Art Meets Science: A Terra Gallery Wedding in San Francisco

People always wonder, how do you make a wedding unique?

And my simple answer is, design for the couple.

The couple is always what makes a wedding unique. It’s also what makes it special and personal and meaningful. All super important things when it comes to wedding design.

When you design with the couple in mind it’s not just what would be cool, but what would be cool for THEM.

And that makes all the difference.

So, when I started designing for A+J (names and faces won’t be shared for privacy purposes), it all started with them.

They were scientists and science was a big part of their lives. They were proudly geeky and that was something I had to include in their wedding.

But, they were also big foodies. They appreciated food and loved to cook (and were really good at it).

They enjoyed the outdoors and they loved museums.

And they were also big SF Bay Area lovers. They enjoyed everything from the culture to the climate. And they were always supporting local artisans, businesses and farmers.

So, I wanted to work with all these elements. But, one of the key pieces to a design is the space.

Design always has to fit within (and with) the space. And the space also has to work with the design.

It’s why choosing your wedding venue is so important.

Because it’s the backdrop for everything.

It’s the space where you bring in all your personality and love and design.

And your venue and your design help mold each other.

A+J’s unique San Francisco wedding took place in an urban space, Terra Gallery. The Terra Gallery wedding venue is industrial, has art hanging on the walls and is two stories. It’s really fun!

So, when I designed this Terra Gallery wedding, I ended up designing in waves. I wanted to take guests on a journey, and experience. Where every time they entered a room, it felt different.

We started with the guest entry where guests entered “wonderland”, a bright and colorful space. They could drop their coats, grab a glass of champagne and take photobooth photos which were turned into pins guests could wear.

So right from the beginning, even though the wedding was formal, it was also playful and fun.

Then guests headed upstairs to a space with glass windows, which we turned into the “conservatory”.

The Terra Gallery wedding venue is wonderfully urban, but we wanted to bring some nature in. So, potted plants lined the walls and the aisles.

The ceremony chuppah was the focal point as the wedding party and families participated in their interfaith wedding.

After the ceremony, guests headed back downstairs to what was now, the “laboratory”. So we changed the lighting and in turn, the mood.

This is where we had some fun not only with decor, but the food and drinks. There were playful edible art appetizers, a make your own caviar station, locally made cheeses and cocktails with local shrubs.

The tables were decorated with floral specimens in bell jars. And for seating cards, we used beakers filled with moss and flowers.

After cocktail hour, guests headed upstairs to the “art gallery”. Terry Gallery’s art surrounded guests while floating flowers hung from above in test tubes and sunken succulent gardens decorated tables.

Tables were named after an array of seemingly random numbers, but were actually fun facts about the couple. Colorful handmade glass votives added even more fun to the tables.

Guests then sat and enjoyed a beautiful egg amuse bouche. After the amuse bouche came a fun family style meal by a local chef.

After the meal, the couple’s band friends played a surprise tribute, which was really fun and meaningful.

The band then lead guests downstairs to dancing and dessert in the “lounge”.

On one side was a display of the couple’s favorite local desserts along with their favorite teas. Comfy couches were out for guests to sit, relax and talk.

On the other side, the dance lounge was decked out with a geometric patterned dance floor. And then the real band took over for a night of high spirited dancing.

Later in the evening, two of the couple’s favorite food trucks pulled up for some late night baos and tacos. Guests ate, drank and were merry all the way to the end where they sang one last song, gathered in a group hug.

I love it when design and a venue work well together to create magic! It makes each wedding unique.

Because it’s special to the couple.

And that means it’s one of a kind!

And who doesn’t want a one of a kind wedding?

Need some help to create your one of a kind wedding? Contact us today!

Many thanks to the team that helped to make it possible:

• Wedding planner and designer: Yours Truly!
• Venue: Terra Gallery
• Appetizer, Amuse Bouche and Service: Taste Catering
• Dinner Catering: Kronner Burger
• Photographer: Bustle and Twine
• MME Personal Photographer: Milou and Olin
• String Quartet: Golden Gate Strings
• DJ: Denon and Doyle
• Band: 415s
• Florist: Flora Grubb
• Rentals: Bright Event Rentals
• Lighting: Got Light
• Photobooth: Giggle and Riot
• Hair and Makeup: Camille Goldston
• Food Truck: Chairman Bao
• Food Truck: Rocko’s Ice Cream Tacos
• Drinks: Mills Wine Group
• Video: Elegant Events Media
• Stationery: Designs des Troy
• Candles: Glassybaby
• Desserts: B. Patisserie, Miette, Benkyodo, Donnelly Chocolates, Mr. Holmes Bakehouse