Location, Location, Location

Bizia Holmes Greene sits patiently on the couch inside her well-appointed studio office in the Lofts on Marquez Street. She's holding a smart-looking, leather-bound book in her lap and her voice is even as she speaks.

"Weddings can be horrendous stress for everyone involved, but one thing that people forget is that a wedding is not a marriage," said Greene, a wedding planner and etiquette consultant who has generously agreed to role-play with me about the ins and outs of planning a wedding. I am seated on the other end of the couch playing the prospective groom -- not that far-fetched of an idea, considering that I've been living with a significant other for over two years and the "M" word has started coming up more and more as we approach our third anniversary together.

"What drives a wedding are three main factors that all interplay with each other," she said. "The first is budget -- how much do you plan to spend? The second is guest list: Are you planning on 30 or 300? And the last factor is location, and it is perhaps the most complex part of the equation, because so much depends on it."

My head is spinning as she talks. So far, in thinking about my own potential wedding, I have only given thought to such manly questions as which of my many worthy friends would I tap to be my best man and whether I could actually get my closest family members to appear together in the same place at a pre-set time. As a local who plans to marry in Santa Fe, I keep hoping that a location will appear out of the sky in the form of someone's backyard, or, if all else fails, a quickie ceremony on the Plaza followed by drinks at Evangelo's. Something simple and elegant.

Location, location, location. Even a jaded local like myself has to admit that this town has as many venues in which to hold a wedding as there are places to view the sunset. When it comes to locations, in fact, Santa Fe has no lack of spectacular settings. As Greene tells it, however, choosing the location comes down to the personality of the couple and what they really want in a setting. Sounds simple, doesn't it? Almost peaceful, really.

Imagine my shock and horror when Greene suggested that two locations might be involved in a wedding and that the number of considerations for determining these sites could easily make a grown man -- at least this one -- not only cry but also storm off into the night, swearing never to return.

"In some respects, it would seem as if you'd have a wedding where the ceremony and the reception took place at the same location," Greene said. "But that's not always the case, given that while your uncle's backyard might be the perfect place to exchange vows, it lacks a dance floor and seating for 60."

Places that come complete with a dance floor and seating for at least 60 are amply covered in the sidebar below. They include such venerable places as the Loretto Chapel, arguably the most popular indoor location for a wedding in town with seating for 139; the elegant and artful Hacienda Do&ña Andrea de Santa Fe in Cerrillos, which has a spectacular view of the Ortiz Mountains and an on-site chapel; and the newly refurbished Encantado, whose contemporary rustic decor and wraparound views make this Tesuque resort an excellent choice for indoor and outdoor weddings.

For Leigh Kaufman Kminek, a local woman who now lives in Chicago with her husband, Chris, the choice of the Bishop's Lodge was driven by childhood memories of spending summers there, as well as by the venue's "personality," with its trees and mountains.

"We looked at three other locations around town, all of (which) were great in terms of what they offered, but ultimately the Bishop's Lodge offered us a certain intangible ambience that we really wanted in our wedding," she said.

For Santa Fe native Iscah Trujillo and her husband, Raoul, choosing was not easy. The couple had the option of using their land in Pe&ñasco, but the logistics of bringing in out-of-town family members forced them to choose a facility with enough rooms to house those guests. They looked at two locations, the Galisteo Inn and Sunrise Springs, with an eye toward having their wedding out of town. Finally, they settled on the Hacienda Do&ña Andrea de Santa Fe.

"We fell in love with Hacienda Do&ña Andrea de Santa Fe in terms of its views and its ability to get us out of town," Trujillo said. "But the nine bedrooms really sold us, because they enabled us to have a good portion of our friends and family spend the weekend with us prior to the actual (Sunday) wedding. Our wedding featured a Day of the Dead theme, which they were very accommodating of, including allowing us to use the chapel as a place to put a shrine to our ancestors.

"We were really able to take over the place and make it our own both for the weekend and the wedding," she said. "It was above and beyond anything I could've imagined, and best of all, we were able to have the wedding of our dreams plus accommodate our friends and family in one location."

For former Santa Fe resident Guthrie Taylor, who now lives in Portland, Ore., his choice of wedding venue was driven purely by cost and convenience. Smiling, he said, "I got married at the city courthouse on my lunch break."

If only it were always that easy.

Questions to ask about location

• Is being married in a church important? Is religion a factor?
• If it's not important to the couple, will it be important to either person's family? (This is particularly crucial if family is helping to pay for the wedding.)
• If a church is not required, will your wedding be inside or outside?
• If inside, do you have to pay for the venue?
• How many of your needs (catering, rooms for guests, etc.) will be covered in your indoor location?
• If outside, do you have to pay for the venue? In the case of using a public park, will you need to secure a permit?
• Will you be serving food, and can the caterers reach your site?
• Does the venue have ample parking and is it handicapped-accessible? (Some of the coolest outdoor venues probably won't be. Aspen Meadows, for example. The top of the Santa Fe Ski Area might also be a bad idea, even in the fall.)

Locations in and around Santa Fe

The Allan Houser Sculpture Gardens south of Santa Fe offer a spellbinding venue for the wedding of your dreams. Resting atop the juniper-covered hills between the villages of Cerrillos and Galisteo, the property has numerous locations for wedding services, indoor and outdoor reception areas and an area for tented events. Surrounded by more than 80 of the modern American master's monumental sculptures and ringed by the Ortiz Mountains and Cerrillos Hills, Allan Houser Sculpture Gardens can cater to small weddings or events for more than 300 people. For more information, e-mail events@allanhouser.com or call Ti at 471-1528.

The Bishop's Lodge Ranch Resort & Spa on 450 sumptuous acres offers several choices for wedding parties. For an intimate gathering, check out Bishop Lamy's chapel, built in the 1870s, which can accommodate up to 20 people (standing-room only). On a bigger scale, a beautiful outdoor gazebo and gathering space can comfortably seat about 230. There's even a nearby mesa for an outdoor wedding. Guests can stay on site and use luxurious spa services. Call 992-3922 or visit www.bishopslodsge.com.

The Buffalo Thunder resort features outdoor event spaces and its own on-site wedding chapel that seats 200. Rich elements of Native American design highlight the resort's state-of-the-art facility. The resort offers help with planning as well as a place for pre-wedding primping, receptions and a host of other services. Call 455-5555, or visit www.buffalothunderresort.com.

City parks: For those wishing to celebrate their special day in one of the city's many beautiful parks or public places, including the Cross of the Martyrs, call Barbara Lopez at the Parks and Recreation Department at 955-2100. A Web location for the special permit form for reserving a city park can be found by visiting www.nm-santafe.civicplus.com.

Eaves Movie Ranch, the location for many Western movies, has a Western theme set and a church set that can be rented separately. On Main Street, the dance hall and saloon are large enough for dancing and dining. You also can set up tents. Call 474-3045 or visit www.eavesmovieranch.com.

Eldorado Hotel and Spa offers everything from a 7,000-square-foot pavilion courtyard to a 2,200-square-foot presidential penthouse patio. With spa services on hand, there also are plenty of opportunities to relax. Call 800-955-4455, or visit www.eldoradohotel.com.

Galerie Esteban, at the corner of Delgado Street and Canyon Road in Santa Fe combines art exhibits with performances by the owner, musician Esteban. The beautiful, private garden patio seats 70 guests. Call 988-1002 or 888-988-1002, or visit www.galerieesteban.com.

Ghost Ranch in Abiquiú has the spectacular location that so inspired Georgia O'Keeffe and is approximately one hour northwest of Santa Fe. The grounds are gorgeous, with ancient cottonwoods and apple trees surrounded by otherworldly cliff formations. Accommodations are rustic (no telephones or televisions in rooms), but casitas have amazing views. Call 505-685-4333 or 877-804-4678, or visit www.ghostranch.org.

Hacienda Do&ña Andrea de Santa Fe in Cerrillos sits on 65 acres with a lovely view of the Ortiz Mountains. It has space for large outdoor weddings or more intimate affairs in an on-site chapel. The Hacienda bridal suite awaits the happy couple. This nine-room bed-and-breakfast also has wedding-package plans available. Call 505-424-8995, or visit www.hdasantafe.com.

La Fonda offers its La Terraza room as one of Santa Fe's premier wedding sites. With French doors that can be removed, guests can enjoy an indoor/outdoor reception, with many couples choosing to be married outdoors on the terrace overlooking the city. La Terraza can hold 180 for a sit-down dinner. Visit La Fonda's Web site at www.lafondasantafe.com, or call 995-2323.

Loretto Chapel, where about 250 couples marry each year, is one of the more popular wedding locations in Santa Fe. The chapel seats 139. Visit www.lorettochapel.com, or call Mark Childers at 982-0092.

Milner Plaza at Museum Hill offers the setting for an outdoor wedding complete with a labyrinth. In the nearby International Folk Art Museum, some couples choose to marry in the museum atrium, which is also a popular place for receptions after an outdoor wedding. Call 476-1203. For intimate weddings, some couples choose the nearby sculpture garden at the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture. Call 476-1247.

The New Mexico Museum of Art can accommodate more than 300 people in St. Francis Auditorium, about 100 on the garden patio with its beautiful fountain and up to 50 in the Women's Boardroom. Call 476-5068 for details.

Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort and Spa about 75 minutes north of Santa Fe, offers the only surviving round barn in New Mexico, as well as gorgeous views and mineral pools. Special wedding packages are available. Call 800-222-9162, or visit www.ojocalientesprings.com.

Pecos National Historical Park hosts weddings from March through October. Couples can tie the knot amid the ruins of an early 18th-century church that opens to the sky. No reception facilities are available. Call 505-757-6414, Ext. 236.

El Rancho de las Golondrinas connects past, present and future all in one location about 15 miles south of Santa Fe. Visitwww.golondrinas.org and follow prompts to site rentals, or call 466-3072.

Randall Davey Audubon Center's natural wildlife sanctuary on Upper Canyon Road has one of the most beautiful lawns in the city. Couples can book it for the whole day from May through September and host a tented reception afterward. The center can accommodate from 150 to 200 guests. Because events must be wildlife-friendly, loud music isn't permitted. Call 983-4609, or visit www.nm.audubon.org, and click on Randall Davey Center for rental information.

Santa Fe Southern Railway offers couples a chance to celebrate matrimony in motion. Ceremonies can be performed either on the train itself (the open-air car is the most popular choice) or at any scenic spot between Santa Fe and Lamy. Call 888-989-8600, ext. 24, or visit www.sfsr.com.

The Scottish Rite Center in downtown Santa Fe is a favorite choice for wedding celebrations. Inspired by the Alhambra in Granada, Spain, the intimate theater, ballroom and enclosed courtyard delight visitors with their Old World charm. Couples who choose to be married in the Moorish-style theater can use antique stage drops of either a magical forest or the interior of a Gothic cathedral. The ballroom, with its maple flooring, can seat up to 280 people and accommodate a dance floor and an area for the musicians. Three French doors lead from the ballroom into a cloistered courtyard, which has served as the setting for small weddings as well as for wedding photographs. Send an e-mail to secretary@nmscottishrite.org, or call 982-4414.

Sunrise Springs Resort Spa in La Cienega combines a stunning location with the amenities of a health spa and fine dining. A Japanese teahouse, yoga and tai chi center and place for raku pottery also are on the site. Couples can marry on the grounds and have their reception just a few steps away; 150 guests can be accommodated. Call 800-955-0028 or 471-3600, or visit www.sunrisesprings.com.