Kate & Tom. San Francisco.

We know this is a biggie post, but it's definitely worth the read...trust us!  We had the pleasure of acting as day of coordinators for the super amazing couple, Kate & Tom.  We found this couple through a friend (thanks Abby!) and couldn't be happier to have worked with them.  There were so many unforgettable moments throughout their wedding day, but our 2 faves: the ceremony band marching their guests from San Francisco City Hall across the street to the Green Room reception (the looks from random people on the street were priceless) & Kate tearing off (well more like unbuttoning) the bottom layer of her wedding dress and throwing it into the dancing crowd rockstar style.  Thanks for letting us be apart of your day!  xoxo!  

Check out more pics by Mike Milne, by going here, then WeddingsI, then Kate & Tom.

Some words from the bride:

We wanted our wedding to be intimate, elegant, and a huge party.  We didn't start with a theme, we just made decisions along the way that felt right. 

It was a city wedding through and through.  The ceremony was in the Rotunda at San Francisco's City Hall, one of the most grand, strikingly beautiful buildings we've ever seen, and one that happens to be two blocks from where we live.  Our friend Fhay became a Deputy Marriage Commissioner for a Day and married us with an unmatchable personal touch.  Our professional musician friends arranged all the music starting with upbeat Gypsy style jazz on guitar and violin as guests entered, The Beatles' "All You Need is Love" as my dad and I walked down the marble staircase (by far the part I was most nervous about), and then "All You Need Is Love" again as we said, "I Do!" and kissed, but this time with a 5-piece marching band that popped out from hiding, prompting our 180 guests to take out their kazoos, creating an echo on top of an echo that resonated throughout the room.  The band then lead everyone across the street to the reception, marching band style, with a short stop for a group picture on the front steps. 

The reception was in The Green Room, a second floor ballroom decked out with 30-foot high ceilings, gold and green French decor, giant chandeliers, and an 130-foot wide loggia (fancy word for balcony, so we learned) that overlooks the dome of City Hall.  The flowers were a perfect array of saturated dahlias, succulents, orchids, berries, and tulips.  We ate our favorite Mexican food for dinner, including chips and salsa at every table, and had Tom's favorite, strawberry shortcake for dessert.

The collaboration was key, but we have to admit, the most memorable, and hardest to put into words, is what's impossible to plan: the true love and spontaneous moments of sheer joy.  Who knew everyone would be on the dance floor, going nuts, from our first dance, "San Francisco Nights" to the last dance: a blow out sing-a-long-group-hug to "With A Little Help From My Friends?"  It was a rock concert with all our favorite songs, much more than a wedding band, just how we wanted it.  Thankfully I had 40 buttons sewn into my dress, just above the knee, so I could remove my elegant yet bulky bottom half, and dance the night away.   

vendors: Photography: Mike Milne Photography (second shooter: Andy) / Ceremony Venue: San Francisco City Hall / Reception Venue: Green Room / Ceremony music: Davey Diamonds (guitar) & Mike Fiorentino (violin) / Reception music: made up of Jeremy Black, Davey Diamonds, Jake Hall and James Tracy, email:  / Piano: Jeff Labis / Catering: Cater Marin; Beverages: K&L Liquor / Rentals: Classic Party Rentals / Flowers: Church Street Flowers / Transportation: Towncar Express (Alan) / Dress: Pastisse (bought at Jin Wang San Francisco, alterations by Jin Wang) / Invitations: White Aisle / Save-the-Dates: Wedding Paper Divas / Hair: LeAnne Cowan / Hair: Tracy Rasmussen / Day-of Wedding Coordination: sittinginatree

Everyone needs a little Super 8.

I'm jumping up and down with excitement waiting to share my wedding pictures with the world.   The lovely Miss Sarah Yates did the most amazing job (no surprise there) and I can hardly stand it.  We just stood there and she worked magic.  EVERYONE should hire her.  And I'm not just biased because she's my friend.  But, those pretty images will have to wait (and the super 8mm that goes with it).  

In the meantime, I can share this with all of you: our City Hall ceremony.  Remember this post?  Because we were married in Mexico, my husband and I legally had a ceremony in San Diego prior to our departure.  Truth be told, our wedding in Sayulita feels like our "real" wedding and this felt like practice, but we still wanted to capture this on film.  As an added bonus, our furry children (yes, I'm obsessed.  helllloooo), who were my only reasons for thinking twice about a Mexico wedding, got to be apart of our legal ceremony.  And my sister flew in to be our witness.  And dog leash holder.  And it was lovely, and perfect, and actually really special because then I could stop my pouting about my dogs not being there for our wedding.  Because they kinda were. 

*And i'm not kidding when I say that everyone needs some Super 8 in their lives.  It's the perfect little splice of your wedding.  No words.  Just music and pretty, pretty images.  Made more pretty by my husband.  Enjoy.  

**And check out this for all the details on our Sayulita wedding day in my most delayed response to anything.  Ever.  

Tori & Austin at City Hall from Austin Hendrix on Vimeo.

Last Weekend, We Were Here...

busy as bees working on this amazingly beautiful wedding in San Francisco.  Here's a peek of some of the pics we shot along the way.  We can't wait to share more with you, especially because this day featured a musical march from the ceremony to the reception and guests accompanying the band on kazoo.  Doesn't get much better than that!

City Hall Wedding.

So, before there was Mexico, there was a little San Diego Courthouse wedding to make it official.  Because they wanted their Sayulita wedding to be officiated by their friend, the Tree Trunk Monk and not some random spanish speaking judge, this little ceremony had to take place in the states first.  Tori's sister came to town to act as the witness and Tori & Austin's two dogs acted as flower girls (which if you know Tori & Austin, was a huge, huge deal to have the doggies present).  On a sunny Monday they stood on the courthouse lawn and became husband and wife.  Although they swear it was the Sayulita wedding that made everything feel like the real deal, we still thought it would be fun to share!