A Garden Wedding at Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town in Albuquerque, New Mexico

Kelly Barela and Anthony Rivera balanced their venue’s natural vibe with a soft color palette of pale blue, gray and gold and understated vintage touches to give their summer fete a sophisticated feel. “The outdoor venue at Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town is stunning—super lush and green. I immediately knew we had found the right place,” Kelly says. “We decided to take advantage of the entire space and have the ceremony on the grass and the reception under the pavilion.” The couple tapped their family and friends to bring their vision to life, hand-making many of the decorative details themselves, from the stationery, paper goods and signage to the photo booth backdrop and the whimsical, gilded eucalyptus wreath that designated the dessert table. “We discussed early on that what we wanted to spend a good portion of our budget on was pictures. They are what keep the memories of the beautiful day alive!” Kelly says. The florals took cues from the setting, with garlands of mixed greenery draped along the reception tables perfectly mirroring the pavilion’s vine-covered roof. For the ceremony, Viva Flora created a jaw-dropping of arrangement of sage-colored greenery, full white blooms and hints of blue flowers to decorate the wood arbor that framed the couple as they exchanged vows. While the event’s aesthetic was all about organic elegance with an old-world twist, the couple made sure to include a few personality-packed details. Instead of a unity candle or sand ceremony, the pair decided to do a balloon release. They locked two heart locks together, tied the keys to balloons and released them.