Bride and groom sharing a kiss under a flowing veil with Newhall Mansion glowing behind them at twilight
Wedding Photography At

Newhall Mansion

A restored 1890 Queen Anne Victorian estate in Piru, tucked between two canyons in Ventura County's Heritage Valley — home to a Lulan Studio wedding whose couple called our photos "so cinematic with rich colors and beautiful moments you could tell weren't staged."

Weddings here6+ photographed
LocationPiru, CA (Ventura County's Heritage Valley, ~30 miles north of Los Angeles)
CapacityUp to 300 guests outdoors; up to 50 indoors
StyleRestored 1890 Queen Anne Victorian estate on nine hillside acres
About the venue

A Victorian estate between two canyons

Originally built in 1890 by the founder of the town of Piru and rebuilt to its original specifications after a fire, Newhall Mansion operated as a private residence until 2012 before opening as an event venue. The nine-acre hillside property sits between two canyons with sweeping mountain views, and pairs a hedged front lawn ceremony space with a tiled courtyard, terraced gardens, a stained-glass-lit ballroom, a coffered-ceiling dining room, a fire-lit library, and an underground tavern with a wine cellar.

Eight historic guest rooms, including a top-floor bridal suite, let couples book the estate for a full weekend rather than a single day.

Real weddingBride on the stained-glass-lit staircase landing of a red-walled Victorian hall at Newhall Mansion
Lulan Studio at Newhall Mansion

A wedding, cinematically told

We photographed a wedding at Newhall Mansion coordinated by Tricia Dahlgren Events, running from the couple’s final timeline through an evening reception. The couple later wrote: “Not only were they familiar with our venue, but every photo they captured just looked so cinematic with rich colors and beautiful moments you could tell weren’t staged... everything was on a tight schedule, but we never felt rushed.” We have a second Newhall Mansion wedding on our calendar for 2026, again coordinated by Tricia Dahlgren Events, with a full day of coverage planned from early afternoon through open dancing.

Good to know before you book

  • Gate access is code-protected; the code is shared with vendors close to the wedding date
  • Vendor load-in is zoned: photo/video/hair-makeup on the right side, DJ/band/photobooth on the left
  • The venue does not supply ladders, extension cords, tape, canopies, or extra vendor tables — bring your own
  • Drone photography is permitted only flying front-to-back toward the mountains, due to nearby residential neighbors

Where we like to shoot

  • The front lawn “Park” ceremony space with its mountain backdrop
  • The stained-glass-lit ballroom and skylit staircase
  • The fire-lit library and underground tavern for moody, warm-toned portraits
  • The tiled courtyard strung with lights after dark
What people say

What couples and guests notice about Newhall Mansion

The architecture

A restored Victorian with a stained-glass ballroom, a fire-lit library, and an underground tavern gives photographers dramatically different backdrops without leaving the property.

The views

Sitting on a hilltop between two canyons, the estate's front lawn ceremony site opens onto real mountain views.

The trade-off

Piru is roughly 30 miles from Los Angeles with limited nearby hotels, so out-of-town guests should plan lodging in advance — many couples book the estate's own guest rooms or stay in nearby Valencia.

Good to know

Planning your day at Newhall Mansion

AddressPiru, CA 93040 (Ventura County's Heritage Valley)
BookingNewhall Mansion guest relations — guestrelations@newhallmansion.com
SettingFront lawn ceremony space, tiled courtyard, stained-glass ballroom, fire-lit library, underground tavern, pool & firepit
Rental ratePlease inquire directly with the venue for current package pricing
Planning your day

Sample wedding day timelines at Newhall Mansion

Weddings at Newhall Mansion usually keep the whole day on the estate, from the guest rooms upstairs to the courtyard after dark. These are drawn from the weddings we have photographed here, and they are a starting point to adapt with your coordinator rather than a fixed schedule.

Eight hours, with a family first look

Getting ready in the bridal suite, a first look with a parent or the wedding party, ceremony on the front lawn.
  • 12:30 PMCoverage begins upstairs. Dress, rings, invitations and final hair and makeup in the bridal suite.
  • 1:45 PMA first look with a parent or with the wedding party, rather than with each other.
  • 2:15 PMPortraits with each side separately: wedding party first, then immediate family.
  • 3:15 PMA quiet break before the ceremony. Lawn setup and arriving guests photographed.
  • 4:15 PMCeremony on the front lawn, with the hills behind you.
  • 4:45 PMCombined family formals, then couple portraits on the staircase, by the stained glass and in the gardens.
  • 5:15 PMCocktail hour. Candids, and drone frames of the estate if you have booked them.
  • 6:00 PMEntrances and first dance, then dinner, toasts and cake.
  • 7:45 PMOpen dancing and night portraits in front of the mansion. Coverage concludes around 8:30 PM.

Six hours, ceremony through first dances

You stay on the estate the night before. No first look, and the first dance as you walk into the reception.
  • 2:00 PMCoverage begins with the end of getting ready in the guest rooms. Dress and details.
  • 3:00 PMPortraits with each side of the family and the wedding party, kept apart until the ceremony.
  • 3:45 PMGuests arriving and the front lawn setup.
  • 4:15 PMCeremony.
  • 4:45 PMFamily photographs, then couple portraits on the lawn and terraced gardens.
  • 5:15 PMCocktail hour. Reception details photographed before dinner is served.
  • 6:00 PMEntrances, with the first dance as you enter the room. Dinner and toasts.
  • 7:15 PMOpen dancing and the courtyard lights after dark.
  • 8:00 PMCoverage concludes.
Good to know

What is specific to Newhall Mansion

A few things about this estate that shape the day, and that are worth settling early with your coordinator.

Getting ready on the estateThe eight historic guest rooms and the top-floor bridal suite mean you can get ready where you marry. Couples often stay the night before, so coverage can start upstairs with no travel in the timeline.
The ceremonyCeremonies are held on the front lawn, with mountain views behind you. A late afternoon start, around four o'clock, leaves soft light for portraits straight afterward.
Portraits inside the houseThe stained-glass ballroom, the skylit staircase, the fire-lit library and the underground tavern give very different frames without leaving the property. Ten minutes indoors adds a warm, moody set to the garden portraits.
Reception detailsAsk your coordinator to hold the reception room for a few minutes before dinner is served, so the tables and decor can be photographed as they were designed.
Drone photographyDrones are permitted along a set flight direction, out of consideration for the residential neighbors. We confirm the current flight path with the venue before your date.
Travel and lodgingPiru is about thirty miles north of Los Angeles. Guests often stay in the estate's rooms or in nearby Valencia, and it helps to share the gate and parking details with vendors close to the date.
After darkThe tiled courtyard is strung with lights, and the front of the mansion makes a strong backdrop for night portraits. A few minutes outside late in the evening gives a very different look from the daytime portraits.
Questions couples ask

Questions couples ask about Newhall Mansion

How many hours of coverage do couples book at Newhall Mansion?

Eight hours covers the day from the bridal suite through the first part of open dancing. Six hours works when coverage starts near the end of getting ready and you are happy to finish after the first dances. Since everything happens on the estate, no coverage time is lost to travel.

Can we get ready at the mansion?

Yes. The estate has eight historic guest rooms, including a top-floor bridal suite, and couples often stay the night before. Getting ready on site keeps both of you close to the ceremony and lets the day start without a drive.

Where is the ceremony held?

On the front lawn ceremony space, with the mountains behind you. Late afternoon ceremonies are common here, which leaves good light for family formals and couple portraits straight afterward.

Should we do a first look?

It is up to you. Some couples keep the first look for the ceremony and take portraits with each side separately beforehand. Others do a first look with a parent or with the wedding party instead. Either way, combined family formals happen right after the ceremony.

Can we have drone photography at Newhall Mansion?

Yes, within the flight direction the venue sets out of consideration for its residential neighbors. We confirm the current rule with the venue before your date, and plan drone frames of the estate around cocktail hour.

Is there a good spot for night photographs?

Yes. The tiled courtyard is strung with lights after dark, and the front of the mansion makes a strong backdrop at night. A short set late in the evening is worth building into the timeline.

Newhall Mansion photography

Planning a wedding at Newhall Mansion?

Reach out to check your date