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

Kenny Braasch and Mari Pepin took a step back in time to celebrate their “everlasting love.”

The Bachelor in Paradise stars — who tied the knot in Puerto Rico in November — threw a second wedding party 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.”

The pair chose the throwback decade as a nod to Braasch's love for "all things '80s,” Pippen 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.

"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.”

The evening kicked off with a cocktail hour, followed by a clip of the Puerto Rico ceremony, before the couple made their grand entrance into the reception. "We wanted to keep a few of the traditional elements so people still felt like they were at a wedding versus a theme party," says Pepin, noting the evening also included the couple's second "first dance," cake cutting and a garter and bouquet toss.

The decor included orang -

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e, hot pink and aqua colors with “disco balls galore.” They also had custom bar signs made, retro-looking table numbers and a huge acrylic seating chart. Guests were encouraged to go wear outfits in line with the “retro-style” theme.

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."

Pepin wore a Norma by Justin Alexander dress, which featured an illusion back, sleek silhouette and slightly puffed long sleeves, which she says gave “a subtle nod to our theme.” Her second outfit for the celebration was created by close friend Stefanie Naylor and had "all the '80s wedding gown vibes but with a modern twist.”

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 their Bachelor in Paradise beginnings.

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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.

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.

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