Napa Wedding – Alexander Rubin Photography

Madeleine and John – Charles Krug

30Think Audrey Hepburn on a Roman holiday meets Leonardo DiCaprio in Great Gatsby… except in Napa Valley. Yes, it was THAT beautiful and by far one of the most magical and stunning weddings that I have ever photographed.

Charles Krug is the oldest winery in Napa Valley (founded in 1861!) and is the ultimate of vineyard venues. Charles Krug is also one of only five wineries in Napa Valley that can host weddings. And what a venue it is…

The “First Look” photos began in the recently renovated Redwood Cellar, which has a rustic yet modern feel with high, open-beam ceilings. A sliver of light filtered through the small windows, adding a perfect glow to the beautiful couple.

The Great Lawn outside of the historic Carriage House offers an array of options for a gorgeous ceremony backdrop. This park-like setting dotted with heritage oak trees and surrounded by vineyards was simply spectacular for Madeleine and John’s “I-do” moment.

Enter the Carriage House with it’s soaring vaulted ceilings, stunning period chandeliers, arched doorways and a large dance floor that is perfect for any wedding. Here, dinner was served to all 90 of Madeleine and John’s guests who had journeyed great distances to be here for their special day. However, as incredible as the wedding venue was, the best part of the day was seeing Madeleine and John shimmying it up on the dance floor together… happy, in love, and MARRIED!

Madeleine and John, your wedding was absolutely spectacular. I could feel the love between the two of you, your friends, and your family, so much so that documenting your day was simply a breeze. Thank you for the moments!

A special thank you to Mary and Stephanie at Off The Beaten Path Weddings for the flawless wedding coordination. Always a pleasure to work with you.

Amanda and Maneesh – Auberge Du Soleil

Can you say COLOR?!

Among the many festival-related rituals in a Hindi’s life, weddings are by far the most extensive of ceremonies. Laughter, vibrancy and fun were the recurring themes of Amanda & Maneesh’s wedding on this gorgeous day in Napa Valley, and let’s just say they know how to party!

Auberge Du Soleil was the perfect setting for this wedding. This venue embodies the natural beauty of wine country, but with a luxurious and modern twist. The space is intimate yet has the capacity to host larger parties if needed.

After the heavenly ceremony was over, the reception was held indoors in the function room that provided a cozy and romantic environment for the celebration. The sweethearts were welcomed into each other’s family and shared a fabulous dinner thanks to the incredible culinary talents of the Michelin star restaurant at Auberge.

As you scroll through this beautiful wedding day, I hope you enjoy this gorgeous couple as much as I did – their smiles and their joy are contagious. Amanda and Maneesh, thank you so much for allowing me to capture this incredible time of your life. It was such an honor to be a part of it.

Leslie and Joe – Auberge Du Soleil

Sunlight flooded the luxurious suite at Hotel Yountville as the bridesmaids buzzed around Leslie, sharing laughter, joy and of course – Champagne. The day was finally here – and it couldn’t have been more perfect. Located at the very southern end of Yountville, this boutique hotel is a must-stay in wine country. Small and intimate, Hotel Yountville beckons guests with buildings constructed of stacked Napa river rocks, heavy timber beams and copper accents. The rooms boast a romantic decor and perfect starting point for a wedding day.

Cheers to the start of not only an incredible day, but to a lifetime of happiness.

Speaking of incredible, look at that ring.

No wedding in Napa is complete without obligatory vineyard shots, and the Stags Leap district always provides the most stunning and dramatic of backdrops. As Lesley and Joe twirled their way throughout the rows, the sun began to lower, boasting that warm glow that Stags Leap is renowned for.

A Michelin-star menu, exquisite wine list and astonishing views is what led Leslie and Joe to choose Auberge du Soleil as their wedding venue. Nestled in the Rutherford hills, this magical resort is secluded, yet close to everything that wine country has to offer, making it a favorite for destination weddings (and a favorite of mine to shoot at).

As a wedding photographer, one of the most priceless moments is capturing the groom’s face as he sees his bride for the first time walking down the aisle.

Dinner was accompanied with happy tears, raised glasses and full hearts – not to mention some serious dancing! As I snuck away with the newly-weds to capture their first sunset as husband and wife, we could still hear the laughter and joy from the two families that on this day, became one.

Lesley and Joe, thank you for inviting me into your lives and love on this special day.

Napa Valley Engagement Session of Jessica and Bryan

Napa Valley’s beauty is one of the reasons it’s a top travel destination spot. And it’s why so many couples choose Napa for their weddings, elopements, and engagements. Jessica and Bryan who hail from the East Coast came to Napa this past fall for their engagement session, and it couldn’t have been a more perfect day. We photographed their session at Far Niente Winery and then The Oakville Grade which is high above Napa with incredible views of the valley. As you can see from the images, the vines and leaves had changed color and the trees created a dramatic backdrop for their shoot. I’m always pleasantly surprised with how my couples incorporate their own sense of style into their sessions. I think you’ll agree that they nailed it! They were so much fun and very comfortable being playful and romantic with each other. Being dressed formally was a great contrast to the rugged terrain. For their wardrobe change, they opted for a more casual look. It was fun getting them to walk among the vines and have fun with the leaves. I’m excited about how this session turned out. Everything about this shoot was visually stunning. From the beauty of the landscape to this beautiful couple, it was everything we hoped for. We shot well into the evening, which allowed me to play with lighting. I hope you enjoy this session as much as I loved shooting it.

Napa Wedding – Howell Mountain Private Home

Howell Mountain Appellation is a short 10 miles from the center of Napa. If you’re not careful you can miss it. This area is famous for it’s rich Cabernet wines, and some of my favorites can be found here. It’s safe to say I spend a lot of my time here….working of course, working. When Jenny and Ryan asked me to photograph their wedding I was extremely excited. You see the wedding was to be held at a private estate owned by Jenny’s father on Howell Mountain. What more can you ask for than to do what you love, in a place that you love.

The property had features reminiscent of an Italian villa, and a stunning pool that served as a showpiece for many of the portraits I captured. Jenny and Ryan are both fun loving with great personalities. Their families are mirrors of them and you can see in the images how much fun everyone had. We got some great shots of the couple in the nearby vineyards. I love the shot I got with the on the sign post showing all the wineries on Howell Mountain. Shooting weddings at private homes is such an honor for me. They traditionally have an intimate group of a couple’s closest family and friends. It allows for a relaxed wedding where love and fun flow freely, and it shows in my shots. After dinner and formalities everyone let their hair down and partied with a live band under the stars. It was a great way to end a perfect day!

Goosecross Winery – Engagement Session

Aren’t Nicole and Josh a beautiful couple? I think so too, and I’m so fortunate they hired me to photograph their Sonoma wedding next summer. They recently came to Napa for a planning session, and we squeezed in their engagement session. We shot at Goosecross Winery in Yountville on a perfectly sunny day. The sky looked so soft and light against the contrast of the vines that appeared to be drinking in the light. They looked electric! We also got some sexy and dramatic shots among the casks of wine that I love. It’s always great to spend time getting to know my couples better during the engagement session, especially for a destination wedding couple like this couple who hail from Minnesota.

After shooting at Goosecross, I whisked my couple off to a favorite vineyard location in Yountville. It’s where the original founder of the town planted the first grapes in an area. This place is magical to me and sharing it is always an honor. So many people enjoy Yountville because of the notoriety of The French Laundry. I love it for it’s history and beauty as well. I’d love to share it with you sometime soon.

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The Vintage Estate Yountville Wedding of Jennifer and Keith

When planning a Napa Valley wedding, there are many choices for a venue. Jennifer and Keith discovered The Vintage Estate in Yountville and I’m so glad they did. This stunning property gave me an abundance of spaces to capture beautiful images of Jennifer and Keith. Their ceremony took place under an Italian style gazebo. A particular shot that I love was Keith’s face as he watched his bride walk down the aisle to him. That gets me every time. It was a perfect Napa evening for their reception under the warm glow of lights during dinner, followed by dancing and celebration in a historic barrel room. This property has so many options and I love that my couple used several of them. It allowed me to get varied styles of shots all in one day. From rustic to elegance, this wedding had it all!

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