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An Intimate Wedding Celebration in Santa Fe

An Intimate Wedding Celebration in Santa Fe

A fusion of vintage nostalgia and a vibrant, summery energy

Mallory and Cameron's wedding was a celebration of love, intimacy and style, fusing traditional sentiment with a relaxed charm. Surrounded by their closest family and friends, the couple exchanged vows in a charming chapel, honoring the classic elements of a wedding ceremony. The reception that followed strayed from tradition, creating a laid-back, homey atmosphere with the energy of a garden party. Vibrant floral arrangements adorned the tables, contrasting beautifully with bright pink stationery that added a playful touch to the décor. Family-style tiramisu for dessert brought everyone together in a warm atmosphere. Mallory looked stunning in a Danielle Frankel gown and then changed into an elegant Tom Ford dress, embodying the casual elegance and personality of the day. Captured beautifully by our photography members Kindred.

An Intimate Wedding Celebration in Santa Fe

Our Love Story

^{The Day We Met}

Cameron and I grew up in the same (relatively small) town, but our paths never crossed, even though we had the same doctors, dentists, and frequented the same places. After moving away – me to New York then Dallas, and Cameron to D.C. – we finally met when we both returned home in May 2020. Ironically, two mutual friends were trying to set us up without realizing the other was doing the same! Our first date was at a drive-in movie theater, one of the few places still open during the lockdown. We’ve been together almost every day since!

^{The Proposal}

Although Cameron might like to think otherwise, he’s not great at keeping secrets, so I definitely knew a proposal was coming. We had a trip to L.A. planned right after Thanksgiving, and even though I was expecting it, he managed to keep me on edge the whole time. It wasn’t until the second-to-last day that we decided to take a day trip to Matador Beach, where he finally proposed!

^{The Engagement Ring}

Cameron designed the ring himself, and he got it just right. I wanted something simple and timeless, so he chose a delicate yellow gold band with a single elongated cushion diamond. It’s absolutely perfect.

Our Wedding

^{The Vision}

One thing that was important to us was being able to fully experience and enjoy our wedding day so we decided to keep our guest list intimate, with just 60 people – our family and closest friends. While I envisioned a traditional ceremony, I wanted the reception to have a more unconventional feel. It was mostly inspired by my obsession with the L.A. music scene of the 60’s/70’s. I aimed to recreate the relaxed, homey vibe of what I imagine a party at Mama Cass’s house in Laurel Canyon would be like— great music, delicious food and cocktails, and a laid-back atmosphere.

^{Our Team of Vendors}

I feel incredibly blessed to have had such an amazing team of vendors. With the help of my wedding planner, Kelly Legare, founder of Paper Forest Design, we carefully selected each vendor to align with our vision, and they all delivered beyond our expectations. Even though I was deeply involved in the planning, seeing everything come together on the day completely blew me away.

^{The Location}

My family has a house in Santa Fe where we spend a significant amount of time, so it was an easy choice to celebrate our special day in a place that feels like a second home to us.

^{The Ceremony}

The ceremony perfectly reflected both Cameron's and my personalities. We chose Loretto Chapel, a beautiful historic church right off the Santa Fe Plaza, as our venue. Our pianist played songs like "Going to California" and "My Sweet Lord," and then "Tiny Dancer" as my dad and I walked down the aisle. My brother was our officiant which made the ceremony even more meaningful. As we exited, our friends lined up to toss lavender before we hopped into our getaway car for the reception. It was truly the most special day.

An Intimate Wedding Celebration in Santa Fe

^{The Reception}

For our reception, Cameron and I envisioned an intimate, house-party atmosphere similar to the dinner parties we love to host at home. We chose El Rey for our reception because its layout allowed us to create distinct events in various areas of the hotel, offering unique experiences throughout the night – cocktail hour in the Spanish Courtyard, dinner on the lawn, and drinks, dessert, and dancing in La Reina and the hotel lobby. It was such a fun evening – we kept extending it with our vendors because we never wanted it to end!

^{The Special Touches}

There were so many special touches that made the day memorable, but a few standouts were the desserts, the disco ball, and the camcorders. Brandon from Dig & Serve whipped up the most insane lemon possets as an after dinner dessert. They were so beautiful on the plate – a small but special little moment. We also opted for a family-style tiramisu, Cameron’s favorite dessert, instead of a traditional wedding cake. It fit the messy/serve yourself, laid-back, house-party vibe we were going for. The disco ball we brought for decor seemed to make its way into many of our favorite photos. Elle and Zach captured one of my favorite shots from the night which showed the commotion of the dance floor in the foreground, and in the background, our nephew, exhausted from dancing, with the disco ball perfectly placed next to him. Lastly, we made a spur of the moment decision to pack some of my dad’s old camcorders and put them on the reception tables for our guests to use. We weren’t really sure what would come of it, but we ended up with a scrappy homemade wedding video that we absolutely love!

^{Our Favorite Moment}

Our favorite moment was right after the ceremony ended, just before we went out for the lavender toss. It was a special, quiet moment for just the two of us, allowing us to fully savor the fact that we were finally married. Knowing that stepping out of the church would launch us into a whirlwind of celebration, it was so nice to have that brief moment to ourselves.

Our Style

^{The Bridal Looks}

At my first wedding dress appointment, I wasn’t entirely sure what I was looking for. But when I tried on the Camille by Danielle Frankel, I was surprised by how quickly it felt like the right choice. I fell in love with the gown’s silhouette and intricate pleating. For the reception, I changed into an open-back, full-sequin Tom Ford gown that captured the old-school glam look I wanted. My first job out of college was as the PR Assistant for Tom Ford, so it felt like a fitting choice.

^{The Groom Looks}

Cameron went with a classic tuxedo but slipped on his favorite Stetson almost immediately after the ceremony ended.

Our Advice

^{For The Planning Process}

Find a planner & designer who truly understands what you’re wanting and let them guide you through the process. Kelly was my constant sounding board from start to finish. On the day of the wedding, she orchestrated every detail behind the scenes, ensuring that everything went smoothly. Her support throughout the planning and on the day of took so much stress off my shoulders.

^{For On The Day}

Try to enjoy the day and be present! After all the planning, Cameron and I made a conscious effort to set aside thoughts of details and simply focus on being with our family and friends. At the end of the day, no one will notice if something is missing or doesn’t go according to plan. Everyone is there to celebrate with you and show their love and support.

An Intimate Wedding Celebration in Santa Fe

^{For Post-Wedding}

Cameron and I left for our honeymoon the day after our wedding, and despite my initial hesitation about managing both the wedding planning and packing for the trip, I can’t recommend it enough – even if it's just for a mini-moon! All I wanted to do was go over every single detail and relive the day over and over. That time to unwind and reflect was invaluable. I genuinely can’t imagine diving back into work and daily life immediately after the wedding without that time to fully soak it all in.