Ponte Winery and Vineyard Inn Wedding

Oh, my freaking WOW! Those are the first words that punch me in the brain when thinking about Amylee and Bashar’s Temecula wedding at Ponte Inn last weekend. Let me start by saying I have photographed well over 200 weddings and this was the only time I ever got teary-eyed. Yeah, I cried like a 6’3″, 200 lb man-baby. But honestly, if you were attending this wedding and did not cry, you would be emotionally bankrupt and probably in need of therapy. Side note, therapy is good for everyone and I encourage everyone to improve their mental health. But let’s get back to this awesome Ponte Vineyard Inn wedding in Temecula, California.

About Ponte Winery & Vineyard Inn

Ponte has been part of Temecula wine country since 1984, when the first vines went into the ground. The winery opened in 2003, and the Spanish-style Vineyard Inn followed in 2012, turning the 300-acre estate into a full wedding weekend destination rather than just a ceremony spot. That’s part of what made it such a fitting choice for Bashar and AmyLee: their guests could stay the whole weekend rather than scattering back to hotels after the reception.

About The Bride & Groom – Bashar & AmyLee

Bashar is a pulmonary doctor who lived in Aleppo, Syria but shifted to an ER doctor due to the war. His hospital was bombed, the country was devastated, and he fled to Lebanon to seek political asylum in the United States. As he waited for hours at the U.S. Embassy he saw hundreds of people seeking asylum only to get turned away. When his turn came to state his case for political asylum at the embassy he spoke in English instead of his native Arabic, and when he was asked about how things were in war-torn Aleppo he responded, “Things were okay.” Wow! Even while experiencing some of the most physically and mentally challenging circumstances probably anywhere on the globe, Bashar was a glass half full type of guy. That is the type of man he is.

Welcome To America!

That is what the U.S. Embassy told Bashar. I can only imagine his excitement when she slid over his passport and said, “Welcome to America.” Bashar is a man who truly has the most magnetic energy and positive outlook on life, and I can totally see why AmyLee wanted this Syrian hunk to be her bae. That is probably why a first date where the majority of AmyLee’s conversation revolved around dementia didn’t scare him away. She works in the field of Alzheimer’s research. Honestly, these two people are beautiful humans, healers in their professions and in life. I was truly honored to capture their Temecula wedding photos and only hope the images reflect some of the emotions that poured out throughout the day.

Ceremony & Reception Spaces at Ponte

Couples getting married at Ponte choose between two ceremony sites and two reception spaces, depending on the size and feel they’re after.

Bar service runs about $34 per person on top of the site fees, and catering is quoted separately depending on your menu. Peak season for pricing is March through June and September through November.

Ponte Vineyard Inn Wedding – My Favorite Moment From The Temecula Wedding

During the Temecula wedding ceremony, Bashar’s close friend from Syria read letters (in Arabic) written by Bashar’s mother and father. The words were then translated into English by AmyLee’s mother and father. Hearing the parents’ words from halfway across the globe say how they wish they could be at the wedding to hug the bride and groom so their loneliness would melt away was truly heartbreaking. Although they are still stuck in war-ravaged Syria with little ability to communicate with the outside world, they still intended on having a party in Syria to celebrate the wedding. That was truly a beautiful moment, and I think I speak for everyone at the wedding when I say I hope Bashar’s parents can be reunited with their son and new daughter-in-law very soon. And I definitely want to be there to capture the party!

I really cannot express how much I enjoyed photographing AmyLee and Bashar’s Temecula wedding at Ponte Inn, meeting the families and friends, and most importantly snacking on some of those ridiculous Syrian desserts. This wedding was incredible because the people were incredible, and that is what a wedding should be about. And I honestly cannot wait to see the video when that gets finished.

Those interested in checking out more Temecula weddings can roll over to my online journal to view Mark and Nicole’s Mount Palomar wedding.

Award-Winning, Highly Rated

Ponte isn’t just a pretty backdrop, it backs it up with results. The venue holds a 4.8 out of 5 rating across 131 reviews on The Knot and has picked up the Best of Weddings award ten times, enough to land it in The Knot’s Hall of Fame.

Good news! We are now offering OC wedding videographer packages if you are interested in dope wedding films.

Frequently Asked Questions

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