Wedding Inspo - 5 Albuquerque Venues to Fall in Love With

Even though the past few wedding seasons have been filled with the most magical destinations both near and far from our beloved New Mexico, there’s nothing quite like The Land of Enchantment, especially our sweet little hometown of Albuquerque.

While we do spend a huge amount of time up north in Santa Fe, we never say no to enchanting celebrations in the city where everything started for us over a decade ago. On the surface, Albuquerque may not seem like a typical wedding destination, but if you you peek around all of its little corners you’ll be absolutely astonished with the divine wedding venues hidden in our quaint city. From heavenly lavender farms to epic historical landmarks to tranquil gardens, Albuquerque is truly a haven for wedding nuptials.

We couldn’t resist the chance to feature just a glimpse of a few of the Albuquerque wedding venues that continually take our breath away, season after season. Our hearts beat just a little faster every time we get to capture love at these incredibly special locations and we’re forever crossing our fingers for even more “I dos” at a few of our favorite gems.

Blog + Photo Curation by Jaclyn of Alicia Lucia Photography

Venue - National Hispanic Cultural Center
Located right near downtown Albuquerque, this historic location is known for its grandiose performing arts center, unique architecture, and rich history. However, one of the many details we love so much about National Hispanic Culture Center is the way that it also makes for the most perfect of wedding locations. Its blend of soft garden touches and stunning southwestern flair makes it truly the best of both worlds.

Venue - Los Poblanos Historic Inn and Organic Farm

While this world renowned lavender farm needs no introduction, we simply can’t help falling madly in love with it time and time again. With its downright bewitching grounds (including an endless lavender field, iconic silos, and countless gardens) this beauty is a place we are always able to find a little bit more charm in every single time we visit. We can’t wait for more of our darling couples to become as spellbound with Los Poblanos as we have been for all of these years.

Venue - Casas de Sueños + San Isidro de Capilla
We couldn’t pass up the opportunity to feature one of the most entrancing wedding location combination we’ve ever laid eyes upon. The pure white, non-denomination beauty of San Isidro de Capilla makes for the perfect blank canvas for any couple desiring a classic wedding chic feeling that still lends perfectly to the even the most modern of fêtes. And truthfully, we think that one of the most delightful ways to follow up a ceremony in this Albuquerque staple is with an al fresco celebration at Casas de Sueños, a tiny garden known for its irresistible beauty. This little spot is close enough to the stunning bosque, yet far enough away from the hustle and bustle of the city, making it the most quaint location.

Venue - Old Town Farm
Perfectly tucked away right near Old Town Albuquerque, this darling little venue is truly the most peaceful of locations. From its stellar red barn to its tiny corn field to vast grounds, Old Town Farm is captivating beyond belief. And if its charming features weren’t enough, this alluring little spot perfectly reflects all of New Mexico’s seasons with its constantly changing foliage.

Venue - Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town
Last, but never least is one of our all time favorites and one of the first venues we ever photographed. Hotel Albuquerque is known for its incomparable beauty, from its Spanish-inspired ceremony pavilion to its stunning, open-air garden, to its famous architecture. We adore this space and the way that couples have continually loved it year after year. We couldn’t dream up a more romantic setting to make if official in the heart of Albuquerque.

Wedding Inspo - Top 5 Albuquerque Wedding Venues

Albuquerque has been our number one spot for weddings and elopements over the last ten seasons and let’s just say that the cutie venues here never disappoint. Our sweet little city has some of the dreamiest places to say “I do” and we’re constantly blown away by the magical celebrations we get to capture at each of them.

From tiny little farms to lavender gardens to elegant hotels to quiet gardens, there truly is a venue in Albuquerque for every single couple out there. If you’re more of the classic, romantic type, Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town might be perfect for you, but if you’re more of a quaint, rustic kind of lover, Old Town Farm could be your jam. And if you’re looking for a historic, otherworldly place to elope or have a tiny wedding, the ever stunning Los Poblanos could make your dreams come true.

Every single time we visit these sweet little venues we’re reminded of why we adore Albuquerque so much and special this city really is to us. We can’t wait for even more lovers to tie the knot at these incredible spaces!!!

Featured Venues + Love Stories
Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town - Owen + Amelia and Zach + Coli
Los Poblanos Historic Inn and Organic Farm - Evan + Jocelyn
Casa Perea Art Space - Ysidro + Celestina
Old Town Farm - Russell + Katie and Brad + Kenna
Casas de Sueños - Zach + Coli

Weddings + Elopements by Alicia, Ashley, Bre, and the ALP Team
Blog + Photo Curation by Jaclyn of Alicia Lucia Photography

Wedding Inspo - Wedding Cakes

If you’ve been craving a sweet escape, we can’t help but mention that this blog is just for you! We’ve featured some of the most stunning cakes we’ve captured over the past two years and we’re still drooling over them.

From succulent accented beauties to bright and festive babes to the classic, yet pretty floral beauties, we gotta say that these cakes certainly had their own personalities (and some of them definitely stole the show). We love seeing when couples get super creative with wedding day details and its always such a treat to see how some of local baking beauties pull off these sweet masterpieces!

We’re still on a sugar high for some of these cakes so scroll through and find your new favorite sweet treat!!!

Featured Bakers
Maggie’s Wedding Cakes
Chocolate Maven
Simply Sweet by Darci
Mellow Cakery (formerly Maimie’s Cakes)
Bizzy B Cakes
Q’s Cakes & Sweet Boutique
Small Cakes
A Cake Odyssey
Emerald Pie Bar
Sassy Bakes (Heather of Los Poblanos)

Weddings + Styled Shoots by Alicia, Ashley, Bre, and the ALP Team
Blog + Photo Curation by Jaclyn of Alicia Lucia Photography

Guest Blog Feature - Advice for Brides

This week we’re featuring a guest blog from writer Hannah Stevens on mistakes for brides to avoid on their wedding day! We’ve included photos from our brides who went above and beyond to not only avoid these mistakes, but to make their weddings seamless and wonderful. Whether its allocating extra time with their sweethearts, to adding super personal wedding details, to having perfect timelines & being more intentional, these are just a few of the stellar brides that our team constantly thinks of when it comes to helping their weddings flow, while still being what they envisioned for their big day!

Our Brides (and their Grooms) Who Went Above + Beyond
Leanne + Scott at SITE Santa Fe
Taylor + Kirk at Loretto and La Fonda on the Plaza
Niki + Patrick at Enchanted Vine Barn
Coli + Zach in Old Town Albuquerque
Car + Qwist at Los Poblanos
Brigitte + Derek at La Fonda on the Plaza

7 Mistakes a Bride Makes During Her Wedding Week
A Guide for Brides by Hannah Stevens

Wedding days are meant to be special. It is the time where you celebrate your love with your partner – a day to remember for the rest of your life. If everything doesn’t turn out the way you expect, however, you might remember the stress instead of happiness. Although you cannot control everything, there are some common pitfalls you can avoid to make sure that your wedding goes as planned.

Procrastination

Perhaps the biggest mistake brides make is waiting until the last second to finalize the details of their weddings. Always remember that doing so gives you a small window for beauty treatments, spa days, and wedding rehearsals. Make sure to finalize everything as soon as possible to keep everything on track for a smooth wedding day. Consider making a list of tasks to accomplish before the wedding.

Not Having Hair and Makeup Trial Runs

Waiting until the wedding day to try out your makeup and hairstyle might catch you off-guard. Bear in mind that part of a successful wedding day is feeling as confident and beautiful as you can be, after all, which includes having your hairstyle and mascara in sync. In order to avoid disappointment, always do a trial run of your makeup and hairstyle to ensure that you are satisfied with the way you look.

Hiring the Wrong Photographer

Oftentimes, couples fall into the trap of hiring the wrong photographer. When looking for the right fit, it is crucial to look for someone whose work matches your vision for your wedding day. This is not only to ensure that you will be proud of the images when you post them online but also helps make sure that the images stand up for decades to come when you show them to your children or even your grandchildren.

Scheduling Bachelorette Parties during Wedding Week

Bachelorette parties are exciting. After all, it is the last time to go out with your girls as a single lady. It is a good idea to try and schedule bachelorette parties for at least a few weeks before the wedding. Alternatively, you can schedule a bachelorette party during the wedding week – but make sure that it does not involve heavy partying or drinking as both activities can leave you feeling less than your best while walking down the aisle.

Failing To Tie Up Legal Ends

Failure to tie-up legal ends is an expensive problem. So, make a checklist of all the legal paperwork needed before your wedding day. Also, don’t forget to check the local laws and obtain a marriage license within a set timeframe. Keep in mind that laws differ from state to state, too, so you’ll want to either work with a professional or make sure you’re reading regulations for your specific state.

Doing It All

Every bride wants to be in control of their wedding. Unfortunately, not letting others step in and help can prove detrimental to the success of the event. During the wedding week, make sure to step back and delegate tasks like finalizing seating charts. Better yet, you can hire a professional to take care of the little details of the wedding.

Not Getting Enough Rest

In the week of the wedding, it is quite normal for a bride to be anxious, but don’t let it keep you up all night. Lack of sleep often results in exhaustion, a weak immune system, skin problems, and difficulty concentrating. Always stay well-rested and follow a sleep guide to avoid compromising your big day.

Guest Blog by Hannah Stevens
Weddings by Alicia, Ashley, and Bre of Alicia Lucia Photography
Photo Curation by Jaclyn of Alicia Lucia Photography

Zach + Coli, an Old Town Albuquerque Wedding

This August, we were lucky enough to witness an incredibly genuine, intentional wedding between two souls that were definitely made for one another, Zach and Coli.

These lovers came all the way from San Francisco to share the next chapter of their story here in Albuquerque with their closest friends and family. Everything about this day was done with love and sincerity, from the intimate ceremony at Hotel Albuquerque’s San Isidro de Capilla to the very last moments of the most gorgeous garden reception at Casa de Sueños. Zach and Coli’s simple details let their love take center stage and we were so honored to capture this once in a lifetime kind of love. There was something so pure and out of the ordinary when both Zach and Coli cried during their first dance to “Bloom” by Paper Kites surrounded by the most important people in their lives in the most heavenly golden hour light. These two were a gentle reminder of how powerful love can be, we know that they are destined for forever!

Zach + Coli, thank you for sharing your day and your amazing love with us, we’re beyond grateful.

Vendors
Prep + Ceremony Venue - San Isidro de Capilla at Hotel Albuquerque
Reception Venue - Casa de Sueños
Invitations + Paper Goods - Basic Invite
Florals - Florecita Flowers
Hair + Makeup - by Bride
Bridal Gown - Jenny Yoo Collection + BHLDN
Bride’s Earrings - Forme and Sens
Bride’s Shoes - ASOS
Groom’s Suit - Bonobos
Groom’s Tie - Mango
Groom’s Shoes - Clark’s Shoes
Catering - Blue Plate Catering
Cakes - Bizzy B Cakes
Napkins - World Market
Lead Photographer - Alicia
Second Photographer - Bre
Assistant - Cameron


Blog + Photo Curation by Jaclyn of Alicia Lucia Photography

Wedding Inspiration - Wedding Sweets

At almost every single wedding out there, you’ll find a gorgeous wedding cake and maybe a few other sweet treats, but a few of our couples have gone the extra mile and made other delicious sweets the centerpieces of their big days. We’ve seen sooo many yummy treats, from classic donut walls to mini pies to personalized macaroons to mochi ice cream to s’mores pits! And trust us, its impossible to pick a favorite alternative dessert because they’re all really THAT amazing! We’re stoked to see what incredible creations our future couples surprise us with on wedding days!

A Few of Our Favorite Bakers/Treat Creators
Emerald Pie Bakery
Maggie’s Wedding Cakes
Chocolate Maven
Kakawa Chocolate House
Flying Star Cafe
Planty Sweet
Rebel Donut
Bubbie Homemade Ice Cream
Dolce Bakery
Bizzy B Cakes
American Pie Bakery
Cake Fetish
The S’more Pit
Whoos Donuts

Photos by Alicia, Ashley, and Bre of Alicia Lucia Photography
Blog + Photo Curation by Jaclyn of Alicia Lucia Photography

Michael + Caitlin, an Old Town Wedding

This May, we were reminded just how lucky we are to capture such downright remarkable couples! Michael and Caitlin’s late spring wedding brought major fairytale vibes and we’re low-key obsessed with them. From an absolute dream of a wedding gown (complete with the most gorgeous, yet simple lace up back) paired with lovely floral accessories to a little troupe of the cutest flower girls to amazing florals, the details on this day had us in absolute awe. This day started with Caitlin and her girls getting ready at Hotel Albuquerque followed by a touching ceremony at the historic San Felipe de Neri Church right in the center of Old Town Albuquerque to the sweetest summertime reception at the ever quaint El Zocalo in Bernallio. These lovers took the prettiest romantics outside the historic adobe church right after saying “I do” and in the golden light at their reception venue. We adored capturing their first dance in natural evening light (something that rarely happens and is such a treat for us!) and the fact that their ring bearer and all of their flower girls rushed up to join them on the dance floor. To top it all off, these babes had pizza AND donuts at their wedding reception. Cheers to the Hawkes, we loved being a part of your new beginning!!!

Vendors
Venues - Hotel Albuquerque, San Felipe de Neri Church, El Zocalo
Planning + Coordination - Just Lovely Weddings
Florals - Shannon Loves Flowers
Hair + Makeup - Genica Lee
Bridal Gown - David’s Bridal
Bridal Shoes - Jessica Simpson
Bride’s Earrings + Clutch - BHLDN
Engagement Ring - Ritani
Bride’s Wedding Band - Tacori
Bridesmaid Dresses - Banana Republic
Groom’s Suit - Mr. James
Groom’s Wedding Band - custom ring by Shelton Jewelers
Catering - Firenze Pizza
Cake + Mini Desserts - Bizzy B Cakes
Biscochitos - Homemade
Donuts - Rebel Donuts
Cloth Napkins - Handmade
Chair Rentals - AA Tents and Events
Linin Rentals - Eventful NM

Photos by Alicia Padilla of Alicia Lucia Photography
Blog + Photo Curation by Jaclyn Younger of Alicia Lucia Photography