Christina and Adam had a stunning Catholic wedding at the Church of the Incarnation in Rio Rancho and Tanoan Country Club in Albuquerque, New Mexico last weekend! This was my first time in New Mexico, and it was a treat. The lack of humidity was a nice change of pace from the South, and the landscape was so different! The Sandia mountains made for a stunning backdrop for our photos too. With a sage accent color, brightly colored florals, and a sweet couple, this wedding day was one for the books. I got to shoot this one with my sweet husband Adrien, who is just the bomb of a second shooter!
Christina and Adam met at church when they were 17, while helping out at Confirmation. Their friendship grew over the years, through college and into adulthood. During COVID, the timing was right – Adam came back into town between Navy training and Christina’s would-be out of town vacation was cancelled – allowing them to meet up for the best catching up date ever. They spent the week together and decided to date long distance, and the rest is history! Their friendship and faith carried them through long distance and deployments alike, resulting in a match made in heaven.
We started the day with some details and getting ready photos at the church. Despite some timing snafus, Christina was a calm and happy bride. She gifted her sweet dad a tie with a photo of the two of them on it. Christina and Adam wanted to share a very private first look with each other, so Adrien and I hid behind some prickly bushes to give them some space to enter into their moment. The church was absolutely stunning. I think a blue ceiling with a warm interior is a stunning color scheme in a church. Check out that tabernacle too, I’ve never seen anything like it.
The bride shared with me that she chose the church for “its beauty and because our faith has always been at the heart of our friendship and relationship. Our priest is a friend who knew us both when we were only friends; he was a mentor in many ways and was able to see us grow in that time of our lives.” They had several clergy members celebrating their beautiful Catholic wedding Mass!
After the Mass, we took some portraits around the church. Afterwards, the couple and some of the wedding party made a pit stop at the Bosque, a brewery on the banks of the Rio Rancho. It’s such a fun idea to personalize your wedding day and have fun with the day, especially when you have the “Catholic gap”. We took some more portraits at the country club, which sits at the base of the Sandia mountains. The grounds were gorgeous!! The weather was absolutely perfect, and I am obsessed with the photos we got of the bride & groom together. The harsh sunlight didn’t crush our vibe either!
Shelby with Fully Present Weddings did a fabulous job as the wedding coordinator. The reception was fun and full of time for the couple to visit with their guests. Bud vases with bright florals, votive candles and little airplanes made up the pretty table decor. Bags of coffee with a thank you note sat at each place setting. Lots of smiles and sweet moments were shared during the reception, which overlooked the pretty mountain range. At the end of the night, they opted for a beautiful sparkler exit! I am so grateful for the amazing Catholic couples that trust me with their wedding photos, even out in New Mexico. Congrats Christina and Adam!!
Vendors
Venues: Church of the Incarnation Catholic Church & Tanoan Country Club || Photography: Nicole Sandercock Photography || Day of Coordination: Fully Present Catholic Wedding Coordination || DJ: TJ the DJ
