Summer Wedding at Monserate Winery Monte Bella

Katina and Alex celebrated their summer wedding at Monserate Winery’s newest wedding venue, Monte Bella, surrounded by the people they love most. Their wedding day was a beautiful reflection of their families, cultures, and the life they are building together. From meaningful family traditions to the little in-between moments, every part of their day felt incredibly personal and intentional.

The wedding day began with getting ready photos on site at Monserate Winery, capturing the quiet moments before everything officially began. There is something so special about this part of a wedding day. The excitement is building, family and friends are starting to gather, and there are those little moments that can easily be overlooked when the day gets busy.

These quieter moments are some of my favorite to photograph because they allow the story of the wedding day to unfold naturally. From final details and getting ready with family to the anticipation of seeing each other for the first time, these photographs become an important part of the full story.

Once Katina was ready, she shared a first look with her dad, and it was one of those moments that had everyone reaching for a tissue. There is something incredibly emotional about seeing a parent take in their daughter on her wedding day for the first time.

If you’re considering a first look with your dad, I highly recommend making space for it. It creates a quiet moment in the middle of an otherwise busy day and gives you the opportunity to slow down and really take it all in.

Katina and Alex then had their own first look before making their way toward the ceremony. It was the perfect transition from the anticipation of getting ready into the celebration that was about to begin.

Their Monte Bella wedding ceremony took place beneath the beautiful gazebo overlooking the property. With their favorite people gathered around them, Katina and Alex exchanged vows during a stunning summer afternoon.

One of my favorite parts of their wedding was the way they incorporated traditions from both Greek and Indian culture throughout the celebration. Their wedding felt like a true coming together of two families and two cultures, while still feeling completely their own.

The setting at Monte Bella provided an elegant backdrop for the ceremony, with the surrounding landscape, beautiful afternoon light, and timeless architecture adding to the romantic atmosphere of the day.

After the ceremony, guests gathered for cocktail hour alongside the pond. Katina and Alex were able to spend time with their closest friends and family before heading into the ballroom for the reception.

I always love when couples make time to actually enjoy cocktail hour with their guests. After months of planning a wedding, these are the moments where everything finally feels real. You’re married, everyone you love is together, and you can simply be present and enjoy the celebration.

The celebration continued inside the ballroom with heartfelt speeches, dinner, and plenty of dancing. The reception brought together everything that made their wedding so special: family, culture, tradition, and a whole lot of joy.

As the evening unfolded, the atmosphere became more relaxed and celebratory, giving me the chance to capture those candid moments that happen naturally when everyone is fully immersed in the celebration.

And then came one of the sweetest surprises of the night.

To end the evening, Katina changed into her mom’s wedding dress. It was such a beautiful and sentimental way to close out their wedding day and one of those details that made their celebration feel even more personal.

Photographing moments like this is one of the reasons I love wedding photography so much. Beyond the beautiful portraits and carefully planned details, it is the history and emotion behind a wedding that makes the photographs meaningful years later.

Katina and Alex’s summer wedding at Monte Bella at Monserate Winery was an incredible celebration of their love, their families, and the traditions that brought everyone together. It was elegant, emotional, joyful, and completely personal to them.

The Team :

Coordination: In the Details

Venue: Monserate Winery Monte Bella

Hair /Makeup: http://facebyraymie.com/aboutraymie

Florals: Nicoles Flower Co

Video : Laurel Wedding Videography

DJ: Second Song

Live music : Jeremy Green

Donuts : https://gourmetminidonuts.com/

Gelato: https://www.instagram.com/gelatiandpeccati/