March 13th, 2020 : The final wedding before the pandemic hit San Francisco by force. The last wedding at Grace Cathedral to date. One year ago.

After we left, they locked the doors...

TJ and I met while helping to open our friend's restaurant, Calavera, in Oakland, right around the time when I was making the leap to go full-time with photography. Working as servers in a restaurant, we connected almost instantly in that special way that only hospitality folk do.

Better yet, we were exactly the same age and shared our taste in music (an important pillar of any good friendship). TJ would exclaim every time I walked in, “Michaela, your hair looks like you just came from a wedding.”

This, of course, was true most of the time.

I always loved when Lydia would come in to visit TJ at the restaurant. She is always entertaining, and it was always laughs with the two of them.

It was only a matter of time before these two finally decided to tie the knot! I was thrilled when TJ came to me and said, “Well, naturally you have to photograph our wedding!”

It was such a treat to reunite and capture their special day, despite the fact that it would be the last wedding at Grace Cathedral for the foreseeable future because, well, Covid-19.

It was a unique celebration during an uncertain time in San Francisco, but all day, their love was front and center.

The next day would go on to be the first day of shelter in place––with this, emotions were kind of all over the place for everyone––ourselves included––but we made an effort to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps, shake off the state of the world for a moment, and immerse ourselves in TJ & Lydia’s celebration of love.

We just couldn’t be happier to have been a part of it.

Thank you to our fellow creatives!

Ceremony | Grace Cathedral

Reception & Catering | Kimpton Sir Francis Drake

Photo Session | Fairmont San Francisco

Videography | Konnor Kraft

MUA | Dee Marie Artistry

Hair | Vee Vargas

Dress | Emerald City Gowns

Photography | Michaela Joy Photography