Xan & Kim’s Epic Love Story | Fort Mason Wedding | San Francisco

July 30, 2013

“You’re my puzzle piece…and not the ones you jam together, I’m talking about the ones that really do fit.” -From their favorite card

True, authentic, deep, passionate, honest, inspiring love. That’s what Xan and Kim have. It’s the kind of love that fills a room… the kind of love you can see all over them.

From the first time Kim and I spoke on the phone, to the bottle of wine the three of us had at our first meeting, to the epic engagement session we had retracing their first date (in case you missed it, here it is: http://173.255.253.231/chloejackman.com/public/kim-xan-romantic-engagement-session-dogpatch-sf/), to the months we spent planning the wedding (mostly them, me just here to help!), to the evening I spent at their new apartment drinking more wine and putting the final touches on their big day, I have been in awe of them and their deep, unwavering, whole-hearted, fearless love for each other. They truly are the perfect puzzle pieces made for one another, and I’m pretty sure that this has been the case for them in every previous life and every one they’ll have after this magical one.

One would naturally assume they’d have an epic wedding to celebrate their epic love, and I’m thrilled to report that they did just that. The whole thing was filled with personal touches that made it oh so them: DIY projects like the vibrant alter Kim made out of pinwheels she cut and folded herself; coffee filters she dyed, strung up and had decorating the walls of their venue; fabulous “Yay” flags; candles made in Xan’s Grandfather’s memory; DELICIOUS homemade honey bourbon that included the secret recipe as a gift to their guests; and adorable cake toppers made from champagne corks by the all talented Laura Beam. Their friends and family put countless hours into making this wedding spectacular. And let’s not forget the food trucks people. I mean, come on… that is a fantastic way to feed your happy and hungry party, because let’s be honest; who doesn’t love a good food truck?

There are so many moments from their wedding that I will always remember and that made me laugh, cry and feel the love, but I will leave most of them for you to discover or re-discover in the images below. The few that I have to mention are:

–When they did their first “not” look before the ceremony: they were very cautious not to see one another and we were all on patrol to make sure that was the case, but we set them up in a door way with their backs to each other so they could only hold hands and hear each other’s voices. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house. I watched them comfort and support each other with a few simple words and a few squeezes of hands. And Xan, being the Southern gentleman he is, said farewell with a kiss on his lady’s hand.

–The ceremony itself: Geez… I was tearing up before the music even started, then I looked at Kim who had tears streaming down her face and I lost it! After the procession it was finally just her and her daddy left to walk out into the main room, down the aisle, and into the arms of the man she will love forever. As she entered the room (I can only imagine this but I’m fairly sure), everything faded away and all she could see was him and all he could see was her. In a perfect moment, she mouthed “I love you” to him and he did the same to her. Through tears of joy, all the way down the aisle, they promised their love to one another. Xan, being the gentleman he is, almost made a big boo-boo by reaching down to kiss Kim when she made it to him at the alter…long before the “you may now kiss the bride” line. But never fear, he caught himself and managed to find the patience to wait to kiss his bride until he was told to (and a million more times since then, I’m sure).

Xan and Kim, thank you from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to share this beautiful day with you guys! Congrats on the puppy (let’s schedule a photo session for him soon!), and I can’t wait to see you both, drink more wine, and catch up