Classic, Catholic Bay Area Wedding at UC Berkeley
This lovely San Francisco couple came to me through a mutual friend, and I was more than happy to hop on a plane back to the Bay Area (where I lived for two years what feels like a lifetime ago) to bring all of their intricate plans and details to life! Both devout Catholics, they celebrated their marriage union with perhaps the most beautiful religious ceremony I've ever witnessed in their home parish, the gorgeous St. Dominic's (seriously, the stained glass game in that building alone was mesmerizing!). Since both are involved in their church choir, music played an important role in the service - a string quartet, the contemporary choir, and organist all participated in the full processional, which featured parents, attendants, three flower girls, a ring bearer, a thurifer, crucifer, acolytes, and nine (!?!) concelebrants (two deacons and seven priests).
Following the Mass, the 320+ guests were shuttled across the Bay Bridge to Berkeley and a plentiful buffet dinner with dancing at the Pauley Ballroom on the campus of UC Berkeley (or, Cal, as the locals and alums call it). Guests were treated to custom heart-shaped cookie favors at their tables - complete with a portrait of the bride and groom - followed by toasts (which even included beatboxing), two outfit changes (into a traditional Korean hanbok, then on to a dancing dress), and a gorgeous surprise serenade from the groom to his bride on the acoustic guitar (hearts melted!). The evening was topped off with delicious cake from CupCakin' and an assortment of flavors from local favorite It's It ice cream sammies. The weekend concluded on Sunday morning with Mass and brunch in Golden Gate Park, as the happy couple were surrounded by so much love from friends and family from around the globe.
