Downtown Los Angeles, California
Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels Wedding Photographer
The soaring 2002 cathedral of the Los Angeles Archdiocese, designed by Rafael Moneo, offers a monumental modern sanctuary for Catholic wedding ceremonies in Downtown LA.
About Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels
The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels is the mother church of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, opened in 2002 and designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Rafael Moneo. Its adobe-colored concrete form deliberately avoids right angles, and inside, alabaster windows bathe a vast nave in glowing light beneath the celebrated Communion of Saints tapestries. Seating roughly 3,000, it is one of the largest and most striking modern cathedrals in the country, complete with a grand plaza and a Dobson pipe organ.
This is an active Catholic cathedral, and weddings here are sacramental ceremonies only, not receptions in the sanctuary. At least one partner must be Catholic, marriage preparation is required, and weddings are typically reserved for couples with a genuine connection to the cathedral parish or the Archdiocese. There is no wedding reception inside the church itself, though the surrounding Cathedral Plaza and the on-site conference center can host events; the ceremony remains a religious liturgy governed by Catholic requirements. Couples come for the awe of the space and the significance of marrying in the archdiocesan cathedral.
Location · 555 W Temple St, Downtown Los Angeles CA
Style · Modern (2002) Catholic cathedral by Rafael Moneo
Capacity · Seats about 3,000 for a ceremony
Ceremony · Catholic sacramental ceremony only; no reception in the sanctuary
Best season · Year-round; interior ceremony is not weather-dependent
Facts compiled from the cathedral's official weddings page, public sources and Archdiocese information; binding requirements, dates and fees must be confirmed with the cathedral's wedding coordinator, who sets the rules.
The complete Our Lady of the Angels planning guide
Capacity & spaces
Seated dinner · n/a in the sanctuary (a reception could be arranged in the plaza or conference center, planned separately)
Standing/cocktail · n/a in the sanctuary; plaza and conference center have their own capacities arranged separately
Ceremony · Approximately 3,000 in the cathedral nave
Rentable spaces
- Cathedral nave (sanctuary): the vast main worship space, lit by alabaster windows and lined with the Communion of Saints tapestries, where the wedding liturgy is celebrated.
- Cathedral Plaza: the large outdoor plaza that can host gatherings and, arranged separately, receptions.
- Conference center: on-site meeting and event space that can be used for a reception, booked and coordinated separately from the ceremony.
- Entrance and bronze doors: Robert Graham's bronze doors and the Virgin Mary statue mark a dramatic arrival and portrait spot.
Pricing
Peak Saturday · Not publicly published; the cathedral requires a wedding offering plus fees for clergy, music and coordination. Confirm current amounts with the wedding office.
Off-peak · Not publicly published; contact the cathedral wedding coordinator for the current fee schedule.
What's included · Use of the cathedral for the religious ceremony and the officiating priest or deacon; music, flowers, plaza or conference-center reception, and other elements are arranged and priced separately
Catering & bar
There is no reception or catering inside the sanctuary; weddings in the cathedral are religious ceremonies only. A reception could be arranged in the Cathedral Plaza or the on-site conference center, but that is booked and catered separately from the ceremony. The wedding liturgy itself remains a sacred Catholic celebration.
Rules & restrictions
- Weddings are Catholic sacramental ceremonies; at least one partner must be Catholic.
- Couples are typically expected to have a genuine connection to the cathedral parish or the Archdiocese.
- Marriage preparation is required, beginning a minimum of six months before the wedding date.
- A priest or deacon must meet with the couple before any date is confirmed to ensure the marriage can be validly and licitly celebrated.
- Weddings are held at set times: 3:00 pm and 5:30 pm on Fridays; 12:30 pm, 3:00 pm and 5:30 pm on Saturdays.
- Music, decor and photography follow Catholic liturgical guidelines and the cathedral's policies; no reception takes place in the sanctuary.
Getting ready, parking & access
Getting ready space · Limited within the cathedral; most couples prepare at a nearby Downtown hotel
Parking · On-site cathedral parking garage available beneath the plaza
Load-in · Minimal for the ceremony (flowers and music); any plaza or conference-center reception is coordinated separately
How to book
Submit the cathedral's online wedding inquiry form or write to the pastor with both partners' names, contact details and three preferred dates. A priest or deacon must meet with you before a date is confirmed, and marriage preparation must begin at least six months ahead. The cathedral wedding office confirms availability within the set Friday and Saturday time slots and sets all binding requirements and fees.
Photographing Our Lady of the Angels
The cathedral is a photographer's dream of light and scale. Alabaster windows fill the nave with a warm, diffused glow that flatters skin tones without harsh contrast, and the immense ceilings and clean modern lines create minimalist, monumental compositions. The Communion of Saints tapestries and the long processional aisle offer dramatic backdrops, while the ambry, chapels and side aisles provide quieter, intimate frames. Confirm the cathedral's photography guidelines, as movement during the liturgy is restricted.
Outside, the ochre concrete architecture, the sweeping plaza and Robert Graham's bronze doors and Virgin Mary statue give bold, sculptural exterior options. The plaza's open sky is excellent for portraits, with late-afternoon light warming the concrete; because the building avoids right angles, look for the striking diagonal lines and shadow play the architecture creates throughout the day.
Engagement sessions at Our Lady of the Angels
The cathedral's monumental modern architecture and open plaza make a dramatic engagement-portrait backdrop, though interior access is a sacred space subject to the cathedral's permission.
Best time · Late afternoon, when warm light hits the ochre concrete and plaza
Permit/fee · No public engagement-session fee listed; plaza and interior access require the cathedral's permission and must never disrupt services
Standout spots · The plaza, the bronze doors and Virgin Mary statue, and the alabaster-lit nave (with permission)
Contact the cathedral office before any session to confirm what is allowed and to avoid conflicting with Mass or scheduled weddings.
What couples love
- An awe-inspiring, light-filled modern sanctuary by a Pritzker Prize-winning architect.
- The prestige and significance of marrying in the archdiocesan cathedral of Los Angeles.
- Glowing alabaster windows that create soft, flattering natural light for ceremonies and photos.
- A grand plaza and on-site parking that ease logistics in Downtown LA.
- Option to arrange a reception nearby in the plaza or conference center, separate from the ceremony.
Good to know
- It is a ceremony-only Catholic cathedral; there is no reception inside the sanctuary.
- At least one partner must be Catholic, and couples typically need a connection to the parish or Archdiocese.
- Marriage preparation of at least six months and a meeting with clergy are required.
- Weddings occur only at fixed Friday and Saturday time slots.
- Any reception in the plaza or conference center is booked and catered separately.
A typical wedding day at Our Lady of the Angels
2:00 PM — Wedding party arrives; vendor check-in and final preparations
2:30 PM — Guests are seated in the cathedral nave
3:00 PM — Catholic wedding ceremony (Nuptial Mass or ceremony) begins
4:00 PM — Recessional and portraits in the nave, at the bronze doors and on the plaza
4:45 PM — Depart for the reception at the plaza, conference center or an off-site venue
Frequently asked questions
Who can get married at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels?
At least one partner must be Catholic, and weddings are generally for couples with a genuine connection to the cathedral parish or the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. It is a sacramental ceremony, not a rental.
Is there a reception inside the cathedral?
No. The cathedral hosts the religious ceremony only. A reception could be arranged in the Cathedral Plaza or the on-site conference center, but that is separate from the ceremony.
What are the marriage preparation requirements?
Catholic marriage preparation is required and must begin a minimum of six months before the wedding date, arranged through the cathedral or your parish.
How do we book a wedding date?
Submit the cathedral's online inquiry form or write to the pastor with both partners' names, contact details and three preferred dates. A priest or deacon must meet with you before a date is confirmed.
What times are weddings held?
Weddings are at 3:00 pm and 5:30 pm on Fridays, and at 12:30 pm, 3:00 pm and 5:30 pm on Saturdays.
How much does a wedding cost?
The cathedral does not publicly publish pricing. Expect a wedding offering plus fees for clergy, music and coordination; contact the wedding office for current amounts.
How many guests can the cathedral hold?
The nave seats approximately 3,000, so it accommodates very large ceremonies.
Do we have to be registered parishioners?
A genuine connection to the cathedral parish or the Archdiocese is typically expected. Discuss your situation with the wedding office, and if registered elsewhere you will likely need documentation from your home parish.
Can we choose our own music and photographer?
Yes, within the cathedral's liturgical guidelines. Music is coordinated with the cathedral, and photographers must follow the cathedral's rules about movement during the ceremony.
Is parking available?
Yes. There is an on-site parking garage beneath the cathedral plaza, convenient for guests in Downtown LA.
Who designed the cathedral?
Pritzker Prize-winning architect Rafael Moneo designed it; it opened in 2002 and deliberately avoids right angles in its modern design.
Can we have a full Nuptial Mass?
Yes. As the archdiocesan cathedral, it can celebrate a full Nuptial Mass or a wedding ceremony without Mass, depending on your circumstances; discuss options with the officiating clergy.
Getting there & logistics
Address · 555 W Temple St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Nearest airport · Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Drive time · About 25-35 minutes from LAX; central in Downtown LA near the Civic Center
Nearby getting-ready hotels
- Omni Los Angeles Hotel at California Plaza
- The Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites
- Hotel Per LA (Downtown)
- Millennium Biltmore Los Angeles
The history behind Our Lady of the Angels
- Opened in 2002 as the mother church of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, designed by Rafael Moneo.
- Seats about 3,000 and features alabaster windows, the Communion of Saints tapestries and a large Dobson pipe organ.
- Houses the relics of Saint Vibiana and includes an underground mausoleum beneath the cathedral.
Similar venues we love
More venues we photograph: St. Vincent de Paul · Mission Basilica SJC · Santa Barbara Courthouse · El Cid · The Fig House.
Planning a wedding at Our Lady of the Angels? Reach out to check your date →
