Pasadena, California
Storrier-Stearns Japanese Garden Wedding Photographer
A restored 1.5-acre 1930s Japanese estate garden in Pasadena with a teahouse, koi pond, and waterfalls, rented privately for intimate weddings.
About Storrier-Stearns Japanese Garden
The Storrier-Stearns Japanese Garden is a rare surviving 1930s private Japanese garden tucked into a residential Pasadena neighborhood. Built by Charles and Ellamae Storrier Stearns and designed by master landscape architect Kinzuchi Fujii, its 1.45 acres hold koi ponds, waterfalls, stone bridges, winding paths, and an authentic teahouse — a stroll-garden ('chisen kaiyu shiki') composition meant to reveal new scenes at every turn.
Restored over years and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005, the garden is rented to one event at a time, giving couples complete privacy on the grounds. It is best suited to intimate and mid-size weddings that want the garden itself, rather than a ballroom, to be the setting. A changing suite, a rehearsal day when the calendar allows, and an on-site event manager support the day.
Location · 270 Arlington Dr, Pasadena, CA
Style · Historic private Japanese stroll garden with teahouse
Capacity · Up to ~150 guests outdoors for a garden ceremony
Ceremony · Outdoor garden ceremony; intimate indoor/teahouse options
Best season · Spring and fall; mild Pasadena weather
Facts drawn from the garden's official venue and booking pages, third-party wedding listings for capacity and pricing ranges, and the garden's public/National Register history. Exact pricing varies by date and guest count and should be confirmed with the garden directly.
The complete Storrier-Stearns Garden planning guide
Capacity & spaces
Seated dinner · Around 30 indoors; larger seated dinners set up outdoors in the garden
Standing/cocktail · Up to roughly 150 across the grounds
Ceremony · Up to about 150 for an outdoor ceremony; teahouse holds ~15
Rentable spaces
- The garden grounds — koi ponds, waterfalls, bridges, and stone paths that serve as the main ceremony and reception setting
- Authentic teahouse — an intimate structure for small gatherings and tea ceremonies (about 15 people)
- Pond and waterfall areas — signature photo and ceremony backdrops
- Changing suite — on-site space to get ready and freshen up
Pricing
Peak Saturday · Ceremony and reception packages start around $4,700 for roughly 5 hours of event time
Off-peak · Ceremony-only from about $2,750; reception-only around $4,000
What's included · Private use of the garden, changing suite, event-manager walk-through, and a rehearsal day when the calendar allows; additional hours available for a fee
Catering & bar
The garden allows outside caterers, who attend a pre-event walk-through with the event manager to coordinate logistics. There is no full banquet kitchen, so caterers should plan as an off-site/drop-and-finish operation. Couples arrange their own catering, rentals, and bar within the garden's guidelines; confirm current vendor and alcohol rules when booking.
Rules & restrictions
- One event at a time — renters have private use of the entire garden.
- A signed agreement and rental deposit secure the date; the balance is due about 60 days out.
- A separate refundable security deposit is held and returned within about 30 days if there is no damage or extra cleaning.
- Because the garden sits in a residential neighborhood, noise, amplified sound, and parking must respect neighbors and any curfew.
- Outside caterers and vendors coordinate through the required pre-event walk-through with the event manager.
Getting ready, parking & access
Getting ready space · On-site changing suite for the wedding party
Parking · Limited single-file driveway parking; plan valet or off-site parking for larger counts
Load-in · Through the garden entrance; coordinate timing and paths with the event manager to protect the historic grounds
How to book
Booking is handled directly by the garden. Reach out through the contact form or email with your preferred date, event type, and guest count. To hold a date you sign a rental agreement and pay a deposit, with the balance due about 60 days before the event and a separate refundable security deposit. A walk-through with the event manager is scheduled roughly 30-60 days out, and complimentary admission during open hours lets you plan on-site beforehand.
Photographing Storrier-Stearns Garden
This is a photographer's garden. The koi pond with its waterfalls and arched bridges, the teahouse, and the layered greenery give endlessly composed backdrops, and the stroll-garden design means a short walk yields many distinct scenes. Soft, dappled light filters through mature trees, so overcast days and the hour before sunset are especially flattering; harsh midday sun is the main thing to work around.
For couples, plan a loop that hits the main pond and waterfall, the bridge, and the teahouse. The intimate scale keeps the wedding party close and the images lush and green. Because the space is compact and historic, work efficiently and avoid stepping into planted or moss areas — the event manager can point out the best vantage points.
Engagement sessions at Storrier-Stearns Garden
The garden's ponds, bridges, and teahouse make an intimate, richly textured engagement session, and its compact scale means a lot of variety in a short shoot.
Best time · Late afternoon into golden hour, or a soft overcast day
Permit/fee · Photography/filming is arranged through the garden; confirm session fees and open-hours access
Standout spots · Main koi pond and waterfall, the arched bridge, and the teahouse
Contact the garden to book a photography slot and confirm the current session rate and rules.
What couples love
- Total privacy — one event at a time on the whole garden
- A genuinely historic 1930s Japanese garden, not a manufactured backdrop
- Ponds, waterfalls, bridges, and a real teahouse in 1.5 lush acres
- Intimate scale that keeps small and mid-size weddings feeling personal
- Beautiful, varied photography without leaving the grounds
Good to know
- Parking is limited and the garden is in a residential area — plan valet or off-site parking and respect neighbors.
- Indoor/seated dinner capacity is small; larger receptions are set up outdoors and need a weather plan.
- No full banquet kitchen — caterers work drop-and-finish style.
- Amplified sound and end times may be restricted by the residential setting.
- Pricing scales with guest count and date; the headline rate is a starting point.
A typical wedding day at Storrier-Stearns Garden
3:30 PM — Wedding party arrives; final touches in the changing suite
4:30 PM — Guests seated by the pond for the garden ceremony
5:00 PM — Ceremony and recessional across the bridge
5:30 PM — Cocktails and portraits at the teahouse and waterfall during golden hour
6:30 PM — Dinner and reception on the garden grounds
Frequently asked questions
How many guests can the garden hold?
Up to roughly 150 for an outdoor garden ceremony. Indoor seated dinners are much smaller (around 30), so larger dinners are set up outdoors.
Do we get the garden to ourselves?
Yes. The garden hosts one event at a time, so you have private use of the entire grounds.
What does it cost?
Ceremony-and-reception packages start around $4,700 for about five hours; ceremony-only is roughly $2,750. Final pricing depends on date and guest count.
Can we bring our own caterer?
Yes, outside caterers are allowed and attend a pre-event walk-through. There's no full banquet kitchen, so they work drop-and-finish.
Is there a place to get ready?
Yes, there's an on-site changing suite for the wedding party.
What about parking?
On-site driveway parking is limited and single-file, and the garden is residential, so valet or off-site parking is recommended for larger groups.
Can we have a rehearsal?
A rehearsal day is typically offered the day before when no other event is scheduled.
How do we hold a date?
Sign the rental agreement and pay a deposit; the balance is due about 60 days out, plus a separate refundable security deposit.
Is the teahouse usable for the wedding?
Yes, the authentic teahouse can host small gatherings or tea ceremonies for about 15 people and is a favorite photo spot.
Can we play amplified music?
Amplified sound is possible but limited by the residential neighborhood; confirm volume and end-time rules when booking.
Is the garden good for photos?
Exceptionally so — ponds, waterfalls, bridges, and the teahouse give varied, lush backdrops within a compact space.
When is the best season?
Spring and fall offer the mildest Pasadena weather and lush greenery, though the garden is available year-round on weekends.
Getting there & logistics
Address · 270 Arlington Dr, Pasadena, CA 91105
Nearest airport · Hollywood Burbank (BUR) ~15 miles; LAX ~25 miles
Drive time · About 15 minutes from central Pasadena; ~25 minutes from Downtown LA
Nearby getting-ready hotels
- The Langham Huntington, Pasadena
- Hotel Constance Pasadena
- The Westin Pasadena
- Hyatt Place Pasadena
The history behind Storrier-Stearns Garden
- Commissioned by Charles and Ellamae Storrier Stearns and designed by landscape architect Kinzuchi Fujii, built in the mid-to-late 1930s at a cost of about $150,000.
- The original teahouse and imported elements served as a hub for Japanese cultural activities until the teahouse burned in 1981 and was later rebuilt to Fujii's specifications.
- The 1.45-acre garden was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005.
Similar venues we love
More venues we photograph: LA River Center & Gardens · Orcutt Ranch · Greystone Mansion · Vibiana · Villa del Sol d'Oro.
Planning a wedding at Storrier-Stearns Garden? Reach out to check your date →
