Rebecca and Rushab’s Wedding at the Observation Post in the Presidio in San Francisco

After doing such a fun engagement session with Rebecca and Rushab, we were so excited that it was their wedding that was kicking off the 2014 wedding season!

These two share a love of adventure, fun and most importantly- each other! Their chemistry is amazing to be around and well, awesome to photograph!

They decided to get married at the Observation Post at the Presidio in San Francisco. They just fell in love with the view and knowing that their wedding guests were coming from all over, they really wanted to share this special part of SF with everyone! They certainly were rolling the dice though as often this time of year that view would be under a blanket of fog. As you will soon see, these two lucked out and had perfect weather for their wedding day!

Rebecca and Rushab were guests at a wedding I photographed last year in DC. (So amazing that they learned from the DC bride that I was now living in California! I’m so grateful when my past brides refer me!) Funny enough, now just 3 weeks after their wedding they have moved to NYC! Back in our old stomping grounds as Rebecca is attending Columbia University’s Teacher College- where I got my MA from. Rebecca you will love that school and I’m sure you two will love starting your marriage off in NYC! Such an adventure, which stated above, we know you guys love!

Observation Post Wedding Photography- Susannah Gill_0135 The girls got ready at Rebecca’s parent’s house. I always love the buzz in the air as the girls get ready! So much fun! Hair and make up was done by the lovely Kim Guiley and her talented team! What a treat to photograph such a beautiful Amy Kushel wedding dress in such a colorful room, love the contrast it created!Rebecca put on her dress with her main ladies- her Mom and her 2 sisters!Gah, the look on Mom’s face! Rebecca doing a final check before she heads downstairs!Love this moment before a Dad see’s his daughter as a bride!
So sweet!!The last touches and Rebecca is ready to head out!While the ladies were doing their thing, the guys and a special lady were getting ready at the venue!That’s right, Rushab had a best woman amongst his groomsmen- love that!!!The groom’s gift to his friends!Since guys getting ready does not really take very long, they have much more time for socializing! (I’m sure the best woman arrived “ready”)Rebecca and Rushab decided to have a first look! Rebecca, Greg and I met a few weeks before the wedding to pick out the best spot for the first look. We wanted something private but also pretty- we found the perfect place!Look at that happiness!Rebecca you look stunning! Rebecca is wearing her maternal grandmother’s veil. Her mother wore it on her wedding day as well. Off to get married! Love those smiles!!!Back at the venue, the wedding party was ready to take some pictures! The ring bearer had arrived and Rebecca, a teacher, has so much love for the little people! They love her right back! I can imagine she is an incredible teacher!
The ladies!The guys and one lovely lady!Rebecca and Rushab’s flowers were really beautiful but interestingly enough were created under a very specific request. Rebecca is very allergic to flowers and for her not to be sneezing all day the florist had to use a combination of succulents and flowers that do not have allergens. The end result masterfully created by The Cutting Garden (Part of Flora Grubb) did an incredible job! Keep your eyes open for the table decorations too, very unique work!As guests were being seated, Rebecca and her ladies hid away in the bridal suite! Rebecca was enjoying every second of it!!It’s so special if you can incorporate family heirlooms into a wedding. These are Rebecca’s paternal great grandmother’s pearls and her grandmother also wore them! Isn’t that amazing!?

Each bridesmaid was gifted one of these adorable clutches!And then they had a visitor, one very excited groom…. Rushab stopped by to give Rebecca a huge hug and kiss- SO SWEET!!!!Rushab was escorted by his brother. The adorable ring bearer!The beautiful bride escorted by her parents!Look at that view! Rebecca’s dad had the great honor of marrying the two! He told a story of when his 3 daughters were younger that he imagined he would open a convent for them all to live in one day… away from boys! And here he was marrying his daughter and he couldn’t have been happier or more proud!Rebecca’s cousins read a childhood book called ” Your Personal Penguin” by Sandra Boynton that perfectly summed up Rebecca and Rushab’s love and devotion for each other!There were so many beautiful things said at their ceremony that made it SO special. One of them, when Rushab simply stated, “I’m so excited to get married because I know we are going to be awesome together.” There wasn’t a dry eye in the crowd- even mine, which always makes taking pictures a little bit harder!The rings are exchanged….Kiss the bride!!!Married!!!!Happiness!While the guests were at cocktail hour, for a brief moment I was able to capture the room with no one in it. It was amazing how they had transformed the space to something so perfect, unique and personal to Rebecca and Rushab for the reception!I loved the SF street signs to designate the tables!

Such a cool idea to have wooden boxes filled with special allergy free flowers and succulents.

Such a great idea! Cocktail hour!I love this picture taken by Greg of the young man playing Rubik’s Cube while the adults are busy catching up. I used to spend hours trying to figure out my Rubik’s Cube, glad to see it’s still around!Guests were invited to sit and the fun and socializing continued as everyone was treated to a delicious meal. When you are THIS adorable, well you get a close up! It’s hard for me to resists a little boy with a bow tie!Time for toasts, one of my favorite parts of a wedding day! How often in this life are we toasted by someone you truly know and love that is publicly wishing you the best for your life! Savor those words! Rebecca’s Mom started off the toasts!

Followed by Rushab’s parents!
Rebecca’s sisters!Rushab’s best man!Rushab’s best woman made a bet with her boyfriend that she wouldn’t cry. And then she did and I’m SO glad she did as they represent the love and happiness she has for him and Rebecca! Lastly a toast by Rebecca’s grandpa and a big hug for Rushab!We quickly pulled Rebecca and Rushab out for some golden hour pictures when the light is so lovely and soft!Inspired!
Cake cutting!

Cake smashing…. Rushab played it nice!

First dance! Father daughter dance to an original Andy song!

Beautiful moment between a grandfather and his granddaughter!!Rushab then danced with his mom! They laughed the whole time as they both tried to lead the dance!!Now that all the formalities were over it was full on party time!Love this image of these newlyweds! Great job capturing their love Greg! Sadly cannot take credit for this image!Although Rebecca and Rushab had a wedding that was not pointed at any religion in particular, everyone loves a Hora! Too bad Rushab’s chair bucked him in seconds!

Added to the party was an incredible photobooth with amazing props for everyone to have fun with!As if wedding cake AND cupcakes weren’t enough…. these two treated everyone to doughnuts as well!!! Yes, DOUGHNUTS!!!!!!!!One last shot of the extremely happy newlyweds with the Golden Gate in the distance! Congratulations Rebecca and Rushab!!