A downtown Albuquerque Engagement

kyle + katie

what a fun time we had with these two, exploring downtown Albuquerque. We loved all the belly laughs and the real wedding plan talk we had together! a sweet little e-sesh.

Charlotte + Jacob, a Hacienda Vargas Elopement

Over the summer we had the honor of photographing this darling elopement. Over a candlelit, intimate ceremony done at the historic Hacienda Vargas adobe chapel, Charlotte and Jacob traveled all the way from the east coast to join together in holy matrimony. Together with their precious daughter, we had a blast adventuring and taking their beautiful portraits!

Venue: Hacienda Vargas

Hair/Makeup: Genica Lee

Floral: Stephanie Yardman

Cake: Desire and Consequence

Derek + Shawna, a La Posada Wedding // Santa Fe, NM

A blog preview of the beautiful Freeman wedding. It was breathtaking in every way! 

 

Congratulations Derek + Shawna! 

Venue: La Posada de Santa Fe Resort & Spa
Floral: Stephanie Yardman Floral Design
Hair & Makeup: Genica Lee, Makeup Artist
Photo: Alicia Lucia Photography
2nd photographer: Emmanuelle Murphy
Assistant: Crescynthia Padilla
Video: Vladimir Chaloupka
Gown: Demetrios
Cake: Chocolate Maven Bakery & Cafe
Entertainment: Dream Factory Productions

A Casas De Suenos Garden Wedding

Kasey and Corey's dreamy garden wedding this past summer was darling in every way! 

 

Venue: Casas de Suenos Old Town Historic Inn
Floral: Floriography Flowers
H/MU: Genica Lee, Makeup Artist
Gown: Essense of Australia
2nd photographer: Ashley Shaw

 

Albuquerque Country Club Wedding

After nearly a decade of dating and a darling daughter, Candace and Skyler are officially married! We were so honored to be a small part of their big day.

Venue: Albuquerque Country Club
Gown + Shoes: BHLDN
Grooms attire: Vera Wang
Floral: Renegade Floral by Melissa Paquin
Hair/makeup: Genica Lee, Makeup Artist 

Austin + Kayla, a La Fonda on the Plaza wedding - Santa Fe, NM

*** Represented New Mexico in The Knot's 2017 Spring National Print Issue for 50 weddings 50 states (seen here) **

When thinking back on the beauty that was the Schumacher wedding, there are simply not enough words in the world to adequately narrate the love, joy and euphoria that was in abundance that day. Kayla couldn't stop smiling. And Austin, well, lets just say there were definitely a few happy tears shed (see first look photos below)! From their color pallet, all the details, to the lush florals, , and guys.. can we just talk about that to.die.for Haley Page Remmington Gown!! Austin and Kayla's wedding was a truly a dream! 

Wedding Design, Planning & Coordination: The Hitching Post

Floral Design: Renegade Floral by Melissa Paquin

Gown: Hayley Paige

Venue: La Fonda on the Plaza

Band: Soulstice Santa Fe

Cake: Chocolate Maven Bakery

Makeup: Monica Stark

Hair: Jess Evans Hair and Makeup Artistry

Sounds: Absolute Entertainement, Cielo String Quartet for the Ceremony, Cuban group Savor for Cocktails and parade and the in-house dance band Soulstice Santa Fe

Heather + Jesse, a Jemez engagement session

Earlier this year, Lauren (Just Lovely Weddings) and I traveled up to Jemez, New Mexico to meet Heather and Jesse. This darling couple put so much thought and effort into making there engagement session so unique and fun, and Lauren added her personal touch to make everything come together just beautifully!  

They found this epic spot just north of Jemez, close to Cuba, New Mexico and brought along one of their most prized possessions, their rad vintage Scout! We had so much fun with this couple and we just know their wedding will be nothing short of an epic time. 

Ryan + Rachel, a Hyatt Tamaya Engagement Session

Engagement session season is in full swing and it makes a hearts so happy! Here is a blog preview from our time with Rachel and Ryan at the gorgeous Hyatt Tamaya resort and spa. Ashley and I had a great time getting to know them and we can't wait for their Ruidoso wedding later this summer!

Photos: Ashley + Alicia

A Four Seasons Santa Fe Surprise Proposal

Phil first reached out to us earlier in the year and shared with us his exciting plans of proposing to his life long sweetheart, Kayla. Now planning a surprise proposal, let alone planning one from out of the state was not an easy feat but he knew that Santa Fe had a special place in Kayla's heart and he was determined to make it happen! With the help of the great team at The Four Seasons - Rancho Encantado, Phil got down on one knee and Kayla said YES to the man of her dreams. 

Thank you Phil (& sweet Kayla) for trusting me with your momentous day! Cheers to you both and HAPPY wedding planning! 

Kayla + Austin, a woodlands Engagement session

I sincerely love engagement sessions. Especially with couples who are head over heels in love, down for any adventure and not afraid to get a little dirty! Kayla and Austin were no exception and were such a dream to work with. They didn't hesitate when asked to walk through the tall grass, weeds + cactus, they hiked up hills, and braved all the different desert elements. Not only did they travel from out of the state and set aside the time to get their engagement photos done, but they put all their trust in me and gave me the creative freedom to do my thing.

Ask any creative entrepreneur out there, that has got to be the. best. feeling. ever.  

We explored one of my favorite, most coveted trails just outside of Albuquerque and got to know each other better. I love hearing all about my couples love for each other, and their wedding plans so far. I can't wait for their La Fonda/Coyote Cafe wedding in Santa Fe in a couple months.. Until then, here are just a few of the many favorite images from our time together!

hair and makeup by Monica Stark

Diana + Mark, an Ojo Caliente Resort Honeymoon Session

Earlier last month I had the honor of photographing a fellow photographer and her husband Mark! They were honeymooning and visiting our beautiful land of enchantment from Texas. We celebrated their new marriage by adventuring the high desert mesas and exploring the Ojo Caliente resort. Here are a few of my favorites from our shoot together!
 

A huge congratulations to Diana and Mark! wishing you many years of love, health and happiness! 

A Sandia Mountain Crest Family Session

I was so happy to get the opportunity of photographing the precious Stormie family again! I had the best time doing their portraits earlier this year and i've never shot up at the crest in the snow, so when Cameron suggested a snowy mountain shoot for their winter session I was so excited! Oh, and I still can't get enough of their soft and sweet demeanor with each other, even as we were wrapping up they were still so loving and cute, goodness (see last photo)-- seriously so endearing! Love my time with this sweet family. 

Martina + Nick, a handmade Los Lunas ranch wedding

So happy to finally share this lovely DIY wedding. Martina and Nick, who met over a decade ago in high school, put so much thought and effort into the gorgeous details of their day. all the design elements were handmade, like the lawn games, wood rounds, and bar/keg the groom constructed. They wanted their wedding to have a very distinct character, and incorporating their personal style and aesthetic as a couple was a must! 

"We love being outdoors and wanted all of our guests to feel laid back and enjoy what the day was truly about, joy and love in the presence of each other’s company."

The ceremony was held at the historic immaculate conception church of tome, where martina's parents, as well as both sets of her grandparents, were married! following the ceremony, we photographed martina and nick on the family farm and fields in which Nick grew up working on.

When I asked Martina what her favorite wedding memory was, she shared:

"One of my absolute favorite memories from our wedding was our impromptu stop at our local burger joint, Circle T. It was completely random and so much fun to just sit with our wedding party and enjoy the comforts of a chocolate shake, fries and a burger! I will definitely be thanking Katrina (my bridesmaid), for a very long time for calling in that order!"

Congrats to the happy couple! we were honored to be a part of your beautiful day.

Vendors:

Wedding Gown: Bridal Elegance by Darlene

Groom’s attire: Shirt and vest from Men’s Warehouse

Bridesmaid dresses: BHLDN

Groomsmen: Shirts and bowties from Men’s Warehouse

Bouquets and Boutonnieres: Bloom Flowers in Los Lunas

Floral Arrangements on tables: Trader Joe’s and independent vendors from

Albuquerque

Catering: The Cube BBQ

Cupcakes & Cake: Cake etish

Wine: Camino Real Winery

Band: Silver String Band

Hair: Joylene Sanchez

Makeup: Charli Thompson 

Lawn Games: constructed by the groom; painted by both the Bride and The Groom

Outdoor Bar: constructed by the groom

Wood rounds: Groom

Lanterns: Pier 1

Table Runners: Joanne Fabrics; sewn by Rowena Chavez

White wedding cookies and biscochitos: Groom’s mom Alice Sanchez

Chocolate chip cookies: The Cube BBQ

Oreo cookies and snicker doodles: Chelle’s Sweets

Luxury restroom trailer- AAA Pumping

Videography-EmilyJoanne

Table and church flowers- Emeanuwa Flowers

Second shooter + Photographer’s Assistant: Emma Marie Photography + Crescynthia Padilla

Marissa + Steven, A Hyde Park Vow Renewal

We are so behind on blogging and it makes us so sad as we have so many beautiful weddings and sessions to share! 

Today we are featuring a sweet vow renewal from the mountains of Santa Fe, NM. Marissa and Steven reached out to us nearly 3 months before their planned celebration and we're so happy they did! It was a stunning day, from all the vintage details, to their easy and effortless love, it was all a joy to photograph.

Happy 9 years Marissa + Steven! 

3 tips on how to put together a stellar wedding show booth

Last week I was given the opportunity to participate in Albuquerque's Perfect Wedding guide Diamond Dash show! While I was excited to get this invitation, I was hesitant because the show was that coming weekend (Sunday) and I felt like I had no time to plan..... However, there was no way I was turning down such an awesome opportunity! Fast forward 5 days later, I shared a quick iPhone snap of my booth and instantly the questions, messages and emails poured in! They came from photographers and wedding vendors all over the world -- such gracious compliments, questions as to how we did it and requests on the vendors that helped me create my booth! So we decided to put a blog together about our experience and share with you, 3 tips on how to pull off a successful and eye catching booth in just 5 days!!

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 1. FIND YOUR STYLE AND INSPO (with your dream bride/client in mind)

Now i'm no wedding designer or decorator and given the timeline, I didn't have the budget to hire one for my booth, so I started the "old fashioned way". I pulled inspiration from Pinterest and created a mood board with ideas and art that spoke to me. I also sketched out what I wanted our backdrop and booth to look like, all while keeping my target bride & her wedding in mind --- so, a shabby chic layout and whimsy floral arrangements were a must. I also knew that I wanted to incorporate some sort of wood background, so I scoured Pinterest and was so excited to come across this post. It was such a helpful guide and the best way to start the overall direction of my booth (thanks Amanda) and my amazing, supportive husband just rocked it out (he's the best, thanks babe)! Day one we purchased all the supplies at our local home depot (about $100), we assembled on day two, and by day three we painted and distressed the wood. Seriously so easy, affordable and incredibly easy to assemble/store/move!

A glass of wine was a must.

A glass of wine was a must.

2. CREATE AN INVITING SPACE 
I suppose I have a bit of an advantage with this one as I have already invested in cozy furnishings for my studio, but I still felt like I had to add details that represented me and my personal style. So, I highlighted my love for mixed metals by adding gold decor and copper signage as well as some scented candles (Anthropologie has the best ones). I'm also ridiculously obsessed with music, so I put together a modern yet romantic playlist (think Sleeping At Last meets Ellie Goulding meets the best SoundCloud covers ever) playing in the background! Lastly, I reached out to local vendors who were interested/ available to contribute their talents while still highlighting my brand. Floriography made a romantic garland and whimsy floral arrangement, Genesis Signs created an epic laser cut version of my sign, Ashley Hamilton Lettering did the sweetest chalkboard sign and 11x14 gold love quote, we passed out the most delicious gold brushed french macarons by NM Pie Company, and Wild + Free Calligraphy knocked it out of the park with the most beautiful copper signs!  I ordered some new mounted prints via my pro lab Miller's (Free overnight shipping -- wut wut!) and Julie Haider updated my marketing materials (her speediness was out of this world and I had the digital files that Monday afternoon to send to overnightprints.com -- they got here Friday)! Design Aglow was KEY in making sure I had the best of the best physical sample products (think gold glass usb drive, beautiful handcrafted albums, etc.) Brides LOVE being able to hold and feel tangible products. 

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3. BE YOUR TRUE SELF + HAVE HONEST CONVERSATIONS
"Be You. Everyone loves you. Not the version you think you have to be" -- Karie Denny (wedding photographer extraordinaire) said this at a branding workshop I recently attended, and it really stuck with me. I chatted weddings, Adam Levine, and photography trends with so many incredible brides over wine, great music, and yummy smells... I was me, and I was happy! I encourage you to not be afraid to be your true self and make an honest effort into creating a great "booth" experience that will hopefully lead to your dream bride!

Big thanks to Brad with A Contrast In Light for the wide shot of my booth! #communityovercompetition 

Q, 2016 Albuquerque Academy Senior

A blog preview of the stunning Q! Graduating next spring from the Albuquerque Academy. Loved my time with her and her sweet momma, who makes a surprise cameo! View more of her gorgeous session and leave her some love below.
 

Katrina + Husayn, a Monte Sagrado Wedding

Katrina and Husayn, two of the kindest people I know! They got married on a beautiful overcast day at the stunning Monte Sagrado Resort in Taos, NM -- Husayn's home town! They met in college, officially at a UNM v. NMSU game in 2008 in Las Cruces, NM. However, they didn't begin dating until 2010.  Katrina, on a first date at Kelly's & Husayn working there at the bar and grill! Husayn decided to chat up Katrina, but no numbers were not exchanged till a few weeks later when she was back celebrating graduation with friends! This time, Husayn and Katrina exchanged numbers and the rest is history! 

Their day was lovely in every way, from Katrina's first look with her parents, to their intimate ceremony with the Taos mountains as their backdrop, to dancing the night away with the raddest music from their live band, Le Chat Lunatique --  it was the perfect day! 

Katrina and Husayn, I was incredibly honored to be your wedding photographer! Cheers to your forever kind of love!

Cake: Jocelyn's Cakes of Taos

Flowers: Nob Hill Flower Shop 

Band: Le Chat Lunatique 

Stationary: Magnet Street

Groomsmen attire: Men's Warehouse 

Bridesmaid attire: Custom made by Rowena Chavez 

Wedding music: Jacob Chavez 

Bride’s gown: David's Bridal

Venue: El Monte Sagrado

Videography: Avista Video

Peter + Jacquelyn, a Hyatt Tamaya Resort Wedding

Peter and Jacquelyn's beautiful Hyatt Tamaya Resort  wedding was on a perfect Saturday, September afternoon! Jacquelyn is one the absolute sweetest brides i've ever met and Peter is as equally amazing, so it was no surprise that their wedding was a darling celebration. During their reception, they honored their Polish roots with the sharing of the bread, an old Polish tradition. Their parents welcomed the newlyweds by presenting them with this blessed bread!

It was such a sweet wedding and I was honored to be a part of their special day! Congratulations to Peter and Jacquelyn, have a blast in Hawaii! 

 

Venue: Hyatt Regency Tamaya

Assistant Photographers: Jasmine Peralta + Jackie Marien

Floral: Stephanie Yardman Floral Design

Gown: Mori Lee Voyage

H/MU: C. Johnson Makeup

Photography: Alicia Lucia Photography

Wedding Invitation Suite: Wedding Paper Divas

Paper flowers: Brides mom, white ones were made with help from friends and family 

Dj/photobooth: Complete Music

Groomsmen suits: JcPenney

Bridesmaid attire: azazie.com

 

Corrales Family Session // Corrales, NM // Albuquerque Family Photographer

I had the best time with this sweet little family of three! Cameron and CJ have been together over a decade, and now, they have this precious little guy to add to the fun! It was great getting to know them and taking their family portraits was a breeze. Loved their natural chemistry!