1. Real Weddings

A Timeless Interfaith Wedding at Julia Morgan Ballroom in San Francisco, California

Meghan Williams (27 and a health care technology manager) and Alex Scherbatskoy (32 and a lawyer) met and fell in love in San Francisco, California. W

Meghan Williams (27 and a health care technology manager) and Alex Scherbatskoy (32 and a lawyer) met and fell in love in San Francisco, California. When they planned their wedding, elegance and classic city style was key—as was honoring their families' religious traditions: Meghan is Catholic, and Alex is Jewish. "We feel that ritual and tradition have their place in life, and the celebration of marriage is one of those places," Meghan says. "Marriage is an act of faith." After a ceremony at St. Dominic’s Catholic Church in the city, the newlyweds hopped into a vintage Rolls-Royce and headed to their reception at Julia Morgan Ballroom, where they signed a ketubah—the Jewish marriage certificate—broke a glass and danced the hora with all their guests. The night was full of elegant details, from the vintage silver candelabras topping the white linen-topped tables to the four-course dinner. “The decor was chic and romantic,” Meghan says. “Tons of candles and flowers took over the space.” Later in the evening, Meghan and Alex brought in specially made desserts from Harvey’s Gourmet Mini Donuts and coffee from local favorite Travelin’ Joe. “Enjoy the process,” Meghan says. “It's incredibly fun to be the bride, so enjoy every moment with your mom, girlfriends and future husband. Soak it up!” —Carolyn Meers

Meghan's shoes were closed-toe Christian Louboutins with a hint of sparkle to catch the light on the dance floor.
Meghan gifted her bridesmaids jewelry. Each was presented with a gold and white package topped with a white bow and a calligraphed tag.
During bridal party prep, bridesmaids were offered mini champagne bottles with straws.
The bridesmaid bouquets from Stone Floral were a lively medley of baby's breath, greenery and crimson, which paired beautifully with the deep crimson Amsale bridesmaid gowns.
Meghan's bridesmaids wore full-length crimson gowns by Amsale paired with varying hairstyles.
Green garlands and a few white blossom bouquets decorated the entrance of St. Dominic's Catholic Church, where Meghan and Alex said their vows.
Alex is Jewish, and Meghan was raised Catholic. "We wanted to celebrate both traditions," Meghan says. "We feel that ritual and tradition have their place in life, and the celebration of marriage is one of those places since, above all, marriage is an act of faith." A brief Catholic ceremony at St. Dominic's included a blessing for guests of all faiths.
Meghan and Alex honor both of their families' faiths with a combination of traditions: a Catholic ceremony at St. Dominic's, then a ketubah signing at the Julia Morgan Ballroom reception in San Francisco, California.
After the Catholic ceremony at St. Dominic's, the newlyweds headed to their reception at Julia Morgan Ballroom in San Francisco, California, where they signed the ketubah (honoring Alex's Jewish heritage).
Meghan and Alex departed St. Dominic's for the reception in a vintage black Rolls-Royce topped with white flower garlands.
Meghan and Alex incorporated traditions from both of their faiths—Catholicism and Judaism—into their wedding day.
Meghan and Alex held their reception at Julia Morgan Ballroom in the financial district of San Francisco, California. Tables were topped with tall white blossom centerpieces and classic white linens.
Vintage silver candelabras, textured linens and luscious white blossom garlands decorated the banquet table at the reception at Julia Morgan Ballroom in San Francisco, California.
The all-white, four-tier cake by Jasmine Rae included white roses on top. "We had two flavors," Meghan says. "Chai-spiced cake with roasted apples and honey buttercream and almond cake with passionfruit curd and vanilla buttercream."
At the reception at Julia Morgan Ballroom, guests found their names—written out by Michele Papineau Calligraphy—under warm candlelight on silver trays.
As late-night treats, Meghan and Alex offered fresh doughnuts by Harvey's Gourmet Mini Donuts and an espresso bar with classic Irish coffee by Travelin' Joe.
Meghan's dramatic, cascading bouquet was created by Stone Floral and was a tribute to her mother's and grandmother's bouquets at their weddings, which had been similarly styled.