New Mexico Weddings

Saddle up, you’re going to love this refined ranch wedding.  Banks and Leaf planned a day filled with personalized touches, like including the bride’s grandmother’s 1940s saddle in the seating chart display! Floral designs by Floriography filled the day with crisp greenery and lush blooms for designs that delighted.  Every incredible moment was impeccably captured in the imagery by Rachel Havel, you can see each and every dreamy detail in the full gallery.

From Rachel Havel… The wedding of Lauren and Ben took place in the bride’s hometown of Santa Fe, New Mexico. While Santa Fe can draw a lot of southwest inspiration, it was important for the couple that their wedding reflect their classic and laid-back style.  

Hints of blue were brought into the crisp white and green palette. Personalized illustrations reflecting the bride and groom were added to the invitations such as skis, chili peppers, and swim goggles.

The ranch they chose for their venue was the perfect location that offered a lot of space to create different experiences for guests to mingle and enjoy the beautiful weather.

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Photography: Rachel Havel | Cinematography: Logan Bonwell | Event Planning: Banks & Leaf | Floral Design: Floriography | Stationery: Ink Revival | Catering: Walter Burke Catering | Hair & Makeup: A Salon | Entertainment: Mannequin Dj | Wedding Venue: La Mesita Ranch Estate | Tent: Sperry Tents | Day of Styling: Sweet Zion Paperie | Draping & Lighting: Little Mad | Linens: Nuage Linens | Rentals: Colorado Party Rentals | Staging: Metamorphosis

This just might be my favorite wedding to date. Reason being? It’s rife with sentiment. From the bride’s mother doing her makeup, to the sweetest first look, to a breathtaking ceremony overlooking the gorgeous landscape of Santa Fe (and don’t even get me started on those ceremony blankets!) every detail has got me seeing heart eyes. Captured by Callie Manion Photography, you can see it all in The Vault!

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From Callie Manion Photography…I am so excited to share with you this intimate spring wedding that took place overlooking the gorgeous landscape of Santa Fe, New Mexico!

Delanie & Brent are some of the sweetest people I’ve met and their wedding day was full of love, romance, and small, yet significant details. They knew all along that they wanted to have a very small ceremony and were so happy to have only their closest family and friends watch as they—Delanie, Brent, and their son Hudson—were united as a family at last.

I was so touched by all the thought that went into the planning of their wedding, even though they had a very short engagement. More than anything, Brent & Delanie really wanted the day to have meaning. They chose Santa Fe for the location because the city is really meaningful to the groom’s family, and instead of renting out an unknown location, they used a close family friend’s property up in the mountains for the event! Delanie honored her family by wearing jewelry passed down to her from her mother and grandmother, and carried her grandmother’s handkerchief with her throughout the day.

The intimate moments when Delanie was getting ready were made even more special by her own mother doing her makeup & hair. The bond they share is really sweet and I love how involved her mom was on the wedding day! Delanie also asked her to put on her shoes and wedding dress for her, while her maid of honor secured her gorgeous Twigs & Honey hair piece in her hair. Delanie made such a gorgeous bride in her BHLDN wedding dress and Betsey Johnson heels!

One of my favorite parts of the day was Delanie & Brent’s First Look. Their reactions were so pure and genuine as they read love letters to each other, standing back to back, before turning for the reveal. It was such a special moment for the two of them to be alone, hold hands, and pray together, before the ceremony took place.

We took their bride & groom portraits immediately following the First Look. The backdrop was truly stunning! And Delanie & Brent wanted the day to be significant for their son, Hudson, as well, and they made sure to have their portraits involve him too!

Their ceremony was breathtaking, overlooking the gorgeous landscape of Santa Fe! The floral arrangements were by Leslie of Everly Alaine Florals, and as usual she absolutely knocked it out of the park. Delanie wanted really lush arrangements with lots of whites, creams, and greenery. Leslie’s arrangements were stunning and brought so much beauty to this small and intimate affair! And because the wedding took place high up in the mountains of Santa Fe, the air was still a bit chilly during their ceremony. The bride & groom thought ahead and left each guest with a cozy lap blanket to use during the ceremony, which also doubled as the most beautiful (and useful!) favors!

After the ceremony ended, the guests were able to join the happy couple inside for the most romantic and cozy dinner. Lit by candlelight, the guests enjoyed exchanging stories about the couple and talking late into the night.

When asked to give some words about her wedding, Delanie noted, “We have overcome so much together. Our story is truly about resilience and never giving up on love. Hudson is our greatest blessing and this marriage is not just a two person love story–but we really are most excited about giving roots to our family.”

Photography: Callie Manion | Floral Design: Everly Alaine Florals | Wedding Dress: BHLDN | Invitations: Liv For Designs | Bride's Shoes: Betsey Johnson | Venue: Private Estate in Santa Fe, NM | Film Processing: PhotoVision Prints | Hair Accessories: Twigs & Honey

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

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

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

Just when we think we have seen about all there is to see when it comes to gorgeous weddings, a beauty like this lands in our inbox and well, we’re back to square one again. Oohing and awing over yet another totally unique, completely beautiful in ever single way wedding. Jesse Leake photographed this wonder so you know it is going to be a total gem plus the Bride and Groom killed it with unique touches that incorporated Native American and Irish traditions all set against an utterly breathtaking Santa Fe, New Mexico backdrop. Can we say FAB -U-LOUS? See more of this beautiful day and every last perfect detail in the gallery.

see more of the pretty details here!

From the lovely, lovely Bride…

It was important for Kyle and I to reflect two things: love and family. We wanted an intimate wedding in a romantic, organic place – Santa Fe stole our hearts. Our wedding day was chaotic, yet calm… filled with laughter and genuine emotion. We are the luckiest.

The decor was inspired by our love for succulents, bohemian vintage design and our American Indian/Irish heritage. Kyle and I hand selected everything from the vintage amber jars to the herringbone kitchen towels. Etsy, vintage shopping and DIY projects saved us. We meticulously designed the invitations, ceremony cards and menu cards (with the help of Suann Song of Simple Song Designs). We successfully incorporated our personalities through each piece …”the good stuff” – ceremony programs, “the yummy stuff” – menu cards, “the sweet stuff” – cake table.

Kyle and I met on St. Patty’s Day and coincidentally, our families are both Irish. We chose to reflect this by tying miniature gold four leaf clover charms to the invitations and menu cards. Photos of our grandparents were clipped to the menu cards with a “love” clothespin and American Indian feathers were used for added detail. Buckeye seeds (a good luck charm in American Indian folklore) were hand picked by my grandmother and strewn together in groups of 15, to represent the day Kyle and I met. They were placed on the ceremony programs and kept by guests. The bouquet and reception flowers were inspired by my favorite store, Anthropologie. peaches, creams, purples, yellows, pinks … a true bohemian combination.

The ceremony was intimate and meaningful. Kyle and I stood on an American Indian rug and guests were seated on rustic wooden benches. An acoustic guitar strummed our favorite songs and “five promises” were read to replace traditional vows. A unique feature – our first dance immediately followed the vows. For the reception, guests were seated at a long table covered in a natural linen tablecloth and burlap runner. Vintage amber jars, driftwood, turquoise votives, succulents and chunky flowers decorated the table. The food was home style with a New Mexican twist – steak/halibut, mashed potatoes, green beans, calabacitas, green chile cornbread and pecan pie.

Ceremony and Reception: Encantado Resort / Photographer: Jesse Leake / Flowers: Andrea Soorikian Design / Wedding Coordinator: Alicia Troxell of Barnwood & Birch / Paper Goods: Suann Song of Simple Song Design / Dress: Priscilla of Boston / Shoes: J. Crew / Suit: Brooks Brothers

The loveliness of this next wedding is what first caught my eye…the simple details, the pretty and elegant style, the gorgeous bride and the stunning photography by Twin Lens. And yet, it was the bride’s endearing description of her day that actually brought me to tears. This is not only pure eye candy…it’s also a little lesson in planning your wedding with a bit of grace and a bit of beauty.

I think a lot of women probably go into their wedding planning with the idea that it’ll take at least a year. So, let me be the one to assure you it can be done in three months, with a lap top and iphone, while running hockey summer camps with your fiance, in rinks with extremely sketchy internet and phone service. Ladies, it can be done! We picked two dates that we loved in September and began the journey of wedding planning. I remember researching places that we might want to get married. We spent hours upon hours on the internet researching cities and resorts that fit our vision of our wedding day.

There were many places that we loved, but there was just something about Santa Fe and specifically, the Encantado Resort. It looks so peaceful, romantic, organic, chic and serene. It was all the things that we wanted in our day. Once we decided on the Encantado Resort and luckily our quickly approaching day just happened to be available, we received a list of recommended vendors from the wedding coordinator at the Encantado Resort.

It is amazing how important a wedding vendors website is when you’re planning a wedding from 1,917 miles away from the wedding site, without being able to meet anyone in person. I think we had a very similar experience when picking vendors as we did while choosing a resort. We wanted to see who could see our vision, understand it and most importantly make our “vision” a reality. We were looking for a wedding that reflected who we are as a couple. Simple yet elegant. Never overstated, yet delicate and beautiful.

Our wedding was elegant, natural and romantic just as we imagined. An arch of willow-tree filled with fresh herbs and blooms in tones of lavender, white, ecru and silver with accents of green framed the alter to perfection. Our spanish guitarist set the mood and provided entertainment at our ceremony and cocktail hour. We always wanted a small, intimate wedding which we received in our nineteen guests of close family and friends. Since we chose a small wedding we had the benefit of using the courtyard for both our cocktail hour and reception, it was more like a dinner party, which we loved.

Of course not everything on your wedding day will be perfect, there is always something or in my case someone missing. A few years ago my older sister, Bridgitte, passed away very suddenly. I always thought she would be standing by my side as my maid of honor on my wedding day and now I was faced with the reality that I had one vision that couldn’t come true no matter how hard I tried. I have many wonderful friends that would have stood up with me on that day, but to me no one could fill her shoes. It fit us best to not have a wedding party and I think that’s a good thing for couples to remember, you don’t have to follow every tradition. Let your wedding represent you and your fiance. We did find some great ways to include Bridgitte into our ceremony and reception, which was extremely important to us. Our officiant, Martha, suggested mentioning Bridgitte in our ceremony to acknowledge what we were all thinking about that day, and that was her absence there. She was definitely right, on that day she was respectfully acknowledged in the ceremony and although there were tears, it was so nice to think of her during that moment. I also had Andrea place a small charm with the letter “B” on my bouquet, so I could feel her presence with me as I walked down the aisle.

People always say to enjoy every moment in your wedding day because it is over before you know it. I never believed this could be true, until my day arrived and was over in what felt like an hour! It’s amazing how fast time flies when you’re enjoying the company of friends and family, over great food, wonderful music and, of course, cocktails. I remember the day we received our photos and slideshow from Kitty and Craig, we relived our wedding all over, and over and over! The photos were just stunning. Their style is documentary- which isn’t for everyone- but it was exactly what we were looking for. Their photos are not just pictures, they are artwork. In the end our memories were all captured to perfection. We can not thank them enough.

We want to thank all of our vendors for making our vision a reality and helping us to achieve our dream.

Dress by: Monique Lhuillier / Bride’s Shoes: Pedro Garcia / Groom’s Suit: Burberry / Photography: Twin Lens / venue: Encantado Resort / flowers: Andrea Soorikian Design / Invitations: Bella Figura / officiant: Martha Spring / d.j.: Absolute Entertainment

If you’re just now joining us, I’ve been having a bit of a gush-fest about Lauren and David’s beautiful wedding at the Encantado Resort in New Mexico. Santa Fe based photographers Kitty and Craig Fritz from Twin Lens did an amazing job capturing the character, color and elegance of this warm southwestern affair.

This wedding has an altogether joyful, stylish vibe that I just love. Lots of pretty details, a stunning setting and one very happy couple…

Now, normally I like to wrap up a wedding with a photograph of the newlyweds, but I just couldn’t resist this image of the bride Lauren. Sorry David… but your new wife is just having too much fun… love it.

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Credits: Flowers by Andrea Soorikian Design, Ceremony and Reception location Encantado Resort, Wedding Coordination byHeidi Anderson, Cake by Maggie’s Cakes, Dress by Vera Wang, Shoes by Manolo Blahnik, Music from Sauce, Invitations and Paper Goods by Ceci New York, Calligraphy by Betsy Dunlap and last but not least, photography by Kitty and Craig Fritz from Twin Lens.

When I saw these photographs by Twin Lens from Lauren and David’s wedding, I just about fell out of my chair. You can do a lot of planning for a wedding… but there are some moments, like the incredible weather for this ceremony, that you just can’t anticipate. So, needless to say, it helps to have an amazing photographer to capture them forever.

From the bride, Lauren…

The ceremony was my favorite part of the entire day. Dark-colored storm clouds rolled in a few hours before that looked quite ominous for rain (August in New Mexico is known for afternoon showers). We certainly lucked out though because the storm never made its way to the Encantado, yet the clouds created an awesome backdrop for spectacular photos.

Luckily for all us, the jaw dropping doesn’t stop with the ceremony. Lauren was inspired by Georgia O’Keeffe’s painting, “White Trumpet Flower”, so she hired Santa Fe floral designer, Andrea Soorikian, to turn her vision into reality and create an evening that was as expressive as the painting itself.

From Lauren…

Overall I wanted the look to be very natural and organic: grasses, succulents, driftwood, pods, etc, with tonal cream blooms, complemented by tons of candlelight. I wanted the floral arrangements to each be unique, so we had a mix of tables with varied vessels to adorn each. The round tables had rectangular wood vases or bamboo bowls, while the long tables had an arrangement of driftwood, white blooms and greens running down the length of each table. I had my heart set on creating a “tree” for the place card table, which I found out is no easy task. Thankfully Andrea did not shy away from the challenge and went above and beyond to create the most gorgeous orchid tree I could have ever imagined!

Credits: Flowers by Andrea Soorikian Design, Ceremony and Reception location Encantado Resort, Wedding Coordination by Heidi Anderson, Dress by Vera Wang, Calligraphy by Betsy Dunlap, photography by Kitty and Craig Fritz from Twin Lens.

More photos of the gorgeous reception coming up next.

So, sorry for the scramble with the previous post… I’ve had a chance to compose myself and now I feel like I can give this wedding a proper introduction. LBB members, Kitty and Craig from Twin Lens, sent us this amazing New Mexico wedding and I have to admit, I’m kind of obsessed. The couple is beautiful, the photographs are extraordinary, the location is breathtaking… it’s a pretty perfect package.

From the bride, Lauren…

Santa Fe holds a special place in my heart as I grew up visiting there. It was also the destination of one of our first trips together, so the location was an easy answer for us. Overall, we wanted to create an event that was natural, laid-back, was understatedly elegant, and most importantly, was a fun celebration for all! With the help of some fabulous vendors, we were able to do just that… The very first thing I did was research photographers. I have always been drawn to photojournalistic-style photography as I love seeing background moments and candid shots that might otherwise be missed. I fortuitously stumbled upon Kitty and Craig and instantly fell in love with their amazing talent. They also just so happened to be locally based to Santa Fe, so the partnership could not have been more perfect! They were such a joy to work with during our engagement photo session and the wedding weekend, not to mention extremely easy-going and just plain cool as a couple.

Coming up next, some stunning photographs from the ceremony…

Sorry for the little delay getting everyone their afternoon wedding fix. Abby and Tait are stuck on the train on their way back from New York so we had to do a little shuffling around of our schedule. So, I’m going to cut right to the chase and share this spectacular Santa Fe wedding with you right now…

This stunning wedding was sent to us by Kitty and Craig Fritz of Twin Lens and there is much, much, MUCH more to come in just a few…

“Kitty & Craig ~ How is it possible that you make my wishes come true? Man, when I first set out to plan our wedding, I looked at SMP for a lot of inspiration (hmmm, minus the thousands upon thousands of dollars that some of the brides spend on their weddings). And I said to Mike, “How cool would that be to be on that website”. Never, ever, not even a little bit thinking I’d get slightly obsessed with the whole wedding process. Months later, I was there. Slightly obsessed. Anyhow, long story short, I’d be THRILLED to write up a little blurb and see what happens … Whoopie! See, this just extends all this fun and makes going back to work, gulp, tomorrow, that much more bearable!”

When Mike took me to Santa Fe to meet his mom for the first time, it was love at first sight. I thought, “Here is where I will marry this incredible man.”

Between us, there has always been this feeling of ease and comfort. And while we both love the life we live in Chicago, we wanted our wedding to reflect the same sense of comfort we found in Santa Fe that we found in each other. We are together in part because we have the same priorities; top on the list being family and friends. So, we enlisted our loved ones and their many talents to help us create a day that reflected a “personal touch” and was as lush in love as the garden in which we wed.

Our ceremony took place at the Selby Fleetwood Gallery on Canyon Road. In the initial planning stages, Mike’s mom, Selby, sent us some images of paintings from the gallery and we got hooked on one from an artist we had long admired, Lor Roybal. This image, Adonis and Miranda, became the cornerstone of our wedding.

I borrowed the spiced wine color from the painting when I looked for bridesmaid’s dresses (JCrew) and for the pop of color from my shoes (Kate Spade).

The girls’ flowers, from Artichokes and Pomegranates, were also filled with matching hues.

We used the Adonis and Miranda image on our wedding program fans- a labor of love that took me something like two weeks and a bruised hand (from all that corner punching)! They were worth it, though ~ guests used them as they strolled up Canyon Road to the reception.

My gown was by Marisa. I think it was an older style. It was a sample I got really, really inexpensively and had beautifully fixed up by this wonderful place, Davis Imperial, here in Chicago – they are a wonderful cleaner/tailor/preservation company!

We wanted to honor tradition yet find touches that came uniquely from us, our family and our friends. So we asked Mike’s bandmate and his wife to be our ceremony musicians. They played an acoustic version of Tom Petty’s “Wildflowers” as I walked down the aisle. My cousin, who was our ring bearess, carried Mike’s titanium ring and my ruby band (that was his grandmother’s guard ring) in a beautiful ceramic dish created by Paloma’s Nest inscribed with words from “Wildflowers.”

As our numbers grew (115 of our closest came from Kansas to Philly to Spain, including some of my former students) we decided we needed a bigger reception venue and El Farol came to the rescue. El Farol is the oldest restaurant in Santa Fe and legend has it that there are bullet holes in the walls! When an afternoon downpour prevented the party from being outside, we quickly arranged everyone indoors in cozy rooms where an intimate affair took shape. The tables were filled with stunning arrangements done for us as a gift from a close friend of Selby’s. On the morning of the wedding, we all ventured to the farmer’s market to select peonies and wildflowers which were added to the fresh mint, sage and sweet peas from Selby’s home garden.

Our guests filled their plates with flash fried avocados & salsa and seafood paella before dancing to the funky sounds of the Felonious Groove Foundation. One of Mike’s wedding musts (he’s a drummer disguised as a lawyer) was to find a band that would get everyone up and moving and it worked! Our Mayan chile chocolate cakes (3 small round cakes, ours sitting on a vintage cake stand I found a week before the wedding on Ebay!) were from The Chocolate Maven and were like heaven. Instead of a traditional cake topper, we had peg people made to look like us from Naked Peggies on Etsy!

That night, we did just what we wanted: we laughed and loved, hugged and squeezed, danced and ate in the mountains with our loved ones.

You know what else? I totally forgot to add that we used squares of canvas (following the art gallery theme) for our guest book, which guests filled out with a message and hung on clothespins that I modge podged with paper in our colors.

As a wonderful surprise, Mike’s family presented us with Adonis & Miranda, who now live with us in Chicago!

image from Selby Fleetwood Gallery website

To capture the day it was without question that we chose Twin Lens. Mike and I were immediately drawn to Kitty and Craig’s style and their obvious passion for what they do. They went above and beyond , leaving us with the most incredible visual story of our day.

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Congratulations to Amy & Mike on your positively perfect wedding!!! And thank you, as well, for providing all of the details and inspiration behind your planning. We love to hear that our readers have found Style Me Pretty to be instrumental in firing up your creative juices!!

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When Kitty Clark Fritz & Craig Fritz set out to tell your story, they do so with an obvious love of the arts~ no matter the season, the place, or the media. Their artistic flair for not only painting pictures with their cameras, but telling an incredible love story at the same time, distinguishes them as truly, the best of the best! We LOVE Twin Lens Images!  Thank you, guys for always sending us your stunning weddings!

For more of their sensational work, take a look at the FEATURED WEDDINGS on their website.

Here are some links to a few of their weddings previously featured on Style Me Pretty and The Little Black Book Blog …

Elle & Kevin’s Glamorous Affair (think Fred Astaire + Audrey Hepburn)

Renae & Alex’s New Mexico Hacienda Celebration

Elizabeth & Johnny’s Wedding (Elizabeth’s only rule? No Glue Guns! 5-part feature on SMP)

Eleana & Avi’s stunning Jewish traditions

Today we are sharing the fantastic work of Kitty and Craig Fritz from Twin Lens Images. They have documented Avi and Eleana’s traditional Jewish wedding and celebration with unerring sensitivity and charm. It is now time to celebrate the marriage …

The Festive Meal or Seudah

It is considered a mitzvah (the fulfillment of a divine commandment) for guests to bring simcha (joy) to the bride and groom on their wedding day.

There is much music and dancing as the guests celebrate with the new couple; some guests entertain with feats of juggling and acrobatics.

Although the wedding feast is, in itself, a mitzvah, the emphasis is on entertaining the newlyweds. By dancing around the bride and groom, the community expresses its support for the couple.

As a part of the Jewish people, the newlyweds never need fear facing life alone.

We have only touched upon a few of the traditions of the Jewish wedding. We truly thank Eleana and Avi & Kitty and Craig for allowing us a glimpse into this very special day. The emotions and the heartfelt love is so prominent throughout the entire sequence of images from Twin Lens ~ Kitty & Craig, you really ARE the best!

The LOVELY flowers for this wedding were designed by Little Black Book vendor, Margaret Bost ~ floral design of Santa Fe. Event planning was by Heidi Anderson of Santa Fe Soiree. And again, the amazing wedding venue was the Allen Houser Compound.

Twin Lens, Kitty and Craig, are based in New Mexico but shoot weddings … everywhere! Their website is filled with more featured weddings depicting their unmistakable style and talent!

Kitty and Craig Fritz from Twin Lens photography sent us some of the most elegantly captured images from Eleana and Avi’s wedding day. They also included the significance behind a few of the traditions in the Jewish faith. We have a great interest in all customs and traditions of ceremonial marriages and so we are sharing a bit of what they told us and a little more from what we’ve read. This is the second part of Eleana & Avi’s wedding day. If you missed part one, please click here to catch up with us!

From Kitty and Craig …

Eleana and Avi chose the outdoor venue at the Allan Houser Compound south of Santa Fe, NM as their wedding site. The vast rural property honors the work of the accomplished Native American sculptor. His giant stone and bronze sculptures are installed throughout the sandy landscape among juniper bushes, yucca plants, blue sky and white clouds. Eleana and Avi have deep ties to Israel and the Middle East, and many of their guests traveled across the globe to celebrate their marriage. Eleana is the founder of a non-profit group that promotes democracy in Middle Eastern countries, and Avi has spent his career involved as an analyist of Middle Eastern politics. Their wedding day was a sequence of traditional ceremonies, although some of them were new to us despite having shot many Jewish weddings in the past. The following images highlight some of the many traditions we documented that day.

Chuppah: The Wedding Canopy
The wedding ceremony takes place under the chuppah, a canopy supported by four poles. The chuppah symbolizes the new home that Eleana and Avi will create as husband and wife. The four sides are open, recalling the tent of Abraham and Sarah, which was always open to visitors.

The Kiddushin: Betrothal
The first part of the wedding ceremony begins with the blessing over the wine, a traditional Jewish symbol of simcha (joy). Eleana and Avi will share their first cup of wine, symbolic of the joy they will share in their marriage. They then exchange rings.

Nissuin: Nuptuals
The second part of the ceremony consists of the recitation of the Sheva Brachot, seven blessings. The blessings include a blessing over the wine, the creation of the world and for the bride and groom as individuals and as “beloved companions”, united in joy and gladness, laughter and song, dancing and jubilations, love and harmony, peace and friendship.

Breaking the Glass:
Following the Sheva Brachot, Eleana and Avi will once again drink from the cup of wine… Avi then breaks a glass with his foot. The custom of breaking the glass has many interpretations. A broken glass cannot be mended; likewise the promises made by Eleana and Avi are irrevocable. In this context, the glass is broken to protect the marriage with an implied prayer, “As this glass shatters, so may our marriage never break.”

Yichud: Togetherness
After the bride and groom leave the chuppah, they spend a few minutes alone in seclusion known as yichud. These few moments will give Eleana and Avi a chance to relish the sanctity of their new life together.

We love that Kitty & Craig sent us this wedding! They have such an amazing talent for story-telling …

And although we’ve included some of the basics of the age-old, traditional wedding rituals of the Jewish faith, telling the story of Eleana & Avi’s wedding day really requires no words. Kitty and Craig’s photographs have said it all. And that, my friends is an art that isn’t just inherent. It’s obtained through much trial and effort and a passion for what they do and love.

More of the Eleana & Avi’s story to follow …

We have a slightly different twist to today’s post. Kitty and Craig Fritz, two of our very favorite Little Black Book photographers sent us another fantastic wedding … and instead of going into the details documented in the photos, they’ve shared a little bit of what they’ve learned about the significance and meaning behind some of the Jewish traditions captured  in their images. They are stunning … the bride & groom, the rituals and the photos.

The beautiful Eleana and Avi live in Washington DC but were married at the Allan Houser Compound in New Mexico last June. By the end of the day, you’ll not only feel like you know them personally … you’ll even feel like you were at their wedding! And, if you are unfamiliar with the Jewish ceremony, you will have learned just a bit …

The Groom’s Table – The “choson’s tisch” takes place just prior to the ceremony. Avi was surrounded at a table by his male relatives and friends. He attempts to give a commentary on that week’s Torah  portion, but his guests keep interrupting him with singing and toasts. The tisch is invariably humorous and fun, in an attempt to relax the nervous groom before the wedding.

When Eleana decides she is ready, she sends an emissary to the Groom’s Table to summon him.

The Ketubah – Eleana and Avi have been reunited for the signing of their marriage contract, the Ketubah. The Ketubah is a contract ordained by Jewish rabbinical law around 200 CE which lays out the rights of the wife and obligations of the husband. Eleana and Avi used the same Aramaic text that generations of Jewish couples have signed before to honor the continuity of their people. The Ketubah is an artistically beautiful and meaningful part of the Jewish wedding ceremony. It is an illustrated work of art that is generally hung in the home and will serve as a daily reminder of the vows they have made to each other. Although the Ketubah has its roots in the Jewish wedding tradition, its beauty has recently become embraced by couples from all different religions and cultures.

Veiling of the Bride, Badeken – Having verified that Eleana is the bride, Avi lowers the veil on her face himself just before proceeding to the ceremony- thus avoiding the fate of Jacob, who was tricked into marrying Leah instead of Rachel. As Avi lowers the veil over Eleana’s face, he is also avowing that just as his bride’s face is enveloped by the veil, so will love envelope the couple. In many conservative weddings, this is a private ceremony performed where the ketubah is signed.

We would love to share more of these stunning images from Twin Lens of Avi & Eleana’s wedding, so please join us back here in a bit!

Oh … and if anything we’ve said is incorrect, or should be explained in a different way, please do let us know!

Hello and Happy New Year from the editors of Style Me Pretty’s Little Black Book Blog!

We are so excited for today’s post! We are going to start this New Year off RIGHT by featuring a glamourous evening wedding from our friends Kitty Clark Fritz and Craig Fritz of Twin Lens Photography.  From the bride’s incredible dress, to the whimsical ceremony, to the vibrant and colorful reception, this is a total show-stopper!

This wedding is overflowing with femininity and style… This is what the beautiful bride, Elle, had to say on what inspired her totally fabulous wedding style…

from the bride, Elle …

Fred Astaire and Ginger Rodgers, with a little Audrey Hepburn thrown in. I just love them. I am a romantic at heart, but try not to show it since I work on Wall Street and love that too! We didn’t want it to be too stiff. I always dreamed of having a white tie ball and so I decided the only time I could guarantee that would be my wedding.

Elle even had her good friend and hair stylist, Ken Bowling, replicate Audrey Hepburn’s hair style from the ball room scene in My Fair Lady.  And, as I’m sure many of you are wondering, Elle purchased her stunning Lazaro gown, hairpiece, and earrings from Klienfeld Manhattan. Take a peek at some photos from the traditional Medieval Christian Ceremony on the lawn of the stately Federal Courthouse in downtown Santa Fe.

I am in love. The soft pink and the scattered rose petals give this ceremony a completely romantic fairytale feeling. Kitty and Craig, the fabulous husband and wife duo of Twin Lens, did a fantastic job of capturing the whimsical charm of this wedding. They were also joined by Twin Lens team member, Lisa Krantz, who happens to be an award winning photojournalist. The team used digital 35 mm cameras with vintage, medium format Twin Lens Reflex and plastic Holga film cameras to take the seriously gorgeous ethereal photos.

By the way, take a peek at those incredible flowers! The rose and orchid theme was created by Margaret Bost, owner of Santa Fe Floral.  This is what our bride, Elle, had to say about her flower theme…

I love the traditionalism and simplicity of the rose and Kevin adores orchids. White is the most formal, so of course we went with that. I also think it is the most classy and elegant color for a ball. Gold was our wedding color, so gold and cream we felt would go beautifully together. Gold also feels old fashioned, and again, I am very old fashioned.

Elle also incorporated gold and white into her wedding reception at the Scottish Rite Masonic Center, a distinctive (and totally pink!) building in downtown Santa Fe.  The results are just fabulous!

Talk about stunning. Between the warmth of the gold accents and the candles dripping with crystals, this reception had a totally luxurious feel. What a perfect ending to a gorgeous whimsical wedding that was nothing short of fairy-tale loveliness. Thank you again to our friends at Twin Lens! Happy New Year!

{to see the full gallery, click here!}