Napa Valley is truly a dream destination for a wedding. Imagine being surrounded by rolling hills, lush grapevines, and gorgeous vineyard views as you exchange “I do’s.”
It’s the perfect backdrop for your day if you want it to feel romantic and dreamy, and for everything to take place in an al fresco setting. Napa Valley has something for everyone, whether you want to elope, have a micro wedding, or have a grand celebration.
I had the chance to photograph A + M’s stunning celebration in Napa Valley, and it was incredibly romantic and magical thanks to Napa Valley’s undeniable charm. Keep reading for a behind-the-lens look at their day with this Napa wedding!
Andre + Melody’s Intimate, Joyful Napa Valley Wedding
Andre and Melody met while working together at Disneyland! Since they met here, they chose to incorporate a variety of fun Disney-themed details in the day, including name tags with the iconic Disney logo on each of them, churros, and Mickey Mouse-themed macarons!
I love how they incorporated these thoughtful small details into their day to represent their love story and pay homage to how they met!
For their day, they told me they wanted their wedding images to feel candid and fun, and to capture all the emotions throughout their celebration. Their vision for their wedding was simple and modern, and their day met all their expectations.
Andre and Melody’s day began with sharing a beautiful, emotional first look before heading to Apollinaris Catholic Church for their ceremony. Their faith means a lot to both of them, and they told me before their wedding how important it was to them to document this part of their day thoughtfully.
Andre and Melody’s ceremony was close-knit and personal, with A + M inviting only 65 guests to celebrate with them. After their ceremony, we photographed their families before we headed to Ashes & Diamonds Winery in Napa.
Ashes & Diamond Winery in Napa Reception
As soon as I stepped foot on the grounds of Ashes & Diamond Winery, I fell in love. It is a gorgeous winery with beautiful mid-century modern architecture, truly perfect for an intimate wedding reception like Andre and Melody’s.
Ashes & Diamond Winery is located at the gateway to Napa Valley on Highway 29. The team there was super helpful and efficient, and I had a great experience working with them overall.
As soon as Andre and Melody arrived for their reception, we headed out into the vineyard with their wedding party to take some photos. After M, A, and I split off from the group so I could photograph M + A reading private vows to each other in the vineyard.
Another reason I adored Ashes & Diamonds was the privacy the vineyards offered. M + A didn’t have to worry about whether the spot they had chosen for this intimate moment of reading their vows to each other was being watched by their other wedding guests, and of course, the backdrop of the vineyards made this moment even more special.
Ashes & Diamonds has so many great spots throughout the property to take stunning wedding photos!
Shortly after taking photos, M + A’s guests began arriving for a welcome hour featuring delicious tacos and wine from the property. We then moved into speeches and toasts before dinner was served, and churros and gelatos arrived for their guests to enjoy.
After dinner, M + A enjoyed dancing with their guests as the sunset over the valley, bringing their beautiful day to a close.
Andre + Melody’s Wedding Vendors
I wanted to give a special shout-out to A+M’s wedding vendors who made this incredible day possible:
Reception: Ashes & Diamonds
Planning: Jen Min @_jenmin
Partner 1’s outfit (designer, retailer): Madi Lane, Luv Bridal, San Diego
Partner 2’s outfit (designer, retailer): Indochino
Engagement ring(s) and wedding rings: Brilliant Earth
Makeup: @beautyybyraissa
Hair: @liezelstyles
Catering: Ashes & Diamonds
Cake: Milk Bar
Macarons: @christinas_sweet_station
Gelato: SF Gelateria
Churros: Trini’s Catering
Videography: Mauricio Ageno
DJ: DJ BelTRON: @djbeltron
Photographer: @kharizaraephoto
Why Ashes & Diamonds in Napa Valley Is The Perfect Setting For Your Wedding Reception
If you couldn’t tell already, I’m a huge fan of Ashes & Diamonds Winery! They made A + M’s day incredible, and I wanted to provide a little more info about them because I know there are lots of different wineries throughout Napa Valley that you could choose from for your wedding, both for your ceremony and reception.
Something to note about Ashes & Diamonds is that they don’t do wedding ceremonies, but you can have your reception here.
What really stood out to me and set Ashes & Diamonds apart is their exceptional customer service and attention to detail. You can tell their team is passionate about what they do and is set on providing you with the best experience possible. For anything you need, they are there to provide it!
Also, if you have your reception here, you’ll have access to the entire property, which includes indoor and outdoor spaces. The property features a main tasting room, a lawn for games, a fire pit, a cozy semi-private lounge, a covered patio, and much more.
Ashes & Diamonds will also cater your reception, and their exceptional culinary team specializes in creating seasonal meals you and your guests will love. Of course, they also have an amazing wine selection.
Another standout feature is the property’s architecture. The property pays homage to California mid-century modern design, and throughout you’ll find plenty of natural light that beautifully fills the space, along with picturesque views of the vineyards.
This is the perfect option if you know you want to have your ceremony in Napa Valley at a church like A + M or elsewhere, but you also know that after that, you want a beautiful, welcoming space to host your reception.
Ready To Plan Your Napa Valley Wedding?
Hopefully, M + A’s wedding in Napa Valley gave you some inspo and ideas on what your own wedding here could look like. A wedding in Napa Valley is always a good idea!
Now all you need is your wedding photographer! If you’re still looking for a San Francisco Bay Area wedding photographer with a documentary style approach who values inclusivity and authenticity, then let’s connect! Your love story is a one-of-a-kind celebration of authenticity and connection that deserves to be captured on camera.
You can learn more about my wedding services here or get in touch with me here.
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