La Fonda on the Plaza

eautiful. David Stone, wedding coordinator at La Fonda, is a superstar! You know you are getting the best at the La Fonda when every vendor you book is confident and excited to work with David.

- second only to getting married to each other. Let us tell you why… The hotel itself is as gorgeous as it is charming - it truly is rich with culture, art and delicious food. If you’re reading this review and considering staying at La Fonda, we truly recommend it. Whether it’s your first time or you’re making your way back to Santa Fe. La Fonda is not just a hotel it is a unique and amazing experience. The location and views from La Fonda are southwest romantic no matter what month you visit. For whatever reason you stay at La Fonda, just know that the staff at La Fonda is what makes it worth it. Everyone is attentive and friendly and will take care of you. As a couple on the eve of our wedding, we felt taken care of and our family and friends said the same thing while at La Fonda. Many of us were skeptical or downright nervous to travel to a huge hotel during a pandemic, but staying here was a great choice and all the care, cleaning and safety measures La Fonda takes all around made our stay truly enjoyable. Our sincerely thanks to all the staff and crew. We could write for days about the exceptional service that David Stone, Director of Weddings at La Fonda, provided us before during and after our big day but we will save you the time. Instead, you should know that David has the patience of a saint and the steady hand and attention to detail of a surgeon. As someone who organizes events and conferences on a large scale, I recognize the work and detail that goes into orchestrating a large event. David took the time to answer all our questions and listen to our vision for our wedding. No detail was too small or challenge too big for him to handle. David is an immaculate professional and a straight shooter. He was especially helpful by providing his honest feedback every step of the way. We are eternally grateful to you, David for making our day spectacular beyond our expectations. You and La Fonda have a very special place in our hearts and we are fortunate to have spent it with you. If you’re looking for a place to stay in historic Santa Fe, La Fonda is an amazing experience. If you’re looking for a place to say “I do” and start forever with the love of your life, La Fonda is magical and you will be in good hands with David Stone.

lanned to get married in September 2020 but postponed a full year to 9/19/21 due to COVID; rebooking the new date was easy and all of the details e.g. room reservations, rates, deposit, etc were honored without hassle. All of our guests enjoyed the hotel rooms and hotel amenities. The hotel’s catered food and wedding reception dishes were spot on - we were especially pleased the menu reflected New Mexican cuisine. Additionally, we partook in a brilliant tradition at La Fonda: we hired Mariachis (via Absolute Entertainment) who hid behind the guests during the ceremony and began to play immediately after we were pronounced husband and wife, surprising and delighting our guests. Then they led everyone on a march around the Santa Fe Plaza, including a stop in the middle of the plaza to dance. This was one of the best parts of our wedding, and such a fun and unique experience for our guests. With respect to David, he’s something special. David was so attentive about every detail and made every step of the process simple. He was easy to contact and quick to respond to emails during the planning process, and he made us feel truly special and not just another couple on the long list of people to be married at La Fonda. Our wedding was perfect, and it’s because of the hard work and professionalism exhibited by David and his team. (review cross-posted on multiple platforms)

st a few days before our wedding day. La Fonda failed to tell us that the terrace suites we had booked were under renovation and wouldn’t be available for our wedding. La Fonda did make accommodations for us to make up for their mishap however the whole process was quite stressful. However when the wedding day came it went off without a single hiccup. David did a great job making sure everything was taken care of, the food was delicious, the staff was wonderful and the venue was breathtaking.

ver, there are a few things to be aware of going in: 1. Consider hiring a day of coordinator. I was told by others that I didn't need one because the hotel has a coordinator. Samie is very knowledgeable and kind and in the end our day was organized very well. However, I found that she was somewhat difficult to connect with leading up to the event, and I hardly saw her the day of our wedding. I had to personally ask multiple times on wedding night for the waitstaff to remove a couple tables for dancing, even though this was agreed upon in advance. If you want more personalized attention, it is worth the extra cost for a coordinator. 2. Be aware of the prices - La Fonda charges "a la carte" pricing - for example, tent sides and string lights on the terrace are individual costs. We were able to negotiate some costs down, based on how valuable these items were to us. 3. Don't expect special treatment from the hotel. They do SO many weddings a year (two the weekend we were there) and you are just another guest to them. The room block situation is below average - they will only reserve 10 rooms for free, and they charge $2 a bag to deliver welcome bags to your guests. Despite the above, I would have another wedding at La Fonda in a heartbeat. The historic hotel is just stunning, and we had the most perfect weather for our outside ceremony. Our guests all raved about the experience. It's just good to know what to expect!

e sure our chair were wiped dried and it was beautiful. The food was amazing and the staff was really friendly. I couldn’t have wished for anything better.

patio area overlooks a beautiful historic church and the ballroom right next to it is so amazing, not like a traditional ballroom. it is very light, open air, and no carpet on the floors! The venue doors can also be open on 3 sides so its super nice if you get married on a day with good weather so you can go inside and outside if you want. The staff was amazing and so were the drinks and the food. Samie, was so organized and on top of things. Even with my many requests and e-mails she met all our needs and made sure everything was perfect. If you get married in Santa Fe and want to be close to the plaza, this is the place, for sure.

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asilica of St. Francis of Assisi) and the La Terraza room for our reception (stained glass skylights, Italian marble floors, and gorgeous Santa Fe charm). It was so magical and beautiful. Samie made sure every last detail was attended to and made us feel right at home. We are so happy we had our wedding here and I would highly recommend it as a wedding venue. Thank you Samie and Cindy for making sure everything ran smoothly!

r convinced me to look at venues in Santa Fe, where our love story all began. I knew the moment I stepped onto the La Fonda Terrace that this is where my dream wedding would take place! And a dream it was - with the beautiful backdrop and gorgeous ballroom - our wedding day was a fairy tale and La Fonda set the scene. Not only is this venue gorgeous - but the food, service, and love you receive from the LaFonda team makes everything that much more special. I hope future brides to be have the opportunity to look at the beautiful La Fonda on the Plaza as a venue for their special day!