Katie and Ryan are two of the most genuine, fun-loving souls. They are those kinds of people that you meet for the first time and feel like you could be best friends. We connected instantly, having lived in many of the same places. As anyone from Albuquerque, New Mexico, could tell you, when you meet someone else with a New Mexico connection, it’s basically a requirement to reminisce over the green chile and the vast desert skies. Katie moved from her hometown in Kirkland, Washington, to Albuquerque to be with Ryan around the same time that I moved from Albuquerque to the Seattle area, so we joke that we basically just traded places.

It made my heart so happy that they decided to fully embrace a southwestern desert-themed wedding. Since most of their friends and family would be traveling to them they wanted to give them all a real taste of their new home. Succulents and dream catchers were prominently on display. Dinner was a taco bar featuring authentic New Mexico green chile, and dessert included flan, biscochitos, and sopapillas and honey. YES PLEASE.

All of this dreamy desert goodness took place in the oasis of Casa Rondeña Winery. This is one of my very favorite wedding venues in Albuquerque—it just feels like a fairytale, with a long driveway lined with grape vines, a pond tucked in a corner beneath some trees, stone walls, and balconies. It was the perfect complement to the love Katie and Ryan share. They found each other when Katie visited her best friend in California, who happened to be dating Ryan’s brother. And the rest was history. Moving from city to city, loving each other long distance, nothing could get in their way. I couldn’t think of a better love story for a couple who so loves to travel, adventure, and be silly together wherever they are.

View their amazing Casa Rondeña Winery Wedding photos below!

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