Wedding Inspo - Old Town Weddings and Elopements

If there’s one part of town we love getting to rediscover over and over every season its beautiful little Old Town Albuquerque. Even though wedding season looked a whole lot different this year, we loved every second spent in this enchanting little area capturing tiny nuptials.

Besides being incredibly iconic, Old Town is a place that oozes magic and charm around every single corner. Whether its an intimate wedding at the ever so quaint Old Town Farm, a grand wedding at the historic San Felipe de Neri Church right on the plaza, a quiet elopement at The Desert Compass, or a stunning ceremony at Hotel Albuquerque, we always find something new to love about this special part of town. We love getting to see new little venues thrive and older venue get lots of well-deserved love all in the same part of town.

We’re so excited for more enchanting days in this hidden gem of a place, cheers to many more years of our beloved Old Town!!!

Featured Weddings + Elopements
Zach + Natalie, a Desert Compass Styled Shoot
Rob + Antonette, an Old Town Styled Elopement
Russell + Katie, an Old Town Farm Elopement (coming soon to the blog)
Zach + Coli, a Hotel Albuquerque and Casas de Sueños Wedding
Michael + Caitlin, a San Felipe de Neri Wedding
Brad + Kenna, an Intimate Old Town Farm Wedding
Dillon + Stephanie, a Hotel Albuquerque Wedding

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

Wedding Inspo - Wedding Planning Advice from Just Lovely Weddings

If there’s one thing we’ve learned so far in 2020, its to expect the unexpected and to embrace joy where we find it. Luckily for us, and for a ton of our couples, Lauren of Just Lovely Weddings and Darling Details Rentals has been an absolute angel in guiding everyone through it all.

This wedding coordinator queen gave us some insight on what couples are doing to still celebrate love during a pandemic, how to deal with planning a wedding/elopement in the face of uncertainty, and what to expect in the future of weddings!

Alicia Lucia Photography: Long before 2020 and all of its challenges, how did Just Lovely Weddings and Darling Details Rentals come to be?

Just Lovely: I got started with events in 2012, when I worked as a catering manager for a small hotel. I had a series of similar roles in the industry until early 2015, when I started Just Lovely and took on my first wedding that summer. It’s crazy to think that 2020 would’ve been/is my 6th season as an independent wedding planner & coordinator. Near the end of 2016 an industry colleague asked me if I wanted to take over Darling Details, and I have been working to grow our rental collection since then. I’ve loved being a part of so many special days, sometimes for both Just Lovely & Darling Details, and sometimes for just one or the other. 

ALP: With the major shifts of 2020, what are more and more weddings starting to look like?

JL: Every wedding is different, and the needs of each couple reflects that. None of us wanted this to happen, and it’s just terrible for everyone. I am so grateful that most of our clients have decided to postpone, but I also get why some couldn’t. A lot of couples have decided to elope this year and have a party later on when they feel it’s safe. Some have decided to downsize significantly and have very intimate ceremonies and go to dinner after. The best decision right now is the one that feels most comfortable to the couple. 

ALP: How is Just Lovely changing and pivoting during this time?

JL: My biggest goal in all of this has been to show up for our affected clients, providing advice and basically just guiding them through this challenging situation and showing them that they aren’t alone. We’ve helped them move dates and also transition to elopements. This is new territory for all of us and I am grateful to be in a position where I can guide my couples on the best options for them. 

ALP: How should/can couples plan a wedding during a pandemic?

JL: My advice is to trust your feelings. Planning right now is a challenge due to uncertainty, so if you’re starting to feel stressed or anxious about your date (and if gatherings will be allowed then) start to consider a backup plan and discuss options with your vendors. Also, the wedding industry has taken such a hit, so try to be patient with your vendors. Most of us are in this industry because it’s where our hearts are, and our lives have been turned upside down. Any grace that we’re shown is appreciated even more right now. 

ALP: How do you think this is going to change the industry? 

JL: With only smaller celebrations being allowed, many couples have had to transition to more intimate gatherings than they would’ve originally considered. I think that this shift has started to show couples that, truly, all that’s needed to get married is a couple of witnesses and an officiant. Everything else should be fun, so hopefully this will alleviate some of the pressure to plan in the future, and help guide couples to plan events that are meaningful to them.

ALP: What has been the hardest part of this pandemic for your business? And, conversely, what has been the most rewarding part for Just Lovely?

JL: The hardest part has been our hearts breaking for our couples whose plans changed overnight; they had to make some really tough decisions, but at the end of the day I think they all did what was best for them and their guests. The second hardest part has been losing the majority of our income for the year, for both businesses, while expenses did not change. 

The most rewarding part has been seeing the value of what a planner does, and how much we can truly help the couples we work with. Also, forcing myself to consider different sources of revenue and opportunities will make the businesses stronger in the long run. 

ALP: What are your goals for Just Lovely past this pandemic and into the future?

JL: My goal past the pandemic is to continue to show up for our couples. I have been thinking a lot about how I can provide more resources and more value, and have been working on new processes and content to be able to do that. In the future, I would also love to get into planning more corporate events as well!


ALP: Finally what do you miss the most about big weddings? And what do you love the most about little weddings?

JL: I love weddings of all sizes! What I miss most about weddings in general is seeing the love and friendship that surrounds a couple on their wedding day - that’s what is most important. I feel like there has been this pressure to live up to this standard of weddings that was exhausting for everyone. I hope that at the end of this we all just remember that weddings are celebrations, and they’re meant to be fun and filled with love.

Featured Weddings + Styled Shoots by Just Lovely Weddings
David + Lauren at La Fonda on the Plaza
Whimsical Wedding Inspo in Albuquerque, NM
Ashwin + Lauren, a Catholic-Hindu Wedding In Santa Fe
Desert Romance Styled Elopement at Los Poblanos
Intimate Desert Compass Wedding in Old Town Albuquerque (coming soon to the blog)
Tyler + Cassie, a La Posada Wedding
Geoff + Jocelyn, a Hacienda Doña Andrea Wedding
Michael + Lucia, a Los Poblanos Wedding
Drew + Lauren, a La Mesita Ranch Wedding
Michael + Caitlin, an Old Town Wedding
Tyler + Jordan, a La Fonda on the Plaza Wedding
Shane + Megan, a Backyard Albuquerque Wedding


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

Wedding Inspo - Sweetheart Tables

For weddings both big and small, we love any details that can make the day a touch more intimate for our couples, so of course we have a lot of love for precious little sweetheart tables. Seen in both large weddings and even the tiniest of elopements, sweetheart tables let couples steal away a few moments together while still being a part of the celebrations.

While sweetheart tables aren’t seen in every single wedding, they can add a special touch to a couple’s day. They can provide a sense of intimacy among the ongoing festivities as well as a focal point for guests. A sweetheart table can also give a couple or a wedding planner/designer the opportunity to create an additional decorative space that complements the entire wedding day!

We’ve seen these cute little tables decked out in everything from elaborate boho furniture and eye-catching florals to simple and elegant accents. We love getting to see a tiny hint of a couple’s personality with these reception staples.

Scroll through and maybe you’ll find the perfect sweetheart table with just the right accents, we can’t wait to capture more of these darling tables!

Featured Weddings + Styled Shoot
Desert Romance at Los Poblanos
Drew + Lauren at La Mesita Ranch
Whimsical Backyard Wedding Inspiration
Geoff + Jocelyn at Hacienda Dona Andrea
James + Lauren at Los Poblanos
Romantic Rockstar Styled Elopement at Los Poblanos
Ben + Emilee at Sandia Event Center
Michael + Caitlin at El Zocalo
Desert Styled Bridal
Joaquin + Alexandra at La Posada de Santa Fe
White Sands Styled Elopement
Josue + Brandy at Noah’s Event Venue
Trey + Clara at a Private Estate in San Patricio
Ghost Ranch Styled Vow Renewal
Brad + Kenna at Old Town Farm
Marble Dreams Styled Bridal
Jason + Ryan at Ghost Ranch
Ashwin + Lauren at La Posada de Santa Fe


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

Bridal Inspo - Strapless Wedding Gowns

A true bridal classic we see season after season, strapless wedding gowns are both elegant and just a tiny bit flirty. From the constructed couture variety to the plush blush styles to even the most gorgeous hand painted ones, strapless wedding gowns are definitely the perfect canvas for any bride to find her own unique style in for her big day!

One of the most special aspects of strapless wedding gowns is that the silhouette can still come in a multitude of styles. From sleek curve hugging gowns to ballgown inspired dresses to even the slightest mermaid bridal train, strapless gowns are each incredibly individual and downright beautiful!

We’re so excited to see what new designs and inspirations future strapless gowns will take on and we can’t wait to capture all of them!!!


Featured Bridal Gown Designers
Vera Wang
Eisen Stein Bridal
Ines di Santo
David’s Bridal
Stella York
Allure Bridals
Maggie Sottero
Hayley Paige
Reem Acra
Kelly Faetanini
Casa Blanca Bridal
Lillian West
Watters

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

Wedding Inspo - Spring Florals

Even though we’re staying indoors a whole lot more this spring, we can’t help but be extremely inspired by all of the nature in full bloom we still get to witness. We’ve found our favorite spring infused color palettes from some of the sweetest wedding days to add a little bit of light to the blog!

Although some of these weddings weren’t necessarily spring weddings, these florals still made us daydream of the perfect April or May wedding, full of muted pastels, bright whites, or even softly colorful tones. From sage and white bouquets to blush tinted to arrangements to to even subtly bright floral arches, these flowers still light up our little worlds to this day.

Here’s to some of the beauty that we can continue to find in our world every single day, we can’t wait to capture more stunning florals like this in the future!

Featured Florists
Bagels’ Florals
Floriography Flowers
Renegade Floral
Albuquerque Florist
Viva Flora
Florecita Flowers
The Bouq’s Co
People’s Flowers
A Beautiful Theme
Shannon Loves Flowers

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

Wedding Inspo - Fall Wedding Florals

With a new season on the horizon, a lush new variety of different wedding color palettes and trends are on our minds. Wedding florals are always one the most diverse, yet versatile wedding detail, especially in the fall. We’ve seen it allll at autumn weddings, from lush neutral colored bridal bouquets with touches of rust to dark and moody shades of red and violet to simple blends of both light and dark tones. We’re on the brink of amazing fall weddings and can’t freaking wait for all the beauty to come this year!!!

Featured Florists
Florigraphy Flowers
Viva Flora
Bagels Florals
Renegade Floral
Placed by Polito
Shannon Loves Flowers
Barton’s Flowers
Stephanie Yardman Floral Design

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

Wedding Inspo - Wedding Reception Centerpieces

One look at any of our social media sites and you’ll know how obsessed our little team is with florals, but we’re also in love with how our couples, planners, and florists design and create floral centerpieces. Bright, bold, and larger than life summer florals give us just as much joy as the the simple, subdued succulent adorned centerpieces. Every wedding brings its own flavor and we can’t get enough of these reception beauties!

Wedding Venues
La Posada de Santa Fe
Garden of the Gods (Colorado Springs, CO)
Santa Fe Opera
La Fonda on the Plaza
Los Poblanos Historic Inn and Organic Farm
Four Seasons Santa Fe
Eldorado Hotel and Spa
Sarabande Bed and Breakfast
Gerald Peters Gallery
Hyatt Tamaya
El Zocalo
La Mestia Ranch Estate

Florists
Placed by Polito
Renegade Floral
Viva Flora
Floriography Flowers
Shannon Loves Flowers
Ruidoso Flower Shop
Bloomstream Flowers
The Bouq’s Co
Barton’s Flowers
Stephanie Yardman Floral Design

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

Erik + Jessa, a Tamaya Wedding

Erik and Jessa’s little love story began about six years ago when they met by chance at work and even though Jessa left for a new position in California, her and Erik remained in touch. A few months after Jessa’s move, Erik came to visit her and they’ve been together ever since.

Erik proposed in 2017 while he and Jessa were on vacation in Puerto Vallarta over breakfast on the beach! He put all of the sweet little notes they had wrote to each other over the years into a box that also contained an engagement ring and Jessa was over the moon to say yes!

The ever charming Hyatt Tamaya in Bernallio, New Mexico incorporates both indoor and outdoor wedding aspects, making it the perfect venue choice for these lovers. Erik and Jessa also included Erik’s Scottish ancestry (the Buchanan family) into their ceremony with some of the coolest details! From bagpipe players during cocktail hour to using the Buchanan tartan for Erik and his groomsmen’s pocket squares to custom medallions of the Buchanan crest on each guest’s plate to including Blue Scottish Thistle in all of the florals, these lovers brought an incredible Scottish vibe to their modern, late-summer wedding. Congrats lovers, being a part of your day was sooo incredibly special to us!

Vendors
Venue - Hyatt Regency Tamaya
Planning + Coordination - Occasion Services & Events
Florals - Shannon Loves Flowers
Cake - Saratoris
Officiant - Paul Martinez
Hair + MUA - Genica Lee
Bridal Gown - The Bridal Collection
Bride’s Shoes - Badgley Mischka
DJ - Too Hot To Stop
Photo Booth - Snapshot Selfies

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

Michael + Caitlin, an Old Town Wedding

This May, we were reminded just how lucky we are to capture such downright remarkable couples! Michael and Caitlin’s late spring wedding brought major fairytale vibes and we’re low-key obsessed with them. From an absolute dream of a wedding gown (complete with the most gorgeous, yet simple lace up back) paired with lovely floral accessories to a little troupe of the cutest flower girls to amazing florals, the details on this day had us in absolute awe. This day started with Caitlin and her girls getting ready at Hotel Albuquerque followed by a touching ceremony at the historic San Felipe de Neri Church right in the center of Old Town Albuquerque to the sweetest summertime reception at the ever quaint El Zocalo in Bernallio. These lovers took the prettiest romantics outside the historic adobe church right after saying “I do” and in the golden light at their reception venue. We adored capturing their first dance in natural evening light (something that rarely happens and is such a treat for us!) and the fact that their ring bearer and all of their flower girls rushed up to join them on the dance floor. To top it all off, these babes had pizza AND donuts at their wedding reception. Cheers to the Hawkes, we loved being a part of your new beginning!!!

Vendors
Venues - Hotel Albuquerque, San Felipe de Neri Church, El Zocalo
Planning + Coordination - Just Lovely Weddings
Florals - Shannon Loves Flowers
Hair + Makeup - Genica Lee
Bridal Gown - David’s Bridal
Bridal Shoes - Jessica Simpson
Bride’s Earrings + Clutch - BHLDN
Engagement Ring - Ritani
Bride’s Wedding Band - Tacori
Bridesmaid Dresses - Banana Republic
Groom’s Suit - Mr. James
Groom’s Wedding Band - custom ring by Shelton Jewelers
Catering - Firenze Pizza
Cake + Mini Desserts - Bizzy B Cakes
Biscochitos - Homemade
Donuts - Rebel Donuts
Cloth Napkins - Handmade
Chair Rentals - AA Tents and Events
Linin Rentals - Eventful NM

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

Donald + Katie, a Casa Rondena Wedding

Our girl Jaclyn has been working around the clock to get us caught up on all the breath takingly beautiful weddings we've shot the last few years and today we are sharing Donald and Katie's amazing day! This sweet pair was married in Albuquerque at San Ysidro Catholic Church followed by an incredible reception at Casa Rondnea Winery.

Vendors:
Venue - Casa Rondena
Coordination - Alena Swanson
Videography - Emily Joanne
Hair - Project Luxe
Signage and stationery - by our beautiful and talented bride, Katie herself!
Cake - Simply Sweet by Darci
Makeup - Betty Rose by Alanna
Florals - Shannon Loves Flowers
Gown - Kelly Fetanini from Emma and Grace Bridal Studio 

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