Erin & Matthew's Jewel-Toned Garden Ceremony

Jewelry designer Erin Fader and real estate developer Matthew McDaniel met in line late one Taco Tuesday at El Pueblo restaurant in Cardiff, where they both live. They exchanged numbers that day—in fact, he’s still listed as “Mr. Taco” in Erin’s phone! Matthew proposed during a sunset paddleboarding session on Catalina Island, and they tied the knot in a spring wedding at Brigantine Del Mar, where even their dog Ruby walked down the aisle in a flower crown during their outdoor garden ceremony.

“My bouquet was a stunning mix of florals by creative genius The Dainty Lion,” Erin says. “I gave her my gemstone colors, and she did the rest. I felt like I was carrying ‘the secret garden!’”

Erin’s Badgley Mischka heels, with their subdued flair, were the perfect complement to the sleek silhouette of her gown from The Dress Theory.

“I wanted a simple but elegant gown that I could ‘dress up’ with my jewelry,” Erin says of her 1920s-inspired dress. “It had this insane diamond cutout and I was so excited to design the perfect ‘backlace’ to drape down my back.”

“I’m a gemologist and love gemstones and crystals; I wanted them everywhere for the wedding!” Erin says she decorated with pyrite not only for its beauty, but also for its ability to bring good luck and fortune.