Photography – Alexander Rubin Photography

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 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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Garden Pavillion Sonoma Wedding of Jillian & Tom

Garden Pavillion in Sonoma is a “best kept secret” for weddings. Lucky for me Jillian and Tom found this amazing property for their wedding. Some of the attributes I loved about it include a collection of small cottages and an estate that sleeps 16. Jillian and Tom and their entire bridal party were able to stay at the house and have complete comfort and privacy. You can see from the images I captured how incredibly beautiful it is. I loved the blue cottage where we hung Jillian’s gown. It really allowed her gown to stand out!

The wedding took place at the cusp of Fall and you could feel a slight chill. But not to worry, the couple was enveloped in the warmth of their family and friends. Their ceremony was very emotional and you could feel how truly loved this couple is. Garden Pavillion has lush lawn for their rustic reception and dinner, followed by one great dance party! I can’t wait to work at this property again. If you’re looking for a truly private venue in Sonoma, you have to take a look at Garden Pavillion.

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Destination Wedding – Sun Valley Idaho

Being a destination wedding photographer allows me to work in many beautiful places with beautiful couples like Kelley and Aaron. They chose Sun Valley Idaho for their nuptual. I wish you could have been there to feel that sweet cool chill at the beginning of Fall. The weather couldn’t have been more fabulous. Clear blue skies prevailed throughout their wedding weekend. Kelley and Aaron wanted complete privacy, and to have their most beloved family and friends to share in their celebration. In order to so, they rented a private estate and enlisted the help of Jenny Harding of New Chapter Weddings and Events. She’s planned hundreds of wedding throughout the US and Internationally, and we were fortunate to have her there to lead us. She was a delight to work with and made this wedding smooth as silk.

Sun Valley Lodge is a very special place and we were lucky to capture some amazing images around the area. But I really love the images we took at the estate. It was rustic and warm allowing for some beautiful shots like the one of our couple laying on the wood floor. And of course there is nothing sexier than a peek of cowboy boots under a wedding gown. I can’t wait to get back to Sun Valley again soon. If you’re planning a destination wedding, I’d love to hear from you. I’m always up for a great adventure and a wedding. No matter where it is!

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Viansa Winery Wedding of Esther and Ryan

Northern California is arguably one of the most beautiful places to live and work. The light here is like no other place I know. On the day of Esther and Ryan’s wedding it seemed to more so than ever. Especially at that magical hour when the sun just begins to set and it creates a warm glow over everyone and everything. Our couple got ready for their wedding at Napa Valley luxury resort, The Carneros Inn, and wed at Viansa Winery in Sonoma. Viansa sits high above a hilltop with views of the Sonoma Valley, and features a natural wetland with waterfowl native to the area. It’s truly a spectacular place for a wedding.

Esther and Ryan both have great style and it really showed in their choice of shoes! Esther chose Louboutin and Ryan chose sneakers. Let’s admit it guys if you have to be in a tux all day, you deserve to be comfortable. I had a great time whisking the couple away to get some private shots with them around the property at Viansa. There are some stunning areas on this property, including a barrel room that’s warm and romantic. Ryan and his groomsmen surprised everyone with a choreographed dance for Esther and it was a huge hit. Those sneakers came in handy! This is only a sneak peek of this incredibly fun wedding. I can’t wait to share more with you.

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Gloria Ferrer Winery Wedding of Ginger and Charles

Gloria Ferrer Winery in Sonoma was the setting for the wedding of Ginger and Charles. What don’t I love about this couple? They are truly the Ying to each others’ Yang. Ginger is very outgoing and larger than life. Chuck is laid back and so calm. Together they have the perfect balance a couple needs to have a successful marriage. What they share is a love of travel and wine, and they chose Gloria Ferrer Winery because of their reputation for sparkling wines. And how better to enjoy sparkling wine than with a champagne tower? Charles and Ginger sabered the first bottle together to get the party started. Ginger has a unique style all her own. It takes a brave woman to wear a hot pink wedding gown. I shoot many white gowns per year, so shooting this Vera Wang masterpiece was a treat. She was slightly traditional with a white veil. But even that had dramatic hot pink accents! Speaking of drama, the wine cave at this magnificent property was washed in light and very romantic for this intimate reception. To end the evening the couple was sent off with a celebratory tunnel of friends waving glow sticks. With so many details to capture, I was in great hands with wedding planner extraordinaire Kaitlyn Finley of Ooh La La Weddings & Events. She brought together an amazing team of professionals that I was honored to work with.

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Harvest Inn Napa Wedding – Courtney and Matt

The Harvest Inn Wedding of Courtney and Matt in Napa Valley was special for so many reasons. One reason in particular is that Matt is a recent graduate from UC Davis with a degree in wine making. He chose to marry his accomplished lawyer fiance in a place were the vines would surround them and their loved ones. Such food and wine lovers couldn’t be married anywhere other than Napa Valley at The Harvest Inn by Charlie Palmer. The couple exchanged vows on an expansive lawn with a lush vineyard and The Mayacamas Mountains as their backdrop. This property is absolutely stunning and the light here is like no other. The way it bounces off the vines is the stuff that gives a photographer chills. You can see it the images of the couple running wild in the vineyards. One of my favorite shots was when Courtney ran barefoot through the magical Napa earth. Their intimate reception took place in the Vineyard View Terrace which feels like a private sanctuary. My camera just loves the shadows that blanketed the space. There are many more images and details of this wedding to come, but I was jumping out of my seat to share some of them with you now. As I edit more, I know you’ll want to come back and see more!

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Napa Engagement Session – Castello Di Amorosa

Engagement Sessions in Napa Valley are always interesting and fun. But this one is by far one of the most interesting. Nicole and Arthur had their engagement session at Castello Di Amorosa, which is an authentically-built, 13th century inspired Tuscan castle and winery, most of which was fabricated in Europe and reconstructed in Napa. Arthur proposed to Nicole at the castle and I had the pleasure of joining them the following day for their engagement session. We had perfect weather which made for the most beautiful blue skies that Napa is known for. With the castle as the back drop we set about getting some great images them. I love that they chose to dress in formal attire. It’s hard to tell that they’re not actually royalty. And that gown Nicole wore was a stunning contrast to the castle’s rugged look.

This castle looks like it came from another century. With great attention to detail, you really feel that you are in a historic place. Don’t let the structures fool you though, this is a serious winery with acres of vines and production of Italian style wines. At times I had to remind myself that I wasn’t in a Tuscan Valley and here in Northern California. The property is a favorite of Napa Valley Lovers wanting to propose, have engagement sessions, and even weddings. We’re looking forward to shooting here again and again. My camera loves it.

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