The Jefferson Street Mansion in Benicia, California, offers a photographer’s dream backdrop for capturing a wedding. With its stunning architecture, beautifully manicured grounds, and picturesque wisteria-draped ceremony arbor at certain times, the opportunities for amazing photos are endless.
I had the pleasure of capturing the nuptials of Sara (she/they) & Laura (she/her) in mid-May 2023. (Laura wears blue; Sara wears tan). Sara & Laura wanted a photographer that was experienced in queer weddings, and I was delighted to bring my expertise and heart for LGBTQ+ couples to their big day.
A quick overview of this wedding: cozy, welcoming and relaxed. One of the biggest talking points of the day was Sara’s floral lapel by local florist A Love’s In Boom. But it’s so much more than a fashion statement – keep reading to learn the significance of a certain flower to the couple.
The couple both chose SuitShop for their attire. The store has inclusive styles & sizing at a down-to-earth price. I was lucky enough to have this wedding featured in their Real Weddings blog. You can check out the full article here.
All in all, this wedding at Jefferson Street Mansion brought together a stellar vendor team, rad guests and a beautiful couple filled to the brim with love & gratitude to create an unforgettable experience.
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About Jefferson Street Mansion for weddings
Originally built in 1861, the Jefferson Street Mansion has been lovingly preserved to maintain its original Federal Italianate-style architecture after decades of private ownership. The mansion’s exquisite period features, including vaulted ceilings, crystal chandeliers, and beautifully manicured gardens, create a sophisticated and romantic atmosphere that will make your wedding experience even more special.
Jefferson Street Mansion is run by Wedgewood Weddings. Side note: we’re BIG Wedgewood fans! Many of our fave venues fall under the Wedgewood umbrella. Great prices, always run very smoothly (in our experience) helpful staff that go above and beyond. Check out a few other faves below.
The only thing to be aware of is that there are fees on top of the base for almost every add-on, so make sure you’re clear on price to avoid any surprises.
The mansion’s beautifully restored interior and expansive outdoor spaces offer flexibility to accommodate your wedding vision – plus whatever the weather may throw at you. As a photographer, I appreciate how the venue’s historic roots provide a relaxed, elegant setting for both the ceremony and reception.
Couples will begin their day inside the mansion in separate, beautiful getting-ready areas. Ceremonies are usually held outside on the lawn to the side to the mansion. It offers pretty views over the bay and lots of elegant stonework.
Then for my favorite area of Jefferson St Mansion – this tent!
The elegant tent, adorned with chandeliers, provides a glamorous setting for celebrations of all kinds.
This is where receptions take place and it’s utterly perfect for any weather and lighting. Large windows provide ample lighting and the white walls allow for light to bounce, creating soft and flattering lighting both before and after dark. It also protects against coastal winds!
Dancing takes place under the dome of the tent too, and let me tell you, it’s so pretty with those string lights!
Here are just a few other features of the venue:
- Views of the Bay
- Garden ceremony setting with foliage and wisteria
- Tented pavilion with string lights
- Period décor throughout the mansion
- Countless photography opportunities within the mansion and grounds
- Private access and quiet neighborhood setting
- Neo-classical architecture + historic charm
What’s the capacity of the Jefferson Street Mansion?
The capacity of the Jefferson Street Mansion is 200 guests (whether seated or standing). You create your package based on your guest count, then add on the fee for the ceremony site rental and the reception cost, which varies based on the day of the week and the time of year, with the peak rate being September and October. Rental time varies between 5 – 6 hours. At the current time there is a discount for those who book and celebrate their wedding within six months (i.e. have a short planning window).
About the couple
Sara and Laura had their first date in 2018 after meeting online through the dating app, Her. Laura was new to the Bay Area by way of Texas. The couple bonded over their love for writing sci-fi short stories.
Their first date coincided with Halloween, so of course Sara decided to wear a pink wig, and (naturally) they brought a costume hat for Laura to wear, too. The two hit it off over pizza and beer.
Now, Sara and Laura share their home in nearby Martinez, CA with two fur babies: a small gray cat and a sweet little dog. They love wine, music, travel, making art, and twinkle lights.
The vision for their Jefferson Street Mansion wedding
From the start, the couple had their sights set on a small-ish wedding. They had holds on both San Francisco City Hall and the Chabot Space & Science Center at the time they reached out to me.
The Jefferson Street Mansion being steeped in history was an inspired choice. Sara loved the vintage design elements and details throughout the mansion itself and the property. The couple was set on having both indoor and outdoor romantic photos, and they hoped to utilize different areas of the event space. A storied, sprawling mansion venue with gardens was ideal!
The guest experience was of utmost importance to Sara & Laura. They self-describe as ‘playful, spiritual, connected, uplifting, and loving’. With their focus on connection, they wanted their ~100 guests to feel like they were truly part of it – more participants, less spectators.
During their wedding planning journey, they were focused on infusing that warm and welcoming positive energy as a part of the big day.
As an architect, Sara prized the physical structure of the wedding venue – it had to be interesting and fun.
They chose a spring wedding season and date, keenly aware that it should align with wisteria season. In a surprise twist to the plans, come the wedding day, there was no wisteria to be found. Fortunately, the venue decorated the space with faux blooms that looked incredibly real, and the idea for the floral arrangement design still came to life.
With that cozy set-up, plenty of dancing, an intensely garden-fresh look–from the ceremony’s lush, overgrown wisteria vines to the sunflower bouquets and reception florals–and the blue, yellow, and pink spring wedding color palette, the whole day came together as an especially welcoming and warm event.
Special touches at this wedding
Let’s go back in time to set the scene. Sara proposed to Laura in February 2022 in Paso Robles, CA. The location of the proposal was where they had shared their first “I love yous”.
For the proposal, the couple brought sunflowers – Laura’s favorite flower – with them on the drive.
After what had shaped up to be a stressful week for Laura, Sara brought her back to that special, pivotal place in their relationship and presented her with a box of tea. Sara asked Laura if it was a good time to ask an important question.
The big yellow blooms played an important role in their story, so they knew sunflowers would be a key feature of the wedding day design. I love how they were paired with tarot cards for the centerpieces.
Sara’s iconic floral lapel was an exaggerated spin on a boutonniere and bouquet, combining the best of both worlds. It extended beyond the length of the suit lapel and made a fun statement.
Their inspiration for the floral lapel came when thinking through wedding florals. They knew they didn’t want to carry a bouquet, but wanted something more than a boutonniere. The florist, A Love’s in Bloom, suggested this piece of wearable floral art as the perfect, statement-making solution. The floral lapel was comprised largely of the wedding’s signature sunflower in varying sizes. It was built out on a bed of deep green leaves and with pops of lively fuchsia-colored florals.
In conclusion
Sara and Laura’s wedding at the Jefferson Street Mansion was a beautiful celebration of love, connection, and the power of storytelling. From the historic mansion’s beautifully preserved details to the couple’s thoughtful incorporation of personal symbols, every aspect of the day reflected their unique bond and shared vision.
As a photographer, especially one who specializes in LGBTQ+ celebrations, it was a privilege to capture the joy, warmth, and unforgettable moments of this special day.
Vendor Credits
Photography: Zoe Larkin Photography
Venue, Catering & DJ: Jefferson Street Mansion
Floral design: A Love’s In Bloom (not a secure website, so not linked here but their IG is @alovesinbloom
Attire: SuitShop
Rings: Alexis Russell Jewelry
Cake: Old Towne Danville Bakery
Transportation: Extraordinary Tour Services
Photos from Jefferson Street Mansion wedding
About Zoe Larkin Photography
Looking for a San Francisco Bay Area wedding photographer? You can learn more about my services at the links below:
Hoping I’ll be back at Jefferson St Mansion soon, shooting your lovely wedding! To stay connected, be sure to follow along on Instagram and reach out via the form when you’re ready to book your date.
Zoe Larkin
I’m Zoe, a wedding photographer based in San Francisco! My style is candid, capturing authentic moments for my couples all over the Bay Area and Northern California. Creating content is my passion! Follow along the blog and Insta!
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