1. Real Weddings

A Timeless, Glamorous Wedding at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco, California

San Francisco–based couple Barbara Legnitto (28 and a CPA) and Craig Hansson (28 and a real estate agent) planned a glamorous summer wedding at the Fa

San Francisco–based couple Barbara Legnitto (28 and a CPA) and Craig Hansson (28 and a real estate agent) planned a glamorous summer wedding at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco, California. The day started with an outdoor ceremony in the courtyard, where Barbara and Craig exchanged vows under the shade of two impressive palm trees. The couple kept the decor minimal to let the beautiful weather take center stage, adding only two lush altar arrangements of seasonal white blooms in stone urns. 

The newlyweds and their guests moved indoors for cocktail hour in the penthouse and the reception. The evening unfolded in the hotel’s Gold Room, an exquisite ballroom with French provincial details such as ornate gold-leaf bas-reliefs, crystal chandeliers and gilded ceilings. Flickering candlelight on gold-sequined tablecloths played up the room’s luxe decor, while high-sitting arrangements of white roses and hydrangeas added romance and elegance. 

After a traditional sit-down dinner, the couple and their guests hit the dance floor, where Verducci Event Productions spun upbeat music all night long. Guests were treated to an assortment of sweets in theme-appropriate shades of ivory and gold; when they needed to rest their dancing feet, they headed to the photo booth to strike a pose. —Libby MacCarthy

Barbara took the custom route for her wedding gown, commissioning Jinza Couture Bridal to make her a one-of-a-kind creation. The gown's strapless, mermaid silhouette brought a modern, subtly sexy edge to the bride-to-be’s wedding look.
To play up the Gold Room’s opulent decor, Barbara and Craig chose an ivory, gold and blush palette and filled the space with gold-sequined tablecloths, warm candlelight and ivory roses and hydrangeas piled high atop gilded pedestals.
For their wedding cake, Barbara and Craig gravitated toward elegance and simplicity. This four-tiered confection featured quilted detailing on alternating layers, fresh ivory roses and a fondant H, for "Hansson," on the top tier.
Instead of a traditional guest book, Barbara and Craig had their friends and families write their well wishes and advice on small pieces of paper, which they hung on a wish tree.
To switch up her look without doing a complete costume change, Barbara went from an elegant updo for the ceremony to a romantic half-up hairstyle for the reception.
Floramor created a classic bouquet for Barbara to carry down the aisle. It was comprised of garden roses, stephanotis, hydrangeas and calla lilies, all in soft shades of ivory.
The day started with an outdoor ceremony in the courtyard, where Barbara and Craig exchanged vows under the shade of two palm trees.
In addition to offering a beautiful courtyard under shady palm trees where the couple could say their “I do’s,” the Fairmont Hotel had plenty of stunning reception rooms to choose among. The couple was drawn to the Gold Room, an exquisite ballroom with French provincial details.
Barbara and Craig’s candy bar was color-coordinated, with gold and ivory sweets displayed in vintage-inspired apothecary jars.