A Family-Oriented, Refined San Francisco Wedding

June 02, 2014

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Mariane and Ian

Even though Seattle residents Mariane Escalona and Florian “Ian” Purganan had met briefly at a college leadership conference in 2009, Ian made a less-than-favorable second impression at a mutual friend’s birthday a few months later. Mariane, an online marketing associate, thought Ian, an immigration attorney, was a bit standoffish; in reality, he was too shy to buy her a drink. To break the ice, he had a friend do it instead.

But when the two went for sushi a week later, everything clicked. “We stayed out until 3 A.M., we were talking for so long,” Mariane recalls. Exactly two years after that first date, Ian was ready to propose during a fireworks show at Butchart Gardens in Victoria, British Columbia, an idea he got from an episode of Full House. (Editor’s note: We see why she loves him!) “What I didn’t realize was that we were close to the fireworks, and it was really loud,” he says. As a result, he ended up asking for Mariane’s hand later that night in another primetime-worthy setting: a bench inside the gardens. She happily agreed (“duuuuh” being her exact response, according to Ian), and they began planning a family-oriented celebration in San Francisco, where Mariane grew up.

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The Bridal Bouquet

The bride’s bouquet combined peach orchids and tulips with white hellebores.

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The Bridal Party

Before the ceremony, Mariane and her bridesmaids, all outfitted in Kirstie Kelly dresses, posed in Presidio Park.

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The Little Ones

Elizabeth Messina Photography

Mariane's three young attendants, who donned dresses by Kirstie Kelly, holding crepe-paper flowers from Courtney Cerruti before the ceremony.

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Ceremony Traditions

Elizabeth Messina Photography

On a sunny, blue-sky fall day in 2013, surrounded by 145 loved ones, they exchanged vows in a Catholic service that included Filipino traditions, such as the veil and cord ceremony, in which the kneeling couple is draped in a veil and joined by a cord, to symbolize their union.

“We had a very traditional Catholic service, but we were allowed to include a Pablo Neruda poem that’s special to us in place of one of the readings, which made the ceremony feel unique,” Mariane says.

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The Boutonnieres

Elizabeth Messina Photography

The groom and the fathers wore sprigs of white hellebores with accent greenery on their lapels.

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Flower Girl Power

Flower girls carried wands with streamers down the aisle.

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The Reception

For the reception, the group gathered at the Olympic Club, where guests sipped Flo-jitos (mango mojitos that nodded to Ian’s full name) and vodka Mari-tinis, while taking in the city views.

A long, rectangular king’s table, set for the wedding party, was topped with roses, pistachio berries, spider orchids, and hydrangeas.

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The Seating Display

Elizabeth Messina Photography

A centerpiece of roses, pistachio berries, hydrangeas, and spider orchids stood guard over the seating card display.

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Family Photos

The couple displayed family photos, like this one of Mariane’s grandmother, throughout the reception space.

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The Escort Cards

Elizabeth Messina Photography

Adding to the reception’s classic feel, Maybelle Imasa-Stukuls calligraphed alphabetized seating arrangements on individual cards.

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Lovely Lounge Areas

Elizabeth Messina Photography

To give the rooms of the Olympic Club a more personal touch, the couple brought in furniture from One True Love Vintage Rentals.

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Chair Details

Handmade ceramic signs from Susabella marked the newlyweds’ chairs.

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The Wedding Cake

Layers of vanilla, devil’s food, and hazelnut made up the two-tier cake.

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The Dancing

Elizabeth Messina Photography

After a dinner of salmon and short ribs, and the mother-son dance and father-daughter dance (to "In My Life" by the Beatles), Ian had a surprise for his bride. “My buddy had convinced me to sing at the wedding because I’m a big karaoke guy,” he says. “I didn’t want to ruin the whole experience, so I practiced beforehand and sang ‘Wonderful Tonight’ by Eric Clapton. Mariane was totally surprised.” It was one of the moments that made that night truly, well, wonderful.

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Sources

Ceremony Location: St. Ignatius Church
Reception Location and Catering: The Olympic Club
Event Planning: Stacy McCain Event Planning
Event Design and Flowers: Atelier Joya
Photography: Elizabeth Messina
Videography: Derek Edamura
Stationery: Chewing the Cud
Calligraphy: Maybelle Imasa-Stukuls
Cake: Cake Coquette
Music and Lighting: Denon & Doyle
Rentals: One True Love Vintage Rentals; Frances Lane; La Tavola Fine Linen
Hair and Makeup: Amanda Phelps Makeup
Bride’s Gown: Kirstie Kelly
Accessories: [veil] Veiled Beauty; [headpiece] January Rose Bridal; [jewelry] Nadri
Bridesmaids’ and Flower Girls’ Dresses: Kirstie Kelly
Groom’s Suit, Menswear, and Accessories: Black by Vera Wang
Transportation: Urban Limos
Crepe paper flowers: Courtney Cerruti
Handmade Ceramic Chairback Signs: Susabella

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