A Family-Oriented, Refined San Francisco Wedding

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

Flower girls carried wands with streamers down the aisle.

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.

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

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

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

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

Handmade ceramic signs from Susabella marked the newlyweds' chairs.

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

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.

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