Well, Valentine’s Day is now behind us. That means all you newly-engaged couples can start ramping up your wedding planning. If you’re looking for a magical place for a destination wedding, read on! I’d love to entice you to come to northern New Mexico, the Land of Enchantment. And if you’ve already decided on The Land of Enchantment, here are some tips based on my many years as a Taos wedding officiant, working closely with couples planning their wedding. I hope you’ll find How to Get Married in Taos helpful in your wedding planning.
- You’ll want to explore the various ways to get to Taos, not only for yourself, but for the quantity of guests you’re thinking of inviting. If you’re within driving distance that is easy enough. If flight is involved, the Albuquerque Sunport is about 2-1/2 hours away and Denver is about a 4-1/2 hour drive.
- Consider the many location options – you probably want a unique wedding location. It is a critical decision to make before you can truly confirm your date. Most people opt to have their ceremony in the same location as their reception. In many cases this is also where you and your guests are staying. Some wonderful venues I work in regularly that offer these options are the Angel Fire Resort or in Taos: El Monte Sagrado, Hacienda del Sol, The Sagebrush Inn, San Geronimo Lodge or right here in my SpiriTaos gardens for ceremony-only small weddings. Find links and learn about many more options using my Locations Page as a starting point in your search.
- With your location secured it is time to think about your other wedding vendors. As a Taos wedding officiant I hope you’ll consider my services to be the one that performs your ceremony and signs the legal paperwork. Please contact me today to confirm my availability! You’ll also need a photographer and I highly recommend Deanna Nelson with Poetic Images. Together, we also offer packages for our services if yours is an intimate wedding. For a complete listing of wedding vendors in Taos that I recommend, go to the bottom of my Home Page (or any other page on my site) and request my resource guide. There you’ll find musicians, deejays, florists and many more. If yours is a destination wedding, you may want to coordinate accommodations for your guests.
- Don’t forget the legal aspect of your marriage! You’ll need how to acquire a marriage license in New Mexico. You and your spouse need to go together, with photo ID and $25 cash/check to any county clerk’s office in the state. There is no waiting period – you can get the license the day of your ceremony if you like. Nor does the license expire, so you can get it well ahead of time.
- At each step of the way, be sure to share your planning with each vendor you speak with. They’ll offer their own personal insights which are invaluable. You can learn of things that have worked well for them in the past and things you might want to avoid. For instance, as a wedding minister in Taos, I never recommend a Unity Candle ceremony for outdoor wedding locations. Breezes make it too challenging and the effect is lost.
Email me at Dan@EmbracingCeremony.com or call 720-849-5967 so I can answer further questions for you.
Want more information on this topic? Email Dan at Dan@EmbracingCeremony.com