We recently helped KT Homes create a customer testimonial video for their YouTube page, featuring a customer answer some questions they had prepared.
Our Favorite Wedding Venues of 2024
We know that choosing a venue is a difficult task and most likely the largest ticket item in the wedding budget. It influences nearly every aspect of your wedding day. From the overall feel to logistical challenges, and most importantly (according to these biased photographers) provide the backdrop for every photograph. Choosing our favorite venues of 2024 is easy, more difficult is deciding which venues to leave off the list. So, we came up with seven in no particular order and provided bullet points of the features that push these venues over the top. In 2024 there wasn’t a single wedding venue we didn’t appreciate, but these made our favorites. If you are getting married soon, and are shopping for a venue, we have included the corresponding websites, just keep in mind the location.
Blue Door Venue, Mesilla, New Mexico (https://bluedoorvenue.com/)
• Roxanne from Livingston Bridal is the manager
• Indoor/Outdoor availability
• Amazing Bridal suite for getting ready and outfit changes
The Meadows, Fabens (El Paso), Texas (https://www.themeadowstx.com/)
• Sprawling countryside views, fields, mountains, sunsets (appropriately named)
• Farm vibes
• Large capacity
• Outdoor
Epic Railyard, El Paso, Texas (https://www.epicrailyard.com/)
• Industrial vintage atmosphere
• Indoor/Outdoor availability
• Rooftop views of borderland
• Eleven Sixteen Beauty Salon on site
Hotel Encanto, Las Cruces, New Mexico (https://www.hotelencanto.com/)
• Desert Oasis Garden Pool area with foliage, tall palm trees, and Spanish Colonial pillars
• Large capacity Ball Room
Hotel Paso del Norte, El Paso, Texas (https://www.hotelpdn.com/)
• Boutique luxurious atmosphere, architecture with traditional elements and multicultural nods
• Rooftop views of downtown El Paso
• Unique dome ceiling bar
• Historic, renovated, elegant
Hotel Paisano, Marfa, Texas (https://hotelpaisano.com/)
• Retro Cowboy aesthetic
• Artsy hipster small town destination
• Historic indoor/outdoor
Fulford Barn, Brownfield, Texas
• Private forest oasis in the middle of the West Texas Desert
• Outdoor naturally shaded grassy field suitable for large capacity weddings
• Coy pond with waterfall feature, trail through bamboo forest
• Whimsical lighting after dark
Country Chic Summer Wedding at Secluded Venue Outside Ruidoso New Mexico
Alexa and Jordan’s June wedding might be my favorite wedding of the summer season this year. But I seem to say that about every wedding I attend! I especially loved shooting at Walnut Grove Ranch. It is a historic ranch home and spacious property located in Lincoln, New Mexico, just a short drive from Ruidoso, New Mexico. You can see how gorgeous the grounds were in the summer months in these photos. I bet it’s breathtaking in every season!
Alexa and Jordan met playing a friendly match of sand volleyball with their mutual friends. Here’s their proposal story from Alexa’s perspective.
“We went to Las Vegas, Nevada and the night he proposed I was looking out the window at the Bellagio and when I turned around he was down on one knee holding the ring! I was freaking out and didn’t hear much of what he said haha, but we were both super excited!”
When I asked what they were most excited for in anticipation of their wedding day, they said, “We are most looking forward to having our family and friends there for our special day and to see us commit to each other and celebrate our relationship.”
Mission accomplished!!
Vendors
Venue: Walnut Grove Ranch
Photography: Taylor’d Photography
Officiant: John Duncan, Gateway Christian Church Ruidoso
Florist: Blossoms Floral Design and Artistry
Caterer: Popo’s Mexican Restaurant
Bride’s dress: Lillie’s Bridal
Bridesmaids’ dresses: Azazie.com
Photo booth: PixnStix
Sophisticated holiday weekend wedding at Los Portales Venue in Anthony, New Mexico
Alejandra and Robert were married over Labor Day weekend in Anthony, New Mexico at the Los Portales venue. The thing Ale and Robert were most looking forward to on their wedding was “seeing everyone and celebrating” with their loved ones. I would say, mission accomplished! These two had a blast on the dance floor all night and they have families who know how to cut a rug.
Describe yourselves as a couple in three words:
cozy, loving, weird
What are you most looking forward to about being married?
“Being married will have us wearing rings and calling each other "Husband and Wife" but it's just another step confirming what we already know. Not too much changes for us, we get to continue celebrating each other every day.”
Vendors
Venue: Los Portales
Officiant: Moonlight Wedding Services
Flowers: Blossom Flowers and Sweets
Caterer: Diamond Catering
Make up: Elyse Simons
Hair: Katherine Melanie
Bride’s dress: David’s Bridal
Groom’s attire: Men’s Wearhouse
An Interview with Floral Artist Marisa Guerrero from Debbie's Bloomers
Marisa and the crew at Debbie’s Bloomers continue to awe us with their jaw dropping floral design and professionalism. Here’s our interview with one of our favorite florists!
What's your story? How did you become a florist?
Flowers are a family business. My mom bought Debbie's Bloomers when I was a child and that meant I spent a lot of time around the flower shop growing up. After pursuing other passions during college, I came back to the flower shop and have never looked back. Since then, I have taken on regional and national roles in the floral industry that have opened doors for amazing opportunities like designing at the Philadelphia Flower Show in 2019!
What is a consultation like at Debbie's Bloomers?
When couples come in to discuss flowers for their wedding, we try to make the process as easy, enjoyable and quick as possible. Consultations typically take 30 - 45 minutes as we talk through inspiration photos, discuss budget and seasonality of flowers, and define the overall style of a wedding. It's great to have a bride bring in photos of what she envisions her wedding looking like and then we can work together to refine and design. After the initial consultations, we email a beautiful proposal with lots of pictures and descriptions for the couple to look over and make adjustments to.
What trends are you excited about for wedding flowers?
I don't think I'm the only florist ready for color to come back to wedding flowers. We have seen season after season of burgundy, blush and white so it's really exciting to see bold colors making a comeback! Bright pink flowers, foliage in vibrant blues, and sunny yellow pops are all starting to shine in over-the-top flower walls and simple but dynamic bouquets. Flowers can add so much pizzazz to your wedding style.
What are some unique ways you have seen brides and grooms incorporate florals into their weddings?
We love having a chance to place flowers in unexpected places. One of the most underrated areas is the bathroom. Everyone visits the bathroom during your wedding, and it's a welcome touch to have one or two small vases of flowers placed between the sinks. When I got married (of course there were flowers everywhere) the men couldn't get over the flowers in their bathroom. It was such a simple touch but so often overlooked. Every venue has a location that could be made more inviting with a floral accent; fountain, the pool, a quiet corner of the room. Flowers make everything a little more beautiful.
What advice can you give brides and grooms?
For a lot of couples, they know they want flowers but they aren't sure how much it's going to cost so they put off talking with a florist. I encourage them to talk with a florist about 3-6 months before their wedding, once they have chosen their venues and ordered their dresses. That's when they seem to have a good vision for the style and feel of their wedding and colors are pinned down. Then find a florist who's style you like and schedule an appointment with them to discuss ideas. They will take your ideas and create a proposal for your flowers. The proposal is a staring point for ideas. If you need to make adjustments to get the colors right or get suggestions to cut costs so they match your budget, don't be afraid to ask. You've been planning your wedding for months, so you know your vision and your budget perfectly, but your florist doesn't. They will be happy to work with you to make suggestions and refine ideas if they know you are going to work together. So that's my advice, have a conversation. Just like you wouldn't leave the dress store if they didn't give you your dream dress on the first try, you florist needs your guidance to make your flowers fit.
Best of luck to all of you as you plan your wedding! Flowers are a gift, so enjoy the process.