A bride in a white wedding dress standing in the center of a room with seven women seated around her, inside a dimly lit room with large stained glass windows and dark walls.

Palihouse Santa Monica Wedding

by Lulan Wedding Photography and Videography

About Palihouse Santa Monica Weddings

Located one mile from the Santa Monica Pier, Palihouse is a Mediterranean architecture boutique hotel that has been operational since 1927. At only five miles from the Getty Villa, this revival-style beach venue provides a picturesque venue for modern weddings. “Aesthetically pleasing” if you will. Inside the boutique are beautifully decorated penthouse for classy and modern getting ready photos.

Why we love it:

Useful links:

Palihouse Santa Monica Directions

Official Palihouse Santa Monica Website

Learn more about Lulan Studio

Pros:

  • All-in-one venue

  • Makeup and hair done in the venue

  • Beautiful Bridal Rooms

A woman with curly hair and a white shirt is looking at her reflection in a mirror with a patterned wallpaper in the background. The photo is in black and white.
A woman in a white, strapless, embroidered gown standing in front of a mirror, with her reflection visible. She has dark, wavy hair and a serene expression.
A woman in a wedding dress standing in front of open window draped with dark curtains, with trees visible outside.
A woman applying lipstick in front of a mirror, smiling, with another woman nearby.
A woman in a white wedding dress sitting in a dimly lit restaurant or lounge, with a bouquet of flowers on the table in front of her, illuminated by soft overhead lighting and dark interior decor.

Couple’s Session at Palihouse Santa Monica

Bride and groom sharing a kiss in an outdoor garden setting surrounded by lush greenery, rocks, and decorative plants, with the bride holding a bouquet of white flowers and wearing a long veil.
A wedding couple dancing under a decorated gazebo with palm trees in the background, during the daytime.

Wedding Ceremony at Palihouse Santa Monica

Black and white photo of a bride in a wedding dress holding a bouquet, walking down the aisle, with a groom and outdoor decorations in the background.

Wedding Reception at Palihouse Santa Monica

Black and white photo of a couple dancing at a wedding reception, with string lights overhead and guests seated at tables in the background.
A couple sharing a kiss at their wedding reception outdoors, with guests sitting at tables and celebrating in the background.

Sample Timeline

Here is a sample wedding day timeline we have previously used for a wedding with two photographers and videographers for 9 hours of coverage. You can utilize this as your start building an idea for your wedding day timeline.

11:00am Hair & Makeup arrives at Palihouse

1:00pm Photographer/Videographer arrive at Palihouse

1:00-1:15pm BTS Photos with Groom/Guys with Photo #1 & Robe Photos with Ladies/Bride with Photo #2

1:15pm - 1:30pm Groom Getting Ready photos with Photo #1 & BTS Photos with Bride with Photo #2

1:30pm - 1:45pm Groom solo shots & Bride gets dressed

1:45pm - 2:00pm Bridal Beauty Portraits

2:00pm - 3:00pm First Look/Sweetheart Photos

3:00-3:45pm Wedding Party Photos

3:45pm-4:15pm Family Photos

4:15pm - 4:30pm B&G go back to rooms/freshen up

4:45pm Guests begin to arrive

5:00pm Invitation time

5:30pm - 6:15pm Ceremony

6:15pm - 7:15pm Cocktail Hour

7:15pm Guests start to find their seats

7:30pm Grand Entrance 

7:35pm First Dance

7:40 B&G Welcome Speech

7:45pm Parent’s Speeches

8:00pm Dinner Served

9:15pm Toasts

9:20pm Father Daughter Dance

9:25pm Cake Cutting 

9:30pm Formalities Over/ Open Dancing 

10:00pm Wedding Over

FAQ

Palihouse Santa Monica is located at 1001 3rd St, Santa Monica, CA 90403.

Galleries at Palihouse Santa Monica taken by Lulan Studio

Vendors we have worked with at the Palihouse Santa Monica

What Makes Palihouse Santa Monica Photograph So Well

Palihouse Santa Monica lives in a 1927 Mediterranean Revival landmark a few blocks from the ocean, and it photographs like a private European villa - ornate lobby, antique furnishings, and a garden courtyard wrapped in greenery. The building has been a designated Santa Monica historic landmark since 2001, and the patina is real: portraits and detail shots here come with built-in texture.

The spaces we plan portraits around

  • The garden courtyard - lush foliage and bougainvillea make a soft ceremony backdrop, and its open shade is flattering for portraits through the afternoon.
  • The lobby and lounge - Mediterranean Revival interiors, chandeliers, and eclectic vintage furniture give moody, editorial frames when the light outside goes flat.
  • The staircases and balconies - sweeping stairs and suite balconies overlooking the courtyard are where we stage quiet couple moments away from guests.

Timeline advice for Palihouse Santa Monica

Santa Monica's marine layer is part of the plan: mornings often read soft and gray, burning off by early afternoon. The courtyard's shade stays kind to skin tones most of the day, so ceremony timing is flexible - we protect a short golden-hour window for portraits, then move into the lamp-lit interiors, which reward a slower, documentary pace after dark.

Planning a Wedding at Palihouse Santa Monica?

We have photographed real weddings here - see the galleries on this page and browse more of our work across Southern California. Knowing a venue's light, angles, and timeline pinch points before your wedding day is most of what separates a smooth day from a rushed one.

Have you photographed at Palihouse Santa Monica before?

Yes - Palihouse Santa Monica is one of the Southern California venues our team knows from real wedding days, and we are glad to share venue-specific timeline and photo-spot advice on a call.

How do we check your availability?

Inquire availability or schedule a call - we respond within minutes. You can also review rates and collections.

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