Sequins, Sneakers, and Sunset Vows: A San Francisco Elopement
Ten years after meeting as neighbors in San Francisco, Kayla (she/her) and Amanda (she/her) returned to the city where it all began to make things official. What started with a casual hello over laundry turned into a decade of life together. Cross-country moves, canceled wedding plans, two golden retrievers, and a love that’s weathered just about everything.
Photographed by Becky G Studios, their elopement unfolded like a love letter to the city that shaped them. They walked to City Hall for their marriage license, stopped at Urban Flowers for blooms, ran through the Castro, and rode their old bus line to Ocean Beach, where their friend Macy Stack officiated as the sun set.
Tell us about your love story!
Kayla had just moved to San Francisco when a last-minute apartment change led her to the building across from Amanda’s. One day, while doing laundry, she saw Amanda walk by and thought, “Dang, she’s cute.” Amanda, hungover and ramen-bound, introduced herself, and that chance meeting changed everything.
After a few missed connections, they finally met for drinks, where Amanda’s friend Macy Stack tagged along and got front-row seats to their instant chemistry. From that night on, they were inseparable, spending nearly every day together and laughing about how it felt like home from the start.
On December 9, 2014, Amanda asked Kayla to be her girlfriend. Four years later, they both proposed, each hiding rings in the same place. Ten years after that first “yes,” they returned to Ocean Beach to elope with Macy officiating. They now live in Lake Tahoe with their two golden retrievers, still proof that the universe has a sense of humor and perfect timing.
What made you decide to elope?
We originally planned a small wedding in Mexico for April 2020, but a week before our date, the world shut down. We tried again for early 2021, but another COVID surge forced us to cancel. After two heartbreaks, we paused all planning, bought a house in the California mountains, and built a life with our dogs, Henry and Lola.
As our ten-year anniversary approached, and with growing uncertainty for the queer community, we decided to make it official in the city where it all began. Everything aligned: our date, our favorite spots, and our friend Becky G Studios, who offered to photograph the day. It felt simple, full-circle, and right.
How did your loved ones react when you decided to elope?
We told our siblings first. They were completely supportive and understood our wish to keep the day just for us.
Then we reached out to our San Francisco friends to join us at a Monday night drag show, without mentioning why. When no one seemed too excited about a random Monday outing, we finally admitted, “There’s a reason we want you out with us!” It all came together quickly, and our friends and family were nothing but happy for us.
How did you choose your elopement outfits?
Kayla wanted something sparkly and true to her, not a traditional gown, so she found her outfit secondhand from Dressed in LALA, giving new life to something existing.
Amanda, true to her “no minute like the last minute” motto, found her shirt and pants the day before. She added a new pair of sneakers to stay comfortable as they crossed the city revisiting all their favorite San Francisco spots.
Walk us through your elopement day. What moments stand out most?
We started the morning by upgrading our hotel room (because why not) and sharing brunch and bubbles before getting ready. Twenty minutes later, we were off to City Hall to pick up our marriage license and take photos among its gold doors and marble staircases, a place rich with queer history.
From there, we stopped at our favorite Castro flower shop to build a bouquet, wandered through Golden Gate Park for photos at our old apartment and favorite spots, and even hopped on a city bus, something that’s been part of our story since our 20s.
We arrived at Ocean Beach just as the sunset matched our bouquet’s colors. Macy officiated, Kayla’s best friend witnessed, and we forgot to exchange rings until mid-ceremony, which felt perfectly us. We ended the night with rooftop drinks, a heart-shaped cake made by our friend Ali Cunningham, and a drag show, our dream celebration of love, laughter, and community.
How did you choose your vendors?
Our photographer was the most important part. Amanda has known Becky G Studios since middle school, and we’ve done a few shoots with her before, including one where we modeled for a styled elopement. We’ve always loved her work and trusted her completely to capture the heart of our day.
For flowers, we went to our favorite Castro flower shop, the same one where we used to buy blooms for each other when we lived in San Francisco. It felt right to keep everything close to home.
Our rings were from Sarah Swell Jewelry and DM Diamond Co. for our engagement pieces, and Alexis Russell Jewelry for our wedding bands.
Did you write your own vows?
We skipped formal vows and just spoke from the heart in the moment. That felt much more like us. No pressure, no scripts, just being present and saying what we felt right then.
How did you handle the legal side of your elopement?
We got our marriage license through the city of San Francisco, and the process was super easy. We made an appointment online, did the paperwork, signed with the clerk, and walked out with our license the same day.
Some couples get married right at City Hall, but since our friend Macy Stack was licensed to officiate, we chose to have our ceremony on the beach at sunset instead.
What advice would you give to other couples thinking about eloping?
Eloping is such a special chance to focus completely on each other without all the stress of a big wedding. After planning and canceling before, we loved how easy and meaningful our elopement felt.
Remember, it’s about you and your partner. You can always celebrate later with friends or family. It doesn’t all have to happen on the same day.
Photography by Becky G Studios
Cake Ali Cunningham
Dress Boutique Dressed in LALA
Engagement Rings Sarah Swell Jewelry & DM Diamond Co.
Florist Urban Flowers
Officiant Macy Stack
Wedding Rings Alexis Russell Jewelry
