New Mexico Weddings

You’ve spent months planning your wedding day attire… from the dress to the shoes, you’re completely covered.  So when it comes to choosing a getting ready outfit, you want something just as glamorous. Enter Doie Lounge, a lineup of seriously stunning robes that will make you look as beautiful as you feel the morning of. Think super soft modal jersey, patterned silk and gorgeous colors.  They’re awesome.

Eco-friendly and totally functional, each Doie Lounge robe is produced locally in Los Angeles with natural and sustainable fabrics and features an inner and outer tie, so you can rest assured they won’t slip off unexpectedly.  Not to mention, they look ah-mazing on girls both short AND tall, and are available in sizes x-small to x-large, so they are more than perfect for every.single.one of your besties. Oh, and those lovely eye masks?  Soooo fabulous.

From the Big Day to every day after, getting ready (+ lounging around) with Doie Lounge robes is as easy as it is beautiful with bulk order options and fabulous one-on-one customer service.  Yep, simply email Founder, Sara, at sara@doielounge.com and she’ll be happy to answer all of your questions, plus talk color options.  How amazing is that?

Visit Doie Lounge today to start your journey towards a picture-perfect wedding day.  And for even more inspiration, check out Doie Lounge on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, plus see all of their real weddings here.

What: Doie Lounge is giving away one beautiful robe – winner’s choice! (Value $148)

How: To enter, simply visit Doie Lounge and leave a comment below telling us your favorite robe!

Who: One lucky winner, chosen completely at random, will be announced right here on SMP on Friday, January 8, 2016.  For terms and conditions, click here.  Good luck, lovelies! xo

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Image Credits:  Valorie Darling Photography (Photography, Photo 1-3, 5-6, 9) + Artistry by Danika (Makeup,Photo 1-3, 5-6, 9) + Trace Henningsen Bridal (Hair & Hair Pieces,Photo 1-3, 5-6, 9) + Callaway Gable Studios (Photography, Photo 4) + Charity Swords Photography (Photography, Photo 7) + Weddings by Scott & Dana (Photography, Photo 8)

This shoot is for all you free-spirited beauties out there. For Brides and Grooms who embrace a raw, authentic kind of vibe that the desert, and Ghost Ranch radiate. With every detail reflecting the earthy hues, from the envelope liners to the Bride’s soft gold dress, Lisa O’Dwyer‘s imagery glows with energy. Head to The Vault for more.

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From Frances of Prema…Georgia O’Keefe first visited Ghost Ranch in 1934. Struck by the high desert landscape of northern New Mexico, both barren and richly complex, it soon became her chosen home as an artist. Here in the rough and quiet environment of mesas, cliffs and plains, O’Keefe would walk daily with her dogs, picking up bones and plants and gathering inspiration. She loved the flat-topped mountain called The Pedernal and drew it over and over again. At Ghost Ranch, O’Keefe lived as she liked. It was a place where she felt she truly belonged. She was a fiercely independent woman, deeply introspective and adventurous: a renegade of her time.

Drawn to her story and deep love of the land around Abiquiu New Mexico, we traveled there to capture a romance, raw and authentic, spirited and free. Our couple, Rosa and Peter, embody a young, grace-filled and thoughtful type of love.

New Mexico is called The Land of Enchantment and it truly is just that. The light refracts dramatically, spring winds blow painterly clouds across the wide skies and the land itself is imbued with a powerful history and a palpable sanctity. Exploring this landscape hand in hand with the one you love you get the sense that something magical could happen here.

Photography: Lisa O'Dwyer Photography | Floral Design: Prema Style | Wedding Dress: Maggie Evans Designs | Cake: Maggie Faralla | Jewelry: Found Co Shop, Colorado At The Rain Boutique Fort Collins | Makeup: Makeup Santa Fe | Calligraphy: designsgirl | Groom's Attire: J.Crew | Venue: Ghost Ranch | Creative Direction And Styling: Prema Style | Letterpress: CHATHAM & CARON | Linen Rentals And Ribbons: Silk and Willow | Model: Ariana J, The Phoenix Agency | Model: Ariana J, The Phoenix Agency | Stylist: Prema Style

Some people love fashion, some love decor, some love food. And then you have flowers—that would be my love. I could sit and stare at our gallery of blooms for days. So when a gorgeous addition like the recent Bows + Arrows workshop comes through the door? Captured at the hands of incredibly talented Heather Hawkins, no less? My excitement goes through the roof. You’ll see why when you peek at the full gallery.

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From …The Ghost Ranch Floral Retreat was set in the enchanting High Desert landscape of New Mexico among dramatic mountains in the town of Abiquiu at the historic dude ranch. Attendees had the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of the painter of flowers, Georgia O’Keefe, while venturing into the world of floral design.

This two-day intensive floral retreat was devoted to learning the mechanics of composition and designing natural and garden-esque work. Attendees gathered imputation from the landscape and the season working with. Florals from all corners of the globe as well as foliage and textures foraged from the ranch.

Our first day was spent crafting centerpieces and larger scale arrangements. Each attendee worked one-on-one with photographer Heather Hawkins discussing the importance of capturing fleeting beauty, photography composition, lighting, and the environment.

On day two, students made floral headpieces and bridal bouquets. Each of the students styled their work with our model, Maegan Bruce, among the mountains and amid the adobe. Photographer Heather Hawkins captured a sense of time and place showcasing each attendees work.

For our finale dinner, we collaboratively set the table with casual loose blooms plucked from their stems and petals placed directly on the table with southwestern inspired appetizers displayed on marble boards made by the head chef of Sissy’s, Natalie Mathis.

Attendees left with a greater knowledge and passion of flowers, an environmental experience and friendships that will last a lifetime.

Photography: Heather Hawkins Photography | Videography: Amanda Marie Portraits | Floral Design: Bows and Arrows | Hair And Makeup: Makeup Santa Fe | Venue: Ghost Ranch | Calligraphy And Paper Design: Blue Eye Brown Eye | Chef: Sissy's Southern Kitchen | Dresses: The Dress Theory | Film Processing: Richard Photo Lab | Ribbon: Frou Frou Chic | Treats: Cake Walk Bake Shop

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You won’t be able to take your eyes off of this professional dancing pair in this Luminance Wedding Films feature! It’s a beautiful Santa Fe resort wedding, and we were especially moved by the kind words said by loved ones, including a heartwarming comparison of ballroom dancing to marriage. Of course, there’s plenty of the spins and twirls we’d all expect and love, too!

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From Luminance Wedding Films… No doubt these two can surely dance! In fact that’s exactly what they do. They are professional dancers and from watching them on the dance floor all evening, I was awe struck! It would have been a shame if I had not had them demonstrate a little move or two…or three…or four (I couldn’t stop filming them) in front of our lenses. These two move with such grace and ease and pure loveliness. The theme of the day certainly seemed to center around the couples love of dance. From the brides velvety blue ballroom dance shoes to her flowing wedding dress (accentuating the graceful twirls) to the officiant eloquently tying in the comparison of ballroom dancing to that of marriage. It was beautiful.

But aside from the dazzling dance moves these two create, let’s talk about their love; compassionate, sweet, honest, balanced and all together charming. As mentioned in one of the toast, one of the most beautiful outcomes of their love has been their beautiful baby boy named Dashel, who was looking mighty dapper in his little suit.

Friends and family gathered around this couple in triumphant love and support. From tear-stained faces during the ceremony to warm hugs throughout the night, this couple is deeply adored. The location of the ceremony took place at the beautiful Bishop’s Lodge minutes from the historic downtown Plaza of Santa Fe, museums and art galleries. The resort is nestled within 450 acres of the most serene mountainous landscape in the Tesuque Valley of Northern New Mexico. The couple’s love of New Mexico’s landscape and historic heritage made this the perfect spot to say their I Do’s. This is a wedding that is sure to go down in the books of most charming! Congratulations to the beautiful couple. Keep on dancing!

Photography: Kerry Sherck | Cinematography: Luminance Wedding Films | Floral Design: Santa Fe Floral | Cake: A Cake Odyssey | Band: Soulstice Santa Fe | Wedding Venue: Bishop's Lodge Ranch Resort & Spa | Bridal Consultant: Corazon Events

Get ready to be carried away SMP’ers, because this next lovely is sure to sweep you off your feet. Straight from the lens of Brumley And Wells it’s an inspiration that offers the best of both worlds. I’m talking about a lovelier than lovely location set amongst hazy horizons all accentuated with gorgeous Cori Cook blooms. After scrolling through the pristine gallery, we dare you not to get lost in your daydreams!

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From Brumley And Wells… In real estate, we commonly hear the overly emphasized importance of location, location, location. It’s ingrained in the way we think about the value of property. In photography, I think we emphasize light in a similar manner, and we should. It’s all about the light! Our 2015 collection shoot for SIBO Designs in the White Sand Dunes of New Mexico offered the best of both worlds: perfect light and a perfect location. The white sands and long sunsets, combined with the thin, rugged strips of blue mountains across the horizon create a wonderland of simple, and other-worldly compositions, perfect for a Windswept titled shoot. After all, the wind has been sweeping across that valley for thousands of years. With the help of an incredibly talented team, including Leanne Marshall dresses, florals by Cori Cook, and styling by The Wells Makery, we worked together to bring to life the stunning 2015 spring collection of SIBO Designs.

Photography: Brumley & Wells | Styling: The Wells Makery | Floral Design: Cori Cook Floral Design | Wedding Dress: Leanne Marshall | Venue: Dunes Life Nature Trail | Veiling And Headpieces: SIBO Designs

To usher in the weekend, we’ve got a whole lot of pretty up our sleeves thanks to Stevee Danielle Hair and Makeup. For the past five years, these hair + make up gurus have been bringing the salon directly to brides and their ladies. With an incredible staff that trains weekly on bridal specific styles + makeup looks, you can rest assured that you’ll be looking your best on your big day!

Available 24/7,  Stevee Danielle Hair and Makeup with do their magic in their studio or on location (with no traveling fees!). They use the best brands (MAC + Dinair for airbrush) and make sure you and your ladies are looking gorgeous! Head over here for more info and to book your big day.

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Welcome to the family, Stevee!  We are so excited to have you! xo

If you haven’t yet met Brideside, it’s time you do.  Because honestly?  They are about to change your world.  Think an array of stunning bridesmaid gowns, a could.not.be.easier ordering process, a personal stylist that knows a thing or two about helping you find the dress of your dreams AND a fabulous giveaway for your entire bridal party.  It’s your chance to win a $500 credit towards gorgeous gowns, sans drama, and we couldn’t be more thrilled. 

With one breathtaking collection after another in every style, shape and color of the rainbow, Brideside makes it easier than ever to make your besties forever happy.  Imagine shopping online in your yoga pants with a very fabulous twist – you can see the dresses in person before buying.  In other words? It’s how every girl dreams of bridesmaid dress shopping.  Here’s how it works:

Meet Your Stylist – Browsing gorgeous bridesmaid frocks online just got amazing with the help of one of Brideside’s FREE personal stylists.  Think of them as your very own wedding-style expert who will walk with you step by step throughout the entire process, from helping you create a “closet” of unique + oh-so-chic styles to keeping track of all of the specifics.  And Brideside introduced Jenny Yoo gowns this month, which means even more amazing styles to choose from.

Invite Your Besties to Your Brideside Closet – Now that you and your stylist are filling your Closet with some of the prettiest frocks imaginable, invite your bridal party to view your choices for those much-needed second opinions. And when you add or share a favorite, your stylist can see all of the happenings, so she is totally in the loop.

Try It On at Home! – Want to try on the dress before committing?  Once you have narrowed down all of the wedding loveliness to three must-have styles, Brideside will send them to you or your bridesmaids in a Brideside Box!  That means an at-home fitting party with your own shoes, jewelry and a little (or a lot!) of champagne.  Soooo fun.

Order “The One” – Now that you’ve chosen the perfect gown, you can work directly with your stylist to be sure everyone is fitted properly and that the dress of your dreams is ordered for each and every one of your ‘maids.  Oh, and it’s shipped directly to you.  It’s seriously awesome, and seriously stress-free. Seriously. I know, I know… you can’t wait to get started with Brideside.  Visit their website now or, if you live in Chicago, make an appointment with a stylist here.  You can thank us later.

What: Brideside is giving away a $500 credit to one bridal party! 

How: Simply sign up here by April 1, 2015 to be entered to win!

Who: The winner, chosen completely at random, will be announced right here on SMP on Friday, April 3, 2015.

Good luck, lovelies! xo

Let’s talk about bridesmaid dress shopping for a moment, shall we?  That weekend when you and your besties bop around trying to find that perfect gown that totally fits your vision AND looks great on every.single.girl in your bridal party.  It starts out as fun, but after the third salon, well, you know how it goes.  Enter Brideside, the online boutique that makes shopping for bridesmaids seriously easy and fun.

With Brideside, that amazing gown is right at your fingertips.  And by “fingertips,” I mean online and ready to be shipped directly to you at home to try on.  Think designers such as Joanna August, Watters, Alfred Angelo, Donna Morgan, Jenny Yoo (and more) in hundreds of gorgeous colors and styles.  That means one happy bridesmaid after another looking completely chic on the big day.  And don’t even get me started on the fabulous customer service.  Your Brideside stylist will work with you and your bridal party to find that dress that is everything you’ve ever wanted and ship the samples to you for a laid-back + totally stress-free girl’s day at home.

So what are you waiting for, loves?  Visit the Brideside website TODAY to get started with your personal stylist.  And don’t forget this exclusive discount for SMP readers: When you buy your bridesmaid dress in February, the first $20 is on Brideside!  Use discount code “SMP20” at checkout. (Terms & Conditions: Cannot be combined with any past or future promotions. Readers must purchase bridesmaid dress at full price on or before 2/28/15. Offer does not apply to the following designers: Joanna August, Donna Morgan, Jenny Yoo.)

I can’t even put into words how much I love this shoot from Loren Billington. It’s boho meets elegance with the gorgeous desert setting the scene, and the result is more beautiful than anything I could have ever imagined. See what I mean here. 

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Photography: Loren Chris Photography | Photography: Loren Chris Photography

I’m all for new wedding trends, especially ones that require you to take time out of your hectic life and sit and reflect on your one true love.  That, loves, is what a beloved shoot is all about.  And this post-marriage re-connect?  It’s breathtaking… with a talented photographer like LisaAnne Photography on hand to capture every beautiful (+ heartwarming) moment.  Click here for more.

From LisaAnne Photography… After the honeymoon, amazing wedding highs, and unbelievable wedding details there will come a moment when you are married and you are in the moments of real life, which sometimes isn’t all glamorous. There’s only so far that gazing upon your wedding photos will fill your heart with the love and joy of being together, and remembering why you are meant to be together! This is why I ADORE the idea of the beloved shoot. I recently discovered it and absolutely adore it. I took this amazing couple, married young, had two beautiful boys, and are in the thick of marriage, raising a family, and constantly in fast forward motion. They needed a beloved moment.

I, as the photographer, had to take them through a shoot of asking them questions and taking them through a journey of basically questions we forget to ask our spouse. We went down by the Rio Grande River, in New Mexico and I would set them up in a mini pose, and then let the natural moments of the question and answers do the rest. Questions like: What did you first notice about your partner? Why did you fall in love with your partner?  I am there to document real, natural moments between them. And WARNING… there is so much laughter and so much fun between them, but also times of being completely and utterly amazed at how love can be so much bigger than you can imagine.

They said: “If we did this every year we would have a marriage that will last forever.”

Sometimes we need to take moments to fall in love even after the wedding! I think in a world of weddings, the world of marriage needs to grow even stronger.

Photography: LisaAnne Photography

As a girl who grew up skiing in Park City, Utah, my heart holds a special place for the picturesque locale. I truly couldn’t imagine a more incredible spot to say “I do” than a luxe private home in this breathtaking mountain town! That being said, let me introduce you to Park City Rental Properties.

Whether you’re leaning toward a venue overlooking the sandy beaches or hoping to say your vows high atop the spectacular mountain range, you can choose a totally unique locale that comes with some seriously amazing benefits. Renting out a private home with Park City Rental Properties makes it easy and seriously stress-free to hold your ceremony and reception all in one place, and makes day of coordination simple! Managed by professional companies who can help with details from florals to finding the best photographer, it’s like having a wedding planner at your fingertips!

Boasting multiple bedrooms and tons of space, many of the luxury rental homes in Park City allow guests to stay close and enjoy the entire wedding weekend! Sounds pretty fabulous, am I right?! For more information and to book your dream Park City venue, head over here!

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Photo Credits: Lindsey Shaun

For a bride who originally didn’t want wedding, her big day turned out pretty darn fabulous. Starting with a stunning, two-toned Vera and ending with a flawlessly styled reception, you’d never guess a full-out affair wasn’t plan A all along. Liz Anne snapped up every moment, and you can find it all right here!

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From the Bride… Originally, I didn’t want a wedding. I wanted to just get married on a weekend, so I went to try on a dress to have on hand – a short, fun, little dress I found online. My mom came with me to the wedding dress store and the dress was awful. While I was there with my mom (with no ‘vision’), I figured I should try on real wedding dresses. I came out in the second dress, a two-toned Vera Wang, and it was THE dress! Who knew?! My mom and I consulted with my dad and fiancé, Chris, and everyone was in for a wedding!

To start I asked my photographer (big wedding or not, I knew I needed a photographer) to recommend a venue. Los Poblanos, a place I had never heard of, was it. My fiancé and I made an appointment with the event coordinator. The venue reflected the dress- romantic and elegant in any era. The coordinator was professional, calm and easy to get along with and Los Poblanos wasn’t booked for our desired date, which was a mere six months away. If this all sounds too good to be true, it almost is, but it really happened and everything fell into place perfectly.

For planning, I allowed the coordinator to guide me with “needs” and “you may want” items. The needs were invitations and menu decisions and the ‘may wants’ were luminarias and table overlays. Every time I had to make a choice on a vendor or design, I just kept in mind my dress and the venue and the romantic elegance that I wanted to flow throughout our entire wedding. I didn’t have a lot of time to search for vendors, so once I saw something I liked, I said “yes!” and moved on. After all the planning, we were simply blessed with an incredible fall day that was full of color, warmth and calm. Everything was so incredibly magical from beginning to end.

Photography: Liz Anne Photography | Floral Design: Shannon Loves Flowers | Wedding Dress: Vera Wang | Cake: Los Poblanos Inn And Cultural Center | Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas | Rings: Shelton Jewelers | Hair Stylist: Church Of Evangelical Faith | DJ: Complete | Grooms Attire: Brooks Brothers | Wedding Venue: Los Poblanos Inn And Cultural Center | Classic Car Rental: Imperial Classic Limousine | Makeup Stylist: MAC Cosmetics

One of my favorite types of weddings are those I describe as indoor garden. They take the beauty of nature and the great outdoors and funnel all that goodness into a venue like the Inn and Spa at Loretto  in Santa Fe. The result is blooms for days by Artichokes and Pomegranates and images by Twin Lens that will make a visit to the gallery a total must.

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From the Bride…Will and I got engaged in Santa Fe in front of the St. Francis Cathedral while we were in town visiting my parents. We had been dating for eight years when he popped the question (but I was still completely shocked somehow!), so we had plenty of time to think about what kind of wedding we wanted to have when we finally took the plunge.

We always knew we wanted an intimate destination wedding with close family and friends but we weren’t exactly sure what the right destination would be. After researching spots in Mexico and Belize, it hit us that Santa Fe was the perfect location for our nuptials. I’d grown up going to Santa Fe on family vacations, my parents had just moved there full-time, we’d gotten engaged there and it was just a short flight away from Texas, where most of our guests would be coming from. Not to mention, the gorgeous summer climate in Santa Fe would be a welcome change from the sweltering heat in Houston, where we and many of our guests live.

After deciding on Santa Fe and a summer wedding, we started visiting venues in Santa Fe and researching wedding planners. Since we’d be doing most of our wedding planning from a distance, I knew we would need a great, creative person on the ground in Santa Fe to help us with the details. We met our wedding planner, Jessie Baca, in a coffee shop in Santa Fe a few weeks after getting engaged and we just clicked. She’s the super creative ying to my organized, logistical-minded yang and we couldn’t have been happier to work with her.

Jessie’s first vendor suggestion was husband/wife photographer duo, Twin Lens. After viewing their website, we knew that we had to have them photograph our wedding festivities. Kitty and Craig were such a joy to work with and we were just blown away by the photos they took of our special day. Although I’d always pictured exchanging vows outdoors, the Loretto Chapel’s French gothic architecture and “miraculous staircase” were just too stunning and special to pass up. The Inn and Spa at Loretto is right next door to the Loretto Chapel and was a logical choice for our reception site. Their southwestern decor and pueblo-style design were picture-perfect Santa Fe and exactly what we’d had in mind for our guests.

The overall feel of our wedding was laid-back, vintage, rustic fun. Artichokes and Pomegranates made my floral vision a reality, with loose, pretty arrangements of flowers (THOSE DAHLIAS!) and herbs in a variety of sizes. Almost all of the bud vases were vintage pieces that my mother already had from years of antiquing and collecting. We used succulents from our Welcome Party the night before to accent the flowers and add a southwest element to our tablescapes, along with beautiful birch wood slices provided by Jessie Baca.

We had about 85 guests at the wedding, which was the perfect size for us. After the ceremony, our guests were led to the outdoor cocktail hour by an all-female mariachi group, Mariachi Buenaventura. Following a seated dinner, the reception became a huge dance party, thanks to our wedding band, Santa Fe’s own Soulstice. Our “party shades” were the biggest hit of the night and all our guests loved wearing the multi-colored sunglasses as they danced the night away. At the end of the evening, Will commandeered one of our guests’ motor-scooters for a spin around the dance floor. It was a hilarious moment in a perfect day that we and our guests will never forget!

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Photography: Twin Lens | Wedding Planning: Jessie Baca | Ceremony Location: Loretto Chapel | Reception Location: Inn and Spa at Loretto | Floral Design: Artichokes and Pomegranates | Cake: Chocolate Maven | Band: Soulstice | Hair + Make Up: Jess Evans | Mariachi: Mariachi Buenaventura | Mr. and Mrs. + Just Married Signs: Jamie Gordon West | Photo Booth: Photo Booth Rentals of New Mexico | Getaway: Santa Fe Pedi Cabs | Save the Date, Invitation Suite, Table Numbers and Escort Cards: Sicily Easton | Calligraphy: Karla Hamilton  | Wedding Dress: Watters | Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew |  Bridesmaid Jewelry: Kendra Scott  |  Groom + Groomsmen Suits: Jos. A. Bank

I adore this wedding in ways I didn’t think were possible.  Maybe it’s because the bride called it a “bohemian fiesta in the desert” or because she and her dapper groom traveled to New Mexico from NYC to make their wedding dreams a reality.  Or it could be because she seriously rocked a floral head wreath, along with one of my favorite WToo gowns, the stunning Jasmine.  My guess?  It’s a sweeter than sweet combo of all of the above that has my head spinning.  See every last beautiful moment captured by Hart & Sol West in the full gallery.

From the Bride… Our vision was to have a bohemian fiesta in the desert. We live in New York but loved the idea of having a small, intimate wedding in the Southwest – something that involved a lot of margaritas and Spanish guitar. We also wanted a place that we could stay, along with the wedding party, for the entire weekend so that it felt like our own little commune.

We toured several places around Santa Fe, but when we discovered the Hacienda Doña Andrea, it was absolutely love at first site. We couldn’t believe this magical place existed in the middle of nowhere. The vistas were incredible and we loved the authentic Spanish architecture.

For our color palette, I wanted to keep everything very light and organic. The only direction I gave to my bridesmaids was to select a dress in a ‘shade of champagne,’ and I was thrilled with their eclectic choices. As a bride, hands-down my favorite accessory was my floral head wreath.

For the place settings, we topped each plate with a succulent rosette, which was a great way to avoid breaking the bank on lavish floral arrangements. Playing off the succulent theme, we gave each guest a succulent candle as a party favor. We also hung papel picados and lights across the courtyard to create a festive ambiance as the sun set over the desert during dinner.

What was most important to us was making sure all of friends and family could come together and celebrate a day that was really reflective of us as a couple. 

From writing our own vows to creating a master playlist for the dance party that followed, we made sure that every moment was true to our sensibilities and our love for each other.

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Wedding Photography: Maddie Eisenhart from Hart & Sol West | Wedding Venue: Hacienda Doña Andrea de Santa Fe in Cerrillos, New Mexico | Catering: Adobo Catering | Event Planning: Marina Ybarra from Hacienda Doña Andrea De Santa Fe | Floral Design: Rodeo Plaza Flowers and Gifts + Succulent Source | Wedding Dress: WToo “Jasmine” | Hair: When the Sun Reaches My Sister | Makeup: Rachel Fackrell

Santa Fe is definitely on my radar for fab getaways. It has a culture so vibrant and painterly it is practically made for vacations and even better, destination weddings. This photo shoot captured by Jess Barfield Photography is out to prove that. Colorful blooms by Stems of Dallas intermingle with ikat and gold details crafted by Lindsey Zamora and a breathtaking backdrop that only Santa Fe could provide. See so much more in the full gallery.

From Jess Barfield Photography… This shoot presents a fresh take on the classic southwest charm. I tend to let the location dictate the accompanying color palette, style and decor for shoots, and when a friend of the family lent their truly authentic Santa Fe house, everything just fell into place. I began scouring Dallas to find the eclectic mix of southwest style and contemporary elegance. While this was a styled shoot, it was also important that it can be replicated by brides-to-be.

Photography: Jess Barfield Photography / Photo Shoot Venue: The Home of Karen + Chuck Johnson in Santa Fe, New Mexico / Floral Design: Stems of Dallas / Styling + Creative Direction: Lindsey Zamora / Wedding Cake + Cookie: The Hospitality Sweet / Wedding Invitations: Bella Figura / Calligraphy: The Left Handed Calligrapher / Metal Wrapping: ReworkCreative / Bride’s Blouse: Robert Rodriguez / Bride’s Skirt + Belt: Stylist’s Own / Bride’s Shoes: Tory Burch / Groom’s Attire: Hugo Boss / Jewelry: Anthropologie, Neiman Marcus + Eiseman Jewels / Invitation Design: Kamal of Bella Figura / Models: Katherine Hodge of Page Parkes Management + Landon Hamilton of Kim Dawson Agency

Now this is a Bride after my own heart. A fabulous shrug, a daring leopard coat, a beautiful wedding with nods to vintage glamour whipped up by Fiori Fresco Special Events. It’s Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm kicked up a few elegant notches. And after spending some time getting cozy with this post and poring over all the beautiful images captured by Jasmine Nicole Photography, I can honestly say this Bride and Groom are so crazy in love and it radiates from each and every image. Their first look says it all. See the full day right here.

And now the film, a.k.a the anatomy of a wedding day. It’s the sweet first look, the heart-warming vows, the happy moments with family and guests and the joyous send off all wrapped up into one perfect film by Drew C. Schrimsher. Take a look…

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the bride… I was mostly inspired by two things: the history of the venue and the fabulous vintage wedding trend going around. The venue was built in the ’30s, which solidified the idea of vintage glam. Also, being a Californian who worked in the special events business for years, I have been privileged to see a lot of great venues. However, nothing comes close to the charm, mystery and romance of Los Poblanos. I fell in love with it many years ago shortly after moving to New Mexico. The venue really inspired everything and influenced every decision we made. This leads me to the best advice I have for brides: find a venue you love that reflects you and your man and work ALL your details around that. Don’t try to force a place into an idea you have. Let the venue decide what colors work, what linens, what kind of dress, music, etc., even if its not exactly what you originally pictured. Also, ALWAYS think first about your guests and their experience from the time they arrive to when they leave. Where will they sit, what and how will they eat, what are they listening to, think lighting, how will they be greeted, etc. Yes it’s “our” day but be flexible, gracious, let others help when needed, and hire professionals!! You will enjoy yourself more and so will your friends and family. Happy planning!

Wedding Photography: Jasmine Nicole Photography / Wedding Venue + Catering: Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm in Albuquerque, New Mexico / Event Planning, Floral + Event Design: Christopher Aldama of Fiori Fresco Special Events / Wedding Cinematography: Drew C. Schrimsher / Wedding Invitations: Target / Cake Pops: Tyche Pierce (A Friend of the Bride) / Musicians: Soulstice / Wedding Dress: Alfred Angelo / Bride’s Shoes: In Style via Macy’s / Hair: Waves Salon / Makeup: MAC Cosmetics / Groom’s Suit: Kenneth Cole via Macy’s

In Santa Fe, the sky seems brighter, the flowers prettier and a Destination Wedding like this beauty seems all the more joyous. Twin Lens photographed the whole celebration from knock-out Bridesmaid attire to one almost-too-pretty-to-eat cake and right on through to gorgeous images of an oh-so-in-love couple. This is a wedding extravaganza done so, so right and you can see it all here.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the bride… Keith and I both went into the wedding planning process very open-minded. The world was our oyster! We live in Illinois and decided early on that we wanted to do a destination wedding. We still wanted a lot of family and friends to attend, so we ruled out anything requiring a passport. Keith and I had traveled to the Southwest a few times and loved the desert, the endless sky and the FOOD! While we had been to Silver City, New Mexico, we had never been to Santa Fe, but we both independently put it in the running for our wedding location. We flew out for a weekend of venue appointments saying that if we didn’t love it, we’d start over. We loved it.

My cousin Corinne is SUPER crafty. I am not but like being creative every now and then. With her help, we made the escort cards, programs, table stories, and faux photo booth. You can see a tutorial on how the program fans were made on Corinne’s blog. Keith and I both love to travel, and have taken several trips together. We only had eight tables so instead of doing numbers, we assigned favorite trip destinations to the tables. Keith wrote up stories of our time there to display. If one of the destinations included friends or family, we included them in the story. If they were at our wedding, we tried to sit them at “their” table. Since we were getting married in such a beautiful setting, we wanted to take full advantage. We created our own “photo booth” by buying frames from Hobby Lobby, painting them the colors we wanted, and hanging them alongside the reception area. We made props by cutting silhouettes out of heavy paper and gluing them to wooden rods, and bought a couple of chalk boards for guests to use. We also supplied an instant camera to complete the vintage feel. It was a huge hit!

My dad’s toast was one of my favorite moments. He is an excellent speaker and had the whole place laughing and crying. Keith’s dad also gave a speech. He is not one to typically do so, but he felt inspired to at the wedding and delivered a short, simple, and poignant message. It was also so great to get to set the soundtrack for the day. I walked in to the ceremony to Moon River on the Spanish guitar, and the bridal party reception entrance song, Keith and my first dance song, and the songs we danced to with our parents all carried a lot of meaning to us. My mom made my dress for a sorority recruitment event in college and it ended up being the perfect wedding dress. My mother passed away 8 years ago so it was even more special that I could wear a dress she made on my wedding day.

Wedding Photography: Twin Lens / Wedding Venue + Catering: Las Campanas in Santa Fe, New Mexico / Flowers: Marisa Peluso of Marisa Millefiori / Wedding Coordination: Heidi Mitchell of Santa Fe Soiree / Wedding Cake: Amber at Chocolate Maven / Wedding Dress: The Mother of the Bride / Ceremony Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Reception Shoes: Chanel / Bride’s Belt: Kirsten Kuehn Designs / Bride’s Earrings + Necklace: Nordstrom / Hair + Eyelashes: Travis Manning / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Alice and Olivia / Bridesmaids’ Necklaces: Anthropologie + gigi BOTTEGA / Groom’s + Groomsmen’s Suits: J.Crew / Wedding Invitations: Dapper Paper / Escort Cards, Programs, Table names, Frames + Paper Props: DIY / Ceremony + Cocktail Hour Music: Sol y Luna / Reception Music: DJ Cypher Unlimited

I have to admit that I read the words from the bride before I even laid my eyes upon these images from Articulate Photo and I was already in love with the concept of this wedding. Little did I know I was about to fall even more in love with it when I saw the pretty, pretty design by MARRIED by Jessie Abrams Baca. I love that this art loving couple married at the Georgia O’Keefe Museum and then carried that theme over into their reception. Click here for even more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…On the day that we got engaged, Mike and I decided that we wanted a small destination wedding in Santa Fe, New Mexico. We took our first vacation as a couple there and felt that the artistic and bohemian feel of the town was perfect for the atmosphere we were hoping to achieve. The Georgia O’Keeffe museum was the ideal venue for our ceremony and served as an inspiration for all aspects of the wedding design. The museum was delighted to have us, and made our day even more special by providing guests with a tour of their special exhibit which included works by Andy Warhol, Alfred Stieglitz, Man Ray, and of course Ms. O’Keeffe herself. Mike is a graphic artist and produced all of the paper products and our invitation suite. He is also an amateur woodworker and made our chuppah in our garage, which he designed to compliment to the natural motifs which were scattered throughout.

After the ceremony we paraded through the Santa Fe plaza with all our guests, led by a Cuban street music guitarist and drummer. We carried a custom “Love Birds” banner made by our wedding planner. She also customized maracas, bells and ribbon wands for a true parade! We then arrived at the Inn of the Anasazi where our reception was held in their lovely library and living room area. The Anasazi’s adobe style interior was the perfect backdrop for our Georgia O’Keeffe inspired wedding – pictures of the artist were displayed on the library shelves beside the rows of books, and framed prints of her bold floral paintings adorned the living room fireplace mantle.

Our guests left us their well wishes by signing our copy of Ms. O’Keeffe’s Poppies which now hangs in our home. We used textures to enhance our design, from the distressed leather deerskin belt I wore over a silk organza Watters gown, to the birch covered pots which held our floral arrangements, to the leafy linen fabric of the table runners (which was also used as the “roof” of our wedding canopy).

Our wedding planner helped us both with the organization of our day and its design. Jessie is truly an artist and brought our Santa Fe organic bohemian meets modern art wedding to life – she transformed our vague ideas (“make it pretty, make it earthy, and give us a little Georgia”) into one coherent, consistent style where every bit appeared to be carved from the same desert stone. She even posted a succulent planter DIY from our wedding on her blog so you can see how some of the woodsy elements came to life.

Ceremony Venue: Georgia O’Keeffe Museum / Reception Venue: Inn of the Anasazi / Wedding Dress: Watters / Deerskin Belt: Mano Bello / Event Design + Coordination: MARRIED by Jessie Abrams Baca / Wedding Photography: Kristen Williams of Articulate Photo / Floral Design: Margaret Bost of Santa Fe Floral / Stationery: The Groom / Musicians: Savor / Wedding Cake: The Plaza Bakery

A wedding inspired by a succulent? Sign us up! And we’ll go ahead and sign everyone up while we are at it because we know y’all are a succulent savvy bunch. The inspired bride took the colors from that pretty plant and created a wedding that will leave you swooning all weekend long. Adorable flowers girls, a happy as can be color palette, and details galore – it wasn’t hard for Brett Butterstein Photography to fill the full gallery with fabulous, so skip on over to check it out!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…If I wasn’t a graphic designer, I’d probably be a wedding planner. I’ve always had a passion for party planning….I love the creativity and the attention to detail that is involved in planning an event. In a way, graphic design has a similar process – you have an idea or a vision, brainstorm on what will/won’t work and slowly put together the puzzle pieces to form an end result that is cohesive, unique and pleasing to the eye. This is why I was thrilled to be able to combine my two passions – graphic design and party planning – into one very special project…..our wedding day!

My initial inspiration came from a plant. A succulent to be exact. I have always adored everything about succulents: the blue/green colors, the variety of shapes/sizes, the connection to the southwest and the fact that they are not necessarily a cactus, a plant or a flower – but some sort of beautiful and unique combination of all three. In my wedding research, I came across a beautiful bouquet that incorporated succulents – along with billy balls (craspedia), white peonies and scabiosa pods – and I knew this would be the basis for our entire wedding theme. “Casual, rustic, elegance” – were the terms I used in describing my wedding day vision. My husband, Kji (pronounced Kye) and I are both laid back, outdoorsy types – who shy away from anything formal and stuffy – so we knew our wedding needed to have a casual and relaxed atmosphere. We chose Bishops Lodge Ranch Resort & Spa in Santa Fe, NM as our venue – for it’s rustic, ranch like setting and it’s ability to host both the ceremony and reception and allow all our guests to stay where all the events were taking place. I grew up in Santa Fe and my family still lives there – so it holds a special place in my heart and I felt it embodied the “casual, rustic, elegance” theme perfectly.

All of this hard work and planning lead to the most beautiful, most perfect day of our lives. There were certainly some set backs – like the fact that the entire state of New Mexico was basically burning down from all the forest fires in the vicinity (there was even a fire that popped up the DAY of the wedding only 5 miles from the wedding site!) – but none of that really affected much (except that we got an amazing photo with a smoke plume in the background!) and the day went off without a hitch. Brett Butterstein’s did an incredible job documenting the day …his focus on light and shadows combined with the unique New Mexico architecture, created the most breathtaking photos and really captured everything perfectly. All in all – it was the best wedding we’d ever been to (though I suppose we could be a bit biased) and I couldn’t have asked for more!

Wedding Photography: Brett Butterstein Photography / Flowers: Margaret Bost Floral Design / Ceremony + Reception Location: Bishops Lodge Ranch Resort & Spa / Invitations + Paper Products: Sweet Nature Designs + Etsy / Bride’s Shoes: Seychelles / Wedding Dress: Watters via Anna Be / Band: Missed The Boat / Photo Booth: Photo Booth Rentals of New Mexico / Hair + Make-up: Rock Paper Scissor Salon / Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew / Groom’s + Groomsmen Suits: J.Crew / Flower Girl Dresses: The Briar Patch / Accessories + Jewelry: Etsy / Pies: Chocolate Maven / Custom Pint Glasses: Custom Glassware +  Sweet Nature Designs

This next, totally adorbs wedding, captured by the talented Chris Bailey Photography literally has us tickled pink. Keely Thorne Events travelled to New Mexico with our couple, and we’re so happy she did. Keely’s team worked with Andrea Soorikian Design to create a wedding filled to the brim with absolutely peachy keen details. We’ve died and gone to heaven – or at least the lush florals have us thinking so. I swear, you can almost smell their sweet scent right through your computer screen. When you’ve taken in all you can here, pop into the gallery – there’s more!

From the bride … Patrick and I met 2 years ago, the night he told me he was going to marry me. Little did I know, he was right. I had always wanted a small wedding; I don’t like to be in the spotlight so I only wanted close friends and family. Patrick and I had no trouble deciding where we wanted to have the wedding – my parents rented a house in Santa Fe for the month of July and we instantly decided to have our wedding there.

The David Webb signed diamond and sapphire necklace that was passed down to me by me great grandmother was my biggest inspiration for the wedding. It not only provided the canvas for our wedding but was the perfect accessory for my wedding day ensemble. I majored in Art History and used Georgia O’Keefe’s sunset paintings as an inspiration for my bridesmaids dresses and flowers.  I wanted to reflect the beautiful coral and peach skies that O’Keefe painted by incorporating different shades of pink, orange and peach in our wedding.

This perfect wedding weekend would have never occurred if not for for Keely Thorne and her amazing team. She made the entire weekend flow with complete perfection; in fact, I didn’t have a worry in the world on my wedding day because Keely was always two steps ahead of what we might need or problem solving so I didn’t have to! Keely was so supportive and understanding at every moment of the planning process and I cannot thank her enough for listening to my thoughts and ideas and then making each and every one of them come to life!

Venue: Encantado Resort and Spa / Wedding Coordination: Keely Thorne Events / Florist: Andrea Soorikian Design / Rentals: Classic Party Rentals / Dress: Oscar de la Renta from Casa de Novia / Shoes: Oscar de la Renta / Groomsmen’s Ties: Vineyard Vines / Bridesmaids Dresses: J. Crew / Linens: Distinctive Details / Photography: Chris Bailey Photography / Officiant: Irene Swain / Transportation: Star Limo / Stationery: Sicily Eason / Lighting: Alliance AV / Cakes: The Chocolate Maven / Reception Band: Patrick Smith Band / Ceremony Music: Bellissima String Quartet / Cocktail Hour Music: Bellissima Music / Hair: Keith Campbell / Makeup: Monica Stark of Makeup Santa Fe