It’s official – we’re finally in the 20s again! Although, we have to say, they look a little different these days. That doesn’t mean that the decade won’t consist of flapper dresses, Art Deco, glam, and good music, though. Couples all over are planning their weddings for this year and the years to come, and we know the one thing they’ve been most excited about is the chance to play a little dress up.
via GIPHY
“A little party never killed nobody” – so let’s get planning! We’ll walk you through our favorite trends and give you a little inspo along the way from the gorgeous styled shoot by Black Bow Events. Here are our top tips for planning a modern 20s wedding:
1. Create the perfect mix of textures, colors, and patterns.
Lavel Marie Photography
Adding elements of modern styles, like this trending pastel pink, with textures and patterns from the 20s will give you the perfect blend of new and old. Your guests will feel less like they’re at a costume party and more like they’ve transported in time without leaving the comfort of their modern lives!
2. Choose 20s themed hairstyles + attire paired with modern accessories.
Lavel Marie Photography
We’re obsessed with classic hairstyles from the 20s, and we know that a local beauty expert is dying to get you all glammed up. To tame your roaring 20s look, pair it with modern accessories + styles, like acrylic nails or minimal or modern jewelry. For the guys – try wearing some sneakers to create a more casual look.
3. Gold + silver themed everything.
Lavel Marie Photography
We’re not kidding when we say “glam it up”. The more shiny the better! Gold and silver are the perfect pair for any 20s themed party – try mixing it with classic elements of your wedding like florals or tableware for modern chic vibes.
4. Choose a venue with history behind it.
Lavel Marie Photography
The venue is what makes every aspect of your wedding come together and creates the mood for your whole event. When it comes to a decades themed wedding, it’s essential that the venue has some elements of the 20s – whether it is in the architectural design or the history of the place itself.
5. Make it feel warm and intimate.
Lavel Marie Photography
It is the celebration of your love, after all. Remind your guests of why they are there – to celebrate the union of two unique and beautiful people. Pull the reigns on the party by bringing in some elements of warmth and romance, like candles, pillows, and subtle colors.
If you need help planning your wedding, sign up for a free planning coaching session here!
We can’t wait to see what you create, so be sure to submit your 20s themed wedding for us to see and showcase with the rest of the wedding community. If you’re dying to see the rest of this gorgeous styled shoot, you can check it out below:
Concept, Design + Coordination:Black Bow EventsSecond Coordinator:D Events & WeddingsPhotographer: Lavel Marie Photography Floral Design + Arch: The Flower Company Venue: Hotel Parq Central Cake: Cake Fetish Table + Candlesticks: My Beloved Vintage Rentals Hair +Makeup Artists: The Honeycomb Beauty Studio + Beauty Therapy by KimBridal Gowns + Headpieces:Bridal Elegance by DarleneJewelry: Ooh! Aah! JewelryInvitations: The Wild Rose Creative Groom’s Attire: Mr. Tux Formalwear Videography: Zelda Deeds
It’s been awhile since we have given you a little behind-the-scenes, and now that we have transitioned into Wedding Collective, we found it only fitting to introduce ourselves.
We’re the ladies behind the scenes helping our New Mexico wedding community foster connections, dream big, and create the best weddings yet. As a team, we work in a charming little space nestled in the North Valley where we feel right at home – at least we should since it is quite literally a house. If you’ve ever dropped by for a meeting or just to say hello, you know that we’re not kidding when we say “unconventional office space”!
To give you a better idea of what each of us do here at Wedding Collective, we’ve written a bit about ourselves. We hope you enjoy getting to know us + our individually quirky personalities. Brace yourselves – we’re actually really cool.
Meet Shauna
Founder, CEO, Fearless Leader
Carissa + Ben Photography
Hello, Shauna Pointer here! I am the founder and CEO of Wedding Collective New Mexico, formerly Perfect Wedding Guide. When I am not in the office, I am spending time with my adorable family going on adventures or playing board games.
I chose “CHALLENGE” as my word for 2020 because I want to challenge myself to learn new things; challenge myself to embrace unending change with courage; challenge our status quo as a company; challenge our team members to push themselves to achieve great things, and challenge the wedding community to love more, love harder, and never give up.
Traveling with my family is my absolute favorite thing to do, because of all of the unique experiences we have together along the way – like sleigh rides!
Meet Jenna
Creative Director, Crafty Queen, Dog-Lover
Carissa + Ben Photography
Hey guys Jenna here, Wedding Collective’s Creative Director! At the start of the year, each of our team members chose a challenge or focus word for the year. My word is “CONFIDENCE”. When asked at the beginning of 2020 what word we would choose for ourselves, my hand was the first to shoot up (sounds confident already, haha). I knew that my word had to be confidence. It’s something I need to work on both personally and professionally.
Words of affirmation is not my love language so I’ve discovered my confidence can’t come from others telling me I did a good job or complimenting my work. That just makes me blush lol I know I have all the confidence I need but in those tough moments I need to remind myself of that. We all know our minds battle against us sometimes though, who’s with me?
So this year, its all about the little victories for me. Stepping out of my comfort zone and really pushing myself so I can feel those “I’ve got this” moments. It will help me be a better co-worker, leader, friend, wife, believer, and resource for our friendors. Let’s do this 2020!
At the beginning of the year, each of our team members chose a challenge or focus word for the year. I chose “BALANCE“. I want my focus in 2020 to be on creating a balance in my life+work, a balanced (+engaging) experience for our followers in terms of content, and a balanced following of creatives, entrepreneurs, engaged couples, and all the movers+shakers+doers.
The hardest challenge for me will be the life+work balance. I think it can be SO easy to lose track of yourself within your work. There is always one more email, one more project, one more issue to fix, and the list goes on and on and on. I get so busy with being busy that I forget the importance of balance.
Only if you are able to strike a balance between all the significant facets of life, will you have the courage to go ahead and chase bigger goals. In order to provide the best balanced experience for our followers (plus the balance that my family needs), I also need to focus on my own balance. So the next time you get an email from me past “normal business hours”, remind me about balance.
Meet Imyraly
Client Experience Guru, Proposal-Planner, Country Girl
“Be fearless in pursuit of what sets your soul on fire.”
-Jennifer Lee
Carissa + Ben Photography
Sarah Lotus Photography
Hi, lovelies! Imyraly Garcia, Wedding Collective‘s Client Experience Guru here. Formerly Imyraly Corral, Office Assistant. My last name has since changed because I recently got married to my sweetheart, yay! My job title has also changed. This year is all about out with the old, in with the new! LOL.
When I was first asked what my word for the year is, I said, “determined” because this year I am determined more than ever to pursue my passion and everything I always wanted to do but never did, out of fear of what others would say and the overarching fear of failure. That’s when I quickly realized that my word for the year should reflect me stepping out of fear and being, “FEARLESS“!
This year I started my very own proposal planning business called Marry Me Sweetly and I dove into the acting world. Although I have a daily mind battle of whether I am cut out for the business or the acting world, going after my dreams has never felt more right.
The best part of 2020 was marrying the love of life! We had a How I Met Your Mother themed ceremony, hence the yellow umbrella, because we are the real-life Lily and Marshall. At least we’d like to think so.
Meet Alissia
Brand Ambassador, Social Butterfly, Thai-Food-Lover
Carissa + Ben Photography
Hi, friends! It’s ya girl Alissia here, Wedding Collective’s Brand Ambassador! You’ve probably seen my face on our stories, or around town dropping off guides.
Our team chose a word for the year and my word is intent. For 2020, I want to focus on living my life with “INTENT“, and hopefully make a habit of doing so. I want to be able to take control of my life, and not let it control me. This means being mindful of how I spend my time (and with whom I spend it, because that MATTERS, my friends).
I tend to always be looking toward the future (big time dreamer over here, people), and if I am living with more intention, I can truly live in the moment and appreciate the journey instead of trying to reach the destination. So, this year I am trying to slow down and appreciate everything that life has to offer—good or bad. And honestly, I’ve realized that not every “bad” situation actually has to be bad. It just depends on how you let it impact you.
Meet Kayleigh
Content Writer, Storyteller, Snack-Lover
“You don’t just wake up and become the butterfly. Growth is a process.”
– Rupi Kaur
Carissa + Ben Photography
Hi lovelies! I’m Kayleigh, the Content Writer for Wedding Collective. I chose the word “GROWTH” because, first of all, I am the newest addition to the team, so I hope to grow a lot in my experience writing all about the wedding community! I also have a goal to make this year my most transformational yet, for myself, my passions and my health.
Growing and learning go hand in hand, and I strive to always be learning. I get so busy thinking about the future and what it holds that I forget to live in the moment and remind myself that I will grow into whoever and wherever I am meant to be. I can’t wait to take on the rest of 2020 with the growing wedding community!
I chose a recent photo of me with my family at my college graduation because it was a huge step in my growing process and I couldn’t have done it without my support system. #AdultLife here I come!
Wedding Collective is more than just a magazine, we’re a community, and because of this, we spend everyday showcasing New Mexico infused content to inspire. Whether this means creating blog posts to showcase local vendors, or hosting wedding shows for engaged couples, we’re here to help you!
With 2020 approaching and new wedding trends making their way into the spotlight, we are seeing a shift in traditions. More and more couples are choosing to find unconventional wedding venues, from coffee shops to their own backyards, and we dig it. The possibilities are truly endless! However, there are some wedding traditions that never seem to change, one of them being a fan favorite–wedding flowers.
Your wedding day is getting nearer and nearer and we get it, everything seems to be hitting you all at once. We’re here to help ease that tension and make wedding planning an enjoyable experience. When it comes to floral arrangements, planning is really easy. There are so many options for wedding flowers out there and sometimes it can be a little overwhelming–but it is actually a blessing in disguise. The Perfect Wedding Guide team has spent years working with the best florists in New Mexico, and in doing so, we’ve learned a lot of insider secrets to help out our local couples. Whether you are looking for a environmentally friendly option for your wedding day, or want to design your wedding venue to look like a floral wonderland, our local wedding florists can do it all.
We thought that we would give you a little guide to finding the right flower options for your wedding, because we are your guide to a perfect wedding after all. Plus, we have included some of our favorite local vendors for your convenience. Who knows, maybe today is the day that you book your new floral bestie!
Getting started + planning it all out
The first step in booking a florist is taking into consideration your color palette, the season, and the flower type. Here are some tips:
Colors | Think about your accessories and your bridesmaids! Are they wearing pastels? Or is it more of a moody wedding with maroons and navy blues? Choose colors that compliment your wardrobe and the decor, or choose colors that are complete opposite to create contrast. Be bold and have fun with this part!
Season | There are some flowers that are only available seasonally, so you want to make sure that the flowers you have your eye on are going to work with your wedding date. It is possible, though, to find a flower out of season, it might take a little more effort as a result. We want to help you make picking out your flowers as smooth as possible, so we suggest you take into consideration all of the options available to you ahead of time. Choose colors that compliment the season, from springtime pinks to winter blues.
Lovely pastel + succulent arrangement for the warmer seasons. Bouquet by Albuquerque Florist || Lauren Cherie PhotographyA stunning bouquet with a focus on seasonal sunflowers. Bouquet by Estella Floral Design || via Estella Floral DesignThe most charming holiday floral arrangement with an ornament. Arrangement by Bosque Flower Studio || via Bosque Flower Studio
Flower Type | We have a quite a few options now when it comes to preserving wedding day flowers. Everyone loves a good living flower that smells fresh and can be pressed and saved for years to come, but there is another option that we have been loving lately–silk flowers. We get to see plenty of real and artificial flowers in the wedding business and we’re gonna tell you a secret… we can’t tell the difference most of the time. They are all SO lovely.
• They are the experts. They have years of experience in this business and know just exactly what flowers compliment other flowers and embellishments. The styling and arranging is like second nature to these wedding professionals! When the big day comes, you don’t have to worry about anything going wrong because you chose someone who was dedicated specifically to making your perfect arrangements happen.
• You can relax. All of the “doing” and “making” is done by the pros, so you get to focus on the other details of your wedding. Although it might be fun to gather up your gal and guy pals and create an assembly line of matching, cutting, and trimming, it’s not for everyone. Take some time for yourself and let a dedicated florist do what they do best. You won’t regret it!
• You can be silly and make your wildest dreams come true. Like we said earlier, anything is possible. We mean it! The best thing about hiring a florist is that they are there to help you develop and carry out your vision–even if it means creating flower crowns for you, your bridesmaids, AND your furry friend.
Here at Perfect Wedding Guide, the end of the year means planning, preparing, and jumping for joy because we get to learn about all of the upcoming trends for next year! We would by lying if we told you that we aren’t a little sad to see 2019 go, though. This year was definitely one for the books, filled with the most beautiful weddings and exciting wedding shows & events. We loved hearing all of your perfect wedding stories and having the honor of sharing them with other brides and grooms that are looking for some inspiration.
As our pinky promise to you, we will continue to provide you with the most current and trendy tips and inspiration each and every year because we think you’re the best. We are so eager to share what is in store for next year that we are going to give you some insider knowledge right now that the Perfect Wedding Guide team picked up at this year’s Wedding MBA Conference in Las Vegas. Yesterday we hosted our annual Wedding MBA Recap Breakfast at The Event Center at Sandia Golf Club and got to hear some notable takeaways from our fellow local wedding professionals that also attended the conference.
We thought that we would have a little fun with this one and look back at some of the decade’s biggest wedding trends while introducing the future forecast for wedding trends in 2020.
“The universe is random. It’s not inevitable. It’s simple chaos.”
– Walter White
Talk about chemistry, right? If you’ve been keeping up with us here at Wedding Collective, you know that we live for styled shoots and anything that showcases our home state. This Breaking Bad inspired shoot took things to a whole new level. We. Are. Obsessed. From a beautifully designed wardrobe to the lovely decor, our vendors have the formula to create the most amazing weddings– it’s just science.
Bridal Elegance by Darlene never fails to make wedding day dreams come true for any bride looking for a wedding gown– and ladies, we are absolutely saying ‘yes’ to this dress right now. For this specially styled shoot, a stunning mermaid gown with lace embellishments created the most breathtaking marriage between elegance and drama. After all, the shoot was based on one of the most dramatic and powerful shows in the history of television.
Being in thewedding industry, we know that it is all in the details. Darling Clementine’s creations are the highlight of the tablescapes, bringing the beloved story to life like we’ve never seen it before. The charming drink menu illustrations and the invitations cannot be recreated, and that is why we adore them so much. Darling Clementine Art & Illustration produces one-of-a-kind work that is completely perfect for the couple who is looking to make a lasting impression.
Jasper K Photography took these amazing photos that bring the vision to life– but tread lightly, they might just blow your mind.
Sometimes being surrounded by so many incredible people is overwhelming, but trust me, we’re not complaining! We work with so many phenomenal vendors every single day – we wish that we could reach out and hug everyone and tell them just how much we value both their friendship and their partnership with Perfect Wedding Guide New Mexico.
Since it would most likely take an eternity to show everyone just how much we appreciate them, we decided it would be best to plan one special themed evening every year that is dedicated entirely to our lovely vendors full of food, drinks, music and dress-up! We call this our Vendor Appreciation Night, and you can read all about last year’s Bollywood-themed event here.
The team at the 2018 Vendor Appreciation Night by Tori Photography
In order to make the event even more exciting, which is hard to do considering how much fun it is already, we like to recognize a particular group of wedding vendors that are making a noticeable impact in the lives of brides and grooms in New Mexico. We call this the Perfect Wedding Guide New Mexico“Elite Awards” – where hundreds of locals vote for their favorite wedding professionals in over 20 different categories. Check out last year’s winners here!
We are eager to hear your praise for the hard-working and beyond talented vendors that you’ve connected with. Want to vote? Keep reading below!
And voila! Your vote has been submitted! Now all you have to do is repeat these steps for all of your favorite wedding professionals – we want to hear about everyone who made your day the best.
Do you want to have some fun under the sea AND spend an evening with New Mexico’s most beloved wedding professionals?
Hangout with us at “The Siren’s Soiree and the Sailors Too” on September 18th, 2019 at the ABQ BioPark Aquarium from 6-9pm. Dress to impress in your deep sea best, and follow the siren’s song down to the water’s edge. The evening will be filled with cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, dancing and the announcement of the 2019 Elite Award Winners! We can’t wait to see you there.
When it comes to planning a wedding in New Mexico, we think its safe to say that we might be getting pretty close to expert status. After all, we have been connecting engaged couples with the local wedding professionals who serve them for over 10 years! But even with a decade of living vicariously through wedding parties and planners, shows and stories doesn’t compare to the actual nitty gritty of planning a wedding as an engaged couple.
So we, Perfect Wedding Guide, look to the bonafide experts of wedding planning — New Mexico’s very own residents — for advice, adjustments to our approaches, and affirmations. DIY or otherwise, we invited several couples in the midst of planning their wedding in the Albuquerque + Santa Fe area to come and enjoy some delicious treats (courtesy of the Street Food Institute!) while revealing one of the industry’s most pondered questions: what’s it like to plan a wedding in New Mexico?
What followed was a no-holding-back, anything-goes, super honest conversation that revealed more about the wedding industry and our local community than any number of sideline observations could have. Which is why we’re such big proponents of genuinely engaging with our community, instead of staying behind our computer screens making cold calls and creating content.
Because there’s a lot you can learn simply by listening to the people around you.
Of course, it wouldn’t be in PWG style to not share all we took away from our fabulous eat + dish group session with local engaged couples here, with you. So whether you’re a wedding professional looking to answer the needs of local couples, or a local couple yourself — scroll on, lover of love, and hear what your peers have to say about the New Mexico wedding community.
1. Digital Planning
We’re sure you’re aware of this by now, but in case you aren’t: the internet has taken over the wedding planning process. We were stunned, and delighted of course, to hear that one of the more streamlined aspects of wedding planning was the online tools, like budget calculators and wedding websites.
The digital takeover, while inevitable, is also great for introverts, busy-bees, and business owners who might not have time to meet with every single vendor or every single couple. By putting reviews, high-quality photos of past work, and clear details on prices and packages, both the business and the couple get to pre-qualify each other before ever speaking.
(And yes, those three things are exactly what couples are looking for when vendor hunting. One couple even decided against booking one of New Mexico’s best wedding DJs, simply because there were no reviews for this company online, despite a stellar word-of-mouth reputation.)
As important as your website is, our couples stated that their preferred way to reach out to businesses and vendors is via social media — and we don’t blame them. Don’t worry shy brides and grooms, the age of phone calling is on its way out the door!
2. In-Person Planning
We’ve already gone into some depth on why wedding shows are important for brides and businesses alike, but having that reaffirmed by actual engaged couples? Well, now, it doesn’t get much sweeter.
What New Mexico engaged couples appreciate about Perfect Wedding Guide shows here is the organization. You can meet and connect with officiants, DJs, bakers, florists, and pretty much every other service you need to book all in one place.
According to our couples they’re pretty fun, too, what with the giveaways and games and drinks and fashion shows and such.
So, yes, dear internet, we won’t be getting rid of you any time soon. But for when you need to look someone in the eye before handing over hundreds of dollars, wedding shows are the place to go.
On the radar for future events per these couples’ requests: a groom’s night out, perhaps?
3. Physical Planning
Yes we’re aware that we started this round-up of takeaways praising the internet, and then proceeded to list all the alternatives to planning your wedding solely on the internet. It’s a nuanced thing, wedding planning!
Because, as magnificent as it is to be able to compare vendors price points and aesthetics from the comfort of your bathtub, the rapid evolution of the webscape has lead to quite a bit of digital clutter. How do we counteract this?
This collection of couples favored the PWG magazine for a couple reasons: it’s purse-sized, it’s tangible, and it’s local to our beautiful state. Oh, and that it’s free.
What they want more of (AKA, what you’re likely to see hitting the streets soon): more tips, tricks, and industry secrets, projected trends of wedding colors and aesthetics, and sample templates for toasts, vows, and speeches.
So, if we’re being honest with ourselves, most people in New Mexico know Perfect Wedding Guide for our wedding shows. Which makes sense, considering how many hundreds of engaged couples and local wedding professionals come together to make shows like the Diamond Dash, Bride’s Night Out, and the Wedding Gallery possible. We’re not really complaining, promise, but we actually have a lot of love and appreciation from some of our smaller events, like the Bridal Board + Vendor Mixer!
The 2019 edition of the Bridal Board + Vendor Mixer flew past us just this last week. (Of course months of planning, collaborating, and designing goes by in a dizzying but beautiful flash!) All we want to talk about is all the amazing nuggets of knowledge we learned, but wait…
What even is the Bridal Board + Vendor Mixer?!
Great question, reader! This particular event was conceptualized to fill the gap between local engaged couples and the wedding professionals who serve them. (Sound familiar?) Essentially, the Bridal Board + Vendor Mixer is oriented like a research or focus group. We invite around 10 engaged or recently married couples from the local community to come share their insights, triumphs, complaints, compliments, woes, worries, and wonders about the wedding planning process in New Mexico.
Then, with bellies full of a complementary, gourmet dinner, the wedding professionals from all over New Mexico take note, adjust their practices, ask questions, and, hopefully, grow! It’s one of the few opportunities you have in any business-client relationship to truly hear and communicate with one another. It’s how we’re able to keep the eclectic New Mexico wedding market moving and evolving in the right direction.
Ready to learn what the engaged couples who have come before you have to say about the wedding planning process in New Mexico? Let’s jump in with our 3 main takeaways.
1. Inclusivity is Key.
Another word for inclusivity here could be clarity. When we asked the couples, “What is the most important quality you are looking for when hiring a wedding professional?” the conclusion was the same across the board. Couples look for those who exude kindness and personality, and vendors who actually listen to their vision without imposing their own ideas on the couple.
When we asked the couples what the vendors they choose did to earn their business, what we heard reaffirmed these values. They appreciated (and went on to book) the professionals who didn’t exclusively brag about themselves, whose websites were clear and communicative, and whose work accurately represented the couples they want to work with.
For example, if a wedding professional exclusively promotes straight couples on their website and social media channels, the chances of reaching LGBTQ couples are pretty much nil.
To sum: be clear, be kind, be inclusive, and listen well.
2. Stick to Email, Folks.
Yes, the digital world is ever changing, and it’s so tempting to make texting your main form of communication. (You can do it from bed, from the gym, from the couch with Netflix playing in front of you, so we totally get it.)
But, because lots of couples create a specific email address for wedding planning, keeping all communications in one place is best. There’s higher visibility of conversations in email as well, so accountability comes much easier.
Also, hate is a strong word, but our couples felt strongly about this: they hate phone calls. Like, really and truly. Most couples are at work during a business’s hours of operations, or they’re at home with their partners and families.
Remember: stick to email.
3. Yes, Social Media is Still Important.
Your website should still be the home of your business, but social media is where the vast majority of couples look for wedding inspiration. The two top contenders, which you might be able to guess already, are Instagram and Pinterest.
Instagram is a great platform to utilize, according to the local couples, because it’s easy to return to feed posts for references — though they love seeing stories, especially of behind-the-scenes previews for styled shoots and weddings. Pinterest is beneficial for businesses as well because it’s so visually-oriented. Then, there’s always the concept of pinfinity, too!
(Pinfinity = the fact your pins continue to be recirculated by pinners long after you post them, whereas Instagram posts are usually only seen within the first 48 hours of posting.)
Here’s your excuse to log on, friends, and show the world what you’re working with.
A very special thank you to all the incredible local businesses who made this awesome, collaborative event possible: Embassy Suites, for generously hosting us and feeding all our guests a marvelous meal; De Novo Pastoral Services for being our informed and entertaining emcee; Beth Waldron Photography for capturing all the fun above; Estella Floral Design for our darling centerpieces; Funky Olive Designs for our pretty little invitations; Cello for Weddings for serenading all our guests with delightful live cello music; and Black Swan Events, for transforming the ballroom into a conducive, inspiring space.
Was it Winston Churchill who said, “We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give,” so many years ago? We’re sure it was, and we’re even more sure that he’s still absolutely right. Giving back to the community who supports our dreams has been and will always be the fuel and fire that keeps us doing what we do. (Which is fostering connections between engaged couples and the local wedding community, in case you forgot.)
At first glance, the 12 Months of Giveaways is a totally free, totally local giveaway opportunity for engaged couples in New Mexico to win prizes from wedding businesses, valued at over $300, that happens every single month. (Yep, all twelve of ’em.) Digging a little deeper though, the 12 Months of Giveaways is also reminder for us to pause, reflect, and send some gratitude out into the world around us. This way, we have fun little monthly reminders to continue building the life we want to live.
This March, the contest resets for the year, and we have a fresh new batch of twelve incredible prizes for engaged couples to choose from! We’re lucky enough to also have twelve different wedding professionals providing their lovingly-crafted products and fine-tuned talents for the prizes, so every winner gets to choose the absolute best gift for their wedding.
So, without further adieu, let us give everyone a first look into the 2019 prize list! (And click here to enter the giveaway for yourself!)
3. Complimentary three tier buttercream wedding cake with delivery in town serving 74 guests – valued at $325, courtesy of The Cake Boutique.
4. Two for “Head to Toe Couples Package” includes a 90 minute couple’s treatment with Shea Butter wrap, scalp massage, and EcoFin for hands or feet. All day access to hot tub, sauna and relaxation lounge – valued at $330, courtesy of The Remedy Day Spa.
5. Complimentary mini engagement session and mini boudoir session – valued at $500, courtesy of Lauren Cherie Photography.
6. Complimentary two hour mirror photo booth package – valued at $700, courtesy of Magic Mirror.
7. Complimentary boudoir photo session and 6×6 photo book – valued at $320, courtesy of Creative Portraits by Dolores.
8. “Bride To Be Package” includes an essential manicure, pedicure, signature body polish and facial. Totaling 4 1⁄2 hours of services – valued at $350 from Isleta Spa, courtesy of Isleta Resort & Casino.
9. Complimentary three tier classic wedding cake serving approximately 75 guests – valued at $300, courtesy of Smallcakes A Cupcakery.
10. Complimentary hair, makeup, and false lash services for the bride and one bridesmaid – valued at $300, courtesy of Bombshell Hair and Makeup.
12. “The Lovers Delight Package” includes a private introductory couple’s horse lesson and photography session with the horses – valued at $300, courtesy of ABQ Horse Breaking + Training LLC.
It’s true! We do hereby declare, with as much authority we can muster as a national wedding magazine, that Perfect Wedding Guide’s Wed Box is the cutest wedding subscription box in the world. And yes, the adorability scale is wildly subjective and dependent on each engaged couple’s personal taste, but that’s alright.
Even if you, personally, don’t think the Wed Box is adorable, we can all at least agree that it’s an efficient money-saver, a helpful wedding planning tool, and perfectly tailored to our local, Albuquerque + Santa Fe engaged couples.
(Not going to lie though, we do work very hard to make it cute, too.)
But enough of the fluff — let’s get down to the ins and outs of the Wed Box. (Specifically the ins.) Nestled inside the craft box is a curated collection of coupons, gift cards, giveaways, and gifts all exclusively from local wedding professionals here in New Mexico. Sweet treats, cute and comfy tees, and substantial discounts on wedding services have been known to grace the box in years past, but everything, every year is brand-spanking new.
Unlike other subscription boxes, too, the Wed Box only comes around once a year, when the Spring/Summer edition of our print magazine is set to hit the streets. With a look at upcoming 2019/2020 shows, new and veteran vendors, and local inspiration, you’ll be one of the very first lucky-loos to grab ticket codes and other perks hidden within its pages.
We’re very proud to be deeply ingrained into our local community, too. In fact, it’s our favorite part of being Perfect Wedding Guide! So, when the day comes for your Wed Box to arrive, it won’t come from FedEx. It will be hand delivered, after being hand packaged with products chosen by hand, right to your door by one of the lovely ladies who make up our woman-led, women-run team.
(Antisocial? We get it, and absolutely won’t take offense if you wait until we’ve driven away to sneak out and grab your Wed Box.)
Wedding Collective Blog 