“This day was so us. Going from a Catholic ceremony at Grace Cathedral to dancing shirtless at the Four Seasons, that’s just who we are.”
This was Charles, at the end of the night as we were saying our goodbyes in his and David’s suite at the Four Seasons in San Francisco. We’ve shot hundreds of weddings by now, and still this day was something new for us. The last time we shot at the legendary, historic Grace Cathedral, it was for the son of a prominent Republican U.S. senator. This time, it was for two men, who come from religious backgrounds and for whom religion is still very important in their daily lives, who ended their day dancing shirtless with their closest friends in the Four Seasons ballroom.
Charles is a surgeon, and David a lawyer, and together they have great taste. The whole day was a blend of the traditional and unique. They got ready together, and then they invited their parents over for a champagne toast before they left for the church. They started their reception with a traditional receiving line with their parents, welcoming guests into the ballroom (Charles insisted on all of his friends meeting his parents, who live in Tennessee). Once inside, there was no formal plated dinner as is typical at luxury venues such as the Four Seasons. Guests were encouraged to sit wherever they wanted in a modern, white-furniture, lounge-style setting. Guests could sample from food stations representing distinct foodie areas of San Francisco – Chinatown, Korea Town, Japantown, the Mission and the Ferry Building.
And even though the night ended with Charles and David and all their friends dancing with their shirts off, everyone still behaved like the gentlemen they are – simply having a good time with people who, as Charles told me, they would lay down their lives for. This wedding was about tradition, combined with a little rebellion against the norm, and a few surprises thrown in here and there. It made for a great day that we are still smiling about.
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