Napa Wedding Photographer – 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.

Nicole and Josh – Landmark Winery

ˈlan(d)ˌmärk/ a change marking an important stage or turning point in something.

The turning point on this special day was one of a beautiful union of two families from Minnesota. Nicole and Josh chose Landmark Winery as their destination wedding venue, and what a venue this is! With breathtaking views of Sugarloaf Ridge, Landmark Vineyards is truly an incredible location to tie the knot. Nestled at the base of the Mayacamas mountains, this spectacular 20-acre property boasts historical agricultural roots and rustic charm that is perfect for an outdoor ceremony or an intimate reception. The dramatic hills, working vineyard, well-tended gardens, and fountains create an enchanting background that makes for one of my most favorite Sonoma wedding locations to date. There is even a cottage and a guest house on the property for those wishing to spend the night.

And the wines, you ask? “Less is more” is the overriding philosophy, according to winemaker Eric Stern. He believes that “the less the wine is manipulated, the more flavors and aromas remain to enjoy”. Food-friendly, fruit-forward Chardonnay is Landmark’s flagship wine, along with Pinot Noir and Syrah.

It’s always a delight to collaborate with Lindsay from Oh La La Weddings, and it was so beautiful to see Nicole and Josh’s day unfold. From the heartfelt, hand-written letter from bride to groom, to the guests getting their groove on after the first dance, the emotion and design of the day were first class. It was an honor to not only witness, but document the love this couple has for each other.

Nicole and Josh, thank you again for allowing me to be part of your big day. I wish you all the love and happiness, along with many more sunset like the one we enjoyed on your wedding day!

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.

Auberge Du Soleil Wedding | Napa Valley

Auberge Du Soleil is one of my favorite wedding venues in Napa Valley, especially for more intimate ceremonies like Lauren and Dan’s. Lauren and Dan said I do with all of Napa Valley behind them along with their closest family and friends gathered around. It was a beautiful ceremony followed by a delicious Michelin stared meal and very fun dance party.

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!

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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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.