Angela & David

A Different Kind of Wedding (ya' know, it's a girl thing)

Life is as varied as the stars in the sky. Everyone, like the stars, has their own story to tell. There are times when stars come together and two stories join into one. This day was one. Under the beautiful Sandia mountains in the light of the setting Sun Lisa and Michelle made a commitment to one another that brought friends and family together to witness. Though there is no license to send into the state, the promises that Michelle and Lisa made to each other are as valid as any other.
There was, as usual, a pretty good amount of stress during the days leading up to the wedding. The day of the wedding, however, Michelle seemed to be the epitome of calm. ( I think it was the whiskey or the spa) There really was nothing that could sway her (missing staples, curling irons, nothing).
The family and friends gathered outside behind the Hyatt Tamaya, with the mountains as the backdrop, to watch Michelle and Lisa walk down the aisle together. The ceremony started under the clouds and ended in a beautiful sunset. And, as soon as possible after the ceremony, Lisa was up in the room gettin' changed.
The reception was a great time with more continuous dancing then we have ever seen at a wedding. That was probably due to the fact that the i tunes play list was quickly abandoned and the music was at the mercy of the guests!!
Desiree and I left after 11:00 and the party was still going on. This was truly a great time for everyone that had the opportunity to come.

There are people, even some of you that read this that may not agree with it. And that is a beautiful thing, we don't all have to agree. Life is diverse, people are different we all have our own stories. It is not up to us to negate or condemn, it is up to us to love and appreciate.
We had an amazing time with Michelle and Lisa and were honored to be a part of their day and to share in their joy and happiness

Neema and Ahmed were married during September in a backyard ceremony at their house in the north valley. The ceremony was a beautiful experience for everyone that attended. They began the ceremony with African drumming and a ceremony where Ahmed received the blessing of Neema's father. After that there was an amazing dance and then a song from Neema's mother. Neema entered and the ceremony began in earnest. Neema and Ahmed were surrounded by friends and family from across the country.
We had a great time being apart of this wedding. And are very grateful that Neema walked through our doors one afternoon on a whim.

Every wedding had some sort of glitch, some hang up that causes any varying degree of stress. How about having to change your wedding venue just a week before the wedding date and during the one of the busiest weekends of the year in ABQ? Well, for Felicia and Anthony, that is exactly what happened.
Even with the last minute changes the wedding was great. The ceremony was attended by about a thousand people from all over the world. It was one of the most photographed weddings I have ever seen. there were dozens of photographers. the mounted police held traffic for the entrance of the bridal party. OK, so the ceremony was in the gazebo on the plaza in Old Town. And, those who watched the wedding were all tourists in town for balloon fiesta.
After the ceremony a parade of classic cars escorted the couple to the Inn at Paradise where the reception was held.
Felicia looked amazing in her purple and black custom designed dress. and even with the hang ups the wedding was a great time that everyone enjoyed.

With a little help from my friends...

Even though yesterday was just another wedding for Hotel Albuquerque, for us and those who had the privilege of attending, it was a wonderful fun time with friends and family.
Alicia and Alistair met through friends, live there live surrounded by friends, and celebrated their family union with friends - lots of them. From the beginning with breakfast and world cup rugby through to the last glass of Guinness and last spins on the dance floor, this was a perfect gathering of friends and family from all over the world.
Desiree and I both commented, on the ride home, that this was one of the most fun relaxed weddings we have been able to be a part of. The cheesecakes were delicious as were the 125 dozen cookies that were made for the wedding. Congratulations Al & Al, you make a perfect couple and we thank you for having us be apart of the beginning of your new family's life!
Cheers!!!

a few good folks

Since we have been shooting weddings in New Mexico we have had the chance to work with a number of vendors from around the state. I felt like leaving their names and links so that people can see who feel are good folks and we enjoy working with.
I hope i can leave a complete list of people but you know how that goes. I will probably miss a few and offend someone. If I do just call me and cuss me out in private!! If you have worked with these vendors and wish to leave comments on your experience with them please do so!! DON'T be mean. If you have a negative comment leave it so that others may get different views. If you are going to be mean, save it! Here we go:
Venues: We have worked with many venues and they all have pros and cons. If you have questions about a specific venue. Drop me a line and I can let you know what I feel about them specifically.

Florists: We have had great experiences with Mille Fleur, Geri has done a few of our recent weddings and has done a phenomenal job. Very innovative and can do nearly anything. Something Special with flowers is also great. Christine, though we have not worked with her recently, she has always done a great job. We had her do the flowers for Desiree's sisters wedding. We have also had a great experience with Ivey @ sunshine flowers.

Wedding planners: We have worked with a number of planners and there are many in the NM area. We have been especially impressed with Bentley @ Savoir Faire events. We have only worked a few weddings together but she has done amazing. Everything was exactly as needed. Regardless of the stress level she has a positive level attitude and takes care of everything.
Recently we had the opportunity to work with Karen at Celebrations. She also did a great job and was the epitome of professionalism. Though this particular wedding did have a few bumps along the way, Karen handled them well without the couple or the parents having any idea. And the multiple changes in planning leading up to the event were well handled. There are a few more wedding planners in the area that we have worked with and if you are leaning toward one, we can let you know what our experiences have been.

DJs: Our favorite dj now lives in Denver so he doesn't work the NM market much anymore. But another that we have worked with and been fairly impressed with is Lighthouse entertainment. We like the minimalistic approach that some DJs take. I don't care much for seeing a big sign or flashy lights advertising their business. That would be like be wearing a big sign on my shirt advertising who I am. If you are good enough, people will ask for your info. they don't need a twirly light shining it in everyones eyes. Speakers a mixer, laptop, mikes, non tacky lighting. that makes a good DJ in my book. When you go to interview a DJ find out how big the setup is. As with the planners, if you want info on a specific DJ just call us.

Officiants: This is a tricky one. We have only had a negative experience with one person performing services. She actually hung out after waiting for her tip. And she actually asked for her tip. Regardless of how good or bad the ceremony was, I only remember that about her and for that single reason would never recommend her. You really have to interview each of the potential officiants to see if your personalities and approach to the wedding match up. They can either make a great ceremony or an average ceremony, and we have seen a lot of both. Find someone who is not boring. Though the ceremony is normally pretty short. You want someone who will make it memorable for both you and your guests.

Caterers: Though there are many great restaurants who cater, most people still hire companies who only do event catering. Of these companies we recommend Blue Plate and Albuquerque catering. They have both done great. We have also been treated well by both. Often the other vendors are ignored or neglected by the wait staff. Blue plate has always been very attentive. If you are considering a buffet, try looking into having a restaurant that you like cater your event. You know the food and it'll save a bit.

Cakes: I had a very bad experience with the cake that Desiree and I had when we were married. It was completely wrong and after 10 years it still bugs me. We have also had a number of weddings with falling cakes. Anyway, there are many bakeries in town who will do wedding cakes. In ABQ, we have never seen a cake from Karyn that we didn't love. She can do almost anything with cake and they are very tasty. In Santa Fe Maggie's does an amazing job. She is also able to translate your vision for a cake into about anything. Both do a great job customizing something just for your wedding. A newer bakery in town is Just a Bite. They are great people, though we have yet to work with them, as I said they are great people and will probably do a great job for your wedding. Finally if you want to step away from the traditional cake and do something a little different, cup cakes are really becoming popular for weddings. Cake Fetish does a crazy job with cup cakes. If I can sneak away with a couple of their cupcakes after a wedding I am very content. I'll take it home pour a glass of milk and download the images from the wedding. (I should really go on a diet!!)

Live Music: I have two groups I recommend. They are both great and completely different from the other. The first is Los Primos they are a group of younger guys doing traditional Spanish music. and a few Beatles tracks mixed out old Mexico style. The second is crazy. The name is vanilla pop. And if you want to pimp out the wedding lounge style. look them up they are really um, well, you need to see 'em.

Photographers: I recommend Jones After that its a real crap shoot... not really, there are some great folks in the area who do a great job. Be very careful though and interview each one. Don't just sign a contract because you are given a good deal. of all the fields who cater to weddings photography is changing the most. There are so many that come and go and so many friends and uncles with camera that you need to be careful. Find someone who has work that you love and interview with them to make sure your personalities match up. If your photographer doesn't know you or understand you, the images will reflect that. There is a difference in having someone "take pictures" at your wedding and having someone there to capture the essence of that day for you.
After the food is gone, cake enjoyed, flowers wilted, officiant forgotten, and decorations tossed, you are left with three things, the dress (boxed in the attic) the vows (kept 50% of the time) and then the photographs. You can spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on a big blowout wedding, and then trust the memories of that wedding to a photographer making $20.00 an hour. (CRAZY) Make an investment into the legacy of your family. Find someone who will not only give you a beautiful way to remember your wedding, but also provide you with a real experience. I could go on.....

Anyway Please leave you comments on these vendors or suggest any others that I may have missed.
thanks!!

When Pak and Mike were at the airport a couple of years ago, coming and going about there own lives little did they know they would run into the person that they would spend the rest of their lives with. It was that chance meeting in the airport that brought them to this day.
Pak was escorted down the isle by her Mom and Uncle, to her awaiting awaiting husband who stood there keeping the tears back. A few tears inevitably fell and as the as the minister stated, Pak was there to dry them. A sand ceremony symbolized the blending of two lives, two cultures, two histories, into one.
After a wonderful dinner the party got started with a tequila shot toast. In place of the traditional wedding cake, Pak and Mike shared cupcakes with each other and the guests made a mad dash for the rest of the cupcakes. (that was the quickest I've ever seen the cupcakes gone).
Kids were on hand at the toast as well with a shot of apple cider and a lemon slice.
Their first dance was a surprised dance they had learned just for the wedding. They were even running through the steps again in private before dinner. As nervous as they may have been for the dance it came off beautifully.
It was truly a great celebration. Hotel ABQ provided a great location, Mille Fleur provided the flower, and Savior Faire events provided the coordination. Everyone and everything came together for a wonderful evening.

Wedding Packages

We have been having issues with couples not receiving the emails with our two wedding coverage options on it. I am posting them here so that they can be easily retrieved. When looking at these coverage options keep in mind that they are fully customizable. Will also be offering for the 2008 season, an hourly rate for weekday wedding. There is a minimum of 4 hours, but it is a nice option for those who may be on a more condensed budget yet still want something special for their wedding images. We will keep you posted on the details of that.
Anyway the first link is to our intimate wedding coverage . This coverage option is for the more intimate weddings. It is designed to give the essentials to our couples who are planning a more simple affair.
Our main coverage option is the Jones Wedding coverage. This option is our standard, complete wedding coverage. It has most everything a discerning couple would need to really document the first few hours as a new family.
Again, these are customizable and can be designed to fit the needs of your wedding.
please call us with any questions regarding either of these options or our availability.
To download the links to your computer to print, right mouse click on link and click "save link as".

The destination wedding trend

Every year more and more brides ask us to travel with them to a destination wedding. The desire for this, according to The Conde Nast Bridal Group, has seen a 400% increase in the last 15 years. With a national average wedding budget climbing to over $27,000.00, couples are starting to hold back a bit and keep the party to the closest friends and family and making it a real party to remember. From the Mayan Riviera, to a villa in the mountains there are numerous destination sites that fit the need and the budget of every bride.
Santa Fe is a very popular location for destination weddings for couples from all over the country. We have photographed couples from NY, PA, IL, FL, all coming here to get married. Couples from here are going places like Florida, NY, the Caribbean, Las Vegas, Hawaii, and Europe. Generally for a destination wedding the cost of travel is the responsibility of the guests.
If you are concerned about the wedding budget or the guest list getting out of hand. Or if you are just wanting something different, something that everyone will remember, consider a destination wedding. Even having local vendors travel with you to the wedding is not much more, many do it for the cost of travel alone.
Our destination couples are asked to pay for air, hotel, and car. The only requests are that the car be an standard or above and that the hotel be a 4 star or above. There are two reasons for this. First and formost is the security of our equipment. Generally 4 star hotels are in a location with less crime and we are less worried about something happening to our equipment. Secondly is our comfort. Generally on destination weddings we are working for up two three days and can get very exhausted. We need to have a place that we are able to completely relax in. We need this in order to be at our best when we are working with you and your family.
Our couples have the choice of adding us to their current travel arrangements or letting us book our own arrangements and then billing them. We are pretty easy as far as that goes.
If you are considering a location for this next year and you would like to talk with us about some options. just give us a call and we can have you come down to the studio!!

Tradition

Tevia fought with something throughout the great musical "Fiddler on the Roof"- TRADITION. The wedding of Adam and Sarah was wrought with tradition and there was no struggle with it at all. From the full mass with Mariachi and the Lasso ceremony, to the reception with bizcochitos and La Marcha it was a true embrace of tradition. Though New Mexico is a culturally diverse state, It has such strong Hispanic traditions that have endured centuries and are still a part of our current culture. With so many reality shows on TV about crazy weddings and overly extravagant weddings, it is a comfort to see that there are still couples like the Arrossa Family who embrace their culture, its history, and use that in there lives to carry on the legacy of their family.
This last weekend we had a great opportunity to be apart of the joining of these two families to create one beautiful little family. Sarah and Adam were married at St Joseph's on the Rio Grande Parish in ABQ, NM.
It was an early ceremony, Desiree met Sarah At 8:30am to photograph her and her girls getting ready. The beautiful full mass ceremony was performed at 10:00and accompanied by mariachi.
The lasso ceremony and then communion ended the ceremony and the mariachi escorted the guest from the church.
The reception was later that evening at the Double Tree hotel. And, as often happens, there were a few hangups. Overall , however, the reception went off very well and everyone had a great time. Even after the lights came on and at 12:30 am when we left, the party kept going.
We had a great time with Sarah and Adam.

Cory found his Faith

It was at a wedding a few years ago that Cory and Faith met. Now in the old southwestern beauty of the Galisteo Inn, they are again together at another wedding. This one however is a wedding all their own. Cory and faith had all but a few of their closest friends and family with them for this intimate celebration.
The couple of hours before the wedding went well for Cory and the guys. While moms were taking care of last minute concerns and faith and her girls were trying to get ready in a room with NO A/C, the guys were putting the pool to it's full use. After a good hour or so of swimming, they got ready for the wedding in their small southwestern style, air conditioned room.
Meanwhile, back in the very warm room, faith and the girls were fighting back sweat and humidity to keep faiths hair and makeup, just perfect. All the effort worked, as faith walked out to the ceremony grounds and was the epitome of beauty.
The ceremony lasted just a short time and was a very personal ceremony, performed by a great friend. After the ceremony, we had a chance to walk around on the beautiful grounds of the inn and photograph Cory and Faith spending a their first few minutes alone together as husband and wife.
The dinner and rest of the reception went off without a problem. Aside from fighting with a few sets of twinkle lights who did not want to cooperate, everything was beautiful. We are very glad to be able to be a part of this wedding. Faith and Cory are to great people and it was a real privilege to work with them. Enjoy Cancun you two!!

A beautiful Friday Wedding

While being deployed in Iraq Travis was not able to help much as Jacqie and her mom planned an amazing wedding. He only returned a few weeks prior to the wedding and minus a few toenails was in great shape for their day.
Jacqie also suffered a foot injury, being smashed in a door the night before the wedding. Though her foot was swollen Jacqie was able to tough it out and enjoy a great wedding.
We started the Friday wedding at 1:00 with Desiree meeting Jacqie in the presidential suite at the Hyatt in downtown ABQ. Once again Desiree's secret survival kit came in handy, being able to sew up a bridesmaid's dress.
While Desiree was photographing Jacqie, keeping her company and running errands, I was off to Corrales to meet with and photograph Travis and the guys.
Jacqie looked beautiful stepping out of the limo into the rose garden at the botanical garden. The ceremony was short and sweet and happened without any problem.
The reception at the Hyatt was amazing. They did a great job with the decorating, serving, and just creating a great atmosphere for the reception. Mille Fleur provided amazing flowers and Karen with Celebrations Coordinated the wedding and did a great job keeping everything together. It was a beautiful wedding and we had a great time shooting it. all 12 hours!

more images from Jacqie and Travis' Wedding

A few more?!

ol' skool

Bored with some of the slow progress of digital photography in our area. We've taken a retro approach to some of our recent wedding images. Photographers can often get stuck in the same ol' same ol' being content with knocking out the same cookie cutter images. Though they may be perfectly enjoyable images. They get old, seeing the same image with the people, being the only difference. I have been guilty of that on occasion.
Anyway, in trying to step out of the box, I went back into the box and looked at some really old wedding images and portraits a-la "American Gothic".
This is our interpretation of the old school image with a digital approach.
enjoy!

The Lucky Couple 7,7,07

Dianna and Paul chose the century's luckiest day to be married. After an intimate ceremony and a small cake reception the, the entire wedding took a cruise through the quiet northern New Mexico town of Espanola. (unfortunately no lowriders were in the party).
Following that, the rest of the afternoon was spent riding golf carts around the beautiful Black Mesa golf course, taking pictures. We had a great time driving from beautiful spot to beautiful spot - just playin' around. Everyone was relaxed and having a great time, no schedule to keep on top of, no guests to make sure to say hi to, just the bridal party enjoying the afternoon together. The best man was having such a great time he asked if Dianna And Paul could get married again tomorrow. We also enjoyed our time photographing this very lucky couple, lucky to have been married on the day they did, lucky to have such great friends surounding them, lucky that the golf course let us free reign, and of course lucky to have Desiree and I there to capture every moment of it. Congratulations you two!
The images are online click here.

To desire a destination

We have been doing a lot of destination weddings and still no one is going to Italy!! What's wrong with Italy? Is it the natural romance that wisps though the countryside like a cool morning mist? Is it the beauty of the language that seduces the soul in it's eloquence? Is it the food, do I need to say anything about the food? Maybe it's the beautiful old buildings that would play host to the most unimaginably elegant wedding. Is it the history, the landscape, the weather, the fact that you could wed and have your honeymoon in the same place? Whatever the reason, we have yet to be contacted to shoot an Italian wedding.
If you are, or know of someone, planning an Italian wedding. We would be glad to photograph it. In fact it would be our absolute pleasure. In fact, I would probably even work out custom package just for your wedding that includes all travel expenses. In fact, well enough facts. We would love to shoot a wedding in Italy. Let us know!!....The above image was photographed at Casa Rondena, about the closest to Tuscany you can get to in NM.

The end of the night

There are moments in our life that we wish would last forever. And more moments that we wished we could forget. Most weddings have ups and downs and there are always little bumps that get in the way and keep the road from being smooth. It's those bumps that, though irritating and sometimes rattle us to a point of apparent exhaustion, strengthen us and make us more grateful for the smooth times in life.
Brian and Amanda had a beautiful wedding. A beautiful ceremony, wonderful friends to celebrate with and 8 amazing cakes from flying star (of which I had not a bite, dang it.) Amanda was the epitome of grace and beauty in her dress, Brian, well he looked ok too. As great of a party as they had and as amazing a union as they created today, there were a few bumps. Fortunately, they were surrounded with people who had great senses of humor and a great love for them. These are the things we will remember decades from now when we tell stories of our wedding day.
Yes there are things that everyday will come up and make us wish we had stayed in bed, but when we do get up and make the best of the time we have, we are still able to come home again and look into the eyes of our best friend and know that everything is as right as rain.
We had a blast being part of this wedding. Brian and Amanda have cultivated a group of people that anyone would be proud to call friends. It was a real joy to be able to spend the day with them.