2019 Wedding Gallery Recap

It is hard to believe that there are only a few more months left in 2019 and suddenly preparations for all of next year’s weddings are in full swing. With so much to be done and seemingly so little time, finding time to explore your wedding vendor options can be a dreaded task. Here at Perfect Wedding Guide, we understand the natural instinct to feel loads of stress and anxiety about wedding planning, but it really shouldn’t be stressful at all. In fact, we think it should be a blast, and that is why we have created a very special and elevated wedding show specifically for you– The Wedding Gallery!

Wedding Gallery is specially curated for our New Mexico wedding community and prides itself on its unique approach to conventional wedding shows. This year’s show was an absolute blast filled with an abundance of marvelous vendors to chat with, food stations with mouthwatering options, specialty drinks– including, because I just HAVE to mention it, Cotton Candy Champagne, a couture fashion show and giveaways galore! Now if that hasn’t sold you yet, just wait, there’s more.

Every year, we, your dedicated hosts, try to incorporate a theme for the show that will inspire our vendors and inspire you for your own wedding. This year’s theme was something more close to home, because we are basically in love with New Mexico and think it possesses beauty beyond compare. Any idea of what the theme could be?

• 

• 

• 

That’s right, you guessed it… the Southwest! There were lovely Southwestern vibes coming from Darling Clementine Crafts through their adorable succulent decor, the jaw-dropping hair and makeup by Blo Blow Dry Bar and the stunning wardrobe designs brought to life by Suits Unlimited & Bridal Elegance by Darlene. The essence of the Southwest was taken straight out of our backyards and placed at the heart of the show. Cacti, flowers, and free-flowing hairstyles took center stage at the couture fashion show for everyone to see.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

We need to talk about the fact that there were SO many talented people involved with Wedding Gallery this year– it was really an all-star cast. With over 40 different vendors present, it was amazing to see the connections and relationships between local couples and local wedding professionals.

Our sponsors made sure that the show was even more elegant than we could imagine it to be! There were beautiful floral arrangements from Bosque Flower Studio, music from Cello for Weddings and King Mobile Music, incredible photos from Photographic Perspectives, magical decor by Simply Décor & Events, and last but not least, an incredible venue hosted by Embassy Suites Hotel & Spa.

I know, I know. You’re really bummed out that you missed this year’s show, but there’s no need to worry because we always have next year! There isn’t a better way to take the stress out of wedding planning and put the excitement in… plus, who doesn’t love fashion shows, food, and giveaways?

• 

• 

• 

We would like to give a big thank you to our sponsors for this event, as well as Photographic Perspectives for capturing every moment. It wouldn’t be possible without all of you! You can check them out below:

Bosque Flower Studio
Blo Blow Dry Bar
Bridal Elegance by Darlene
Cello for Weddings
Darling Clementine Crafts
Embassy Suites Hotel & Spa
King Mobile Music
Photographic Perspectives
Simply Décor & Events
Suits Unlimited

Pink + Perfection: Real Wedding with Briana Nicole Photography

We tied the knot on the most perfect day! I chose the colors gold and “50 shades of pink” because what girl doesn’t love pink, and no girl likes just one shade of pink. I knew I wanted peonies, ranunculus, and roses with a touch of eucalyptus.

– Esmeralda, Bride

Peonies, roses, eucalyptus… oh my!

As wedding connoisseurs, we like to think that we know almost everything about love and all that mushy, heart-felt stuff– but every time we hear stories from our local newlyweds, we realize that we have barely scratched the surface. We seem to learn new things every day because our wedding vendors know exactly how to bring a couple’s visions to life, and every vision is magnificently unique! Briana Nicole Photography did just this when she captured Esmeralda and Miguel’s sweet and serene wedding.

We are simply swooning over recent wedding color palette trends that are filled with pastel pinks and muted greens. Esmeralda and Miguel chose the most ravishing floral combo for their wedding day, but the awe-inspiring details don’t stop there. From the dresses to the venues, the couple made it a point to embrace their bright personalities and the interconnection between their love story and the scenery.

• 

• 

I really wanted our venue to be tied with the Sandia Mountains where Miguel proposed so we choose The View Event Center, since they are so close. We also really wanted an outdoor ceremony, where there would be lots of florals and greenery, so Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town was the perfect spot with the vines covering the pavilion and the chandeliers hanging from it. Everything was so gorgeous!

– Esmeralda, Bride

Here in the breathtaking state of New Mexico, we have been utterly rewarded with impressive scenery, from the golden mesa to the blushing Sandia Mountains. At every turn there is something that reminds us just why so many couples decide to get married in the Land of Enchantment.

We live in a photographer’s oasis, and Briana Nicole Photography captured the ceremony at the Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town like no other. The couple was beaming with joy and the fun never seemed to end! One could only hope for their wedding day to be bottled up without losing its integrity so that it could be experienced again and again, and Briana Nicole Photography does this flawlessly through her lens.

Esmeralda and Miguel spent the evening celebrating their new life together and taking in the beauty of the city lights of Albuquerque at The View Event Center. Could there be any more “pink” and “perfect” in one day? I think not, but hey, we are always surprised by our local weddings and the vendors that make them happen, so we never know what will come next!

Photographer: Briana Nicole Photography
Planner & Florist: A Beautiful Theme
Ceremony Venue: Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town
Reception Venue: The View Event Center
Cake: ABC Cake Shop & Bakery
DJ: Red Sapphire DJ Entertainment
Catering: Café Venture Catering
Bridal Makeup: Betty Rose by Alanna
Officiant: Amor Ceremonies

Who is YOUR Favorite Wedding Vendor?

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!

How to Vote

The voting process is simple! Just follow these 3 easy steps:

1. Click here!
2. Search for your favorite wedding professional
3. Write a review explaining why you love them

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.

PLUS… All who vote will be entered to win several prizes including Chello Grill, Tour ABQ, and Symbolize It gift cards!

VOTE NOW! Voting ends on September 1st, 2019 at Midnight.

Vendor Appreciation Night 2019

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.

RSVP and learn more HERE!

Elite Award Winners 2018

Best Wedding Coordinator | Black Bow Events

Best Bridal Beauty Expert | Makeup by Kim Fisher

Best Spa or Place to Relax | Bliss Salon and Spa

Best Place to Order a Wedding Cake | Cake Fetish

Best Catering or Restaurant | Blue Plate Special

Best Place to Have a Bachelorette Party | Duke City Pedaler

Best Place to Have a Reception | The View Event Center by Simply Decor

Best Location to Have a Ceremony | Casa Rondeña Winery

Best Wedding Officiant | Amor Ceremonies

Best Floral Designer | All The Pretty Flowers

Best Event Decor | Simply Decor & Events

Best Rental Company | Occasion Services & Events

Best Bridal Gown Shop | Bridal Elegance by Darlene

Best Men’s Formalwear Shop | Suits Unlimited

Best Place to Order Invitations | Funky Olive Design Invitations & Stationery

Best Disc Jockey | Dream Factory Productions

Best Live Ceremony Musician | Cello for Weddings

Best Local Band | Absolute Entertainment

Best Photographer | Matt Blasing Photography

Best Cinematographer | Southwest Wedding Films

Best Photo Booth Rental | Snapshot Selfies

Best Unique Wedding Service | Bombshell Fitness

The Big Fake Wedding

It’s no secret that when small businesses in New Mexico come together magic happens. We, your dutiful Perfect Wedding Guide team, have seen it with our own eyes time and time again. From local styled shoots straight from heaven, to real weddings that make large-scale celebrations seem effortless, to the all-out fantastical displays resurrected from dust in mere minutes at our wedding shows – you don’t have to sell us on New Mexico wedding professionals. We’re already straight up fangirls.

So when we caught wind that The Big Fake Wedding would be venturing out to our southwestern state, it came as no surprise. The traveling wedding show has been garnering popularity since they first got their start in 2008, and the landscapes alone make New Mexico an easy sell. Not to mention, The Big Fake Wedding is an alternative to the wedding shows we know and love, which offers our community something new to reinvigorate the wedding planning process.

By arranging their event to mimic an actual wedding, the attendees – who were local engaged couples – got to sit in on The Big Fake Wedding as if they were actual wedding guests. With a stunning stand-in bridal party and every detail planned meticulously, the engaged couples who participated got to sit back and watch the magic happen in real time.

Cloak Photography

As time drew nearer for the event to take place, it became clear that it was going to be something truly special. Each local business that decided to commit to collaborating on this project had already proved themselves as dedicated and creative wedding professionals. Knowing that businesses like The Cake Boutique –who would be crafting up something spectacular to look at and eat – and For the Love of Flowers with their renowned floral artistry, would be there? And it was going to be at one of our absolute favorite venues, Nature Pointe? Well, we were nearly bursting at the seams with excitement by the time the day arrived.

Bri-lliancy Photography

We’d like to say the day was exactly as wonderful as we’d imagine it would be, but we have to be honest. No matter the prep, no matter the insider knowledge we had about the event, and no matter the counting down the days, nothing could have properly prepared us for how lovely The Big Fake Wedding actually was.

Alysha Lee Photography

Cloak Photography

Cloak Photography

And of course, now that the time has passed, words fail us as well. Only photos from local wedding photographers like Cloak Photography, Bri-lliancy Photography, and Alysha Lee Photography could capture the magic that we knew was coming, but still exceeded our expectations. We are still officially in awe.

Bri-lliancy Photography

Bri-lliancy Photography

Bri-lliancy Photography

Cloak Photography

Venue: Nature Pointe
Music: Cello for weddings/Ryan Smith Cello Music
Cake: The Cake Boutique
Floral: For the Love of Flowers
Floral Wall: Wall of Enchantment
Balloon Décor: On the Rise Balloon Shop
Hair & Makeup: Genica Lee, MUA
Bridesmaids Dresses: Azazie
Rings: Hitched (Groom) & Ooh! Aah! Jewelry (Bride)
Design: Casi Sueno Weddings & Events, My Beloved Vintage Rentals
Photography: Cloak Photography, Bri-lliancy Photography, Alysha Lee Photography
Photo Booth: Magic Mirror
Event Coordination: Black Bow Events
Décor+Signage: Letters & Such
Bar + Mixology: ABQ Barkeeps
Bridal Gown: Renee’s Bridal

Featured header photo is by Cloak Photography

All other lovely vendors can be found here.

Chrisi K Photography {Vendor Spotlight + Real Wedding}

By now you might have noticed that we kind of have a thing for local photographers. It’s not that we don’t love every wedding professional equally {we do!}, it’s just that photographers give us the chance to live vicariously through their lens. We might be here, in the Perfect Wedding Guide office, or out and around Albuquerque + Santa Fe, but with photographers like Chrisi K Photography, we get to secretly attend every awe-inspiring, jaw-dropping, heart-warming wedding in our stunning state.

{And yes, you’re our plus one. Always.}

Even with so much wedding experience under our belts though, we still can’t pick weddings because, well, how could we? What I can say, with absolute confidence though is: Josh + Victoria, your wedding day makes our top 10. So many thanks, Chrisi K Photography, we owe you our hearts for letting us in on this celebration of love.

The ceremony, which was shaped by magnificently opulent trees in the outdoor space at El Monte Sagrado, was matched in grandeur only by the looks of love shared between Victoria + Josh. Captured devotedly by Chrisi K Photography, of course, the most minsicule of details paired with these moments between the newly-weds is how we’re able to feel like we’re really there, cheering on the new couple.

Dashes of jewel tones bookmark certain moments in their day: magenta pokes out from Victoria’s bouquet of greenery, royal blue bridesmaids gowns frame the couple sharing their vows, and of course, the familiar depth of red wine as Victoria + Josh join their lives together in ritual.

After being behind the lens since middle school, Chrisi K Photography’s respect for the camera and her craft is elucidated in this wedding, and in every photo. Thank you for being a part of the Perfect Wedding Guide family, Chrisi! We’re so happy to have you here, in New Mexico, pushing our community to do its best to keep up with you.

 

PWG Elite Awards: Vote Now!

While it’s true that we, the Perfect Wedding Guide team, do have some authority when it comes to showcasing Albuquerque + Santa Fe’s local wedding professionals, we fully admit to not knowing everything. To stay humble, each year we reach out to hundreds of local engaged — or recently married couples — to get the full scoop on what it’s like to work with vendors like Matt Blasing Photography, Amor Ceremonies, or Prairie Star.

{Because, if we could get to see these professionals in action by having a wedding every weekend, we totally would. Unfortunately, half our team is already married.}

Then we take all this incredible info from real couples, and we bestow the Perfect Wedding Guide Elite Awards to the hardest working, kindest, and most deserving wedding vendors! And guess what?

Voting for 2018 is open NOW!

Here’s your chance to, with a few clicks, pass on all you learned while planning your own wedding, to other engaged couples! Your vote is essentially your recommendation to all the amazing love-birds of Albuquerque + Santa Fe. So if you really vibed with or were impressed by a wedding professional who worked to make your day special, here’s a super simple way to pass back some of the love they showed you!

{Not married yet? That’s alright too — feel free to vote for any vendors who have made your planning process a little more enjoyable, because that’s just as important too.}

You can vote for your favorite business owners HERE. 

Then, keep an eye peeled for the winners who will be announced later this year, and see if your fave team made the cut!

Oh yeah, and those amazing vendors we mentioned at the beginning of this post? {Matt Blasing Photography, Amor Ceremonies, and Prairie Star} They’re just a few of last year’s venerable winners. You can check out the rest of 2017’s PWG Elite Award Winners here, and follow the links included to book them for your wedding, too!

Matt Blasing Photography

Prairie Star by Maura Jane Photography

Kelly Atkin, of Amor Ceremonies

 

 

Meet Albuquerque’s PWG Team

Since the rebirth of the Albuquerque + Santa Fe Perfect Wedding Guide team ten years ago, the driving motivation behind everything we do has been our local wedding community. Having a personal relationship with some of the most inspiring business owners makes the hard work we put in to every event, giveaway, and of course, our magazine, totally worth it.

Not only do we love being able to introduce local engaged couples to photographers, officiants, DJs that we know on a first name basis, but it’s important to us that we match up couples with vendors that we know can make their dreams come true. We can only do that by really getting to know each business — their goals and dreams, and even their personality quirks, which we find endearing.

So, why not share the same courtesy with our amazing readers and engaged couples?! Our team is tight-knit and we rely on each other a lot, but we’re also constantly learning more about one another too. We often do little games during our Monday morning meetings, and wanted to introduce ourselves to you with a particularly fun one. We made acronyms describing our personality using the letters in our names which, I must add, is much harder than it sounds if you have a “z” in your name.

Grab some tea or coffee and scroll on! Meet our team and comment your own acronym below.

{Very, very thankful to the darling Jacqueline Vega Photography for rockin’ out our new headshots! Book her for your wedding here.}

 

 

Wedding Videography: New Mexico’s Best

Everyone knows the importance of wedding photography. Because, well, of course you need a professional there whose only mission is to capture the intimacy and love of your big day. But wedding videography is often still looked at as an “add – on” to your services, and not as the highly important and wonderfully magical essential piece that it is for your wedding day. Luckily, a few of New Mexico’s very best photographers + filmmakers are changing that connotation, and showing brides just how very special the medium is.

Take Glory Ranch Films, for example. Husband and wife filmmakers, Tom and Jenny Ragan have dedicated their lives to storytelling, and it shows in their work. More than just documenting the event, their wedding videography always encapsulates each couple’s unique sort of devotion. Precise camera work and high quality equipment make a big difference in film, it’s true, but the fondness they feel for each union is what truly cements their talent. They offer couples a chance to not only look back on their wedding day, but to truly relive it, to be completely immersed in its memory.

We showcased Glory Ranch Films not too long ago here, but just to make sure you can really see what kind of talent we’re talking about, check out Tom Ragan’s updated reel below. You won’t regret it.

The best part about the upward trend of wedding videography too, is that with more talented filmmakers offering their talent to engaged couples, there are more styles for you to choose from. It’s just like choosing a photographer — you want someone whose style is similar to your own. You definitely can’t go wrong with any Albuquerque + Santa Fe videographers (it must be something in the air here), but each couple now has the opportunity to work with someone who shares the same visions as them.

Maybe you’ll connect with the ever-talented Brad Tillotson of Southwest Wedding Films, whose 4k coverage of weddings always leaves us breathless…

 

Or maybe you’ll opt for the magnificent team over at Photographic Perspectives, who always manage to capture our events perfectly, and for that, we trust + recommend them endlessly…

 

Or Briana Nicole Photography — we were SO excited when we found out that not only is Briana going to continue offering her natural talent + sunny disposition to local couples, but also wedding videography too!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Though, of course, no wedding would be complete without Complete Weddings + Events. (See what we did there?) To be frank, Complete has it all. We’re focusing on wedding videography, yes, but with Complete you also get to supplement the film with photos, a photo booth, lighting and DJ services. Need we say more?

We could go on bragging about our local vendors forever, but we’ll end it here with a cherry on top. Or cherie, actually — Lauren Cherie Photography! Lauren’s work is incredible, that’s for sure, but her pure and unbridled love for weddings is what truly makes her stand out as a photographer + videographer.

 

Want more? Check out more Albuquerque + Santa Fe wedding videographers here! We’re going to go binge-watching their reels too, so don’t feel guilty if you spend a couple hours doing the same.

 

Spilling the Beans: Wedding Vendors’ Best Kept Secrets

One of the most fabulous parts of working with incredible, local wedding vendors is having the inside scoop on all things wedding planning. The downside? No one on our team is currently engaged (yet!), so what can we do with all these amazing tips and tricks?

Well, share them with you, of course! Whether it’s local deals and promotions, wedding budget calculators, or upcoming wedding shows, we always try to pass on these goodies to all the lovely brides in our sphere and around the world.

{Some say we’re terrible at keeping secrets, but really we’re just wedding enthusiasts.}

This time around, we asked some of our favorite local vendors to divulge their best kept secrets of the industry. So read on, bride-to-be! Check out these four ways to make the most of your wedding day.

 

Photo + Gown: Maggie Sottero

Remember to keep an open mind in terms of designer and style. A dress always looks different on the body than it does on the rack! Choose your consultation party wisely. When deciding who to bring, limit it to those whose opinions matter the most. Make sure to start looking for and order a dress early on! It can take can up to 3-9 months, especially for big designers, for a dress customized to your specifications to come in. If you’re a bride on a budget, don’t hesitate to ask your dress shop for discontinued dresses. You will almost always receive a bargain on those kinds of gowns.

– Darlene, with Bridal Elegance by Darlene

 

 

 

 

One of the thriftiest wedding cake hacks out there and one that can give you the biggest bang for your buck is here!  Instead of creating one extravagant cake that can feed all of your guests, have your baker create a small cake, which is meant for the cake-cutting, pictures, & feeding a few guests. Then, have a simpler, easy to cut sheet cake that can be hidden in the kitchen and cut up afterwards for all your wedding guests to enjoy. You can also utilize a dummy tier out of foam. Many bakeries can help achieve the look of a multi-tiered wedding cake for less by substituting decorated foam tiers in between real tiers of cake. This will be a huge blessing to your bank account… trust us!”

Birdie, with The Cake Boutique

 

…the general advice you will get is to think about the basics:  the price and thecapacity. However, the process of selecting a venue can really make or break your planning experience. Once you have selected one, it should be a place that leaves you feeling completely confident about your big day, not frustrated or depleted. Once all of the planning is done, everything will come together and it will center around the venue,  so ask the tough questions and make sure that you trust the venue to execute your vision.

Lauren, The Event Center at Sandra Golf Club

 

 

 

 

Remember, this is the time in your life that you will be the most photographed.  Why not make the most of it and be camera ready at all times? When booking your wedding trial run with your hair and makeup artist, book your engagement pictures after. Or perhaps plan it to be done on the morning of your bridal shower, that way you can be camera ready for the shower.

Ric Kent, Hair and Makeup Artist

{Pssstt… Want more tips? Subscribe to our blog here for part two of this post!}

 

 

Red: A Storybook Styled Shoot

The first time we saw these photos from magic-maker, Maura Jane Photography, our jaws quite literally dropped. That’s because when we hear the words “winter wedding styled shoot,” we think muted hues, cozy cups of hot chocolate, and maybe a faux fur shawl or two. We were totally unprepared for this striking, fairytale-esque shoot straight from wedding heaven!

(Although, we shouldn’t have been surprised that Maura Jane gave life to such a remarkable concept. She has a way of enchanting everything she photographs.)

From the perfect plum lip to the balanced-yet-wild bouquet, Maura and her dream team of local vendors truly brought their A-game to this sophisticated and invigorating shoot. We’re expecting to see this deep contrast and bold color scheme popping up in winter weddings everywhere this 2018 because, well, how could you not be inspired to do the same?!

Inspired by the beautiful winter weather and the moodiness of the red riding hood fairy tale we decided to put together a winter bridal portrait session with a little bit of a fairy tale twist. Using the deep color of Marsala as opposed to bright red, we wanted to add more mood to the shoot as well as inspire brides getting married in colder months. Protea and berries were added to the bouquet complete with long feathers for something unique.

-Maura Jane, Owner of Maura Jane Photography 

 

Meet the vendors who made this fairytale possible:

Concept + Photography: Maura Jane Photography | Hair + Makeup: Genica Lee

Gown: Bridal Elegance by Darlene | Floral: The Flower Company 

Model: Jaiden Mazon