A Chinese Wedding Blended with San Francisco Style

When I first spoke with Ashley and Jonathan, they had so many wonderful ideas for their elopement day. When the day arrived, even I was in awe of how many little details made up this very special, intimate wedding day. But the day did not start out smoothly!

I always tell each couple that ONE thing will go wrong at every wedding, and I believe this to be true. The good thing is that once you’ve identified “what” the issue is, the rest of the day runs smoothly. Jonathan, our groom, had not brought his dress shirt to the Airbnb, where everyone was getting ready. One groom, zero shirts! This began the great chivalry on the part of his best man and groomsman. They were all larger sizes than Jonathan. At one point, the groomsman decided that Jonathan would wear the larger shirt, and they would “tailor it” with masking tape. Meanwhile, other groomsmen were dispatched to local stores to try and find something that would work, and finally, a family member arrived with the RIGHT shirt!

Meanwhile, Ashley was downstairs being transformed into an elegant bridal queen. She had a big surprise for the groom that was going to be revealed at their first look. Their families are both Chinese, and the groom didn’t know, but she had decided, in a nod to their heritage, that she would wear a red wedding dress! You can see from the look on his face that he was delighted, and she looked so pretty.

The plan was to have that first look at the Airbnb and then head off with Will, our videographer, and myself to Golden Gate Park for their couples’ bridal session before the wedding ceremony.

We took breathtaking wedding photos and videos at the Conservatory of Flowers (100 John F Kennedy Drive) before heading to the Fucia Dell for their wedding ceremony.

If you haven’t been inside this vintage greenhouse, I highly recommend wearing a short-sleeved shirt. It was like a sauna in there for the tropical plants to thrive. You’ll be able to take unique garden footage that you can’t find anywhere else, especially their giant lily-pad reflecting pool.

If you’re interested in getting a permit to have a small wedding or elopement in any of the San Francisco parks, you can inquire HERE.

The Fuscia Dell is a Golden Gate Park area perfect for private events. It’s tucked out of the way, and almost no foot traffic is going by. Getting a permit and setting up a small wedding is very easy. There was also ample parking; we were pleasantly surprised.

When we arrived at the ceremony site, Alex, our picnic partner, had set up her handmade wooden arch and decorated it with sumptuous flowers. The chairs were set up, and the aisle was ready for the bride to meet her future husband.

After the “I do’s” and family portraits, including their beloved pup, everyone was invited to a dim sum picnic, a Chinese tradition catered by Dumpling Time. A family member baked the cake, and the bride herself handmade the cake topper. It was two ceramic dumplings!

That said, this was the perfect American adaptation of a Chinese wedding. Everyone in the family felt welcomed and included, and their warm smiles proved that our hard work was worth it.