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

Dominic + Maggie, an Enchanting Backyard Wedding

On the most divine spring day, Dominic and Maggie said “I do” and dang was it a special day. These lovers are two of our favorite humans and we were so excited to be a tiny part of their dreamy celebration.

Long before they were making it last name official, these lovers first met about five years ago in law school. Dominic was a year ahead of Maggie and ended up being Maggie’s legal tutor. Even though they were drawn to each other and had a ton in common, including their mutual love for the Philadelphia Eagles Football Team, they decided to wait until after the semester to hang out. Dominic instantly fell in love with Maggie’s dog Coco and when they stumbled upon sweet little Popcorn at a local shelter, these babes skipped class to adopt her. After four years of living their best lives with their fur babies, Dom proposed to Maggie on the prettiest fall day at Lake Isabelle in Colorado.

Dominic and Maggie created an incredibly ethereal, yet completely modern wedding at Maggie’s dad’s home in the heart of Albuquerque’s North Valley. Every single detail of this day was nothing short of an absolute daydream. From Maggie’s elegant Sarah Seven gown (paired with her bridesmaids wearing all white!) to holding their magical little ceremony under the shade of cottonwood trees adorned with white and sage florals to the most epic backyard reception designed by Just Lovely Weddings to the unreal romantics all over this incredible property (that was serving major West Coast glam vibes), we are smitten with every last part of this day. And did we mention their killer playlist? Maggie walked down the aisle to Holy by Justin Bieber and these angels picked Til There Was You by The Beatles for their first dance.

Maggie and Dominic set the bar sky-freaking-high for backyard weddings and we’re not mad about it. Bring on all the enchanting, wildly fun, do-it-however-you-want days with the best lovers!

Vendors
Venue - Private Estate
Planning + Coordination - Just Lovely Weddings
Lounge + Table Top Rentals + Signage - Darling Details Rentals
Florals - Foraged
Hair + Makeup - Genica Lee
Bridal Gown - Sarah Seven
Bride’s Shoes - Manolo Blahnik
Bridesmaid Gowns - Lulus
Groom’s Attire - Suits Unlimited
Officiant - Phil Davies
Catering - Black Iron Catering
Bartender - ABQ Barkeeps
Cake + Sweets - Planty Sweet
Tent + Large Rentals - AA Events and Tents
DJ + Ceremony Videographer - Complete Weddings and Events
Lead Photographer - Alicia
Second Photographer - Carissa
Assistants - Jaclyn + Mikey

Blog + Photo Curation by Jaclyn of Alicia Lucia Photography

Wedding Inspo - Ceremony Altars

Whether its a mini-wedding with a handful of guests or a giant, incredibly lively wedding with a whole bunch of friends and family members, our couples always find a way to make their ceremonies extra gorgeous, especially when it comes to the backdrops they pick to stand in front of to say “I do”. From stunning floral installations to incredible ceremony arches, we’ve seen it all, but we love looking back at some of the most show-stopping ceremony set ups we’ve seen over the past year.

As expected, we captured a ton of floral arches, from the bright and bold to the soft and whimsical varieties. Arches, both of of the wooden variety and of the purely floral design are becoming a wedding staple that we’re sure will always be a fan fave.

But besides this new classic, what other beauties have adorned alters and made vows that much more special? There are a few pretty little designs that come to mind and wow, are we still drooling over them. Just a few of our current faves include a dreamy mauve-toned geometric backdrop, the most eye-catching florals being draped from a tiny balcony, and a boho rug framed with giant pampas grass arrangements. And, of course, we can’t forget how one of our couples opted for that wide open New Mexico sky to be their ceremony background as they exchanged vows at a backyard wedding in the Santa Fe mountains.

We’re not sure what new altar trends will take the wedding world by storm in the coming years, but we do know that they’ll be absolutely divines and we’re so dang here for it all.

Featured Weddings + Styled Shoots
Zach + Natalie at The Desert Compass
Emerson Venue Styled Wedding
Nathan + Caitlin in Denver, CO (coming soon to the blog)
Jawara + Jasmyn at Los Poblanos
Brittany + Angie in Nob Hill (coming soon to the blog)
Ben + Emilee at Sandia Event Center
Matt + Allie in Santa Fe, NM (coming soon to the blog)
Drew + Lauren at La Mesita Ranch Estate
John + Anna at La Fonda on the Plaza
Jeremy + Michelle at Los Poblanos (coming soon to the blog)
Patrick + Niki at Enchanted Vine Barn
Geoff + Jocelyn at Hacienda Doña Andrea
James + Lauren at Los Poblanos
Morgan + Mattie at Las Campanas
Carter + Carrie at La Fonda on the Plaza
Qwist + Cara at Los Poblanos
Trey + Clara in San Patricio, NM
Zach + Coli at Hotel Albuquerque
Chris + Ari at Los Poblanos
Ashwin + Lauren at La Posada de Santa Fe
Jordan + KC in Santa Fe, NM
Adam + Jill at Los Poblanos
Jason + Natalie at La Fonda on the Plaza
Colton + Lindsey at Hyatt Tamaya

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

Fathers' Day with ALP's Favorite Dads

Today more than ever we want to give a little extra love to all of the amazing dads, father figures, and dads-to-be that we’ve met over the years!

Wedding days are that much more special because of these wonderful men and all the love and guidance they bring our couples on their big days and beyond! We love getting to see all of the father-daughter first looks (and even a few flower girl and groom first looks with our grooms who are already lucky enough to be dads!), those emotional walks down the aisle, and of course parent dances during receptions.

Cheers to all the incredible fathers out there, our world is that much better because of your love and kindness!

Featured Weddings
Jake + Angela at Sandia Event Center
Stuart + Kelly at Los Poblanos (coming soon to the blog)
Morgan + Mattie at Las Campanas
Adam + Jill at Los Poblanos
Ashwin + Lauren at the Inn and Spa at Loretto and La Posada de Santa Fe
Gustav + Jackie at Los Poblanos
Garrett + April at Casa Perea Art Space
Chris + Ari at Los Poblanos
Patrick + Niki at Enchanted Vine Barn
Jordan + KC at La Fonda on the Plaza
Ben + Emilee at Sandia Event Center
Zach + Coli at Hotel Albuquerque and Casas de Suenos
Michael + Sarah at La Fonda on the Plaza
Drew + Lauren at La Mesita Ranch
John + Anna at La Fonda on the Plaza
Qwist + Cara at Los Poblanos
Trey + Clara at a Private Estate in San Patricio, NM
Carter + Carrie at La Fonda on the Plaza
James + Lauren at Los Poblanos

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

Wedding Inspo - Los Poblanos Historic Inn and Organic Farm

Hidden away in Albuquerque’s north valley lies one of the loveliest places on earth, Los Poblanos Historic Inn and Organic Farm. Dreamy, secluded, and downright otherworldly, this beauty of a venue has quickly become the destination for not only visitors to the Land of Enchantment, but so many lovers including a ton of our brides and grooms.

Every single time we step foot on its grounds, Los Poblanos feels mysterious, beautiful, and teeming with wonder. From spring to winter, weddings here always carry an air of beguiling charm, while still feeling like a cozy home-away-from-home. We’re not sure if the endless garden options for ceremonies or all the little hidden spots we’ve discovered for romantics over the years, but this lavender farm certainly lives up to all of its expectations. And with its amazing wedding day staff, complete with our gal pal Chelsea Martinez as Wedding Coordinator, Los Poblanos is nothing short of an absolute dream come true.

Rain or shine, we’ve captured some of the sweetest, most intimate, tear-worthy moments with some of the most amazing couples around at Los Poblanos. We can’t wait to be back at this stunner of a location many many times this wedding season!!!

Venue - Los Poblanos Historic Inn and Organic Farm

Our Lovers
Conner + Laura (coming to the blog soon!)
Chris + Ari
Adam + Jill
James + Lauren
Gustav + Jackie
Qwist + Cara
Dustin + Ashley
Michael + Lucia
Bobby + Simone Styled Shoot

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

2019 Wedding Moments

To our 2019 couples,
As the year winds down and we get ready for brand new decade, we cna’t help but reflect on all of 2019’s stellar weddings! From the super intimate, heartfelt days to the incredible bashes full of life and amazing details, this season was truly one for the books.

From Southern New Mexico to Albuquerque to Santa Fe, we’ve been to some pretty incredible places and seen some amazing love stories. We adored each and every one of our couples, from our New York City cuties to our Las Cruces lovers to our stunning Santa Fe babes, this season has been full of love from across the U.S.! We can’t wait for what’s to come and we can’t help but thank these beyond amazing couples for letting us be a little part of their forever! We adore each and every one of you to the moon and back!

Love,
The Alicia Lucia Photography Team

Our 2019 Lovers
Trey + Clara Peter Hurd Guest House and a Private Residence in San Patricio, NM
Qwist + Cara at Los Poblanos Historic Inn and Organic Farm
Patrick + Niki at Enchanted Vine Barn
Geoff + Jocelyn at Hacienda Doña Andrea
Gustav + Jackie at Los Poblanos Historic Inn and Organic Farm
Garrett + April at Casa Perea Art Space
Carter + Carrie at La Fonda on the Plaza
James + Lauren at Los Poblanos Historic Inn and Organic Farm
Morgan + Mattie at Las Campanas
Adam + Jill at Los Poblanos Historic Inn and Organic Farm
Zach + Coli at Hotel Albuquerque and Casas de Suenos
Ashwin + Lauren at Cathedral Basilica of St Francis of Assisi and The Inn & Spa at Loretto
Ashwin + Lauren at La Posada de Santa Fe
Ryan + Jennifer at Sarabande Bed and Breakfast
Jake + Angela at Sandia Event Center
Pablo + Alejandrina at Old Town Albuquerque
John + Anna at La Fonda on the Plaza
Chris + Ari at Los Poblanos Historic Inn and Organic Farm
Jason + Ryan at Ghost Ranch
Ben + Emiliee at Sandia Event Center
Colton + Lindsey at Hyatt Tamaya
Drew + Lauren at La Mesita Ranch Estate
Jason + Natalie at La Fonda on the Plaza
Jordan + KC at Cristo Rey Catholic Church and La Fonda on the Plaza
Suraj + Celina at a Private Residence in Albuquerque, NM
Michael + Sarah at La Fonda on the Plaza (coming to the blog soon)
Bryan + Jennie at Loretto Chapel and Four Seasons Santa Fe
Brad + Kenna at Old Town Farm (coming to the blog soon)
Conner + Laura at Los Poblanos Historic Inn and Organic Farm (coming to the blog soon)

2019 Lead Photographers - Alicia Padilla, Ashley Shaw, Bre Bloomquist, and Brittany Miller
2019 Second Photographers - Cameron Storie, Melanie Montoya, Molly Morgan, and Brianna Archuleta
2019 Assistants - Jaclyn Younger, Cameron Storie, and Taylor DeJong

Blog + Photo Curation by Jaclyn of Alicia Lucia Photography

Guest Blog Feature - Advice for Brides

This week we’re featuring a guest blog from writer Hannah Stevens on mistakes for brides to avoid on their wedding day! We’ve included photos from our brides who went above and beyond to not only avoid these mistakes, but to make their weddings seamless and wonderful. Whether its allocating extra time with their sweethearts, to adding super personal wedding details, to having perfect timelines & being more intentional, these are just a few of the stellar brides that our team constantly thinks of when it comes to helping their weddings flow, while still being what they envisioned for their big day!

Our Brides (and their Grooms) Who Went Above + Beyond
Leanne + Scott at SITE Santa Fe
Taylor + Kirk at Loretto and La Fonda on the Plaza
Niki + Patrick at Enchanted Vine Barn
Coli + Zach in Old Town Albuquerque
Car + Qwist at Los Poblanos
Brigitte + Derek at La Fonda on the Plaza

7 Mistakes a Bride Makes During Her Wedding Week
A Guide for Brides by Hannah Stevens

Wedding days are meant to be special. It is the time where you celebrate your love with your partner – a day to remember for the rest of your life. If everything doesn’t turn out the way you expect, however, you might remember the stress instead of happiness. Although you cannot control everything, there are some common pitfalls you can avoid to make sure that your wedding goes as planned.

Procrastination

Perhaps the biggest mistake brides make is waiting until the last second to finalize the details of their weddings. Always remember that doing so gives you a small window for beauty treatments, spa days, and wedding rehearsals. Make sure to finalize everything as soon as possible to keep everything on track for a smooth wedding day. Consider making a list of tasks to accomplish before the wedding.

Not Having Hair and Makeup Trial Runs

Waiting until the wedding day to try out your makeup and hairstyle might catch you off-guard. Bear in mind that part of a successful wedding day is feeling as confident and beautiful as you can be, after all, which includes having your hairstyle and mascara in sync. In order to avoid disappointment, always do a trial run of your makeup and hairstyle to ensure that you are satisfied with the way you look.

Hiring the Wrong Photographer

Oftentimes, couples fall into the trap of hiring the wrong photographer. When looking for the right fit, it is crucial to look for someone whose work matches your vision for your wedding day. This is not only to ensure that you will be proud of the images when you post them online but also helps make sure that the images stand up for decades to come when you show them to your children or even your grandchildren.

Scheduling Bachelorette Parties during Wedding Week

Bachelorette parties are exciting. After all, it is the last time to go out with your girls as a single lady. It is a good idea to try and schedule bachelorette parties for at least a few weeks before the wedding. Alternatively, you can schedule a bachelorette party during the wedding week – but make sure that it does not involve heavy partying or drinking as both activities can leave you feeling less than your best while walking down the aisle.

Failing To Tie Up Legal Ends

Failure to tie-up legal ends is an expensive problem. So, make a checklist of all the legal paperwork needed before your wedding day. Also, don’t forget to check the local laws and obtain a marriage license within a set timeframe. Keep in mind that laws differ from state to state, too, so you’ll want to either work with a professional or make sure you’re reading regulations for your specific state.

Doing It All

Every bride wants to be in control of their wedding. Unfortunately, not letting others step in and help can prove detrimental to the success of the event. During the wedding week, make sure to step back and delegate tasks like finalizing seating charts. Better yet, you can hire a professional to take care of the little details of the wedding.

Not Getting Enough Rest

In the week of the wedding, it is quite normal for a bride to be anxious, but don’t let it keep you up all night. Lack of sleep often results in exhaustion, a weak immune system, skin problems, and difficulty concentrating. Always stay well-rested and follow a sleep guide to avoid compromising your big day.

Guest Blog by Hannah Stevens
Weddings by Alicia, Ashley, and Bre of Alicia Lucia Photography
Photo Curation by Jaclyn of Alicia Lucia Photography

Wedding Inspo - Summer Wedding Florals Second Edition

Even though fall wedding season is quickly approaching, we couldn’t help but share some of our favorite, recent summer bouquets. From the insanely colorful floral arches to the soft, subdued reception centerpieces, to the bold and bright bridal bouquets, summer weddings always bring a wide palette of color options! We adored every single one of these florals and can’t wait for what beauty the rest of this season will bring!

Featured Florists
Forth & Floral
Floriography
Renegade Floral
The Bouqs Co.
Bloomstream Flowers
Florectia Flowers
Mauldin’s Flowers


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

Wedding Inspo - Sheath Bridal Gowns

If there’s one current wedding trend that we can’t get enough of, its how popular sheath gowns have become over the past few years. Chic, modern, and effortlessly elegant, this style of dress can go from a backyard wedding to a Santa Fe Plaza wedding to an art gallery wedding to an elopement in the mountains! We love how this minimalist design can be paired with a simple jeweled belt or a lace overlay to make it even more gorgeous. Shout out to one of the most universally flattering designs out there, we can’t wait for more brides to shine in sheath gowns!

Wedding Gown Designers
Lovers Society
Sarah Seven
St. Patrick
Justin Alexander
Maggie Sottero
Lulus
Enzoani
Katie May Collection
Pronovias
Martina Liana
Jenny Yoo
Made With Love Bridal
Badgley Mischka
Jovea
Terese Rose Designs
David’s Bridal

Wedding Gown Boutiques
Lovely Bride (Dallas, TX)
Sarah Seven (Los Angeles, CA)
Suzanne’s Bridal (Mesa, AZ)
Mockingbird Bridal (Dallas, TX)
Bridal Elegance by Darlene (Albuquerque, NM)
BHLDN (Multiple Locations)
Mia Bridal Couture (Houston, TX)
White on Daniel Island (Charleston, SC)
The Dressing Room West (Santa Fe, NM)
Patsy’s Bridal Boutique (Dallas, TX)
Bridal Boutique ( Lewisville, TX)
Unbridaled (Houston, TX)
Danelle’s Bridal (Pueblo, CO)
Terese Rose Designs (Albuquerque, NM)
David’s Bridal (Albuquerque, NM)

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

Qwist + Cara, a heartfelt wedding at Los Poblanos

We’ll never tire of reiterating how lucky we are to get to know the couples we capture, but every once in awhile, an out of this world love story comes along that not only knocks us off our feet, but also humbles us to be a part of it! Qwist and Cara’s 12 years in the making love story was just that and we’ll probably never, ever get over it.

Qwist and Cara met over a decade ago in Fort Collins, Colorado while attending an outdoor Common concert. They hit it off instantly when Qwist noticed Cara standing behind him and offered her a better view. They’ve been together ever since those first tender moments and Qwist proposed to Cara in the exact same spot they first met (followed by their families racing out with champagne to celebrate) *cue all the happy tears*.

These two had a heartfelt, genuine, downright beautiful wedding at our most favorite venue in town, Los Poblanos. Simplicity and minimalism not only ruled Qwist and Cara’s special day, but it allowed for their tender love story to shine through. From having Qwist’s grandmothers walk down the aisle as flower girls, to their group sing along of “Lean on Me” during the ceremony (never seen anything like that before, and it moved us to our core), to both the bride and groom including each sets of their parents during the mother/son and father/daughter dances, we can’t help but continually gush about how wildly special it was to witness this June wedding. Qwist and Cara share a love so tangible that it brings joy to everyone around them, thank you babes for letting us be a tiny part of this incredible love story!

Vendors
Venue - Los Poblanos Historic Inn and Organic Farm
Planning - Corazon Events
Florals - The Bouqs Co.
Invitations - Funky Olive Design
Hair - Briana Neverez
MUA - Nicole Cudzilo
Bridal Gown - Sarah Seven
Groom’s Attire - Bonobos
DJ - Cutmaster Music
Officiant - Cynthia Copeland

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