Bachelor in Paradise's Kenny Braasch and Mari Pepin Throw Retro '70s- and '80s-Themed Wedding Bash (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Kenny Braasch and Mari Pepin pose at their post-wedding bash.Photo:Dolceamorphotoandfilm

Dolceamorphotoandfilm

Kenny BraaschandMari Pepintook a step back in time to celebrate their “everlasting love.”

TheBachelor in Paradisestars — whotied the knot in Puerto Ricoin November — threw a second wedding party at 115 Bourbon Street in Chicago over the weekend.

“This one is basically a huge theme party," Pepin tells PEOPLE. “Even though I’ll be wearing another wedding dress, we won’t be having another walk down the aisle or ceremony this time. We decided to do a retro ’70s and ’80s theme to keep it more casual and fun rather than a formal thing.”

Kenny Braasch and Mari Pepin at their post-wedding bash.Dolceamorphotoandfilm

The pair chose the throwback decade as a nod to Braasch’s love for “all things ’80s,” Pepen adds. “I love the bright colors and disco balls that were popular in the ’70s, so it was a perfect way to have different vibes at each event.”

While the couple’s destination wedding was an “intimate” affair with close friends and family, they knew they wanted to have a big bash for their local celebration.

Kenny Braash poses with party guests.Dolceamorphotoandfilm

“When we chose to do our first wedding in Puerto Rico, we knew that meant a lot of our friends, families, coworkers, etc. might not be able to make it with the traveling and time and costs, so from the beginning of the planning process we decided we’d have something local where everyone had a chance to celebrate with us,” says Pepin.

“I think keeping our Puerto Rico wedding smaller, more intimate and about our families also made it its own special moment, which was really nice since we’re both very family-oriented,” she adds.

Braasch and Pepin wanted the festivities to be “relaxed” and all “about having fun.”

A pancake-inspired four-tier cake displayed at Kenny Braasch and Mari Pepin’s party.Dolceamorphotoandfilm

The music, however, mixed both old and new tunes.

“We really wanted to keep with the theme in as many ways as possible, but I really didn’t want to play only ’70s and ’80s music the whole night,” Pepin says. “I wanted guests to have a mix of throwbacks and modern music, so we’re playing the throwbacks during the cocktail hour and will play a broader mix during the party.”

Kenny Braasch and Mari Pepin in her first party look.Dolceamorphotoandfilm

Mari Pepin’s first party look featured an illusion back.Dolceamorphotoandfilm

Braasch opted for a fun ’80s “Miami Vice-style suit in light pink,” the same suit he used for the ’80s Paradise Prom — a fun nod to theirBachelor in Paradisebeginnings.

Kenny Braasch wore a pink suit and sneakers to the party.Dolceamorphotoandfilm

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The couple’s blueberry cake from West Town Bakery was “unique in both flavor and design,” and made to “taste and look like a stack of pancakes.” The sweet treat featured maple cream cheese and almond filling, with maple buttercream frosting and a maple syrup drip along the edges.

Mari Pepin and Kenny Braasch pose in their post-wedding party outfits.Dolceamorphotoandfilm

The party capped off what has been a time of post-wedding bliss for the couple — though they say making things official hasn’t really changed much for them.

“It feels pretty much the same as it was before. It’s just comfortable, and all about falling into our routine of going to bed at 9:00 [p.m.],” Braasch explains.

source: people.com