Photography by: Chung Li Photography
Ask the Expert
Wow! Couture, vibrant, chic, and playful. These are all the words which come to mind when I look at this incredible interpretation of the Golden Gate Club located in San Francisco’s historic Presidio. What’s funny is that these same words come to mind when I think of the incredibly talented Duncan Reyes of F. Duncan Reyes Events by Design, this wedding’s designer and planner. There are so many things about this design to love. Duncan has taken one of my favorite venues and turned it into a chic nightclub atmosphere.
The lighting design is to die for. The raspberry, fuchsia, and warm amber uplights completely transform the venue. I love the idea of a butterfly release as part of the celebration. I can’t get over this interpretation brought to life by an incredible lighting company. As you follow the butterflies from the fire place to the dramatic beamed ceilings, you can see it creates just the right complement of drama and whimsy. I love how they have made the butterflies flutter across the dance floor!
One of the best features of the Golden Gate Club is the vast ceilings that seem to go on forever. The second floor balconies provide a great vantage point for viewing your party, but also give your lighting designer many more options than a single floor structure. To help the space feel more like a club and less like a banquet hall, they have used a variety of tables with different shapes and sizes. This is a key point – at a club you’ll rarely see tables for ten, so creating a feeling of intimacy by having your crowd mingle in smaller groups of four, six, and eight is a perfect way to initiate this design.
