Some wedding days feel loud and fast. Justin and Justine’s felt intentional, grounded, and completely their own.

Earlier this year, I had the honor of photographing their San Francisco wedding — capturing it on both digital and 35mm film, and filming it on Super 8mm. It was a day built around presence, connection, and choosing what actually mattered to them (and letting go of the rest).

A Chilly, Breezy San Francisco Wedding Day

San Francisco showed up exactly as herself that day: cool, breezy, and a little moody in the best way. The wind moved through the trees, jackets came on and off, and the city felt alive around us. Instead of fighting the weather, Justin and Justine leaned into it — laughing through the chill, holding each other close, and letting the environment be part of the story.

That willingness to embrace what is instead of what’s “supposed to be” really set the tone for the entire day.

Getting Married at the Redwoods Grove, San Francisco Botanical Garden

They chose to get married at the Redwoods Grove inside the San Francisco Botanical Garden, surrounded by towering redwoods that created a quiet, grounding canopy around them — nature in its most steady, expansive form, tucked right into the heart of the city. Their ceremony included handfasting woven into their vows, grounding the moment in symbolism rather than spectacle. As a photographer, moments like this — where families and relationships are honored without hierarchy or assumption — are exactly what I’m drawn to documenting with care and intention.

A Non-Traditional Wedding Ceremony That Honored Their Values

They still honored a traditional aisle moment, but reshaped it in a way that felt more reflective of their values. Rather than splitting family and friends into two sides, everyone sat intermingled together, with no sides to be assumed or chosen.

Justin and Justine’s day is a perfect example of how non‑traditional weddings don’t have to be loud or rule‑breaking — they can be thoughtful and deeply personal.

Instead of a traditional aisle moment or rigid ceremony structure, they chose a handfasting woven into their vows, grounding the ceremony in symbolism rather than spectacle. There was no pressure to perform for an audience — the focus stayed on the commitment itself.

They skipped a formal reception entirely, opting out of a tightly scheduled timeline, first dances, and staged moments. Rather than being ushered from one event to the next, they built a day around movement, pauses, and shared experiences.

Running across the Golden Gate Bridge for coffee. Taking time for a makeup touch‑up. Wandering the city together. Sitting for nostalgic photo booth strips. Justine did an outfit change not because it was expected, but because it marked a new chapter of the day.

Each choice was intentional — not about rejecting tradition outright, but about releasing the ones that didn’t serve them. Their day wasn’t about doing things the “right” way — it was about doing things their way.

San Francisco Wedding Portraits at the Painted Ladies & Beyond

After the ceremony, we did exactly what felt right to them — ran around the city together. We traveled across the Golden Gate Bridge first, holding our breath through the tunnels and letting the breeze and movement become part of the story.

On the other side of the bridge, we grabbed coffee, paused for a makeup touch‑up, and let the day breathe before heading back into the city. One of our stops afterward was the Painted Ladies, where classic San Francisco architecture met their effortless, modern energy.

An Intimate Wedding Dinner with Family and Friends in San Francisco

Instead of a traditional reception, Justin and Justine leaned into experiences. We stopped by the Photo Booth Museum by Photomatica, capturing tangible, playful keepsakes that felt nostalgic and personal.

Before dinner, Justine did an outfit change, marking a clear shift from ceremony to celebration. The day ended with an intimate dinner at Fiorella on Clement St., shared with their closest friends and family — a slower, more connected way to celebrate their marriage that felt far more aligned with who they are than a packed dance floor or rigid timeline.

An Inclusive, Non-Traditional San Francisco Wedding

What stood out most about Justin and Justine’s wedding wasn’t any single detail — it was their approach.

Their day reflected:

Flexibility instead of rigidity
Connection over spectacle
Comfort over expectation

That, to me, is what inclusive and non-traditional weddings look like. Creating space for couples to show up as themselves — without forcing traditions, roles, or moments that don’t fit.

Planning a Non-Traditional or Intimate San Francisco Wedding

If you’re planning a wedding that feels a little quieter, a little more intentional, or a little less traditional — Justin and Justine’s day is proof that you’re allowed to do that.

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