Skip to content

Top Navigation

Martha Stewart Martha Stewart
  • FOOD
  • HOLIDAYS
  • ENTERTAINING
  • HOME
  • GARDENING
  • CLEANING & ORGANIZING
  • WEDDINGS
  • SHOP
  • DIY
  • BEAUTY & WELLNESS
  • LIFE
  • NEWS
  • MARTHA'S BLOG
  • About Us

Profile Menu

Martha's Blog
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Contact Us
  • Your Content
  • Logout

More

  • Enter to Win $10,000 to Makeover Your Home!
  • Martha's Blog
  • Weddings
Login
Pin FB

Explore Martha Stewart

Martha Stewart Martha Stewart
  • Explore

    Explore

    • 7 Things to Do in the Morning to Be Healthier and More Productive

      7 Things to Do in the Morning to Be Healthier and More Productive

      Kick-start your day by making habits out of these mood-boosting tips. Read More
    • Should You Refrigerate Bananas?

      Should You Refrigerate Bananas?

      It's one of your favorite fruits, but does it belong on the counter or in the refrigerator? Read More
    • This 3-Ingredient Homemade Weed Killer Uses Vinegar to Safely Remove Pesky Growths from Your Garden

      This 3-Ingredient Homemade Weed Killer Uses Vinegar to Safely Remove Pesky Growths from Your Garden

      A few easy-to-find ingredients are all you need to create a powerful formula that squashes weeds. Read More
  • FOOD

    FOOD

    See All FOOD
    Our 20 Most Popular Recipes for Summer

    Our 20 Most Popular Recipes for Summer

    • Breakfast & Brunch Recipes
    • Lunch Recipes
    • Dinner Recipes
    • Appetizers & Snacks
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Drink Recipes
    • Salad Recipes
    • Side Dishes
    • Soup Recipes
    • Healthy Recipes
    • Quick & Easy Recipes
    • Vegetarian Recipes
    • Cooking How-Tos
    • Baking
    • Menu Planning
    • Food News & Trends
    • Wine
    • Mastering the Holiday Meal
    • What's for Dinner
    • All Recipes
  • HOLIDAYS

    HOLIDAYS

    See All HOLIDAYS
    The Most Patriotic Flowers for the Fourth of July, According to Symbolism

    The Most Patriotic Flowers for the Fourth of July, According to Symbolism

    Show your love of country by displaying these varieties on America's birthday.
    • Father's Day
    • Fourth of July
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Hanukkah
    • Christmas
    • New Year's Eve
    • Valentine's Day
    • St. Patricks Day
    • Passover
    • Easter
    • Mother's Day
  • ENTERTAINING

    ENTERTAINING

    See All ENTERTAINING
    How to Start Entertaining Friends and Family More Regularly

    How to Start Entertaining Friends and Family More Regularly

    Make gathering with loved ones a priority.
    • Seasonal Entertaining & Decorating
    • Baby Shower Ideas
    • Dinner Party Ideas
    • You're Invited
  • HOME

    HOME

    See All HOME
    We're Putting Up Walls Again—Is the Open Floor Plan on Its Way Out?

    We're Putting Up Walls Again—Is the Open Floor Plan on Its Way Out?

    We asked the experts to weigh in on this popular home design concept.
    • Home Design & Decor
    • Paint Colors & Palettes
    • DIY Home Projects
    • The Well-Kept Home
  • GARDENING

    GARDENING

    See All GARDENING
    A Month-by-Month Hydrangea Care Guide

    A Month-by-Month Hydrangea Care Guide

    Confused about when to do what to your favorite flowering shrubs? We have you covered.
    • Container Gardening
    • Flower Gardens
    • Houseplants
    • Landscaping
    • Vegetable Gardens
  • CLEANING & ORGANIZING

    CLEANING & ORGANIZING

    How to Wash Pillows

    How to Wash Pillows

    They're an essential element of a comfortable bed, so keep yours fresh and in their best shape ever with these expert-approved tips.
    • Cleaning
    • Storage & Organization
    • Laundry & Linens
  • WEDDINGS

    WEDDINGS

    See All WEDDINGS
    Who Pays for What for the Wedding?

    Who Pays for What for the Wedding?

    Get the traditional rules for who pays for the wedding details.
    • Real Weddings
    • Wedding Party
    • Wedding Planning & Advice
    • Wedding Ceremony & Reception
    • Wedding Jewelry
    • Dresses & Style
    • Wedding Beauty & Wellness
    • Wedding Registry
    • Wedding Showers & Parties
    • Love & Marriage
    • Wedding Travel
  • SHOP
  • DIY

    DIY

    See All DIY
    How to Melt and Reuse the Leftover Wax from Candles

    How to Melt and Reuse the Leftover Wax from Candles

    Our easy melt-and-pour method saves the last bit of this home essential.
    • Dyeing
    • Holiday Crafts
    • Kids' Crafts
    • Knitting
    • Paper Crafts
    • Sewing
    • Rescue & Revamp
  • BEAUTY & WELLNESS

    BEAUTY & WELLNESS

    Can Rice Water Really Encourage Hair Growth?

    Can Rice Water Really Encourage Hair Growth?

    This buzzy ingredient is a star player in many new-age hair care products.
    • Beauty
    • Health & Wellness
    • Live Well
  • LIFE

    LIFE

    See All LIFE
    • Family
    • Pets
    • Travel
    • Net Worth
  • NEWS
  • MARTHA'S BLOG
  • About Us

Profile Menu

Martha's Blog
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Contact Us
  • Your Content
  • Logout

More

  • Enter to Win $10,000 to Makeover Your Home!
  • Martha's Blog
  • Weddings
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. marthastewart.com
  2. Weddings
  3. Real Weddings
  4. Wedding Styles
  5. Seasonal Weddings
  6. Fall Weddings
  7. This Couple Celebrated Their California Wedding Surrounded by Some of the World's Most Famous Sculptures
Martha Stewart Weddings

This Couple Celebrated Their California Wedding Surrounded by Some of the World's Most Famous Sculptures

julie-vadnal-0414.jpg
By Julie Vadnal February 12, 2020
Skip gallery slides
Pin
wedding couple holding hands outside museum
Credit: Janine Licare

The artful affair took place at San Francisco's Legion of Honor, which boasts beautiful Grecian Columns, domed ceilings, and a collection of Rodin's pieces.

Start Slideshow

1 of 21

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message
wedding couple holding hands outside museum
Credit: Janine Licare

San Francisco-based couple Jessie and Qi planned their entire wedding in just two-and-a-half months—but even if they'd had years, they couldn't have predicted the 35-mile-per-hour winds that would sweep through the city on their September 28, 2019, big day—which just so happened to be one of the windiest of the year.

Even with the tricky weather working against them, the pair, who met in 2017 at their company's Chinese New Year party, pulled off the celebration of their dreams. They were surrounded by 60 of their nearest and dearest at the Legion of Honor—which boasts the Rodin Gallery—in San Francisco when they tied the knot. "We picked the museum because we wanted to have a wedding theme that matched the venue's style: elegant, vintage, artistic," Jessie explains.

In conjunction with their planner, Lovely Time Weddings, the couple played up the event's seasonality with an autumnal palette of burnt orange, navy, and ginger; plenty of art-inspired details, from the bronze lettering on the invitations and Dutch-still-life-inspired floral arrangements to the menu cards in the shape of Rodin's "The Thinker," connected the event's décor to the venue. (Their reception actually unfolded inside the Rodin Galleries at the museum.)

And as it turned out, the wind even had an unexpected positive effect: When it came time for Jessie and her father to walk down the aisle during the non-religious outdoor ceremony, the breeze swept through her organza skirt, creating a romantic swish as she walked. And—true to the theme and place—what came to follow really was a work of art.

1 of 21

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 21

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Left My Heart in San Francisco

orange blue ginger autumn invitation suite
Credit: Janine Licare

The couple's romantic Sweet Wedding Thing Paper stationery suite introduced the palette for the autumnal celebration: orange, blue, and ginger. A sketch of the museum appeared on the invitation, which was printed in bronze and topped with an acrylic card. Dutch still-life artwork inspired the floral envelope liner and kept the museum theme front and center.

  • Fall Wedding Invitations We Love

2 of 21

3 of 21

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

A Sculptural Space

san francisco museum sculpture space venue
Credit: Janine Licare

While venue shopping, the couple looked at hotels, vineyards, private estates, and gardens in Big Sur, Carmel, and Berkeley before settling on the stately The Legion in Honor—in the heart of the city where they live, San Francisco. "We were immediately drawn to the breathtaking view of the Golden Gate Bridge from the lawn and the fascinating art pieces inside the museum," Jessie says. "We were even more thrilled when the museum coordinators told us we could have our reception inside the gallery, surrounded by Rodin's sculptures."

  • What You Need to Consider If You're Planning a Museum Wedding

3 of 21

Advertisement

4 of 21

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

A Fashion Find

bride lace and organza wedding dress autumn bouquet
Credit: Janine Licare

Jessie's Yumi Katsura lace and organza wedding dress was actually a sample, so she was surprised that it was in such pristine condition. It fit perfectly, and she immediately knew it was the one.

4 of 21

5 of 21

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Orange Theories

bride ceremony bouquet orange accent
Credit: Janine Licare

For her walk down the aisle, Jessie held an autumnal collection of dahlias, heirloom garden roses, Wabara spray garden roses, ranunculus, freesia, and abelia. Hawthorn Flower Studio added blooming clematis vine for a soft accent.

  • Gorgeous Fall Wedding Bouquets

5 of 21

6 of 21

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

All Dressed Up

groom midnight blue tux black satin lapels
Credit: Janine Licare

Qi wore a midnight blue tuxedo with black satin lapels from The Black Tux for the occasion.

6 of 21

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 21

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Sugar and Spice

bride posing with bridesmaids cinnamon rose dresses
Credit: Janine Licare

Bridesmaids donned three different Jenny Yoo dress styles in the same color—Cinnamon Rose—and clutched small bouquets of periwinkle blue muscari, red butterfly ranunculus, dahlias, heirloom garden roses, Wabara spray garden roses, ranunculus, freesia, spray clematis, and abelia.

7 of 21

8 of 21

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

VIP Seating

wedding ceremony aisle dahlias maple leaves abelia roses zinnias
Credit: Janine Licare

Groupings of dahlias, maple leaves, abelia, roses, and zinnias defined the ceremony aisle.

  • Altar and Aisle Decorations We Love

8 of 21

9 of 21

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Grounding Exercise

wedding ceremony outdoor space mountain view
Credit: Janine Licare

The original plan for the ceremony space's design involved displaying the altar's floral arrangements on pedestals, but the day's strong winds grounded them. "Luckily the arrangements were extremely large, so the impact of the florals wasn't diminished at all," Jessie explains.

  • How to Wind-Proof Your Wedding Look

9 of 21

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 21

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

The Words That Bind

blue vintage-inspired vow books deckled edges
Credit: Janine Licare

During the non-religious ceremony, Jessie and Qi exchanged self-penned promises penned in vintage-inspired vow books with deckled edges.

  • Wedding Vow Books You'll Cherish Forever

10 of 21

11 of 21

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Making an Entrance

outdoor wedding ceremony processional father walking with bride
Credit: Janine Licare

No amount of wind could stop Jessie's father from walking her down the aisle; their journey to the altar was accompanied by a harpist and cellist, who played a version of Camille Saint-Saëns' "Swan" during the processional.

11 of 21

12 of 21

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Love Language

bride groom wedding ceremony vows outdoors
Credit: Janine Licare

A ceremony highlight? Both Jessie and Qui recited a poem to each other in their mother tongue, Chinese.

12 of 21

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 21

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Picture Perfect

During the first half of the cocktail hour, the pair snuck off to pose for portraits. Meanwhile, guests noshed on Vietnamese chicken meatballs, five-spice duck, poke, and Thai dungeness crab cakes.

13 of 21

14 of 21

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Art-y Party

reception art theme decor tiny busts framed phrases
Credit: Janine Licare

Tiny busts and framed phrases (such as "You Will Forever Be My Always") played up the art theme during the reception.

  • Art-Inspired Wedding Ideas for Creative Couples

14 of 21

15 of 21

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Museum-Worthy Display

wedding reception tables blue-velvet table cloth
Credit: Janine Licare

Guests dined in the Rodin Galleries, surrounded by some of the artist's most famous sculptures. Each tablescape—featuring crushed blue velvet linens, apricot-colored candles, and more flowers—was a work of art in its own right.

15 of 21

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 21

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

A Well-Thought Out Plan

wedding reception table setting onyx gold flatware
Credit: Janine Licare

The night's menu—a choice of cod, New York strip steak, or chickpea panisse—was printed on a card printed in the shape of Rodin's "The Thinker." Onyx and gold flatware rounded out each setting's look.

16 of 21

17 of 21

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Let the Music Play

wedding couple reception dance museum hall
Credit: Janine Licare

Jessie and Qi took to the dance floor to "Yellow" by Katherine Ho. "We loved this song after we watched the movie Crazy Rich Asians," Jessie says. "The lyrics in Chinese were fantastic!"

17 of 21

18 of 21

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

A Delicious Display

bride groom cutting blue two-tier wedding cake
Credit: Janine Licare

The bright blue two-tier dessert—a Cake Coquette confection made with citrus buttermilk cake, citrus cream filling, and lemon curd—stood out against an impressive floral arrangement.

  • Pastel Wedding Cakes You Have to See

18 of 21

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 21

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Sculptural Details

Embedded into the cake display was a series of multi-sized busts—offering yet another connective moment to the event's locale and theme.

19 of 21

20 of 21

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Costume Change

happy wedding couple stand smiling reception
Credit: Janine Licare

Half-way through the reception, Jessie slipped into a long-sleeve dress by Needle and Thread—just before the DJ played a video that Qi made, which told of the couple's love story.

  • Reception Dresses Brides Changed Into for Their Parties

20 of 21

21 of 21

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Sources

wedding couple kiss near museum pillars
Credit: Janine Licare

Photography, Janine Licare
Venue, Legion of Honor
Event Planning, Lovely Time
Catering, Grace Street
Flowers, Hawthorn Flower Studio
Videography, Apollo Fotographie
Officiant, Larry Wilkerson
Stationery, Sweetweddingthing Paper
Cake, Cake Coquette
Music, Anna-Maria Mendieta (ceremony); DeeJayPros (reception)
Rentals, Standard Party Rentals; La Tavola
Bride's Gown, Yumi Katsura (ceremony); Needle and Thread (reception)
Bride's Accessories, David's Bridal veil; Salvatore Ferragamo shoes
Hair and Makeup, Alice Tang
Bridesmaids' Dresses, Jenny Yoo
Menswear, The Black Tux
Lighting, Verducci Event Productions

21 of 21

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Julie Vadnal

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    `
    Martha Stewart Weddings
    View All
    • In Addition to Duke and Duchess, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Will Hold Other Royal Titles for Life
    • The 20 Best Dresses to Wear as a Wedding Guest This Summer
    • Ariana Grande Inspired These Grooms' Black-Tie Wedding in the Pacific Palisades
    • 10 Items You Need to Pack in Your Wedding Dress Emergency Kit
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 21
    2 of 21 Left My Heart in San Francisco
    3 of 21 A Sculptural Space
    4 of 21 A Fashion Find
    5 of 21 Orange Theories
    6 of 21 All Dressed Up
    7 of 21 Sugar and Spice
    8 of 21 VIP Seating
    9 of 21 Grounding Exercise
    10 of 21 The Words That Bind
    11 of 21 Making an Entrance
    12 of 21 Love Language
    13 of 21 Picture Perfect
    14 of 21 Art-y Party
    15 of 21 Museum-Worthy Display
    16 of 21 A Well-Thought Out Plan
    17 of 21 Let the Music Play
    18 of 21 A Delicious Display
    19 of 21 Sculptural Details
    20 of 21 Costume Change
    21 of 21 Sources

    Share & More

    Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message
    Martha Stewart

    Learn More

    • Contact Us
    • Customer Service
    • Media Kit
    • Martha's Blog
    • Advertise
    • Content Licensing
    • FAQ
    • Corporate
    • International
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    Sign Up
    MeredithMartha Stewart is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2022 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright Martha Stewart. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.marthastewart.com

    Sign in

    View image

    This Couple Celebrated Their California Wedding Surrounded by Some of the World's Most Famous Sculptures
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.