A Winter Chapel Wedding at Old St Hilary's in Tiburon and the Corinthian Yacht Club
When you meet Melisa and Laif, you know that these two have a passion for life that just radiates all around them! They were wed in Old St Hilary's, a little white chapel that sits on a grassy windswept hill overlooking the waters of the Bay and the cityscape of San Francisco. And in that intimate wooded chapel, everyone felt their excitement and love radiating as the two read their vows to each other, and sealed the deal!
The two had met thanks to a vintage cherry red Honda motorcycle named Betty. At the time, Laif was working on bikes at Piston and Chain, a community motorcycle club in San Francisco. A friend who knew Melisa, mentioned her to Laif. The very next day, Laif was helping a friend fix his bike on Divisadero street. He heard the sound of a motorcycle, looked up and saw Melisa riding by on Betty! He found her on Facebook and sent her a message. Not knowing who he was, Melisa almost deleted it....but took another look at his blue eyes in his photo, and decided to respond. They set up a date to go ride their motorcycles together, and soon became inseparable. So of course, some bike riding was necessary activity for their engagement session! And 2 years later after Melisa had first rode past Laif, the two wed in front of their closest family, friends, and of course Bella, their doggie ring bearer.
Their wedding was filled with all kinds of beautiful moments and super stars that made the day an amazing success! Some say rain on your wedding day is lucky, but truly it is the positive attitudes of the bride, groom, and everyone involved that makes it an amazing:
Despite the rain causing some changes in the plans, coordinator extraordinaire Mandy Scott pulled the details of the day together flawlessly. Before the ceremony started, Josh Gronner riffed jolly tunes on the piano, bringing smiles to the guests' faces as they patiently waited. Then Laif broke into an impromptu dance with his mom. One of the bridesmaids, the talented Lena Hall, sang beautifully as Melisa walked down the aisle with her dad. Bella, Melisa and Laif's pooch, obediently padded down the aisle carrying their wedding rings tied to her back. At the reception, Melisa's Uncle Rouben performed a surprise Armenian traditional dance that got everyone on their feet cheering! And later in the evening when the dancing was in full swing, the bride's sister, a professional flamenco dancer in Spain, Cristina Hall, treated everyone to some of her incredible dance moves. The bride’s vision for the style of their glittery and warm reception came to life as 1920’s modern glam. The soft winter florals were created by the talents of Green Petal Designs.
Guests told Melisa later that it was the most beautiful wedding they had attended! Congratulations to the newlyweds!
Vendor credits:
Coordination: Mandy Scott Events
Florist: Green Petal Designs
Getting Ready Hotels: The Waters Edge & The Lodge at Tiburon
Ceremony: Old St. Hilary's Chapel
Reception: Corinthian Yacht Club
Rentals: La Tavola
Bride's Dress: Martina Liana
Bride's Necklace: The famous Jewelia!
Bride's Shoes: The Seller
Make-up Artist: by the bride
Hair Stylist: Kelly Dale as directed by Melisa Hall
Bridesmaid Robes: Sandy Waters
Groom's Suit: Jos A Banks
Groom's Shoes: Allen Edmonds
Groom's Pocket Watch: An antique Waltham, a gift from the bride.
Stationary & Table Cards: Designed and printed by the bride
Cake: Branching Out Cakes
Custom Cake Topper: Toppers Delight
Officiant: Bride's Godfather, Tim Hornbecker
Ceremony Piano & Reception DJ & MC: Josh Gronner
Reception Band: Jaz Sawyer Group
Ceremony Singer: Lena Hall
Maid of Honor, Bride's Sister, & Flamenco Dancer Extraordinaire: Cristina Hall
I asked the bride if she had any advice for couples planning a wedding:
Follow your intuition. Listen to the inner voice that tells you what your truly wanting to do. Also be prepared to see who your true support and friends are. When you least expect it people will show up to love you through the important moments. Those that don't will gradually fade away. Stay close with your partner and listen to each other. Plan slowly and deliberately. Choose Sonya and Mandy as your wedding ninjas! Haha.
It's so important to hire the right people to take care of you on your wedding day. I always strive to do this for my brides. It's not just about the job... it's about loving them through what we do. Mandy did that for me every step of the way. I got to relax and let go because of her. She was truly the biggest gift!
A BIG thank you to Melissa Campos for your photography assistance and umbrella holding that day!