Mrs. Taco, San FranciscoAge and Occupation: 29, writer/editorFiance's Age and Occupation: 37, editorEngagement Date: May 13, 2009Wedding Date: August 2010Venue: The Green Room at the War Memorial Veterans BuildingAbout Me: I like laughing and talking with good friends over good food and good drink, be it wine, cocktail, or brew. I write and edit things for fun and profit, but I rarely "write" these days without a keyboard and high-speed internets. Favorites include Mr. Taco, my Boston terrier, San Francisco, getting out of town, and the Roaring ’20s. I was kind-of planning a wedding since roughly 2006, when I discovered "Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?" on the WE channel. I ran and didn't look back with a theme I called "urban vintage," and it culminated in the most magical day a taco could ask for.
I got married in August 2010 in San Francisco. In the time since “I Do,” I turned 30, grew my website (thanks, wacky SF public-transit), and celebrated a year of wedded bliss by overspending in Napa Valley. Sixteen months later, my dirty wedding dress is still hanging on a door in our apartment.
After not looking at our wedding photos for a bit, I couldn’t wait to see what the randomizer came up with.
Yeah, I dunno about this one. Excited face, for me, translates to either “mouth open” or “scrunchy face.” I do love bubbly, toasting, and that fella right there, so there is that.
Mrs. Taco, San FranciscoAge and Occupation: 29, writer/editorFiance's Age and Occupation: 37, editorEngagement Date: May 13, 2009Wedding Date: August 2010Venue: The Green Room at the War Memorial Veterans BuildingAbout Me: I like laughing and talking with good friends over good food and good drink, be it wine, cocktail, or brew. I write and edit things for fun and profit, but I rarely "write" these days without a keyboard and high-speed internets. Favorites include Mr. Taco, my Boston terrier, San Francisco, getting out of town, and the Roaring ’20s. I was kind-of planning a wedding since roughly 2006, when I discovered "Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?" on the WE channel. I ran and didn't look back with a theme I called "urban vintage," and it culminated in the most magical day a taco could ask for.
Note: We touched down in Athens, spent an evening/night there, then left early the next morning to go to Santorini. We came back to Athens for another few days after we returned from the island, so I’m consolidating the whole city experience into one post.
Athens is large — at more than 3-million residents — and dense. It’s fairly gritty and urban, which reminded me of a lot of my favorite cities, including the one I live in. It didn’t seem to have many new buildings — built or in progress — or structures. The Greek economy fell apart in 2010, so these things are surely connected. Even as a tourist in the center of town, it was fairly obvious.
Mrs. Taco, San FranciscoAge and Occupation: 29, writer/editorFiance's Age and Occupation: 37, editorEngagement Date: May 13, 2009Wedding Date: August 2010Venue: The Green Room at the War Memorial Veterans BuildingAbout Me: I like laughing and talking with good friends over good food and good drink, be it wine, cocktail, or brew. I write and edit things for fun and profit, but I rarely "write" these days without a keyboard and high-speed internets. Favorites include Mr. Taco, my Boston terrier, San Francisco, getting out of town, and the Roaring ’20s. I was kind-of planning a wedding since roughly 2006, when I discovered "Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?" on the WE channel. I ran and didn't look back with a theme I called "urban vintage," and it culminated in the most magical day a taco could ask for.
We wandered north from Tuscany to visit Venice for roughly 24 hours. Though we spent the least amount of time in this city, it deserves its own post because it’s one of the strangest places I’ve ever been.
The two-hour train ride from Florence reminded me a lot of the Central Valley in California. Much of the country reminded me of the Golden State, due to acres of cultivated agriculture and vine-dotted rolling hills between major cities. Venice’s well-documented, high-quality foodstuffs makes perfect sense, knowing that this stuff surrounds it.
The (Italian!) leather-bound journal with our names and wedding date was a wedding present. We wrote in it every day, especially when we were in transit, taking notes in a museum, or annoyed. All personal photos.
A native Florentine working at one of the wineries (more on those here) made a couple funny statements about Venice that now seem spot-on: Read more…
Mrs. Taco, San FranciscoAge and Occupation: 29, writer/editorFiance's Age and Occupation: 37, editorEngagement Date: May 13, 2009Wedding Date: August 2010Venue: The Green Room at the War Memorial Veterans BuildingAbout Me: I like laughing and talking with good friends over good food and good drink, be it wine, cocktail, or brew. I write and edit things for fun and profit, but I rarely "write" these days without a keyboard and high-speed internets. Favorites include Mr. Taco, my Boston terrier, San Francisco, getting out of town, and the Roaring ’20s. I was kind-of planning a wedding since roughly 2006, when I discovered "Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?" on the WE channel. I ran and didn't look back with a theme I called "urban vintage," and it culminated in the most magical day a taco could ask for.
What better activity after your huge sigh of relief post-wedding?
In September 2010, three weeks after I-Do, we went to Italy, Greece, and Egypt for a three-week honeymoon. We talked about this honeymoon option even before we got engaged, getting a kick out of the ancient-history angle, so I’m pumped we could make it happen. Thanks to our guests, the good people at Honeyfund, and some hoarded vacation time, we were on our way.
Let’s start with the first leg of the trip in Northern Italy: Florence and wine-tasting in Tuscany.
Mrs. Taco, San FranciscoAge and Occupation: 29, writer/editorFiance's Age and Occupation: 37, editorEngagement Date: May 13, 2009Wedding Date: August 2010Venue: The Green Room at the War Memorial Veterans BuildingAbout Me: I like laughing and talking with good friends over good food and good drink, be it wine, cocktail, or brew. I write and edit things for fun and profit, but I rarely "write" these days without a keyboard and high-speed internets. Favorites include Mr. Taco, my Boston terrier, San Francisco, getting out of town, and the Roaring ’20s. I was kind-of planning a wedding since roughly 2006, when I discovered "Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?" on the WE channel. I ran and didn't look back with a theme I called "urban vintage," and it culminated in the most magical day a taco could ask for.
How a girl who loves San Francisco, eating out, and photo booths became a taco (tee hee).
It’s a bag that holds my makeup. Well-considered birthday present from my friend Sonia. I also got a new hat recently, which has nothing to do with tacos.
How did I find Weddingbee?
I had cursory knowledge of Weddingbee in mid-2009, around when I got engaged. But once I could start planning a wedding in earnest, I visited wedding blogs, including this one, more regularly for tips. I loved seeing people’s inspirations unfold, and I enjoyed the spunk these buzzing blogger bees had about their weddings. People have weddings every day, BFD, right? But there was something different about these ladies, and I appreciated their thought, planning, and sense of ownership over something this personal. And the ratio of supportive/productive comments to trolls is astounding.
Mrs. Taco, San FranciscoAge and Occupation: 29, writer/editorFiance's Age and Occupation: 37, editorEngagement Date: May 13, 2009Wedding Date: August 2010Venue: The Green Room at the War Memorial Veterans BuildingAbout Me: I like laughing and talking with good friends over good food and good drink, be it wine, cocktail, or brew. I write and edit things for fun and profit, but I rarely "write" these days without a keyboard and high-speed internets. Favorites include Mr. Taco, my Boston terrier, San Francisco, getting out of town, and the Roaring ’20s. I was kind-of planning a wedding since roughly 2006, when I discovered "Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?" on the WE channel. I ran and didn't look back with a theme I called "urban vintage," and it culminated in the most magical day a taco could ask for.
We all show up on the blog as wedding planners and brides (once and current), so let’s get to the rest of me in six bullet points or less.
While we’re getting all personal: Today is our four-year dating anniversary (we think) and two-year engagement-versary (sure about this one). In 2008, he got me a pink rose plant (“Love Plant”) that still lives in our garden. In 2009, he got me an engagement ring and asked me to marry him. In 2010, in the thick of our wedding prep, we loosened the clamp on our wedding savings and splurged on a French dinner. At work, he got me a smaller Love Plant 2 from Trader Joe’s. Today, we’re splurging on another dinner and being thankful for where we are today, together. Lots of love, Mister <3.
I am Filipino and Indian.
People often ask about this one. My mom is from Quezon City in the metro Manila area, and my dad is from Guyana in South America. His grandparents immigrated from India to Guyana.
Bummed they don’t dress like this anymore. After going back and forth for a while, I think I settled into looking like both of them (Personal pic circa 1980).
Mrs. Taco, San FranciscoAge and Occupation: 29, writer/editorFiance's Age and Occupation: 37, editorEngagement Date: May 13, 2009Wedding Date: August 2010Venue: The Green Room at the War Memorial Veterans BuildingAbout Me: I like laughing and talking with good friends over good food and good drink, be it wine, cocktail, or brew. I write and edit things for fun and profit, but I rarely "write" these days without a keyboard and high-speed internets. Favorites include Mr. Taco, my Boston terrier, San Francisco, getting out of town, and the Roaring ’20s. I was kind-of planning a wedding since roughly 2006, when I discovered "Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?" on the WE channel. I ran and didn't look back with a theme I called "urban vintage," and it culminated in the most magical day a taco could ask for.
There’s a lot that goes into a wedding. And then, there’s a lot that comes out of it. You know what I’m talking about: the stuff in the wedding binder and everything you fretted over, lovingly crafted, or stored awkwardly in closets and corners until go time. What do you keep, how do you decide, and where does it go?
So come play in my neurosis, as I try holding on to meaningful things, yet stay off the hoarders show.
Personal pic
So, a lot of mine is right here on the floor. I thought it would be nice to keep wedding things together, but only if it wasn’t too “Welcome to my home, THIS IS THE WEDDING STUFF.”
Speaking of hoarders, my advice is to recycle all of your contracts and receipts. I could not trash that stuff soon enough and it felt so good.
Mrs. Taco, San FranciscoAge and Occupation: 29, writer/editorFiance's Age and Occupation: 37, editorEngagement Date: May 13, 2009Wedding Date: August 2010Venue: The Green Room at the War Memorial Veterans BuildingAbout Me: I like laughing and talking with good friends over good food and good drink, be it wine, cocktail, or brew. I write and edit things for fun and profit, but I rarely "write" these days without a keyboard and high-speed internets. Favorites include Mr. Taco, my Boston terrier, San Francisco, getting out of town, and the Roaring ’20s. I was kind-of planning a wedding since roughly 2006, when I discovered "Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?" on the WE channel. I ran and didn't look back with a theme I called "urban vintage," and it culminated in the most magical day a taco could ask for.
I wasn’t sure I wanted to write a budget recap for a few reasons. I wondered if it wasn’t that helpful—like it would only placate gawkers—and I worried people would crash my party of good intentions with barrels of haterade.
But I got over it, for a few other reasons. We don’t all wear a white dress, have flowers, booze, a sit-down reception, or a bridal party. But everyone who has a wedding has a budget. However large or small your shindig, it is impossible to budget and prioritize if you don’t know what things cost. Especially in the spendy Yay Area.
First off:
Our budget was $30K on the high end at the start of planning. We spent in the neighborhood of $37K - and had ~160 guests - once all was said and done.
An SFGate blog post indicated the average San Francisco wedding was $45K.
My MIL/FIL contributed 4 percent; Mr. T and I paid for the rest.
This does not include: rehearsal dinner/drinks, next day brunch—both of which were paid for by my MIL/FIL—honeymoon expenses, or my engagement ring.
These are good ballparks, not exact figures.
I did not account for a few craft expenses, or taking friendors out for a casual dinner/drinks while we talked details.
Mrs. Taco, San FranciscoAge and Occupation: 29, writer/editorFiance's Age and Occupation: 37, editorEngagement Date: May 13, 2009Wedding Date: August 2010Venue: The Green Room at the War Memorial Veterans BuildingAbout Me: I like laughing and talking with good friends over good food and good drink, be it wine, cocktail, or brew. I write and edit things for fun and profit, but I rarely "write" these days without a keyboard and high-speed internets. Favorites include Mr. Taco, my Boston terrier, San Francisco, getting out of town, and the Roaring ’20s. I was kind-of planning a wedding since roughly 2006, when I discovered "Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?" on the WE channel. I ran and didn't look back with a theme I called "urban vintage," and it culminated in the most magical day a taco could ask for.
Part of our photography package—as it is with many—was a leather-bound album of our favorite photos. We sent our 50 pics roughly three months after our wedding day, which everyone tells me is really unusual. I had to; though completely intangible, the digital and mental clutter was driving me freakin’ bananas.
Not that it was easy to review more than 1,000 photos and pick the best 50. Ashley posted some of her own favorites on her blog, so we took some inspiration from her choices. But there was a lot of back and forth over what was album-worthy and why. Sometimes, the task was fuzzy-making and aww-inducing. Other times, it was more like the eye doctor (“Is 1 better or 2? 1? 2? Or are they the same? Definitely 2. NO WAIT, 1.”) In any case, it was awesome to complete and even awesomer to receive it in the mail.
Ashley used most of the pics we chose and, where appropriate for sizing and theme, arranged them into a beautiful 11-spread deal. She often deals with Kiss Wedding Books, and I can see why. They do great work and I love their website, their packaging, and their vibe.
Cute! It came in a sturdy canvas bag. Personal photos.
Mrs. Taco, San FranciscoAge and Occupation: 29, writer/editorFiance's Age and Occupation: 37, editorEngagement Date: May 13, 2009Wedding Date: August 2010Venue: The Green Room at the War Memorial Veterans BuildingAbout Me: I like laughing and talking with good friends over good food and good drink, be it wine, cocktail, or brew. I write and edit things for fun and profit, but I rarely "write" these days without a keyboard and high-speed internets. Favorites include Mr. Taco, my Boston terrier, San Francisco, getting out of town, and the Roaring ’20s. I was kind-of planning a wedding since roughly 2006, when I discovered "Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?" on the WE channel. I ran and didn't look back with a theme I called "urban vintage," and it culminated in the most magical day a taco could ask for.
On wedding day, I didn’t spend much time doing normal things like eating brunch—or eating, period—checking my phone, getting on transit, and walking up the stairs to our apartment. Today, I did. I woke up in a hotel suite two miles from home, then went about my day in a thrashed wedding dress (\m/) with people I see once a year, at most. Imagine if Cinderella hailed a cab or made plans while wearing broken-in glass slippers. It’s kind of like that. Read more…
Mrs. Taco, San FranciscoAge and Occupation: 29, writer/editorFiance's Age and Occupation: 37, editorEngagement Date: May 13, 2009Wedding Date: August 2010Venue: The Green Room at the War Memorial Veterans BuildingAbout Me: I like laughing and talking with good friends over good food and good drink, be it wine, cocktail, or brew. I write and edit things for fun and profit, but I rarely "write" these days without a keyboard and high-speed internets. Favorites include Mr. Taco, my Boston terrier, San Francisco, getting out of town, and the Roaring ’20s. I was kind-of planning a wedding since roughly 2006, when I discovered "Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?" on the WE channel. I ran and didn't look back with a theme I called "urban vintage," and it culminated in the most magical day a taco could ask for.
I know I said I’d talk about the day after, but this one’s worth addressing, as Mrs. Cola did after her own nuptials.
A few friends said at least three things go wrong, be them huge things or tiny things, and some wondered what mine were. Once-brides usually have rosy, teary memories of the big day and those leading up to it. Things that go very wrong (or even “wrong”) might then not seem worth the effort of remembering. But for anyone worried about your average set of uh-ohs, here’s how it shook out for us.
Mrs. Taco, San FranciscoAge and Occupation: 29, writer/editorFiance's Age and Occupation: 37, editorEngagement Date: May 13, 2009Wedding Date: August 2010Venue: The Green Room at the War Memorial Veterans BuildingAbout Me: I like laughing and talking with good friends over good food and good drink, be it wine, cocktail, or brew. I write and edit things for fun and profit, but I rarely "write" these days without a keyboard and high-speed internets. Favorites include Mr. Taco, my Boston terrier, San Francisco, getting out of town, and the Roaring ’20s. I was kind-of planning a wedding since roughly 2006, when I discovered "Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?" on the WE channel. I ran and didn't look back with a theme I called "urban vintage," and it culminated in the most magical day a taco could ask for.
I only have a handful of pictures of this whole time period, so I’m rolling with mostly words on this one, folks. I’ll try spinning this yarn with good ones, though. The post-wedding hours came with some fond, unforgettable memories, and I want to do them justice.
Some just-marrieds might prefer to be alone ASAP: to decompress, toget sexy, or to not socialize for the first time all day. But we were still in social mode, which tends to be our default.
A lot of friends stayed until the very end. Granted, that end was a reasonable 10:30-ish PM, but it still seems like a praiseworthy feat. These people have been drinking since 4 PM!
Mrs. Taco, San FranciscoAge and Occupation: 29, writer/editorFiance's Age and Occupation: 37, editorEngagement Date: May 13, 2009Wedding Date: August 2010Venue: The Green Room at the War Memorial Veterans BuildingAbout Me: I like laughing and talking with good friends over good food and good drink, be it wine, cocktail, or brew. I write and edit things for fun and profit, but I rarely "write" these days without a keyboard and high-speed internets. Favorites include Mr. Taco, my Boston terrier, San Francisco, getting out of town, and the Roaring ’20s. I was kind-of planning a wedding since roughly 2006, when I discovered "Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?" on the WE channel. I ran and didn't look back with a theme I called "urban vintage," and it culminated in the most magical day a taco could ask for.
Four months before the wedding, I wrote about the “post-planning, pre-wedding inspiration board” I created below. After a lot of the plans were set, we were in for some thumb-twiddling before seeing the real deal. So, I used my not-so-mad skills in Photoshop to mock it up.
Details on those board images are in the original post.
After it was over, I revisited the board to see how well it matched up. Pretty close! Take a gander at some little things from a big day.
Mrs. Taco, San FranciscoAge and Occupation: 29, writer/editorFiance's Age and Occupation: 37, editorEngagement Date: May 13, 2009Wedding Date: August 2010Venue: The Green Room at the War Memorial Veterans BuildingAbout Me: I like laughing and talking with good friends over good food and good drink, be it wine, cocktail, or brew. I write and edit things for fun and profit, but I rarely "write" these days without a keyboard and high-speed internets. Favorites include Mr. Taco, my Boston terrier, San Francisco, getting out of town, and the Roaring ’20s. I was kind-of planning a wedding since roughly 2006, when I discovered "Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?" on the WE channel. I ran and didn't look back with a theme I called "urban vintage," and it culminated in the most magical day a taco could ask for.
As with all parties with dancing, things got going the more people had to drink. A couple recaps ago, I fretted over how, when, where, why, and who would start the whole raging wedding dance floor. Rage it did, at some points more than others. Here’s some more of it, if only because there were so many great action shots and because these people rule. It makes my day to see them having a great time, especially fueled by liquid courage.
Mrs. Taco, San FranciscoAge and Occupation: 29, writer/editorFiance's Age and Occupation: 37, editorEngagement Date: May 13, 2009Wedding Date: August 2010Venue: The Green Room at the War Memorial Veterans BuildingAbout Me: I like laughing and talking with good friends over good food and good drink, be it wine, cocktail, or brew. I write and edit things for fun and profit, but I rarely "write" these days without a keyboard and high-speed internets. Favorites include Mr. Taco, my Boston terrier, San Francisco, getting out of town, and the Roaring ’20s. I was kind-of planning a wedding since roughly 2006, when I discovered "Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?" on the WE channel. I ran and didn't look back with a theme I called "urban vintage," and it culminated in the most magical day a taco could ask for.
Cheeseola header, no? Though it wouldn’t be a true San Francisco wedding without a shout to Journey.
Outside our venue on a stumble back to the hotel. Pic by Right Angle Images.
Like my pals in Journey, I love the city at night: quieted office buildings, people heading to dinner, pockets of smokers standing outside bars, and street folk asking for 36 cents; that guy hangs near my house and he’s always very exact. Concrete, bus-loads of people, randomly lit windows, and person-to-person unpredictability is as welcoming for me as it may be disconcerting for others. Read more…
Mrs. Taco, San FranciscoAge and Occupation: 29, writer/editorFiance's Age and Occupation: 37, editorEngagement Date: May 13, 2009Wedding Date: August 2010Venue: The Green Room at the War Memorial Veterans BuildingAbout Me: I like laughing and talking with good friends over good food and good drink, be it wine, cocktail, or brew. I write and edit things for fun and profit, but I rarely "write" these days without a keyboard and high-speed internets. Favorites include Mr. Taco, my Boston terrier, San Francisco, getting out of town, and the Roaring ’20s. I was kind-of planning a wedding since roughly 2006, when I discovered "Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?" on the WE channel. I ran and didn't look back with a theme I called "urban vintage," and it culminated in the most magical day a taco could ask for.
