NOOR
A full-service Old Pasadena event venue where Lulan Studio has photographed more than a dozen weddings since 2020 as one of NOOR's official preferred vendors.
Five distinct spaces in the heart of Old Pasadena
NOOR is a family-owned, full-service event venue in Old Pasadena offering five named spaces: the Art Nouveau-inspired Sofia Ballroom with its mirrored pillars, the Art Deco Ella Ballroom with its “ghost chandeliers,” the open-air NOOR Terrace with a garden fountain, the mountain-view Sofia Balcony, and the 1920s-style Sofia Foyer lounge. In-house catering, full bar packages, and a dedicated event-management team round out the venue.
NOOR sits within easy reach of Old Pasadena landmarks, which couples sometimes use for supplemental portrait locations beyond the venue itself.
A dozen-plus weddings and counting
NOOR has been one of our most consistent venue partnerships: we’ve photographed more than a dozen weddings there since 2020, mixing and matching the Terrace, Sofia Ballroom, and Ella Ballroom as each couple’s day called for. We’ve stayed on NOOR’s preferred vendor list throughout, keeping our insurance and vendor paperwork current with their events team, and in 2025 we submitted one of our NOOR weddings to bridal media as a featured real-wedding piece. NOOR’s own marketing team has repeatedly asked to feature our galleries from their weddings — a partnership that runs in both directions.
Good to know before you book
- Vendors need a current Certificate of Insurance and a signed Vendor Policy & Code of Conduct form
- Valet parking is offered; the nearby Marengo Garage also serves as self-parking for guests
- In-house catering and full bar packages are standard, with plated, buffet, and family-style menu options
- NOOR's own "wedding reception cost estimator" form is the starting point for a quote, with roughly a 48-hour response time
Where we like to shoot
- The Sofia Ballroom's mirrored pillars and Art Nouveau detail
- The Ella Ballroom's Art Deco “ghost chandeliers”
- The NOOR Terrace's garden courtyard and fountain
- The Sofia Balcony's mountain views over Colorado Blvd.
What couples and guests notice about NOOR
Two very differently styled ballrooms, an outdoor terrace, and a mountain-view balcony mean no two NOOR weddings we've shot have looked quite the same.
Years on NOOR's preferred vendor list means we know the rooms, the lighting, and the team well before a couple's wedding day even starts.
NOOR's interiors are ballroom-style with warm ambient lighting; couples wanting bright, airy portraits should plan time on the Terrace or nearby in Old Pasadena.
Planning your day at NOOR
Sample wedding day timelines at NOOR
Weddings at NOOR tend to follow one of three shapes, depending on whether you add portraits at Pasadena City Hall and when. These are drawn from the weddings we have photographed here, and they are a starting point to adapt with the NOOR events team rather than a fixed schedule.
Eight hours with a first look at Pasadena City Hall
- 12:30 PMCoverage begins at a Pasadena hotel. Details, hair and makeup, getting into dress and suit.
- 1:30 PMYour partner getting ready at a second hotel a few blocks away, often with a second photographer.
- 2:45 PMTravel to Pasadena City Hall.
- 3:00 PMFirst look in the City Hall courtyard, then couple portraits under the arches.
- 3:45 PMFamily and wedding party photographs at City Hall, so cocktail hour stays free.
- 4:45 PMBack at NOOR. Ceremony setup and guest arrivals photographed while you stay out of sight.
- 5:30 PMCeremony on the NOOR Terrace or in one of the ballrooms.
- 6:00 PMCocktail hour. You join your guests while the reception room details are photographed.
- 7:00 PMEntrance and first dance, then dinner, toasts and cake before coverage concludes.
Eight hours with City Hall during cocktail hour
- 1:30 PMCoverage begins at the hotel. Details, dress, final hair and makeup.
- 2:30 PMWedding party and family portraits at the hotel or at NOOR.
- 4:00 PMGuests arrive at NOOR. Ceremony decor photographed before it fills.
- 4:30 PMCeremony.
- 5:00 PMImmediate family and wedding party photographs at NOOR right after the recessional.
- 5:15 PMTravel to Pasadena City Hall for couple portraits. A second photographer stays with cocktail hour.
- 6:00 PMBack at NOOR. Grand entrance, first dance and parent dances.
- 7:15 PMDinner, toasts, cake cutting and table visits.
- 8:00 PMOpen dancing and a few night portraits at NOOR, then coverage concludes.
Six hours, all at NOOR
- 4:00 PMCoverage begins at NOOR. Final touches, details and getting dressed.
- 4:30 PMFirst look, then couple portraits on the Terrace and the Sofia Balcony while there is daylight.
- 5:15 PMFamily and wedding party photographs.
- 5:45 PMYou step out of sight as guests arrive. Ceremony details photographed.
- 6:00 PMCeremony.
- 6:30 PMCocktail hour. Candids and any remaining family groups.
- 7:30 PMReception. Entrance, dinner, toasts, first dance, cake.
- 9:30 PMOpen dancing, then coverage concludes at 10:00 PM.
What is specific to NOOR
A few things about this venue and its setting in Old Pasadena that shape the day, and that are worth settling early with the events team.
Where couples also photograph nearby
Second locations and getting-ready spots that come up on NOOR wedding days, all within a short drive or walk.
- Pasadena City Hall
- The Westin Pasadena
- Hilton Pasadena
- Hotels on Green Street
- Old Pasadena side streets
- The NOOR Terrace fountain
- The Sofia Balcony before sunset
- The Ella Ballroom chandeliers
Questions couples ask about NOOR
How many hours of coverage do couples book at NOOR?
Six to eight hours covers most NOOR days. Six hours suits a day where everything happens at NOOR and coverage starts late afternoon. Eight hours is the usual choice when you get ready at a hotel and add portraits at Pasadena City Hall.
Can we take photos at Pasadena City Hall?
Yes, and many couples do. It works either before the ceremony with a first look, or during cocktail hour with a short drive each way. Check whether the city requires a photography permit for your date and allow time for travel and parking.
Where do couples get ready?
Usually at a Pasadena hotel a few blocks away, such as the Westin Pasadena or a hotel on Green Street. If you are at two different hotels, a second photographer lets both of you be covered at the same time.
Should we do a first look?
It helps at NOOR. A first look moves couple and family portraits before the ceremony, which frees cocktail hour for your guests. Without one, plan for family photographs straight after the ceremony and couple portraits during cocktail hour.
Which spaces photograph best in daylight?
The NOOR Terrace with its garden fountain and the Sofia Balcony with its mountain views are the brightest spots. The ballrooms have warmer, ambient light that suits the reception and evening portraits.