By Michelle Hoover

Glamorous affairs like this are just one of the many reasons why we love weddings. From the gorgeous scenery a la San Francisco Legion Of Honor to the Bride’s breathtaking Cherries Flowers bouquet, every detail MAP Events planned is pure elegance. After poring through the gorgeous gallery from Gia Canali we’ve already bookmarked it as wedding day perfection.

From the beautiful Bride… My husband and I are world travelers and after our engagement in Rome, we considered several destination wedding options: France, Cabo, Aspen, and of course New York (where we live). It wasn’t until we looked at my hometown, San Francisco, when one specific venue stood out and kept drawing us in. That was the Legion of Honor at Land’s End. I loved the glamour and history of the museum, and it was around the corner from where I grew up in Sea Cliff. The venue also houses one of the original Rodin’s The Thinker statues (identical to the one on the lawn outside of Philosophy Hall where Phillip and I met at Columbia University)!
We wanted our wedding day to have a classic old-world feel, but with the natural beauty of San Francisco incorporated throughout. The Legion fit the bill as it sits on the cliffs high above the Pacific Ocean with view of the Golden Gate Bridge. We had our ceremony on the lawn with the cypress trees in the background, underneath a beautiful birch branch chuppah designed by Cherries Flowers. Inside, the museum itself provided most of the ambiance, with a lot of complementary details designed by Melissa Panico, Got Light, and Global Gourmet.

The best part of the day was walking down the aisle. Surrounded by friends, family, and the beauty of our surroundings, my new husband and I were completely focused on each other. It was such a powerful and beautiful feeling to know that everything stemming from our connection was perfect.

Our Rabbi Oren Postrel encouraged us to pull in traditions from my Irish and Chinese background as well as elements of Phillip’s Jewish and Latvian heritage. We had a large Chinese banquet at R&G Lounge in San Francisco. Our kiddush cup was an Irish Waterford Crystal vessel. We had a steamed Chinese bao station and Moscow mules with Russian Standard Vodka and caviar and blinis at the wedding. While our wedding was not religious, it was very traditional. Our Rabbi, a former ballet dancer and lover of art and history, was the perfect person to lead the diverse group of wedding attendants through the meanings of the Jewish traditions in our wedding.

For all of the planning that goes into a wedding, the day goes by incredibly fast. My advice is to hire a great photographer to capture every last of the detail so you can remember for years to come. That and of course stay organized! We had a timeline and shot list, which we stuck to and the results were absolutely beautiful.

Photography: Gia Canali | Videography: Weddings On Film | Wedding Planning: Melissa Panico, MAP Events | Florals: Cherries Flowers | Cake: Cake Coquette | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Joanna August | Catering: Global Gourmet Catering | Makeup & Hair: Sarah E. Hyde | Lighting: Got Light | Groom's Attire: Tom Ford | Groom's Attire: Theory | Officiant: Rabbi Oren Postrel | Wedding Venue: San Francisco Legion Of Honor | Bride's Gown: Monique Lhuillier | Ceremony & Cocktail Music: Starlite Strings | Linens: La Tavola | Linens: Hartmann Studios | Rentals: Hartmann Studios

Read on StyleMePretty.com