There are certain names and talents in the industry whose mere mention gets our hearts aflutter. Two such talents have been on our dream team for ages: Lisa Lefkowitz and Alison Events. These two incredible talents teamed up for one of the most elegant, classy and jaw-droppingly sophisticated weddings we’ve seen in a long time. We love every single detail from this glamourous winter celebration – and we know you will too.
Liz & Jake’s romance spans decades – they originally met during their sophomore year in high school (translation for Brits: that means they met during their second year of secondary school) in the East Bay area of San Francisco. Initially, they were just friends… until Jake asked Liz to the senior prom – how sweet is that?! Fast forward years ahead to find that “high school sweethearts” had turned into “newly engaged”. And when planning their wedding, Liz & Jake decided that there was only one place in the world where they could have their wedding – where they originally met years ago as sophomore high school students, San Francisco.
For her winter nuptials, Liz wore a Monique Lhuillier gown and a fur shrug that she purchased from Etsy, paired with rhinestone buckled silver Manolo Blahnik d’Orsay pumps. Swoon!
We love how she stitched their initials into the lining of her dress – in blue!
For their ceremony at Grace Cathedral, Liz & Jake had bouquets of tulips and ferns tied to every other pew end. They also hired the Pacific Boychoir Academy to perform during their ceremony.
We love how Liz chose a vibrant royal blue color for her bridesmaids’ dresses from Bella Bridesmaid – a gorgeous color for a winter wedding.
Jake’s simple black tuxedo with simple black tie is so dashing. And how beautiful are these portraits by Lisa Lefkowitz?!
The reception was held at James Leary Flood Mansion in San Francisco and was designed so that each area of the venue acted as its own distinct venue – cocktail hour, dinner, lounging and dancing were all in separate spaces, allowing guests to have a separate event experience in each. We are in love with the lounge areas that they created with warm candles galore and cheerful tulips from Kathleen Deery Design, who also provided the furnishings.
We love the chic and modern escort card table with escort cards presented on trays of wheatgrass, with calligraphy by Barbara Callow.
On the opposite side of the escort card table was a table devoted to family wedding photos, with blank cards for guests to write their well wishes to the newlyweds (which can then be pasted into a scrapbook after the wedding).
The wedding design is wonderfully classic and elegant, yet not at all stuffy or formal. These lounge areas feel like a chic city bar where you can converse with your friends comfortably. We are also absolutely in love with the chocolate replicas of the Golden Gate Bridge created for the couple by San Francisco chocolatier Ghirardelli.
This wedding cake by Perfect Endings is such a great combination of classic and feminine, yet not overdone.
Since guests had enjoyed a more mellow acoustic set by rock quartet Unplugged for the cocktail reception, for the evening party, Liz & Jake brought in a DJ to stir things up with a mix of pop and hip-hop. Incidentally, we are also loving the impeccable lighting throughout the reception areas, from uplighters and chandeliers to candles in hurricane lamps – it’s a subtle detail that not everyone will notice straight away, but which completely transforms a wedding reception from OK to WOW.
For their first dance as husband and wife, Liz & Jake chose Otis Redding’s That’s How Strong My Love Is.
How absolutely classic and tasteful was their wedding?! And for such a chic couple, nothing says elegant better than having a Rolls Royce as your getaway car!
We are so delighted to welcome Lisa Lefkowitz to our Reverie community. Her film photography is, like this wedding, completely and utterly timeless. We know that Liz & Jake will look back decades from now on their wedding day and at these incandescent photos and think how none of it was dated. And words can’t express how much we heart the weddings that Alison Events plan all over the world – we are so delighted to feature their work on Reverie. Big kudos go out to all the amazing vendors and businesses that made this wedding such glorious eye candy for us and our readers – we are so thrilled to include all of you in the Reverie community as well. Check out more from each of these talented businesses by visiting their websites listed below.
xx, Reverie.
Wedding Vendor Credits:
Venues: Grace Cathedral and James Leary Flood Mansion / Photography: Lisa Lefkowitz / Wedding Planning: Alison Events / Florals & Furnishings: Kathleen Deery Design / Catering: Paula LeDuc Fine Catering / Invitations: A Day in May / Calligraphy: Barbara Callow Calligraphy / Cake: Perfect Endings / Music: Pacific Boychoir Academy and Unplugged / DJ: DJ Sol / Hair & Makeup: Wallet Lubrich and Grasshopper / Bridesmaids Gowns: Bella Bridesmaid / Bride’s Gown: Monique Lhuillier / Bride’s Shrug: Etsy / Bride’s Shoes: Manolo Blahnik
