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Alex & Nicole’s Black-Tie Kohl Mansion Wedding in Burlingame

27

Sep

Alex and Nicole’s black-tie wedding at Kohl Mansion in Burlingame brought together an elegant historic setting, meaningful family traditions, and a lively celebration. Between the mansion’s stately architecture, surrounding gardens, and the people gathered to celebrate them, their wedding felt both sophisticated and personal.

The details told part of the story, but so did the moments in between: time spent with family, the expressions exchanged throughout the day, and a reception filled with conversation and dancing.

A Historic Kohl Mansion Wedding in Burlingame

Kohl Mansion is one of the San Francisco Peninsula’s distinctive historic estates, with rose-brick architecture, beautiful grounds, and richly detailed interiors. Those contrasting spaces made a lovely backdrop for Alex and Nicole’s wedding, from formal portraits to the celebration inside. The setting had its own character without drawing attention away from the people.

Black-Tie Wedding Style and Thoughtful Details

Nicole wore a gown by Made With Love from Lovely Bride San Francisco, while the bridesmaids wore dresses from BHLDN. The black-tie attire suited the scale and warmth of the mansion. Floral designs by Flowers of the Valley and stationery by Shine Wedding Invitations added texture and personality to the day.

A Wedding Centered on Family and Tradition

Family was woven throughout the celebration. From time shared with parents and siblings to the conversations and toasts at the reception, it was clear how much it meant to have everyone together. Rather than a day defined only by its formal details, Alex and Nicole’s wedding left room for the relationships at its center.

Honoring Ukrainian Heritage and Jewish Traditions

Nicole’s Ukrainian heritage and Jewish traditions were meaningful parts of the wedding. Her family shared Ukrainian customs, and the celebration reflected the traditions important to them. Alex and Nicole also placed Spanish porróns on the tables—a playful nod to a trip they had taken together. It was a small, personal detail that invited guests into a piece of their story.

An Elegant Kohl Mansion Wedding Reception

The evening moved from dinner and heartfelt toasts in the mansion courtyard into music and dancing. The bride and groom cut their wedding cake among white floral arrangements, and later, guests lifted them high on chairs for a joyful hora. With planning by Plan To Be Wowed, the reception made room for both meaningful traditions and spontaneous celebrations. These are the moments I love photographing as much as the portraits: a familiar expression across a table, shared laughter, and the energy of the dance floor.

Alex and Nicole’s wedding was a beautiful reminder that an elegant celebration can still feel deeply personal. For another classic Peninsula wedding, explore this Hillsborough Racquet Club wedding. If you’re planning a wedding at Kohl Mansion or elsewhere in the San Francisco Bay Area, I’d love to hear about your plans.

Wedding invitation suite with white stationery, gold wax seals and white flower petals at Kohl Mansion.
Close-up of wedding stationery and two gold wedding bands beside white flower petals.
Two wedding rings displayed in velvet ring boxes beside the white invitation suite.
Close-up of the printed wedding invitation and white paper stationery.
Pearl-embellished bridal handbag with jeweled heels and gold wedding jewelry.
Bridal detail flat lay with sparkling heels, pearl handbag, wedding rings and silk accessories.
Bride's white wedding gown hanging between tall windows and white floral arrangements at Kohl Mansion.
Bride standing in her fitted white wedding gown between floral arrangements and sunlit windows.
Bride adjusting an earring beside a bright window with her hair styled in a low updo.
Close-up of a family member fastening the back of the bride's wedding gown.
Bride smiling while a woman in a silver dress helps with her wedding gown.
Bride holding hands with a woman in a silver dress during wedding preparations.
Bride posing beside a woman in a silver dress in the sunlit mansion room.
Bride embracing an older woman in a silver dress before the wedding ceremony.
Older woman wiping tears while the bride smiles beside her during getting ready.
Close-up of the bride's engagement ring and wedding band resting on her hands.
Bride and older woman smiling together in a bright interior at Kohl Mansion.
Bride in a long veil embracing an older man in a tuxedo at the mansion.
Bride kissing an older man in a black tuxedo during a quiet family moment.
Bride smiling beside an older man in a tuxedo during family portraits.
Bride and older man sharing a smile near a tall window in the mansion.
Close-up of the groom adjusting a watch and cuff on his white dress shirt.
Older man helping the groom straighten his black bow tie in a wood-paneled room.
Groom buttoning his black tuxedo jacket with another man behind him.
Groom portrait in a black tuxedo beside the wood-paneled bookshelves at Kohl Mansion.
Groom seated on a velvet sofa beside an older man in a black tuxedo.
Groom adjusting his bow tie in front of a dark wooden bookcase.
Groom and older man looking at a small item while seated together on a sofa.
Close-up of the groom holding a small keepsake while seated beside an older man.
Groom seated beside an older man on a dark velvet sofa in the mansion library.
Two men in formal wedding attire seated together against wood-paneled walls.
Groom hugging a woman in a gray dress beside the mansion's stone fireplace.
Groom standing with two family members in formal attire beside a fireplace.
Groom and woman in a gray dress looking down at a card during family preparations.
Groom embracing an older man beside a woman in a gray dress at Kohl Mansion.
Back view of the bride in her long veil facing the sunlit mansion windows.
Groom standing in his black tuxedo and white boutonniere before the first look.
Bride waiting in a white wedding gown with a long flowing veil by a tall window.
Groom opening his arms toward the bride for their first look in a bright mansion room.
Bride approaching the groom during their indoor first look at Kohl Mansion.
Bride and groom embracing beside tall windows during their wedding first look.
Groom smiling as the bride laughs during their first look in the mansion.
Bride and groom laughing together in a sunlit room after their first look.
Bride and groom kissing between tall windows and white floral arrangements.
Close-up of the bride and groom holding hands in their black-tie wedding attire.
Bride and groom smiling together during intimate portraits beside a window.
Wedding party group portrait in formal black suits and pale dresses inside Kohl Mansion.
Bride and groom walking toward the camera as their wedding party cheers behind them.
Bride and groom kissing as the wedding party celebrates in a sunlit mansion room.
Bride standing with bridesmaids in pale dresses holding white floral bouquets.
Groom standing with groomsmen in black tuxedos before tall mansion windows.
Bride and groom with two young attendants in a family portrait beside floral arrangements.
Outdoor wedding ceremony seating arranged on the lawn at Kohl Mansion beneath mature trees.
White and green floral arrangement beside rows of wooden wedding ceremony chairs.
White floral wedding ceremony arch surrounded by greenery on the Kohl Mansion lawn.
Close-up of white garden roses and greenery adorning the outdoor ceremony arch.
Groom walking down the outdoor ceremony aisle with family members beside Kohl Mansion.
Groom embracing an older woman as he walks toward the garden ceremony.
Groom wiping away tears during the outdoor wedding ceremony processional.
Bride walking down the lawn aisle with family members as guests stand on both sides.
Wide view of the garden wedding ceremony aisle beneath tall trees at Kohl Mansion.
Bride hugging an older woman beside the ceremony aisle with her veil trailing behind.
Groom holding the bride's hand as they approach their outdoor ceremony.
Groom smiling at the bride beneath the garden ceremony arch with groomsmen behind him.
Bride and groom facing each other beneath a white floral arch during their vows.
Bride and groom standing beneath the floral ceremony arch with bridesmaids behind them.
Close-up of the bride and groom holding hands during the outdoor wedding ceremony.
Bride and groom beneath the floral arch as a guest raises the bride's flowing veil.
Bride and groom kissing beneath the white flower-covered arch during their wedding ceremony.
Bride and groom walking down the garden aisle while guests applaud after the ceremony.
Groom kissing the bride during their outdoor wedding ceremony recessional.
Bride and groom pouring champagne into a tower of coupe glasses inside Kohl Mansion.
Bride and groom lifting champagne coupes beside a glass tower after the ceremony.
Bride and groom sharing champagne from coupe glasses in the wood-paneled reception room.
Bride and groom standing beneath the garden ceremony arch for portraits after their vows.
Bride and groom posing beneath a lush floral arch on the Kohl Mansion lawn.
Bride and groom walking hand in hand across the lawn in warm late-afternoon light.
Bride leading the groom by the hand across a green lawn at sunset.
Back view of the bride and groom walking together beneath sunlit trees at Kohl Mansion.
Bride and groom kissing on the lawn with the brick Kohl Mansion tower behind them.
Wide exterior view of Kohl Mansion with the bride and groom walking along the garden path.
Bride and groom kissing on a curved walkway beside the historic brick mansion.
Bride and groom holding hands while walking beside landscaped gardens at Kohl Mansion.
Bride and groom embracing beneath the grand entrance of historic Kohl Mansion.
Bride resting her head on the groom's shoulder on a dark velvet sofa in the mansion.
Bride and groom cuddling on a velvet sofa with her white bridal bouquet beside them.
Bride and groom embracing near the dark wood-paneled library and tall windows.
Full-length portrait of the bride and groom embracing beside a wood-paneled bookcase.
Bride resting her head against the groom during an intimate wedding portrait.
Close-up of the groom's hand on the bride's back showing her low-back wedding gown.
Bride and groom dancing together in golden evening light near the mansion courtyard.
Bride and groom sharing a dance in the outdoor courtyard during their wedding reception.
Close-up of the bride and groom smiling as they dance in front of brick mansion walls.
Wide view of the bride and groom dancing in the Kohl Mansion courtyard as guests dine.
Groom leading the bride in a playful twirl beneath outdoor string lights.
Bride and groom kissing during their outdoor reception dance beneath garden string lights.
Bride and groom seated at a candlelit wedding reception table with white floral centerpieces.
Guests dining at round wedding reception tables in the courtyard beside Kohl Mansion.
Older woman holding a microphone beside a man in a tuxedo during wedding reception toasts.
Older woman giving a heartfelt wedding toast while a man in a tuxedo stands beside her.
Wedding guests raising glasses for a toast at the candlelit garden reception.
Man in a tuxedo and woman in a gray dress speaking to reception guests.
Man holding a microphone during a toast while a woman in a gray dress stands nearby.
Man reading a wedding toast beside a smiling woman in a gray dress.
Bride and groom smiling at their reception table among family and white flowers.
Wide view of guests dining outside Kohl Mansion beneath flowers and courtyard string lights.
Bride and groom laughing together at a candlelit reception table.
Man in a tuxedo giving a microphone speech at the outdoor wedding reception.
Male wedding guest reading a speech beneath lights in the mansion courtyard.
Woman in a white dress speaking into a microphone during the evening reception.
Wedding guests seated at an outdoor dinner listening to a reception toast.
Wedding guests laughing and celebrating with drinks around the reception table.
Groom smiling among guests during lively dinner conversation at Kohl Mansion.
Bride and groom cutting their tiered white wedding cake beside tall floral arrangements.
Bride and groom playfully feeding each other wedding cake near white floral displays.
Bride and groom kissing beside their white wedding cake inside the mansion.
Bride and groom lifted on chairs above cheering guests during the traditional hora dance.
Bride and groom holding up a white cloth while raised on chairs during the hora.
Overhead view of wedding guests dancing around the raised bride and groom inside Kohl Mansion.
Bride and groom raised above the crowd during the joyful wedding hora dance.
Bride dancing in a crowded reception room as guests celebrate around her.
Bride raising both hands while dancing with friends during the wedding reception.
Bride and groom dancing together on a wood floor as guests gather around.
Groom dancing with one arm raised as the bride and wedding guests celebrate nearby.
Smiling wedding guest posing with two friends in formal attire on the dance floor.
Bride and groom sharing a playful bite of dessert beneath outdoor string lights.
Illuminated brick facade of Kohl Mansion at night with reception lights glowing outside.

VENDORS
Planning | Plan To Be Wowed
Photography | Catherine Leanne Photography
Cinema | Foolishly Rushing In
Floral Design | Flowers of the Valley
Catering | JC Bruno Restaurant
Cake | MiGoodies Bakesale
Gelato Cart | SF Gelateria
String Quartet & DJ | Benny Be Music Production
Beauty | WOW Pretty
Dress Designer | Made With Love
Dress Boutique | Lovely Bride San Francisco
Bridesmaid Dresses | BHDLN
Stationery | Shine Wedding Invitations
Bar & Bartenders | On The Rocks Bartending
Rentals | Chairs4Events
Officiant | Reverend Rich
Transportation | Gateway Global
Lighting | Magical Lighting
Custom Ice Cubes | Bling Tiger Ice
Cigar Bar | CF Dominicana Cigars
Guest Book | FeteFone
Rings | DM Diamond Co.

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