A Modern, Industrial California Venue Was Transformed Into a Secret Garden During This Couple's Celebration

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dawn jordan wedding couple posing — Meiwen Wang Photography

Sleek and modern was the look Dawn Arciaga and Jordan Monteith—who became engaged in February 2018, during a romantic ocean-side proposal outside of Santa Cruz—were going for when it came to their wedding. With that description in mind, they turned to Natalie Choi Events to help them plan and design their special day. "Natalie was involved every step of the way," says Dawn. The group quickly agreed that a neutral color palette of pale pink, soft and dark gray, and white would set the tone; the shades were integrated into everything from the invitation suite to the reception décor. "We tied in the neutral color palette into the entire design aesthetic," Natalie adds.

The team did, however, run into a few problems here and there. Though Dawn and Jordan loved their industrial venue, BLOC ("It was basically a blank canvas that allowed our vision to come to life," says the bride), the Roseville, California, space's interior black beams formed the shape of an "M"; the bride and groom weren't thrilled with the idea of the harsh, angular columns as a ceremony backdrop. However, Natalie was able to problem-solve—she had to, since the beams were there to stay. "We decided to completely cover the beams with foliage and florals to create a backdrop that would surround Dawn and Jordan, evoking the feeling of being married in a garden," she says. The epic floral installation became the centerpiece of the celebration—and was later repurposed into part of the couple's sweetheart table.

Despite the bumps along the way, Dawn and Jordan knew they could rely on Natalie to make their event happen, even though they knew that their goals were big ones. "Our feeling was that this only happens once, so we might as well try to make all our dreams come to fruition," explains the bride. "We wanted our special day to be shared with as many of our closest friends and family as possible. We really tried to stay true to our style and keep things minimal, chic, and modern. We wanted to look back on it 30 years from now and still love the design."

As for the result? Natalie nailed it, they say—and their September 1, 2019, nuptials, attended by 200 guests, went off without a hitch. "Our amazing wedding planner made it as easy it could be. We couldn't have done it without her," says Dawn.

Watch Dawn and Jordan's wedding video by Lenny See Films.

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Serif Font

dawn jordan wedding ring and invites — Meiwen Wang Photography

Dawn wanted to keep her paper goods as sleek and minimal as possible, so planner Natalie Choi of Natalie Choi Events directed invitation designer Carissa Vianca to use sans serif fonts wherever possible, and employ a balance of simple text and blank space within the modern design. "The invitation suite was flat printed on cardstocks in different shades of the color palette," says Natalie.

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Alluring Design

dawn jordan wedding bride dress veil — Meiwen Wang Photography

Dawn chose a simple ivory crepe Liancarlo wedding dress; the garment featured clean lines, a plunging neckline, and an illusion tulle back. A large waistband accentuated the bride's figure, adding a touch of allure to the elegant ensemble. "I knew it was 'the one' when I couldn't stop thinking about it," explains Dawn. "With all the different options out there, such as beading, lace, and sparkle, I knew deep down I wanted to stay true to a modern, classy, and sexy dress. It was everything I imagined myself walking down the aisle in."

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Chic Shoes

dawn jordan wedding shoes and rings — Meiwen Wang Photography

The bride went with black satin Christian Louboutin stilettos, which boasted clear inserts and Swarovski-crystal embellishments.

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In Full Bloom

dawn jordan wedding floral bouquet — Meiwen Wang Photography

Dawn's organic bouquet was designed by The Loved Co. and comprised of koko loko, stephen rulo, and white garden roses, butterfly ranunculus blossoms, white sweet peas, local tuberose, blooming pieris, and calcynia; trailing jasmine and delicate touches of eyelash grass completed the arrangement, which was tied with a neutral silk ribbon.

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Modern Boutonnières

dawn jordan wedding boutonniere — Meiwen Wang Photography

The boutonnières featured heuchera, gomphrena in shades of soft blush or white, calcynia, and eyelash grass. They were tied off with black velvet ribbons.

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Trendy 'Maids

dawn jordan wedding bridesmaids and bride — Meiwen Wang Photography

"I decided to keep it clean, but slightly trendy," Dawn says of the bridesmaids' Fame and Partners ensembles. "I went with a simple matte-satin slip dress with a pleated-detail bust, spaghetti straps, and a slightly flared skirt."

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A Timeless Groom

dawn jordan wedding tuxedo groom — Meiwen Wang Photography

Jordan wore a classic black tuxedo from The Black Tux, and completed his look with an ebony bow tie, white shirt, and black dress shoes.

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Coordinating Groomsmen

dawn jordan wedding groomsmen and groom — Meiwen Wang Photography

The groom's attendants wore matching black tuxedos and bow ties—the goal was for Jordan and his men to look cohesive.

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Frilly Flower Girls

dawn jordan wedding flower girls — Meiwen Wang Photography

Dawn and Jordan's littlest attendants were adorably outfitted in gauzy white dresses with plenty of frilly appliqués.

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A Fabulous First Look

dawn jordan wedding first look couple — Meiwen Wang Photography

Ahead of the ceremony, Dawn and Jordan spent some precious time together in the venue's lounge area, where they shared their first look. "Before, I was definitely nervous. It's something that you dream about since you are a little girl," shares Dawn. "During, I was filled with utter joy and and I really just tried to savor the moment and enjoy it with my soon-to-be-husband (and also tried to not ruin my makeup!)."

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Clever Ceremony Décor

dawn jordan wedding ceremony space — Meiwen Wang Photography

Wooden beams were richly embellished with flowers and greenery, turning the original architecture of the ceremony space into a stunning backdrop—one that resembled a full-bloom garden, as opposed to an industrial fortress. Acrylic chairs brought a touch of modernity to the open room and didn't obstruct the lush views ahead.

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Sealed with a Kiss

dawn jordan wedding ceremony kiss bride and groom — Meiwen Wang Photography

During the religious ceremony ("Religion is a big part of both of our lives, so it was important to have a wedding that reflected those values," shares Dawn), the couple exchanged traditional vows that were tweaked to speak to their relationship. "We both thought it would be too emotional to get through reading our own vows, so we decided to recite our handwritten vows in private," explains the bride.

After they were pronounced husband and wife, Dawn and Jordan recessed back up the aisle to "This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)" by Natalie Cole, courtesy of their DJ, Dart Collective.

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Flower Power

dawn jordan wedding waters — Meiwen Wang Photography

The couple chose not to serve alcohol at their event, and instead provided embellished mocktails (the groom's was an Arnold Palmer, while the bride's was a Lilikoi cooler with passionfruit mint syrup) and cucumber water, accented with pretty florals—they spoke to the party's garden theme.

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Find Your Seat

dawn jordan wedding seating chart — Meiwen Wang Photography

The couple made the copper frame that held their 10-foot-long linen seating chart by Ettie Kim Studio.

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Romantic Reception Tables

dawn jordan wedding reception space — Meiwen Wang Photography

The event's neutral color palette was prominent throughout the reception, which was held in the same space as the ceremony (it was flipped during the cocktail hour). On the long tables, pale gray linens and softly draped table runners creating a muted backdrop for matte white plates and black matte flatware.

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A Pop of Color

dawn jordan wedding reception place settings — Meiwen Wang Photography

"We kept our rentals on the tablescape within a neutral palette, so that the colors of our floral centerpieces would be the central visual point of interest on the table," says Natalie. The Loved Co. selected a palette of blooms in romantic tones and arranged them in an airy, Ikebana-like style. Votives in smoky glass were scattered along the table to complete the candlelit tableau.

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A Table of Their Own

dawn jordan wedding sweetheart table decor — Meiwen Wang Photography

Dawn and Jordan sat at their own table—which was backed by the floral structure that anchored their ceremony—during the reception.

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Epic Entrance

dawn jordan wedding couple reception entrance — Meiwen Wang Photography

The newlyweds made a high-energy entrance into the party, much to the delight of their guests.

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The First Dance

dawn jordan wedding first dance couple — Meiwen Wang Photography

"Speechless" by Dan & Shay featuring Tori Kelly was the soundtrack to the duo's first dance. "We didn't have any sentimental reason behind choosing this song, but we thought it was absolutely beautiful," says Dawn.

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