Joanne Duong and Luke Bartels announce their marital status on the front steps of San Francisco's City Hall. The banner, made by the newlyweds, was hand-painted by a friend.

On Friday, May 15, 2009, the couple invited 70 of their closest friends and family to San Francisco's City Hall to witness their vows. After the ceremony, the couple led their loved ones, all cheering and blowing noisemakers, through the streets to their favorite German restaurant for a hearty afternoon meal.

The effervescent letterpress invitation suite was designed by San Francisco artist Jeff Canham, a friend of the groom's, who also painted their "Just Married" banner. The card on the bottom right invites guests to a casual celebration, complete with taco truck, the following day at Golden Gate Park.

The bride and groom descend the staircase in City Hall; Joanne wore a Saks Fifth Avenue dress bought at Ver Unica, a local vintage shop, and the groom wore his "only suit" -- a seersucker -- and his late father's shoes.

A yellow fabric boutonniere by Handle & Spout decorates the groom's lapel, while an escort "flag" perches nattily in his pocket.

Joanne's sunny bouquet -- golden peonies, garden roses, honeysuckle, ranunculus, and poppies -- was designed by friend and florist Naomi deManana.

Guests took home sourdough pretzels dipped in chocolate by the couple, in glassine envelopes stitched closed with red thread.

Guests celebrate with noisemakers postceremony.

Flower girl Paige Zimmerman, the daughter of a friend.

Joanne and Luke share an impromptu smooch.

The wedding entourage march from City Hall to Suppenkuche, one of the couple's favorite restaurants, in San Francisco's Hayes Valley: "Cars were honking, and people were coming out of the shops to check us out," remembers Joanne.

Friends Brooke and Nanishka Duthie introduced the couple to each other 10 years ago.

Guests feasted on Bavarian fare like steak, bratwurst, and potato pancake salad.

Each table was decorated with a different hand-sewn runner that matched the fabric on the escort flags, made by the bride.

Kate Berry, sister of the bride and this magazine's style director, decorated tables with fresh blooms from the San Francisco flower market.

An assortment of "Ridiculous Rum Cakes" by friend Pamela Cianci, who owns Sugar & Spike, rests on a stacked cake stand built by Luke and painted by Joanne; the cakes were baked in antique pans the couple found at flea markets.

Sister Kate and her husband, Ian Berry, smile for the camera.

City regulations forbid celebrants from throwing confetti at City Hall, so they showered the couple after lunch.

Joanne filled glassine bags with biodegradable confetti for the toss. 

Joanne found her dress just weeks after getting engaged and, according to Luke, "spent the rest of the year looking for shoes"; she finally decided on yellow suede pumps from J.Crew (the aqua clutch is a flea-market find).

Joanne's brother Nguyen Duong, nephew Kai Duong, and mom Kim Nguyen.

Pretzels: Snyder's of Hanover
Glassine Bags for Pretzels: Uline
Confetti: Clean Free Confetti from Artistry in Motion
Glassine Bags for Confetti: ClearBags
Cake Stand & Escort Card Stand: Woodshop SF
Dollhouse Shingles: Dollhouse Collectables
Fabric Flowers: Handle & Spout
Denim, Ribbon & Canvas: Scroungers' Center for Reusable Art Parts
Fabric: Purl Soho
Noisemakers: Fantastico
Vases:
Bauer Pottery Company; Heath Ceramics; Middle Kingdom
Locations: San Francisco City Hall (ceremony); Suppenkuche (reception)
Catering: Suppenkuche
Flowers: Naomi deManana
Bundt Cakes: Sugar & Spike
Stationery: Jeff Canham
Wedding Photography: Erin Lubin and Jakub Mosur; B and N Photography
Dress: Vintage Saks Fifth Avenue from Ver Unica
Accessories: Toni Federici (veil); J.Crew (shoes)
Menswear: Brooks Brothers (suit); The Piccadillies (bow tie)
Flower Girl Dress: Ash & Robbins