Drew + Lauren, a Southwestern Wedding at La Mesita Ranch Estate

This fall we returned to one of our all time favorite hidden gems, La Mesita Ranch Estate right outside of Nambe Falls, NM. Drew and Lauren, aka one of the most amazing couples on the planet, planned a truly gorgeous, yet somehow carefree, Southwestern soirée on a perfect fall afternoon. Besides the incredible details, it was so apparent that these two are not only head over heels in love, but that Drew and Lauren are beyond perfect for each other.

In a modern twist on an actual fairytale, Drew and Lauren met on a dating app (Bumble) and immediately hit it off over conversations about football (Drew is a die-hard NY Giants fan while Lauren adores the Dallas Cowboys) and Drew’s recent to trip to Lauren’s hometown, Albuquerque. Even though Drew had to leave early (to do laundry!), they agreed to meet up for a second date and the rest is history.

Flash forward three years and these babes are vacationing in France, but little did Lauren know that it would be one of the best trips ever. While touring the Luxembourg Gardens in Paris (and sipping on wine) Drew proposed to Lauren and she (of course!) said yes.

After a year of amazing prep and planning, Drew and Lauren finally said “I do” in the Land of Enchantment. With the coordination by our girl Lauren Maestas of Just Lovely Weddings and stunning Western inspired details by Darling Details Rentals, this day was nothing short of everything we could have imagined (especially those epic pampas grass arrangements!). In addition to having dreamy details, Lauren and Drew included super personal touches as well. Lauren (whose father passed away five years prior) was moved to tears when her mom sewed his wedding ring into her dress pocket. This bride also made sure that her father was part of the reception by including his favorite dessert (Oreos) at the sweets table as well as biscochitos in the welcome bags (which were reminiscent of the ones Lauren and her father made every year at Christmas). A heartfelt ceremony followed by a quick hike up a mountain for romantics and an amazing bridal reception outfit made this day out of this freaking world.

Honestly we can’t really express just how much we love Drew and Lauren, truly two of the kindest, funniest, all-around wonderful couple. Cheers to a million more years of crushing on you two and your incredible love story!!! #romosaysidrew

Vendors
Venue - La Mesita Ranch Estate
Planning - Just Lovely Weddings
Rentals - Darling Details Rentals
Florals - Albuquerque Wedding Florist
Paper Goods - Protea Paper
Hair - Genica Lee
MUA - Betty Rose by Alanna
Bridal Gown - Jenny Yoo Collection
Bridal Boutique - Lovely Bride New York City
Bride’s Shoes - Frye
Bride’s Hat - Stetson
Bride’s Jacket - The Gap
Bridesmaids Dresses - Jenny Yoo Collection
Groom’s Attire - Bonobos
Groom’s Boots - Cody James
Groomsmen Attire - The Black Tux
Groomsmen Bowties - Etsy
Catering - Walter Burke Catering
Cake - Chocolate Maven
Band - Diamond Empire Band
Lead Photographer - Alicia
Second Photographer - Bre
Assistant - Jaclyn

Blog + Photo Curation by Jaclyn of Alicia Lucia Photography

Behind the Scenes - an Edgy Styled Elopement Workshop

During our crazy busy wedding season we don’t typically get a chance to a be a part of other shoots, but when our gal pals Cameron and Courtney invited us to capture behind the scenes of an edgy styled elopement in Nob Hill, we just had to be a part of all the fun. From capturing IRL cuties Crystal and Dylan sipping milkshakes, to smooching on the coolest motorcycle, to feeding each other yummy donuts, this day was above and beyond our expectations.

Here’s to way more out of the box, crazy-in-love days and nights!!!

Vendors
Venues - 66 Diner + Nob Hill Albuquerque
Coordination - On the Edge Workshops (Cameron + Courtney)
Florals - 21 Flowers
Hair + MUA - C.Johnson Makeup
Veil - Etsy
Donuts - Rebel Donuts + Total Betty Donuts
Groom’s Motorcycle - Honda Powersports
Models + Real Life Lovers - Crystal + Dylan

BTS Coverage by Alicia of Alicia Lucia Photography
Blog + Photo Curation by Jaclyn of Alicia Lucia Photography

Jake + Angela, a Sandia Wedding

Even though Jake and Angela just tied the knot this September we’ve known these sweet lovers, and their two precious daughters for many years! Getting to hang out with them on their big day was a huge honor for our team and was such a amazing day to be a part of, we loved getting to capture the love of a couple that feels like family to us!

Jake and Angela met at the end of 2012 while Jake was out celebrating a work promotion and Angela was celebrating the completion of her Masters degree. Jake asked Angela to dance (with the wax on wax off dance) and the rest is history. Over the past 7 years, these two have had two beautiful daughters, welcomed three dogs into their home, and bought a house together! For them, this wedding was the cherry on top of an already beautiful life!

Although we haven’t captured a wedding Sandia Event Center since 2016, Jake and Angela’s big day was the perfect welcome back. Everything from this couple’s gorgeous navy and burgandy details, to dreamy romantics during blue hour to a first dance with their daughters to “Blessed” by Thomas Rhett was nothing short of perfection.

Vendors
Venue - Sandia Event Center
Florals - For the Love of Flowers
Invitations - Shutterfly
Signage - Esty
Hair + MUA - Genica Lee
Bridal Gown - Maggie Sottero
Bridal Boutique - Bridal Elegance by Darlene
Bride’s Shoes - Jewel by Badgley Mischka
Bride’s Earrings + Headpiece - Luxe Bride Co
Bride’s Ring - Mark’s Diamonds
Flower Girl Dresses - Fattie Pie Dresses
Groom’s Attire - Suits Unlimited
Groom’s Wedding Band - Manly Bands
Officiant - Denovo Concierge Pastors
Cake - Simply Sweet by Darci
Videography - Southwest Wedding Films
DJ - Cutmaster Music
Lead Photographer - Alicia
Second Photographer - Cameron

Blog + Photo Curation by Jaclyn of Alicia Lucia Photography

Patrick + Niki, an Enchanted Vine Barn Wedding in Ruidoso NM

Our summer weddings started off with the biggest bang thanks to Niki + Patrick! These lovers not only had the most exquisite details and the prettiest location, but they are are also two of the most genuine and down to earth people around.

Niki and Patrick initially met in high school and even though it was definitely love at first sight, Niki was not single at the time. But even that didn’t stop Pat from reaching out to Niki’s mom to tell her that Niki and her boyfriend should break up (a bold, but amazing move). Eventually, these lovers got together and had an undeniable connection. Patrick and Niki broke up for a few years while Patrick was off at college, but when he returned, fate brought these babes right back where they belong. Patrick proposed early in January of 2018 at Inn of the Mountain Gods in Ruidoso, NM and even used tiny posters featuring the song “The Greatest Love Story” by LANCO to do it.

Flash forward a year and a half later and these two sweethearts pulled off one of the most beautiful weddings we’ve ever photographed! With the incredible Enchanted Vine Barn as their venue, Niki and Patrick pulled out ALL of the stops for their incredible summer, boho bash. Vibrant florals from our newest floral muse, Forth and Floral, were featured on a gorgeous ceremony arch and throughout the reception decor and if that wasn’t enough flowers, Niki’s family created a giant floral chandler to hand directly above the dance floor. They had a custom neon “Lovers” sign for guests to take photos under & Maimie’s Cakes brought out the big guns with a five tier (!) hand decorated cake with a sweets table completely dedicated to Patrick’s love of hunting! And if ceremony and reception details weren’t enough, Niki surprised us all by being the most glam, yet low-key bride on the planet. She adorned her amazing little Lovers Society sheath gown with jewelry from Kendra Scott and some HOT Christian Louboutin heels (yes we’re still drooling over them). She also brought out a super cute denim bridal jacket from Pistola Denim for a few bridal portraits. To top it all off, Niki and Patrick had the BEST playlist, with everything from Dan + Shay to Beyonce to Shania Twain.

We’re 10000% sure that these two couldn’t have been more of an absolute dream to capture and hang out with for a day. Hey Niki and Patrick, we adore you guys! Cheers to Mr. and Mrs. Ganaway & can’t wait for all the Ganaway babies!! :)

Vendors
Venue - Enchanted Vine Barn
Prep Venue - Inn of the Mountain Gods
Planning - Kelli Bailey
Florals - Forth and Floral
Hair - Taylor Degroot
MUA - Alysia Arreola
Bride’s PJs - Victoria’s Secret
Bridal Gown - Lovers Society
Bridal Boutique - Lovely Bride (Dallas, TX)
Bride’s Shoes - Christian Louboutin
Bride’s Jewelry - Kendra Scott
Velvet Ring Box - The Mrs Box
Denim Bridal Jacket - Pistola Denim
Bridesmaid Dresses - Morilee
Groom’s + Groomsmen Attire - The Model (Hobbs, NM)
Invitations - Minted
Videography - Hayley Magness
Cakes - Maimie Cakes
Catering - The Buttery
DJ - Taud Phillips
Floral Chandelier + Other Decor - Mother of the Bride + Family
Neon Lovers Sign - Little Pineapple Neon
Glass Welcome Sign - Mulberry Market Designs on Etsy
Officiant - Bradley Bishop
Lead Photographer - Ashley + Melanie
Second Photographer - Melanie
Assistant - Jaclyn


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

Vendor Feature - Just Lovely Weddings + Darling Details Rentals

If you’re looking for a local New Mexico wedding planner and rental vendor that pulls together dreamy big day details, you’ll probably fall in love with Just Lovely Weddings and Darling Details Rentals, both run by our sweet friend Lauren Mestas. Based out of Albuquerque and Santa Fe, these two incredible little businesses help streamline wedding day planning and help make bridal daydreams a reality. From Southwestern chic to classically elegant to uniquely personal, Just Lovely Weddings and Darling Details know how to pull off just about any type of wedding you can think up! We can’t wait to see what Lauren and her team have up their sleeves for us this wedding season!

Wedding Vendors
Just Lovely Weddings
Darling Details Rentals

Featured Love Stories
Tyler + Cassie at La Posada de Santa Fe
Tyler + Jordan at La Fonda on the Plaza
Gary + April at La Mesita Ranch
Michael + Lucia at Los Poblanos Historic Inn and Organic Farm
Michael + Caitlin at Old Town and El Zocalo
David + Lauren at La Fonda on the Plaza
Shane + Megan at a Private Estate in Albuquerque, NM
Gil + Joanna at La Posada de Santa Fe
Trenton + Aston at Loretto

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

Wedding + Engagement Rings - Second Edition

If you know one thing about our little team (and probably most wedding photogs out there), its that we have a major soft spot for gorgeous rings. From the classic square- cut beauties to the custom, wildly unique rings we love every single one that we get to capture. We’ll probably never get enough of these precious gems, keep ‘em coming lovers!!!

A Few of Our Fave Ring Vendors
Ritani
Tacori
Lauren B Jewelry
deBella Jewelry
Jared the Galleria of Jewelry
Etsy
Patina Gallery
Blue Nile
Tiffany & Co
Brilliant Earth

Ring Boxes
The Mrs Box
Your Heart’s Content

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

La Fonda on the Plaza - A Venue Feature

One of the best things about our sweet little job is how much time we get to spend in Santa Fe every year. Our capital city lies just to the north of our home base of Albuquerque and there is seriously magic around every corner of The City Different. From quaint adobe buildings to the historic plaza to some of the best New Mexican cuisine in the state, Santa Fe is seriously a gold mine for locals and visitors alike. It comes as no surprise that soooo many of our out of state couples select good old SF as the prime place to tie the knot and their number one destination is our home away from home, iconic La Fonda on the Plaza.

Not only is La Fonda memorable, but it is also incredibly significant to Santa Fe’s history. Initially founded in 1607 as Santa Fe’s first inn, La Fonda’s site is also the oldest hotel corner in the United States of America. However, the building that still stands today and has continually been loved and adored by New Mexicans and travelers alike wasn’t built until 1922. It features architectural influences by Mary Elizabeth Jane Colter and John Gaw Meem including hand carved beams, ethereal stained glass window skylight, and a 25 foot cathedral ceiling. More info on this beautiful space can be found on La Fonda’s website.

We’ve spent a whole lot of time at this very special place over the past few years and we can’t wait to return later on in 2019 for even more beauty.

Our Real Love Stories
David + Lauren
Tyler + Jordan
Kirk + Taylor
Chris + Alexa
Derek + Brigiette

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

Wedding Inspo - Wedding Signage

If there’s one thing we can’t resist snapping a few extra pictures of on wedding days, it’s wedding signage. We so love how each and every sign perfectly reflects the couple and their celebration of love. From the simple chalkboard signs adorned with florals, to elegant glass signs and handprinted wooden signs, these beauties were the perfect welcome to our couples special guests from near and far.

Scroll through for a few of our faves… we can’t wait to see the beautiful ways our future couples will greet their loved ones!

A Few of Our Favorite Signage Vendors
Hello Jori
Just Lovely Weddings
Minted
Funky Olive
Etsy
For the Love Events
Jessie Baca

Venues
Hotel Albuquerque
La Mesita Ranch Estate
Los Poblanos Historic Inn and Organic Farm
Hacienda Doña Andrea
La Posada de Santa Fe
La Fonda on the Plaza
Hyatt Tamaya
Sarabande Bed and Breakfast
High Country Lodge (Pagosa Springs)
Hacienda Corta Caro
Inn of the Five Graces
Four Seasons Santa Fe

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

Chris + Emma, a Hacienda Doña Andrea Wedding

In their sweet little modern love story, Chris and Emma met on a dating app while both were living in upstate New York. Even though Emma was supposed to go on a different date, one of her best friends had gone to high school with Chris and convinced her to meet up with him instead. They spent their first date in a state park and the rest is history!

Chris proposed to Emma in their home with a custom ring from Etsy that Emma had been looking at for awhile. Both being pretty reserved people, Emma described the proposal as “simple, sweet….very us”. And we adored every second of their sweet, intimate, incredible day!

Chris and Emma threw the best little celebration at Hacienda Doña Andrea in Santa Fe with lots of personal touches and DIY details. From Emma’s whimsical bridal style complete with white boots and a fur jacket to their amazingly bright floral arch by our gals at Viva Flora to ringing a historic bell moments after becoming husband and wife, these two set the bar for small weddings soooo high! These babes definitely have us convinced that real, amazing love is out there in the modern age and we’re forever reliving this day!

Vendors
Venue - Hacienda Doña Andrea
Florals - Viva Flora
Catering - Casa Nova Catering
Cake - Maggie’s Wedding Cakes
Bride’s Ring - Etsy
Bridal Gown - Rue de Seine Bridal
Fur Jacket - Forever 21
DJ - Ana Martinez

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

David + Lauren, a fall wedding at La Fonda in Santa fe

This September we kicked off the first official day of fall with David and Lauren’s incredibly gorgeous (and honestly perfect) wedding at La Fonda on the Plaza. From wine colored bridesmaid dresses to dark floral arrangements to the loveliest long-sleeve, lace Pronovias gown, this day was a dream and a half!

These Dallas babes met while playing co-ed kickball (Lauren wanted a drink and David just happened to be chilling right by the cooler) and have had the coolest adventures ever since. From countless trips to Disney (vacations that inspired their song choices for Lauren’s bridal entrance and the couple’s grand entrance) to getting engaged in their fave Texas wine county (and eating bomb German food after) where they had their first anniversary years ago.

Being the ultimate husband goals that he is, David helped out with a ton of the wedding planning (with zero complaints) and suggested the delicate tambourines for their post ceremony parade and their chili favors! Together, David and Lauren decided on La Fonda due to its incredible history and all of its insanely beautiful views (honestly we’ve never caught a bad angle of this dreamy venue).

We’re soooo beyond thankful for gracious, wonderful, and downright fun couples like these lovers! Cheers babes, we’ll never forget your incredible day!!!!

Vendors
Venue - La Fonda on the Plaza
Planning + Coordination - Just Lovely Weddings
Rentals - Darling Details Rentals
Florals - Renegade Floral
Ribbon + Silks - Honey Silk & Co.
MUA - Madeline McCue Makeup
Bridal Gown - Pronovias
Bridal Boutique - Bridal Boutique Lewisville
Bride’s Shoes - Madewell
Bride’s Ring Box - Your Heart’s Content
Invitations - Minted
Glass Signage - Etsy
Officiant - Paul Martinez
Cake - Maggie’s Cakes
Biscochito Favors - Chocolate Maven
DJ - Dream Factory Productions

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