FAQs

Question

Why Ghost Ranch & New Mexico?

Answer

Ghost Ranch is a beautiful, dreamy setting in northern New Mexico. It is intimate and vast at the same time, tucked away in a special slice of this land marked by canyons, colorful peaks, and vast desert vistas. As an artistic and spiritual retreat center, it serves as a space of creativity, exploration, and reflection, all things we wanted to uphold in our wedding celebration. A couple specific points on Ghost Ranch: one of our favorite artists, Georgia O'Keeffe, spent formative years of her career painting right on this ranch, capturing the dramatic desert environment. It is home to a 11-circuit labyrinth path, which was a draw for Nate, who grew up walking labyrinths at his summer camp in Northern California. As an expansive property, it offers hosting and lodging spaces that allow us to bring our community to one central place of gathering and celebration. New Mexico more broadly is a state with profound beauty and spirit that holds deep history in the Southwest. It is significant to Nate's family: his uncle Dan and Dan's partner Ruth live in Albuquerque. Nate's grandmother, Elaine, engaged in artist workshops for many years in Taos. Nate’s mother Holly and his sister Tamara would tag along for the road trips. They all fell in love with the community, the learning, and the landscape. While we are not from New Mexico, we are committed to honoring the complex cultural history of this place. New Mexico’s past and present is shaped by many indigenous communities, immigrants, artists, farmers, colonizers and settlers, and so many more. Our hope is to celebrate our wedding with mindfulness, appreciation, and respect for this rich and contested heritage, and we ask that you do the same.

Question

What should I bring?

Answer

Ghost Ranch sits at an elevation exceeding 6,000 feet, and we encourage you to pack accordingly, especially if you plan to take advantage of the hiking offered on the Ranch. September is a warmer month, so we recommend bringing sun protection along with layers for the cooler desert mornings and evenings. We will provide small gift bags with snacks, hydration, and mini flashlights for guests. There will also be snacks available in the Coyote and Tumbleweed Lodges. You’re welcome to bring anything else you might need (hiking boots, sketch pad/watercolor set, knitting etc.)

Question

Do I have a plus one?

Answer

Check your invitation :) Due to limited space, we’re only able to accommodate the guests listed on the invite. We truly appreciate your understanding!

Question

Can I bring my kids?

Answer

Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate your little ones at our wedding.

Question

What should I wear?

Answer

We’re thrilled you asked, because we love any occasion to dress up! Think cocktail attire that is chic, colorful, patterned, quirky, artistic, playful. We encourage you to channel your best, most comfortable, and fashionable self, and to add your own Western flair. Iris will be wearing white, and you are welcome to wear white as well. Nate will be wearing black, and you're welcome to wear black as well. Thick heels or boots are recommended, as most roads are gravelly, dusty, or uneven. Don’t forget to accessorize! You can find more inspiration on our Pinterest board: https://pin.it/6G1lL1iG5

Question

What is Quakerism & what's a Quaker ceremony?

Answer

Quakerism, also called the Religious Society of Friends, is a Christian faith tradition that emphasizes the SPICES i.e. Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality, and Stewardship. Iris grew up going to Meeting for Worship at Philadelphia's Germantown Monthly Meeting, and both Nate and Iris have attended meetings at the Brooklyn Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends. Quakers often gather in Meeting for Worship where participants sit together in expectant silence. Anyone who feels moved may speak, sharing a brief message or reflection. Our wedding will include a Meeting for Worship component, likely lasting 20-30 minutes. This practice encourages thoughtful listening, openness, and a sense of shared spiritual presence. In this vein, we ask that you share in the spirit of Quakerism throughout the weekend. The purpose of our wedding is all about celebrating the people we love, so come ready to meet and engage with one another, have fun, and be a lover in all senses of the word. That also means take care of the physical space and make space for others. Community can be messy, mistakes happen, but please do your best to affirm all identities present at the wedding. That would be Quakerism in its truest form.