Piedmont Community Hall Wedding | Erica & Frank

When we met up with Erica and Frank at her aunt’s house in Oakland this past October, the excitement was palpable. Not only did they fly out from Michigan to tie the knot that beautiful day, the San Francisco Giants and the Kansas City Royals would be battling each other in the fourth game of the World Series!

Erica was absolutely stunning in a floor-length lace gown complemented by a red peony in her hair. Frank rocked a black suit and bowtie, and made sure to top his outfit with a Giants ball cap before we made our way to Piedmont Community Hall. (It turned out that many of the catering staff would be sporting Giants paraphernalia, too.)

More than a hall, this lovely venue tucked amid a residential park features a wooden Japanese tea house, a Mediterranean-style hall with a striking beamed ceiling and chandeliers, and a circular plaza surrounded by greenery. It also boasts soaring redwood trees, which served as the backdrop for Erica and Frank’s heartwarming ceremony.

After the wedding, guests enjoyed hors d’oeuvres and Homestead whiskey (the featured bourbon, Erica’s stepdad’s whiskey brand) on the plaza while we explored the grounds partially by piggyback. The light was gorgeous, as was the weather, so we weren’t the only ones caught off guard when, right as dinner was served, it suddenly began sprinkling. Some folks took their plates inside the hall itself, while others showed faith that the shower would soon pass by huddling under their napkins. Luckily, the rain disappeared as quickly as it came.

In keeping with the fairly lush environs, the table centerpieces showcased seasonal and local vegetation, including figs, pomegranates, and artichokes. What a fun idea! We also love that the cakes were decorated with succulents. Kudos to Erica’s mom for making fudge for favors!

The rest of the night was filled with touching toasts, joyful cake cutting, boisterous hip shaking, and wacky photoboothing—all punctuated by hearty cheering whenever the Giants scored. (Incidentally, the Giants won game 4 and went on to take the 2014 World Series.) Here are some of our favorite still and animated moments from this momentous day.

Dress: Sottero & Midgley, alterations by Litsa Nelson
Shoes: Kate Spade
Red peony hair accessory: Blissful Silks (Etsy)
Bride’s wedding band: Easy Gem (Etsy)
Groom’s wedding band: Minter & Richter
Groom’s suit, shirt & bow tie: Banana Republic
Caterer: Small Thyme Catering
Cake: Taste of Denmark (decorated by Sandra Sampson)
Florist: Sandra Sampson
Ceremony paper flowers: The Knot and Especially for You by Y.W. (Etsy)
Bubbles: The Knot
Personalized napkins, guest name cards/wine tags: The Knot
Guestbook: Red Otter Creative (Etsy)

Woodsy Piedmont Community Hall Wedding | Marissa & Andy

Marissa and Andy both share a fondness for the outdoors (you might remember their engagement session among the redwoods) so it’s no surprise that they choose Piedmont Community Hall in which to get hitched back in June. PCH is an unassuming venue tucked in a residential neighborhood, which makes its amenities (cozy amphitheater, elegant barnlike structure, Japanese teahouse, lush walkways) even more surprising. It’s a gorgeous spot that Marissa and Andy, as well as their family and friends, imbued with lots of love.

We were blown away when we learned how many friends and family members were a vital part of the wedding. Marissa’s cousin Shannon, for instance, spent five days baking goodies for the dessert table. A family friend constructed the succulent bouquet and boutonnière. A longtime friend handmade their wedding bands. A bevy of other friends provided officiant, catering/bartending, DJ, lighting, and photobooth services. Even their dog Tischa gave her paw of approval before the wedding.

Marissa and Andy themselves also contributed their own talents: Marissa made hundreds of paper flowers for the centerpieces, while Andy, a graphic designer, created all the paper goods (including invitations and signage). We loved the way they incorporated log stumps and sand-packed mason jars into their theme and transformed their favorite adventures together into their table “numbers.” Mason jar mugs made perfect wedding favors.

The wedding itself was a delight to capture, from the touching ceremony amid the redwoods to the tear- and laughter-filled toasts to Andy’s signature kick on the dancefloor. Happily, we were able to pull our giddy couple away from the festivities to share a special moment together under the glorious supermoon, the largest and fullest full moon of 2013. You can view that photo and some of our other favorites here, including a few that we animated. Enjoy!

Dress: Anna Sui for BHLDN
Bride’s shoes: Jeffrey Campbell
Groom’s suit: J. Crew
Groom’s shoes: Aldo
Bride’s hair: Amanda at Marquee Salon
Groom’s hair: Joe at Temescal Alley Barbershop
Wedding bands: Erin Diane
Bouquet, boutonnière: Petals by Sophie
Caterer: Angela Stebleton at SFC Events
Pre-ceremony lumpia: Goldilocks Bakery
Beverages: K&L Wine Merchants
Deejay: Jason Morgan, aka DJ Hit Force!
Lighting design: Alex Fletcher of Clean White Lines
Photobooth: True Photobooth