The couple, who met at a bar owned by Krystin’s family, got engaged on one of the windiest days Manhattan Beach has seen. But despite being pelted by sand clouds, Krystin said yes to the sweet beach proposal.
With two large families and a tall groom, a roomy space was a key element. “We wanted there to be room to mingle, dance and relax without feeling confined, and because my husband clocks in at 6-foot-4—the bigger, the better!" explains Krystin. As it turns out, an image of 440 Seaton was the first item pinned to Krystin's Pinterest board. Being nontraditional at heart, the couple loved the gritty downtown LA warehouse, with its graffiti-covered exterior and brick-walled interior.
Krystin and Hector sought a simple and modern vibe with unique touches to set the mood. They fell in love with the venue's red brick walls, so their color palette accentuated this detail through dark, rich greenery and seasonal white flowers. Nuances of copper added an organic element to the look. A verdant 10-foot-tall fern wall was the backdrop for the ceremony and later became a focal point for dancing and photos. White ranunculus and anemones in various glass vases paired with thick green ferns potted in small cement pots—some with tiny copper-dipped leaves—added beauty to the reception setting. The hand-lettered wood seating chart was suspended from the ceiling and draped in greenery. Designer Carly Rae added delicate touches of copper and silver to the design, which added a subtle note of elegance. The dinner tables were topped with copper hurricane candles and copper flatware, which sat alongside custom silver dip-dyed napkins—the latter of which matched the bridesmaids’ dresses. Copper-dipped ferns gave a modern nod to the white floral bouquet.
As the sun set, photographer Becca Rillo took Krystin and Hector to the rooftop, where the skyline of Los Angeles was stretched out before them. "Our moment right there, in the grand scheme of things, was as big as that downtown skyline," says Hector, reminiscing. "It was something you only experience once, and for a kid from East Los Angeles to be up on that roof, looking back on it all, it was something I could never forget."
