
Planning a wedding? Here are the 20 most common regrets couples have about their big day – and how to avoid them. I compiled this list myself from years of stalking Reddit, wedding planning podcasts, Instagram, TikTok, and other online research, as well as learning directly from the 500+ weddings I’ve photographed. Don’t make these […]

San Francisco City Hall is a breathtaking architectural marvel that has become one of the most sought-after wedding venues in the Bay Area. Every year, thousands of couples choose to get married within its stunning marble halls, grand staircases, and ornate rotunda. But not all City Hall weddings are created equal! While civil ceremonies are […]

In this blog post and accompanying video, I hope to share with you everything you need to know about civil ceremonies at San Francisco City Hall. I’m a wedding photographer who’s photographed around 400 ceremonies, specifically within this building, so I’ve seen a thing or two about how it all works. If you prefer to […]

Here’s the thing about weddings: everyone’s got advice. Your mom insists you need a receiving line. Your best friend swears by their wedding planner. And don’t even get me started on what Pinterest thinks you should do. But after photographing hundreds of weddings, I’ve noticed something interesting. The most beautiful, memorable celebrations often ignore the […]

What’s our FAVORITE reception venue for a meal after your San Francisco City Hall ceremony? There’s nowhere better than the Wayfare Tavern! This cozy, old-world restaurant has long been a San Francisco staple, chosen by countless couples for their post-City Hall celebration meal. Think Barbary Coast-speakeasy-meets-British-pub. History rubs shoulders with modernism here, giving it a […]

I’m delighted to introduce to you my favorite hotels in San Francisco that are fit for your the night before (and after) your San Francisco City Hall wedding ceremony! These primarily 4- and 5-star hotels are ideal in terms of their location, amenities offered and high standard of excellence. Whether you live in the Bay […]

We’re diving into 34 of the best San Francisco wedding venues here on the Zoe Larkin Photography blog. Oh Lord, there are just SO many amazing wedding venues! In a city known for being dynamic, fun and innovative, is it any wonder that the places to get married in San Francisco are so varied and […]

Hey friends! Phew, I’ve been blogging like crazy for a minute, and I thought it would be fun (and a good idea) to create one centralized resource page with all of my favorite FREE blog posts for couples who are planning their weddings. Organization, yay! I’ve been blogging about wedding planning and wedding photography for […]

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! I also commend you on your excellent taste – you won’t regret choosing San Francisco City Hall as your wedding venue. This iconic building, with its exquisite Beaux-Arts architecture and remarkable history, serves as a breathtaking and photogenic backdrop for your special day. This article will introduce you give you […]

Wondering where to have your reception after your San Francisco City Hall wedding ceremony? In this article, I’ll guide you through my favorite restaurants in San Francisco that are perfect for hosting a wedding day meal of any size. The 36 awesome restaurants on my list all serve excellent food and will take great care […]

In this post I’m sharing the 36 best engagement photography locations in San Francisco. The places on this list are San Francisco spots that are amazing for wedding or engagement photos. What makes spots for couples photos any different from general cool photo spots? Well, for one thing, they each have a wide variety of […]
I couldn’t be more excited to showcase photos from this Riverfront Regional Park outdoor wedding ceremony! Cindy & Mike married there in November 2021 with a tiny group of around 20 adults and 3 children. They held their ceremony there and then went on to Paradise Ridge Winery for their reception (about a 25-minute drive […]

September 27, 2023

If you’re here, it means you’re looking for an engagement photographer in the San Francisco Bay Area! So, firstly, congratulations on your engagement! Such a fun time in your lives. Secondly, you’re in the right place! I don’t know what stage of the search you’re at. Perhaps you’re just dipping your toes into figuring out […]
September 20, 2023
Here at Zoe Larkin Photography, we LOVE a good backyard wedding! There are so many reasons that make this kind of celebration especially intimate, personal and meaningful. If you’ve been following for any length of time, you’ll know we’re interested in working alongside couples who infuse their values into their weddings. I believe that a […]

September 8, 2023

Nestled in the breathtaking Marin Headlands of San Francisco, Hawk Hill offers a stunning backdrop for couples seeking a Golden Gate Bridge elopement experience! As a wedding photographer, I’ve had the privilege of capturing a love story or two played out against this enchanting setting. In this blog post, I’m going to introduce you to […]
August 31, 2023
Foreign Cinema is a bona fide San Francisco dining institution. Nestled in the vibrant heart of the Mission District, it is the epitome of effortless cool. It’s absolutely a unique and memorable venue if you’re looking for a restaurant wedding venue. You can tie the knot surrounded by enchanting ambiance, artistic flair, and world-class cuisine […]

August 24, 2023

This is the stunning Piedmont Community Hall—think Mediterranean vibes with chic taupe walls and a terracotta rooftop. Party the night away in the stylish main room, featuring sky-high beamed ceilings, polished hardwood floors, and eye-catching chandeliers. Those floor-to-ceiling windows? They’re bringing the outdoors in, so you can soak up that park-side magic all night long. […]
August 18, 2023
Now for a totally unique intimate wedding venue! The urban chic setting with industrial accents creates an atmosphere where modern elegance meets laid-back charm. The crowning jewel is undoubtedly the rooftop area, offering spectacular views of the city’s skyline. I had the pleasure of photographing Kait and Nick’s summer 2021 outdoor wedding that took place […]

August 17, 2023

Nestled amidst lush greenery, rugged canyons and enchanting redwoods of Woodside, California, Huddart Park serves as a serene oasis just a stone’s throw away from the bustling San Francisco Peninsula. Easily accessible, the park is a mere 3.5 miles from Highway 84. Huddart Park offers an idyllic setting for the down-to-earth wedding of your dreams. […]
August 10, 2023
In this article, I’m going to go over some pros and cons of having your first look at San Francisco City Hall specifically. First of all, if you’re not sold on the idea of a pre-ceremony ‘first look’, or you’re unsure what it involves, I’ve written a separate guide to first looks in general which […]

August 8, 2023

Fancy getting married at a 300-acre mountaintop retreat perched high above Santa Cruz overlooking Monterey Bay? Because that’s precisely what Chaminade Resort promises! Lynsey & Ashley’s day didn’t start and end at Chaminade, though. They actually had their ceremony at a chapel, the iconic roadside chapel about 25 minutes away. Afterward, they opted for a […]
August 5, 2023
Crystal & Alisa’s sweet summer wedding at Garden Valley Ranch, Petaluma, was photographed by our associate photographer Jeremi. We’d love to be back at this stunning, flower-filled Petaluma wedding venue, so in this article I’m going to share with you more about the space as well as photos of this sweet LGBT+ wedding our team […]

July 28, 2023

Canyon View Event Center, situated in San Ramon, CA is the setting for this gorgeous, heart-filled wedding! The venue presents breathtaking city and canyon panoramas of the Tri-Valley, both indoors and outdoors. In short, it’s a photographer’s dream. It was my first time shooting at Canyon View Event Center so I did some research about […]
July 2, 2023
The beautiful Amador Rancho Community Center in San Ramon is SUCH a great and little-known venue for all types of weddings! I can see a smaller, low-key celebration happening here, or even a more upscale event like Jacqueline and Asad’s sangeet that took place here in summer last year. With the help of an excellent […]

June 16, 2023

The Seymour Center provides an affordable, intimate oceanfront wedding experience with a unique twist. Located on the Central Coast, this venue offers stunning ocean views, bluff-top terraces, and glimpses of Monterey Bay’s marine life. The venue is set among various quaint, wooden structures situated on a secluded cliff overlooking the pristine Santa Cruz coastline and […]
June 6, 2023
If you’re considering the Temescal Beach House, Oakland for your wedding, feast your eyes on this recent wedding, photographed by one of our associate photographers! Emma (they/them) and Dylan (he/him) chose this venue for their relaxed and informal ‘Jewish-ish’ wedding in 2022. When they reached out, they told me they were planning a smallish wedding […]

May 26, 2023

This was my first wedding at the cozy Haas-Lilienthal house in San Francisco, but I hope not my last, because I am officially in love with this space. It’s not the easiest space to shoot in – dark wood walls, nothing to bounce flash off, and little natural light. Especially during the lower-light months like […]
May 17, 2023
Gay spaces are important. None is gayer or more fabulous than Oasis nightclub, San Francisco. Oasis nightclub is one of those iconic gay spaces – a sprawling nightspot located in a former bathhouse, featuring cabaret & drag shows, DJs & dance parties. Oasis is a space for joy, inclusion and celebration of queer identity. Our couple, regular […]

May 11, 2023

Located on Treasure Island, just 10 minutes outside of San Francisco, Mersea restaurant was the venue for this gorgeous September wedding. Mersea offers arguably the best view of the San Francisco skyline including the city itself, Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge and the Bay Bridge! It promises an unforgettable wedding day experience, with a price […]
April 24, 2023
Blake Garden, part of UC Berkeley, is such a stunning hidden gem of a wedding venue! It’s the perfect spot for an intimate outdoor wedding ceremony in the Bay Area. I had the pleasure of capturing Cassidy and Julia’s nuptials at Blake Garden in the Summer of 2022 and it was so beautiful. As much […]

April 11, 2023

With its emphasis on narrative and unscripted moments, the photojournalistic style of wedding photography has become highly sought after by modern seeking to preserve their special memories in a timeless, honest and heartfelt manner. If you’re looking for a photojournalistic wedding photographer in the SF Bay Area, it’s important to find a photographer that captures […]
April 7, 2023
I lead a team of Bay Area wedding photographers 👋🏾 I personally help you plan your wedding timeline so you can relax and savor your wedding day.
We blend an unobtrusive approach to capturing images with a directive way of capturing the posed shots of you and your guests.
With over 500 weddings personally photographed by Zoe, hundreds of reviews on Yelp and Google, and over
MOMENT CATCHERS, LIGHT CHASERS, photojournalists
As a seasoned professional and true artist, I transform wedding moments into timeless memories, captured photojournalistically.
In short, our images make memories last forever.
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420,000 words of inspiration and and advice on the blog, we're the leading wedding photographers in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Since 2017, I've poured my heart into Bay Area weddings, specializing in San Francisco City Hall ceremonies and shooting all love. Our goal is to create personal images with an intimate feel - images that evoke emotion and transport you back to the moment.
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