(Viera Photographics)

Wedding Inspiration: An East Coast couple celebrates at some of San Francisco's most majestic landmarks

Jan 10, 2019

It was amid a sea of packed boxes in an empty condo as Carah was packing up her life to be with her honey, Michael Lunn, in Maine that he popped the question.

And though the lovebirds are now nesting on the East Coast, they held a celebratory wedding in San Francisco: "We shared so many great memories together when I did my medical residency at Stanford," Carah recalls. "We wanted our guests, who traveled from all over the U.S. and overseas, to have the option of spending an extended vacation in this beautiful city."

The towering steeples, ornate marble statuary, soaring ceilings and archways of North Beach's Saints Peter and Paul Church . set the scene for the formal Catholic ceremony, made all the more lyrical with a performance of traditional hymns by the Golden Gate Boys' Choir.

Deep shades of navy blue (Carah's favorite color) swathed the space, softened by lush creamy florals and French blue accents. With the help of a local graphic designer, a geometric pattern they fell in love with at a fabric store made its way into the lattice border of their letterpress invitations, ceremony programs, menu cards, cocktail napkins, and even the cookies on the dessert table. "Using this pattern was a fun and creative way to put a personalized, unique stamp on our wedding day."

Following the ceremony, there was a trolley ride to Fort Point and to the Palace of Fine Arts for photos before heading to the Asian Art Museum for a black tie reception and dance party. Guests sipped cocktails in the loggia to the sounds of a cellist. To add a touch of romance, they added pillar candles and mirrored signs describing their signature drinks. Afterwards, the navy drapery covering the double doors of Samsung Hall were opened, and guests were escorted inside to dine and dance amid travertine marble columns and walls, a cathedral ceiling with a chandelier, and rich architectural details.

They wanted to allow the space to shine on its own, adding just a bit of soft, amber lighting to create a warm glow. Navy linens were paired with white chairs, and floral centerpieces with glass pedestals held snowy orchids, hydrangeas, and garden roses. After a formal sit-down dinner and speeches, guests noshed at the dessert bar with a sailboat groom's cake and danced until midnight.

The bash ended with a late night snack—burgers from In-N-Out.

Ceremony venue:Saints Peter and Paul Church

Reception venue: Asian Art Museum

Dress: Kenneth Pool

Shoes:Jimmy Choo

Veil and headpieces:Jin Wang

Hair: Styles by Ann

Makeup:A-List Makeup

Tuxedo: Ralph Lauren

Bridesmaids dresses: Amsale

Groomsmen attire: The Black Tux and Brooks Brothers

Event planner: Downey Street Events