On July 2nd, a thick fog hung over the gold ornate dome of San Francisco City Hall. But there was no sign of gloom inside.
Couples posed for photos on the pink stairs en route to the rotunda, where volunteer civil servants were again performing civil weddings on June 9th. Dates are solidly booked and as sought after as toilet paper was once upon a time, but additional seats are being added as Covid restrictions lift, said Diane Rea, the administrative clerk.
In the early afternoon of this July day, the sun broke through the clouds and the newlyweds poured themselves onto the Civic Center Plaza, ready for the holiday weekend and everything that happens after “I do”.
Lauren Marinaro and Benjamin Reid
Benjamin Reid and Lauren Marinaro met in Minnesota high school, but their relationship didn’t start until college at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. “I skipped orientation to see Shark Week, so Lauren picked courses for us,” said Mr. Reid, 32, a biochemist at Quanta Therapeutics in San Francisco. Much of their 13 years together had been a long way off as they pursued careers and degrees. Ms. Marinaro, 32, recently completed an MBA from NYU’s Stern School of Business, and the couple now reside in San Francisco. For their photo-worthy departure from the Civic Center, the couple folded themselves into a tiny three-wheeled car. “Lauren always drives,” said Mr. Reid as Ms. Marinaro pulled up her robe and got behind the wheel.
Sammetra Daniels and Frank Ugbaja
Sammetra tried Daniels online dating three years ago. “I got goosebumps in the air,” said Ms. Daniels, a 33-year-old Bay Area native who earned a master’s degree in educational leadership from NYU in 2020. Today she is the sales director for data science and cybersecurity. But an overture was clearly different. “This was from a perfect gentleman – a confident, caring man with character,” she said of Frank Ugbaja, 35, a native of Flatbush, Brooklyn, who is now the vice president and branch manager of Citibank in Los Angeles, where the couple lives. “From the first date I knew we were going to get married,” said Mr. Ugbaja. “With Sammetra I saw that my dreams are possible.”
Nancy Preston and Jack Ferry
Five years ago, Nancy Preston took a foray into online dating in Scottsdale, Arizona, to see Jack Ferry. “Life was instantly more fun,” said Mr. Ferry, 61, who works in auto finance. A few years later, when Ms. Preston, now 50, accepted a position as a traveling nurse in Northern California, the couple relocated to Santa Rosa, California, a move they wanted to make permanent. Last May, Ms. Preston’s 23-year-old daughter died of cancer, which led the couple to legalize an already well-tested marriage. “We really needed something to celebrate,” said Ms. Preston in a strapless dress with a dragonfly brooch, a fitting symbol of transformation.
Maulika Vashishtha and Shivaraj Patil
Maulika Vashishtha and Shivaraj Patil, both 31 and software engineers – she at DoorDash, he at Microsoft – wanted to get married in India. But with trips thwarted by the coronavirus pandemic, they settled on the next best. The couple met while attending graduate school at San Jose State University in 2013 and were friends for several years before cementing their bond. “I knew she was the right one and I was willing to take it slow,” said Mr. Patil. Supported by cousins and uncles, the couple chatted by video with their parents in India, where it was the middle of the night. “One day we are going to celebrate in India,” said Ms. Vashishtha wistfully.
Allen Tang and Jason Tengco
In 2012, Allen Tang met Jason Tengco at a youth leadership conference at the White House. Both were in relationships at the time, but they reunited as singles at another event at the White House in 2015. You now live in Oakland, California. Mr. Tengco works as the White House liaison officer in the Human Resources Bureau and Mr. Tang is a health advisor; both are 33 years old. They were at City Hall to get their marriage license after their official wedding took place the next day on July 3rd. “This is where gay marriage began,” said Tengco. “This is a meaningful place for us.”
Weina Zhao and Florian Mayr
Founded by friends six years ago, Weina Zhao, 31, and Florian Mayr, 30, both Harvard graduates, made careers in tech in New York City and rooted in Brooklyn Heights. He is the founder of the software company Mark43; she works in product management for MailChimp. However, it proved difficult to get an appointment for a marriage certificate at New York City Hall. Ms. Zhao, who grew up in San Francisco and fondly remembered her high school prom here at City Hall, brought up the idea of a destination wedding just for the two of them. “This is the first place I’ve ever dressed up,” said Ms. Zhao. “It’s absolutely beautiful.”
Gretchen Ames and Joe Mann
When Covid met, Gretchen Ames and Joe Mann feared that their legal status did not reflect their true commitment. “What if one of us had to go to the hospital?” said Ms. Mann, 51, a lawyer. 17 years ago, in 2004, the two met on a blind date in Boston; within a year they moved west together. On their wedding day, they walked from their San Francisco home in their glory to City Hall and attracted the attention of passers-by and people in their favorite bodegas. Ms. Ames, 49, who works in early childhood research and politics, said the quarantine was harsh, but that sense of humor carried her through the challenging year. “It was a special kind of test, but Joe passed it,” she said jokingly. Mr. Mann was just as happy: “Gretchen has wisdom and I’m an emotional idiot,” he said.
Leanne Hulme and JR Ahn
“We will always have fireworks,” said Leanne Hulme of the decision to get married on Independence Day weekend. Ten years ago, Ms. Hulme, 51, met JR Ahn, 52, through her work. Although they both have careers in technology and finance, running their mixed family of four children has been the foundation of their success in the relationship. “My mother is excited and strong-willed, and JR makes her calmer,” said Ms. Hulme’s daughter Katie Hulme, 19. “But she calms him down too,” countered Cait Ahn, the groom’s 15-year-old daughter.
Lusiana Wainiqolo and Andrew Singh
Their wedding was scheduled for March 19, 2020, but in the days leading up to the date, Lusiana Wainiqolo and Andrew Singh realized that a full-blown wedding would not be possible. “We went numb,” said Ms. Wainiqolo, a manager at Borrowed Lenses, a photo and video equipment rental company in San Carlos. The pain of ruining their plans hit hard. “It has certainly been a tough year,” said Mr. Singh, who works for Allied Universal Security in South San Francisco. The couple, both 27, met 10 years ago in church when they were in high school in San Mateo, a city south of San Francisco. “He’s the quiet, shy guy,” said Ms. Wainiqolo with a big smile, “and I don’t.”
