Pasadena Wedding Photographer
Enchanting, historic and elegant — from the arcaded courtyard of City Hall to the Langham’s oak lawn, photographed on film and digital.
Getting married in Pasadena
A city in the San Gabriel Valley with more intact historic architecture than anywhere else in Los Angeles County. Tree-lined streets, Craftsman and Beaux-Arts landmarks, and gardens that hold their color into November give Pasadena couples a backdrop that photographs well in every season — not just in June.
The range runs from the Langham’s oak lawn and Castle Green’s Moorish salons to NOOR’s ballrooms and the Maxwell House terrace. And the landmark City Hall, with its 1927 dome and arcaded courtyard, remains one of the most photographed backdrops for wedding and engagement portraits anywhere in Southern California — we hold the city photography permit for it.
Our favorite wedding venues in Pasadena
Four we know room by room, with the numbers couples actually ask for.
The Langham Huntington
1907 Mediterranean resort · 23-acre estate
- Guests
- Up to ~650
- Price
- Luxury · ~$34k avg (F&B minimum)
- Address
- 1401 S Oak Knoll Ave, Pasadena
A grand early-1900s resort with gilded ballrooms, a Japanese Garden, and formal grounds — the most palatial setting in Pasadena. Couples rave about the sweeping grounds and ballrooms and the on-day service — and note it’s a true splurge. (The Knot ~3.9★) See a wedding here → ·
Castle Green
1898 Victorian–Moorish landmark
- Guests
- ~200 seated · ~300 cocktail
- Price
- From ~$8k rental · ~$14k typical · BYOB, no F&B min
- Address
- 99 S Raymond Ave, Pasadena
A restored 1898 landmark of Moorish arches and Victorian detail — one event per day, and the architecture needs almost no styling. Couples love that the historic rooms need minimal decor and consistently praise the events director. (WeddingWire ~4.6★) See a wedding here → ·
NOOR
Modern chandelier ballrooms + Old Pasadena rooftop
- Guests
- Up to ~320
- Price
- Packages from ~$10,800 · largely all-inclusive
- Address
- 300 E Colorado Blvd #200, Pasadena
Elegant modern ballrooms with dramatic chandeliers plus a garden terrace and rooftop overlooking Old Pasadena. Couples highlight the chandelier ballrooms, above-average food, and organized coordinators — often calling it great value. (The Knot ~4.9★) See a wedding here → ·
The Maxwell House
1929 Mediterranean Italianate mansion
- Guests
- Up to 100 (boutique from 60)
- Price
- From $9,500 · boutique $7,500
- Address
- 55 S Grand Ave, Pasadena
A 1929 Italianate mansion with a Palladian entry, hand-painted ceilings, and a rear garden — intimate and richly detailed. Couples praise the historic interior and garden and the freedom to bring their own vendors and alcohol. (WeddingWire ~4.8★) See a wedding here → ·
What we know about shooting here
Three things that change how a Pasadena day is shot.
The courtyard is a morning room
City Hall’s arcaded courtyard is open to the sky, so it is at its best in the first two hours after the doors open — soft, even light and almost nobody in the arcade. By midday the contrast is hard work.
Summer runs hot inland
The San Gabriel Valley sits well above coastal temperatures from July to September. We build shade breaks into the portrait window and move the longer sessions to the first or last hour of light.
Permits are real here
The City of Pasadena requires a permit for professional photography on City Hall grounds and it is enforced. We already hold one, so there is nothing for you to file.
Pasadena weddings, as we shoot them
Recent frames from Pasadena weddings and portrait sessions.
Pasadena wedding photography FAQ
Do we need a permit for photographs at Pasadena City Hall?
Yes — the City of Pasadena requires one for professional photography on the grounds. Lulan Studio already holds a permit, so there is nothing for you to file or pay. Rules and fees change, so we re-confirm for your date.
When is the best time of year to marry in Pasadena?
October through May. The gardens hold color late, the light is lower and softer, and you avoid the inland summer heat. If you do marry in July or August, we shift portraits to the first or last hour of daylight.
Can you photograph a City Hall ceremony as well as a venue reception?
Yes, and many Pasadena couples do exactly that. If the ceremony itself is at City Hall rather than a venue, the Pasadena City Hall page covers how that day runs.
Do you cover San Gabriel Valley churches?
Regularly — including San Gabriel Mission and St. Gabriel Catholic Church. Church ceremonies have their own rules about position and flash, and we confirm them with the parish beforehand.
When will we get our photographs?
Four to eight weeks, hand-edited and color-graded, in a full-resolution online gallery that never expires. Unlimited edited images, with no cap on the final gallery.
Other cities and venues we photograph
Nearby cities we photograph, and the Pasadena venues with their own guides.
More: Pasadena wedding videography · LA venues guide · rates and collections
Tell us the date and the venue
Tell us the venue and the date and we will come back with availability, usually within minutes.