A DIY Celebration at Hotel Bethlehem

By: Local Love Stories, Weddings

Emily & Matt

March 25, 2017

Samantha Clemmer Photography

Matt and Emily met in college, bonding over sci-fi and bad jokes while working together on the newspaper and humor magazine.

For their sixth anniversary, they visited Cooperstown, New York for the second time. Instead of enjoying the Baseball Hall of Fame again, they opted for relaxation on the local lake.

On their last night, they set out to the dock to see the Blood Moon. The night was black, cold and cloudy. Eventually, a moon as red as crimson peeked out from behind the clouds. That's when Matt decided to propose. Emily cried so hard she barely heard what he was saying, and just like some clichéd romantic comedy, she also forgot to say yes.

With family coming from New Jersey, New York and even Florida, they were so happy to have a wedding in the Lehigh Valley that showcased the place they've chosen to make their home. A small reception of 70 guests was held in the Hotel Bethlehem's Mural Ballroom. Matt and Emily loved the history and opulence, affectionately calling the space a cross between The Shining and The Great Gatsby. The hotel and vendors really worked with them to incorporate their DIY elements.

Guests had a wonderful time and enjoyed the area. Irish relatives brought the after-party to McCarthy's Red Stag Pub, and the next day, Matt and Emily treated some guests to the Blast Furnace Blues Festival at SteelStacks (where Emily works), while others hit up the Sands Casino.