But since they’ve got decades before they go gray, we pray all the best for them in the years to come. Congratulations to you, Christine and Jack!

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Stellar service provided by:

Church: Saints Peter and Paul Church

Venue + Catering: Dominic’s At Oyster Point

Flowers: Two Sky Floral Design

Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka

Dress: Helen Miller Bridal

Tuxes: Men’s Wearhouse

Bridesmaid Dresses: Papers and Petals Bridal

Rings: Jewels Forever and Simon G. Jewelry

Makeup + Hair: Be Glammed

Cake: CakeaBakin

DJ: Roberto Vega

Video: Yew Productions