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Last year we made a point to connect with local Lehigh Valley wedding vendors and IRL couples for inspirational collaborative projects. Authentically connecting with small businesses while creating vibrant experiences that our Clients can relate has become a wonderful creative outlet for our team. In addition to establishing connections within the wedding community, inspirational shoots allow us to test new gear and get creative with techniques outside of a paying gig. We also feel strongly that photographing couples who represent a more accurate portrayal of the diversity of the human experience of love, is the beginning of an authentic conversation.

Featuring a real couple who are crazy in love and local to the area was a priority. Our shoot was the perfect opportunity for real life married couple Joshua and Raquel to reminisce about their relationship and experience their wedding emotions all over again. Since Joshua and Raquel have Puerto Rican roots, it was also important to honor their culture by showcasing Latino elements and utilizing the Southside Bethlehem neighborhood as the backdrop for this vibrant micro vow renewal shoot.

Editorial concept and styling was crafted by Lauren Stoy of L2 Creations. Inspired by the rich cultural history of Southside Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, this intimate and colorful micro vow renewal featured the Pantone color of the year, Living Coral. Shades of coral paired beautifully with blue, green and copper accents reminiscent of the aging monolith Bethlehem Steel, situated near the venue. Christina Campbell, of Nina Lily Photography, expertly captured the authentic emotion between Joshua and Raquel in every frame. Pulled seamlessly together by all of the vendors involved, each element of the shoot features a touch of the Living Coral trend.

Our venue locations included a Southside Bethlehem staple, Bonn Place Brewing Co.,which is a neighborhood microbrewery and favorite local hangout known for fostering a genuine sense of community to the Southside Bethlehem area. Bonn Place Brewing Co. provided the perfect micro vow renewal setting, featuring murals by artists Amy Perdue as well as Denton Burrows of Dripped on the Road. Our secondary portrait location featured another colorful mural on the exterior wall of local establishment - Cafe the Lodge - done by an artist known as The Art of Pau. Each mural backdrop tied in beautifully with this shoot’s vivid theme.

Fox and Finch Vintage Rentals provided the perfect lounge vignette and ceremony site accents to give the photo shoot a touch of bohemian vintage vibe. The brilliant floral arrangements were created by Allium Floral Design. Allium artists put together a stunning bouquet for Raquel, a boutonniere for Joshua and an amazing freestanding, moveable floral arrangement that was utilized in both the lounge vignette and ceremony site.

Julie Cassidy of Storied Celebrations made an appearance as our Celebrant for the day, bringing Josh and Raquel together for a marriage reflection ceremony. She read a beautiful poem by Rupi Kaur and led Josh and Raquel through a vow and ring exchange that had us all feeling emotional behind the scenes. Here is an excerpt “...and I promise you that love will be just as beautiful if you’re in a thousand pieces or just one.” - Rupi Kaur. Can you blame us for feeling all the feelings?

Raquel wore a Latino inspired boho gown by BHLDN which was sourced from Anthropologie Philadelphia, paired with suede platform heels from Lulu’s in coral. Her hair and makeup were done by Molly Tanzillo who went with a peach and coral pallet to tie into the Living Coral theme.

Joshua wore a rich navy blue suit by Burlington, paired with a tie by Dazi. He later donned a Guayabera - a Cuban men’s summer shirt traditionally worn for formal occasions such as weddings and is popular in Puerto Rico as well as other countries of Hispanic culture.

Both Joshua and Raquel wore handmade jewelry designed by L2 Creations. Raquel wore a beautiful gold ring stack as her wedding and engagement set, which featured a vintage, hand carved coral cabochon stone as the focal point. She also wore a gold statement necklace with matching earrings featuring opals and coral, all complementing her look as a whole. Joshua wore a stacked ring set in sterling silver and rose gold to pick up the coral elements throughout the photo shoot. Each featured piece was created specifically for the Living Coral theme with other accent pieces carefully selected.

An invitation suite and vow books her handmade by Emily Olsen of Dirty Hands Clean Soul Creations. The suite was done in various shades of coral and showcased beautiful calligraphy in white with touches of gold leaf. The vow books were a lovely addition for Joshua and Raquels marriage reflection.

To top it all off, Made by Lino provided an elegant, rustic cake using au-natural and organic ingredients, true to her baking philosophy. The cake was made with buttercream icing and a limoncello center, showcasing various shades of coral. Made by Lino’s cake creation added the perfect finishing touch to this photo shoot as a whole.

It was a joy to put this styled photo shoot together and to show off the flavor of Southside Bethlehem. In addition, watching Joshua and Raquel play bride and groom all day, laugh together and dance together like it was really their wedding day was a beautiful experience. It was like they fell in love all over again.

“All of the things, that’s what we are grateful for regarding this experience. You took something that was uncomfortable for us and turned it into something that blessed our marriage and brought such beautiful unity to us. We feel like little love birds, not wanting to be apart.” - Joshua and Raquel