ALP Team Picks - Alicia's Fave Weddings of 2019

Each year we kick off a new chapter by reflecting back on our favorite moments from the previous season. First up for 2020 is our boss babe and incredibly talented photographer, Alicia. She picked her two favorite weddings of the 2019 season and we’re super in our feels over these sweet couples!!

Alicia:
”When i think of back at my most memorable, favorite moments for 2019, there are bits and pieces from each and everyone of our weddings this year that instantly come to mind. But when Jaclyn said to narrow it down to just two, I knew I was in for quite the challenge! 

First up is Ari & Chris's incredible September day. Ari was a dream bride with her kind yet confident & witty self & Chris was sincerely every photographers dream groom, being up for it all, accommodating & just all around awesome, funny & so dang sweet. Those two together just made our job so incredibly FUN, laid back and sincere. Their approach to their wedding was uniquely special and one I'll admire forever. First, they vocalized on many occasions how they wanted to prioritize their time with family and wedding guests and wanted to be sure and be as intentional as possible while still maximizing any possible solo moments together and allocate tons of bride & groom portrait time. Because of that, not only were we able to get a plethora of candids & capture super sweet in-between moments, but we also got an incredible amount of gorgeous editorial and romantic shots, both silly and sweet! After wrapping up their portrait time, they rolled right into some of the most heartfelt speeches we've ever heard & the dance party of the century. Ari and Chris, thank you for having us…we'll love you forever & ever!! 

KC & Jordan were simply incredible from day one. Their love story was inspiring, their personalities were beyond sweet, open minded, thoughtful, and their wedding day, well that was just a blast! They made it a point to let us know throughout their entire wedding planning process that they trusted us wholeheartedly and wanted to give us complete creative liberty to do our thing, and because of that, we were able to deliver some of our all time favorite images we’ve ever created! Similar to Ari & Chris, KC & Jordan also valued time with family and guests but planned their day seamlessly where it gave us plenty of solo portrait time with just them two. Their gallery is one I was so eager to share with them because it included an abundance of darling candid moments & some of my all time favorite editorial bride+groom shots all over downtown Santa Fe! KC + Jordan your sweet day was one for the books and i'll treasure it forever!”

Alicia’s Fave Weddings
Chris + Ari at Los Poblanos Historic Inn and Organic Farm
Jordan + KC at Cristo Rey Catholic Church and La Fonda on the Plaza

Lead Photographer - Alicia
Second Photographers - Bre (Jordan + KC), Cameron (Chris + Ari)

Blog + Photo Curation by Jaclyn of Alicia Lucia Photography

Wedding Inspo - First Look Moments

One of the biggest decisions to be made for your wedding is whether or not to do a first look, and if you know one thing about our gang its that we ADORE first looks!

The biggest bonus, besides being able to shake off some of the pre-ceremony jitters, is that with a first look you and your hunny get even more time alone together on your wedding day (something that is surprisingly hard to get on the biggest day of your lives!). In addition to extra time, you get a few special, quiet moments together to take in how gorgeous/handsome your future spouse looks without anyone else around (except for us of course!). Although some might argue that seeing each other before walking down the aisle takes away from emotional reactions, we couldn’t disagree more. In fact, first looks just add to that magic because you get to experience seeing your lover in front of all of your friends and family too!

There’s also the major plus of getting extra photos together during and after a first look! And who doesn’t want even more gorgeous wedding photos without having to stress about squeezing in all of the romantics into the day after the ceremony? And with a first look you can also get wedding party and family photos done which means that everyone gets to enjoy alllll of cocktail hour!

We could seriously list off five million reasons why first looks are amazing, but we’ll let all of our couples in this special post do the talking for us!

Our Real Life Love Stories
Chris + Ari at Los Poblanos Historic Inn and Organic Farm
Jason + Natalie at La Fonda on the Plaza (coming soon to the blog)
Colton + Lindsey at Hyatt Tamaya
John + Anna at La Fonda on the Plaza
Morgan + Mattie at Las Campanas
Geoff + Jocelyn at Hacienda Doña Andrea de Santa Fe
Ryan + Jennifer at Sarabande Bed and Breakfast
Carter + Carrie at La Fonda on the Plaza
James + Lauren at Los Poblanos Historic Inn and Organic Farm
Randy + Elizabeth at the Santa Fe Opera
Shaun + Jessie at Sarabande Bed and Breakfast
David + Lauren at La Fonda on the Plaza
Drew + Lauren at La Mesita Ranch Estate (coming soon to the blog)
Mack + Shelby at Four Seasons Santa Fe
Jake + Angela at Sandia Event Center
Jon + Paige at Los Poblanos Historic Inn and Organic Farm

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

Chris + Ari, a Los Poblanos Wedding

Have you ever met someone who just instantly felt like your longest lost pals? We know that it’s rare, but Chris and Ari definitely gave us those, “feels like I’ve known you & loved you my whole life vibes” before, during, and after their wedding celebration. These two lovers aren’t just incredible people to capture, they’re two of the sweetest, most kindest souls we’ve ever had the pleasure of crossing paths with in life!

Chris and Ari’s story begins much sooner than most couples’ stories do, these two met when Ari became friends with Chris’ sister in 5th grade at the Maret School in D.C.. A few years later, he became Ari’s high school crush, but when he brought home a college girlfriend in 2001, Ari decided that he wasn’t for her (even though the universe had a very different idea). Flash forward to 2017, post college and post travel life, these two reconnected serendipitously at a bar over Thanksgiving (and Chris was still just as cute and much sweeter than Ari remembered) . Ari was living in NYC at the time and Chris in San Francisco, but fate intervened when Ari received a job offer in the Bay Area. About six weeks after moving there, Chris and Ari went on their first date and the rest is history.

And if you didn’t think that their love story could get any better, Chris and Ari’s proposal was out of this world too. Chris popped the question under the Brooklyn Bridge in New York right before Thanksgiving (only two years after they had reunited). After, he surprised Ari even more by taking her to a stunning hotel where all of their families were waiting to celebrate with them! And if you need any further proof that Chris is, in fact, major husband goals, unbenownst to Ari, he already booked her dream wedding venue, Los Poblanos Historic Inn and Organic Farm, BEFORE proposing to her. Talk about setting the bar sky freaking high!

This September, we got to see the next chapter of their love story unfold on the most perfect day with some of the most stellar vendors. Everything from Ari’s simple, yet dreamy Lovers Society gown, to their unique, stunning florals by Bagel’s Florals, to a killer playlist by DJ Lady Sinclair of Haute Mobile Disco … it was nothing short of an absolute vision. Chris and Ari’s ceremony was full of tears and laughs, their romantics were downright stunning, and their first dance to “Coming Home” by Leon Bridges made us believe in that one-of-a-kind type of love all over again.

Chris and Ari, can we be best friends forever and ever? You two are nothing short of what love should be and we’re forever in awe over your love and adoration! Cheers to you two and #hersheychris until the end of time.

Vendors
Venue - Los Poblanos Historic Inn and Organic Farm
Coordination - Chelsea Martinez of Los Poblanos
Florals - Bagels Florals
MUA - Becca of Glam Mavens
Hair - Jen Gonzales of Culture Club Salon
Bridal Gown - Lovers Society
Bridal Boutique - Lovely Bride New York City
Bride’s Shoes - Mercedes Castillo
Bridesmaid Dresses - Reformation
Groom’s Attire - Indochino
Groomsmen Attire - The Black Tux
Rentals - Rust Vintage
Signage - Pennysmiths Paper
DJ - DJ Lady Sinclair from Haute Mobile Disco
Officiants - Jessie Goldberg + Josh Gartland
Lead Photographer - Alicia
Second Photographer - Cameron

Blog + Photo Curation by Jaclyn of Alicia Lucia Photography