A Classically Chic Wedding at a Historic Museum in Malibu, California

Jennifer Davidaz-Robinson and now-husband Tchad's relationship may have gotten off to a slow start. But when they finally locked in a date, three-and-half-years after their first meeting and several attempts later, it progressed rather quickly. In fact, after dinner on their first date, Tchad took a chance and asked Jennifer to help him shop for a baby gift—for his best friend and eventual best man's daughter, that is!

Nearly ten years later, in August 2018, Tchad asked Jennifer to meet him for a "photoshoot" at The Huntington, Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens in Pasadena, California. Towards the end of the day’s shoot, he suggested they take final pictures by The Moon Bridge, and before Jennifer could turn her attention away from the koi pond, he was on one knee with a ring he'd purchased three months earlier.

On September 25, 2019, Jennifer and Tchad said "I do" at another historic venue: the Historic Adamson House and Malibu Lagoon Museum in Malibu, a location they selected for its oceanside views, temperate weather, and proximity to their families. "The ocean and museum were amazing backdrops for the ceremony and reception," Jennifer explains. "The venue was picturesque yet intimate and our guests enjoyed themselves—and their drinks!"

Keep reading for more of the couple's intimate evening overlooking the Pacific, as planned by Isabelle Kline Design and photographed by Tamara Gruner Photography.

The couple says their planner made the planning process "as painless as possible," but admit that choosing the venue was the easiest decision they made. "It was love at first sight," Jennifer says. That said, their dream location came with restrictions: "We were limited by the venue and had to stay within their guidelines," adds the bride.

Jennifer and Tchad were able to invite 135 guests, and they made sure to wow each one with details such as a formal invitation suite from Zola and individual place cards calligraphed on gold-painted oyster shells."Our look was formal, classic, timeless, elegant, and clean," describes the bride.

Jennifer called on Tadashi Shoji to create a custom wedding dress. The designer is close friends with Tchad so they worked closely to dream up a stunning gown featuring a strapless neckline of silk satin and a full skirt with a sweeping train.

Jennifer's bridesmaid Shawn Barton is a stylist, and she was also a huge part of the design process, helping Jenn select fabric swatches and conceptualize the gown before her first appointment.

This process took place in Los Angles, so Jennifer was able to share the experience with bridesmaids Stevvi Alexander and Sherry Lewis as well. "The cherry on top was being able to share these special moments with them," she says. "They placed FaceTime calls and posted photo’s so the rest of my bridal party got to participate in my dress fittings. I deeply cherish the time we were able to share with each other. "

Vintage Cartier chandelier earrings and white pumps by Le Silla completed her chic bridal look. While not shown, Jennifer used a traditional Korean jewelry box, a gift from her mother, to hold her engagement ring and band the day of the wedding. Her mother also gave her a second heirloom: matching sets of hand-crafted china and tea set, which were passed on from her great aunt.

Bridesmaids and Jenn’s sisters were free to choose their own black, floor-length gowns. "I wanted them to pick their gowns to fit their individual tastes, style, and enhance their individual beauty," she explains. "Everyone wore black heels and their hair down with loose, beachy curls, with the exception of Shawn Barton, who wore a headscarf."

An intimate Korean Pyebaek wedding ceremony was held the night before the wedding at the home of Terry City and Cayman Grant-City, both part of the wedding party. Jenn’s sister-in-law, Becky Moran, gifted the ceremony to pass on the Korean tradition. "To be able to share this with our wedding party and family was incredibly special," Jennifer says.

Jennifer and Tchad's ringbearers and flower girls were the children of their closest friends and family. The ring bearers and ushers wore black tuxedos with black Chuck Taylor sneakers, while the flower girls wore black satin dresses with black Chuck Taylor sneakers.

Tchad went for a classic look, opting for a white tuxedo jacket paired with a black tie, pocket square, and suspenders. He also added noteworthy accessories: black Versace formal loafers and cuff links personalized with the logo of his college social club.

Jennifer and Tchad first met through mutual friends in August 2005 but didn't start dating until 2008 when they ran into each other at the Denver airport and later reconnected.

"The groomsmen, bridesmaids, ring bearers, flower girls, ushers, and greeters were all a diverse reflection of those closest to us," Jennifer says. "Our wedding party represents the multi-cultural diversity and inclusiveness that are held dear by both of us."

The ceremony took place on a lawn outdoors, where the attendants looked adorable walking down the aisle together.

The bride's birth father and adopted father escorted her down the aisle together. Bridesmaid Stevvi Alexander, a professional singer-songwriter, performed “Can’t Help Falling In Love/Fools Rush In” by Kina Grannis for the special processional.

Jennifer and Tchad stood beneath the shade of matured trees. Around them, the lawn was decorated with white rose petals and white Brentwood chairs. "The chairs provided a classic accent to the ocean-side vistas while still being comfortable for family and guests," adds the bride.

Reverend Alford Alphonse performed the ceremony and even wrote special vows for the couple to exchange.

The bride wanted a sleek, classic bouquet for the bridesmaids, so Isabelle Kline created individual arrangements of calla lilies that the women held gracing their arms. Jennifer also carried an all-white bouquet but hers was made with garden roses, tulips, and calla lilies.

The bride's cousins Quincy and Deondray Gossfield spoke during the ceremony. "It was a personal speech about how I connected with my cousins through 23andme.com, our first meeting, and the development of our relationship over the prior four years," she says. Notably, the wedding was the first gathering of Jennifer’s family—adopted, birth, and her newly connected through 23andme.com birth family.

The newlyweds recessed down the aisle to an instrumental version of "Halo” by Beyoncé played by the bride's sister Molly Moran, who is a classically trained pianist.

"Having our closest friends, children and family be a part of our special day is truly meaningful," says the bride.

Tables were set with white linens, tall white taper candles, and arrangements of blooms in the couple's black-and-white color palette. "Isabelle created the centerpieces using large glass urns with arrangements of hydrangeas, roses, and anemones that were consistent with the formal wedding theme," Jennifer explains. "The beautiful anemone florals with white and soft touches of black played beautifully with the white-and-black place settings."

Because she comes from a diverse background and they have a "diverse array of ethnic friends," Jennifer says it was important that the food be broadly appealing. "Presenting the food via buffet allowed everyone to choose their favorites from a wide array of multi-cultural selections," she says. "There was something for everyone with selections chosen for omnivores, herbivores, and carnivores alike. The selections presented options of all five flavors—sweet, salty, sour, acidic, and spicy!"

Dinner and dancing took place on an open lawn, where string lights were hung to create a romantic atmosphere and illuminate the dancefloor. "We danced the night away to an eclectic mix of hip hop, R&B, rock, and soul played by the DJ," adds the bride.

"Isabelle came up with incredible, creative ideas to stay within our budget and still have an intimately posh wedding," Jennifer says of their wedding planner, who also handled the day's floral designs.

The couple chose Bill Withers's “Just the Two of Us” for their first dance before joining Tchad's mother and Jennifer's adopted father for a father-dance and mother-son dance to "What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong. Bill Withers rounded out the special dances with another track: "Lovely Day” for the bride's dance with Tchad's father and her birth father and Tchad's second dance with his mother.

Later in the night, Jennifer changed into a second Tadashi Shoji dress from their collection.

SusieCakes made the two-tier wedding cake, which was flavored with luscious lemon cake and vanilla buttercream frosting. In addition, the couple served cupcakes in three flavor combos: chocolate with chocolate buttercream frosting, red velvet with traditional cream cheese frosting, and vanilla with fresh strawberry buttercream frosting.

Fittingly, the newlyweds ended their night in Malibu with Tupac's "California Love." Looking back, Jennifer has this advice to share: "Hire an excellent photographer that shares your vision for capturing the event and an experienced wedding planner," she says. "These are important considerations."