Welcome to the rugged landscapes of New Mexico, where the sunsets paint the sky in hues of fiery red and orange, and the spirit of the Wild West is alive and well. In this enchanting corner of the country, we invite you to step into a celebration of love like no other—a Western cowboy wedding that unfolded against the breathtaking backdrop of New Mexico’s mountains.
Picture a scene straight out of a Western movie—a quaint horse coral , rustic wooden fence surrounding a dusty paddock; a wranger and his wife greeting their guests getting ready for the big day. The horses nickered as they hung their heads while a couple of hands did the work up saddling up the mounts. This little ranch stead would serve as the jumping of place for the days events. Half way up the ridge of the peak today’s ride would be to a mountain meadow where the air is crisp and clean and the views of God’s county simply amazing. The early morning air held a bite of chill, but the recommendation to dress in layers was heeded, as it would get warmer as the sun rose.
The couple were just a couple of “kids” from a local Air Force Base, high school sweethearts who knew they couldn’t live without each other. The horse back ceremony was her dream, from the time she first learned to ride, she knew some day sho would marry that boy, in the mountains on a trail ride. The groom was an airman stationed close to home, but orders had just come through and his next duty station was overseas. While he preferred motorcycles to horses, he knew just what this meant to his bride, so if she wanted a small wedding on the side of a mountain with just family and friends, so be it.
The ride was a smooth and easy one to start, the wrangler knew the trails and choose the one that would lead to their destination in the most scenic but safe manner. That doesn’t mean it did not get a bit challenging. The trail up the box canyon lead to a series of switch backs that lifted the crew up to a ridge line and then through a series of stream crossings, then ultimately to the meadow where the hands had prepared a clearing strewn with wild flowers.
The ceremony: As the sun climbed to high noon, the witnesses assembled, a hand pulled a harmonica out of his vest and did a fairly decent rendition of “Ode To Joy”, while the bride escorted by her parents walked up the meadow. Dressed in blue jeans and a Pendelton flannel shirt she wore a short lacey white vail she had hidden in her saddle bag. Beneath a robins egg blue cloudless sky, she was ready to state to the Earth and sky, the wind and trees, this, this was her beloved, the man she chose to spend the rest of her life with.
As the officiant I tried to give an idea of what they would experience in the next sixty or seventy years. The good times, the trying times, the times they could count on that if they had no one else, they would have each other. I read words of encouragement, spoke the vows and the promises they were committing them selves to, asked for the rings and blessed them. I pronounced them to be husband and wife and lastly I read them this poem
Two Trails Become One Road
By Steve Miller
In tails and white, you’ll leave tonight, with the one that you love so,
You must allow us one last chance to tell you what we know.
As feather legged horses strain against each single tree,
Life’s heavy burdens shared by two are drawn more easily.
And though you’re now together, yoked in love and grace,
Push not against each other, respect the others trace.
Love shared is not divided, but multiplied you see,
It’s the only time I know, when one and one adds up to three…
Or four, or five, or six, or even seven,
But be assured each red round face is an angel straight from heaven.
It’s time to take your parents love, store it safely, deep within,
A new page in your book of life you must today begin.
As together you ride separately, two trails become one road,
That leads towards your destiny, God bless and share your load