Long Beach Wedding Photographer
A walkable waterfront, Art Deco landmarks and a docked ocean liner — the most characterful place to marry in LA County, at friendlier prices.
Getting married in Long Beach
Long Beach gives you a little of everything — a permanently docked 1930s ocean liner, Spanish-Revival and Art Deco landmarks, contemporary gallery spaces and breezy waterfront light — usually at noticeably friendlier prices than the same square footage in Los Angeles. For couples who want character without a Westside budget, it is the strongest value in the county.
Whether you picture a black-tie reception aboard the Queen Mary, a courtyard dinner at the Ebell, or a garden ceremony among the sculpture at MOLAA, the city’s mix of period architecture gives every wedding a real sense of place rather than a neutral ballroom.
Our favorite wedding venues in Long Beach
Four we know well, with the numbers couples actually ask for.
The Queen Mary
1936 Art Deco ocean liner
- Guests
- Up to ~1,500 (2,000 w/ tent)
- Price
- From ~$6k · ~$20k typical
- Address
- 1126 Queens Hwy, Long Beach
A permanently docked ocean liner of exotic woods, inlaid marquetry and harbor views — 14 salons of genuine 1930s glamour. Couples praise the on-site coordination and the ship’s one-of-a-kind vintage romance. (WeddingWire ~4.4★) See a wedding here → ·
Ebell of Long Beach
1920s Spanish-Revival · courtyard
- Guests
- ~180 seated · ~300 cocktail
- Price
- ~$24k–$27k typical (catering incl.)
- Address
- 290 Cerritos Ave, Long Beach
Red-tile roofs, hand-stenciled ceilings, arches and a signature courtyard — a historic clubhouse that needs little added decor. Couples love the architecture and courtyard and praise the responsive staff and in-house catering. (WeddingWire ~4.9★) See a wedding here → ·
The Grand Long Beach
All-inclusive event center · Palm Terrace
- Guests
- Up to ~650
- Price
- From ~$9k · ~$15k typical (all-inclusive)
- Address
- 4101 E Willow St, Long Beach
A dedicated 40,000 sq ft event center with multiple ballrooms and a palm-lined outdoor terrace — the easy, all-in option. Couples highlight the value and stress-free all-inclusive planning with attentive coordinators. (The Knot ~4.9★)
Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA)
Contemporary art museum · sculpture garden
- Guests
- Up to ~350
- Price
- Site fee from ~$4,100 + catering
- Address
- 628 Alamitos Ave, Long Beach
Modern galleries and an outdoor sculpture garden give a colorful, gallery-worthy backdrop you won’t find anywhere else in the city. Guests remember the distinctive modern setting and the flow between garden and gallery. (WeddingWire ~4.6★)
What we know about shooting here
Three things that change how a Long Beach day is shot.
The best rooms are dark rooms
The Queen Mary’s salons and the Ebell’s interiors are panelled, low-ceilinged and genuinely dim. We shoot them on fast primes and push the film rather than flooding the room with flash — that is what keeps the period atmosphere intact.
Waterfront light is flat and kind
Unlike Malibu, the Long Beach waterfront faces south across the harbor, so you get long, even light rather than dramatic backlight. It is forgiving for large group photographs and it holds up much later into the afternoon.
Ship logistics are their own thing
Aboard the Queen Mary, everything is stairs, narrow corridors and long walks between decks. We scout the route in advance and build realistic transit time between the ceremony deck, the portrait spots and the reception salon.
Long Beach weddings, as we shoot them
Recent frames from Long Beach weddings.
A wedding day in Long Beach, hour by hour
Most Long Beach weddings we photograph take one of three shapes: a day aboard the Queen Mary, a day inside one historic building such as the Ebell, or a church ceremony earlier in the day with the reception in Long Beach that evening. These are composites of real days, a starting point to adapt with your planner.
Aboard the Queen Mary
- 2:00 PMCoverage begins in the stateroom. Details, hair and makeup finishing, getting into the dress.
- 3:00 PMFirst look and couple portraits by the round windows, wood-paneled corridors, staircases and decks.
- 4:00 PMFamily and wedding party portraits, with extra walking time between locations on the ship.
- 4:45 PMCouple tucked away while guests arrive. Ceremony setup photographed on deck.
- 5:15 PMCeremony on deck, timed close to sunset where the date allows.
- 5:45 PMCombined family photos right after the ceremony, then sunset portraits during cocktail hour.
- 7:00 PMGrand entrance into the salon, first dance, toasts and dinner.
- 10:30 PMOpen dancing, and coverage concludes before the reception ends.
One historic venue, start to finish
- 2:00 PMCoverage begins with hair and makeup mostly done. Details, getting dressed, portraits of each of you.
- 3:00 PMFirst look in a courtyard or arched hallway.
- 3:30 PMCouple portraits, wedding party, and immediate family, with family asked to arrive early.
- 4:30 PMCouple tucked away. Ceremony details and guest arrivals photographed.
- 5:00 PMCeremony.
- 5:30 PMCocktail hour while the room is reset. Remaining family groups and guest candids.
- 6:30 PMGrand entrance, first dances, toasts and dinner.
- 10:00 PMAbout forty five minutes of open dancing, then coverage concludes.
Church at midday, reception in the evening
- 10:30 AMCoverage begins at home or a downtown hotel. Details and getting ready, often with one photographer on each side.
- 12:00 PMTravel to the church and arrival photos.
- 12:30 PMCeremony. A full Mass runs about an hour to seventy five minutes.
- 1:45 PMFamily and wedding party portraits at the church, about forty five minutes.
- 2:30 PMA break or travel to the reception, with couple portraits on the waterfront if coverage continues.
- 4:30 PMCocktail hour, room details and guest candids.
- 5:30 PMGrand entrance, first dance, parent dances, toasts and cake.
- 8:30 PMOpen dancing, and coverage concludes.
What shapes a wedding day in Long Beach
A few patterns from the Long Beach weddings we photograph that are worth settling early with your planner.
Long Beach wedding photography FAQ
Is the Queen Mary difficult to photograph?
It is dark and it is a maze, which is exactly why it looks the way it does. We shoot the salons on fast lenses rather than lighting them flat, and we scout the route between decks beforehand so the timeline survives contact with the stairs.
Is Long Beach cheaper than Los Angeles?
Generally yes, for comparable character and capacity — it is the main reason couples cross the county line for it. Venue pricing changes constantly, so treat the figures above as a starting point and confirm current rates directly.
When is the best time of year?
Long Beach is mild year-round and the harbor light is forgiving, so the season matters less here than on the open coast. September and October are the most reliable; winter weddings work well indoors.
Do you photograph waterfront ceremonies?
Yes — see our Long Beach waterfront guide for the shoreline spots and how the light behaves across the harbor.
When will we get our photographs?
Four to eight weeks, hand-edited and color-graded, in a full-resolution online gallery that never expires.
Other cities and venues we photograph
Nearby cities we photograph, and the Long Beach venues with their own guides.
More: LA venues guide · rates and collections · questions and answers
Tell us the date and the venue
Tell us the venue and the date and we will come back with availability, usually within minutes.