Matt and Will’s story started when the two New Yorkers met at a coffee shop inside Grand Central Station. As quintessentially “New York” as the start of their journey was, the couple wanted something entirely different for their wedding.

“Matt grew up in New Mexico,” Will says, “and it has been a very special place for us to visit Matt’s Family. We wanted to share that special place with our family and friends.”

The couple also knew providing an opportunity to travel and experience the world beyond the Big Apple in a post-pandemic world would add to the excitement. Next order of business: select a venue!

“We chose the Inn and Spa at Loretto because it was a central location in Santa Fe, with lots of outdoor space and multiple rooms to host the party,” the couple says.

With the planning process in full force, Matt and Will began to notice Santa Fe as an easy place to host a wedding… that is when you have a stellar vendor team! Thankfully, the couple not only had that but also an in-destination planner to head it all up.

“Having our planner, Lesley, on the ground, and very familiar with all the local vendors helped immensely,” Will says. “The process of putting everything together would have been a lot more challenging without her there.”

Due to the limited number of direct flights in and out of Santa Fe/Albuquerque, the couple communicated their plans to guests as early as possible.

“We also chose to have the wedding during one of the busiest weekends in Albuquerque; Balloon Fiesta, the largest hot air balloon festival in the world,” the couple says.

Once everything had been lined up for an unforgettable weekend, the next step was to simply enjoy each other’s company. After all, Matt and Will knew a destination wedding would allow them to interact more without the distractions of being at home. Not only that, but the couple saved money, got to honor Matt’s childhood and gave their guests the opportunity to experience the wonder of hundreds of hot air balloons taking flight!

The Couple’s Advice:

“A planner is worth every penny. Learn from their mistakes by taking their advice. And stress until the day comes, then relax. We know everything that went wrong at the wedding, and not one guest had a clue… just enjoy that day.”

Vendors: Photographer: Talitha Tarro Photography recommended by World’s Best Wedding Photos; Wedding Planner: Lesley Escobar of Just Lovely Weddings; Venue: Inn & Spa at Loretto; Florist: Floriography Flowers; Stationery: Greenwich Letter Press; Cake: A Cake Odyssey; Rentals: Darling Details Rentals; Grooms’ Attire: Cad & The Dandy; Cowboy Boots: Back at the Ranch