Kavya & Neil
San Francisco City Hall finally reopened for wedding ceremonies on June 7 2021. The first day I had the session I remember walking in, looking around relatively empty City Hall and realizing how truly majestic the building is. I noticed the details I didn’t see before. I just stood there on the 1st floor by the Grand Stairwell taking it all in before finding my couple. I realized (yet again) why couples want to get married here. Why I wanted to have my ceremony here several years ago. Why I love taking photos for her. Looks, in reality the City Hall has stood here for over 100 years and withstood lots of changes and natural disasters, including major 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. Maybe there’s some hidden metaphor that draws couples to tie the knot here. Probably it’s not what they are thinking but it’s definitely poetic if you think about it.
San Francisco City Hall has ‘seen’ so many events and people over the years. And when you think about it there’s so much human history reflected here that adds to its magnificence and importance.
I feel truly honored to be able to capture a very small part of the history when it comes to the City Hall, but a very large part of history when it comes to the couples that get married here and their families. Let’s face it… unless you’re Larry King (side note - he got married 8 times) you want to have 1 marriage to the person you truly want to spend your life with. So this moment when you say your vows, do ring exchanges and the officiant says the key words “by the authority vested in me…” is a really big deal in your life.
It’s a privilege to be able to tell these stories in the images.
