A fun and funky Valentine’s elopement styled shoot at a retro-inspired diner in Denver, CO captured by Denver Elopement Photographer, Mrs. Ferree Photography.
Setting the Scene for this Valentine’s Day Elopement at Denver’s Charming Moonlight Diner
Unique Location for Your Denver Wedding Photos
Nestled in the heart of Denver, Colorado, Moonlight Diner beckons lovers of nostalgia with its enchanting blend of 1950s charm and modern flair. Ever since I laid eyes on this diner, I have been dreaming of the love stories to be told within and a creative dream was born. This unique gem, a throwback to the golden age of diners, stands as a testament to enduring romance and the allure of a bygone era. As the sun dips below the Denver skyline, the neon glow of the Moonlight Diner comes to life, setting the stage for a love story that unfolds amidst checkered floors, gleaming chrome, and the unmistakable hum of classic tunes.
Picture a scene where time seems to stand still — booths upholstered in vibrant teal vinyl, walls adorned with vintage memorabilia, and the aroma of classic diner fare wafting through the air. The Moonlight Diner captures the essence of a simpler time, inviting patrons to step into a world where milkshakes and jukebox melodies reign supreme. With its retro ambiance and cozy atmosphere, this Denver landmark has become a sought-after haven for those seeking a touch of timeless romance.
In this blog post, we delve into the captivating allure of Moonlight Diner as the backdrop for this unique Valentine’s Day elopement styled shoot. Keep scrolling to see all the retro magic that unfolded within the walls of this 50’s inspired diner under the soft glow of golden hour and neon lights.
Featured Denver, CO Wedding Vendors
Planning + Flat Lay // Kaitlin Shea Weddings
Photography // Mrs. Ferree Photography
Venue // Moonlight Diner
Florist // Flowerlet
Cake // Mishrii Baking Studio
HMU // LoLa Beauty Denver
Models // Sophia McElroy and Eric Einstein
Dress + Accessories // Amazon
Suit // Macy’s
Color Palette and Decor: Bold Hues and Nostalgic Charm: Styling a 50’s Diner Elopement
The color palette for this Valentine’s Day elopement at Moonlight Diner is a vivid celebration of love, immersing the retro venue in a symphony of red and pink hues. The teal diner booths were transformed into an eye-catching sweetheart table adorned with bold red and pink florals, taper candles covered in tiny hearts, pearls, disco balls, and as a unique yet delightful touch, rubber ducks sporting tiny hearts added a personalized element to the table setting, infusing the decor with playfulness, romance, and retro charm. At the heart of it all, a Valentine’s Day wedding cake stole the show – a delicious masterpiece adorned with red hearts and pink frosting – a palette mirroring the day’s theme. Each element meticulously chosen, the decor effortlessly weaves together the classic and the contemporary, and brought the Valentine’s Day elopement of your dreams to life.
Rocking the Retro Look – 50’s Inspired Wedding Attire
For this enchanting Valentine’s Day elopement at Moonlight Diner, the bride and groom donned show-stopping 50’s-inspired wedding attire that transported everyone to a former age. The groom exuded dapper charm in a striking red velvet suit jacket that effortlessly commanded attention. Paired with crisp white pants and a playful ace bowtie, his ensemble perfectly balanced sophistication with a touch of playfulness. Meanwhile, the bride radiated retro elegance in a delightful white tulle dress adorned with charming red hearts, capturing the essence of love in every twirl. Her ensemble was completed with timeless pearls that added a touch of classic grace and charm, and heart shaped sucker earrings that tied in the funkiness of the day. Not to be outdone, the bride sported a fun, shaggy purple coat as she embraced the Denver chill. To add an element of fun and flair, the bride and groom both wore heart shaped sunglasses and enjoyed heart shaped lollipops bigger than their faces. The bride laced up her adorable yellow retro roller skates for an extra element of fun and nostalgia. The result was a fashion spectacle that blended nostalgia with contemporary chic, bringing to life the magic of a 50’s-inspired love story at Moonlight Diner.
Photography Tips: Capturing Love in Technicolor – Denver Elopement Photography at a 50’s Diner
For any Denver wedding photographer, the Moonlight Diner offers a canvas of timeless charm and retro allure. When dreaming of Valentine’s Day photoshoot inspired by the 50s era, it was essential to embrace the lively spectrum of colors to capture the charm, romance, and playfulness of it all. As a wedding photographer, I wanted to focus on capturing candid moments amidst the vintage ambiance – from stolen glances over a milkshake to the laughter echoing against the diner’s checkered walls. Embrace the golden hour sun flares dancing through the diner, allowing it to infuse my images with a warm glow that enhanced the nostalgic atmosphere. I had no choice but to let the iconic Valentine’s Day red and pink hues serve as my backdrop for this story, ensuring that each photograph became a vivid testament to the spirit of playfulness and romance within the charming walls of the 50’s-inspired Denver diner.
If you are a Denver Wedding Photographer planning your next styled elopement or wedding shoot, here are 3 things you should do to have a successful shoot
- Envision your dream wedding and meticulously plan every detail to bring that vision to life through your lens. Start by asking yourself what scenery you want, what colors you envision, what your couple will wear, what do you want the end results to look like, and what do you want to shoot more of? By infusing your personal vision into the project, you not only showcase your artistic flair but also create a narrative that resonates authentically with your style and aspirations as a wedding photographer. While styled shoots are not real wedding days, this approach transforms the styled shoot into a heartfelt expression of your unique perspective and a testament to the beauty you can bring to real-life weddings and showcases what is possible with vendor collaboration.
- Begin networking and collaborating with local wedding vendors. Building strong relationships with local wedding vendors is essential for a styled shoot. If you have a list of dream vendors you want to work with, a styled shoot is the perfect chance to reach out and see if they are interested in a collaboration! Reach out to florists, makeup artists, hairstylists, dress designers, and other professionals who share a similar aesthetic or vision. Always be sure to clarify if the shoot will be paid or portfolio work. Collaborating with local vendors not only enhances the overall quality of the shoot but also creates a network of contacts that can be mutually beneficial for future projects, or to serve your real wedding clients. Discuss the concepts, share mood boards, and ensure that all collaborators are on the same page regarding the theme and style of the shoot, but don’t be afraid to let each vendor run with their own ideas to showcase what they bring to the table.
- Create a Detailed Plan and Shot List: Plan every aspect of the styled shoot meticulously. Seriously, ever little detail matters and helps bring your vision to life! Imagine yourself as the model getting dressed, what do you need for a complete look? What do you expect to photograph at a real wedding day that you need to bring with you to the shoot? Develop a detailed timeline that includes the setup, shooting schedule, and breakdown so that all vendors can be on the same page, just like for a wedding day. Clearly communicate the vision, theme, and specific details to your team, ensuring everyone understands their roles while still having the creative freedom to add and showcase their unique artistic flair. If you are working with a wedding planner, they are likely handling this communication so be sure to share ALL of this information with them so they can accurately communicate your vision to the other vendors. Create a shot list to guide the session, highlighting key moments, poses, and details you want to capture so you get the most out of your shoot and don’t walk away remembering all the shots you forgot to try. A well-organized plan will contribute to a smooth and efficient shoot, allowing you to focus on capturing your dream images.
By conducting thorough research, fostering collaborations with local vendors, and creating a detailed plan, you can elevate your styled shoot into a showcase of your skills and creativity as a Denver wedding photographer. Be sure to get and distribute all vendor information to give credit where credit is due.
Denver’s Finest: Collaborating with Local Wedding Vendors for a 50’s Diner Elopement
Elevating the enchantment of our 50’s-inspired diner elopement was a collaborative effort with some of Denver’s most exceptional wedding vendors. Kaitlin Shea Weddings orchestrated the entire affair, seamlessly blending retro charm with modern elegance to bring our vision to life. The skillful hands of LoLa Beauty Denver worked their magic, creating retro hair and makeup looks that perfectly complemented the vintage aesthetic. Rent with Flowerlet created the most fun and vivid floral arrangements, adding a touch of delicate beauty to the diner’s nostalgic ambiance. Mishrii Baking Studio crafted a show-stopping cake, a true centerpiece that not only looked exquisite but also delighted the senses with each delectable bite of the raspberry filling. I, Logan Ferree of Mrs. Ferree Photography, had the honor of bringing the essence of the 50’s to life through my lens capturing this timeless romance and retro allure of Moonlight diner, alluding to my unique style as a Denver Wedding Photographer. And of course, none of this would have been possible without the iconic Moonlight Diner, our chosen venue, providing the perfect backdrop for our 50’s inspired love story to unfold. Together, this dream team of Denver wedding vendors transformed what was once just a mere thought into the retro Valentine’s Day elopement of your dreams.
Behind The Scenes: From Concept to Reality – Behind the Scenes of a Denver Retro Elopement Shoot
In April of 2023, I stayed at the Ramada across the street of Moonlight Diner and a dream was instantly born. I was captivated by the nostalgia and modern flair of this retro diner and knew I had to photograph something here. I couldn’t stop thinking about this diner and was already dreaming of Valentine’s Day shoots, so in the fall of 2023, I reached out to Kaitlin Shea Weddings to propose the idea of a Valentine’s Day Elopement at a retro diner. From there, we worked together to create a vision board and began reaching out to local Denver wedding vendors to see who would be interested in being a part of our vendor team. In just a few weeks, we had lined up the dream vendor team and realized this shoot was really happening! With the help of Kaitlin, it was an effortless experience to coordinate the florals, hair and makeup, venue, models, cake, and the flat lay. We divided and conquered the tasks of acquiring the models outfits, jewelry, and details (like the adorable rubber ducks with hearts and retro roller skates), and before we knew it the day was here.
We met around noon at LoLa Beauty Denver’s studio where they brought the ultimate retro hair and makeup look to life. Then we headed to Moonlight Diner to transform a corner booth into a bold, pink and red sweetheart table adorned with pearls, disco balls, florals, and rubber ducks. Mishrii Baking Studio dropped the cake off to us at the diner and Kaitlin picked the florals up prior to the shoot. We spent two hours playing in the diner, giving us enough time for breaks and to stay out of the way of any patrons aka paying customers. During the shoot, the models got to enjoy a strawberry and vanilla milkshake dressed with the cutest vintage milkshake straws and taste the delicious vanilla cake with raspberry filling. We then headed outside the diner where the bride laced up her retro yellow roller skates and we braved the Denver wind for some of the most fun, Vegas-inspired, elopement photos just as the neon lights kicked on! We focused on creating a story line that showcased love that is genuine, simple, yet bold and unique and transports us all back to simpler times.
Valentine’s Day Everyday: Crafting Unique Colorado Elopements and Couples Photoshoots
In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, which I believe should be every day, I thrive celebrating couples who share a vibrant love and are looking to plan a Colorado elopement that is truly their own and not just following the latest trends. Your elopement should incorporate your own personalities and unique styles throughout so that anyone who sees your photos would say they are undeniably you. I believe getting married should be fun and as a Denver wedding photographer, I aim to create an experience that you genuinely enjoy and won’t ever forget by first getting to know the real you and then helping design a day that includes all your favorite things, and feels natural to you both. I also offer couples photoshoots year round and would love to plan your unique Valentine’s Day couples photoshoot with you. Whether it’s enjoying your favorite drinks at your local cocktail bar or a late night run to Waffle House, I’m here to document it and celebrate you.
If you’re looking to embark on a journey where your timeless romance meets modern allure, you’ve come to the right place. As a Denver Wedding Photographer, I specialize in crafting visual narratives that are as individual as the couples I photograph. From intimate moments to grand gestures, I promise to serve you wholeheartedly and preserve the beauty of your day. I believe your love story should be told in a way that is as exceptional as you are and that begins with the service you receive. I take on a limited number of weddings and elopements per year so I can provide all of my couples with my undivided attention to craft a personalized experience, because you deserve so much more than just pretty photos.
