A destination like no other
By Ellen Miller-Goins
Northern New Mexico has become a premier destination for couples seeking a stunning wedding with a unique sense of place. Couples choose this area not only for its natural beauty, but for its deep cultural heritage and welcoming people.
“Many couples have a connection to this place, whether through family, past travels, or simply a love for the scenery,” says James Denio of Nest Events in Taos. “They want their wedding to reflect who they are, and Northern New Mexico allows them to showcase their love in a meaningful way.”
Some of the most beautiful weddings take place surrounded by nothing but towering aspen trees, wildflowers and snow-capped peaks. Wedding planners like Denio — and Karen Kelly of KWK Events in Red River — know not only where that perfect site is, they know if it’s possible.
“You need infrastructure,” Denio says. “If we’re going to do a wedding out on the mesa, if there’s 100 people going out there, you’re going to create a footprint. You want comforts, and you also want to showcase the land. You need vendors who can make something happen without taking away from the scenery by bringing that infrastructure in.”
Arranging for porta-potties definitely isn’t romantic. This is where a skilled wedding planner helps. Planning a wedding in a destination location requires experienced hands. Kelly says it helps to be prepared for every dream. “There’s people who book private homes and do everything at the home… and there’s two person elopements that come up here with their two best friends or their parents and get married on the bridge.”
Popular venues include several private homes with stunning vistas or riverside romance, but Kelly and Denio both also arrange weddings at popular venues like Taos Goji Eco Lodge Retreat, Hotel Luna Mystica, El Monte Sagrado, The Stakeout and the new Hotel Willa.
“It’s magnificent,” Kelly says. “They’re going to have beautiful areas for weddings.
Both Kelly and Denio say their job goes way beyond providing a service.
“If someone’s coming to me, it’s because we resonate with each other, and we have similar interests and morals and ideas about what this place actually means,” Denio says. “This place is an outward representation of what’s already happening within them.”
“It’s a fun business to be in because you’re making people happy,” Kelly says, noting how many past clients routinely bring new babies in to meet her. “You’re a part of their lives for the rest of their lives.”
Arrange your big day with a local wedding planner:
KWK Events
kwkevents.com
575-595-1971
Nest Events
nesteventsplanning.com
360-739-2398
Local ski areas offer mountain venues with in-house planning services:
Taos Ski Valley
skitaos.com/weddings
800-776-1111
Angel Fire Resort
angelfireresort.com/groups/weddings
800-633-7463
Sipapu
sipapu.ski/plan-your-trip/sipapu-weddings
575-587-2240
For more Taos-area locations, see taos.org/plan/weddings.