Sooooo many beautiful places to have your wedding here in the Albuquerque area! 

Paa-Ko Golf Club on the east side of the mountain was a scene of a beautiful July 4 wedding.  Rick and Deanna of Dry Heat Photography took these gorgeous photos.  The light was beautiful...and check out the bride and groom wearing shades as they sign the license!!  Suzanne the Event Manager at Paa-Ko, made the whole day flow very smoothly.

 

Sandia Casino and Resort has added a beautiful new Bridal Pavilion this year.  Check out these photos courtesy of Kevin's Photography.
That's me making sure the Sand Ceremony table is set up correctly....then a view down the aisle...a view of the mountain...a view showing the guests.  And the very important "ring hand-off!"  Thanks to Genie, the Event Manager at Sandia for her able assistance with the music set-up and managing brides, grooms, and parents ever so graciously.

I meant "Love Conquers ALL! (not AL!)

That was a very windy Saturday!  Veils were flying, flower petals disappeared under the chairs!  Bubbles took off for Colorado!  But the brides remained poised and beautiful; and I was reminded once again that Love Conquers Al!  I had the honor of marrying three couples  in Albuquerque this past weekend.  I'll have photos in a few weeks. 

On May 22, Justine and Matthew and their guests were sheltered in the shade of a huge tree in this front yard.  It made for a beautiful ceremony.  There were so many sweet moments in this ceremony.  As you can see, we had a rehearsal to smooth out the bumps.  The couple asked that their Best Man and Maid of Honor do the readings...a great way to include them in the ceremony.  They also included a "Parental Honoring" to say thanks to their parents - nary a dry eye in the house!  The bridesmaids stayed cool in beautiful turquoise gowns.

Do rings shrink during a ceremony??  There's usually time for smile and one last push to get the ring over that last knuckle!  There!  Done!

Many thanks to Seth Goodman Photography for use of the photos.

Hello Everyone,
Earlier this year, I had a meeting set up to talk with Katie and Scott about their ceremony.  But Scott was stranded by that big blizzard in Washington, DC where they live and I ended up meeting Katie...with Scott by computer!  Very high tech!
Katie and Scott had a beautiful ceremony at Hotel Albuquerque in the Spanish Pavilion.  Terry of Blue Rose Studios produced these great photos. (Thanks, Terry.)  The pavilion has enough shade to protect the guests and wedding party...and the foliage creates a beautiful canopy.  Enjoy!

Just the week before, I performed another Hotel Albuquerque wedding for Tabatha and Brian.  Here are a few photos from their celebration!  Thank you, Jason, from Kevin's Photography.

Under a gorgeous green tree, Stephanie and Steve pledged their love to each other in this relaxed and wonderful backyard ceremony.  The bride and groom personalized their ceremony by writing their own vows and adding a Sand Ceremony to the traditional words.  Wedding Planner, Patty of Parties by Patty (www.partiesbypatty.com), managed the transformation of a backyard into a gracious and welcoming wedding wonderland.  Many thanks to Photographer Maggie M. Byers (maggiemphotography.com) for the photos!

The 2010 Wedding Season has begun!  Greetings to the wonderful brides-to-be that I've met at recent bridal fairs.
I haven't blogged in a while and I wanted to "catch up" with some photos of recent weddings.

Caitlyn and Ethan were married last summer at beautiful Tamaya.  DiAnna Dimmitt of Dry Heat Photography took these memorable photos. With the majestic Sandia Mountains in the background and a sky filled will puffy clouds, it was a memorable ceremony in a breath-taking location. 

I worked with DiAnna and Rick Myers, her partner, of Dry Heat at another wedding Saturday. Feb 6. in Belen.  Looking forward to seeing THOSE photos, guys!  Always great to work with you.


AND
Just a few weeks ago on January 30 Sara and James tied the knot on a clear and WARM Saturday afternoon in Corrales.  (Aren't we lucky to live in New Mexico?)  Patty Navarro of Parties by Patty organized the event brilliantly, managing caterers, limos, DJs, guests, wait staff, AND ME with grace, poise, and a deft hand. These are just a few of the light-hearted moments photographer Sonya Cogan captured during the festivities.  Hi Patty and Sonya!  Great to work with you again!

There's more than one officiant at Awakened Wedding Ceremonies!  In the event I'm booked or a couple prefers a male officiant or even a bi-lingual officiant, we can help.

Eric, by the way, is a Disciples of Christ minister who performs both Christian and non-denominational ceremonies. Recently, Eric shared this happy note about a very special wedding he performed:
At the end of one couple's wedding a few of weeks ago, the bride and groom hopped on the groom's Harley and rode into the sunset.  It was a formal wedding so both bride and groom were in full wedding garb - he in tux and she in a flowing white gown, which was all wrapped, tucked, and securely bundled in her lap.  Quite the sight!  (I wish we had photos!)

Monique-Cheri is another of our officiants (and Eric's wife).  When a couple lost their minister at the last minute due to a family emergency, she was able to step in, meet with the couple, do a rehearsal, and perform the wedding in Tijeras with only a few days preparation!  The couple was very grateful.

The bridal party included Crickett and Dobie, the bride and groom's dogs as ring bearers.  According to Monique-Cheri, they did a stellar job!  The wedding ceremony took place outdoors, and in keeping with the country theme, hay bales, covered with beautiful handmade quilts, were used as seats. The backdrop was a field of yellow wildflowers and just before the ceremony got underway, the couple's two horses moseyed up from behind the fence to check things out.  Shortly after the ceremony ended, the heavens opened with a great blessing of rain.  By then, everyone was snug and dry under a big outdoor tent!

Remember, we also have Ana, a bi-lingual officiant, if you want your ceremony in Spanish!

For last-minute emergencies and wedding ceremonies that fit your lifestyle and beliefs, give us a call and we'll be there for you!

Dear Readers,
Weddings come in all shapes and sizes!  They may be held in backyards, at restaurants, or in hotel libraries.  There's always one common denominator...the LOVE shines through.
I worked with these wonderful couples in September and they shared some of their wedding photos with me...and I'm sharing them with you! 

Each year at the Balloon Fiesta, there's always a flurry of weddings!  What more unique and romantic place to get married than floating silently above the earth in a hot air balloon! This year I had the honor and pleasure of performing an intimate ceremony for Anna and Ben and enjoying my first balloon ride. (Check out photos below!)

As pilot, Mike Gianetti instructed us in balloon protocol, the rest of the team (his wife Lisa, Charlie, and Mary) prepared the balloon for inflation.  The giant flame from the burner always looks so dramatic in the early morning light!  The basket was decorated with big white bows. Then the balloon was inflated, we jumped into the basket and suddenly we were airborne!  It was so smooth and quiet, it was hard to believe we left the ground! 

Anna and Ben were fashionably attired in black and white ski hats embroidered with "Bride" and "Groom."  Of course, we all were taking photos like mad!  The clouds were magnificent over the mountains.  Then the ceremony began...and after the pronouncement of marriage, the newly-weds donned "Just Married" baseball caps for the rest of the flight.  We had a beautiful soft landing at the UNM Campus and were efficiently packed up and back to the Balloon Fiesta grounds in no time flat!  Thanks to Rainbow Ryders for inviting me to officiate and to Mike and Lisa (newlyweds themselves!) for a very smooth flight and for hosting this very special ceremony.

I spent the first weekend in October in Santa Fe, enjoying the beautiful fall weather, performing weddings, and training a new minister.  Many of the roads in Santa Fe are edged with brilliant yellow chamisa and purple flowers, the trees were dressed in golden leaves and the sky was clear blue.  Perfect days for a wedding!

The first wedding was held at the historic La Fonda Hotel on theupper Terrace.  This beautiful space is decorated with masses of potted flower and looks right out on to the newly restored St.Francis Cathedral.  Both the bride and groom were escorted down the aisle by both parents...a sweet way to honor your parents!  And just as the groom pledged his love to his bride, the cathedral bells began to ring!  A very special moment!

Bishop's Lodge has a beautiful gazebo on their grounds that is the perfect location for a wedding.  The guests are protected from the sun by big shade trees.  So beautiful.  The two weddings there included children of the bride and/or groom; and both couples used a sand ceremony to include their children.  Kids love pouring their own special color of sand into the vase with their parents.  It's a wonderful way to symbolize the blending of families into a single new family unit.
At the first wedding of the afternoon, the groom walked up the aisle with both his children.  Then the bride walked up with her two children.  During the sand ceremony, their guitarist provided sweet background music as the couple and their 4 children poured their own colors of sand into the glass vase making a beautiful design.
At the second ceremony, the bride's daughter was one of the bridesmaids and she joined her mother and new step-dad for the sand ceremony.  Meanwhile, a classical pianist played beautiful music in the background.  That's all for now!