Have you been searching for wedding venues in New Mexico? There are so many amazing options to choose from, but I have to mention one of my favorites - Vermejo, a Ted Turner Estate.

This wedding venue is surrounded by natural beauty, mountains, serene water, and stunning acres of picturesque land, and even comes with luxury accommodations. I had the chance to capture Allison and Jesse’s multi-day wedding weekend here and I loved every moment that I was there.

Let’s dive into more about Vemejo and you can check out some of the highlights from Allison and Jesse’s wedding. Plus, discover my top tips when planning your destination wedding weekend getaway.

A woman in a white wedding dress and a man in a tuxedo having a wedding ceremony with their officiant while surrounded by their wedding guests standing in front of a lake that is surrounded by pine trees and mountains

Vermejo, A Ted Turner Estate

Vermejo is considered the jewel of northern New Mexico, and for good reason. Here, you’ll find snowcapped alpine tundra, pristine streams, lakes, and diverse landscapes, and it offers lodging options from turn-of-the-century luxury to a secluded mountain getaway or cottages.

This location is a reserve owned by Ted Turner. If you want your wedding backdrop to look like a national park with a Western vibe, Vermejo is the place. This is the perfect place for a smaller, more intimate wedding that also focuses on experiences for you and your guests.

Another unique feature of this venue is the amount of activities you can participate in with your guests. You and your guests can enjoy the spa, ice fishing, a guided bison expedition, high-country horseback riding, a fishing excursion, and so much more, all guided!

Allison and Jesse’s Multi-Day Wedding Weekend At Vemejo, A Ted Turner Estate

Allison and Jesse had a multi-day intimate wedding experience at Vermejo, a Ted Turner Estate. This stunning property is located in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of northern New Mexico, known for its breathtaking natural beauty and sustainability.

They wanted to share this wonderful property with their guests by planning a vacation and camp-like experience, which included a welcome party, adventure challenge, cowboy breakfast, Cinco de Mayo rehearsal dinner, and picturesque wedding celebration against magical scenery, ending with a tailored and luxurious multi-course meal. Guests also enjoyed fly fishing, skeet shooting, hiking, biking, and much more during their time!

Jesse and Allison really wanted to lean into having a nontraditional wedding. Allison is a co-founder, along with a close friend, of Explore Ranches, so doing unique, one-of-a-kind things is near and dear to their hearts.

Explore Ranches partners with private ranches across the country for handcrafted, unique vacations. So, you know when it came to their wedding, they were able to make their nontraditional vision come to life at Vermejo.

Since Jesse and Allison wanted a small wedding that included only their immediate family and best friends, they realized Vermejo was the perfect place for their wedding. The venue had the exact number of rooms they needed to accommodate the number of guests they wanted, so they were able to curate an entire wedding weekend and experience at this venue for themselves and their guests.

Jesse and Allison’s wedding was designed and executed with the mission of Ted Turner Reserves…’ restoring, sharing, and safeguarding America’s wild places for future generations while providing an inspiring guest experience that showcases our planet’s natural treasures.’

Every event was planned with elevated simplicity and picturesque scenery in mind so as not to distract from the beautiful property. The wedding was planned around the guest experience, with nothing produced or forced, which is clear in the moments captured.

One of my favorite memories from this wedding was seeing everyone’s excitement when we arrived at the ceremony site and walked around the corner to see the amazing spot that was hand-selected by Silver Thistle Events and myself. The eagle that soared above and even a trout that jumped out of the river just before they said their vows were definitely memories I won’t be forgetting soon.

There was also a quiet moment between the couple near the end of the welcome party when they soaked up their loved ones all around them.

This venue was unbelievably beautiful, and I loved the way the weekend flowed! The design was relaxed and unique each day/event but cohesive. The long dining table on the front lawn with spectacular views of the mountains and sunset was also really romantic and beautiful. Definitely a magical ending and touch to this adventure!

This event wouldn’t have come to life or been executed without SilverThistle Events, my partner in crime!

To read more about Allison and Jesse’s wedding weekend go here.

Allison and Jesse’s Vendors

Venue/Catering/Accommodations | Vermejo – A Ted Turner Reserve

Event Photography | Map and Compass Photography

Event Planning & Design | Silver Thistle Events

Event Partner | Explore Ranches

Event Florals | Floriography Flowers

Tabletop Rentals and Event Furnishings | Colorado Party Rentals

Table Linens | BBJ La Tavola Linens

Wedding Invitations | Isidore-Augustine.com

Wedding Day Stationery + Bandana Design | Peach Paper Design

Specialty Furniture Rentals | Darling Details Rentals

Custom Chocolate Bars | Tony’s Chocolonely

DJ/Music Sound Support | Tully Entertainment

Musician Guitar & Vocals | Dan Dyer

Wedding Dress | Laure de Sagazan

Bride’s Custom Boots | Stallion Boot Company

Bridal engagement ring | Family Heirloom from Groom’s Grandmother

Bridal Wedding Band | Bell and Bird – original design

Groom’s Ring | Bell and Bird – custom signet

Groom’s Suit | J. Press

Top Tips When Planning a Wedding Weekend Getaway

If you want to plan a wedding weekend getaway like Allison and Jesse here are my top tips:

Find a weekend wedding venue

Having a weekend wedding is so underrated. I love weekend weddings because they give you the chance to spend more time with your guests and extend your celebration. It’s also super convenient for you and your guests, and it’s an added bonus if the wedding venue has additional activities you and your guests can do right on the property.

You’ll also want to make sure that the venue you choose is accessible, and you can research whether the venue provides on-site transportation for you and your guests.

Come up with an itinerary

It's a good idea to make an itinerary to give to your guests to ensure that you have enough time for all the different activities that you want to do with them. By making an itinerary, you’ll also avoid being bombarded with questions on your wedding weekend about what time everything is happening and where.

You can also make it clear to your guests that the activities on the itinerary are optional and that they aren’t obligated to attend every single activity. Make sure that you also build some downtime into the itinerary so that you and your guests can relax and feel like you’re enjoying the activities you’ve planned to the fullest without feeling stressed or rushed.

Plus, this is your wedding weekend. You don’t want to feel like you are running around 24/7, and you want to make sure you can fully appreciate the time you are spending with your guests.

Hire a team of professionals

For the best wedding weekend experience, make sure you hire the pros. Having a wedding planner/coordinator and a team of experienced experts will save you a lot of time and make your wedding weekend less stressful.

If you’re planning a wedding weekend in a place like Vermejo, you will want to hire a team familiar with the terrain and curating events in remote spaces. This team should be preferably led by a planner and photographer (like me) with vast experience in outdoor build-out and event logistics.

Is Vermejo the Perfect New Mexico Wedding Venue for You?

I hope you found this guide helpful and that you’re excited about the possibility of planning a wedding at Vermejo in New Mexico! If you want to have a one-of-a-kind wedding complete with an entire weekend wedding experience, unique activities, and breathtaking views, this venue might just be the perfect fit.

Now, all you need is the perfect photographer. If you’re ready to have a wedding experience where you embrace the unexpected and where genuine, true moments are captured between you and your partner, then let’s get started dreaming and planning your true elopement or wedding day in Texas or beyond! You can get in touch with me here or learn more about my services here.