Napa Valley – 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.

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!

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.

Save

Alston Park Engagement of Lucy and Josh

There are more than beautiful wineries in Napa Valley. Nature in some of it’s most beautiful glory can be found at Alston Park northwest of Napa, and I am so lucky to be able to photograph here. The park is owned by the city and is open to the public. 157 acres of unobstructed beauty featuring grasslands, plum orchards, and oak groves can be found here.

Lucy and Josh chose this pristine place for their engagement session. They are such a sweet couple and they’re so in love. Having the park as my backdrop and the most perfect golden light was a dream. I can’t wait to do more sessions at this stunning place.

Save