Julie and Kyle

Growing up, I was always a bit fearful of my mom's best friend; Merlinda performed smudging ceremonies, encouraged us to smoke from her peace pipe, built a "goddess pool" in her yard that was clearly a giant mud pit full of murky water, and bought a valley in New Mexico where I was sure she planned to dance naked around a yurt and kidnap my mother. My 8 year old self was sure Merlinda was out of her mind and that New Mexico was a bad place to vacation.

Luckily this wedding has warmed me to the Land of Enchantment. No really, that's New Mexico's official nickname. Maybe not enough to visit Merlinda any time soon, but certainly enough to appreciate the jaw-dropping beauty of Jesse Leake's photos.

This celebration brought together the couple's Native American and Irish traditions in the city that stole their hearts-Santa Fe, and reflected their love and sense of family. The couple chose Encantado, a stunning Auberge resort, for the ceremony and reception location; invitations, menu cards and programs designed by the couple with the help of Suann Song of Simple Song Designs, were decorated with miniature four leaf clover charms, clothespins printed with the words "love" and feathers.

Julie wore a simple Priscilla of Boston gown complete with pockets, a simple pair of J.Crew flats and the most darling braided belt, while Kyle chose a classic Brooks Brothers suit. The bouquet Julie carried and those gorgeous arrangements were inspired by her favorite shop, Anthropologie, and featured shades of peach, cream, purple, yellow and pink designed by Andrea Soorikian.

The pair was married on an American Indian rug, and guests sat on rustic wooden benches around the couple. Buckeye seeds, a good luck charm in native American folklore, were placed on ceremony programs in groups of 15 to represent the day Kyle and Julie met. After exchanging "five promises" instead of traditional vows, the couple shared their first dance, a change in program order I just adore!

The reception featured a single long table covered in a natural linen tablecloth and burlap runner. Vintage amber jars, driftwood, turquoise votives and herringbone towels the bride and groom scouted on Etsy and in vintage shops gave the table an organic beauty, and coordinator Alicia Troxell of Barnwood & Birch (and this gem of a wedding!) made sure each detail the couple had worked so hard on looked perfect on the big day. After a home style meal with a New Mexican twist–steak or halibut, mashed potatoes, green beans, calabacitas and green chile cornbread–pecan pie was the perfectly sweet ending to a day full of love, heritage and joy.


Many thanks to Jesse Leake for sharing these images of this beautiful couple and the Land of Enchantment-maybe a New Mexico holiday doesn't sound like such a bad idea after all!