The Oviatt Penthouse
A landmark 1928 Art Deco penthouse atop a historic Downtown LA tower, where Lulan Studio is a long-standing preferred vendor with a steady, multi-year run of weddings on the calendar.
One of the country's most complete Art Deco interiors
Built in 1928 as the private penthouse residence of Los Angeles menswear retailer James Oviatt, this Downtown LA landmark is considered one of the most complete French Art Deco interiors in the United States. A 12-ton illuminated glass cornice and arcade ceiling, René Lalique-designed glass elevator panels, imported French furnishings, and a three-faced chiming tower clock fill six rooms of the penthouse, which opens onto a roughly 4,700-square-foot, two-level rooftop terrace with Downtown skyline views. The building is a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Since 2021, the venue has been operated by Olive & Grand Event Management, which books just one wedding per day and keeps the space intentionally intimate. Many real weddings here run smaller than the official 120-guest ceiling, often closer to 90, giving the rooms a full but unhurried feel.
A long-standing preferred vendor
Lulan Studio is a longtime named preferred photography vendor at The Oviatt, with a steady run of weddings on the calendar across the past few years and another already booked for 2026. In March 2026, we were a featured preferred vendor at "A Night at The Oviatt," the venue's first public open house celebrating its newly completed renovation, providing photo and video coverage of the event alongside a portfolio table for prospective couples. The Olive & Grand team has asked to feature our galleries from Oviatt weddings on the venue's own social channels, describing the images as capturing "amazing and unique moments."
Our history here spans nearly every season: a winter evening ceremony where our coverage ran a half hour past schedule to make sure the last dance was fully caught, a late-spring wedding, and two separate fall weddings delivered together in the same gallery-access request. We've also covered a themed private event at the venue outside of a wedding, and a spring 2026 wedding is already on our calendar — evidence of a relationship that keeps growing rather than a one-time booking.
Good to know before you book
- A Certificate of Insurance is required on file for every vendor; Lulan Studio's is kept current as a named preferred vendor
- No on-site parking — valet is available through a preferred partner, with several self-park lots nearby
- Sound off at midnight with full load-out by 1am; no open flame anywhere on site (electronic candles only)
- Drone coverage should be confirmed directly — the venue typically requires an FAA commercial license on file before flying
Where we like to shoot
- The gilded, Lalique-glass 1928 elevator — a signature, one-of-a-kind backdrop
- The two-level rooftop terrace as golden hour turns into the DTLA skyline at night
- The original Art Deco bar and cocktail lounge for warm, moody portraits
- The elegant bedroom suite, often used as the getting-ready room
What couples and guests notice about The Oviatt Penthouse
"They truly are a dreamy space filled with historic charm that creates a one of a kind guest experience," one Zola reviewer wrote — echoing a run of five-star ratings for the venue across Yelp, WeddingWire, The Knot, and Zola.
Hand-crafted Lalique glass, imported marble, and period chandeliers mean very little added decor is needed — the room does most of the visual work.
A two-level rooftop terrace puts the Downtown LA skyline behind every golden-hour and evening portrait.
The penthouse tops out at 120 guests with no on-site parking, so this suits an intimate guest list more than a large reception.