A Fairytale Emerald-and-Gold Christmas Wedding at The Brown Hotel

Set inside The Brown Hotel in Louisville, this emerald and gold Christmas wedding brought classic holiday magic and elegant seasonal details to life.

Matt and Jared’s December wedding was nothing short of a modern Christmas fairytale — equal parts historic elegance, deep personal meaning, and unapologetic queer joy. Held at the iconic Brown Hotel in downtown Louisville, their intimate celebration proved that love, when thoughtfully celebrated, can truly move a room to tears.

Their love story began quietly through work, before a mutual friend encouraged Jared to add Matt on social media; a small moment that led to something life-changing. Their first night together, spent talking during the early days of the pandemic, set the tone for a deep and lasting connection. By July 2020, under a full moon on the beaches of Destin, Jared asked Matt to be his boyfriend.

“It felt magical,” Jared recalls. “The stars were out, the ocean was calm — it was the perfect moment.”

Three years, three moves, and three cats later, Matt proposed beneath their Christmas tree, surrounded by candles and followed by a surprise celebration with friends and family.

The couple chose The Brown Hotel not only for its Georgian-revival architecture and crystal chandeliers, but for its proximity to where their relationship began. “It’s one block from where I was living when Matt and I met,” Jared shares.

Their ceremony was intimate, emotional, and intentionally centered on love and unity rather than religion. Set beneath glowing Christmas trees and wreath-lined aisles, the processional featured an instrumental version of Taylor Swift’s “Lover,” while Jared walked down the aisle to Florence + the Machine’s “Stand by Me.” In a deeply meaningful moment, Matt’s mother escorted Jared, honoring their bond and chosen family.

“She has become such a motherly figure in my life, and since my parents weren’t in attendance, to have her walk me down was very meaningful,” Jared says.

The ceremony was officiated by Matt’s aunt, who became ordained for the occasion. “Afterward, we were told there wasn’t a dry eye in the room,” Jared recalls.

Fashion played a major role in the day’s design. Jared wore a white velvet jacket with a pearl-studded sheer veil cape, chosen to resemble falling snow, while Matt wore an emerald velvet jacket to match the bridesmaids’ gowns. The wedding party echoed the palette in emerald velvet, black accents, and gold details.

The reception continued the elegant holiday theme with candlelit tables, evergreen centerpieces, and a sweetheart table framed by Christmas trees. The couple shared their first dance to Taylor Swift’s “Lover,” a song Jared says “really encapsulated us as a couple.”

For Matt, the most unforgettable moment was simple: “I finally got to see Jared walk down the aisle. It made my heart sing. I got to see the rest of my life walking toward me.”