
Wedding traditions exist for a reason. Many of them work well, and for couples who value them, they can add structure and meaning to the day. But as a wedding photographer in San Francisco, I’ve seen a wide range of couples explore non-traditional wedding ideas that better reflect how they actually want to spend their […]

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 61 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 […]

Planning your San Francisco City Hall ceremony and need a guiding hand? 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! There are numerous benefits to creating your timeline, no matter how casual […]

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 2026? 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 37 awesome restaurants on my list all serve excellent food and will take […]

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 […]

What are family formals on your wedding day? These are the posed photos in which everyone looks at the camera and smiles! Some other names are formal group portraits, posed groupings, or group photos or portraits. I tend to call them ‘formal groupings’, since the groupings that matter depend on your relationships and may not […]
Enjoy this intimate San Francisco beach wedding! Angely and Vincent’s ceremony was held in the tucked-away location of the Crissy Beach Cypress Grove. This little-known San Francisco beach location is a super special wedding spot, located close to Crissy Field. You are overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge as you say ‘I do!’! What makes this […]

April 6, 2020

I’m excited to share this Camp Mendocino wedding! Unique, meaningful and fun are the words that come to mind when I look back on Sara and Chris’ October 2019 wedding. Camp Mendocino holds a special place in the hearts of many locals. If you grew up in Northern CA, chances are you went to Camp […]
March 13, 2020
Mellow + chilled… and I’m not just talking about the wine! Honestly, this Eristavi Winery wedding was the epitome of effortless Cool. With a big ‘C’. Urban wineries are becoming more popular these days. Traditional wineries will always have their place. For many San Francisco couples, spots closer to home have their unique appeal. Morgan […]

February 19, 2020

Love these two and their Glacier Point Amphitheater wedding! This was my first time photographing a wedding in Yosemite National Park, and I sincerely hope it won’t be the last. A Yosemite wedding is also an excuse for a fun little getaway for you and your guests! Everyone wants to linger a little longer to […]
February 6, 2020
Thank you for checking out these wedding photos from Monte Verde Inn wedding in Foresthill, CA! Located about 12 miles northeast of Auburn, CA in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains is the quaint private estate, Monte Verde Inn. As outdoor wedding locations in Northern California go, it’s pretty special. The property is a […]

January 27, 2020

Note: the Quadrus Conference Center has now closed down permanently. For other wedding venue ideas, please check out my guide to the best San Francisco wedding venues linked below: Sharing J & B’s Quadrus Conference Center wedding in Menlo Park. This was my first time shooting at the venue. At first you may be wondering […]
January 18, 2020
Delighted to share today this beautiful Stern Grove wedding! Stern Grove is a pretty iconic San Francisco location, but in case you aren’t familiar – here’s the backstory! According to Wikipedia, it’s been the setting of the famous Stern Grove festival for over 80 years! The 33-acre recreational site is administered by SF Recreation and […]

January 13, 2020

Wow for this beautiful Chateau Carmel Wedding! I love the amazing places that my couples find. When they told me about Chateau Carmel I was above all, intrigued. This unique, elegant European-Style villa is available on Airbnb and VRBO. I know, right, it seems so crazy to think you can find an incredible wedding venue […]
January 8, 2020
Yay for this wonderful wedding venue, The General’s Residence! It was a pleasure photographing the wedding of Dieter and Eduardo at this favorite San Francisco wedding spot. You may know of the General’s Residence being located in Fort Mason. But did you know that the whole Fort Mason complex is located within a National Park?! […]

December 31, 2019

Planning a Brazilian Room wedding? You’re in good company! The Brazilian Room located in Tilden Park, Berkeley is one of the most popular wedding venues in the Bay Area. The main draw of this cozy and versatile East Bay event space is its proximity to nature. Tilden Park, with its pine, oak and eucalyptus trees, […]
December 28, 2019
Where do I even start with these beautiful Cornerstone Sonoma wedding photos, at a versatile Bay Area venue set in stunning Northern California wine country? Set among the pretty birch gardens, ponds, lawns and vines of Cornerstone Sonoma in wine country, the fusion wedding really combined so much remarkable diversity. It was so much fun […]

November 11, 2019

Today I’m stoked to bring you this elegant, intimate wedding held at the Vezer Family Vineyard’s Blue Victorian venue. With just the right amount of tradition and a whole lot of intentionality, beauty & personality, it really is a pleasure to share this wedding. Vezer Family Vineyard stunning wedding venue nestled in the heart of […]
July 12, 2019
I’m delighted to share with you this Palace of Fine Arts wedding! This San Francisco wedding venue is an absolute favorite of mine. It combines formal elegance with an outdoor vibe, nature and a convenient location. It was also featured on the rad wedding mag, A Practical Wedding! Kicking off my Pride 2019 with photos […]

June 1, 2019

This tiny, intimate Forest of Nisene Marks wedding melted me. Held in the dead of winter – and bursting with joy, love and fun. The redwood forest may have still been coming back to life that January, but Nicole and Lucas were so ready to bask in this glorious wedding experience. Sometimes wedding ceremonies are […]
May 6, 2019
Where do I even start with the cuteness of this bookstore wedding? Everything about this sweet and unique wedding is a wonderful story in and of itself, but for the sake of not writing a novel I’ll keep it brief. It all started when Lauren chanced upon Owl & Company Bookstore on Piedmont Ave, Oakland. […]

March 19, 2019

Sandhya and Sean decided to get married the simple way – in the redwood forest of the East Bay, California! These two thoroughly down-to-earth humans chose to celebrate their recent City Hall ceremony with an outdoor reception. The spot they chose for their Roberts Redwood Regional Park wedding was the Huckleberry site. Outdoor redwood reception ideas […]
January 5, 2019
Candid city hall photos are my absolute favorite. I couldn’t have been happier to capture Rosie and Alex’s very emotional ceremony at SF City Hall. The story 6 years to the day after Rosie & Alex met, they got married at San Francisco City Hall. They said hi to each other while attending a college […]

September 18, 2018

This OMCA wedding gives me all the feels! It was a real honor to work with such a cool couple! They both have such wicked style and wanted their wedding to be anything but cookie-cutter. The big day felt like a true representation of who they are, and honored their journey. Outdoor ceremony at OMCA […]
February 2, 2018
This bookstore-themed styled shoot 50’s styled bridal shoot brought together some amazingly talented wedding professionals from the East Bay! It was also an amazingly entertaining and productive shoot and just so much fun to get together and create. Concept of the vintage bookstore theme I first came up with the idea of a bookstore shoot […]

April 17, 2017
I'm Zoe and I lead a team of Bay Area wedding photographers. I still 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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470,000 words of inspiration and and advice on the blog, we're the leading wedding photographers in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Since 2016, 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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