Wedding | Alexis & Conor

Tell us a little about yourselves!  

We’re Alexis and Conor. She’s in finance, he’s a lawyer, and the third musketeer is Browser, our mini dachshund and full-time attention seeker. 

Why did you decide to get married where you did?  

We decided to get married in San Francisco because it’s the heart of our story. We met in the city, fell in love here, and got engaged here so it only felt right to get married here too. Our ceremony took place at San Francisco City Hall on the Mayor’s Balcony, a space that felt both grand and meaningful. We loved the idea that City Hall would always be a landmark of the area.  

After the ceremony, we surprised everyone with a massive open-air, double decker bus, handed out drinks in custom koozies along with disposable cameras, and took the scenic route through the city to the reception on a perfectly sunny day.  

We found our reception location almost by accident. On our very last tour of a whirlwind weekend  touring venues, tucked upstairs from China Live (one of our favorite restaurants) is Cold Drinks Bar and 8 Tables Restaurant, a vibey, dramatic space that instantly felt like us. It had everything we were looking for: amazing food, a full bar, moody interiors, and protection from San Francisco’s unpredictable microclimates. Once we saw it, we didn’t blink and we booked it on the spot.  

We also stayed at the Fairmont for a couple days, which was a nostalgic nod to our very first apartment together in the local Nob Hill area and where we celebrated our engagement night. There were so many full-circle moments built into this day, which made it feel even more intimate and  surreal. 

How many guests did you have?  

50 of our closest friends and family.

What was your budget?  

$20-$30K. 

Tell us about your outfits.  

We wanted to keep things classic and timeless. I wore a dress from Anthropologie (Jenny by Jenny Yoo) that barely needed tailoring and felt effortless and elegant. Conor wore a classic black tux with a white bow tie, his grandfather’s vintage watch, and his cufflinks from heirlooms. Our goal was to feel like ourselves, just a little more polished.

What was the most important aspect for you, in terms of planning your wedding?  

We really wanted it to feel uniquely us. The last thing we wanted was to push ourselves (or our guests) down the conventional wedding conveyor belt. Every facet wedding was intentionally designed to represent us: we handpicked every vendor and detail with intention, even doing our own our invitations, menus, signage, and escort card display. 

Were there any elements that were important for you to incorporate? 

Every single vendor was handpicked, and almost all were women-owned and Bay Area-based. It felt important to work with people who understood our city, our style, and the kind of day we were trying to create. We also obsessed over the cocktail hour and dinner hour playlist, which we curated ourselves. 

Any tips for couples getting married?  

If something doesn’t feel right, don’t do it. There’s no rulebook, no one-size-fits-all. Do what feels true to you and your partner! 

Are there any vendors that you would like to tell us a little more about?  

Darsie from Rhythm Events helped execute our vision to absolute perfection and we couldn’t be more thankful for her! We’d recommend her time and time again!

Photographer: Cat Coppenrath Photography @catcoppenrathphoto | Wedding Coordination: Rhythm Events @_RhythmEvents | Flora: Ash & Oak @ashandoakfloral | Ceremony Location: SF City Hall, Mayors Balcony | Reception Location: China Live @chinaliveSF @colddrinksbar | HMUA: Katie Nash Beauty

@katienashbeauty, (Color & Extensions) Allison Cadrette @allisoncadrette & Golden Glow Spray Tan @goldenglow_bayarea | Grooming: Mellow & Barbers  | Cake: Suzie Cakes on Chestnut Street | Stationery: DIY | Dress: Anthropologie  &  Reformation | Suit: Ted Baker | Veil: Ofrenda Kepler | Engagement Rings & Wedding Rings: Derco Jewelers | Shoes: White Miu Miu Ballet Flats | Groom's Watch & Cufflinks: family heirlooms | Wedding Favours: Oakland Fortune Cookie Factory 

@oaklandfortunefactory | Transport: Big Bus Tours SF  @bigbustours | Photo Booth: Photomatica @photomatica