Marina & Walter | San Francisco Wedding Photography
It is not every day that of Scorsese’s Goodfellas, or a nightclub called Bimbo’s gets mentioned in the context of a wedding, but then again this couple is no ordinary couple. She is a professional flamenco dancer, and he is a sixth generation San Franciscan whose family is basically Bay Area royalty. They fell madly in love in college, but then they broke up for over a decade, a period that their friends can now jokingly refer to as “the dark period.” Life found a way, through all its twists and turns, to reunite them, and only a beautiful and grand celebration could do their union justice.
Marina and Walter chose classic San Francisco locations for their wedding day. Sts Peter and Paul Church in North Beach is the iconic setting where Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe were photographed on their wedding day, and the Catholic ceremony by an Italian priest was a nod to the bride’s heritage. And of course Bimbo’s 365 is a legendary San Francisco nightclub and the perfect setting for that cinematic Goodfellas vibe.
Marina got ready at the Westin St. Francis overlooking Union Square.
Such a beautiful bride.
Meanwhile, Walter and his groomsmen got ready at his home.
Together, on the church steps.
It was a bit of a rainy day outside, but inside it was all warmth, laughter, and the closeness of friends and family.
The surprise and delight of being married!
After the ceremony, we continued up to Bimbo’s 365 for the cocktail hour and reception.
They’re on the marquee!
After a welcome speech from the groom’s father and the bride’s aunt, the groom had a speech of his own, much to the bride’s surprise.
And it was an incredibly sweet speech, all about how Walter has always loved Marina; she has been his fire and he has always loved fire, since long before they even met.
In fact, all of the speeches were wonderful, funny, and heartfelt.
It’s been a while since I’ve seen an actual cake smash too.
Then it was time for a flamenco guitar performance!
And celebration and dancing through the rest of the night.
With a little ring photo as a tribute to that ‘fire’ speech, taken in front of the fireplace at Bimbo’s.
Congratulations, Marina & Walter!
Wedding Vendors
Photography: Anna Wu Photography
Ceremony Venue: Saints Peter and Paul Church, San Francisco
Reception Venue: Bimbo’s 365, San Francsico
Hair & Makeup: D+A Bridal
Florist: Kathleen Deery
Catering: Paula LeDuc
Musicians: The Half Moons, Dart Collective
Cake: Studio Cake
Anna Wu is a wedding and portrait photographer based in San Francisco, California. She combines a “fine art” aesthetic with a photojournalistic approach to beautifully capture the moments of a wedding day. Follow her daily adventures on instagram and view more of her work at annawu.com.
