Since the beginning, when we hosted our first wedding at Blame Her Ranch, we have asked couples to bring a bottle of their favorite tequila for our “Rub a Little, Drink a Little” bar. Over the years, even with the stipulation, that the tequila should be enjoyed by the couple and their guests, we have amassed quite a collection. All the tequila brought to the ranch by couples and their pictures live on the bar upstairs in the main lodge. In addition to our love for the Mexican spirit, we put together a list of ways to incorporate tequila into your wedding ceremony. 1. Shots to seal and celebrate your [...]

While the title of this blog post might get you down, especially if you are planning a wedding. We are exploring this topic to help couples prepare for what is going to be a reality this year. The likelihood of delays and supply chain issues has become a lot more plausible. Like the rest of the United States, New Mexico is experiencing the same post-pandemic shortages—and, with longstanding venue’s like La Mesita Ranch closing, even more so. For couples insisting on getting married in 2022, we are unfortunately telling couples… I do, but not for 22. What is just as important for any newly engaged couple is that 2023 is [...]

Blame Her Ranch is excited to introduce Lauren Blamer Busch.  Lauren is BHR’s marketing and social media director as well as the daughter of Steve and Linda Blamer. She is also the first person to have gotten married at the ranch. Lauren: I am Steve and Linda Blamer’s daughter.  I was the first person to get married at BHR almost 5 years ago… can’t believe it’s been 5 years, wow!  I have been helping at the ranch for about a year and a half and love learning more about the family business.  In my spare time, I love playing with my vivacious 3-year-old (and one on the way), cooking, [...]

After 42 years of marriage, Steve and Linda Blamer are still going strong. The owners of Blame Her Ranch, who began renting their luxury ranch to couples for destination weddings in 2018, know a thing or two about working together successfully and staying married. Q: How long have you been married, and/or together? We have been together for over 44 years and married 42 years. Q: How did you first meet? Well, we knew each other remotely when we were 17 years old in high school back in Anaheim, CA. But we got reacquainted in 1977 at ASU when Linda transferred from Long Beach State University. Q: How long after [...]

A Honeymoon with 20 of your best friends! We always try to stay up on the latest trends in the wedding and travel industry.  One trend that recently piqued our interest is extended and inclusive honeymoons. What does that look like? We know how important it is to this generation to have group experiences with friends, opposed to the private island seclusion model of previous generations. And what better time to plan a group trip with your best friends than just after getting married? Your adrenaline and endorphins are riding high! Imagine, you and 20 of your best people take up residence in a luxury lodge or private vacation home [...]

It all begins with appreciation, not appropriation. In New Mexico, we are blessed to have a rich Native American history and population including the state’s 19 Pueblos, the Navajo Nation, the Mescalero Apache people, and additional Indigenous influences. Adding elements of Native American culture and tradition on your special day is a great way to honor our American heritage even if the ceremony is traditional in nature. Here are a few ideas for couples with and without a Native American background, based on our New Mexico and southwestern roots. The Navajo Wedding Basket The Navajo (Diné) people have a traditional wedding basket that is used in ceremonies and weddings. The [...]

We have seen so many inventive ways that couples make their day extra special. One of our favorites is the Tequila Donkey or the Beer Burro. Originating in Mexico, couples would traditionally take a parade-style walk with their friends and family to the church and wear a shot glass made for tequila or mescal around their necks. A donkey would walk with the wedding party, carry mescal, tequila and limes in its saddle bag and offer a pre-wedding toast. The tradition has been adopted in America, especially the southwest, where festively dressed tequila donkeys and beer burros are an unforgettable addition to any wedding celebration. We’ve seen a lot of [...]

When you hear the words cowboy chic, what do you envision? In Santa Fe we do Cowboy Chic our own way and a Cowboy chic wedding is full of small details working together to achieve a sophisticated and effortless event. We’ve seen so many wonderful examples of Cowboy Chic at Blame Her Ranch, here are our top suggestions. Flower Girl and Ring Bearer Style These little cuties always steal the show at every wedding, right? To make sure of it, try dressing the flower girl and ring bearer in fancy clothes and cowboy boots. Make certain that the ring bearer is wearing a cowboy hat. One of our favorite places [...]

Recently Steve & Linda Blamer have added conservation and permaculture to their long list of site improvements, fulfilling the owner’s vision to preserve the 2,000 + acres of land for generations to come. One of Santa Fe’s best landscape and design firms, San Isidro Permaculture was hired to assess a potential liability on the Blamer’s ranch. The rainwater on the mesa had the potential to erode the property’s main road and was naturally pooling in a depression on the land. “There was already a natural pond area happening, says Sam Knowlton, San Isidro Permaculture’s Operations Manager, “we decided to turn this into a great resource.” San Isidro Permaculture is a [...]

While Blame Her Ranch is best known as a wedding location, with the pandemic lingering and families looking to reconnect, Blame Her Ranch is hosting several family reunions this year. The ranch recently hosted a booking for the Robinson family from Massachusetts which included 36 people, from little kids up to older adults. After a long year of COVID separations, many find the property buy-out model a great way to keep families safe while enjoying time together. “We found the ranch before the pandemic; we have a big family. We thought Blame Her Ranch would be the perfect place to gather. Linda and Steve have thought of everything. Every comfort. [...]