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Pretty in Pink: A Black-Tie Wedding at The Brown Hotel

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The Brown Hotel

Christina Burton Events

Rebecca’s Wedding Boutique

Beauty Patrol

Historic Louisville glamour met playful pops of pink for Kendall and Gade’s summer wedding at The Brown Hotel. With a rooftop ceremony overlooking the Downtown Louisville skyline and a reception inside the hotel’s iconic Crystal Ballroom, their celebration paired the grandeur of one of the city’s most recognizable venues with details that felt youthful, feminine and completely personal.

Hot-pink bridesmaid dresses, lush pink-and-white florals, ornate gold accents and a custom crest brought color and personality to the formal setting. From Kendall’s romantic ball gown and Gade’s white dinner jacket to a choreographed first dance surrounded by cold sparks, every part of the celebration struck a balance between timeless black-tie elegance and unforgettable fun.

Wedding Profile & Quick Facts

Couple: Kendall Marie Geis & Gade Garrett Faulkner

Wedding Date: June 13, 2026

Season: Summer

Venue: The Brown Hotel

Location: Louisville, Kentucky

Wedding Style: Black-Tie Romance, Historic Glamour, Feminine & Playful

Color Palette: Hot Pink, Blush Pink, Ivory, White, Greenery, Black and Antique Gold

A Bridal Look Made for The Brown Hotel

Kendall’s bridal look felt as timeless as the setting itself. Her satin ball gown featured a softly draped strapless neckline, fitted bodice and full skirt that created a beautifully classic silhouette.

Dimensional floral detailing along the side of the gown added a romantic element without taking away from its clean, sophisticated design. A long veil completed the look, creating dramatic movement for portraits throughout The Brown Hotel’s ornate interiors.

The contrast between Kendall’s crisp ivory gown and the hotel’s marble staircases, gilded detailing, patterned walls and historic architecture made her portraits feel almost editorial. Pearl-accented Jimmy Choo heels added another classic touch, while her getting-ready look brought in the first hint of the wedding’s playful personality with pink floral pajamas, satin bows and matching pink glassware.

A Rooftop Ceremony Above Downtown Louisville

For the ceremony, Kendall and Gade took the celebration to the rooftop of The Brown Hotel, where Downtown Louisville became part of the backdrop.

With the skyline stretching behind them, the couple exchanged vows surrounded by arrangements of pink and white flowers displayed in decorative urns. The florals brought softness and color to the urban rooftop while allowing the city views to remain one of the ceremony’s defining features.

Kendall’s vibrant bouquet carried the same palette, combining white and blush blooms with saturated pink flowers for an arrangement that felt romantic without being overly traditional.

After being pronounced newlyweds, Kendall and Gade celebrated with their hands in the air as their wedding party looked on — a joyful moment that perfectly captured the energy of the day.

Hot Pink Bridesmaid Dresses and Classic Black Tie

Color played a major role in Kendall and Gade’s wedding party style, with the bridesmaids dressed in vibrant shades of pink.

Rather than blending into the neutral surroundings, the saturated color made a statement. The bridesmaids wore different silhouettes, including square necklines, delicate shoulder ties and sleek fitted styles, giving the group a cohesive look while allowing for individuality.

Their bouquets combined pink peonies and roses with white roses, hydrangeas and delicate filler flowers, tying their dresses into the rest of the wedding design.

Gade stood out in a white dinner jacket with contrasting black lapels, black trousers and a classic bow tie. His pink boutonniere provided the perfect connection to the bridesmaids and floral palette, while the groomsmen kept things timeless in traditional black tuxedos.

Together, the wedding party created one of the celebration’s most striking combinations: bold, playful pink against polished black-and-white formalwear.

Personalized Details with Vintage Romance

Some of the most memorable elements of Kendall and Gade’s wedding appeared in the smallest details.

Their invitation suite featured elegant calligraphy, a soft pink ribbon and an ornate custom crest incorporating their initials. That same crest appeared throughout the celebration, creating a visual thread from the stationery to the reception.

Vintage-inspired gold frames were another recurring element. An ornate frame transformed the couple’s welcome sign into a piece that felt perfectly suited to The Brown Hotel, while a black-and-gold seating chart reading “We saved you a seat” carried the same old-world elegance into the reception.

Even the sentimental details embraced the pink palette. A white handkerchief embroidered in pink thread with a personal message created a meaningful keepsake among the day’s details.

The combination of monograms, embroidery, gold frames and delicate pink accents gave the celebration a collected quality that felt romantic rather than overly coordinated.

Pink Florals Meet the Crystal Ballroom

Inside the Crystal Ballroom, the wedding took on an entirely different atmosphere.

The Brown Hotel’s crystal chandeliers, ornate ceilings, arched architectural details and touches of gold provided an already elaborate foundation. Kendall and Gade complemented the room rather than competing with it, layering in white linens, gold Chiavari chairs and arrangements of pink, blush and white flowers.

Pink taper candles added another subtle wash of color across the tables, while greenery brought an organic element to the formal ballroom.

The result felt elegant but not overly serious. The historic surroundings established the formality of the evening, while the pink details brought warmth, personality and a fresh summer feel to the room.

A Wedding Cake Inspired by Old-World Elegance

At the center of the reception design stood Kendall and Gade’s four-tier wedding cake.

Rather than opting for a minimalist design, the couple embraced intricate piping and vintage-inspired detailing that echoed the ornate architecture surrounding it. Their pink custom monogram appeared prominently on one tier, connecting the cake back to the crest introduced through their invitation suite and signage.

The cake was surrounded by an abundant floral display filled with pink peonies, roses, white blooms and greenery. Two white swans nestled among the flowers added an unexpected romantic detail to the display.

Set against the Crystal Ballroom’s gilded architecture, the cake felt less like a standalone dessert and more like another piece of the reception design.

A Formal Dinner Filled with Family Traditions

The reception experience carried the same sense of formality as the design.

Guests enjoyed passed hors d’oeuvres before sitting down for a plated dinner with tableside wine service, while a prestige open bar kept the celebration flowing throughout the evening.

Before the meal, Kendall’s grandfather offered a prayer to bless the food, bringing an intimate family tradition into the grandeur of the Crystal Ballroom.

Later, champagne glasses were raised for the father-of-the-bride speech. Surrounded by candlelight, flowers and family, the toast became one of the evening’s classic celebratory moments.

Alongside the four-tier wedding cake, guests were also treated to a groom’s cake with a particularly Kentucky twist — it dispensed shots of bourbon, adding a playful surprise to the otherwise formal dining experience.

A First Dance Surrounded by Cold Sparks

Once dinner concluded, attention turned toward the custom dance floor beneath The Brown Hotel’s crystal chandeliers.

Kendall and Gade began the party with a choreographed first dance, transforming one of the evening’s most traditional moments into a full experience.

As they danced, cold sparks illuminated the ballroom around them. Against the historic architecture and dramatic chandeliers, the effect created a striking juxtaposition of old-world glamour and modern celebration.

With an award-winning DJ leading the party, the custom dance floor became the center of the reception as the formal dinner transitioned into a night of dancing.

A Classic Getaway to End the Night

Even Kendall and Gade’s exit felt perfectly suited to the celebration.

Waiting outside The Brown Hotel beneath its recognizable red-and-gold awning was a vintage Rolls-Royce, giving the newlyweds one final touch of old-school glamour.

The couple shared a kiss through the car window before departing into Downtown Louisville — an ending that felt cinematic, romantic and completely fitting for a wedding rooted in historic elegance.

Kendall and Gade’s celebration proved that a black-tie wedding can be both sophisticated and full of personality. The grandeur of The Brown Hotel created a timeless foundation, while hot pink fashion, colorful florals, vintage-inspired details and playful surprises made the day unmistakably theirs.

From saying “I do” against the Louisville skyline to dancing beneath crystal chandeliers and leaving the hotel in a vintage Rolls-Royce, their wedding brought together the best of old-world glamour and modern romance for a celebration that felt distinctly Louisville.