Linda and Michael's Modern Chic Conservatory Wedding in San Francisco by Alison Yin and Riley Loves Lulu

Today I am taking you across to San Francisco for this super stylish wedding set in a stunning Conservatory. The venue is the perfect location for this super chic and modern wedding. Linda and Michael chose the Conservatory of Flowers as it was a perfectly peaceful getaway from the hubbub of the city and a totally idyllic backdrop for this nature loving couple. They added in modern, sleek detailing amongst an array of flowers and greenery, and I just LOVE the results. The day was planned by Jessica Gauss, one of the owners at Riley Loves Lulu and the photos were supplied by Alison Yin.

Our wedding day was even more incredible that we could have imagined! We loved sharing our wedding (and 10 year anniversary) with all of our family and friends.

Linda and Michael were married on 29th September 2018 at Conservatory of Flowers, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. ‘We both love nature, and especially the public parks in San Francisco. The Conservatory of Flowers is idyllic and gorgeous, making it an welcoming oasis from the city. Not to mention, we thought that our guests would enjoy perusing the flower galleries. We had 150 guests and it took 9 months to plan.’

How they met
We’ve been together for a little more than 10 years! We met through mutual friends when we were 20 and 21, respectively.

The proposal
We’re fairly untraditional so instead of a proposal, Michael and I mutually decided to get married on our 10 year anniversary!

How did you allocate your budget?
We allocated our budget according to the elements of our wedding that would be the most memorable to us.

Where did you splurge and where did you save?
We are both huge foodies so it was essential that the food was amazingly delish. As such, we definitely splurged on the catering! We also splurged on the venue since ambiance is everything. Finally, we splurged on the entertainment since music is such an important part of Michael’s life. We saved on the florals and decorations, since the Conservatory of Flowers was already so naturally gorgeous.

How did you choose your photographer?
Our photographer was Alison Yin photography. We were drawn to their photojournalistic style which was all about capturing the real emotions, beauty, and moments that reflect the spirit of weddings.

The dress
I had 2 dresses – the ceremony dress was by Theia and reception dress was by Grace Loves Lace. My jewelry were from Margaret Elizabeth and shoes were from Stuart Weitzman.

The suit and bridesmaids
Michael’s suit was custom made by IndoChino.

Theme or colour scheme?
Grey, green, soft pink, and soft orange. We wanted to keep the feel delicate, organic, and natural

Flowers
Lots of greenery and touches of bright colours, from amazing coppery chrysanthemums and blush garden roses

Decoration
For the reception area, we opted for delicate garlands and bud vases to match greenery and ambiance of the venue. In addition, we had a custom made background and escort card display, which were quite lovely. Finally, we decided to go with a bohemian outdoor lounge so that our guests could comfortably mingle and catch-up.

Food
In a nod towards my Asian heritage, we decided to go with a 8-course family style meal that was based on contemporary Asian flavors. From the soft-shell tempura crab salad to the wok friend filet mignon and garlic noodles, our guests raved about the food and remarked that it was one of the best wedding meals they’ve ever had!

Wedding cake
The wedding cake a delicious, layered Princess Cake from Café Madeleine in San Francisco.

Entertainment
Music is very close to Michael’s heart and a big part of his life! For this reason, we decided to go with Cosmo AlleyCats, a live band that specializes in dance and jazz music. We saw them perform a couple times before our wedding and were absolutely blown away!

Who supplied the stationery?
The stationery (menu, custom venue map, drink menu, seating chart) was custom made by JK Design

Personal touches
We wrote our own wedding vows. In the 10 years that we’ve been together, this is one of the only things that we didn’t share with each other! Hearing each other’s vows was one of the most meaningful parts of our wedding day – it was incredibly touching and hilarious at the same time.

Special moments
Definitely the Hora dance, a traditional chair dance performed at Jewish weddings. We loved involving our friends and family in this fun and lively tradition. Being held up in the chair and looking at the expressions on the faces of our wedding guests were priceless!

Advice for other couples
Enjoy every moment of your wedding day! Everyone says this and it is true – it all goes by too quickly!

Biggest surprise
Just how lovely and seamless everything came together after months of planning! Seriously, we didn’t worry about a thing and were just focused on celebrating with our guests. We couldn’t have done it without our amazingly talented wedding planner, Jessica Gauss.