Couples are traveling to New Mexico to take advantage of the fact that this is the 17th state in the nation to honor same-sex marriages and offer gay marriage licenses. In Northern New Mexico, the attitude regarding this new law is positive and welcoming. Now that gay marriage is federally recognized, couples are coming to Taos County for their destination weddings. Many of these weddings are spontaneous elopements as couples have been together and planning the ceremonies for decades. I have been a witness for several elopements and I am honored to be a part of the license signing and the photo documentation of the day.
John and Lauren came from Colorado to use the beautiful and artsy backdrop of Taos, NM for their wedding photos! The ceremony took places at Thom Wheeler’s popular art gallery. After the ceremony, we went to the plaza in Ranchos de Taos to photograph the bride and groom with famous mission church, San Francisco de Asis. The newlyweds then took the traditional drive around the Taos Plaza before heading back to the art gallery for the wedding reception. The Taos Mountain was radiant when it was touched by the light of the setting sun.
Lora and Jim got married at Our Lady of Guadalupe church off of the plaza in Taos, NM. The wedding colors, tangerine and ivory, were vibrant in the photos. Local Taos florist, The Enchanted Florist, designed the bouquets and boutonnieres with roses and lilies. The bouquets were wrapped with white ribbon. The flower girls dropped tangerine flower petals in their processional down the aisle before the bride. The reception took place at popular venue, The Sagebrush, and the newlyweds danced into the night.
Darcy and Brian were wed under a chuppah. Symbolically, the chuppah is a house that represents that the bride and groom’s life will be spent together. The wedding ceremony took place at El Monte Sagrado’s Sacred Circle and was set up in a circular fashion. The reception was a festive occasion with lawn games outdoors and a cocktail hour before a sit down dinner was served.
What fun to document the first time that same sex marriage licenses were issued in Taos County! New Mexicans came to the courthouse to pick up their marriage licenses and to get married! At least four weddings took place immediately, directly in front of the Taos County Courthouse. There were tears of joy and sounds of happiness as people finally began their “legal” road of “happily ever after.”
It’s the little details from wedding day that make your day so memorable (and my day so fun to photograph)! Ashleigh and Matthew didn’t miss a beat when doing their wedding planning. The dress was altered and pressed, the wedding rings were shined, the decorative Ball jars were adorned with pink roses and baby’s breath, hung from the apple orchard trees with great care. This wedding took place in the beautiful Taos Ski Valley with the ceremony on the bride’s private hacienda. The reception took place at the popular St. Bernard.
