Marie and Griffin know how to have fun — and their friends know it. But no one suspected that their engagement party in San Francisco would turn into a surprise wedding.
The couple invited their guests to the former Phoenix Hotel, one of San Francisco’s longtime gathering places for music, nightlife, and celebrations. The request for formal attire may have offered a clue, but with Marie and Griffin’s history of throwing fabulous parties, their friends thought they were simply arriving for an especially good engagement party.
Griffin had one big priority when they began thinking about the celebration: they wanted a place where they could stay late and make a full weekend of it. The Phoenix Hotel fit the unconventional spirit they were after, and Marie loved the idea of taking it one step further — turning the engagement party into the wedding itself.
Four Months to Create the Celebration
With just four months to plan, Marie and her family jumped into full swing. Seasoned party planners themselves, they designed the printed materials, sourced the vendors, and created the eclectic vintage tabletop Marie had always dreamed of.
Up and down the San Francisco Peninsula, the family hunted through local thrift shops for vintage blue china, votive holders, candelabras, and flower vases. The collected pieces gave the tables a wonderfully layered, one-of-a-kind feel. Theoni Collection filled in the gaps with vintage flatware, etched wine glasses, and modern black chargers, adding just the right amount of contrast.
And then there was the dress. Marie knew exactly what she wanted but couldn't find it, so she commissioned a custom gown from Ellen Wise Couture. The design team created an elegant, modern gown finished with 350 hand-sewn freshwater pearls—a completely original look for a completely original celebration.
The Surprise Wedding
When April 20 arrived, The Poppy Group team was ready to run the show.
Marie and Griffin greeted their guests at the bar in their engagement-party attire, giving away absolutely nothing. Then, one hour into the party, they grabbed a microphone and revealed the surprise: they were getting married that night.
Guests made their way to the courtyard, where the ceremony was waiting, and the engagement party officially became a San Francisco wedding.
Photographer Nirav Patel and his team captured the celebration as the newlyweds moved through the night on an unmistakable high. Maybe it was the warm spring evening. Maybe it was the Aperol spritzes and bottomless espresso martinis. Or maybe it was simply the thrill of pulling off the biggest surprise of their lives.
Hours of drinks, dancing, and celebration followed. At midnight, our Poppy planners said goodnight while Marie and Griffin were still happily going strong on the dance floor.
Well played, Marie and Griffin.
