My partner Nilo and I were married in this incredible church on July 4, 2014. Christ Episcopal Church and Campbell Hall and Garden is the most incredible, beautiful place for a wedding. We had three places to choose from for our wedding and Christ Church was by far the best place imaginable!
Nilo and I never dreamed of having a church wedding. We have been together in a committed same sex relationship for 19 years. When the law prohibiting same sex marriage was toppled in June 2013, we knew immediately we wanted to marry in Sausalito as it was the site of one of our first dates back in 1995 and figured prominently in our lives since then. While looking for a venue, we stumbled on Campbell Hall using a Google search. I sent an e-mail to the address listed inquiring about the Hall and within minutes received a response from the rector, Father Chip Larrimore, saying that not only could we use the Hall, we could be married in Christ Church and he would be honored to perform the ceremony. I was floored. Nilo and I, both Catholics, stopped going to Church some years ago. We had no idea the Episcopal Church was so accepting and welcoming. We went to see this incredibly beautiful church last July (2013) and met Father Chip. We knew as soon as we walked in that we would marry there and booked the date for July 4, 2014. We also started attending this beautiful church built in 1882 and became members in January 2014. Neither Nilo nor I had ever experienced such a welcoming community in our lives. We live in South Hayward and drive 57 miles every Sunday to attend Mass there with our new "faith family".
While some of the reviewers listed "cons" along with their "pros", I have no "cons" to mention. Everything was incredible. While parking is limited, we hired a shuttle service which was quite reasonable to bring our guests up to the church and take them back. Pure Luxury was the service and they did a wonderful job. It took all the stress out of parking for our guests and they all had a great time on the short ride up the hill. Our reception was held at the Spinnaker Restaurant in Sausalito. Guests parked at Spinnaker and were shuttled to and from the church from there. We used Campbell Hall for lunch for our wedding party and for a short cocktail hour immediately following the wedding before our reception began. The Garden, which is adjacent to the Campbell Hall and across the street from the Church, is so beautiful and the best of our wedding photos were taken there. The entire wedding was everything I dreamed it would be and more. I am attaching some photos of the church and our wedding day there. We videotaped the wedding (although the first 6 minutes were lost...UGH!); the link is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kT0Z_5vJSMQ. Listen to Father Chip's sermon if you want to know how incredible he is as a person and as a priest.
I know you will love this church as much as Nilo and I do. 100% recommended for your wedding and if you have never really been into going to church...check it out. You might be as surprised as Nilo and I were by what you find there!
Feel free to contact me directly via email at thomasjohnbauer@gmail.com if you have any questions. read more