1. Real Weddings

A Modern Wedding With a Historic Twist at James Leary Flood Mansion in San Francisco, California

Modern detail meets old-world architecture at this urban, romantic wedding—a contrast that hooked us from th

Modern detail meets old-world architecture at this urban, romantic wedding—a contrast that hooked us from the start. Sahar Alavi (34 and in compliance management) and Andrew Oswald (31 and an assistant portfolio manager) booked the James Leary Flood Mansion in San Francisco, California, for their wedding day, won over by the indoor-outdoor space, rich history of the venue and breathtaking views of the surrounding city. “Not only was it gorgeous and elegant, but it had stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco Bay,” Sahar says. “Most of our guests were from out of town, and we wanted to give them a true San Francisco experience.” BrittRene Photo captured the peach and pink palette with accents of gray and gold embodied within the wedding party attire—from the flower girls' gold shoes to the floor-length peach bridesmaid dresses and the charcoal gray tuxedos. The ceremony took place on the steps outside the historic mansion, where Kristina Taheri Special Events decorated the space with large peach-colored balloons tied to gold chiavari chairs that lined the aisle. Inside the ballroom, long dining tables covered in white tablecloths were decorated with tall glass candelabras, filled with bold arrangements of hydrangeas, roses and peonies in addition to low centerpieces with the same blooms. Our attention was drawn to the historical world map spread out on a wooden table for guests to sign, which was a true reflection of Sahar and Andrew's love for traveling. Check out more details that we loved, below.

Rose Pink Valentino Shoes With Bows
“My bridesmaids wore one-shoulder peach chiffon dresses,” Sahar says. “I loved the color of the dresses and wanted them in the same dress, but also wanted them to feel comfortable. They wore neutral shoes and picked their jewelry as they wished.”
The flower girl wore a simple white dress with a white ribbon tied around the waistline, which was paired with gold flats. She had on a baby’s breath flower crown that completed her look.
The ceremony took place outside on the steps of James Leary Flood Mansion in San Francisco, California. The aisle was lined with large peach balloons tied to gold chiavari chairs, where guests sat for the occasion.
Sahar held a bridal bouquet of pink peonies mixed in with peach roses and white stock, which followed the romantic color palette of the wedding day.
Crystal Belt and Earring Accessories
Guests signed the historical world map that was spread out on a wooden table at the cocktail hour. This alternative to a traditional guest book reflected Sahar and Andrew’s love of traveling.
“Our dinner was held in a hall where we had long tables decorated with candles, crystal candelabras with flowers and other various vases of flowers,” Sahar says. These tall crystal candelabras held up lush pastel-colored arrangements of hydrangeas, roses and peonies that were seen in the lower centerpieces as well.
“Andrew and his groomsmen were in tuxedos with classic suspenders,” Sahar says. “Andrew wore a white bow tie with a paisley pattern—significant to my Persian culture—to differentiate himself from the guys in black bow ties.”
Floor-Length Tulle Wedding Veil
Hydrangea and Rose Centerpiece
“At each place setting, we had a thank-you card for each guest on ivory paper and a menu on gold paper with a monogram on top,” Sahar says. “These were tucked behind a peach napkin tied into a bow with ivory ribbon, placed over a gold-rimmed charger.”
“For dessert, we had wedding cake with buttercream and flavors of almond white chocolate and German chocolate,” Sahar says. “I hid a figurine of the Phillie Phanatic, the mascot of the Philadelphia Phillies (Andrew’s favorite team) on our wedding cake.”
Mermaid-Style Tulle Wedding Dress Skirt