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The One at the Historic Holiday Wonderland | Packer Memorial Church & Historic Hotel Bethlehem | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

The One at the Historic Holiday Wonderland | Packer Memorial Church & Historic Hotel Bethlehem | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

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The One at the Historic Holiday Wonderland | Packer Memorial Church & Historic Hotel Bethlehem | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

The One at the Historic Holiday Wonderland | Packer Memorial Church & Historic Hotel Bethlehem | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Christine & John’s Wedding Day Highlights

Let me introduce you to the king and queen of Lehigh Valley… no, not really, but seriously, they look like they rule this place, yes?

The bridal suite at the Historic Hotel Bethlehem was quiet as we entered. A few giggles here and there, but for Christine it was a perfect morning. No rushing around, just nice and easy going while being dolled up by Evolve Salon & Spa so she would feel like a queen as she met up with John for their first look. Just before getting dressed, Christine and her bridesmaids piled onto the bed in Historic Hotel Bethlehem Suite and shared some laughter and mimosas. This suite at the hotel may have held famous visitors like Shirley Temple, John F Kennedy, or Muhammad Ali! Such great history surrounds this particular hotel in Bethlehem, it’s seen many guests since the building was “modernized” in 1921. The hotel has seen a great amount of change in the past 100 years (or so), but the overall feel to the place is a 1920’s grandeur, which makes it a perfect spot to get ready for a wedding (or maybe you know, hold an elegant holiday wedding affair!). Christine’s bridesmaids got dressed in their David’s Bridal dresses and helped Christine into her David’s Bridal Oleg Cassini gown. Her close friends helped put on her jewelry and shoes (pieces from Mark’s Jewelers, Jimmy Choo, and Nordstrom). A few tears may have started to roll down cheeks as Christine’s David’s Bridal veil was placed in her hair.

As Christine was getting ready, just a few floors below, John was starting to assemble himself as well. I have always believed you can tell a lot about a person from the details on their wedding day. From earrings, to a watch, to cuff links, to a lucky coin, it is the details that tell the story of the person in the wedding. In the case of John I believe his wife’s gift encompassed all that is John perfectly. Christine presented John a watch before the wedding. A lot of brides give their husbands watches, however this watch is the exact make and model watch used by the train companies to set their clocks around the country (if not the world). This watch is perfectly crafted, gorgeous, and precise. John is a major train enthusiast (as seen from the train cake) but the watch is more than just train related. John strives for things to be precise, organized, and operating like a German train schedule (pun intended). This watch is a physical embodiment of the character traits that Christine loves.

John and Christine chose to do their first look in the getting ready suite. Though Historic Hotel Bethlehem is decorated from head to toe with beautiful holiday decor, the almost-weds decided a private first look suited them better than seeing eachother for the first time surrounded by potential steangers. After the initial jawdropping moment, the duo sat quietly in the suite and talked about all the things they were excited about for their big day. It was nice to watch the couple take advantage of this quiet moment (perhaps the only quiet time they got all day!). John showed Christine the Sock Smith socks he purchased for the wedding day (I love the unique touches the bride and groom incorporate into the day). The Uncorked Studios Staff were also lucky enough to get their own pair of custom socks! We boarded the party bus from J&J Transportation with their bridal party and took off to Lehigh University for some bridal portraits.

Lehigh University perfectly captures the beauty of Bethlehem. For a December day, the air was quite warm and we spent a long time outside with Christine, John, and their bridal party. Inside jokes, stories, and well-wishes filled the conversation as we visited the last photography location – the scenic overlook. What a great photo location for this couple – Bethlehem is the city they choose to reside and start their lives together, so why not have an image that captures this feeling? The wind swept Christine’s veil and wrapped the couple up with its cathedral length (one of my favorite photos of the entire day!).

Their very personal ceremony was held at Packer Memorial Church by Paster Stan Knavel. Since he’s known Chrstine for a bit longer than John has known her, Paster Stan Knavel provided John with some great insight to her and gave some wonderful marriage advice. Surrounded by their close friends and family, the newlyweds shared vows and sealed their promises with a first kiss as husband and wife! Clutching her bouquet from RichMar Florist, Christine and John exited the church to spend time with their guests.

Cocktail hour and party time commensed back at the Historic Hotel Bethlehem. The newlyweds enetered the ballroom to claps and cheers and shared their first dance under the romantic lights of the Christmas tree and garland sprinkled with lights. Weddings by Paris played music to get the ballroom dancing. Christine surprised her new husband with a train groom’s cake from Piece a Cake (complete with popcorn “steam” coming out of the smoke stack). Guests enjoyed the custom hot chocolate bar and watched the newlyweds dance the night away together. The center pieces were full of holiday cheer and made up of pieces from Ikea, Pier 1, and Minted.

A huge ‘thank you’ to the newlyweds for having us as the photographers at your December wedding. We are so happy for the two of you and the adventures you will have together!

I do, do you need more wedding in your life? – click here!!!

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