Neon Nostalgia: 1980s Hong Kong-Inspired Pre-Wedding Engagement Session in Muncie
Olivia + Spencer
In 1980s Hong Kong, a photography trend took hold: couples dressed in formal wear, weaving through the city the night before their wedding. These sessions weren’t about staged backdrops or curated perfection—they captured life as it was. Neon-lit streets, fast food dinners, and everyday places became cinematic when paired with the quiet anticipation of what was coming next. We loved the idea immediately. So when Olivia & Spencer said they wanted something different, we ran with it.
Their evening started at McDonald’s on Madison Street, a location chosen for its glowing vintage neon sign. Dressed in a timeless vintage fashion, they grabbed dinner beneath the buzz of the McDonald’s lights, sharing fries and laughs while the city moved around them. This wasn’t a performance—it was a real night out, preserved with purpose.
From there, we made our way downtown. A quick stop at the library gave us marble columns and clean architectural lines, perfect for direct-flash portraits that feel equal parts nostalgic and editorial. The contrast between their formalwear and the stark public space made the moment feel like a paused film still—unfiltered but deeply composed.
We ended at a nearby gas station. Under harsh fluorescent lights, it was a mix of old-school romance and gritty realism, all captured with intention. There was something beautifully ordinary about it—the kind of scene you’d normally pass by, now transformed through connection, light, and intention.
This session wasn’t about replicating a specific look or trend. It was about capturing a feeling: that space between the everyday and the unforgettable. Olivia & Spencer embraced the idea fully, and the result was a set of images that feel cinematic, honest, and entirely their own.
If you’re looking for something different—something real—we’d love to help you tell your story in a way that feels personal and artful.
Tell us more about your wedding day here!
If you are drawn to this kind of intentional storytelling, we would love to be considered to capture your day.
- the Dunckels