Wedding Inspo - First Look Alternatives

It’s no secret that our little team is downright obsessed with wedding day first looks, but what about the couples who chose to go the more traditional route and wait to see each other until the ceremony? Well, some of our amazing brides and grooms have been inspired to share moments with each other pre-ceremony without ever setting eyes on their future spouses! We’ve looked back at some of our favorite alternatives for first looks that are just as magical and tender.

While there are a ton of different ways to send your future spouse a little extra love on your big day, some of our couples went above and beyond the usual. Ruidoso lovers Patrick and Niki opted for a “first prayer” together in a little corner of their venue and trust us when we say that everyone present was in tears as these two held hands and said the sweetest prayers for their marriage. On the flip side, our babes Dillon and Stephanie decided to go with a “first toast” where, standing back to back, they raised their glasses to their new life together and sipped on a little bit of liquid courage before their ceremony. Meanwhile, Albuquerque lovers Kaya and Matthew as well as Crystal and Amy both opted to hold hands while hidden around corners for the perfect “first touch” moment.

And these incredible little moments are just the tip of the iceberg for first look alternatives, We’ve had so many other couples send each other touching wedding day notes and gifts that always remind us of how important the little things can be on such big days.

All in all, we’re big fans of couples taking the time to add just an extra ounce of love into their wedding days! We treasure getting to capture these little details and trust us when we say, moments like this are definitely some of our favorite parts of our crazy little job!!!

Real Life Love Stories
Patrick + Niki at Enchanted Vine Barn (Ruidoso, NM)
Trey + Clara at a Private Estate (San Patricio, NM)
Dillon + Stephanie at Hotel Albuquerque (Albuquerque, NM)
Matthew + Kata at Paa-Ko Ridge Golf Club (Albuquerque, NM)
Amy + Crystal at Los Poblanos (Albuquerque, NM)
Blake + Jennie at Garden of the Gods (Colorado Springs, CO)
Walker + Addie at La Posada de Santa Fe (Santa Fe, NM)
Brian + Ashley at Eldorado Hotel (Santa Fe, NM)
Josh + Delaney at Paa-Ko Ridge Golf Club (Albuquerque, NM)
Gustav + Jackie at Los Poblanos (Albuquerque, NM)
Mack + Shelby at Four Seasons Santa Fe (Santa Fe, NM)

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

ALP Team Picks - Ashley's Fave Weddings

Our gal Ashley captures a big portion of our team’s weddings as a lead photographer and 2019 was extra special for her! Beyond just Albuquerque and Santa Fe weddings, she traveled to Southern New Mexico (twice!) for some of the most stunning days we’ve ever seen. These incredible, colorful days with some of the best couples were some of our favorite moments of last year!

Ashley:
”When Jaclyn asked us to send over our favorite 2019 weddings, my first thought was “can I just choose all of them?!” I truly treasure each and every wedding I had the privilege of photographing in 2019. Each had its own unique magic that I’ll keep with me forever! Sadly, I can’t take up the next month of blog posts with my favorite weddings!

Clara and Trey’s wedding was my first of the season and what a way to begin it! I remember driving into San Patricio, NM that morning and pulling up at the location where we were supposed to meet for bridal prep. This place, guys, I can’t even begin to describe this treasure of a spot but I was blown away! We ended up doing a bridesmaid first look and I got to be the one to help Clara get into her wedding dress which is a memory I will treasure! The emotion and love in the air during their outdoor ceremony was palpable. Trey’s reaction to Clara walking down the aisle will stay in my list of favorite images forever. We then got to sneak back to the little secret garden of a location for romantics and guys! I can’t even stress how important it is to carve out a good chunk of time for bride and groom portraits. We had so much fun and got such a variety of mindblowing images and Clara and Trey got time to just breathe and enjoy their first hour of being Mr. and Mrs. Correa. I still dream about that greenhouse, the gazebo and all the amazing walls and doors. This perfect day was topped off with the sweetest first dances and toasts under a stunning white tent on a beautiful April day. 


Nikki and Patrick’s day was what photographer dreams are made of! The details and the venue were out of this world (hello Louboutins ,amazing florals and an insanely beautifully decorated barn). I could spend an entire post just talking about these details! Can you please please look at the cake also? On top of these amazing touches was a couple that was seriously so beyond sweet and yet had so much passion as well. I was brought to tears multiple times during the day, starting with first look with dad and a prayer between Nikki and Patrick. We didn’t have to go far to get the prettiest light for bridal party pictures and romantics. Nikki in her amazing denim bridal jacket will remain one of my favorite bridal images ever. Everyone knew how to party at their reception and Nikki and Patrick really went for it with their cake cutting. Or do we call it a cake smash? I left that night with the biggest smile on my face, feeling lighter and happier after knowing these two!

I first got to meet Mattie and Morgan at their beautiful rehearsal dinner and instantly loved them both. Both of them so down to earth and go with the flow. That entire weekend just flew by without one stressful moment! Just the details at the rehearsal dinner made me so excited for what the next day would bring and I was far from disappointed. I walked in to Mattie’s parents breathtaking home to see all of Mattie’s bridesmaids (as well as her Mother and Mother-In-Law) clothed in these beautiful embroidered Mexican day dresses. They were all so relaxed, just sitting around watching chick flicks and enjoying each other's company. We then got to have first looks with Mattie’s dad, her bridesmaids and finally with Morgan. When we made it to the venue for the ceremony, I was speechless. I need you to look at these florals. All of them. The most stunning variety of florals I have ever witnessed. We had such beautiful weather for their outdoor ceremony and reception, followed by some of the prettiest golden hour romantics. The tequila donkey kicked off the beginning to one of the most fun-filled, lively receptions I’ve ever gotten to attend.”

Ashley’s Fave Weddings
Patrick + Niki at Enchanted Vine Barn in Ruidoso, NM
Trey + Clara at Peter Hurd House and Private Estate in San Patricio, NM
Morgan + Mattie at Las Campanas in Santa Fe, NM

Lead Photographer - Ashley
Second Photographers - Melanie, Bre

Blog + Photo Curation by Jaclyn of Alicia Lucia Photography

Owen + Amelia, a New Mexico Engagement

Owen and Amelia’s beautiful spring wedding at Hotel Albuquerque might be a year away, but we explored some of the beautiful mountains and deserts with them last month! Their sweet, intimate, garden centered day is bound to be lush and gorgeous!

These sweethearts originally met while in grad school in Boston, but made a new home in Albuquerque when Owen landed a job at a law firm in town. Owen and Amelia have been going strong for 7 whole years and even have a fur baby, Penelope (a sweet little golden doodle pup) of their own! We can’t wait to capture these sweeties in the heart of Old Town.

Hair - Nicole Hovlik at Haven Beauty Bar

Engagement by Alicia of Alicia Lucia Photography
Blog + Photo Curation by Jaclyn of Alicia Lucia Photography

Trey + Clara, a Southern New Mexico Wedding

This year our team was lucky enough to kick off wedding season with Trey + Clara, two of the kindest, most genuine, downright in love babes around. From their sweet little love story to their glorious spring wedding in Southern New Mexico, everything about these two is absolute perfection.

Even though they initially met in high school in their hometown of Las Cruces, NM, Trey and Clara didn’t hit it off until years later during college. Clara was at home visiting from college in Colorado when she ran into Trey at a local bar and (in true millennial fashion) the next day Trey slid into her DMs to ask Clara out on an official date. After two hour coffee date, these two were smitten with each other. Trey surprised Clara by visiting her in Colorado just three days after she went back (#boyfriendgoals). These two have been together ever since and made it last name official this spring!

Trey and Clara got married on a gorgeous family property in San Patricio, NM surrounded by about 300 of their favorite family members and friends. We adored the down to earth, yet amazingly classic style of this wedding. From the pretty mix-and-match periwinkle blue bridesmaid dresses to Clara’s stunning bridal hair and makeup (major model glam), to the dreamiest Justin Alexander wedding gown, all of the bridal details from this day had us head over heels. Not to mention, Trey and Clara found the perfect place to take their romantics (the Peter Hurd Guesthouse). This crazy little property was a wedding photogs dream, with everything from a tiny greenhouse to a lovely white gazebo to the most perfect pink adobe walls. We’re not sure that we’ve completely recovered from being absolutely smitten with this day and these lovers!

TBH we’ll probably never stop daydreaming about Trey + Clara’s wedding, so cheers to the best day to start off the 2019 wedding season!

Vendors
Venue - Peter Hurd House + Private Estate in San Patricio, NM
Planning - Roxanne Kidd at Renee’s Bridal Boutique (Las Cruces, NM)
Florals - Ruidoso Flower Shop
Invitations - Minted
Ring Box - The Mrs Box
Bridal Hair - Bliss Hair Studio
Bridal MUA - Beauty by Tristin
Bridal Gown - Justin Alexander
Bridal Boutique - Suzanne’s Bridal (Mesa, AZ)
Bride’s Shoes - Enzo Angiolini
Bridesmaid Dresses - David’s Bridal
Bridesmaid Hair - Shana Means
Groom’s Attire - Joseph Abboud from Men’s Wearhouse
Groom’s Shoes - Cole Haan
Groomsmen Attire - Men’s Wearhouse
Officiant - Terry Alder from University Church of Christ (Las Cruces, NM)
Catering - Lynn Crawford from RJC LLC (Ruidoso, NM)
Rentals - Enchanted Occasions and Rentals (Las Cruces, NM)
Band - The Ghetto Blaster (Las Cruces, NM)

Wedding by Ashley + Bre of Alicia Lucia Photography
bLog + Photo Curation by Jaclyn of Alicia Lucia Photography

Bridal Inspo - a Serene Spring Bridal Session

Just in time for spring, we have the perfect, neutral toned bridal session to help give you some subtle wedding inspo. We highlighted a gorgeous, minimalist bridal dress alongside a pretty pastel bouquet for a bridal session that was both laid-back and completely glam. Check out more of this session for the perfect start to the new season.

Vendors
Venue - New Mexico
MUA - Angelique Martinez
Florals - 21 Flowers
Bridal Gown - Alyssa Kristin
Model - Corina Wilson

Photos by Alicia 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

Rigo + Maria, a New Mexico Wedding

This March we finished off our winter wedding season with Rigo and Maria’s sweet, simple wedding at St. Jude Catholic Church and Marriott Pyramid in Albuquerque, NM. This couple kept their day classic yet unique with lush crimson details, traditional rose accents, and details from their favorite movie, Disney Pixar’s Up! Rigo even surprised his new bride by wearing a grape soda pin inspired by the film. After their ceremony, these lovers let us shoot their romantics among whimsical, newly bloomed trees that we’re still daydreaming about! Congrats to these lovers, cheers to a beautiful new beginning together!!

Vendors
Venues - St Jude Catholic Church, Marriott Pyramid North

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