What I Learned from a Wedding at White Sands National Park
As a New Mexico based wedding and elopement photographer, I get to photograph weddings in some pretty spectacular places, but my favorite place by far is White Sands National Park. Located right outside of Alamogordo, New Mexico, White Sands is a hidden gem that you should definitely consider if you’re planning an intimate ceremony for your wedding, elopement, or vow renewal.
Planning a ceremony can be really overwhelming, so I gathered some info on White Sands, so you don’t have to!
Here’s what I learned:
White Sands is a busy place. Seriously- it’s crawling with tourists, meaning if you don’t plan accordingly, you could have a random family from Michigan in the background of all your photos. The good news is, there is a private group use area available by reservation only that’s pretty secluded from all the hubbub that you can rent for $50 a day. It even has a covered picnic area and bathrooms! (Talk about a bargain as far as wedding venues go!)
Guests do have to pay to get into the park, but it's $25 per car, which gives access to the park for 6 days (veterans and active duty service members get in free). I recommend carpooling into the park to cut down on entry fee expense.
It's best to plan your ceremony for the evening when the sun starts to hang lower in the sky, because the sun is BLINDINGLY INTENSE out there during the day. The ceremony I shot took place at 2pm and it was far too early in the day and the lighting was harsh- we couldn't even keep our eyes open without wearing sunglasses. I ended up talking the couple into coming back at sunset for better pictures.
You'll definitely want to plan on doing photos around sunset. The sunsets at White Sands never disappoint. (Bear in mind, if you're hiring a professional photographer, an additional permit is required- make sure that is hashed out with your photographer prior to the ceremony).
Dogs are allowed as long as they are on a leash.
Alcohol is allowed after May 31st (just no kegs or glass bottles).
The park is open 7am until sunset. Pro tip: If you plan your ceremony on a full moon, the park is usually open later (until 10pm) giving you more time to enjoy the beautiful dunes and celebrate under the stars!
For more information on planning a wedding with the National Parks Service at White Sands, visit Weddings - White Sands National Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)
And for more information on wedding photography packages, visit www.cheyennechavez.com/weddings
(Cheyenne Chavez is a New Mexico based photographer specializing in portraits for pets and their people, as well as weddings, elopements, and other once in a lifetime moments).
