Mask Envy
This story is part of our new series “Mask Envy,” where we showcase San Franciscans’ creativity and take a look at some of the coolest masks spotted around the city. Have a look you want to submit? Email info@thebolditalic.com.
Katy McShane and her husband, Justin, had a very San Francisco wedding planned this year: a 180-person ceremony in the Castro followed by a reception at the Fort Mason Center. That big affair didn’t go on as planned, but they were still able to pull off a special gathering with a few of their closest family and friends.
Another thing they were able to pull: absolutely nailing bridal mask fashion.
Read on to find out about Katy’s wedding day mask.
TBI: Tell us about yourself and your now husband.
Katy McShane:
Justin and I live in the Lower Haight in San Francisco, which we love because the neighborhood is so centrally located. We cook a lot together, but we also love trying new restaurants (or takeout in Covid times!) around the Bay Area. While we both work in tech now, we (separately) worked in government earlier in our careers, so we are urban policy nerds and enjoy exploring the city. Most of our vacations, however, are spent hiking in mountain ranges around the world.
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How and when did your wedding take place?
Since we love city life, we wanted to prioritize that experience for our wedding guests. Originally we planned a ceremony at Most Holy Redeemer in the Castro and a reception at Fort Mason Center for about 180 guests over Labor Day weekend. We decided to keep the same weekend since our parents, most of our siblings, and a good number of guests are based in Northern California. Of course, we couldn’t go forward with a larger reception, but we were lucky to rent out Anina in Hayes Valley for a socially distant cocktail reception after our 12-person ceremony. The day before the wedding, we invited guests to do a scavenger hunt around Pac Heights, leveraging Handstand’s Hunt technology, and then had a picnic lunch at a park — so I think guests still got a full city experience, even if it was different than originally planned.
Please fill us in on your amazing mask.
When I was getting my dress tailored at Eclipse Alterations in Oakland, my (now) mother-in-law, Sue, suggested saving the remnants from the hemming. Sue was able to sew the most amazing mask from the remnants! Although, since the dress is fully beaded, I think she may still be finding loose beads around her condo. She’s a quilter and has been making masks for us and our extended family throughout quarantine from her leftover quilting fabric. Sue also made matching masks for my sisters’ bridesmaid dresses from their dress remnants. My mask will be a fun keepsake to have of this time.
Submit your pandemic look to info@thebolditalic.com.
