Faith & Evan — A Wedding Woven into Bethlehem

Faith and Evan's love story is deeply rooted in Bethlehem, where they spent a significant part of their lives together while attending a local college. They chose Bethlehem's historic church for their wedding ceremony, followed by a reception at the historic Tavern at the Sun, a building with its own connection to the city's past. Faith also got ready at the famous historic Hotel Bethlehem.

When Faith pointed out the historic buildings she wanted to include in their photographs, I could immediately sense how deeply she understood Bethlehem and how much of their shared life had become intertwined with the town. For her, these buildings were not simply beautiful backdrops. They were part of their story.

What fascinated me was the contrast between history and the present—faded plaster and weathered architecture alongside modern decorations, wedding attire, and contemporary life. Those layers of time gave me many opportunities to photograph the couple within a visual conversation between the past and the present.

The contrast became even more interesting during the reception. The tent at the Tavern at the Sun sits right next to Bethlehem's downtown main street. City lights mixed with the DJ's colorful lighting, while the festival-like celebration next to the tent unfolded alongside the city's ordinary life. Pedestrians kept walking down the street while a wedding celebration took place just beside them. The collision between a private celebration and the city's everyday rhythm created moments I found fascinating to photograph.

I also noticed a strong emotional bond between Faith, Evan, and their parents throughout the day. What moved me most was that these emotions were rarely staged. They appeared almost unconsciously—in a glance, a touch, a smile, or a quiet moment between events. These were subtle and unpretentious expressions of love.

To emphasize those moments, I chose to turn some photographs black and white. Removing color reduces visual distractions and lets the gestures, expressions, light, and relationships carry more weight. Black and white became a way for me to bring those quiet emotions closer to the surface.

Congratulations to newlyweds Faith and Evan! From college sweethearts to husband and wife, what a beautiful journey it has been to this joyful celebration in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Surrounded by the love of family and friends, you began this new chapter together with so much happiness, faith, and love. “What God has joined together, let no one separate.” Wishing you both a lifetime of love, laughter, and countless blessings as you walk through life side by side. ❤️

I loaded a roll of Kodak Pro Image 100 with Bethlehem's downtown in mind. I was pleased with its fine grain and warm skin tones, which worked beautifully with the historic buildings and colorful storefronts. The film's gentle warmth seemed to complement the character of the old town, while its fine grain kept the images clean and detailed.