Santa Fe's luxury ranch resort since 1918.
2011-2012 Essential Guide Wedding Editorial Questions
For recent brides’ perspective on their weddings here, The Essential Guide surveyed half a dozen of them. The number of wedding guests ranged from 60 to 400, with most between 110 and 135. They were warm weather weddings, other than one on New Year’s Eve weekend. (The astute bride reasoned that guests would be available since it was a holiday!)
Did you have a Destination Wedding? Why did you choose Santa Fe?
The bride is originally from NJ, and the groom is from Santa Fe. We met in and currently live in SF, so it was only a ‘destination wedding’ for the bride’s family! Early in the process we considered getting married closer to the bride’s hometown, but ultimately we decided it would be much easier to plan a wedding locally. We also knew we wanted to have at least part of the wedding outside, and you can’t beat the weather in Santa Fe!
What kind of events did you plan for your family/wedding party/guests and what local businesses helped you plan them?
The rehearsal was hosted by the groom’s family at their home and was partially catered by Posa’s. The bachelorette party took place at Ten Thousand Waves and Del Charro Saloon. The staff at Del Charro were especially fun and accommodating!
What made your wedding unique?
Our wedding featured Native American flutist Ron Roybal, Flamenco guitarist Chuscales, and an Irish handfasting ceremony.
Did your wedding have a theme, and how did you choose it?
We didn’t really have an official theme, but we tried to combine and showcase the best parts of our heritage – Irish for the bride, Latin for the groom, and the Native American blood we both have.
How did you decide on a venue for your wedding/reception?
We knew we wanted an outdoor ceremony, so we looked at several places which offered outdoor spaces. When we saw what Bishop’s Lodge had to offer, we stopped looking. The Gazebo was perfect for the ceremony, and the Tesuque Ballroom was exactly what we wanted for the reception. It even had an indoor/outdoor terrace for cocktails. The staff were all so nice and seemed genuinely interested in us and our wedding, which was not the case with some other places we considered.
Was your wedding large or small? How many guests did you have?
Our wedding was small by typical wedding standards. We invited 85 guests and 67 actually attended. Both the bride and groom come from large extended families, so the first decision we made was to keep the guest list limited to immediate family and close friends (and no children). It was the best decision we made throughout the entire process!
Who were some of the vendors (event coordinator, fashion designer/consultant, florist, caterer, etc.) you used and why did you choose them?
Once we decided on Bishop’s Lodge, I sought the advice and recommendations of the wedding coordinator, Kristina Kohl. She not only knew everyone in town from florists to photographers to musicians, she also took the time to recommend those vendors who she felt would work best for us specifically. And she was right on with every single one. We used Marisa’s Flowers – Marisa is incredibly knowledgeable about flowers and does beautiful (and affordable!) arrangements. Our photographer was Babak from InSight Foto, he ended up being the only photographer we met. After our initial consultation, we couldn’t imagine a better fit. We liked him immediately and felt completely comfortable with him. Absolute Entertainment provided our music (except for the ceremony music). Tree House Bakery made our delicious cakes. Our beautiful and unique ceremony was designed and presided over by Rev. Linda Mertz. Her insight and assistance were invaluable. Bishop’s Lodge provided all the catering and bar services. For all our hair needs, I used MaryAnn from Alix Hair Studio. She was such a joy to work with, her bubbly personality really helped ease the stress of getting ready and made it fun!
Did you receive any art pieces as wedding gifts?
Unfortunately, we did not receive any artwork as wedding gifts. Unless you count a pair of beautiful, engraved Nambe champagne flutes!
What was the best part/memory of your wedding?
One of my favorite moments was when my dad and I were preparing for our trip down the aisle. From where we were waiting we couldn’t see the ceremony site but I could hear Ron Roybal’s flute music drifting through the trees. It was so calming and beautiful; time seemed to stand still and I was instantly at ease. I focused on the music as I made my entrance, and I’ll never forget that feeling. It was so completely right.
What advice do you have for Brides planning their wedding in Santa Fe?? (Optional)
My best advice is to listen to your instincts, and trust the advice of the professionals!! I was not the girl who had her wedding planned at the age of eight, so when I got engaged I really had to start from scratch. Don’t rush yourself, and don’t let the excitement of friends and family members push you to make decisions before you know what you want! For our wedding, we knew we wanted to keep it small, and we didn’t want a huge wedding party. We only had 4 attendants and a flowergirl. Once we decided on those two things, we started thinking about a date. One decision followed another. For us, it was perfect and we didn’t let the objections and opinions of others push us to change our decisions. You have to be prepared to gently but firmly explain the reason for your decision and then let it be. Understand that some people will always find fault with something you did or didn’t do, but that’s ok – they’ll still love you. Ultimately, it’s your day. You’ll know in your heart what the right thing is, and when you need guidance – ask for it! The professionals you hired have been a part of more weddings than you can even imagine, so take advantage of their knowledge and experience! So much of our wedding came together and worked beautifully because I listened to my wedding coordinator. That’s her job – to know everything about planning a wedding, so trust her!
In Santa Fe specifically, you can’t really go wrong with the weather on most days, but it’s good to have a backup plan just in case. If you have out of town guests, the hot, dry air and the elevation can really have an ill effect on people who aren’t used to it or who have health problems. I suggest putting together a little welcome kit that includes some information about the climate and elevation so that your guests are prepared when they arrive. Also, take advantage of the incredible scenery and architecture of the area when planning your event – and your photos! Santa Fe is one of most unique and beautiful places in the country, so make the most of it!
Please share any additional comments that might make this article more intriguing for a Bride or wedding planner.
For a wedding planner, I think it’s important to really listen and get to know your client(s). Planning my wedding was so easy, much easier than it could have been, because my coordinator was a) really good at her job and b) really ‘got’ what we were going for right from the start. When I had questions or concerns she got back to me right away, even if it was to say that she was swamped and would contact me at a certain time. I didn’t expect her to drop everything whenever I called, but she made me feel important and she was good to her word every time. That inspired a lot of confidence.
For brides, trust your gut. Meet in person with anyone you’re considering as a vendor or a venue. Take note of your initial reaction to the place, the staff, everything. If they give you the run around, or don’t return your calls, or cancel your appointment, or you just have a gut feeling of doubt, reconsider. Don’t set your heart on anything until you’ve done your homework. And once you’ve chosen a vendor you really ‘mesh’ with, listen to what they have to say. Help them understand what feeling(s) you’re going for, what your priorities are for your wedding, and let them guide you. Our planning process was incredibly easy because we hired people we liked and who we felt truly understood what we wanted our wedding to be, then we took their advice.
1297 Bishop's Lodge
Santa Fe, NM 87506
Toll Free 800.732.2240
www.bishopslodge.com
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