Jimmy + Maggie, a Charming Backyard Wedding Reception

When Jimmy and Maggie reached out to us about capturing their sweet backyard wedding reception, we were truly over the moon. We got to celebrate these sweethearts back in 2020 so having another chance to be a tiny part of their love story meant so dang much to us.

While these cuties may call Long Island home, they first met in close to 8 years ago on a dating app while they were both in New Mexico. Initially, they only planned to go out to dinner for their first date, butJimmy and Maggie ended up dancing the night away at The Dirty Bourbon. Since that magical first night, they have spent so much time falling in love with each other over and over again. Jimmy started designing a ring in 2015 (!!!) surprised Maggie by proposing in 2019 in Dallas when she was visiting family.

When the pandemic hit, these two decided to trade in their dream Santa Fe wedding for a much smaller soirée at the ever magical Pecos Historical Site in the summer of 2020. However, Jimmy and Maggie knew that they still wanted to celebrate their marriage, so they opted to also have a small backyard reception last fall. We loved the way these hunnies made their tiny celebration such a memorable, special evening for all of their favorite loved ones. Truth be told, we wish we could hang out with Jimmy and Maggie every single year, they are some of the sweetest souls we’ve ever met!

Cheers to doing the dang thing despite all odds and making each and every day a reason to celebrate love!

Tap here to see Jimmy + Maggie’s dreamy Pecos wedding

Vendors
Venue - Private Residence
Florals - Bagels Florals
Invitations - Little Postage House
Rings - Shelton Jewelers
Ring Box - The Mrs Box
Hair - Betty Rose by Jayce
Makeup - Betty Rose by Alanna
Bridesmaid Hair + Makeup - Genica Lee
Bridal Gown - Laundry by Shelli
Bride’s Shoes - Loeffler Randall
Groom’s Tie - The Tie Bar
Groom’s Boots + Belt - Tecovas
Cookies - Tate’s Bake Shop
Photographer - Ashley
Assistants - Jaclyn Y + Jacqueline A

Blog + Photo Curation by Jaclyn of Alicia Lucia Photography

Wedding Inspo - Northern New Mexico Weddings

While Albuquerque and Santa Fe might be two of the cities we frequent the most for dreamy weddings, we can’t deny the absolute enchantment of northern New Mexico. From the painted deserts of Abiquiu to the mystic mountains of Taos to the serene aura of Eagle Nest Lake, there’s something charming to be found at every corner of this little part of New Mexico.

Over the past few seasons, we’ve been lucky enough to catch tiny glimpses of all the bewitching area that is northern New Mexico. We’re beyond smitten with every part of the north, whether its the pretty ranches, the historic monuments or even the tiniest, most intimate spaces.

We’re so excited for even more wonderful days in the north, here’s to all the beautiful love stories still to come!!!

Featured Locations + Love Stories
The Stakeout Taos - Nathan + Cathryn
Ghost Ranch - Jake + Becky
Taos Ski Valley - Logan + Audry
Angel Fire - Jacob + Lisa
Pecos Historical Site - Jimmy + Maggie
La Mesita Ranch Estate - Solve + Alex
Eagle Nest Lake - Boot + Mallory
El Monte Sagrado - Matthew + Alysia

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

Where to Elope in New Mexico - Adventurous Locations

If last year showed us anything, its that you can elope literally anywhere in beautiful old New Mexico. Our couples traded luxe venues and typical wedding days for stunning desert landscapes and national parks, and lets just say that none of that wedding day magic was lost.

With the pandemic forcing so many couples to either postpone or drastically change their plans, so many of our lovers took their nuptials outside to some of the most epic locations. From White Sands National Park’s ethereal atmosphere to the unreal rock formations of White Mesa to the beautiful, yet tangible history of Pecos National Historical Site, our couples took us on some of our favorite adventures of all time.

Even as slightly bigger weddings start to return to our lives, we’re hopeful that couples will still opt for some of the stellar, natural locations in our gorgeous Southwest home. We’re so beyond ready for even more adventurous love stories all over the place!!!

Featured Locations + Love Stories
Owen + Amelia at Elena Gallegos Open Space
Ben + Chelsey at White Sands National Park
Jimmy + Maggie at Pecos National Historical Site
Travis + Rahni at White Mesa
Gabe + Amy in Grants
Brad + Kenna at White Mesa
Christian + Kristal in Santa Fe

Elopements by Alicia and Ashley of Alicia Lucia Photography
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

Vendor Feature - Bagels' Florals

Each wedding season we’re lucky enough to work with a vast amount of talented wedding vendors and creatives, but we’ve felt extremely grateful to have crossed paths with Abigail of Bagels’ Florals just two short years ago. Not only is this amazing florist beyond her years in talent, she’s one of the brightest, most inspirational souls we know. We knew that we couldn’t let 2020 end without featuring her ethereal, colorful and exquisite work.

We are always beyond excited for every single celebration we get to capture that features Bagels’ work. A true artist at heart, every single bouquet, boutonnière, installment, and arrangement she creates is done with care, intention, and a passion to make the world a brighter place. We were especially honored to capture Bagels’ first two bouquet wedding ( a very special moment for her, an LGBTQ florist) this year for our lovers Brittany + Angie and she did a tremendously gorgeous job (we’re honestly still obsessed with her creations from that sweet little backyard wedding).

Beyond simply being an incredibly gifted florist and gardener, Bagels is also a major community leader in the New Mexico wedding industry. She consistently uses her platform to speak up for social change and action, inspiring other vendors and community members (especially us!) to do the same. We’re consistently blown away by how much love and passion Bagels holds for making New Mexico, and truthfully this world, a more compassionate accepting place for everyone.

We feel so increasingly fortunate to even know someone as talented, smart, and driven as Bagels and we know that everyone will continued to be inspired by this amazing human being.

Florist - Bagels Florals

Real Love Stories
Angie + Brittany in Nob Hill, Albuquerque
Nate + Cait in Denver, CO
Jimmy + Maggie at Pecos National Historical Monument
Chris + Ari at Los Poblanos Historic Inn and Organic Farm
Shaun + Jessie at Sarabande Bed and Breakfast
Ethan + Sarah at Hacienda Doña Andrea

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

Jimmy + Maggie, a Magical Pecos Wedding

One of the biggest silver linings of 2020 has been the opportunity for our team to capture weddings and elopements in unique locations all over New Mexico. When longtime sweethearts Jimmy and Maggie asked us to be a part of their intimate wedding at Pecos National Historical Site in northern New Mexico, we just knew it was going to be a phenomenally beautiful day.

Jimmy and Maggie first met over 6 years ago on a dating app and even though they originally planned to just go to dinner for their first date, they ended up dancing the night away at the Dirty Bourbon in Albuquerque, NM. These babes clicked instantly and their 8 hour (!) first date was just the beginning of their sweet little story. After 1 year together, Maggie ended up moving to Baltimore, MD for work while Jimmy finished up his training to become a pararescueman before moving back to New York. These two stayed together throughout a 2.5 year long-distance relationship before Maggie moved to New York in 2017. And this entire time, Jimmy (the ultimate romantic) had known he wanted to marry Maggie and had started designing a ring in 2015! He ended up proposing at Highland Park in Dallas in 2019, a total surprise for Maggie who was in Texas visiting family.

Amid all the usual wedding planning stress, these two also had to deal with a worldwide pandemic which ended up sidelining some of their original celebration plans. However, Jimmy and Maggie decided to make the most of it and hosted 13 close family members at the intimate and beautiful Pecos National Historical Site. The red rock church ruins made for the most gorgeous backdrop for these lovers’ nuptials and was such a testament to how beauty and love can withstand almost anything. Even though their ceremony was small, these two were surrounded by people they cherish and were able to kick off marriage with the perfect amount of love and support..

These two also worked with a few of our favorite vendors to enhance their wedding in the most charming way. Betty Rose by Alanna gave Maggie a dreamy wedding day glow topped off with the perfect pop of color in a berry-red lip. And Bagels’ Florals created the most divine, colorful bouquet and boutonniere based on Dutch Master paintings and Jimmy’s Liberty of London print tie (she even included thistles, Scotland’s national flower as a mini shout out to Maggie’s overseas alma mater, The University of St. Andrews).

After they made it official, we stole Jimmy and Maggie away for romantics around that epic church ruin and then into the wilds of Pecos with the magnificent Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range in the distance. We loved how down these two were for everything, from two-stepping in the middle of a tiny road to twirling in that desert landscape, capturing these two soak up those first hours of marriage was beyond special.

Congrats Jimmy + Maggie, we loved every second of your charming day here in the Southwest. We can’t wait to see where life takes you adventurous lovers next!!!

Vendors
Location - Pecos National Historic Site
Officiant - Justin Edgar
Florals - Bagels’ Florals
Hair - Kerbik HMUA
MUA - Betty Rose by Alanna
Bride’s Dress - Laundry by Shelli Segal from Bloomingdale’s
Bride’s Shoes - Loeffler Randall
Groom’s Suit - Custom
Groom’s Belt + Boots - Tecovas
Groom’s Tie - The Tie Bar
Photographer - Ashley
Assistant - Jaclyn

Blog + Photo Curation by Jaclyn of Alicia Lucia Photography