1. Real Weddings

A Formal, Glamorous Ballroom Wedding at The Fairmont San Francisco in San Francisco, California

Nicole Grover (25 and an administrative assistant) and Eric Taylor (22 and a sound engineer) met while they were on the same chapel worship team at th

Nicole Grover (25 and an administrative assistant) and Eric Taylor (22 and a sound engineer) met while they were on the same chapel worship team at their private high school. After four years of dating, it became tradition for Eric to go with Nicole and her family to Santa Cruz, California, every year. During their vacation, the couple drove to meet up with Nicole’s family, who had already left for Lighthouse Point. Nicole thought it was strange Eric grabbed his coat since it was so warm out, but she didn’t dwell on it much longer. Once the couple reached their destination near the waterfront, Eric pulled a ring box out of his pocket, with her family nearby catching the entire proposal on camera. The couple had their formal, glamorous ballroom wedding at The Fairmont San Francisco inside the Gold Room -- a venue that lived up to its name: Gold chandeliers hung from ornate ceilings, and walls were painted gold and featured elegant drapery, which set the tone for the occasion. Nicole found her dream dress: a buttercream ball gown with a bubble skirt divided into layers by crystals. The bride wore a bejeweled headband with her long ivory cathedral veil, completing her glamorous look with dangling crystal earrings. At the ceremony, white pillars with candles wrapped in tulle decorated the aisle, which was strewn with red rose petals. For the reception, the ballroom was transformed with round dining tables covered in white tablecloths and decorated with flower centerpieces.

Silver Traditional Wedding Ring Set
Silver Rhinestone Accented Shoes, Christian Louboutin
“My wedding dress was a St. Pucchi gown, and it was everything I could have dreamt of,” says Nicole. “It was a buttercream ball gown with a bubble skirt and pearl and crystal appliques going diagonally around the gown with a brooch on the right-hand side.”
Nicole held a black-wrapped bouquet of red roses and calla lilies mixed in with red feathers because of her love for birds.
“I found an incredible headpiece with crystals and pearls and a cathedral-length buttercream veil, which was very simple with just a thin trim of satin ribbon,” says Nicole.
Nicole stood next to her bridesmaids, who wore long black dresses designed by Watters.
The Fairmont San Francisco Venue
Tulle-wrapped pillars topped by candles served as aisle decorations for the wedding ceremony.
The wedding ceremony took place in the Gold Room at The Fairmont San Francisco.
Nicole and Eric, Wedding Ceremony
Ceremony Recessional, The Fairmont Venue
Classic Couple Shot, Nicole and Eric
Nicole and Eric, Sitting Near Window
Glamorous Ballroom Reception, Elegant Chandeliers
At the reception, dining tables were dressed in ivory tablecloths and decorated with beaded branch centerpieces.
Ghiradelli chocolates were packaged in gold boxes, wrapped with black ribbon and topped with a thank-you tag.
Nicole and Eric, Reception Toasts
Lush flower centerpieces were made of hydrangeas, roses and orchids accented with green leaves. A white table number was held up with a gold holder, positioned next to a framed engagement photo of the couple.
The four-tier wedding cake had three layers decorated with metallic silver, and one layer with a cream rosette pattern. A flower ball made of cream was the topper for the wedding cake, decorated with a pink ribbon positioned in front.
Ballroom First Dance, Nicole and Eric