An Edgy Wedding Inspired by Beauty and the Beast and Tarot Cards

Kaileigh Feichtel and G. Grant Geiger first met in March 2010, at Drexel University, which they both attended, in March 2010. They've dated ever since—and most notably, their relationship reached a high point in October 2016, when they went on safari at Londolozi Game Reserve in South Africa. During a private lunch in a treehouse—from which they watched elephants roaming (Kaileigh’s favorite animal)!—Grant popped the question, saying “Kail, it’s time,” as he pulled out her ring, which she calls "amazing."

They went back to their roots when choosing their venue: The Bowery Hotel in New York City’s Lower East Side! The upscale hotel was Kaileigh and Grant's go-to spot for drinks when they lived in the neighborhood. “We love that it’s such an interesting space with the brick walls and fireplace,” she says.“Along with all the moody details like the tapestries on the walls and vintage velvet couches and rugs. It was everything we wanted.”

On November 4, 2017 wedding, Kaileigh, Grant, and their 108 guests gathered at The Bowery Hotel, which planner and designer Jove Meyer of Jove Meyer Events had transformed to look like “a gothic take on Beauty and the Beast.” After all, Kaileigh wanted dark, romantic, and moody, and even though her fiancé was initially a little skeptical, he ultimately agreed. Jove (more than) delivered on the bride's vision—and the wedding went off without a hitch!

Keep reading to see their beautifully detailed event, as photographed by Amber Gress Photography, featuring romantic, dark florals—and a tart card reading!

The former Lower East Side residents spent many evenings at The Bowery Hotel when they lived in the neighborhood, and after looking for its attributes in other venues, they decided it was the only option for their wedding.

In addition to their underlying Beauty and the Beast theme, the couple also wove tarot cards throughout the entire event, starting with the invitation suite.

Kaileigh wore a gown by Reem Acra, which featured a strapless corseted top along with sheer ivory lace over a nude silk lining . She took a photo of it to Kleinfeld Bridal and when she slipped it on, she knew she wanted to walk down the aisle in it. Still, not everyone in her shopping crew was as convinced! “I truly believe you have to wear what makes you happy, because when the day comes and you put on the dress and feel good about yourself, they will see that," she says.

The bride wore a pair of “awesome” metallic glitter Gucci heels that her mom found for her. And, in a perfect coincidence, they featured a "GG" logo, which happens to be Grant’s initials. She also carried an Alexander McQueen clutch and her signature black nail polish.

In keeping with the vibe of the day, Kaileigh had a studded leather jacket customized by Janice at Coastal Cottage Studio on Etsy. It said "Till Death” on the back and was handpainted with flowers. “It was great to keep me warm while on the streets of New York, but also tied back into the overall edgy theme of the wedding,” she says.

Kaileigh’s DIY project was adding images of loved ones who had passed into her bouquet. She printed photos of Grant’s father, her grandmother and her great grandmother, placed them in lockets, and tied them to her bouquet.

Back at the Bowery Hotel, the couple worked with Jove Meyer to transform the space. “We went with a lot of dark florals: deep purples, burgundies, dark greens,” says the bride.

The couple’s florist, Rebecca Shepherd Floral Designs, created an over-the-top mantle piece above the fireplace for their ceremony, which was lit by many candles. There was also a massive urn with a floral display upon entry to the ceremony room that Kaileigh calls “stunning.”

In lieu of traditional readings, the bride and groom each picked a famous love letter (Ronald Reagan to Nancy on they 31st wedding anniversary, and Johnny Cash to June Carter Cash on her birthday) for their cousins to read. Their officiant, Peter Boruchowitz, wrote their ceremony, which Kaileigh says was “absolutely perfect.”

In an effort to ensure guests knew it was their wedding and no one else’s, Kaileigh and Grant wanted to personalize it in a unique way. The bride thought a tarot card theme would be fun, and asked Katie Fischer Design to roll with that in her designs for signs, table numbers and programs. They also hired two tarot card readers to do readings during cocktail hour as a unique activity for guests.

Katie Fischer Design created the wedding’s signage, menus and name cards, which were midnight with gold calligraphy in keeping with the tone.

Grey linens helped keep the theme dark and moody for dinner, which included options like burrata salad, grilled branzino, and rack of lamb.

The dinner table centerpieces were both high and low, and featured not only dark flowers, black candles, old books, pomegranates, and tarot cards.

Kaileigh had a fiesta-themed bridal shower and went to Tulum, Mexico, for her bachelorette party, so she wanted to incorporate some of the Mexican flavor into their wedding. She did this with a Mexican-styled skeleton cake toppers on their Momofuku wedding cake, which featured German chocolate jimbo, birthday cake, and salted pretzel layers. Other dessert options included milkshakes, marshmallows, and a gelato cart.

A four-piece band, Moxie Jazz, played during cocktail hour and dinner before DJ James Mulry took over for dancing. The newlyweds first danced to “Coming Home,” by Leon Bridges. After a full evening of hanging out, lounging, playing pool, and dancing, the night ended with a late-night delivery of McDonald’s, an ode to Kaileigh’s favorite food: chicken nuggets!