(Duy Ho Photography)

Wedding Inspiration: Romantic Glamour at SF's Julia Morgan–Designed Merchant Exchange

Apr 27, 2018

Kristin Tang and John Ku looked far and wide for the perfect venue—and then, after scoping out nearly 10 venues, landed in the heart of the city.

The ornate details of San Francisco's historic Merchant Exchange building and its Julia Morgan Ballroom, named for the building's legendary interior architect, captured the couple with its classic backdrop and distinct aesthetic. "The rest of my wedding choices were guided by what went well with the ballroom," remembers Tang. "Our theme was romantic glamour."

Nowhere was this so evident in the color palette, awash in gray, ivory, and rose gold tones. The bride's exquisite bouquet of white orchids paired flawlessly with her bejeweled gown, while the warmer hues, picked up in apricot roses in the table centerpieces, added a splash of color.

"I love rose gold, but at times it was a difficult color to incorporate because it's so specific," said Tang. "We used blushes and golds when we couldn't exactly use rose gold." She even found a way to add thoughtful touches, while sticking to the color scheme, such as gifting her bridesmaids rose gold jewelry to wear. "For my birthday that year, my maid of honor had given me a monogram pendant necklace with my soon-to-be initials, KTK. I got the same necklace for my bridesmaids in their own initials in rose gold. I liked that while they wore jewelry that looked the same from afar, they were actually personalized pieces that I hoped they would enjoy wearing on the day of and beyond."

After getting ready at FiDi's Le Méridien, the lovebirds had their first look under the colonnade next to the hotel—a sweet, giddy moment that set the tone for their big day, which was a bash from the goofy photo shoot in the beginning to the ranging dance party at the end.

"From the moment they were pronounced husband and wife, and walked down the aisle together to their grand entrance and beyond," recalls wedding photographer, Duy Ho, "Kristin and John let loose the energy."