Alex & Nicole: A Golden (Gate) Celebration

What's better than tying the knot with the love of your life? How about doing it in front of the Golden Gate Bridge? San Francisco is one of the most popular wedding destinations in the United States and for good reason. With its world-famous scenic beauty, mild climate, cultural diversity, and amazing food scene, it's easy to see why this city is a fantastic choice for a wedding. Alex and Nicole's spring wedding was a gorgeous day at Log Cabin by Wedgewood Weddings. 

About eight months before their big day, Alex and Nicole reserved their date. With the wonderful Log Cabin event planning team's assistance, they dove into preparations. However, one thing they didn't plan for was that by their wedding day, they would be a family of three! Alex shared with us:

The funniest and happiest plot twist during our wedding planning journey was after securing our date, we discovered that we were going to have a baby!

Now that is quite the plot twist! We asked Nicole and Alex what their wedding day would be titled if it was a movie, and any new parents are sure to find their answers very relatable: 

That's a tough one, but probably:  "Mom and Dad Get Married" or "Sleepless in San Francisco"!

Their coordinator, Duckie, shared:

We had a blast planning with Alex and Nicole. It was wonderful seeing them become new parents and newlyweds all at the same time! 

On the big day, Alex and Nicole got ready at the historic Inn at the Presidio, conveniently located just about a mile from Log Cabin. The bridesmaids wore matching flannels and sipped mimosas on the balcony while enjoying the peekaboo views of the Golden Gate Bridge. Both Alex and Nicole took turns taking photos on the balcony with their little one. Alex and his entourage also headed to the Presidio Forest for fantastic pre-ceremony photos. 

Alex and Nicole chose to wait until the ceremony to see each other for the first time that day. With such a stunning backdrop, the couple's photographers from Diane Nicole Photography captured their amazing moments.

As the ceremony started, guests enjoyed blue skies (Karl the fog wasn't in attendance) and fantastic spring weather. On the lawn, the Log Cabin team set up their gold circular arch, with Angella Floral providing a beautiful flower arrangement of ivory roses and greenery. In addition to the lovely florals, the showstopper was definitely the Golden Gate Bridge, perfectly framed behind the couple. 

Alex shared the highlight of the ceremony for him:

If I could relive one part of the wedding every day, it would be seeing our baby boy being carried down the aisle and seeing my beautiful wife in her wedding dress, and knowing that this is my family.

After sharing heartfelt vows and saying 'I do,' the newlyweds cheered as they exited down the aisle and took a moment to take it all in with a glass of champagne before heading around the property for portraits.

During cocktail hour, guests enjoyed the cozy patio, where lawn games, drinks, and appetizers waited for them. On the lawn, guests enjoyed corn hole while enjoying the stunning views of the San Francisco skyline and Golden Gate Bridge. 

We asked Alex and Nicole if there was a unique feature of the venue that made their day extra special, and they shared: 

THE VIEW! The scenery of the venue was breathtaking. There were countless times while mingling about our wedding, we'd find our guests standing in awe, staring at the view of the Golden Gate Bridge, the bay, and the city skyline. 

After cocktail hour, guests entered the historic Log Cabin for the reception. Originally used as an Army clubhouse, the Log Cabin was built in 1937 and features natural wooden beams, large windows with views of the city skyline, and a cozy fireplace. As guests made their way inside, they were greeted with a wooden welcome sign featuring the couples' unique wedding logo. Alex shared the couples' perspective on how they effortlessly infused their personalities into their big day:

We are a pretty laid-back couple, so we infused our personalities into our wedding by making everything easygoing. We chose Wedgewood Weddings because the package covered all of our wedding needs: food, floral, invitations, and DJ, everything minus the wedding dress and tuxedos. While the packages were all-encompassing, they still allowed us the freedom to customize and even bring in things of our own to make our day unique and our own. 

Tables were decorated with ivory linens, forest green napkins, and gold mercury glass votives. In the center of the table were rustic wood slabs with ivory flowers and greenery. Each place setting also had a custom thank you card made by the couple. 

For their grand entrance into the reception, the newlyweds had a special surprise up their sleeves. Alex shared that their grand entrance still makes the two of them chuckle to this day: 

We coordinated with our DJ that we wanted to walk into the theme song from The Lion King's Circle of Life. We planned to hoist our son up like little Simba on Pride Rock. Our son (a month old at that time) had been a perfect participant all day throughout all the festivities. As my wife and I gathered outside the Log Cabin, we were hesitant and questioning our decision to hoist a sleeping one-month-old up in the air to loud music in front of a large crowd. We decided to go through with it come what may. As we entered and were announced, I carried him in my arms and hoisted him up at the crescendo of the music. I winced, waiting for the cries and tears, but as I looked up and in disbelief, I saw my son's eyes wide and attentive to his friends and family, not making a peep. 

After a very memorable grand entrance, it was time for dinner! Their delicious buffet was a hit with guests and featured five cheese tortellini pesto parmesan, charred lemon chicken piccata, garlic mashed potatoes, and a roast beef carving station.

After dinner, the couple did a ceremonial cake cutting, and guests enjoyed the desserts from Mim's Bakery - a delicious genoise cake filled with fresh fruit and wrapped with white chocolate. 

The night continued with the couples' first dance, parent dances, and open dancing, keeping the energy high until the end of the reception. Guests had a blast twirling around the dance floor, creating the perfect conclusion to an unforgettable day. 

Congratulations, Nicole and Alex! Thank you so much for letting us bring your wedding day to life and sharing your experience. Alex shared one last tip for any other couples planning their big day: 

Whether it's planning your wedding or anything in your future together, remember you are a team! Communicate and listen to one another. 

If you're interested in a San Francisco wedding at Log Cabin by Wedgewood Weddings, call or text 866.966.3009 to schedule your free tour.

Thank you to our amazing vendors!

• Photography: DIANE NICOLE PHOTOGRAPHY

• DJ/MC: IMOBILE DJS

• Florals: ANGELLA FLORAL ARTS

• CAKE: MIM'S BAKERY