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Urban Santa Fe desert Wedding: Sabrina + John

March 14, 2013
Urban Santa Fe desert wedding | 100 Layer Cake

Apparently Sabrina + John loved being engaged so much that an entire a year passed before they even lifted a finger to start planning. They just didn’t know what they wanted. Neither of them had even visited Santa Fe, New Mexico, but they knew they wanted a destination wedding and the lure of something entirely unexpected was enough for them. Wedding Coordinator & Designer, Jessie Baca coined their wedding style as modern meets mountain desert and that’s exactly what it was, modern yet still lighthearted and playful.

Succulent boutonnière | 100 Layer Cake Succulent bouquet | 100 Layer Cake

Sabrina had told her florist that she wanted a bridal bouquet was “asymmetrical and unrestrained” and the result was spot on. Sabrina fell in love with her bouquet made of an air plant, succulents, scabiosa pods, purple dahlias, burgundy scabiosa and jasmine vine.

modern vintage wedding attire | 100 Layer Cake Succulent bouquet | 100 Layer Cake

Urban Santa Fe desert wedding | 100 Layer Cake

The best memory from the day was walking with John through the desert brush for our first look photos. One minute I was a ball of nerves, and then the next minute, I was carelessly dragging my dress through the dusty terrain, over rocks, sticks, and ant holes without a thought of getting it caught or dirty before the ceremony (which it did!). I realized we would walk through life in just the same way — seeking beautiful places, helping one another, and laughing the entire way.

Succulent ceremony backdrop | 100 Layer Cake

Jessie Baca built a “living wall” adorned with air plants, succulents, choya wood, and moss to serve as the focal point for their ceremony.

Succulent ceremony backdrop | 100 Layer Cake

Yves Lucero was the guitarist for their ceremony, and he played acoustic versions of Ceremony by New Order and Heartbeats by Jose Gonzalez as they walked down the aisle. Their first dance song was That’s How Strong My Love Is by Otis Redding.

Modern wedding program | 100 Layer Cake Modern wedding program | 100 Layer Cake Modern wedding invite | 100 Layer Cake

As someone who works for a stationery & letterpress studio, I naturally enjoyed designing and creating all of the paper touches for the wedding. The invitations reflected the serene mountain scenery but in a more modern light with the use of straight lines and fluorescent coral ink. We also incorporated a pair of chiles which added a humorous nod to our affinity for spicy food. Unexpectedly, we still hear about the personalized pins we made as part of our escort cards. John and I came up with a witty question—comical icebreakers based on our friendship with them—for each of our guests to proudly wear or hide depending on how embarrassed they were!

Button escort cards | 100 Layer Cake Succulent centerpiece | 100 Layer Cake modern guest book  | 100 Layer Cake Urban Santa Fe desert wedding | 100 Layer Cake washi tape escort card | 100 Layer Cake wire table number | 100 Layer Cake gallery reception venue | 100 Layer Cake

When Jessie, our Event Planner brought us to the Center for Contemporary Arts, it was the perfect match for us. The gallery is a renovated warehouse from the early 1900s, and we were immediately drawn not only to its history but also its unexpectedly airy and industrial interior. When we realized that our reception would be placed right in the middle of an art installation (that was yet to be determined), we were sold.

gallery reception venue | 100 Layer Cake modern dinner menu | 100 Layer Cake gallery reception venue  | 100 Layer Cake video projections at reception  | 100 Layer Cake

Love that the walls were lit up with video projections of old black & white films (think Esther Williams and Busby Berkeley) that dazzled and created a magical glow for their reception area.

So much fun. Congrats you two!

Photography: Karen Kristian Photography & Articulate Photo / Wedding design, ceremony backdrop and coordination: Jessie Baca / Ceremony & reception venue: Center for Contemporary Arts, Muñoz Waxman Gallery / Caterer: Marja Custom Catering / Invitations, programs, menus, escort cards: designed by the bride, Sabrina, and printed through Smudge Ink / Bridal bouquet and personal flowers: Artichokes and Pomegranates / DJ: Celeste Worl / Ceremony Guitarist: Yves Lucero / Bride’s Fashion: Casablanca Couture dressSaks Fifth Avenue heelsStella and Dot Lucia necklaceJ.Crew mini jeweled flower comb / Groom’s Fashion: 9Tailors custom suitJohn Varvatos shoesBoston Ring and Gem wedding bandHugo Boss tie