100 Layer Cake

We have such a pretty pretty fall wedding for you all this morning. And it’s not in a barn and it’s not really all that rustic. It’s more, say, rustic modern. And citified. San Francisco in the fall. We can’t think of a better place to celebrate the changing of light, the eating of amazing food, and falling in love.

Danielle (of Brown Paper Design!) and hubs Garett searched up and down the state looking for the perfect spot for their intimate marriage celebration. They met in San Francisco, and after an exhaustive search came back to the city where they fell in love, to one of their favorite little restaurants in Hayes Valley. And because it was important to use their resources wisely, they were adamant about choosing a space that they already loved visually. You’ll see that they definitely made wise decisions.

First a few GORGEOUS shots of the the couple, and then onto what we’re all junkies for… the details.

Vintage fur wrap and grey silk shoes? We love.

The huge dogwood wreath/art installation that marked their ceremony at Eagle’s Point was inspired by Andy Goldworthy’s “Before the Mirror” and artfully crafted by Erica of Erica Rose Design. So well crafted in fact, it didn’t move a millimeter during the 45 mph windstorm that swept through their ceremony.

COULD there be a more perfect dress to be wearing in a 45 mph windstorm??? Lacie, please please enter this photo in one of those wedding photojournalism contests. We’d all like a copy of our own!

Danielle’s dress was handmade by her friend Tracy Radeff McConnell. Tracy fit Danielle the week before the wedding and the bride didn’t have her dress in her hands until an hour before the ceremony. However, we agree with Danielle… it’s got to be the most beautiful thing she’s ever seen.

Now for the beautiful decors. The owner of Suppenkuche does amazing installations on the ceilings of the restaurant every year for Oktoberfest. Danielle took inspiration from these little pieces of art and put together tables full of wheat and herbs and gourds and pretty fall flowers.

Gaaaaaaah. Who doesn’t need wheat wreaths and birds decorating their ceilings during fall?!!

Danielle found old walnut logs in her grandfather’s shed and had them cut into risers for the table. They wanted plenty of candlelight so she based her arrangements around beeswax candles in hurricanes.

Nothing like a cold german brewski to celebrate the changing of seasons. And coincidentally, Oktoberfest was traditionally a celebration of marriage. How perfect that their wedding fell during the last week.

One design element that Danielle was certain of from the beginning was a sheet cake with the California flag. So awesome and refreshingly unbridal. Go with what you want people, it will make all the difference in the personal feeling of your wedding.

Their band rocked out, their friends drank bier and had fun and danced. And they ended up married. Yay.

And, Garret designed all the invites himself. He made nifty custom maps of the city that were the perfect size for stuffing in a back pocket. And they collected pretty vintage stamps from their home states for the envelopes. In lieu of a guest book, they asked their friends and family to contribute a favorite recipe they could bring into their new home. What a sweet idea.

Congratulations, you two! Totally beautiful and perfectly you. Just the way we like it.

Photography: Lacie Hansen / Ceremony venue: Eagle’s Point at Land’s End, San Francisco / Reception venue: Suppenkuche / Florals/Table design and Decor: Brown Paper Design in collaboration with Erica Rose Design and Sarah Schaafsma of Met Bloem / Flowers/Gourds: Repetto Farms in Half Moon Bay / Dress: Handmade by Danielle’s friend and mentor Tracy Radeff McConnell of Radeff Design Studios. Um, Tracy? Maybe you should go in to fashion design. / Shoes: Pedro Garcia / Fur wrap: Vintage, borrowed from Tracy / Make up: Amy Weissenberg / Cake: Rebecca Klus Catering rebeccakluscatering {at} gmail {dot} com / Band: Dear friend Safa Shokrai and friends / Bus transport between venues: The Mexican Bus / Invites: Designed by Garett, printed by Clear Image Printing

Let’s finish off the week with a wedding at one of our favorite venues in the Southern California area… Figueroa Mountain Farmhouse. Is it us or does the light fall ever so perfectly on this spot?

Meghan and Nevin chose to have an intimate weekend celebration that was a destination for nearly all 50 guests in attendance. They hosted a wine tasting on Thursday, the wedding was on Friday, and they had a casual BBQ on Saturday. What a nice set up! Love the idea of having a whole day and night after the wedding to spend with everyone who came to celebrate with you.

Meghan’s dad made the wooden signs, and she and Nevin made the invitations and paper goods. They bought the paper at Paper Source, printed them at home, and used a Martha Stewart lace paper cutter to fancy up the table cards. Nicely done guys!

They collected vintage hankies for the ceremony and made little stamped burlap bags filling with loose lavender to toss after the ceremony.

Oooh. Love the rosemary wrapped flower vessels. Neat touch.

Beautiful wedding, you too! Congratulations. And thanks for sending this our way, Kristen.

Photography: Kristen Grinnell / Venue: Figueroa Mountain Farmhouse / Flowers: Florette Designs