Oh boy. There is a lot to report from this weekend. First though, are the pictures from the dinner party we hosted Friday night. San Francisco has the best piers with the prettiest views. This summer I got the idea of having a fancy dinner party on one. {Most piers don’t allow alcohol, candles, or any sort of Sterno set up so keep that in mind if you try your own.} My friend Emily was turning 31 so we took it as the perfect opportunity to throw her this special party. It is really like playing Russian Roulette with the weather here but miracle of miracles–Friday night was warm and perfect. At the coldest part of the evening only a light sweater was needed.
The party was set up smack dab in the middle of the Aquatic Park pier. There was the Golden Gate Bridge on one side, Alcatraz behind us, and all the lights of the city and Ghiradelli Square on the other side. We rented the linens and chiavari ballroom chairs and then I bought battery operated LED votives so we could still dine by candlelight. Keeping the food warm was tricky but we had four courses, soup we kept hot in thermoses, salad, homemade macaroni and cheese served in individual ramekins (these were baked immediately before then covered and put in a cooler.) And for dessert we had pot de creme served with thick drinking chocolate served in cappuccino cups.
Shepherd Family ACAL
October 6, 2008
That looks amazing! What a special birthday party! The table looks fantastic, and Oh so Martha-ey… I just love that you are a real person who did it! Beautiful!
Shepherd Family ACAL
October 6, 2008
That looks amazing! What a special birthday party! The table looks fantastic, and Oh so Martha-ey… I just love that you are a real person who did it! Beautiful!
k8
October 6, 2008
really really beautiful jordan. and andy is even wearing a tie! amazing!
Leah
October 6, 2008
look yummy and inviting and wonderful and warm. wonderful you for doing this.
Maggie Mason
October 6, 2008
Magic. I can’t believe how well the weather cooperated. You randomly hit one of our two warm nights a year. Triumph!
Kendra
October 6, 2008
Gorgeous! I want a birthday party in the middle of nowhere, too! I’m sure she’ll always remember this!
ferardandy
October 6, 2008
jordan! it turned out so pretty. good job. the trees in the back ground are amazing.
Anonymous
October 6, 2008
I’m thoroughly impressed!
It looked beautiful 🙂
Kathryn
October 6, 2008
What a dream! I would never dread my birthday if I had parties like this to look forward to!
kell-bell
October 6, 2008
Beautiful, I used to worked right there, and the view from that pier is amazing. What a fun idea!
Girlfrog
October 6, 2008
What lucky guests you have! It’s beautiful!
elle
October 6, 2008
wow! so creative and a wonderful surprise for your friend’s birthday. congrats on it going so well!
allison
October 6, 2008
love this idea! looks so dreamy…
tara
October 6, 2008
did you have to check with anyone to do this or did you just go for it?
chiara
October 6, 2008
oh my gosh! how wonderful! your images capture the specialness of the occasion. it looks like everything was just perfect.
liz stanley
October 6, 2008
amazing. we’ll be with you in san fran for my bday. *wink wink
Fine Twined
October 6, 2008
This is just like “super dating” when I was a teenager. I always loved it when I was single. Why have I stopped? Thanks for the reminder!
Brooke Rane
October 6, 2008
oh, i LOVE it! what a dream dinner party and such beautiful presentation…
brittany
October 6, 2008
how do you come up with this stuff! it sounds and looks amazing.
robin k
October 6, 2008
Beautiful!
S. Schuller
October 6, 2008
Love it! How beautiful. I wanted to be there on the water, eating at a table set-up like a scene from Chocolat. Is that Andy Kane in that picture?
ashlynn
October 6, 2008
good job jordan – looks like it was a hit
Joanna Goddard
October 6, 2008
this is SUCH an amazing idea!!!! i want to do it too 🙂
collard green queen
October 6, 2008
I bet everyone that came by wanted to pull up a chair- really pretty jordan!
JENNIFRO
October 6, 2008
Oh wow…now THAT is romantic!
Kellie
October 6, 2008
This party is enviable – no doubt!
Courtney
October 6, 2008
Wow. What a beautiful event! Surely that will be a birthday to remember. It looks simply perfect.
Jo
October 6, 2008
Looks fantastic!
I have to ask, what marathon are you training for?
And I love the skirt you are wearing in your little photo at the top.
S.HOPtalk
October 6, 2008
This is one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen. That it took place in my favorite city, makes it all the more fabulous.
Gorgeous.
Jackie
October 6, 2008
Enchanting. What a wonderful idea.
Loraine
October 6, 2008
i am going to plan a small romantic dinner for my husband and I at the lake by our house.
thank you for the inspiration.
kim
October 6, 2008
Wow. What fun!
trupeach
October 6, 2008
brilliant idea and such whimsical photos to boot!
this has officially made my to-do list.
Georgia (AKA g-bug)
October 6, 2008
looks like it was a great success. the photos are gorgeous! straight out of a magazine!
miss b
October 6, 2008
wow!
Coveiter
October 6, 2008
wow. seriously. the gold on gold is divine.
oh how i miss san fransisco!
{ julie }
melissa
October 6, 2008
Jordan – how did you illuminate the table and guests to get such soft amazing light for the photos? (Did you use an external flash?) You have a beautiful way of capturing details.
PS – I am super excited to hear about the Film Is Not Dead Conference!
Chris
October 6, 2008
What an incredible birthday dinner that must have been. Great idea!
Anne
October 6, 2008
that looks beautiful!
great job on the party.
fresh images
October 6, 2008
Stunning…absolutely stunning! This is going in my ‘ideas stolen (borrowed) from amazing and creative people’ file. I love it!
Stephanie
October 6, 2008
Simply to-die-for.
We were in the city for the weekend too and were surprised to find the rainy forecast not-so-rainy. It was such a pleasant surprise. You are so right about the weather. You were seriously SO lucky.
p.s. The Sentinel recommendation was spot-on. Loved it.
Molly W.
October 7, 2008
What a fantastic idea. Just lovely.
buericana
October 7, 2008
Wow that looks amazing.
AmyC
October 7, 2008
What a great idea. I admire your creativity and your COURAGE. 🙂
nichole
October 7, 2008
Gorgeous! So inspiring.
M-Ware
October 7, 2008
how beautiful! thanks for sharing.
coco+kelley
October 7, 2008
love love love this idea! must have been a little tough to pull off, but how unique and special! i will have to keep this in mind for my 30th bday… (although being in seattle, i’m not sure the weather would cooperate in october…)
katelynjane
October 7, 2008
I love it how you say “middle of no where”. Come up to Dawson Creek BC and I’ll show you “no where” (:
Your dinner party is AMAZING! I never in a million years would have thought to do this, but it really is beautiful and creative!
zoe
October 8, 2008
What a perfect idea! It all looked beautiful, your friends are very lucky!
R-Eight
October 8, 2008
I’ve been without internet for 2 days. I can’t belive I missed this. This is so so smart! Jordan you are too awesome!