Wedding | Madison & Dalton

Tell us a little about yourselves! 

We’re both Bay Area natives who actually went to the same high school, but we didn’t know each other back then. We reconnected through mutual friends and started dating in 2019, when Dalton was living in San Jose and Madison was in San Francisco. In 2021, we moved to Oakland and added our pup, Coco, to the family. By 2023, we were back in San Francisco, and now we love our cozy home in the Sunset. Most weekends you can find us cooking, hanging at the beach or Golden Gate Park, taking day trips to Sonoma (where we’d love to live someday), or hunting for our next favorite natural wine spot.

Why did you decide to get married where you did? 

We fell in love in San Francisco and San Francisco City Hall is just stunning, so we felt that it was a no brainer!

How many guests did you have? 

At the ceremony we only had 8 guests, just our immediate families. At the reception we had about 150 guests.

What was your budget? 

We set a budget of about $40k and ended up coming in under, which felt great. It was really important to us to prioritize the things that mattered most—great food, music, and a space with the right vibe. We felt like every dollar truly went toward creating an amazing experience for us and our guests.

Tell us about your outfits. 

Madison: I always knew I wanted to go to LOHO Bride after we got engaged, so I made a few fun girls trips down to LA from SF and had the best experience with them. I knew I didn’t want a traditional gown. I was set on something with long sleeves. The funny thing is, the very first two pieces I saw when I walked into LOHO Bride ended up being exactly what I wore. Since Moongate Lounge has such a funky, unique vibe, I wanted my look to match that energy. 

Dalton: I’ve always loved buying suits. I just love how perfectly tailored they feel. For the wedding, the suit came together kind of unexpectedly. I went to a shop without an appointment, couldn’t get helped, and wandered down the street in downtown SF where I stumbled into this incredible spot called Robert Paul. From the moment I walked in, the service was amazing! They poured me a glass of whiskey while we talked through what I wanted. The suit turned out to be exactly what I had in mind, and then some. Honestly, they were the best.

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

We really wanted our wedding to feel more like a party than a traditional event. No sit-down dinner, no formal speeches, no rigid timeline. It was just good energy from start to finish. Our goal was for everyone to dance, eat, drink, mingle, and just have the best time.

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

One of the most important parts of the day was saying our vows privately to each other that morning. We stood on the balcony of our hotel overlooking the San Francisco skyline, and it felt so special and intimate. Just the two of us, no one else. 

For getting ready, I (Madison) kept it simple with just two of my best friends there to do my hair and makeup. Before heading to City Hall, our families joined us in the room for a drink, which made the start of the day feel relaxed, fun, and full of love. 

For the ceremony, we wanted to keep things very intimate, so it was just our immediate families. 

And for the reception, since Moongate Lounge has dim, colorful lighting and a funky vibe, we asked guests to come in “funky cocktail”attire. We wanted everyone to feel bold and playful with lots of color, personality, and fun. Seeing everyone’s outfits as we walked in was one of our favorite moments.

Any tips for couples getting married? 

Our biggest advice is to do exactly what you want to do and not sweat the small details. They really don’t matter in the moment. There will always be outside opinions, but the most important thing is to talk everything through with your partner and figure out what feels right for the two of you. 

We had a long engagement and absolutely loved it. It gave us time to really think about what we wanted, plan without feeling rushed, and enjoy the process instead of being stressed. Things can get overwhelming at times, but as long as you stay true to each other and to what matters most, it all comes together beautifully.

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

Moongate Lounge was just fabulous! The drinks, the food, the vibes, and the staff were all amazing. We’ve celebrated so many special occasions there, so it felt really meaningful to have our wedding reception in a place we already love. Our florist, Anna Lee, also does the florals for Moongate Lounge, and they’re always so fitting and elegant. We knew we had to have her do our wedding flowers, and they turned out absolutely beautiful. The florals perfectly captured the ambiance we wanted. 

Our DJ, Kevin, was someone we actually met at a bar during a friend’s birthday party. On a whim, we asked if he’d DJ our wedding, and he absolutely crushed it. We barely gave him any direction, but with the little guidance we did, he delivered exactly the energy we were hoping for and kept the night so much fun. 

And Angie, our incredible photographer from Angela Jasmin Studio, captured the day so perfectly. She has such an amazing eye and made us, our families, and our friends feel completely at ease. By the end of the night, she wasn’t just our photographer, she felt like part of the party and a friend we’ll treasure forever. 

We are so thankful for all of our vendors, family, and friends who made this day possible!

Photographer & Videographer: Angela Jazmin Studio @angelajazmin.studio | Planning: Audrey Malloy @therealaudreyhorne | Ceremony Bouquet: by Dalton (Groom) | Reception Florals: Anna Chet Jew Lee @letsgoswimming | Ceremony Location: San Francisco City Hall | Reception Location: Moongate Lounge @moongatelounge | Hair & Makeup: by friends | Stationery: Zola | DJ: T4OH @t4oh415 | Dress: Loho Bride @lohobride | Suit: Robert Paul SF @robertpaulsf | Wedding Rings: (Bride) Rebecca Overmann @rebeccaovermannjewelry & (Groom) Grandfather’s Heirloom | Bride's Jewelry: Grandmother’s Heirloom