Copper & Kings Distillery Wedding

Brandon & Lucas’s Laid-Back Wedding in Louisville

From the start, it was clear that Brandon and Lucas’s wedding at the Copper & Kings Distillery would be a warm, personal celebration filled with meaningful touches. As a couple who has lived all over the U.S. and until recently called Nairobi, Kenya home, Brandon and Lucas crafted a gathering that felt like a reunion, a chance to celebrate with both chosen and biological family in a city close to their hearts. Their day felt cozy yet elevated, fitting perfectly in the warmth of Copper & Kings in Louisville, KY.

Pre-Wedding Moments at Hotel Genevieve

The day began with Brandon and Lucas getting ready at Hotel Genevieve, where they spent some quiet time with close friends, enjoying the excitement and calm before everything kicked off. Without a formal wedding party, they kept the focus intimate and low-key, allowing for meaningful photos with their inner circle and sharing a champagne toast at the rooftop bar with their closest friends.

A Quiet Walk from Genevieve to Copper & Kings

After getting ready, Brandon and Lucas walked from Hotel Genevieve to Copper & Kings, taking a few moments to stop by the iconic LOVE mural outside Play. The weather was perfect—a sunny mid-60s day with just a hint of breeze, making it an ideal fall walk. This time together offered them a rare moment of quiet before joining their guests at the venue. Allowing for moments like this—where the couple can take a pause and enjoy each other’s company—can be an important part of a relaxed wedding day. Weddings can sometimes feel rushed with a rigid timeline, so having a bit of flexibility allows space for spontaneous moments, like a quiet walk or candid photos, that contribute to the natural flow of the celebration. Brandon and Lucas’ relaxed pre-ceremony photo session, for example, gave them time to savor their day without feeling hurried or stressed.

Pre-Ceremony Family Photos at Copper & Kings

Before the ceremony, Brandon and Lucas took time for some family photos in the modern outdoor area of Copper & Kings, where the relaxed setting allowed for quality moments with their loved ones before the celebration began. It was also during this time that Brandon and Lucas each presented their moms with bouquets, a thoughtful gesture that honored the important role their mothers have played in their lives.

Honoring a Queer Tradition: Exchanging Watches Before the Ceremony

Before we could legally marry, LGBTQ+ couples often exchanged items other than rings to symbolize their commitment. Brandon and Lucas honored this tradition by exchanging watches before their ceremony—an intimate and personal gesture—before officially exchanging rings during their vows.

The tradition of exchanging items other than rings before marriage, particularly among LGBTQ+ couples, is tied to the historical necessity of maintaining discretion and safety when our relationships were criminalized or socially stigmatized. In times and places where it was dangerous or illegal for us to publicly show our commitment, items like watches, necklaces, or other personal gifts became symbols of love and commitment, often kept private to avoid legal or social repercussions.

A Venue That Supports Inclusivity

I’ve always appreciated Copper & Kings for their unwavering commitment to inclusivity. From their gender-neutral restrooms to their overall welcoming atmosphere, they go above and beyond to create a space that is open and accessible to all. It’s been a pleasure working with them over the years— their dedication to creating an inclusive environment aligns perfectly with Brandon and Lucas’s values, making it the ideal venue for their special day.

Their Ceremony Celebrated Community & Connection

Their heartfelt ceremony had many guests tearing up—including Brandon and Lucas themselves. Their vows invited everyone in, weaving in moments of audience interaction that made the experience even more intimate. After their first kiss, they celebrated with a spontaneous piggyback down the aisle—a joyous exit that felt so perfectly them and was a first for me to capture.

Cocktail Hour Magic and Candid Moments

The reception began with cocktail hour, where everyone gathered around the recessed fire pit, creating a laid-back vibe that set the tone for the evening. Since we completed all their formal photos ahead of time, Brandon and Lucas were able to join their guests, allowing me the perfect opportunity to document plenty of candid shots of everyone mingling, laughing, and fully enjoying themselves.

Reception Highlights: Drag Performances, A Suprise Flashmob Serenade, and Lots of Dancing

As the evening progressed, guests made their way to the second-floor art gallery, where the festivities continued. After dinner and toasts, Brigitte Bandit, an Austin-based drag queen, took the stage for an unforgettable set, including two fabulous Dolly Parton numbers. To make sure guests could show their appreciation, Brandon and Lucas placed cash tips at each table, allowing their family and friends to shower Brigitte with a little love throughout her performance. Her energy was so contagious that guests immediately flocked to the dance floor as soon as it opened—and that momentum kept the celebration alive well into the night.

One of the most memorable moments was a flash mob serenade from Brandon to Lucas, set to S Club 7—a band that became part of their relationship soundtrack. Brandon introduced Lucas to them early in their relationship, and ever since, their upbeat songs have been a favorite on road trips and cozy days at home. Right after they got engaged, Brandon knew he wanted to create a fun, coordinated dance to surprise Lucas.

With the help of friends Lauren and Dana, both dance instructors and elementary school teachers, they made the vision a reality. Weeks before the wedding, Brandon mixed the music, and Lauren and Dana choreographed the dance. Slowly, they brought in close friends to learn the moves, and eventually, both of their moms joined in too! When it all came together, it was such a sweet surprise for Lucas and pure joy for everyone watching.

Available Light & Flash at the Reception

I documented the reception primarily with available light, adding occasional bursts of flash. Working with the light that already exists in a space allows me to stay unobtrusive, capturing candid moments and the true vibe of the day, while the flash brings crisp clarity and party vibes when needed. By using both, I take advantage of the best of both worlds—maintaining the authenticity of the day while also capturing the energy of the reception.

Queer-Positive Wedding Vendors

Brandon and Lucas’s wedding not only celebrated their love, but also reflected their commitment to inclusivity. Several of their vendors are part of Inclusive Kentucky Weddings, a resource for couples to find vendors who are not only LGBTQ-friendly, but are also advocates for inclusivity across all races, gender identities, cultures, religions, bodies, abilities, and sexualities. By working with professionals from this network, they helped ensure their wedding was a joyous celebration while contributing to a more welcoming, affirming, and equitable wedding industry for all.

Vendor Team:

Photography: Sarah Katherine Davis 

Coordinator: Catherine Vish

DJ: Derek "DJA" Allen

Florist: Phoenix Hill Flower Farm

Caterer & Venue: Copper & Kings

Deserts: Wiltshire Pantry

Drag Performance: Brigitte Bandit

Yew Dell Botanical Gardens Wedding

Last June, amidst blooming oak-leaf hydrangeas and sprigs of verbena swaying on the breeze, Amanda (she/her) and Natalie (she/her) exchanged vows at Yew Dell Botanical Gardens. When asked about their vision, they described a wedding that was relaxed, fun, and true to who they are as a couple. When the day arrived, their celebration was full of joy, and focused on soaking up quality time with the folks who've been cheering them on throughout the years.

Amanda's creativity shines in everything she does, whether it's concocting new cookie recipes, making art projects with their children, or arranging flowers from their garden. Natalie is a self-described dabbler, with a wide range of hobbies including woodworking, gardening, DIY home projects, and delving into historical fiction. They complement each other perfectly, creating a balance that is evident in every aspect of their lives.

Their friends played an integral role in the day's festivities, from creating stunning dusty-desert inspired floral arrangements to thoughtfully officiating the intimate ceremony. It was heartwarming to witness everyone coming together to make the day even more meaningful, whether it was through lending a helping hand in setting up the venue, sharing heartfelt stories during the speeches, or simply being there to support Amanda and Natalie every step of the way.

I admire how connected Amanda and Natalie are to their community. They co-own Penny and Pearl's Bakeshop and are passionate about supporting other small businesses. Witnessing them extend that same love and support to their wedding vendors was truly inspiring.

When Amanda and Natalie initially reached out to me, they expressed their desire for a photographer who could capture their wedding day in a unique and natural way. They wanted someone who understood their vision and could document their love story with an inclusive and timeless approach. I am honored that they recognized those qualities in my work.

As the night drew to a close and most guests had departed, Amanda and Natalie realized they hadn't shared a first dance, and the sound system had already been packed away. Undeterred, we pulled up their song on a phone, and beneath the twinkling stars, they shared that memorable moment. As the music faded, their friends joined them on the dance floor, enveloping them in a massive group hug—a perfect ending to a day overflowing with support, love, and an unmistakable sense of community.

The KY Wedding Vendors who made the day magical:

• Coordinator: Brittany Chouhan

• Florals: John Lone

• Catering: Mayan Cafe

• Cake & Cookies: Penny & Pearl’s Bakeshop

• Photography: Sarah Katherine Davis

• Venue: Yew Dell Botanical Gardens 

wedding attire:

• Amanda's Top: StylishBrideAccs on Etsy

• Amanda’s skirt: WardrobeByDulcinea

• Natalie's Pants: Studio Suits

• Natalie’s Custom Bolo: mjmossdesigns on Etsy

• Amanda's Ring Designer - Honey and Goldies

To see another Queer Louisville wedding filled with joy, check out Rebecca & Charlotte’s colorful day here. Or if you want to see another Louisville wedding venue that is surrounded by nature, check out Karen & Jeremy’s Parklands wedding.

Eclectic & Colorful LGBTQ+ Wedding

Rebecca (she/her) & Charlotte (they/them) had a bold, colorful, and eclectic Queer wedding that brought all the vintage garden party vibes— along with lots of laughter and happy tears from their family and friends. I’ve shared some quotes from the couple about their favorite parts of the day, what they wore, and advice for other folks getting married throughout the post!

If you would like to celebrate some more LGBTQ+ joy, check out Jenny & Haley’s intimate wedding at Mellwood or Will & Nate’s pride month wedding at Hazelnut Farm! If you’re on the hunt for the perfect Louisville wedding venue for your wedding, you can also check out my favorite wedding venues here.

“Rebecca's dress was from Couture Closet in LaGrange, KY and by the brand White One (with alterations by Sew Creative Bridal). The dress was originally a floor-length gown, but she wanted tea-length and something more "vintage" inspired. Rebecca's shoes were an emerald green t-strap vintage-style pump for the ceremony and cocktail hour. For dancing, she changed into white low-top all-star Chucks. Rebecca wore vintage pearl earrings that belonged to her best friend's grandmother and a vintage diamond and gold bracelet that was an Asmuth family heirloom.”

“I enjoyed the first look with my dad, Terry. He is a very sentimental man, and I could tell how much joy he felt seeing me so happy.” - Rebecca

“I also loved having my dad tie my bow tie when I was getting ready. He and I have always favored bow ties for formal events and he taught me how to tie them.” - Charlotte

“Charlotte wore a custom deep purple suit and white collared shirt made by Bindle and Keep, a New York company known for their suits for queer folks. It's been Char's dream to own one of these suits. The shoes were brown monk straps, the bow tie was navy blue with paisley (a favorite tie pattern) and the socks were navy to match. They also loved their unusual pocket square of flowers, rather than a traditional boutonniere. Char kept calling it their pocket full of flowers."

The Howard Steamboat Museum is located in a mansion built in 1894! Rebecca & Char used the historic brick facade as the background of their wedding ceremony. They used the carriage house (built in 1883) for their reception dinner, the 2.5 acres of lawn and gardens for cocktail hour, and the patio outside of the carriage house as the dance floor!

“We knew that we wanted our wedding at a historic property, as Rebecca is a historian and archivist. We were also hoping to give our money to a non-profit or smaller business. We also wanted a property that had ample indoor and outdoor space. We booked the venue pre-Covid and it ended up being the perfect venue, as all of our events took place outdoors, except dinner. We loved the gorgeous brick historic mansion on the property, as well as the deep wood and brick in the carriage house.” - Charlotte & Rebecca

When asked about their favorite wedding day moments, Charlotte & Rebecca said, “Both of us agree: OUR CEREMONY! It was something we were least looking forward to, so we wanted to keep it quite short. However, it ended up being the most meaningful, memorable part of the day, I think because we wrote it ourselves with our officiant's guidance. We loved incorporating nods to queer love in our ceremony script and also personalizing our vows to each other.”

“I had the handkerchief on hand to give Rebecca when she inevitably started crying during the vows and handing that to her was symbolic of how well we know one another.”

“Our officiant was our dear friend Abby Glogower! We knew Abby had officiated a few weddings before, including some for couples she had set up (though she didn't set us up!). We wanted our ceremony to be brief so we could get to the fun part: cocktails and dancing. We also wanted a fairly untraditional ceremony. So both of our parents walked each of us down the aisle, Char's siblings stood on their side, and Rebecca's two friends stood on her side. No one wore the exact same colors, either.

We wanted to do a brief reading that spoke to queer love, so after a lot of searching, we landed on a passage from bell hooks read by our dear friend, Avi, who has the most sonorous voice. We noticed many guests tearing up and laughing during our vows, which was perfect!”

I reached out to Charlotte & Rebecca to get a copy of what their officiant Abby read for their ceremony. Theirs is one of a handful that made me get misty-eyed over the years while working — it just really hit in a genuine and intentional way that I wanted to share with you all.

“In her 2000 book, All About Love, Kentucky’s own feminist theorist bell hooks wrote, “The word ‘love’ is most often defined as a noun, yet all the more astute theorists of love acknowledge that we would all love better if we used it as a verb.” 

Like many queer couples, Charlotte and Rebecca have confessed to me that they feel some ambivalence about marriage, a traditional, heteronormative institution. [Insert Abby’s joke about feminist marriages here] Charbecca see themselves not simply participating in the institution of marriage but remaking it anew, every day in small and big acts of queer love. All of us, straight and queer, could benefit from making our marriages and partnerships a little bit queerer. Letting go of traditional gendered roles frees us to love more fully and equitably. For LGBTQ people, marriage isn’t something inevitable, and many have struggled to envision their romantic future in a world where queer couplehood is less represented. Remember, it wasn’t even legal in all 50 states until just seven years ago! Queer marriage is still a young institution that people like Charbecca get to build and remake anew. How amazing is that? Talk about action and choices! 

So we gather here today to celebrate the queer love of Charlotte and Rebecca–our love for them of course, and their love for each other. Remembering again, that love is an ongoing action, a process without end. It has been renewed every day since these two amazing people met and recognized in each other a true friend and companion, a partner for navigating life’s challenges and joys, a complement to soften rough edges and make them whole, a horizon, a vista, a home, a future. And we’re really genuinely happy to be here to celebrate this love because we recognize it as the kind of love that is loving: ongoing, something that appears totally solid, but upon closer inspection is made up of so many endless small acts.”

“I also loved the moments immediately after our ceremony where both of our families were hugging, crying, and celebrating together before we went to the cocktail hour.” - Rebecca

They went for an eclectic & colorful vintage garden party vibe with their decor. Using bold jewel-toned vintage glasses and thrifted books as their centerpieces alongside whimsical spring florals, they created a strikingly unique and personal atmosphere.

“Our cake topper is one of our favorite pieces of decor. Rebecca thrifted it and her dear friend Norman painted the hair on the bride pink to match Rebecca's. Aside from cake, we knew had to have chocolate chip cookies - our favorite dessert! We found a local baker, Flour Trail Bakery, who made all of our desserts. The cookies were miso rye chocolate chip dusted with sea salt. Guests were telling us all night that they were the best cookies they've ever eaten - and we agreed!”

Charlotte and Rebecca had so many thoughtful touches for their guests at the reception! Their sticker bar was filled with *so many* great stickers! My camera bag now has a really cute Queer rainbow sticker as well as one with a custom illustration of Rebecca & Char—which makes me happy every time I open my bag. For their seating chart, each name card had “for richer, for poorer” in script on the back of an envelope. When opened, their guests found a scratch-off ticket inside! This was such a fun idea— all of their friends and family (myself included) really enjoyed these thoughtful touches that also acted as perfect conversation starters.

“Charlotte’s sister Sophia's toast was so perfect and we love the photos of us bent over laughing during her speech.” - C&R

From a photography perspective, I loved that their more intimate guest count allowed me to really get some great candid images of their family and friends as they listened to the toasts and watched the dances!

“Ending the night with "WAP," as I had insisted our DJ do, was a highlight, too.” - Charlotte

“Our advice to other couples: Have a very official exit - we decided to forgo a traditional exit and ended up being at the venue for an hour after the wedding ended. Although we had cleaners, everyone was asking us questions and we just wanted to go to our honeymoon suite!! If you do an official exit, you can make sure you're off-site and leave the clean-up for other people. Be creative with your food choices - no one wants a dry steak anyway! We opted for a casual taco bar from Fistful of Tacos and the guests loved it! Forgo traditional wedding favors - we had a "sticker bar" loaded up with all kinds of stickers: cats, lgbtq+, sweets, books, etc. The guests loved being able to pick and choose and even wore them throughout the night.”

These Kentucky wedding vendors made the day possible:

Wedding Coordinator: Darien Dickerson-Green // Wedding DJ: HAY DJ // Florist: Pure Pollen Flowers // Caterer: Fistful of Tacos // Rebecca’s Wedding Gown: Couture Closet // Char's Wedding Suit: Bindle and Keep // Wedding Bands: Merkley Kendrick Jewelers // Engagement Ring: Boone and Sons // Dessert: Flour Trail Bakery // Hair: Fran Abney, Under the Dryer // Bartender: In the Mix // Invitations: Brouss Art // Photography: Sarah Katherine Davis Photography // Venue: Howard Steamboat Museum