Alicia Lucia Photography Squad

Meet our girl squad! Each one of these amazing ladies play a vital role in our small business and ALP would not be nearly as fun without each of them! We're just four gals that love being a part of documenting and sharing love and know that there's nothing better than helping couples' wedding day dreams come to life! Get to know our small, yet incredible power team and see just why we're in it for the magic!

Owner and lead photographer, Alicia has been documenting weddings since the fall of 2012! Since then she has photographed hundreds of weddings and portrait sessions. Her style can be described as moment driven, editorial, and light-hearted! Married with two children, away from the camera + computer, you can find her living the simple life with her tribe. When not out shooting weddings, her weekends consist of allllll the home and garden projects, lots of snuggles on the couch or exploring our beautiful southwest state!

Alicia's forever right hand gal, Ashley, has been a part of ALP since 2013 and photographs some of our weddings and engagements! She has a sharp eye for detail shots yet captures our couples with a soft, whimsical touch! Not only does she have a wealth of knowledge and experience as a creative in our wedding industry, but is also a super mama of four, wife to her college sweet-heart, and our best photog sista!

Crescynthia (Cressy, Cressy-Roo) is our go-to, day-of-wedding assistant. Don’t let her fun-size fool you, this wonder-woman can juggle carrying a 20lb camera bag(s), light stands, bouquets, water bottles all while somehow keeping us on schedule and marking off items from a timeline. She’s not only our god-sent-day-of assistant but she's also a recently graduated social worker for the State of New Mexico, an amazing wife, Alicia's sister in law and SO much more.

Our girl Jaclyn is our newest face and missing puzzle of our gal squad. She runs our social media, blog, and is an all around content curator for all things online! She is a professional ballerina, a University of New Mexico graduate, and she completes our ALP gal squad!! We are so LUCKY and thankful to have her on board! 

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

Dreamy Wedding Cakes

No fairytale day is complete without something sweet and some of our couples have included magically beautiful cakes into their weddings and elopements. From floral accents to foil detail to marble designs to watercolor flowers these cakes are far from ordinary and to this day we're still daydreaming about all of them! Satisfy your sweet tooth with these gorgeously designed treats.

Cake Vendors:
The Chocolate Maven
The Cake Boutique
Simply Sweet by Darci
Maggie's Wedding Cakes
B&B Bakery

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

Bridesmaid Style

What's a bride without her amazing girl tribe by her side on her wedding day? We wanted to give the limelight to some of our all time favorite girl squads who not only brought life to some of our favorite days, but who also came with some killer styles! We've gathered up our most loved bridesmaid styles from the past few years from every season!

Dress Brands
Jenny Yoo
Vow to Be Chic
Amsale
ASOS
Stone Fox Bride
David's Bridal
 BHLDN

Venues:
El Monte Sagrado
Los Poblanos Historic Inn and Organic Farm
Casa Rondena Winery
The Albuquerque Railyards
La Posada de Santa Fe
Noah's Event Venue
La Fonda on the Plaza

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

Spring Wedding Style

As warmer weather approaches us and flowers begin to bloom, we can't wait for all of the seriously gorgeous spring weddings to come in the next few months! This year we wanted to take a look back at some of our all time favorite spring weddings and to give all of our future brides out there some really amazing ideas!

Our friends at The Black Tux not only offer some pretty amazing suit and tuxedo rentals for weddings, but they also gave us some major color palette inspiration! Check out the three beautiful weddings below and the tips we have for each idea!

Wedding #1: Shawna + Derek
These lovers had the epitome of pastels for their special day. From gorgeous, flowy bridesmaid dresses to dark navy suits paired with subtle green ties, this wedding combined the best of both modern and traditional wedding ideas. Also, how amazing was that floral bedecked swing?!

Wedding #2:  Keith + Claire
In this wedding, the bride and groom had a totally different take on a traditional spring wedding. Instead of using only light pastels, they combined deep reds and bright pops of fuchia with lush green tones and soft pinks. The groom wore a simple, yet classic black tux while the bride opted for a stunning blush toned gown.

Wedding #3: Joaquin + Alexandra
Our final wedding in this spring style blog focused on subtle neutrals for a clean, elegant vibe. The groomsmen wore  deep navy suits paired with soft grey ties and the bridesmaids wore varying natural shades to put on modern spin on this classic wedding.  The bride chose a lavish white gown and it was truly the cherry on top!

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

Styled Sunday - A Springtime Pantone Inspired Shoot

Back at the end of 2015, we put together a shoot showcasing the 2016 Pantone Color of The Year. We were so excited when Pantone, for the first time ever, announced not one, but two colors for 2016, Rose Quartz and Serenity. When it comes to the more feminine tones, we're big lovers of the more muted and matte variations so I knew INSTANTLY that highlighting Rose Quartz and Serenity in a styled wedding shoot had to happen. This spring, we hope you fall in love with this dazzling display of styled simplicity. 

Vendors:
Planning + Design - Orange September
Venue - El Zocalo Event Center
Florals - Renegade Florals
MUA - Genica Lee
Stationary - Darling and Pearl
Dress - Chrissie Miller + Madeleine Von Froomer for CXM, a line exclusive to Urban Outfitters
Mens Wear - ASOS
Jewlery - JCrew
Veil - Veiled Beauty
Our Gorgeous Models -Devyn Kennedy and Edgar Cruz

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

Rehearsal Dinner Planning | Alex + Marcela

Its all in the details!

One of our FAVORITE parts about weddings are the rehearsal dinners! Last December Alex and Marcela with the help of the INCOMPARABLE  Jessie Baca (designer/planner) set a whole new standard for dinner goals. Bold colors were mixed with soft, whimsical details to give guests the prefect prelude to this couple's amazing wedding that took place a few days later at Four Seasons Santa Fe. Here are some of our favorite tips.

I. Setting the Mood (and the table)
One of our favorite aspects of rehearsal dinners is how couples use colors to really accent the night. Using bold colors like deep reds and bright blues for placeholders and menus not only stand out, but they also compliment simple white tablecloths and classic tablewares.

II. Those Magic Details
Rehearsal dinners are also the perfect time to show off special little details about you and your future spouse. Alex and Marcela incorporated gorgeous little paper butterflies to show off the softer, more romantic aspect of their relationship. They also added strings of fairy lights and tea lights to set the mood just right.

III. Wrapping It All Up
A detail that never goes unnoticed and can go a long way in thanking guests for being part of your special dinner are gifts. They can range in anything from something sweet and sentimental to something local that ties into where your wedding will take place. Be sure to check out the amazing little gift bags Alex and Marcela gave their loved ones.

Photos by Alicia Padilla of Alicia Lucia Photography
Blog concept and photo curation by Jaclyn Younger of Alicia Lucia Photography

Engagement Style Lookbook

After an overwhelming response to our engagement session advice post, we decided to bring something brand new to our blog! By special request, we are so excited to share our engagement session style lookbook. Below are photos from every season, winter to spring to summer to fall with fashion ranging from bohemian to carefree to southwestern to classic. Scroll through to see all of our extremely stylish and amazing couples.

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

Engagement Session Advice | Derek + Brigitte

This November, we spent a few amazing hours with the oh so sweet Derek and Brigitte and captured a truly amazing engagement session.

Here's a few tips on how to make your engagement session. just as magical as this one:

- Do we really need engagement photos?
In our most humble opinion, YES! So we're really biased here, but we LOVE getting to know our couples before the big day and we always have such an amazing time hanging out. Doing an engagement session is the BEST way to not only get to know your photographer, but a great way to get some practice and get comfortable in front of the camera since about 95% of the photos taken at your wedding will, of course, be of you. You'll get a feel for our shooting and posing style and we get a feel for your dynamics as a couple!

- Variety of shots
Before your engagement shoot, look around our website, blog, Instagram and Pinterest to see what kind of shots you like and how you can make them your own during your session. Your photographer will probably have a ton of great ideas, but doing a little bit of research can help make your engagement session truly unique to you. Are you and your fiancé silly and you want to let that show? Or are you wanting super romantic, editorial photos? Look at poses that reflect the dynamic of you two together and let your photographer know what you prefer.

- Locations
Here in New Mexico we are lucky with a variety of great locations. From lush forestry to expansive desert to modern downtown, there are so many options for where to capture a little piece of your love story. Talk to your photographer to determine a spot that everyone will love and see if they have any favorite spots to shoot at that maybe you didn't know about or consider. Also ask your photographer for further insight on how light varies at these specific locations! For instance, if shooting in the mountains, we would shoot an hour earlier then we normally would because we lose sunlight quicker. If shooting at the crest/peak of the mountain, or a big open desert space, we'd shoot 30-45min before dusk.

- What to Wear
Be sure to take into consideration not only the location of your session, but the season as well! Sundresses and florals are amazing for spring and summer sessions out in the wilderness, but maybe not so much for a fall engagement in downtown Santa Fe. Pay close attention to colors and try to coordinate with your significant other with outfits that express your own individual styles! We will be featuring a separate lookbook on engagement session fashion with some of our favorite shoots within the next few weeks to give you even more inspiration.

- Costs
The cost of an engagement session is based on a few different factors. The first of these is wedding photography packages. Here at Alicia Lucia Photography we provide all of our couples with a complimentary engagement session after booking with us. Another factor is travel costs, which varies with each couple. Be sure to go over costs with your photographer and understand pricing!

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

Los Poblanos, A Venue Feature

In the heart of Albuquerque's north valley, nestled inside expansive acres of seemingly enchanted forestry, lies Los Poblanos Historic Inn and Farm. This well hidden gem of a venue has quickly become a favorite of couples and photographers alike seeking out the perfect fairytale backdrop for any wedding or elopement. Adventure through Los Poblanos' farm, manor home, and woods to experience a place beyond your dreams. 

Featuring photos from Sean and Ayla's fall wedding
 

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

Rigo + Maria, a Southwest Engagement

Rigo and Maria tied the knot in March, but we couldn't help posting their sweet engagement from late 2017! Being huge fans of Pixar's film Up, they incorporated a ton of amazing little details into their wedding day. We can't wait to share their soft, elegant wedding soon!

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

Shane + Megan, a Fall Couples Session

Shane and Megan, aka one of the dreamiest couples out there, explored the New Mexico woodlands and desert with us last fall! We were so excited to capture even more of their love and silliness. Shane even serenaded Megan with his guitar! We adore getting to work with couples like this!

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

Walter + Charmayne, a Fall Engagement

Walter and Charmayne gave us all of the fall vibes with their sun-drenched, golden hour engagement session. And being total suckers for turquoise jewelry and ornate belt buckles, we couldn't help but fall in love with their subtle, yet charming Southwestern style details.  Cheers to this wonderful couple (who just recently tied the knot — congrats you two)!!!

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

Josue + Brandy, a Moody Fall Engagement

If there’s one thing we absolutely adore, its moody, ultra romantic fall engagement sessions! We spent a gorgeous, golden hour drenched evening capturing lots of magic with Josue and Brandy. Their Noah’s Event Venue wedding this past December was beyond stunning and we were so thrilled to be a part of their new beginning!

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

Ryan + Cristina, a New Mexico Engagement

We had the best time getting to know Cristina and Ryan and their love for each other during their engagement session! As high-school sweethearts, they are all they have known for almost a decade! They have been through it all. We are so honored and excited to be a part of their Prairie Star wedding later this year with Orange September, an Event Company!

Makeup: Genica Lee

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

Gil + Joanna, a New Mexico Engagement

We had a truly incredible time capturing Gil and Joanna's love amid the golden hour light this summer! We are super excited for their late August wedding at La Posada in Santa Fe! 

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

Alex + Amber, a Pagosa Springs Wedding

Alex and Amber, aka one of the most genuine, laid back couples out there, were married in Pagosa Springs, Colorado last August. The stars aligned for this pair when they met in Costa Rica while both were teaching English. They even found their sweet fur baby Rafiki in Central America and since then, the trio have been inseparable travel buddies! True to their easy going nature Alex and Amber had a non-traditional wedding including a vow exchange under a wooden teepee, an absolutely gorgeous two-piece blush toned wedding dress, amazing donuts, late night pizza, and a sequin blazer that Alex completely rocked at the reception! Congrats to these sweet souls, we can't wait to see what journeys you go on next!

Vendors
Venue - High Country Lodge
Bridal Gown - Grace Loves Lace
Groom's Suit - ASOS
Wooden Teepee - DIY
Florals - Blooms by the Box
DJ - Aiko Aiko Sound

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

Dustin + Ashley, a Los Poblanos Engagement

We adored spending a cool summer evening at Los Poblanos  with this absolutely glowing couple! Dustin and Ashley have been together for almost 9 years and have been engaged for 7 of those years! These high school sweethearts met in 2007 while both attending Manzano High School and started dating in 2009 after Dustin sweetly asked Ashley to be his girlfriend at the top of the Sandia Peak. Flash forward two years to 2011 when Dustin proposed in the exact same spot! We can't wait to photograph their gorgeous Los Poblanos wedding later this year!

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

Matthew + Laura, a Casas de Sueños Summer Wedding

On a hazy, rainy summer day, Matthew and Laura tied the knot at the ever enchanting Casa de Sueños near Old Town in Albuquerque, NM.  This sweet couple exchanged their vows in the closest place to a fairytale garden you'll find in the southwest, surrounded by close friends, family, and even the bride's 95 year old grandmother. Matthew and Laura paired gorgeous, simple details with bright pops of colorful florals (designed by the groom's mom!), a to die for peony adorned cake,  and a breathtaking sparkler exit! We loved being part of the Herman's dream of a day! 

Vendors:
Venue - Casa de Sueños
Stationary - Vistaprint
MUA - Genica Lee
Bridal Gown - Casa Blanca Bridal
Bridal Shoes - The White Ribbon
DJ - Dream Factory Productions
Officiant - Henry VonJouanne
Catering - Los Cuates
Cake - Cake Fetish
Florals - Christina Herman (mother of the groom)

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

Oriol + Sarah, a Gerald Peters Gallery Wedding

Oriol and Sarah, one of sweetest, most down to earth couples ever, tied the knot in a super intimate ceremony at the Gerald Peters Gallery in Santa Fe. Surrounded by around 50 of their closest friends and family members, this couple opted for an incredibly heartfelt, yet non-traditional ceremony.  Their wedding blended classic, romantic, garden-esque floral details with a modern art gallery vibe for wonderfully unique, and whimsical day. Congrats to this beautiful couple, we're forever swooning over this day.

Vendors:
Venue - Gerald Peters Gallery
Planning + Coordination - Jessie Baca
Florals - Viva Flora
Cake - Chocolate Maven
Bridal Gown - Reem Acra
Bridal Shoes - Ouigal
MUA - Betty Rose by Alanna
Hair - Santiago Romero at Project Luxe

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

Oriol + Sarah, a New Mexico Engagement

There's nothing sweeter than a mid summer engagement session or this amazing couple! Oriol + Sarah don't live in New Mexico, but have lots of love for our gorgeous state. They're going to have a non-traditional, intimate wedding at the Gerald Peters Gallery in Santa Fe this summer and we can't wait!

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