what’s hot
Laws of Attraction At the San Francisco Courthouse, Stephanie Barlage and Jim Marver carry out a perfectly civilized union BY DIANE DORRANS SAEKS
FROM ABOVE
What’s Hot (bits)
Rock It
Old European cut stones ring true this season FROM LEFT Monique
Péan white diamond ring, $50,350, Barneys New York. Single Stone handcrafted Arielle setting, price upon request, singlestone.com.
C 38 FALL WEDDINGS 2014
X MARKS THE SPOT The Creamapproved site The Venue Report dishes on new and notable Golden State locations, plus ventures farther afield. venue report.com
The Fig House, Hollywood.
Sparrows Lodge, Palm Springs.
MARVER WEDDING: DREW ALTIZER. FIG HOUSE: RYAN PHILLIPS. SPARROWS LODGE: MARK DAVIDSON
Descending the courthouse steps as husband and wife. Stephanie’s bouquet from Ornamento in Nob Hill. Mayor Ed Lee married the couple as Stephanie’s daughter, Carissa, looked on.
S
an Francisco arts philanthropist Stephanie Marver has worn glamorous party dresses from Giambattista Valli’s couture collections since 2011 when the French designer presented a fashion show fundraiser for the San Francisco Ballet. “Giambattista Valli’s dresses are wonderfully feminine and joyful, all with a modern flair,” says Stephanie, a longtime patron of the ballet, opera and museums in the city. “I was immediately drawn to his exquisite couture techniques and his beautiful use of handmade lace, highly detailed embroidery and delicate silk.” In April (after one and a half years of dating), she accepted a romantic on-bended-knee proposal from Jim Marver, co-founder of a leading San Francisco venture capital firm. Stephanie’s dress, which was crafted at the designer’s atelier in Paris in less than a month, was a dreamy confection of fluttering organza flowers, layers of Alençon and guipure lace on the bodice, and a flirty, short skirt sculpted with layers of tulle and horsehair. The intimate spring ceremony attended by a few close family members was conducted by Mayor Ed Lee in his chambers at the Baroque-style S.F. City Hall. Stephanie’s 6-year-old daughter, Carissa, was the flower girl. Afterward, they celebrated with a Champagne toast, and a festive dinner in the Mission at Bar Tartine, the site of their first date. •