Kimberly Richey and Larry Birney
Married in Santa Fe, New Mexico on October 22, 2011
Kimberly Richey met Larry Birney at her first day on the job in a small, rural town in Oklahoma where they had both recently relocated to after working the grind in large, suburban cities. Larry was immediately swept off his feet by Kim’s sense of humor and charm.
When it came time to propose, Larry planned a romantic getaway to Napa Valley, were the couple spent 10 days traveling through the area. One evening, Larry arranged for a private dinner at the Meadowood, complete with roses and candlelight. Towards the end of the meal, Kim stepped away and when she returned, the curtains to a private room had been drawn and Larry was down on bended knee holding a ring in his hand. He tearfully and nervously asked Kim to spend the rest of her life with him. Kim said yes
The couple always said that if they ever got married they would do so in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It was here that they took one of their first trips together as a couple and, while they were falling in love with each other, they also fell in love with the city, culture, food and the beautiful landscape. They said it always felt like home.
They decided to get married at the historic Loretto Chapel with its famous “miraculous staircase.” Built sometime between 1877 and 1881 it makes more than two complete 360-degree turns, stands 20-feet tall and has no center support. Resting solely on its base, it was constructed with only square wooden pegs and is free of glue or nails.
Legend says that to find a solution to the seating problem, the Sisters of the Chapel made a novena to St. Joseph, the patron saint of carpenters. On the ninth and final day of prayer, a man appeared at the chapel with a donkey and a toolbox looking for work. Six months later, the elegant circular staircase was completed and the carpenter disappeared without pay or thanks. After searching for the man (an ad was even run in the local newspaper) and finding no trace of him, some concluded that he was St. Joseph himself, having come in answer to the sisters’ prayers.
Additionally, the ornate stained glass in the chapel was purchased in 1876 from the DuBois Studio in Paris. The glass was first sent to New Orleans by sailing ship and then by paddle boat to St. Louis, Mo., where it was taken by covered wagon over the Old Santa Fe Trail to the chapel. It was completed in 1878 and with its rich and vibrant past, the chapel can be seen as symbolic of a couple’s love and their journey starting their new life together.
Cinematography: Luminance Wedding Films, Albuquerque, NM; Ceremony Location: Loretto Chapel, Santa Fe, NM; Reception Location and Caterer: Rio Chama, Santa Fe, NM; Cake: Maggie’s Cakes, Santa Fe, NM; Event Planner: Married by Jessie Abrams Baca, Santa Fe, NM; Floral Design: Marisa Peluso, Marisa’s Millefiori, Santa Fe, NM; Guitarist: Rick Mena, Music Santa Fe, Santa Fe, NM; Photography: Ginger Russell Photography, Santa Fe, NM
We wish you countless years of happiness Kimberly and Larry and a big thank you to Sarah and Scott Kanafani of Luminance Wedding Films for letting us share this with our viewers!
Tags: Albuquerque wedding videographers, Albuquerque weddings, Ginger Russell, Ginger Russell Photography, Loretto Chapel, Luminance Wedding Films, Maggies Cakes, Marisa Peluso, Marisas Millefiori, Married by Jessie Abrams Baca, Music Santa Fe, New Mexico cinematographers, New Mexico wedding videographers, New Mexico weddings, Rick Mena, Rio Charma, Santa Fe wedding cinematographers, Sarah Kanafani, Scott Kanafani
