Elegant Golden Gate Club San Francisco Wedding with Cultural Traditions
Melissa (she/her) and Emily’s (she/her) wedding felt like a really good night out with your favourite people – the kind where there’s champagne, karaoke, a killer outfit moment or two, and so much love it kind of sneaks up on you. Set at the Golden Gate Club in San Francisco’s Presidio, their day was equal parts black tie elegance and deeply personal storytelling. They brought their cultures into the ceremony, handed guests champagne glasses with their seat assignments, and ended the night with pizza.
How did the two of you meet?
Melissa: We met in Philly back in 2018. Both of us were out dancing in the Gayborhood with friends. I saw Em across the room, offered to buy her a beer, and cheekily asked if she wanted to get out of there.
That was it – instant spark. Over the years we navigated a long-distance pandemic relationship, moved across the country, and now we’re building our life together in San Francisco with two cats and a whole lot of love.
What led you to choose the Golden Gate Club in the Presidio for your wedding venue?
We wanted a venue that felt rooted in San Francisco, the place where we’ve built our life together. The Golden Gate Club had everything: stunning floor-to-ceiling windows, historic Spanish Revival architecture, and views of the bay and eucalyptus trees. The natural light alone made it a dream for our photos.
We leaned into the old-school charm of the venue while layering in some timeless glam. Think black-tie dress code, live music, and lots of lush greenery.
Tell us about the vibe and inspiration behind the day.
We described it as “understated classic luxury.” Our palette was black, white, green, gold, and navy. The florals were greenery-forward and elegant, and we had elevated touches like a champagne tower seating chart, a white lambeth cake with maraschino cherries from Mazzetti’s Bakery, and a 7-piece band for the reception.
We wanted everything to feel beautiful but still fun, the kind of wedding where you’d sip champagne and then belt out Pink Pony Club at karaoke by the end of the night.
What was your wedding planning process like?
Melissa: I plan events professionally, so I knew I’d want time to really dig in. We gave ourselves a year and a half, which felt perfect. I was the project manager and Em was accounting – she kept the budget locked down with gorgeous spreadsheets.
We didn’t hire a full planner, just a day-of coordinator through the venue.
I made a very intense 100-page wedding binder. No regrets.
Were there any meaningful traditions you included?
Yes! We wanted to bring in our cultures instead of religion. I’m Polish and Em is Jewish, so we did a mix of both – including a shot of Polish vodka from my grandfather’s flask before stepping on the glass.
Her dad gave us the breaking glasses, and after the ceremony, we had the shards blown into a bud vase. It was such a thoughtful way to connect both our families.
Did you do anything differently from traditional wedding expectations?
Definitely. For starters, we both walked down the aisle with our own parents. During the hora, we held a rainbow napkin between us. We also carved out ten minutes alone right after the ceremony to take it all in.
And instead of a traditional exit, we closed the night at our favorite karaoke bar for a pizza party.
That’s just very us.
What were some of your favorite moments from the day?
Em: I’ll never forget our first look. Melissa was glowing, and my heart honestly stopped for a second.
Melissa: Our first dance was incredible. We danced to a live acoustic version of “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” with everyone circled around us. Then the DJ dropped the Cyndi Lauper version and everyone joined us. It was perfect.
Tell us about your wedding fashion!
Emily wore a sleek, timeless gown from Janene’s Bridal, and Melissa wore a custom suit with matching shirt and pants from Indochino. Their rings were from Yadav Diamonds and reflected their style perfectly – classic, simple and full of meaning.
Any standout vendors?
Absolutely. Our photographer Bridget Burnett felt like part of the crew — so supportive and beyond talented. Angella Floral Design created lush florals that took our breath away. ECG Studios gave us a wedding video we’ll cherish forever. And Mazzetti’s Bakery nailed our dream cake. The Golden Gate Club itself (and our coordinator Kennedy) truly brought everything together.
Photography by Bridget Burnett
Dress Janene’s Bridal
Rings Yadav Diamonds
Suit Indochino
Venue Golden Gate Club
