Wedding Inspo - Wedding Planning Advice from Just Lovely Weddings

If there’s one thing we’ve learned so far in 2020, its to expect the unexpected and to embrace joy where we find it. Luckily for us, and for a ton of our couples, Lauren of Just Lovely Weddings and Darling Details Rentals has been an absolute angel in guiding everyone through it all.

This wedding coordinator queen gave us some insight on what couples are doing to still celebrate love during a pandemic, how to deal with planning a wedding/elopement in the face of uncertainty, and what to expect in the future of weddings!

Alicia Lucia Photography: Long before 2020 and all of its challenges, how did Just Lovely Weddings and Darling Details Rentals come to be?

Just Lovely: I got started with events in 2012, when I worked as a catering manager for a small hotel. I had a series of similar roles in the industry until early 2015, when I started Just Lovely and took on my first wedding that summer. It’s crazy to think that 2020 would’ve been/is my 6th season as an independent wedding planner & coordinator. Near the end of 2016 an industry colleague asked me if I wanted to take over Darling Details, and I have been working to grow our rental collection since then. I’ve loved being a part of so many special days, sometimes for both Just Lovely & Darling Details, and sometimes for just one or the other. 

ALP: With the major shifts of 2020, what are more and more weddings starting to look like?

JL: Every wedding is different, and the needs of each couple reflects that. None of us wanted this to happen, and it’s just terrible for everyone. I am so grateful that most of our clients have decided to postpone, but I also get why some couldn’t. A lot of couples have decided to elope this year and have a party later on when they feel it’s safe. Some have decided to downsize significantly and have very intimate ceremonies and go to dinner after. The best decision right now is the one that feels most comfortable to the couple. 

ALP: How is Just Lovely changing and pivoting during this time?

JL: My biggest goal in all of this has been to show up for our affected clients, providing advice and basically just guiding them through this challenging situation and showing them that they aren’t alone. We’ve helped them move dates and also transition to elopements. This is new territory for all of us and I am grateful to be in a position where I can guide my couples on the best options for them. 

ALP: How should/can couples plan a wedding during a pandemic?

JL: My advice is to trust your feelings. Planning right now is a challenge due to uncertainty, so if you’re starting to feel stressed or anxious about your date (and if gatherings will be allowed then) start to consider a backup plan and discuss options with your vendors. Also, the wedding industry has taken such a hit, so try to be patient with your vendors. Most of us are in this industry because it’s where our hearts are, and our lives have been turned upside down. Any grace that we’re shown is appreciated even more right now. 

ALP: How do you think this is going to change the industry? 

JL: With only smaller celebrations being allowed, many couples have had to transition to more intimate gatherings than they would’ve originally considered. I think that this shift has started to show couples that, truly, all that’s needed to get married is a couple of witnesses and an officiant. Everything else should be fun, so hopefully this will alleviate some of the pressure to plan in the future, and help guide couples to plan events that are meaningful to them.

ALP: What has been the hardest part of this pandemic for your business? And, conversely, what has been the most rewarding part for Just Lovely?

JL: The hardest part has been our hearts breaking for our couples whose plans changed overnight; they had to make some really tough decisions, but at the end of the day I think they all did what was best for them and their guests. The second hardest part has been losing the majority of our income for the year, for both businesses, while expenses did not change. 

The most rewarding part has been seeing the value of what a planner does, and how much we can truly help the couples we work with. Also, forcing myself to consider different sources of revenue and opportunities will make the businesses stronger in the long run. 

ALP: What are your goals for Just Lovely past this pandemic and into the future?

JL: My goal past the pandemic is to continue to show up for our couples. I have been thinking a lot about how I can provide more resources and more value, and have been working on new processes and content to be able to do that. In the future, I would also love to get into planning more corporate events as well!


ALP: Finally what do you miss the most about big weddings? And what do you love the most about little weddings?

JL: I love weddings of all sizes! What I miss most about weddings in general is seeing the love and friendship that surrounds a couple on their wedding day - that’s what is most important. I feel like there has been this pressure to live up to this standard of weddings that was exhausting for everyone. I hope that at the end of this we all just remember that weddings are celebrations, and they’re meant to be fun and filled with love.

Featured Weddings + Styled Shoots by Just Lovely Weddings
David + Lauren at La Fonda on the Plaza
Whimsical Wedding Inspo in Albuquerque, NM
Ashwin + Lauren, a Catholic-Hindu Wedding In Santa Fe
Desert Romance Styled Elopement at Los Poblanos
Intimate Desert Compass Wedding in Old Town Albuquerque (coming soon to the blog)
Tyler + Cassie, a La Posada Wedding
Geoff + Jocelyn, a Hacienda Doña Andrea Wedding
Michael + Lucia, a Los Poblanos Wedding
Drew + Lauren, a La Mesita Ranch Wedding
Michael + Caitlin, an Old Town Wedding
Tyler + Jordan, a La Fonda on the Plaza Wedding
Shane + Megan, a Backyard Albuquerque Wedding


Weddings 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

Wedding Inspo - Summer Wedding Florals Second Edition

Even though fall wedding season is quickly approaching, we couldn’t help but share some of our favorite, recent summer bouquets. From the insanely colorful floral arches to the soft, subdued reception centerpieces, to the bold and bright bridal bouquets, summer weddings always bring a wide palette of color options! We adored every single one of these florals and can’t wait for what beauty the rest of this season will bring!

Featured Florists
Forth & Floral
Floriography
Renegade Floral
The Bouqs Co.
Bloomstream Flowers
Florectia Flowers
Mauldin’s Flowers


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

Wedding Inspo - Wedding Reception Centerpieces

One look at any of our social media sites and you’ll know how obsessed our little team is with florals, but we’re also in love with how our couples, planners, and florists design and create floral centerpieces. Bright, bold, and larger than life summer florals give us just as much joy as the the simple, subdued succulent adorned centerpieces. Every wedding brings its own flavor and we can’t get enough of these reception beauties!

Wedding Venues
La Posada de Santa Fe
Garden of the Gods (Colorado Springs, CO)
Santa Fe Opera
La Fonda on the Plaza
Los Poblanos Historic Inn and Organic Farm
Four Seasons Santa Fe
Eldorado Hotel and Spa
Sarabande Bed and Breakfast
Gerald Peters Gallery
Hyatt Tamaya
El Zocalo
La Mestia Ranch Estate

Florists
Placed by Polito
Renegade Floral
Viva Flora
Floriography Flowers
Shannon Loves Flowers
Ruidoso Flower Shop
Bloomstream Flowers
The Bouq’s Co
Barton’s Flowers
Stephanie Yardman Floral Design

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

Vendor Feature - Just Lovely Weddings + Darling Details Rentals

If you’re looking for a local New Mexico wedding planner and rental vendor that pulls together dreamy big day details, you’ll probably fall in love with Just Lovely Weddings and Darling Details Rentals, both run by our sweet friend Lauren Mestas. Based out of Albuquerque and Santa Fe, these two incredible little businesses help streamline wedding day planning and help make bridal daydreams a reality. From Southwestern chic to classically elegant to uniquely personal, Just Lovely Weddings and Darling Details know how to pull off just about any type of wedding you can think up! We can’t wait to see what Lauren and her team have up their sleeves for us this wedding season!

Wedding Vendors
Just Lovely Weddings
Darling Details Rentals

Featured Love Stories
Tyler + Cassie at La Posada de Santa Fe
Tyler + Jordan at La Fonda on the Plaza
Gary + April at La Mesita Ranch
Michael + Lucia at Los Poblanos Historic Inn and Organic Farm
Michael + Caitlin at Old Town and El Zocalo
David + Lauren at La Fonda on the Plaza
Shane + Megan at a Private Estate in Albuquerque, NM
Gil + Joanna at La Posada de Santa Fe
Trenton + Aston at Loretto

Weddings by the Alicia Lucia Photography Team
Blog + Photo Curation by Jaclyn of Alicia Lucia Photography

La Fonda on the Plaza - A Venue Feature

One of the best things about our sweet little job is how much time we get to spend in Santa Fe every year. Our capital city lies just to the north of our home base of Albuquerque and there is seriously magic around every corner of The City Different. From quaint adobe buildings to the historic plaza to some of the best New Mexican cuisine in the state, Santa Fe is seriously a gold mine for locals and visitors alike. It comes as no surprise that soooo many of our out of state couples select good old SF as the prime place to tie the knot and their number one destination is our home away from home, iconic La Fonda on the Plaza.

Not only is La Fonda memorable, but it is also incredibly significant to Santa Fe’s history. Initially founded in 1607 as Santa Fe’s first inn, La Fonda’s site is also the oldest hotel corner in the United States of America. However, the building that still stands today and has continually been loved and adored by New Mexicans and travelers alike wasn’t built until 1922. It features architectural influences by Mary Elizabeth Jane Colter and John Gaw Meem including hand carved beams, ethereal stained glass window skylight, and a 25 foot cathedral ceiling. More info on this beautiful space can be found on La Fonda’s website.

We’ve spent a whole lot of time at this very special place over the past few years and we can’t wait to return later on in 2019 for even more beauty.

Our Real Love Stories
David + Lauren
Tyler + Jordan
Kirk + Taylor
Chris + Alexa
Derek + Brigiette

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

Tyler + Jordan, a Summer Wedding at La Fonda

Tyler and Jordan’s sweet, intimate wedding at La Fonda on the Plaza this past August was nothing short of absolutely dreamy and incredibly special to capture.

These lovers met in middle school and dated in high school before parting ways, only to both end up in Arizona years later. They gave their love another go and realized that it was meant to be! Tyler proposed on a beach in Cancun while these lovers were on vacation, two days before Jordan’s birthday!

For these babes, their destination wedding in Santa Fe was focused on family and having everyone enjoy New Mexico’s amazing little capital city.  Jordan’s uncle Art officiated the ceremony and they added a unity candle, which symbolizes unity in a marriage, as special ceremony detail. With a little help from the insanely talented Lauren and her team at Just Lovely Weddings, these  two had everything from a mariachi led parade in the Santa Fe Plaza to the world’s most beautiful desert table, to a reception loved by everyone!

Even though it rained, our girls Ashley & Jen captured Tyler and Jordan’s tender, subtle love perfectly (especially that ethereal first look on La Fonda’s iconic staircase) ! We adored this day so much, congrats babes!

Vendors
Venue - La Fonda on the Plaza
Planning + Coordination - Just Lovely Weddings
Invitations + Signage - Funky Olive
Rentals - Darling Details Rentals
Florals - Bloomstream Flowers
Sweets - Emerald Pie Bar
Hair + Makeup - Glam Mavens
Bridal Dress - San Patrick by St Patrick Bridal
Bridal Boutique - The Dressing Room West
Bride’s Shoes - Blue by Betsey Johnson

Photos by Ashley & Jen of Alicia Lucia Photography
Blog + Photo Curation by Jaclyn Younger of Alicia Lucia Photography