Gilbert and Rudy chose Marriott Union Square for their wedding because it was a venue perfectly suited to their style. These guys were all about urban sophistication, and they certainly got it, with magnificent city views, and easy access to the Embarcadero and SoMa for a fun urban wedding photography itinerary. But more than that the Marriott offered the perfect setting for an intimate, emotional wedding day with close family and friends. I had the pleasure of creating a moody engagement session with these two gentlemen a few weeks before the wedding and I already knew what a strong connection they have. What I didn’t anticipate was just how much fun I would have with their awesome wedding party! They built plenty of time into our schedule, to allow for an extensive trip around the city, including a stroll through the SoMa, a pilgrimage to Pier 7, and even a pause at the peak of Nob Hill. We returned to the Marriott for a beautiful ceremony, where many of the participants recounted their personal experiences and feelings for the ‘Golden Boys’. Finally, an elegant reception awaited, and later in the night, Gilbert and Rudy unleashed a whole series of party games which had people crying from laughter. The grooms, their families and friends had invested so much effort in this wedding, and it showed. 9.10.11 turned out to be a perfect day.









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9/10/11 is one of those numerically perfect wedding dates, and couples know that on such dates, vendors’ calendars fill up quickly. Gilbert and Rudy walked into my studio back in February of this year and crossed it off my calendar, so I’ve had a long time to think about the kind of engagement shoot we’d do together. Rudy considers himself a night owl, and he proposed to Gilbert at the end of a long, intimate, meticulously planned evening. These guys have serious style (they even have their own wedding logo, which I’ve happily added to the photographs!) so I wanted to create an elegant, moody, intimate feel, to perhaps capture the essence of the night of the proposal, and show the intense connection between them. Although they already wear their rings, the wedding day is finally right around the corner at the Marriott in Union Square. Can’t wait!

OK, the title of this post is a little bit misleading. The wedding did take place at the Marriott, but before the Chuppah, we had an amazing portrait session around San Francisco. We even got a little dangerous (see for yourself). Yelena and Greg’s wedding was incredible, of course: warm, opulent, full of energy. The couple was glowing. Their first dance was flawless. And while I’ve been to many Jewish weddings, I have never seen a Challah tug-of-war end in a perfect draw. Enjoy the photos!