Wedding Inspo - Southwestern Glam Celebrations

There’s no party quite like a party in the Southwest, so when our couples make sure to include tiny pieces of our little corner of the world into their special days, it seriously makes for the best celebrations. Southwestern inspired nuptials are truly something to behold and dang are we lucky to capture them every single season.

Whether its bolo ties, turquoise, or adobe venues, we adore when couples fully embrace all of the charm that the Southwest has to offer. Seeing lovers come from all over the country just to celebrate their new chapter in our pretty home state leaves us on cloud nine. Plus, any opportunity to explore an amazing, authentic part of New Mexico is always the perfect excuse for us to obsess over this gorgeous state.

Cheers to all the crazy-beautiful, wildly fun, downright enchanting celebrations of love to come!!

Featured Weddings + Styled Shoots
Jake + Becky at Ghost Ranch (coming soon to the blog)
Kenny + Molly at a Private Santa Fe Estate
Zac + Shelly at Hacienda Doña Andrea (coming soon to the blog)
Robert + Antonette in Old Town Albuquerque
Zach + Natalie at The Desert Compass
Paul + Carolyn at Los Poblanos Historic Inn and Organic Farm
Tyler + Cassie at La Posada de Santa Fe

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

Wedding Inspo - Avant Garde Weddings

Over the past few seasons we’ve found ourselves falling head-over-heels for those bold, bright, completely unique avant-garde weddings and elopements. This modern, colorful spin on traditional celebrations always leaves us pining for more extraordinarily stunning days.

From rainbow florals to shag rug cakes to elegant wedding style with a touch of exceptionally individual details, these days always have so many moments to drool over. Avant-garde nuptials have the perfect mix of classic wedding elegance with modern funk. With disco balls as wedding decor, brides in designer gowns walking down the aisle to bluegrass music, and couples rolling dice with their wedding parties in the middle of an art galleries, these days have seriously never failed to blow us away.

Bring on all the exceptionally unique, wildly beautiful weddings and elopements. We’re so dang excited to capture more and more of these groovy days!!

Featured Love Stories + Shoots
Noah + Rachel at Camino Real Ranch (Austin, TX)
John + Anna at La Fonda on the Plaza (Santa Fe, NM)
Nate + Cait in Downtown Denver (Denver, CO)
Scott + Leanne at SITE Santa Fe (Santa Fe, NM)
Morgan + Mattie at Las Campananas (Santa Fe, NM)

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

Wedding Inspo - Edgy Weddings

We’ll always be the biggest fans of super glam, classic weddings and of those incredibly beautiful, chic, boho weddings, but we have a whole lot of love for those badass, do-whatever-you want, completely unique edgy celebrations. These days have been some of the wildest, most stellar days around and its not hard to see why we’re obsessed with them.

Edgy nuptials not only let couples do something special and different for their day, but these days also make anything possible. You want to wear a painted leather jacket for your special day? Check. Do you want a moody, insanely unique bouquet? Check. And do you wanna ride off into the sunset with the love of your life on a motorcycle? Also check. Everything about these days leaves us feeling so inspired and like the sky is truly the limit.

Cheers to doing the damn thing however the heck you want to and making it the most killer way to start forever with your lover.

Featured Styled Shoots
Rocker Romance Inspired Elopement at Los Poblanos Historic Inn and Organic Farm
Wild + Free Route 66 Inspired Elopement in Nob Hill Albuquerque
90s’ Romeo + Juliet Inspired Elopement in Downtown Albuquerque
Elegant Avante-Garde Studio Bridal Editorial at Terese Rose Designs

Styled Elopements by Alicia
Blog + Photo Curation by Jaclyn of Alicia Lucia Photography

Wedding Inspo - Groom Style, 4th Edition

Everyone who knows us already knows that we adore featuring our incredibly gorgeous brides all over the blog, but what about the grooms? Every year, we dedicate a special blog to all of the amazing dudes we get to meet on wedding and elopement days and, of course, take the opportunity feature their killer style.

With all of the changes to weddings in 2020, its no surprise that so many of our grooms opted for unique style choices. Whether it was a pastel blue suit, a simple yet breezy dress shirt paired with slacks, a sleek camel coat with boots, or even a classic black tux, all of the stellar outfit choices these handsome fellas made did not disappoint one bit.

We adore getting to see grooms express their personalities on wedding days, even if its through a simple attire choice, we’re beyond hyped to see what 2021 grooms have in store for us!

Our Favorite Groom Attire Designers + Shops
Bonobos
Ralph Lauren
J. Crew
Limatus Bespoke
Don Morphy
H&M
The Black Tux
Tom James
Men’s Wearhouse
Tommy Hilfiger
Kenneth Cole
Suit Supply
Ted Baker
ASOS
Jos A. Banks
Suits Unlimited

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

Kenny + Molly, a Heavenly Santa Fe Elopement

Kenny and Molly, aka one of the sweetest most chic couples on the planet, invited us to capture their intimate, sun-drenched Santa Fe day last fall and damn was it an absolute dream.

Long before these two were snuggling up in Santa Fe with their sweet little pup Mika, these lovers first met through work in Colorado. After about a year of dating, Molly made the move to Los Angeles to be with Kenny and they’ve been inseparable ever since. They added their pup to their family four years ago and love spending time traveling (especially to our beloved Santa Fe) and being with all of their close loved ones. We were lucky enough to meet these babes almost 3 years ago while capturing the wedding of some of their close friends and let’s just say we’ve been Instagram besties with Molly since then.

Even though Kenny and Molly had to rethink their wedding celebration, they still wanted to make it intentional and beautiful. They traded out a huge wedding for a small, intimate day at a family residence in Santa Fe with a whole lot of stunning details. From Renegade Florals’s luxe, colorful florals to Molly’s divine, unique bridal gown to Kenny’s pristine (and so dang cool) attire, everything about this little day was absolutely top-notch. We loved every second with these two, and Mika (of course!), out in that unreal Santa Fe light.

Cheers to Mr. + Mrs. Barela, we adore you both so much!!!

Vendors
Location - Private Estate in Santa Fe, NM
Planning + Styling - Jessie Baca
Florals - Renegade Floral
Hair - Jasmine Weidner
Makeup - Jacquline Chavez
Bridal Gown - Halston
Bride’s Engagement Ring - Sarah O Jewelry
Bride’s Wedding Band - Mark’s Diamonds
Groom’s Attire - Ralph Lauren
Groom’s Ring - Shiprock Santa Fe
Photographer - Bre

Blog + Photo Curation by Jaclyn of Alicia Lucia Photography

Valentine's Feature - Florals We Heart

Out of all of the pretty things we’ve laid our eyes on, florals are always the detail that take our breath away. From the bright and bold to the delicate and soft, we’re obsessed with it all!

Over the last year we’ve been beyond lucky to capture so many incredibly divine floral creations from all over Southwest, the Pacific Northwest, and everywhere in-between. We’ve been completely obsessed with the new, brilliant ideas coming out of the tiny weddings and elopements of 2020. All of the insanely beautiful hanging installations and the dainty bouquets have us dreaming forever and ever.

We beyond hyped to see what new beauty 2021 brings to the realm of florals, but until then, feast your eyes on some of the most darling creations of all!

Featured Florists
Floral Fetish (Albuquerque, NM)
Renegade Floral (Santa Fe, NM)
Bagel’s Florals (Albuquerque, NM)
Albuquerque Florist (Albuquerque, NM)
Florecita Flowers (Albuquerque, NM)
A Beautiful Theme (Albuquerque, NM)
Marisa’s Millefiori (Santa Fe, NM)
Flower Loop (Albuquerque, NM)
The Flower Company (Albuquerque, NM)
Floral Elegance (Albuquerque, NM)
Rose Rebels Floral Designs (Albuquerque, NM)
Noble Floral Co (Portland, OR)
Stems Floral (Austin, TX)
Uptown Flowers (San Antonio, TX)
Good Seed Floral (Austin, TX)

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

2020 - Moments with Alicia Lucia Photography

2020 was by far one of the most challenging years our team has ever faced, yet through all the difficult descisons and make-or-break moments, we still found the light on the other side of it all.

After an intense global pandemic forced our weddings and shoots to a screeching halt, we weren’t sure what to do, but somehow we found a new path and gained a better perspective on our lives, our business, and our community. We found new ways to capture weddings/elopements and support our couples as they navigated this insane year. And we also found even more opportunities to create beauty through styled shoots and portrait sessions. If one thing is sure, 2020 reminded us of why we set out to do what we do in the first place: love. Watching love win over and over and over again this year, despite all of the odds was something to behold. And we once again fell in love with with what we have the immense privilege of doing, capturing those undeniably beautiful moments of pure joy.

The biggest thank you from the bottom of our hearts goes out to every single couple, family, and individual who continually put their trust in us during a year where everything was uncertain, yet everything mattered even more. And to all of our vendor friends, thank you for riding this one out with us, we’ve never had so much faith in the wedding community as we do right here and now.

No year will ever be quite like 2020, and while we’re grateful to see beacons of hope at start of the new year, we’re forever be grateful for the year that gave us all a chance to start anew and to believe in the magic that is love.

Weddings, Elopements, Styled Shoots, and Portrait Sessions by the Alicia Lucia Photography Team
Blog + Photo Curation by Jaclyn of Alicia Lucia

Wedding Inspo - Intimate Weddings Part II

Earlier this year we posted a blog about some of our favorite intimate wedding inspiration, but after about a dozen more tiny weddings just in the past few months, we decided to make a part two!

If we’ve said it once, we’ve said it a dozen times, we ADORE intimate weddings. Everything about these little weddings is absolute perfection, from being able to spend more time with your guests to having a less limited budget due to overall lower costs to even just being able to enjoy more moments soaking up those first few hours of marriage. Over the past few months, we’ve been absolutely blown away by how our couples have taken intimate weddings to the next freaking level. Backyard weddings with all the pretty garden details, stoop weddings followed by mini parades, and the most adorable little farm weddings have just been the beginning of a whole new era of micro-weddings.

We’re not sure when giant weddings will be a consistent possibility in the coming months, but dang are we thankful for these beautiful, heartfelt, downright incredible intimate weddings. We can’t wait to share even more of these gorgeous days still to come!

Real Love Stories + Styled Shoots
Ysidro + Celestina at Casa Pera Art Space (coming soon to the blog)
Andrew + Deanna at Hotel Andaluz (coming soon to the blog)
Kenny + Molly at a Private Estate in Santa Fe (coming soon to the blog)
Eric + Lauren at Los Poblanos Historic Inn and Organic Farm (coming soon to the blog)
Angie + Brittany at a Private Home in Nob Hill
Gates + C.C. at a Private Estate in New Mexico
Matt + Allie at a Private Home in Santa Fe
Nate + Cait in Downtown Denver, CO
Brad + Kenna at Old Town Farm
Stuart + Kelly at Los Poblanos Historic Inn and Organic Farm
Zach + Natalie at The Desert Compass
Andrew + Shay at a Private Home in Albuquerque (coming soon to the blog)
Jawara + Jazz at Los Poblanos Historic Inn and Organic Farm
Ryan + Jennifer at Sarabande Bed and Breakfast
Zach + Coli at Hotel Albuquerque and Casas de Sueños
Paul + Carolyn at Los Poblanos Historic Inn and Organic Farm

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

Wedding Inspo - Intimate Weddings

As 2020 progresses, it feels like there are different possibilities for weddings on a daily basis. And while big weddings, especially in New Mexico, might not be a reality for a little bit, we adore that intimate weddings are starting to become a bigger staple in the wedding industry.

For clarity, intimate weddings and elopements might seem similar, but they’re actually quite different. In a typical elopement, usually just the couple, the officiant, and the photographer are present. However, in an intimate wedding, usually both sets of parents of the couple, the officiant, a few close friends/family members, and the photographer are present. Sometimes, when there’s not a pandemic taking place, an intimate wedding can even look something like 15-45 guests, usually just a short list of the most important people in the couple’s life.

So far this year, we captured one of the sweetest intimate weddings here in Albuquerque at Los Poblanos Historic Inn and Organic Farm, but in the past we’ve captured a handful of tiny weddings that have filled our hearts with absolute joy. Some of the bonuses of intimate weddings aren’t just cost related (or in 2020’s case, health related), sometimes the best things about smaller weddings involved being able to spend quality time with pretty much every single guest. Another factor is even being able to allow moments of the day to feel less hectic such as making timelines that have less rushed portraits and ceremonies with smaller weddings parties (which means a lot less stress too).

While big weddings will someday be a possibility again, having intimate weddings in their place until we can all gather together safely again might just be the next best thing. Here’s to finding new ways to celebrate and never ever giving up on love, no matter what the universe throws our way!!

Featured Intimate Weddings + Styled Shoots
Brad + Kenna at Old Town Farm
Paul + Carolyn for Rocky Mountain Bride at Los Poblanos
Ben + Katy at The Inn of the Five Graces and Hacienda Corta Caro
Zach + Coli at Hotel Albuquerque and Casas de Sueños
Stuart + Kelly at Los Poblanos
Ryan + Jennifer at Sarabande Bed and Breakfast
Daniel + Natzidielly at Los Poblanos
Ryan + Jason at Ghost Ranch
Daniel + Rebecca at Eldorado Hotel and Neptune Art Space
Oriol + Sarah at Gerald Peters Gallery
Angelo + Rocio at Los Poblanos

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

What We Heart About Santa Fe Weddings

Anyone who knows our team has seen how much we adore Santa Fe weddings and all of the amazing little spots where we’ve captured our couples and their love stories. From its vast architecture to it rich culture, Santa Fe is a gem among the Southwest and we feel so dang lucky to spend so much time exploring it.

One of the most iconic locations for weddings is, of course, the Santa Fe Plaza, but what many don’t realize is the vast number of different venues of all shapes and sizes for weddings.

Do you want a huge wedding with a parade around the historic plaza followed by an outdoor reception? There are several hotels including La Fonda on the Plaza, The Inn and Spa at Loretto, and La Posada de Santa Fe that are pros at these celebrations.

Or are you a bit more low-key and want an intimate wedding at a stunning hacienda or tiny inn? Spots like Hacienda Corta Caro and The Inn of the Five Graces are the coziest of wedding nooks.

Maybe you want a venue with an iconic past or one that’s even an art gallery? Places like Peters Projects at Gerald Peters Gallery, SITE Santa Fe, and The Santa Fe Opera are just a few of those unique, art focused spaces.

There’s even two incredibly famous churches right on the plaza, Loretto Chapel and The Cathedral Basilica of St Francis of Assisi, for more traditional weddings.

And what about places for couples wanting to venture a bit outside of the usual Santa Fe scene for venues nestled among the mountains and vast New Mexican landscape? Venues like La Mesita Ranch Estate, Las Campanas, Hacienda Doña Andrea, and Four Seasons Santa Fe all provide amazing views and details for any and all weddings they host.

Not only does Santa Fe have so many amazing venues, but so many unique New Mexican and Southwestern traditions have stayed in style season after season in The City Different. Every season mariachi parades around the plaza take center stage, tequila donkeys like sweet Conchita make an appearance at receptions, and all the chili, cactus, and skull details accent every inch of weddings. We love how couples from near and far fully embrace all the special little pieces of Santa Fe that we have such a soft spot for. And we can’t help but absolutely love it even more when our lovers from previous wedding seasons continue to visit Santa Fe year after year just to always have a part of the Southwest with them.

In our eyes, any venue in Santa Fe is the perfect venue and every tradition is beyond special. We’ve been so fortunate to capture a huge amount of couples in the most unique locations and honestly, we can’t wait to explore new places with brand new love stories.

Featured Santa Fe Venues
La Fonda on the Plaza
Hacienda Doña Andrea
La Mesita Ranch Estate
La Posada de Santa Fe
Santa Fe Opera
Las Campanas
SITE Santa Fe
Gerald Peters Gallery
Hacienda Corta Caro
Loretto Chapel
Inn and Spa at Loretto
Inn of the Five Graces
Eldorado Hotel and Spa
Four Seasons Santa Fe

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

Wedding Inspo - Sweetheart Tables

For weddings both big and small, we love any details that can make the day a touch more intimate for our couples, so of course we have a lot of love for precious little sweetheart tables. Seen in both large weddings and even the tiniest of elopements, sweetheart tables let couples steal away a few moments together while still being a part of the celebrations.

While sweetheart tables aren’t seen in every single wedding, they can add a special touch to a couple’s day. They can provide a sense of intimacy among the ongoing festivities as well as a focal point for guests. A sweetheart table can also give a couple or a wedding planner/designer the opportunity to create an additional decorative space that complements the entire wedding day!

We’ve seen these cute little tables decked out in everything from elaborate boho furniture and eye-catching florals to simple and elegant accents. We love getting to see a tiny hint of a couple’s personality with these reception staples.

Scroll through and maybe you’ll find the perfect sweetheart table with just the right accents, we can’t wait to capture more of these darling tables!

Featured Weddings + Styled Shoot
Desert Romance at Los Poblanos
Drew + Lauren at La Mesita Ranch
Whimsical Backyard Wedding Inspiration
Geoff + Jocelyn at Hacienda Dona Andrea
James + Lauren at Los Poblanos
Romantic Rockstar Styled Elopement at Los Poblanos
Ben + Emilee at Sandia Event Center
Michael + Caitlin at El Zocalo
Desert Styled Bridal
Joaquin + Alexandra at La Posada de Santa Fe
White Sands Styled Elopement
Josue + Brandy at Noah’s Event Venue
Trey + Clara at a Private Estate in San Patricio
Ghost Ranch Styled Vow Renewal
Brad + Kenna at Old Town Farm
Marble Dreams Styled Bridal
Jason + Ryan at Ghost Ranch
Ashwin + Lauren at La Posada de Santa Fe


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

Behind the Camera with Alicia

There’s a lot going on in the world right now and amid all of the uncertainty, change, and eventual growth, we’re spending a little time reflecting on our team’s past, present, and future. Our head gal in charge Alicia sat down for a little behind the scenes Q&A and we talked everything Alicia Lucia Photography; from her sweet little beginnings as a photographer to cultivating her business and her team, to why she has major heart eyes for New Mexico, and the future of ALP including just a few of the international (!!!) places she’d love to capture weddings and elopements in once the world reaches a sense of calm again. She also shouted her favorite couples, weddings, and styled shoots from the last few years, and trust us when we say that they are absolutely iconic days for our team!

Alicia + New Mexico, a Match Made in Southwest Heaven

All of my childhood & adulthood, from as early as I can remember, has been spent in our beautiful southwest state. We moved from Texas to New Mexico for a job opportunity that my dad had and have called New Mexico home for the last 20+ years! I love it so much and don't see myself living anywhere else. It has become a huge source of inspiration for my work! Both personally and professionally, I love that New Mexico is our home base for a multitude of reasons, but most importantly i love how we have a variety of drastic environments. I can be shooting a gorgeous desert bridal session in the middle of the white ridge mesa and in 45 minutes can get to our wooded forest for a hike with my family. It's vast and beautiful, it's where I met my husband, where we got married, had both of our children, it's home to both of our businesses and I wouldn't change any of it for the world! Outside of work, we love spending most of our time outside, whether it's going or bike rides, hiking, fishing, (day) camping lol, or working on our ever growing garden!! 

Alicia’s Photography Roots

I got into photography way back when we still were developing prints in a lab! I was around 13 years old when a family friend gifted me my first film camera & was totally that friend in highschool snapping away. In college, I pursued a different route, but deep down I always had a love for documenting people, places and love through photography. In 2012 I got the opportunity of assisting on a few weddings and in the fall of 2012 I shot my very first elopement solo! It was such a special experience and one that I will always treasure and be forever grateful for. I remember it like yesterday, I was a ball of nerves, but so happy and ecstatic to be given the chance.

Alicia Lucia Photography’s Beginnings + Growth

I started the company in 2013 and by 2015 we had already shot over 25+ weddings/elopements and brought on Ashley to shoot full time as co-lead! 

By 2017 we were growing at the speed of light. It was a bummer to not be able to take on as much work because I was either busy shooting or growing our social media. That winter, I decided to outsource all social media and blogging and brought on Jaclyn our amazing social media and blogger maven. Soon after, I went full time on booking out weddings to Ashley, Bre, and me! It's been amazing so far and are able to be a part of documenting that many more love stories!! 

On the Horizon for ALP

The future is such a loaded idea and one that I never do super great with. The uncertainty of the future, especially now with COVID-19 terrifys me, but I know our little team will make it through and I honestly seeing us traveling the world at some point! I would love for us to go beyond our home state and the Southwest region, and shoot across the country and world at some point! My top international destinations are Morocco (and other regions of Africa) and Iceland!

Fave Wedding Moments

Truly love it all. Every last part of it. Even when the nerves and anticipation from the slight chaos and tight schedules sets in, it's part of the thrill! I'd say the most memorable part of the day for me is getting to document the emotion of pure joy and elation at the realization of being just married after the couples come down the aisle! Their look and embrace to each other is always so sincere and sweet! That and the parent dances always, ALWAYS gets me. 

The Best New Wedding Ideas + Trends

I'm loving that couples are doing their own thing, wholeheartedly! That they aren't going the traditional route, just for the sake of tradition and instead are opting for details or parts of the day that are true to them. We are seeing less of the bouquet and garter throwing, smaller or no bridal parties at all and brides who have multiple looks because who says you should only wear one dress or look? Couples who are writing their own vows or having friends and family members officiate. Couples who are opting for less of the structured photo time and instead just want candids and being intentional with guests, friends, and family! I really love the direction we're headed to, more intentional, wholesome and meaningful! 

A Little Note to All the Lovers Out There

There is no right or wrong way to host your wedding, do what feels right and true to you. Try to not get caught up or stressed on the fine details and instead remember the real reason why you are celebrating! Also consider a day of coordinator. (hint: Lauren with Just Lovely Weddings + Darling Details Rentals is truly the best of the best!!)

Alicia’s Fave Days

So many favorites instantly come to mind but here are some: 
- Zach + Coli (Hotel Albuquerque + Casas de Suenos, 2019)
- Chris + Ari (Los Poblanos, 2019)
- Drew + Lauren (La Mesita Ranch, 2019)
- Scott + Leanne (SITE Santa Fe, 2018)
- Dave + Lauren (La Fonda on the Plaza, 2018)
- Rocky Mountain Bride x Los Poblanos Editorial (2018)
- Derek + Brigitte (La Fonda on the Plaza, 2018)
- Romantic Rockstar Styled Elopement (Los Poblanos, 2018)
- Tyler + Cassie (La Posada de Santa Fe, 2018)
- Shaun + Jessie (Sarabande Bed and Breakfast, 2018)
- Boot + Mallory (Eagle Nest Elopement, 2017)

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

Bridal Inspo - Strapless Wedding Gowns

A true bridal classic we see season after season, strapless wedding gowns are both elegant and just a tiny bit flirty. From the constructed couture variety to the plush blush styles to even the most gorgeous hand painted ones, strapless wedding gowns are definitely the perfect canvas for any bride to find her own unique style in for her big day!

One of the most special aspects of strapless wedding gowns is that the silhouette can still come in a multitude of styles. From sleek curve hugging gowns to ballgown inspired dresses to even the slightest mermaid bridal train, strapless gowns are each incredibly individual and downright beautiful!

We’re so excited to see what new designs and inspirations future strapless gowns will take on and we can’t wait to capture all of them!!!


Featured Bridal Gown Designers
Vera Wang
Eisen Stein Bridal
Ines di Santo
David’s Bridal
Stella York
Allure Bridals
Maggie Sottero
Hayley Paige
Reem Acra
Kelly Faetanini
Casa Blanca Bridal
Lillian West
Watters

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

Wedding Inspo - Why We Adore Elopements

Here in New Mexico, our team thrives in shooting the many big, bold, beautiful weddings all over the state, but we also live for the moments when we get to be a part of the sweet, quaint, intimate elopements! Just like larger, more traditional weddings, the main focus is always love, devotion and commitment, however, elopements tend to be much simpler and, of course, much much smaller. Here’s a few reasons why we have a soft spot for elopements!

- Intimacy
While we absolutely love getting to spend the day capturing those huge celebrations, there’s something magical about being alone with a couple sharing their first moments of married life with no one else around. We of course get to see lots of the same emotions as a traditional wedding ceremony, but we get to be even more up close and personal with our couples which makes it that much more meaningful for us behind the cameras.

-Cost
Its no surprise that elopements cost much less than average weddings do and today many couples all over the world are opting for elopements for just this reason. You can still get a stunning gown, a pretty bouquet, and a stellar hair/makeup artist without spending too much cash which is a huge bonus of elopements. In financially hard times, elopements are a great way to still look and feel amazing on your wedding day while still supporting a few small businesses along the way.

-Stress
Most of our wedding seasons consist of pretty big wedding days with some jaw dropping details (from floral installations, to killer reception music, to out of this world bridal fashion), but we know that the stress of putting together days like this might not be for everyone. And for that reason, elopements are a great alternative because a simple, intimate day with just you and your sweetheart (and a photog you both love) doesn’t put any pressure on you to having a larger than life floral arch or entertainment all of your guests will love. You get to focus on something a little bit simpler and a lot longer lasting, your love story and your future together.

-Location
Lastly, a really neat factor about elopements is that they can take place pretty much anywhere your heart desires. You can take a more classic route and head to the courthouse or they can be in the middle of a desert. The world is truly your oyster when it comes to eloping and while we have a few favorite locations that we adore for elopements here in New Mexico, we love seeing how they unfold across the globe.

A Few of Our Favorite Elopement Spots in New Mexico
White Mesa (San Ysidro, NM)
Nob Hill (Albuquerque, NM)
Los Poblanos (Albuquerque, NM)
White Sands (Southern NM)
Ghost Ranch (Northern NM)
Eagle Nest (Northern NM)
Sandia Mountains (Albuquerque, NM)

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

Wedding Inspo - Pampas Grass

We’ve always had a soft spot for that soft, flowy, ever so subtlety-netural toned plant known as pampas grass, so when this pretty little plant started to take off in the wedding world, we were absolutely thrilled to capture it even more!

Originating from Southern American countries including Chile, Argentina, and Brazil, pampas grass was first introduced to the United States in Santa Barbara, California in the mid 1800s. And while this plant can sometimes push out other vegetation, it still manages to be extremely beautiful, unique, and very photogenic. Besides its common golden-yellow hue, pampas grass can also grow in colors from silvery-white to a soft pink (two shades that we want to see up close and personal).

Over the past few seasons, we’ve seen more brides and grooms take advantage of this versatile plant in their wedding decor. From using it as an accents in bridal bouquets and boutonnieres to subtlety placing it in reception centerpieces to adorning floral headpieces with it to letting it take center stage in both ceremony arches and aisle arrangements, the range of of what pampas grass can do truly seems unlimited!

We have a feeling that this interesting plant is here to stay for a few more seasons (and hopefully forever in the wedding world) and honestly we can’t wait to see what our couples do with it next. Long live pampas grass and all the bohemian vibes it encompasses on wedding days!

Featured Florists
Renegade Floral
Viva Flora
Albuquerque Florist
Floriography Flowers
Forth & Floral
A Beautiful Theme
Gaia Stvdio
Blue Ridge Blossoms
Placed by Polito

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

Wedding Inspo - Boho Bridal Gowns

If we know anything, its that boho brides have taken over the wedding scene these past few seasons! They bring in a carefree, wild-in-love, major queen bridal vibes and we are so on board for them. One of our favorite highlights about these lovelies are their gowns and how these dresses perfectly encapsulate that free-spirit energy we love so much on wedding days!

And just like every other style of gown, boho bridal gowns can be found in every single season and for every type of wedding day. From a long sleeve Lillian West stunner during a winter elopement at Eagle’s Nest in Northern New Mexico to a sultry little Lovers Society number for a summer wedding at Enchanted Vine Barn in Southern New Mexico to the most incredible, glistening Chosen by One Day beauty for the most insane White Sands elopement, we’ve seen gowns beyond our dizziest daydreams.

We can’t wait to see how boho bridal gowns, and the incredible women who wear them, continue to awe us on wedding days and beyond!

Featured Bridal Gown Designers
Jasmine
Chosen by One Day
One Day
Lovers Society
Lillian West
Rue de Seine
Made With Love
Claire Pettibone
Lihi Hod

Featured Bridal Boutiques
Bridal Elegance by Darlene (Albuquerque, NM)
Lovely Bride Denver (Denver, CO)
Lovely Bride NYC (New York City, NY)
Lovely Bride Dallas (Dallas, TX)
The Dressing Room West (Santa Fe, NM)
Dress Me Bridal (Bullard, TX)
Unbridaled (Houston, TX)
The White Room (Minneapolis, MN)

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

Wedding Inspo - Los Poblanos Historic Inn and Organic Farm

Hidden away in Albuquerque’s north valley lies one of the loveliest places on earth, Los Poblanos Historic Inn and Organic Farm. Dreamy, secluded, and downright otherworldly, this beauty of a venue has quickly become the destination for not only visitors to the Land of Enchantment, but so many lovers including a ton of our brides and grooms.

Every single time we step foot on its grounds, Los Poblanos feels mysterious, beautiful, and teeming with wonder. From spring to winter, weddings here always carry an air of beguiling charm, while still feeling like a cozy home-away-from-home. We’re not sure if the endless garden options for ceremonies or all the little hidden spots we’ve discovered for romantics over the years, but this lavender farm certainly lives up to all of its expectations. And with its amazing wedding day staff, complete with our gal pal Chelsea Martinez as Wedding Coordinator, Los Poblanos is nothing short of an absolute dream come true.

Rain or shine, we’ve captured some of the sweetest, most intimate, tear-worthy moments with some of the most amazing couples around at Los Poblanos. We can’t wait to be back at this stunner of a location many many times this wedding season!!!

Venue - Los Poblanos Historic Inn and Organic Farm

Our Lovers
Conner + Laura (coming to the blog soon!)
Chris + Ari
Adam + Jill
James + Lauren
Gustav + Jackie
Qwist + Cara
Dustin + Ashley
Michael + Lucia
Bobby + Simone Styled Shoot

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

Vendor Feature - Beauty Bar Santa Fe

It should come as no surprise that we spend a ton of time during wedding season in our sister city, Santa Fe, and that we get to become wedding day besties with lots of amazing vendors who call The City Different their home! This season, we got to capture the stunning work of The Beauty Bar Santa Fe, a sweet little glam team that just knows how to make our brides look angelic beyond belief!

Specializing in hair and makeup, this girl squad always brings the big guns (aka the most amazing bridal looks) to every single wedding and styled shoot we’ve ever captured with them! From simple natural looks to full on dramatic glam, The Beauty Bar is a team who can make literally any look happen. And when they team up with other NM glam squads, the possibilities are seriously incredible!!!

We’re so excited to see what these ladies pull out for the 2020 season, see you babes in the new year!!!

Hair + Makeup Team - The Beauty Bar Santa Fe

Featured Weddings + Styled Shoots
John + Anna at La Fonda on the Plaza
Ashwin + Lauren at La Posada de Santa Fe
Ghost Ranch Styled Wedding
Chris + Alexa at La Fonda on the Plaza
Keith + Clare at La Posada de Santa Fe
Carter + Carrie at La Fonda on the Plaza

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

Wedding Inspo - First Look Moments

One of the biggest decisions to be made for your wedding is whether or not to do a first look, and if you know one thing about our gang its that we ADORE first looks!

The biggest bonus, besides being able to shake off some of the pre-ceremony jitters, is that with a first look you and your hunny get even more time alone together on your wedding day (something that is surprisingly hard to get on the biggest day of your lives!). In addition to extra time, you get a few special, quiet moments together to take in how gorgeous/handsome your future spouse looks without anyone else around (except for us of course!). Although some might argue that seeing each other before walking down the aisle takes away from emotional reactions, we couldn’t disagree more. In fact, first looks just add to that magic because you get to experience seeing your lover in front of all of your friends and family too!

There’s also the major plus of getting extra photos together during and after a first look! And who doesn’t want even more gorgeous wedding photos without having to stress about squeezing in all of the romantics into the day after the ceremony? And with a first look you can also get wedding party and family photos done which means that everyone gets to enjoy alllll of cocktail hour!

We could seriously list off five million reasons why first looks are amazing, but we’ll let all of our couples in this special post do the talking for us!

Our Real Life Love Stories
Chris + Ari at Los Poblanos Historic Inn and Organic Farm
Jason + Natalie at La Fonda on the Plaza (coming soon to the blog)
Colton + Lindsey at Hyatt Tamaya
John + Anna at La Fonda on the Plaza
Morgan + Mattie at Las Campanas
Geoff + Jocelyn at Hacienda Doña Andrea de Santa Fe
Ryan + Jennifer at Sarabande Bed and Breakfast
Carter + Carrie at La Fonda on the Plaza
James + Lauren at Los Poblanos Historic Inn and Organic Farm
Randy + Elizabeth at the Santa Fe Opera
Shaun + Jessie at Sarabande Bed and Breakfast
David + Lauren at La Fonda on the Plaza
Drew + Lauren at La Mesita Ranch Estate (coming soon to the blog)
Mack + Shelby at Four Seasons Santa Fe
Jake + Angela at Sandia Event Center
Jon + Paige at Los Poblanos Historic Inn and Organic Farm

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