The Blog
Helping bay area marriers navigate the world of weddings, planning & photography with helpful tips and inspiration
From Zoe Larkin Photography
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We’re diving into 30 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 […]
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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 […]
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Planning a small intimate wedding? Perhaps you’re wondering if you even need a wedding planner – after all, isn’t a professional wedding planner a bit of a luxury? And isn’t the whole point of having a small wedding to save money? Well, yes and no. And it depends. Of course, a small wedding doesn’t have […]
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Weddings are expensive and everyone wants to save money wherever possible. I’ve seen a lot of wedding photographer opinion pieces in which they argue that you should definitely spend a lot of money on your wedding photographer if you want even halfway decent pictures. But let’s take a moment to pause and look at both […]
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If you’ve landed here, it’s because you are wise enough to know that a little preparation can go a long, long way to ensuring your wedding day stays stress-free. Once the wedding day approaches, it’s time to start turning your attention to the little things you can do that will make a big difference. This […]
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Are you wondering what actual steps you can take to look GOOD in your wedding photos? I mean natural, looking like you really feel – happy and in love and enjoying the best day of your life. Good as in not cheesy, not awkward, just totally happy, relaxed and IN LOVE. Well, friends, there is a […]
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In this post I’m sharing the 10 best locations for your engagement photos in SF. 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 […]
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We know how hard it is when it comes to choosing your wedding photographer! Where do you even begin? There are so many out there, and it’s difficult to figure out what really differentiates them. It can be a tough decision, especially when you consider the role the wedding photographer will take on your day. […]
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The no-fluff guide to deciding: ‘should I get a second photographer at my wedding?’ The 2023 edit is that while I used to have a very cut-and-dried answer to this question (it was ‘yes’, unequivocally), nowadays things are a bit more nuanced. As I’ve grown in my ability to capture weddings and to get different […]
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Shooting a wedding is a big undertaking and something that a professional wedding photographer doesn’t take lightly. Managing your expectations goes a long way to ensuring that there are no nasty surprises down the pike. This post was created in tandem with this other post. That post provides insight into the actual process from cards […]
I’m delighted to introduce to you my favorite hotels in San Francisco that are fit for your wedding stay! The mainly 4- and 5-star hotels given below are ideal for your SF City Hall wedding. Whether you live in the Bay Area or beyond, it’s a smart move to book a beautiful hotel that’s close […]
January 31, 2023
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I’m often asked by couples getting married at San Francisco City Hall for my tips on how to personalize their day. This is especially the case for civil ceremonies – after all, you cannot even personalize your wedding vows you’ll be reciting the standard courthouse vows. Whatever type of ceremony you’re planning, there are a […]
April 18, 2022
You probably already know that the 4th Floor Galleries are available for private rental for wedding ceremonies at San Francisco City Hall. You are perhaps thinking of booking one of the 4th Floor balconies and want to get a little bit of info before doing do. First of all, welcome! I’m Zoe, one of the most […]
February 15, 2022
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If you’re looking for up-to-date information regarding wedding ceremonies at San Francisco City Hall, you’re in the right place! I’m a wedding photographer that shoots a large number of weddings in this iconic public building. I have a lot of updates, news and info to share with you, based on my knowledge and experience working […]
January 21, 2022
Interested in having the whole of San Francisco City Hall to yourself for your Saturday wedding ceremony? Then check out Eduardo and Dieter’s September City Hall ceremony for full buyout inspiration! The San Francisco couple were kind enough to lift the lid on some of their planning experiences – so I’m going to share this, […]
March 26, 2020
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If you’re in the throes of planning your San Francisco City Hall civil ceremony, you’re in the right place! In this article, I’m going to guide you through how to create the perfect SF City Hall timeline for your wedding. Because seamless, stress-free wedding days don’t just happen, they’re planned! The wedding timeline is necessary […]
March 21, 2020
Getting married at San Francisco City Hall? This expert-written guide explains how to plan your SF City Hall wedding, from understanding the booking process through what to expect day-of. Packed with helpful tips, you’ll plan the City Hall wedding of your dreams. Whether you’re eloping just the two of you, or having a larger private […]
March 12, 2020
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Wondering where to have your reception after your San Francisco City Hall wedding? I’ve put together some of my favorite, achingly cool San Francisco restaurants that will be happy to your reception or meal after your City Hall wedding! All of these epically hip restaurants serve excellent food and will take good care of you […]
March 10, 2020
Today I want to let you in on a little San Francisco City Hall inside knowledge on Valentine’s Day wedding ceremonies. City Hall doesn’t always publicize their special set-up for Valentine’s Day, so I’m letting you in on all the goss! 2020 was the 4th year that SF City Hall has instated the tradition, and […]
March 3, 2020
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When you choose to get married at SF City Hall, you have a few different options open to you. One of the private areas that’s available for rent is the Mayor’s Balcony. The Mayor’s Balcony is an elegant choice for couples that would like a little more privacy, a higher guest count and the chance […]
February 15, 2020
As a City Hall wedding photographer, I am sometimes asked about the standard marriage vows that couples will be taking on their wedding day at San Francisco City Hall. When you get married at a courthouse or city hall, there isn’t an opportunity for personalized vows like at a regular wedding ceremony. At least for […]
February 3, 2020
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What’s the best way of getting around on your San Francisco City Hall wedding day? Whatever you have planned on your big day at City Hall, you’ll undoubtedly need some form of transportation! In this article, I outline the 10 best transportation ideas to & from San Francisco City Hall. I also include some pros […]
January 4, 2020
A private city hall ceremony is always a wonderful idea, but the price tag can make it unfeasible for some. Is there a middle ground between the private rental of an area and the typical 5-minute rotunda civil ceremony? A recent couple made me aware of an option to get married privately at San Francisco […]
December 2, 2019
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Outdoor photo locations NEAR San Francisco City Hall for wedding photos! 10 great location ideas, all less than 3 miles from San Francisco City Hall
November 21, 2019
I’m so excited to introduce this gorgeous LGBTQ+ City Hall wedding couple today on the blog! I know I say that every time but from the moment that Jake first reached out I knew this was going to be very special. Call me crazy but sometimes I just get a feeling about these things. The […]
September 10, 2019
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This article is intended for anyone getting married at San Francisco City Hall, but primarily couples considering working with me, Zoe Larkin Photography. It’s intended to help to manage expectations and fill you in on things that you may not be aware of, or have had no reason to ever think about before! There’s more […]
July 28, 2019
Although we hear so much about wedding planning, there are still couples that do the whole spontaneous City Hall elopement thing! Megs and Chad were one such couple that reached out to me just a few days before but we made it happen! The story Megs and Chad eloped to San Francisco City Hall from […]
June 29, 2019
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Meet Mimi and Kim and check out their City Hall Vietnamese wedding! San Francisco dwellers & all-around sweet and practical people! Close family and chosen family attended the wedding. Mimi and Kim will have a larger wedding reception in the South of France the following year! It made sense to do a City Hall wedding […]
June 18, 2019
Jess and John eloped in San Francisco City Hall – it was just the two of them! This one was truly special. Such heart, such love and a real bond that was so palpable to be witness to. These two emphasized how much the day really felt like them – they were barely aware of […]
June 10, 2019
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Excited to bring you this fun and relaxed San Francisco City Hall wedding that took place around Christmas time! I love a good Christmas wedding while the tree is set up in the rotunda. The Rainbow World Fund Tree of Hope is a staple in the rotunda every year! You can read about it here. […]
May 28, 2019
Welcome! I couldn't be more thrilled that you're here! We are a team of San Francisco-based wedding photographers that help you relax and savor your wedding day.
We blend an unobtrusive approach to capturing images with a directive, practical way of working.
The end result? Efficiently-captured posed photos of all your people, plus all those darling couldn't-be-anticipated in-between moments!
Bay Area Wedding Photographers
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We love the realness and the whimsy of love.
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In short, our images make memories last forever.
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With over 250 weddings photographed, hundreds of reviews on Yelp and Google, and over 400,000 words of inspiration and advice on the blog, we're one of the leading Bay Area wedding photographers.
Our specialty is San Francisco City Hall wedding photography services.
The house style encompasses the bold and tender, modern and timeless, edgy and romantic.
