If you live in San Francisco, a great date night is the Cal Academy Nighlife, where the museum opens up at night and hosts live music and cocktails. Guests get to mingle amongst the exhibits. For San Francisco couple Sophia and Taylor, some of their earliest dates were at the NightLife events. So when the two got engaged, the Cal Academy was a a natural choice for their wedding venue. They love this unique museum, and knew their guests would love it too. The Cal Academy is an immersive experience that houses a rainforest, an aquarium, a planetarium, a natural history museum, and it’s all under a living rooftop. There is no other wedding venue like it. Check out their spectacular wedding!

Wedding couple standing under aquarium at the Cal Academy in San Francisco.

Before their wedding day, I joined a site visit to the Cal Academy with the engaged couple and their entire vendor team. We familiarized ourselves with each event space, how it would be used for their wedding day, and what special rules their may be for each space or exhibit. Although I have been the museum multiple times, it was super helpful to have this visit to help envision the flow their day. Afterwards, I worked with the couple and their planner to create a timeline for all the key photographic moments, while also making sure the couple had plenty of time to enjoy their wedding!

“We wanted great photos to remember the big day, but it was really important to us to be fully present at our wedding, and not feel like we were having to interrupt the experience to take pictures. Sonya figured out a timeline that worked perfectly.””

— the bride

Birds eye street view of Nob Hill and a cable car in San Francisco.

Getting Ready in Nob Hill

The day started with the couple getting ready at the Stanford Court Hotel on top of Nob Hill. The bride was in the Leland penthouse suite with her family and friends. This suite is one of my favorite places in San Francisco for getting ready photos! It has all the space you’d need for a bridal party to have hair and make-up done, as well as private rooms, lounging spaces for hanging out, bathrooms, and a full kitchen.

Close up of bride after she finishes putting on earrings in hotel room in Nob Hill.

The bride’s twin sister was her maid of honor and helped her get ready. There was a relaxed feel in the spacious suite and plenty of room to get ready and add all the finishing touches! The couple’s wedding invitation was hand drawn and designed by their friend and designer, Kate McElhiney Studio. I love that the famous and much loved parrots of Telegraph Hill adorned the invitation, along with a cable car and the Golden Gate Bridge. It was perfect for this San Francisco couple.

The First Look

We departed Nob Hill and drove across the city to Golden Gate Park. Not far from the Cal Academy is the San Francisco Botanical Garden, where Sophia and Taylor had a private First Look amongst the greenery.

Bride surrounded by lush plants at the San Francisco Botanical Gardens.

“On the day of our wedding, Sonya was everywhere and nowhere at the same time. She captured all of the important moments, as well as the little details that made our day so special.” - Sophia

Groom waiting as bride approaches him at the San Francisco Botanical Gardens.

Bride smiling at groom as they meet in the San Francisco Botanical Gardens. — The bride and groom meet for their First Look in the Botanical Gardens.

Bride holds her bouquet and smiles at groom in the San Franisco Botanical Gardens.

Bride and groom seen from behind as they walk a path in the San Franisco Botanical Gardens.

Just a quick note about the First Look. There is often this moment of levity when the couple finally sees each other. All the tension that was being held onto during the morning getting ready time gets washed away— and they start smiling! It’s also one of those moments of, “this is really happening…today is the day!” It’s a quiet and beautiful moment and Sophia and Taylor’s was exactly that.

Groom rests his forehead on bride and smiles and she smiles widely at the camera in the San Franisco Botanical Gardens. — Such big smiles from the bride and groom after their First Look!

After their First Look, we met with the bride and groom’s immediate families and took some family photos in the gardens. Then we headed back to the Cal Academy to take photos their before guests arrived for the ceremony.

The bride and groom run down a path in a blur at the San Franisco Botanical Gardens. — Departing the Botanical Gardens for the Cal Academy!

The Cal Academy is open during the day with regular hours to the public, so we planned to arrive there just after closing time, so that the couple could have their special access around the museum, starting with the immersive rainforest! The rainforest is temperature controlled and you feel like you are entering the tropics immediately when you walk into the glass enclosure. The butterflies were flitting around as we made our way up the spiral ramp to the top, surrounded by lush greenery and the sound or running water. It’s a pretty amazing way to experience your wedding day!

The bride and groom lean against a railing inside the topmost part of the rainforest inside the Cal Academy of Sciences in San Francisco. — The bride and groom at the top of the Cal Academy’s rainforest.

Bride and groom embrace inside the rainforest at the Cal Academy in San Francisco.

After the rainforest, we made our way down to the Steinhart aquarium, one of the most biodiverse aquariums in the world. With over 1000 species, you can’t help but feel like a kid in wonder as you walk through the tunnel. It is a huge perk as part of having your wedding there to get a private tour and opportunity to take your photos amongst incredible exhibits!
One thing to note, is that many exhibits in the Cal Academy do not allow photo flash because it would disturb the animals. I’ve been photographing weddings for many years now and have encountered all kinds of lighting challenges, so not having the use of flash was not an issue.

A silhouette of the bride and groom as they look at the aquarium in the Cal Academy of San Francisco.

The bride and groom look at each other while standing in front of the Steinhart Aquarium at the San Francisco Cal Academy of Sciences.

The wedding couple come up the stairs towards the Grand Hall in the San Francisco Cal Academy. — Back up to the Grand Hall to get ready for the ceremony!

The Ceremony at the Cal Academy

The Cal Academy's Grand Hall is set up for a wedding ceremony. — The Grand Hall in the Cal Academy is centered on the first floor and can hold a large wedding, with a capacity of up to 350 guests seated in its 8000 square feet!

Guests began to arrive in the main lobby entrance, mingling among the Cal Academy exhibits. One of the perks of having your wedding at the Cal Academy is that you may not need to consider as much entertainment for your guests…it’s already built in with all the fascinating exhibits!

Wedding guests arrive in the main lobby of the San Francisco Cal Academy of Sciences. — Guests arrive in the main lobby.

The wedding ceremony at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco.

Honoring the bride’s Jewish heritage, the couple held their ceremony under a chuppah, rented and beautifully adorned with with florals designed by Events by the Bay!

The bride and groom exchange wedding rings under their chuppa at the Cal Academy. — The couple exchange rings under their chuppah.

Did you know that you can have more than one officiant! The groom’s brother was not only the groom’s best man, but was also one of the ceremony officiants, along with his sister and the bride’s sister. They each took turns speaking and directing the ceremony.

The wedding couple smash the glass for their Jewish ceremony at the Cal Academy. — Smashing the glass!

The couple cheer with their guests at their wedding alter at the Cal Academy. — Mazel tov to the newlyweds!

Cocktails in the Aquarium

After signing their marriage ketubah with just their immediate families present, the newlyweds made their way down to the aquarium to join their guests for cocktail hour. Since they had a First Look earlier in the day and we had taken a good amount of photos of the two of them before the ceremony, the couple got to enjoy almost all of their cocktail hour, and this is a cocktail hour you don’t want to miss!

Wedding guests mingle during cocktail hour in the aquarium at the Cal Academy.

The bride mingles with her guests in the Steinhart Aquarium at the Cal Academy in San Francisco. — Guests gather for cocktails in the aquarium.

Claude the albino alligator sits in his swamp at the Cal Academy in San Francisco. — Claude the albino alligator at the Cal Academy.

Guests could say hi to Claude on their way to cocktail hour! The albino alligator has been living at the Cal Academy since 2008.

Dinner in the African Hall

For their dinner reception, the bride and groom chose to have one long farm style table running the length of the African Hall, which is also home to the penguins.

The wedding dinner reception table is set inside the African Hall at the Cal Academy.

The bride's dinner place setting at the Cal Academy in San Francisco.

The wedding dinner reception with a view of the penguins at the Cal Academy. — Dinner with a view of the African penguins.

The Living Roof

Just as cocktail hour was winding down and guests started making their way to the African Hall for dinner, I found the bride and groom and we took the elevator up to the Living Roof for a few photos. I know they wanted to have some nice photos here, but also didn’t want to miss a lot of their party, so we spent no more than ten minutes, which is really all you need up there.

From the rooftop we had gorgeous views of the Music Concourse and Golden Gate Park. Though we couldn’t see the Golden Gate Bridge because Karl the Fog was in full effect. But it was misty and beautiful; true to a real San Francisco summer. It was lovely to capture some romance on the roof.

The bride and groom walk on the Living Roof with a view of the Music Concourse in Golden Gate Park.

The newlyweds in front of the grassy mound of the Cal Academy's Living Roof. — The bride and groom check out the Living Roof on top of the Cal Academy.

The bride and groom embrace on top of the Living Roof with a view of Golden Gate Park and a ferris wheel

Where else can you have penguins as wedding guests? The penguins were definitely curious as they looked on at the human guests.

The penguins watch the wedding guests during their dinner reception. — The penguins hang out and watch the wedding guests during dinner.

The wedding couple and guests laugh and smile as the maid of honor gives a toast in the African Hall at the Cal Academy. — The maid of honor gives a toast.

The bride and groom smile at a guest as they enjoy their dinner at the Cal Academy in San Francisco.

I love love love seeing my couples having an AMAZING time at their wedding!! I know it is a lot of work to plan a wedding, even with an awesome planner and vendor team. But here is the secret, although it’s really not-so-secret: when you’re fully present in your wedding day and having the best time of your life, you will get the best wedding photos!

The Party: the Cake, the Hora, the Band, and more Dancing!

The bride and groom cut their wedding cake at the Cal Academy in San Francisco.

After cutting their beautiful marbled cake, Sophia and Taylor kicked off their party with their First Dance.

The groom leads the bride onto the dance floor in the Grand Hall at the Cal Academy. — The First Dance!

The bride and groom dance while guests watch at the Cal Academy in San Francisco.

Wedding guests cheer and clap for the bride and groom at the Cal Academy of Sciences.

The bride and groom are lifted in chairs for the Hora during their wedding reception at the Cal Academy. — The Hora!

A band plays sings and plays guitar for the wedding guests at the Cal Academy.

There is nothing quite like a live band to bring the party into full swing, and Pop Fiction SF did just that! Everyone got onto the dance floor and the energy was high!

The bride and groom dance joyfully at their wedding reception at the Cal Academy.

“We cannot thank Sonya enough for giving us such beautiful memories to cherish forever. If you are looking for a wedding photographer, we highly recommend Sonya for your special day!!”

— Sophia