While we’re all currently social-distancing and committed to mask wearing, this wedding took place in the months before the coronavirus pandemic began. We hope it will bring some joy to your reading list.
Lance Lin and Jared Levan first met when a mutual friend brought Levan to a barbecue Lin was hosting at his summer share house on Fire Island. “I happened to be on Fire Island for the day and ended up at Lance’s house,” Jared, an account manager at Impossible Foods, remembers. “It was my first time visiting Fire Island and it had been a last-minute decision to go...so happy I did!”
Six years later, Jared proposed right before Thanksgiving. “We wanted to take some time to ourselves,” remembers Lance, a senior manager in the communications department at Apple. “We decided on Palm Springs and spent our weekend at The Parker. “The last night, we had an incredible dinner at Workshop and then headed back to the hotel for a night cap.”
On their walk back to the room, Jared guided Lance in a different direction, away from their room. “While we were at dinner, he had the hotel staff move all our luggage into one of their Villas, so when I stepped into our new room, all I remember is seeing a bucket of champagne and the rest is a blur,” Lance admits.
“Since the day we met, Lance had always talked about writing a children’s book one day,” Jared adds. “So I worked with San Francisco-based illustrator Dan Bransfield to create a book cover. The plot centers around a boy-turned-man and his stuffed bear, which Lance actually has. Throughout the story, both head out on different adventures together—from growing up, to college, to living in New York City, [traveling] around the globe, and ultimately moving out west to California. Getting married would be the next chapter of the story, part of which which would also be finishing the book together. We both envisioned the ending to be the main character ultimately having a baby with his husband and his bear finding a new home in the crib.” When they entered the villa, Jared showed Lance the book cover, and brought him over to the bedroom where his actual stuffed bear was holding the ring box.
“The next thing I remember,” Lance says, “is Jared saying, ‘Would it help if I got down on one knee?’ while opening the Chopard box to reveal the exact ring I dreamed about.”
For their wedding weekend, they chose two special venues—Promontory Winery and The Charter Oak Restaurant in Napa. “We grew up and spent our 20s on the east coast, but after moving out west, we’ve completely fallen in love with the northern California sensibility,” Lance says. He always had a vision of getting married in a loft in Tribeca, while Jared wanted to celebrate in a more open landscape—their final venues worked to achieve both goals.
Lance and Jared share a passion for food, so they knew from the start that their wedding would need to be focused on friends, family, and an amazing meal. To that end, they worked with Ashley Smith Events, Fogcutter’s Chef Guillermo Perez, and The Charter Oak’s Chef Christopher Kostow to put together unforgettable dinners.
“Because our [actual] wedding took place at City Hall in San Francisco, it was a very intimate and traditional wedding,” Jared says. At that ceremony, they were only joined by Lance’s parents, Evelyn and John, and they continued the celebration with lunch at their favorite restaurant in San Francisco, Zuni Cafe.
“We always knew we didn’t want a religious ceremony [during our wedding weekend],” Lance explains. “So the idea of a chic seated dinner party surrounded by the people we loved felt like the perfect way to celebrate our union.”
Their mission was to have flowers from Wild Club everywhere, alongside an epic multi-course meal by Fogcutter, served with incredible wine at Promontory Winery. They worked with Bourne Paper Co, who did all of the paper goods, to create beautiful books in lieu of traditional menus, which really set the tone for the night.
The dress code called for Creative Black Tie. “We knew that we both wanted to wear tuxedos—mine white and Jared’s navy,” Lance says. “My years at Ralph Lauren and GQ exposed me to many beautiful options, but for us, the idea of investing in a tuxedo to only wear it a few times, didn’t quite make sense. Enter The Black Tux, this innovative menswear rental business that delivered everything we, and many of our guests, needed.”
Lance accented his tux with two key accessories—a diamond brooch from his grandmother, which he wore on his lapel, and his Apple watch, which was meant to symbolize the reason why he moved out west. “I have vivid memories of my grandmother wearing the brooch as necklace,” Lance says. “And while she has sadly passed, it was incredibly meaningful to have her be part of our special day in that way.”
Lance’s parents opened up the evening with a heartfelt welcome to all of their loved ones in attendance, as well as to the loved ones present in spirit. “Before our dinner started, Lance and I exchanged our vows to one another, which were bookended by speeches from a few of our closest friends,” Jared remembers.
“During the welcome greeting by my parents, around the beautiful circular water structure, my mom concluded her part by saying she was ‘excited to call Jared her son,’” Lance shares. “For many reasons, that single sentence meant the world to us. Looking at my beautiful mom and handsome dad, throughout the night, acknowledging that I made the right choices in life and everything was going to be just OK, was a wonderful feeling.”
“Everyone says you’re nervous during your wedding, and it’s true,” Jared adds. “Even after being together for 8 years before the big day, it was the most profoundly unique and positive moment of my life.”
As dinner concluded, guests were gifted takeaway baskets that included homemade strawberry jam from Jared, English muffins from The Model Bakery, palo santo, the couple’s favorite kid’s book, The Missing Piece (which is how Lance described his now-husband in his vows), and a custom matchbook which featured a phrase they say to each other often: “Love you. Love you more. Love you most.”
The reception was held the following night at The Charter Oak with even more family and friends. “For continuity, we actually created a neon sign with the previously mentioned phrase and had it on display at the reception at The Charter Oak,” Lance says.
Jared wore Burberry, and Lance opted for white pieces from Virgil Abloh’s first collectsion with Louis Vuitton. “His appointment as men’s artistic director signaled such an incredible and positive change for the industry, and his ability to mix a streetwear aesthetic with luxury completely aligns with my personal style,” Lance says. “Plus I knew there was going to be a lot of dancing later in the evening, so I jumped at the chance to wear sneakers and a tee shirt!”
The reception had a distinctly different vibe from the previous night in that it was more casual, creative, and gave friends and family an opportunity to really mix. Illustrator Dan Bransfield created watercolor portraits using an iPad Pro and Apple Pencil in lieu of a traditional photo booth, and there was a wish wall area in lieu of a traditional wedding book.
As a late night surprise, a private dining space downstairs at The Charter Oak was transformed into a club, inspired by the iconic Indochine, where Lance spent much of his 20s in New York City. “From the wallpaper to the lights to the decor, we wanted to create a memorable space where our guests could dance the night away,” he says. “When Jared and I first started dating in 2010, we always loved dancing to Rihanna’s ‘What’s My Name.’ It just epitomized that frivolous and exciting age, partying at tucked away bars...It always brings a smile to our faces, and you know a Rihanna song can kick off any party.“
Eventually, everyone at the reception was out on the dance floor jumping around and screaming the lyrics to Robyn’s “Dancing On My Own.” “It was pure joy,” Lance says. “And the ultimate realization that we were not alone, because we all had each other.”
Photo: Kindred1/34“Bourne Paper Co. helped us create invitations that reflected the merger of our east coast sensibility and west coast affinity,” Lance says. “We loved pairing the simple black and white font with marble vellum, and used an image of a fern on postage, in honor of Jared’s grandmother, Fern.”
Photo: Kindred2/34“This special group were with me the first day I met Jared and had been supporting me for many years before that,” Lance says. “It meant the world to have my dearest friends from New York City and London with me to mark the occasion.”
Photo: Kindred3/34“The Promontory winery overlooks Napa Valley and has the most majestic view,” Lance notes.
Photo: Kindred4/34“Ryan Welsh and my dear friend and colleague, Nikki Rothberg, who I’ve known for over ten years,” Lance says. “She’s been a true source of support and kindness, but laughter to the core.”
Photo: Kindred5/34“We both loved the idea of simple gold bands and while Jared went for something more classic with Cartier, I was obsessed with the geometric and architectural vibe of my Chopard ring,” Lance says.
Photo: Kindred7/34“It was important to me that this day be as perfect and celebratory for my mom as it was for us,” Lance says. “I wanted her to feel loved, supported, confident and truly happy—all the ways she’s made me feel throughout my entire life.”
Photo: Kindred8/34“There is just something about a tux,” Lance says. “I couldn’t believe how handsome Jared looked and that it was possible to fall in love with someone even more.”
Photo: Kindred9/34“I have vivid memories of my grandmother wearing this diamond pendant as a child,” Lance says. “While she has sadly passed, I was honored to pin it to my lapel and have her be part of our special day in that way.”
Photo: Kindred11/34“We were obsessed with the mixture of industrial materials like concrete and steel and the organic natural backdrop at Promontory,” Lance says.
Photo: Kindred12/34“When I first saw this backdrop at Promontory, I quickly realized this is where I wanted to celebrate our wedding,” Lance says. “To stand there ultimately with Jared is a memory I will never forget.”
Photo: Kindred13/34“One of many stunning, hidden rooms at Promontory where guests could converse before dinner,” Jared says.
Photo: Kindred14/34“Around the central water feature, my parents welcomed all our guests, and then Jared as their ‘second son,’” Lance says.
Photo: Kindred15/34“Before the formal dinner and in lieu of passed hors d’oeuvres, we created moments throughout Promontory for guests to enjoy all the food and drinks, which was enhanced by the beautiful open-air environment,” Lance says.
Photo: Kindred16/34“A cheers followed by the unveiling of the dining table in the fermentation hall, which was originally concealed by massive metal and glass doors,” Lance says.
Photo: Kindred17/34“Jared and I were excited about the concept of one long table for dinner and this concrete option worked perfectly in the cavernous fermentation hall,” Lance says. “It was idyllic to have the opportunity to look down the table and see everyone we loved in one spot.”
Photo: Kindred18/34“Our intention was for each guest to feel their meal was custom-built for them,” Jared says. “Bourne Paper Co. created unique menu booklets to walk our loved ones through their dining experience.”
Photo: Kindred19/34“The fermentation hall at Promontory provided an incredible setting for the dinner, allowing guests to sit amongst the steel, concrete, and wood tanks and feel immersed in the evening,” Jared says.
Photo: Kindred20/34“We wanted to keep the menu simple to showcase true California cuisine,” Jared explains. “For the second course, Fogcutter co-founder and Chef Guillermo Perez paired chilled Dungeness Crab with tempura sea beans, sorrel, sliced serranos, brokaw avocado, cucumber, tarragon, and meyer lemon.”
Photo: Kindred21/34“Fogcutter executed our vision of having the food styling mirror the rolling hills surrounding the venue, with peaks and valleys of delicious canapés, meats, and cheeses,” Lance says.
Photo: Kindred22/34“When the sun goes down at Promontory, the already breath-taking scene transforms to highlight the stone and oak used around the property,” Jared says.
Photo: Kindred23/34“We chose Promontory’s 2008 and 2012 vintages to pair with the formal dinner,” Jared says. “Other wines poured throughout the evening included Dom Perignon (2006), Joseph Drouhin Meursault Chardonnay (2016) and The Napa Valley Reserve Sauvignon Blanc (2015), all selected by winemaker Will Harlan.”
Photo: Kindred24/34“Katherine Altonaga, a dear friend, and I share a moment to laugh after Lance and I read our remarks to one another,” Jared says.
Photo: Kindred25/34“Laughter was a common theme throughout the entire evening and represents the strongest pillar that our marriage and relationships are built on,” Jared says.
Photo: Kindred26/34“At the close of the formal dinner, we offered a variety of artisanal desserts created by Fogcutter Pastry Chef Najla Yoon,” Jared says. “Guests also departed from the Promontory hearth with their own basket of special treats including our favorite book, ‘The Missing Piece’ by Shel Silverstein and Paloma Provisions strawberry jam, hand-crafted by Jared.”
Photo: Kindred27/34“We’ve said this same phrase to each other every day during the seven years leading to our wedding, so it only felt right to incorporate into our celebration,” Jared says.
Photo: Kindred28/34“For the second night, we commemorated at The Charter Oak, an incredible restaurant in St. Helena, CA whose design reflects our northeastern upbringings with elements of ivy, brick, and wood,” Lance says.
Photo: Kindred29/34“On night two, with a full night of dancing awaiting us, we went for more casual looks from two of our favorite designers: Riccardo Tisci for Burberry and Virgil Abloh for Louis Vuitton,” Lance says.
Photo: Kindred31/34“Instead of a photo booth, we created a station for illustrator Dan Bransfield to create sketches of our guests using an iPad and Apple Pencil, as digital takeaways,” Lance says.
Photo: Kindred32/34“We transformed the private room at The Charter Oak into a space inspired by our favorite nights out dancing during our 20s in New York City,” Lance says.
