Wedding Inspo - Backyard Weddings

If 2020 and 2021 have showed us anything, its that backyard wedding are here to stay forever. Over the last few seasons, we’ve captured some of the dreamiest backyard celebrations, but when 2020 changed everything, these incredibly special weddings took center stage.

Even though things have calmed down quiet a bit in the wedding world this year, so many of our couples are still opting for amazing backyard soirées and truthfully they’re some of our most treasured days. From the dainty, simple celebrations to the wildly-elegant bashes, backyard weddings come in all shapes and sizes. Whether its a day that only includes close friends and family or one that brings guests from near and far, our couples always find the perfect ways to kick off their marriages.

We’re so excited to see even more of these amazing little days so very soon, we already know they’ll each be so dang beautiful and unforgettable!

Featured Love Stories
Dominic + Maggie in Albuquerque, NM
Matt + Allie in Santa Fe, NM
Colin + Amber in Albuquerque, NM
Jebb + Abbie in Tesque, NM
Angie + Brittany in Albuquerque, NM
Nate + Cait in Denver, CO
Gates + C.C. in Northern New Mexico
Andrew + Shay in Albuquerque, NM
Suraj + Celina in Albuquerque, NM
Trey + Clara in San Patricio, NM
Shane + Megan in Albuquerque, NM

Weddings 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

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

Nate + Cait, a Magical Denver Wedding

Nathan and Caitlin, aka Nate + Cait aka N8 + C8, originally planned for a beautiful fall wedding here in New Mexico, but when 2020 switched up their plans, these lovers came up with one of the most enchanting, unique, and downright unforgettable wedding days we’ve ever witnessed.

Long before they said “I do” in the heart of Denver, these two first met on a dating app, Hinge, several years ago. On the day that Nate and Cait planned to meet up for their first date, a psychic had come into Cait’s work and mentioned to her that she was about to meet the man who she would end up marrying (we got literal chills reading that part). Later on that same day, Cait and Nate met up for drinks and chicken wings and dang was that psychic’s prediction spot on because these two have been together ever since.

Last year, while on a trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Nate popped the question on the most dreamy night. After a day of exploring, Cait instinctively picked the exact restaurant Nate had already made arrangements to propose to her at! While watching the sunset Nate asked Cait to marry him and she, of course, said yes. And to top it all off, fireworks were being set off over the city, making this sweet little proposal something straight out of a movie.

Flash forward to 2020, and after changing their initial plans, Nate and Cait wound up with the most remarkable little wedding we’ve ever seen. Their wedding date, 8/8, has significant ties to good luck and new beginnings in many cultures and is also tied to their nicknames, C8 and N8 (a fact we’re low-key obsessed with). Instead of a traditional wedding venue, these babes chose their front porch stoop, which is perhaps one of the prettiest, most intricately designed ones around. This distinctive ceremony spot allowed their guests to still witness everything while also being able to socially distance. To make their already beautiful ceremony spot even more special, Cait and Nate had our angel Bagels Florals created the most astonishing hanging florals to adorn their space.

Following their ceremony, Nate + Cait brought a piece of New Mexico to Colorado with a mariachi parade, featuring the musicians of Mariachi Los Reales, to their reception location, Potager Restaurant, which was a quick six blocks away. After arriving, they had a spontaneous first dance to Cuando Calienta el Sol, one of their fave songs while still being surrounded by all of their loved ones. These newlyweds were then whisked away of the back of a floral decorated truck for some truly phenomenal romantics with us. To cap off this astonishing day, Nate and Cait held an intimate reception dinner at Potager for 20 of their closest friends and family members.

Despite all the challenges, switch-ups, and uncertainty of this year, Nate and Cait still pulled off one of the most marvelous days we’ve ever been so lucky to be a tiny part of. Cheers to N8 + C8, to finding beauty in all the madness of life, and to always trusting the unparalleled power of love.

Vendors
Ceremony Location - Private Home in Denver, CO
Reception - Potager Restaurant
Planning - Brindle + Oak
Florals - Bagels Florals
Paper Goods - Minted
Ring Box - The Mrs Box
Glam - Melissa Shafi
Bridal Gown - Anne Barge
Bridal Boutique - The Altar Bridal Centennial
Bride’s Shoes - Tamara Mellon
Bride’s Wedding Band - Mociun
Groom’s Suit - Bonobos
Groom’s Band - Foster and Son Jewelry
Mariachi Band - Mariachi Los Reales
Lead Photographer - Alicia
Second Photographer - Ashley Joyce

Blog + Photo Curation by Jaclyn of Alicia Lucia Photography