San Francisco, CA, USA < change city >

Cakes/Candies Vendor:

Montclair Bakery

Coordinator:

Jean Marks

DJ:

Feet First Events

Photographer:

Tu Photography

Ceremony:

Berkeley Rose Garden

"Weddings have to be booked through the Parks Department, which is low-tech and a bit hard to work with from a distance, but the garden is spectacular and our guests loved it."

Reception:

The Cliff House

Hotel:

Hotel Union Square

"The hotel is lower on amenities (no on-site restaurant, no fridges in the rooms) but very high on charm. Our guests loved the hotel - the price was very reasonable and the service was excellent."

Restaurant:

Boudin Bakery & Cafe

"The original purveyor of the sourdough loaves that launched a thousand subs."

Restaurant:

Chez Panisse

"UC-Berkeley alumna Alice Waters created a whole new culinary tradition when she opened this restaurant in 1971. Just remember, they don’t serve contemporary California cuisine in your lungs, please don’t smoke in their restaurant."

Restaurant:

Don Ramon's Mexican Restaurant

"A SOMA landmark before SOMA had a name, this place, like Anonymous and Anonymous, is all about margaritas and Tex-Mex standards."

Restaurant:

House of Nanking

"This Hunan Chinese restaurant consistently scores one-star reviews for ambiance and service – yet there’s always a line out front. Yeah, it’s that good."

Restaurant:

In-N-Out Burger

"There was a time (we call it the 90s) when SoCal transplants to Northern California couldn’t get a decent burger to save their lives. The long-overdue imperialistic ambitions of this chain have remedied that problem once and for all."

Restaurant:

Pancho Villa

"When it comes to Mission-style burritos, no place is better (or closer to BART)."

Restaurant:

Sears Fine Food - Diner

"You’d rather go to Mel’s, but Mel’s ain’t in Union Square."

Restaurant:

Top of the Mark - Bar

"Highest views in downtown San Francisco, and offering more martinis than Coit Tower."

Entertainment:

Amoeba Records

"Hands down the greatest record store in the world."

Entertainment:

AT&T Park - Home of the SF Giants

"The House That Barry (and anabolics) Built."

Entertainment:

Fillmore Theater

"Ground zero of the pychedelia movement. Something happened here in the 60s, but man, if you remember it, you weren’t there."

Entertainment:

Japantown

"America’s largest Japanese enclave, home to shopping, food and--during April--the Cherry Blossom Festival."

Entertainment:

Musée Mécanique

"An amazing (and free!) gallery of penny arcade games and mechanical exhibits, most of which were salvaged from the Playland amusement park that operated on Ocean Beach below the Cliff House from the late nineteenth century until 1972."

Entertainment:

Museum of Modern Art

"One of the best modern art museums in the world."

Entertainment:

San Francisco Zoo

"Like any other zoo, except the chimps are Marxists, the reptiles are counter-culture drop-outs and the tigers are nudists."

Attraction:

Alcatraz

"A former federal prison so notoriously lax in security that it once let Clint Eastwood escape. Tours can be booked through www.alcatrazcruises.com/ or by calling (415) 981-7625."

Attraction:

Angel Island

"This serene state park in the middle of the Bay boasts tremendous views, and hiking and biking opportunities. Ferry passage can be booked at www.blueandgoldfleet.com, by calling (415)705-8200, or by visiting Pier 41 in Fisherman’s Wharf."

Attraction:

Asian Art Museum

"Formerly housed at the De Young in Golden Gate Park, this downtown museum is one of the world’s largest collections of Asian art."

Attraction:

Chinatown

"Forget it Jake, San Francisco’s Chinatown is America’s oldest (and coolest) and your go-to place for souvenirs, dim sum or crispy ducks hanging in windows."

Attraction:

City Lights Bookstore

"Original publisher and purveyor of Beat luminaries like Allen Ginsburg, Jack Kerouac and William S. Bouroughs, the creaky interiors still house one hell of a bookstore."

Attraction:

Coit Tower

"This spot sports some of the best views of San Francisco, as well as incredible residential gardens and the famous wild parrots of Telegraph Hill. You can get up the hill on foot or by car, but don’t bother paying to ride the elevator up the tower—you can check out the depression-era murals (and their half-hidden socialist iconography) in the lobby for free. In the words of Jimmy Stewart in Vertigo: “Well, that’s the first time I’ve ever been thankful for Coit Tower.”"

Attraction:

Ferry Building

"One of the world’s busiest terminals prior to completion of the Bay and Golden Gate Bridges, this building now houses an upscale gourmet market."

Attraction:

Fisherman's Wharf

"A quintessential tourist trap and a required stop for all first-time SF visitors. Highlights include the Musée Mécanique, clam chowder at the Fisherman’s Grotto, and the arcades and street performers at Pier 39."

Attraction:

Fort Point

"This fort, now hidden directly under the Golden Gate Bridge, protected SF from attack during the Civil War. Admission is free, but only available on Friday, Saturday and Sunday."

Attraction:

Ghiradelli Square

"Originally the site of the Ghiradelli chocolate factory, this shopping center now houses a Ghiradelli chocolate shop and soda fountain, as well as several other boutiques and restaurants."

Attraction:

Golden Gate Park

"Over 1000 acres of sublime park space. Within the park are the California Academy of Sciences (natural history museum, aquarium and planetarium), Japanese Tea Garden, and M. H. de Young Museum of fine arts."

Attraction:

Haight Ashbury

"This neighborhood is the center of the hippie universe, and still a dense district of quirky boutiques and cafes. Something happened here in the 60s, but man, if you remember it, you weren’t there."

Attraction:

Lombard Street

"The crookedest street in the world and the easiest way to freak Anonymous out."

Attraction:

Memorial Stadium

"The greatest college football stadium in the world, situated on the greatest campus of the greatest university in the world. Go Bears!"

Attraction:

Muir Woods

"This grove across the Golden Gate Bridge is an easy way to check out 1000-year-old coastal redwoods, the tallest in the world."

Attraction:

Palace of Fine Arts

"A beautiful Greco-Roman structure and garden originally constructed in 1915 and now housing the Exploritorium science museum."

Attraction:

Palace of the Legion of Honor

"Gorgeous fine arts museum (exhibiting mostly European paintings and sculpture) with views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Marin Headlands, and greater San Francisco."

Attraction:

Powell Street Cable Car

"This relic of nineteenth century public transport runs from the Union Square area to Fisherman’s Wharf and is best experienced hanging on the outside."

Attraction:

Telegraph Avenue

"Known to the cool kids as “the Ave,” this boulevard of music stores, restaurants, headshops and street venders is Berkeley’s heart and soul."

Attraction:

TransAmerica Building

"This modern pyramid is San Francisco’s tallest and best-known skyscraper."

Reception Venue:

Don Ramon's

"Great private space, good food, very casual and fun atmosphere."