A Yellow-and-Turquoise Modern Restaurant Wedding in San Francisco, California

July 28, 2011

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Joanne and Luke

Emily Nathan

Joanne Duong and Luke Bartels announce their marital status on the front steps of San Francisco's City Hall. The banner, made by the newlyweds, was hand-painted by a friend.

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The Event

Emily Nathan

On Friday, May 15, 2009, the couple invited 70 of their closest friends and family to San Francisco's City Hall to witness their vows. After the ceremony, the couple led their loved ones, all cheering and blowing noisemakers, through the streets to their favorite German restaurant for a hearty afternoon meal.

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Wedding Invitations

Johnny Miller

The effervescent letterpress invitation suite was designed by San Francisco artist Jeff Canham, a friend of the groom's, who also painted their "Just Married" banner. The card on the bottom right invites guests to a casual celebration, complete with taco truck, the following day at Golden Gate Park.

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The Fashion

Emily Nathan

The bride and groom descend the staircase in City Hall; Joanne wore a Saks Fifth Avenue dress bought at Ver Unica, a local vintage shop, and the groom wore his "only suit" -- a seersucker -- and his late father's shoes.

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Boutonniere

Emily Nathan

A yellow fabric boutonniere by Handle & Spout decorates the groom's lapel, while an escort "flag" perches nattily in his pocket.

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The Bride's Bouquet

Emily Nathan

Joanne's sunny bouquet -- golden peonies, garden roses, honeysuckle, ranunculus, and poppies -- was designed by friend and florist Naomi deManana.

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Wedding Favors

Johnny Miller
How-To Make the Bags and Labels

Guests took home sourdough pretzels dipped in chocolate by the couple, in glassine envelopes stitched closed with red thread.

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Noisemakers

Emily Nathan

Guests celebrate with noisemakers postceremony.

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Flower Girl

Emily Nathan

Flower girl Paige Zimmerman, the daughter of a friend.

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The Happy Couple

Emily Nathan

Joanne and Luke share an impromptu smooch.

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After the Ceremony

Emily Nathan

The wedding entourage march from City Hall to Suppenkuche, one of the couple's favorite restaurants, in San Francisco's Hayes Valley: "Cars were honking, and people were coming out of the shops to check us out," remembers Joanne.

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How They Met

Emily Nathan

Friends Brooke and Nanishka Duthie introduced the couple to each other 10 years ago.

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The Menu

Emily Nathan

Guests feasted on Bavarian fare like steak, bratwurst, and potato pancake salad.

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Table Runners

Raymond Hom
How-To Make the Escort Flags

Each table was decorated with a different hand-sewn runner that matched the fabric on the escort flags, made by the bride.

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Flower Arrangements

Emily Nathan

Kate Berry, sister of the bride and this magazine's style director, decorated tables with fresh blooms from the San Francisco flower market.

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Rum Wedding Cake

Emily Nathan

An assortment of "Ridiculous Rum Cakes" by friend Pamela Cianci, who owns Sugar & Spike, rests on a stacked cake stand built by Luke and painted by Joanne; the cakes were baked in antique pans the couple found at flea markets.

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Guests

Sister Kate and her husband, Ian Berry, smile for the camera.

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Confetti Toss

Emily Nathan

City regulations forbid celebrants from throwing confetti at City Hall, so they showered the couple after lunch.

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Confetti

Johnny Miller

Joanne filled glassine bags with biodegradable confetti for the toss. 

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The Bride's Dress and Accessories

Emily Nathan

Joanne found her dress just weeks after getting engaged and, according to Luke, "spent the rest of the year looking for shoes"; she finally decided on yellow suede pumps from J.Crew (the aqua clutch is a flea-market find).

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The Bride's Family

B and N Photography

Joanne's brother Nguyen Duong, nephew Kai Duong, and mom Kim Nguyen.

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Sources

Emily Nathan

Pretzels: Snyder's of Hanover
Glassine Bags for Pretzels: Uline
Confetti: Clean Free Confetti from Artistry in Motion
Glassine Bags for Confetti: ClearBags
Cake Stand & Escort Card Stand: Woodshop SF
Dollhouse Shingles: Dollhouse Collectables
Fabric Flowers: Handle & Spout
Denim, Ribbon & Canvas: Scroungers' Center for Reusable Art Parts
Fabric: Purl Soho
Noisemakers: Fantastico
Vases:
Bauer Pottery Company; Heath Ceramics; Middle Kingdom
Locations: San Francisco City Hall (ceremony); Suppenkuche (reception)
Catering: Suppenkuche
Flowers: Naomi deManana
Bundt Cakes: Sugar & Spike
Stationery: Jeff Canham
Wedding Photography: Erin Lubin and Jakub Mosur; B and N Photography
Dress: Vintage Saks Fifth Avenue from Ver Unica
Accessories: Toni Federici (veil); J.Crew (shoes)
Menswear: Brooks Brothers (suit); The Piccadillies (bow tie)
Flower Girl Dress: Ash & Robbins

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