Santa Fe Wedding at Inn of the Five Graces
S & J’s stunning wedding in Santa Fe, New Mexico utilized the historic architecture that makes this city so unique, and then we went to one of my favorite “secret” spots along the Rio Grande Gorge to enjoy the sunset. Their ceremony took place at the Inn of the Five Graces, which is one of the BEST venues in all of New Mexico! The staff at Five Graces go above and beyond, and are phenomenally helpful from the moment you inquire all the way up to the wedding itself. Plus, you can’t beat how centrally located this venue is—we went for a quick walk around the block afterward and saw the Santa Fe Plaza, the “Oldest House in America,” and dozens of local shops. I highly recommend this spot if you love everything Southwest!
Five Graces is the BEST Place to Get Married in Santa Fe
Inn of the Five Graces exceeded my expectations immediately! From the moment you set foot on the grounds you are surrounded by intentional, stunning architecture and history that fits seamlessly into the surrounding city. Then, whenever you meet a member of the staff, you’ll be smiling ear to ear as they radiate excitement for your celebration! Everyone at Five Graces went above and beyond to ensure that S & J’s elopement was perfect—they brought in meals, flowers, double checked with us multiple times regarding the décor of the courtyard, and seemed genuinely excited (no matter how many hundreds of weddings I’m sure they’ve already witnessed). If you’re looking for a place to home base from as you explore Santa Fe on your wedding weekend, for an anniversary, or just-because you’ll be so happy you stayed here!
I also love how centrally located this place is—you don’t have to spend your whole wedding celebration within the boundaries of this hotel because it’s right in the heart of the city. This isn’t some all-inclusive resort that sucks you in to spend every second of your time, it’s an integrated space fully immersed in the community and culture of Santa Fe. You may be sleeping here, but every meal can be spent at a new restaurant and each sunset can be watched from a different rooftop, trail, or park.
MORE: Check out The Best Places to Elope in New Mexico
I met S & J at their room, which was a two-story suite looking out at a courtyard covered in flowers. There are only a handful of rooms at the Inn of the Five Graces, which makes the entire space feel both cozy and private. There are no “economy” rooms here, so you can expect a top-shelf experience no matter which suite you choose. S was getting ready when I arrived and J was in the shower. Alana of A Salon Santa Fe was finishing S’s hair and makeup while J was in the shower. Not long after I arrived there was a knock on the door and someone from the hotel arrived to deliver a complimentary bottle of champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries. Such a sweet gesture!
Before the ceremony I took S & J out into the courtyard to have a first look—they wanted to see each other before the ceremony so we could take some time to explore around the grounds of the hotel. J couldn’t keep the smile off his face to see S in her wedding dress, and the two of them together were immediately so happy to be back in each other’s arms. As we explored around the hotel S told me that they have been together for years, and were originally friends from college. For some couples it is so clear that they are best friends—this was the case with S & J. I had such a fun time being the third-wheel for their laid-back wedding day!
If you’re looking for some more New Mexico elopement inspiration, check out:
Courtyard Ceremony at Historic Santa Fe Inn
S & J began their ceremony with live music. S then walked down the wooden staircase from the back door of their suit to greet J where he stood in front of an intricately carved alter. Something I really loved about this ceremony was how much laughter was shared! I think S & J spent probably half their time smiling and laughing at each other’s heartfelt words, while the purple and orange hand-dyed curtains fluttered behind them in the southwest breeze. This private and small space could easily host a gathering of about a dozen people, but larger weddings should consider taking place in one of the other, larger courtyards. For elopements, this spot was ideal!
Exploring Downtown Santa Fe
After they said “I do,” we left the Five Graces to explore more of downtown Santa Fe. The inn is only two blocks from the plaza, and the Palace of the Governors. Street vendors, local shops, and colorful artwork greet you from the moment you reach the sidewalk. Across the street is the San Miguel Mission, which is the oldest church in the US. Exploring a few blocks further will take you to Canyon Road, which is known for art galleries that spill out into the streets. I’d argue that historic Santa Fe is art in and of itself, but you really should see it for yourself!
Sunset on the Rio Grande
After enjoying the architecture of Santa Fe, we headed north to a spot about halfway between Santa Fe and Taos along the Rio Grande Gorge. This is one of my favorite places to take couples because of the ease of accessing so many stunning views—a five minute walk from the parking lot will take you to the rock formation pictured below, and even closer is the bridge. If we drive across the bridge and up some steep switchbacks (4x4 or AWD recommended), you can witness the sunset above the gorge from a place with expansive desert views. We stayed down in the gorge along the river on this particular day, but you could easily spend multiple days just at this location and never take a photo of the same thing twice!
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