Matha & Phil’s Whirlwind China Beach Blessing Ceremony

* Matha, Self-Employed & Phil, Logistics Manager at Royal British Army * Photographer: Chloe Jackman * Soundtrack for listening: “Come Away With Me” by Norah Jones *

One sentence sum up of the wedding vibe: Some elegance, some beauty, some close friends and family, great food, lots of laughter, and all together a successful intimate and fun-filled, laid-back celebration.

The Info—Photographer: Chloe Jackman / Location: San Francisco, California / Civil Ceremony Venue: San Francisco City Hall / Blessing Ceremony Venue: China Beach / Matha’s Civil Dress: Max Mara from Goodbyes / Matha’s Blessing Dress: Loehmann’s

Other cool stuff we should know about: We got married at city hall, and then had a blessing ceremony at China Beach, and a party afterwards to celebrate.

Since it was a small low-budget wedding and we had only two months to plan for everything, the last thing we wanted was to spend money on our wedding outfits. Phil wore an Italian designer suit that he has had for few years and my dresses were also straight out of my closet. The Max Mara black and white dress that I altered for the City Hall ceremony was a lucky find from last summer at Goodbyes in Laurel Village. For the China Beach Blessing Ceremony, I wore a 1940s vintage-style beaded silk dress. It is one of the oldest dresses I own. It’s been in my closet for twelve years and the day I set eyes on that dress at Loehmann’s, I told myself that I was going to get married in it! Amazing how things worked out and it all came together at the end.

Life surprised us both when we fell in love in four days and knew with every fiber in us that we were destined for each other. We got married on March 8th, and we will live separately for a year or so until Phil finishes his work and school commitments, then he will move to San Francisco and we will start our happily ever after.

Favorite thing about the wedding: The wedding cake that my cousin Tanya baked. She made Tartine’s signature Lemon Chiffon Cake with Passion Fruit Mousse and shaved coconut. It was absolutely divine!

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