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    Becky's Life

    Our Low Stress, Non-Traditional Rooftop Wedding

    Becky Constantinides thumbnail

    Becky Constantinides

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    Designer & metalsmith; maker of jewelry inspired by architecture; supporter of women in the arts; passionate about ethical manufacturing and sustainability

    My now husband and I really weren't into the whole wedding planning thing. The traditional wedding concepts seemed dated and not at all relevant to our relationship or the commitment we wanted to make to each other. We were engaged for over a year before we reluctantly began looking at venues. 

    Polka dot wedding skirt // Click through for more on our no-stress, non-traditional rooftop wedding!

    The Hotel Vitale on the Embarcadero blew us away with it's views and non-traditional options for event spaces. We decided to rent one of their penthouse suites with a 2-level terrace overlooking the Ferry building and the San Francisco Bay Bridge then crossed our fingers for good weather. Luckily for us (because we didn't have a backup plan) the weather ended up being gorgeous, even though San Francisco is categorically unpredictable.

    Bride and groom looking at the Bay Bridge from their rooftop wedding // Click through for more on our low stress, non-traditional San Francisco wedding!

    Once we found a spot to tie the knot, we planned the whole wedding in a little under 3 months.

    I was super busy at the time preparing for a show in Paris, working on a new collection, and focused on making high quality jewelry for all of my beautiful customers. Wedding planning seemed like a silly distraction. To create as little stress for myself as possible, and to make a plan for an event that felt representative of our unique relationship, my hubby-to-be and I made a list of all the things you are "supposed" to do at a wedding then decided not to do any of them.

    The Dress (Er, Skirt and Bathing Suit)

    I never went wedding dress shopping. About a year after we got engaged, I saw an ad on Facebook for Nordstrom prom dresses with a polka dot skirt that caught my eye. I clicked through the ad and bought the skirt online. I lucked out and it fit perfect with no alterations needed. 

    Polka dot wedding skirt // Click through for more on our no-stress, non-traditional rooftop wedding!

    Over the next few months, I ordered a ton of tops online to try on with the skirt in the comfort of my own home. None of them looked right so they all went back. The day before my wedding, I called one of my best friends in a semi-panic asking her to bring over all the black tops that she owned. Yes, you read that right, I wanted to borrow a shirt because I didn't know what I was going to wear to my wedding - the day before my wedding. Among the tops, she brought me a plunging black bathing suit that I thought looked great with the skirt. Phew! Cameron saved the day.

    Polka dot wedding skirt // Click through for more on our no-stress, non-traditional rooftop wedding!

    The Ceremony

    We skipped the bridal party and walking down the aisle. We didn't even have an aisle. We didn't set up chairs. As guests were arriving, my husband and I went out to join them with no big show of our arrival. We chatted with our friends and family and once all of our guests were there with a drink in hand, my brother married us in front of 48 of our most beloved people. 

    My brother did a phenomenal job as officiant but we didnt really have a concrete plan for the ceremony. I wrote my vows as I was getting my hair done that morning and my husband had some notes he had jotted down an hour before the ceremony. We hadn't rehearsed and I had no idea what my brother was going to say. We winged it and it was intimate, emotional, and awesome.

    Putting on the rings at a glamorous San Francisco rooftop wedding // Click through for more on our low stress, non-traditional wedding!

    First kiss at San Francisco rooftop wedding // Click through for more on our low stress, non-traditional wedding!

     

    Time to Party!

    Guests celebrating rooftop wedding vows // Click through for more on our no-stress, non-traditional rooftop wedding!

     

    After the ceremony, instead of going to pose for pictures, we went straight to celebrating with our guests! That's why everybody was there, right? Why run off for an hour of pictures when we could be spending time with the people we love, basking in the afterglow of our big commitment. Rooftop cocktails for everybody! Our photographer was amazing and followed us around to capture our interactions with our guests in real time.

    We didn't do "official" photos with the families or of just ourselves for that matter. 

    Bride and groom with friends at non-traditional San Francisco rooftop wedding

    Bride and her father at San Francisco rooftop wedding // Click through for more on our low stress, non-traditional San Francisco wedding!

    Bride and groom with friends at non-traditional San Francisco rooftop wedding

    Wildflowers by Farm Girl Flowers for non-traditional San Francisco rooftop wedding

    Instamax pics for wedding guest book // Click through for more on our low stress, non-traditional San Francisco rooftop wedding!

     

    Dinner

    For dinner, we headed down to the restaurant, Americano, and had a locally sourced organic feast. We didn't have a dinner schedule but we did have a mic so people gave speeches as they felt moved to do so. Many tears were shed as people showered us with love. My 4 year old niece even sang the ABC's into the mic as her tribute to our big commitment.

    Bride and groom kissing at dinner // Click through for more on our low stress, non-traditional San Francisco wedding!

     

    Dancing Under the Stars

    After dinner, we headed back up to the rooftop suite for some dancing under the stars! 

    Super glam moment dancing under the stars at a San Francisco rooftop wedding // Click through for more on our low stress, non-traditional San Francisco rooftop wedding!

    Rooftop wedding reception and dancing under the stars // Click through for more on our no-stress, non-traditional rooftop wedding!

    Dancing on the rooftop // Click through for more on our no-stress, non-traditional rooftop wedding!

    Rooftop wedding reception and dancing under the stars // Click through for more on our no-stress, non-traditional rooftop wedding!

    Rooftop wedding reception and dancing under the stars // Click through for more on our no-stress, non-traditional rooftop wedding!

    We didn't have a cake. We didn't do a garter or a bouquet toss.

    I didn't wear a garter or carry a bouquet so we wouldn't have had anything to ceremonially toss anyhow. We didn't do first dances. Instead, the next few hours were filled with music, laughter, tequila shots and passed pizza! It was magical.

    Polka dot wedding skirt // Click through for more on our no-stress, non-traditional rooftop wedding!

    Wedding shots! // Click through for more on our low stress, non-traditional San Francisco rooftop wedding!

    Late night pizza // Click through for more on our low stress, non-traditional San Francisco rooftop wedding!

    After dancing under the stars, we headed to our honeymoon suite for an epic after party! Not gonna lie, post-wedding brunch the next day was rough. But it was all worth it to spend time celebrating with our friends and family until the wee hours.

    My Advice for Brides

    My wedding wasn't stressful and yours doesnt have to be either! I highly recommend breaking tradition and doing whatever you damn well please.

    My advice for brides to make your wedding low stress! Click through for more

     

    Our day wasn't perfect. But I didn't expect it to be. It was super windy right before the ceremony and stuff blew over. Things got moved around or completely re-designed at the last minute without my knowing, basically a designer's worst nightmare.

    The flowers that were supposed to be on our table for dinner were MIA. Which I honestly didn't notice until I saw the pictures after the event.

    A lot did not go as planned, but it doesn't matter. What matters is spending time with the people you love. 

     

    Polka dot wedding skirt & gold photo wall // Click through for more on our no-stress, non-traditional rooftop wedding!

     

    Don't let stress or the expectation of perfection ruin your big day. No matter how much you plan or how hard you stress, it is very likely that your day will not be perfect. And seriously, who cares? It's all about celebrating your love! So just go with the flow and have fun with your partner and everyone else who showed up to celebrate your commitment!

     

    View from Hotel Vitale rooftop

    Our Vendors

    Photography by Olga Lacosta of To Amaze Wedding Photography
    Flowers by Farm Girl Flowers
    Rooftop Wedding Venue: Hotel Vitale - Shout out to Erin who was AMAZING!
    Hair and makeup by Kim Merrill
    Music by Keelan McKinney
    Officiated by My Big Bro Troy Johnson

    Love, Becky

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