This Whimsical Santa Fe Wedding Included New Mexico Traditions and a Surprise Donkey

For the couple that met on Cinco de Mayo, tequila almost became a running theme for Jaclyn and Foster. After enjoying margaritas with friends on that day in 2019, Jaclyn was encouraged by a mutual friend to meet up with Foster at a local dive bar in Dallas. The two hit it off immediately, laughing together as they watched the Stars game in the empty bar. Jaclyn even texted her sister that she’d just met her future husband, and Foster would bring that to fruition when he proposed on a trip to Cabo. Despite the bride-to-be’s reluctance to venture out into the sweltering heat, she says, “We went for cocktails and ran back to the room to ‘freshen up,’ but when we walked in, the entire villa was decorated with candles and roses, and he led me to the rooftop [to propose].” They celebrated afterward with a view of the sunset, champagne and dinner.

Though the two hail from Dallas, throwing an unforgettable celebration meant moving the party to Santa Fe to immerse themselves and their guests into the city’s “traditional elegance mixed with the fun, whimsical [and] magical culture,” Jaclyn says. The city held the perfect space that blended history with new traditions for their wedding day— the La Fonda, one of the oldest hotels in the country with its terracotta architecture and lavish suites. They held their ceremony outdoors at The Cathedral Basilica, just down the street from the historic venue on the plaza. The couple pulled their color palette from both spaces, with a mix of warm pinks, bright fuchsia and terracotta. “I love fun patterns and color, and knew we needed to embrace the setting of La Fonda and Santa Fe as a whole,” says the blushing bride.

One way the two achieved this was through “whimsical” flowers throughout the decor. Arrangements at both the ceremony and reception included a mix of roses, garden roses, chrysanthemums, natural greenery and other summer blooms in varying heights and shades of pink. From her large sculptural bouquet to the ceremony backdrop on 10 pedestals, flowers were a focal point in their picturesque venues for a touch more color. Jaclyn says, “Throughout the reception, we had a mix of bud vases, small sculptural centerpieces, large arrangements on pedestals and a lot of votive and pillar candles. The florals were definitely the highlight of the decor, and we still get compliments to this day on how amazing they were!”

Though tradition was an important element for the couple, Jaclyn knew she wanted to embrace a unique silhouette and style for her wedding looks. Her bridal gown was an airy silk organza with an architectural bust and flowy bow on the hip, letting her move more comfortably throughout the day. Foster stuck with a classic look, a black tuxedo with a bit of Santa Fe flair in the quail feather bowtie and matching studs. “My favorite part of my dress is that I got to wear an Asian-American designer,” Jaclyn adds of her wedding gown, which she paired with Jimmy Choo bejeweled heels.

For many guests, this was their introduction to Santa Fe, so the nearlyweds pulled out all the stops to show their loved ones the culture. At the ceremony, guests were welcomed by a live wedding band. Jaclyn and Foster had the chance to read their vows to each other privately during their first look, a moment that the two recalled calming their nerves before the ceremony. When they entered the cathedral space, the aisle was lined with colorful floral arrangements to accent the stunning space. And upon their exit, guests showered them with flower petals, following them on the walk to the cocktail hour venue led by a mariachi band. “[I]t was such a pleasant surprise for all of our guests to be quickly swept away with maracas in hand and mariachi playing, and there happened to be a classic car show going on downtown. There were hundreds of strangers in the street cheering us on and giving us wedding blessings,” Jaclyn says of this unique experience.

Jaclyn and Foster’s overall theme of “whimsy elegance” came to life with their wedding vendors, like their planner Lauren of Just Lovely Weddings and Darling Details Rentals. The bride says, “Lauren pulled beautiful vintage pieces of furniture and rugs, along with all of the votives, candle holders, and her beautiful saltillo tile chargers! The best part was the chili pepper place cards, which Lauren did by hand.” Many of the ceremony flowers were repurposed for the space, and the newlyweds incorporated their golden retriever, Lainey, into the custom cocktail napkins and matchbox wedding favors.

Naturally, what would their cocktail hour be without some of their favorite drinks? The menu included sangria, ranch waters and spicy margaritas, complete with custom picado flag cocktail stirrers that Jaclyn and Foster DIY-ed at home. Jaclyn even changed into a second look, a sequin feather-lined maxi dress for the reception that she says “screamed fun.”

And, of course, who could forget the other way the couple integrated tequila into their day, with Rosita, the tequila donkey? “The look on everyone's face was priceless… Rosita really kicked it up a notch, and everyone started to let loose,” Jaclyn says. Guests danced to a live wedding band, playing their parents’ favorite classics and a custom setlist to get guests moving.

The newlyweds want to remind couples planning their own dream wedding to embrace the ways things don’t go to plan. They say, “It's easy to get caught up in every little detail on the wedding day. Take it slow, enjoy the moments together [and] try to be as present as you can.”