Winery Wedding – Alexander Rubin Photography

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.

Soda Rock Wedding of Katie and Miles

Why is Soda Rock Winery in The Alexander Valley so popular for weddings? There are so many reasons. It’s a historical property in Sonoma that dates back as far as the 1800s and is thought to be the first to make a branded wine. But it’s the attributes of the property itself that make it so sought after for picturesque weddings. The stone wall, the antique barn, and multiple indoor and outdoor venues make it a top pick. Katie and Miles dated in the area and it’s a place that has great significance for them. The barn was became the cornerstone for their day with the ceremony being held next to the amazing barn, their cocktail hour being in the barn, and their reception in the ballroom.

The ceremony was emotional and a great celebration of love for all in attendance. During the cocktail hour a group of friends of Katie’s dad belted out a roaring chant called Boom-shaka-a-laka, and oy did it kick off the tone for the rest of the day. It was a great photo moment. Some of my favorite photos of the day though are in the incredible barn. The way the light shines through the wood slats is intense. I could have shot there all day!

One of my favorite wedding planners Kaitlyn Finley of Ohh La La Weddings was at the helm of this wedding and she made my job a cake walk. Every time we work together I am guaranteed a happy and relaxed couple, a stellar creative team and a smooth and fun day! This team consisted of some of the best in the valley and I’m happy to have been part of it.

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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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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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Same Day Sonoma Proposal & Napa Engagement

Not only am I privileged to shoot Sonoma and Napa Weddings, but also proposals and engagements. It’s common to work with a couple for their engagement and wedding, but to be present from the very beginning allows me a rare opportunity to get to know them in a much more meaningful way. Eric and I worked together to plan the perfect ruse. He and Alexa would come to Ram’s Gate Winery in Sonoma for a wine tasting and they would stumble upon me photographing images of the winery’s website. With everything going according to plan, Eric dropped to one knee and formally proposed. Are you wondering if she said yes? The pictures tell the full story and show Alexa’s candid emotions.

After the shock wore off and with a resounding yes from Alexa, we headed to Napa for a formal engagement session at the picturesque Domaine Carneros. Specializing in sparking wines, it was the perfect location for a celebration. The bubbly flowed and the love was evident. After sharing such an emotional experience with Alexa and Eric, the wedding day can’t come soon enough for me.

Private Napa Vineyard Wedding – Elizabeth and Logan

Elizabeth and Logan are lovers of fine wine and cuisine and there’s no better place to find both than in Napa. Their romance began at Duke University and their wedding took place in the Carneros area of The Napa Valley. A vineyard is the perfect choice since Logan is an executive for One Hope Wine. The vineyard they chose is Brown Ranch. It’s a private vineyard, but their connections in the industry allowed them to secure the location. It was a blank canvas that required everything be brought in. Under the direction of planner Marilyn Ambra, it turned out beautifully. The backdrop for their ceremony, the decor, their family and friends made this a great day and a great wedding to capture through my lens.

The ceremony took place just outside of rows of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vines, with a spectacular view of Carneros behind the couple. Guests and the couple arrived by golf carts to this secluded spot. The privacy and intimacy of the ceremony site made for a one-of-a-kind celebration with family and friends.

Vineyard Picnic Engagement Session

As I am photographing I am constantly struck by the beauty of the Napa Valley wine country. The endless vineyards, the warm light, and lets not forget about the delicious wine. Nicole and Stephan let me choose the location for their engagement session. I choose a few of my favorite vineyard locations in the Carneros region of Napa. We tasted wine, enjoyed the scenery and we created some amazing images.

Napa Engagement Photographer from Napa By Alexander Rubin Photography_0007