I had the honor of photographing the wedding of Rachael and Chad and with guests traveling to their celebration from all over the world, it was clear how extraordinary and loved the two of them are.
Like many great love stories of our time, Rachael and Chad’s partnership began through an online dating app called The League. Nearly two years to the day from their first date, Chad proposed to Rachael in the master bedroom of their future home. Rachael was surprised since they had not done any ring shopping nor had Chad ever asked her for her ring size but like their love, the ring was a perfect fit.
Fast forward to my first conversation with Rachael and Chad, I knew the two of them were going to throw an incredible wedding. They had a vision for an event that would be traditional, classy and elegant, but also fun and lively. They chose venues that they had personal ties to. With Rachael working at Stanford University, they chose to have their ceremony at the breathtaking Stanford Memorial Church and then chose to have their reception separately at the Olympic Club in San Francisco, where Chad is a member.
The Stanford Memorial Church stands as a testament to both architectural beauty and spiritual significance. The chapel’s magnificent stained glass windows, towering arches, and intricate details created an atmosphere of serenity and romance, just as Rachael and Chad were looking for. Guests traveled from near and far to witness the union of the two. The eclectic group included friends from Trinidad & Tobago, Italy, China, Czech Republic, Turkey, India, Bulgaria, Lebanon, Ireland, and Colombia (to name a few) and ranged in age from 4 months to 80 years old! Photographing this beautiful ceremony was a pleasure and seeing everyone who turned out to support Rachael and Chad was a true testament to how special the two of them are.
After the ceremony concluded, the celebration moved up the peninsula to the Olympic Club. Located in San Francisco, the Olympic Club is a historic and prestigious private athletic club that exudes timeless charm with its unparalleled views, stunning ballroom, exquisite architecture, and impeccable service. Rachael and Chad’s reception effortlessly blended luxury and sophistication and was also filled with many memorable moments. A special moment to highlight was a beautiful mother/son dance that Rachael shared with her son. The two of them showed off their exceptional dance skills and it really was a dance to remember! Additionally, Chad is half Irish and he donned his family tartan kilt at the end of the reception, which he’s had for many years. This was another unique and fun moment that I really enjoyed photographing for the two of them.
The entire evening went off without a hitch thanks to Rachael and Chad’s wonderful coordinator, Tiffany of Tiffany Kay Events by Design, and the talented team of vendors that she assembled, highlighted below. As a vendor myself, Tiffany was wonderful to work with and I had to give her a special shout out in this blog!
Wedding Planning/Coordination/Cake Decoration: Tiffany Kay Events by Design
Ceremony Location: Stanford Memorial Church
Reception Venue: The Olympic Club
Photography: OSA Fotography (The A-Team: Dino, Nicole and Christian)
Florist: Nona Tai (@nonatai)
Cake: Copenhagen Bakery
Hair & Makeup: Melanie Asilo (@melanieasilobeauty)
DJ/MC/Lighting: Verducci Event Productions & DJ Billy Vidal (@djbillyvidal)
Rentals: Abbey Party Rents
Rachael and Chad’s wedding truly achieved all they had hoped for, an evening of elegance and charm, and venues that created enchanting ambiance for celebrating their love. They both agreed that the highlight of their wedding was having so many of their closest friends and family together, and it truly was a magical evening that I was thrilled to be a part of.
