1926 theater & ballroom, Downtown LA
The Belasco Wedding Photographer
Say 'I do' inside a lavishly restored 1926 Churrigueresque theater where a grand main hall, speakeasy lounge and two patio decks span 40,000 square feet of Downtown drama.
About The Belasco
The Belasco opened in 1926 as an opulent legitimate theater in Downtown LA's historic theatre district, designed by Morgan, Walls & Clements in ornate Churrigueresque style and commissioned by the Doheny family. Now operated by Live Nation, its 40,000 square feet flow across the main theater (Chapel), a ballroom-style Sanctuary, a Chamber room, a speakeasy Confessional lounge and two outdoor patio decks.
Couples choose The Belasco for its rare combination of scale and grandeur — hand-crafted plasterwork, sweeping balconies and a full stage — plus the flexibility to move a crowd from ceremony to dinner to late-night club across distinct, dramatic rooms. It's a natural fit for large, design-forward Downtown weddings that want built-in production and nightlife energy.
Location · Historic theatre district, Downtown LA
Style · Restored 1926 Churrigueresque theater & ballroom
Capacity · Up to 1,500 across the full venue
Venue fee from · On inquiry
Best season · Year-round (fully indoor, climate-controlled)
Last updated July 2026 · Official thebelasco.com & Live Nation Special Events, The Knot, Wedding Spot, LA Historic-Cultural Monument records
The complete The Belasco planning guide
Capacity & spaces
Ceremony · 500
Reception · 1,300
Cocktail/standing · 1,500
Rentable spaces
- Chapel (main theater, floor & balcony) — the grand historic auditorium and stage; up to 1,300 reception
- Sanctuary (ballroom) — elegant ballroom space; 500 reception, 250 banquet dinner
- Chamber — flexible mid-size room; 250 reception, 100 banquet
- Confessional — intimate speakeasy bar/lounge; up to 75 reception
- Lobby — historic entry hall; up to 76 for gatherings
- Lower Patio — open-air deck; up to 125
- Upstairs Patio — second outdoor deck; up to 100
- Full venue buyout — all spaces combined for up to 1,500 guests
Pricing
Pricing · On inquiry — quote by date, spaces and guest count
Catering & bar
The Belasco provides full in-house food, beverage and bar service with custom menus and craft cocktails through Live Nation's culinary team, alongside on-site service staff. Full-service event production — sound, lighting, décor and entertainment booking — is also handled in-house.
Rules & restrictions
- As a Live Nation nightlife venue, amplified music and late-night receptions are well supported
- Sound and production run through the in-house AV/production team
- Open flame/candles subject to venue and LA Fire Marshal approval given the historic interior
- Historic-preservation limits on altering or attaching to landmarked surfaces
- In-house catering, bar and staffing typically required
- Certificate of insurance generally required from couple and outside vendors
Getting ready, parking & access
Getting ready · On-site dressing rooms (former backstage/green rooms); many couples also prep at nearby DTLA hotels
Parking · Nearby lots and structures plus valet options; blocks from Metro and the LA Convention Center
Accessibility · Handicap accessible with accessible entry and restrooms across the multi-level venue
Rain plan · Fully indoor and climate-controlled; the two patio decks are the only weather-dependent areas
How to book
Inquiries go through the Live Nation Special Events team at (213) 348-2056 or thebelascoevents@livenation.com via the online event form; the venue advises booking early, though quick turnarounds are sometimes possible for open dates.
Photographing The Belasco
The Chapel's stage and proscenium, dramatic balcony sightlines and ornate plaster ceilings are the showpiece — best lit with the venue's own theatrical lighting rather than natural light, since the interior is largely windowless; the moody Confessional speakeasy adds rich, low-light texture.
For portraits, the grand staircase and lobby's Churrigueresque detailing, the glowing stage, and the two outdoor patio decks (the only spots for natural light and skyline air) offer the strongest contrast of ornate interior and open-sky backdrops.
Engagement sessions at The Belasco
The Belasco's ornate interiors make a striking, editorial engagement or pre-wedding session setting, arranged around the venue's event schedule.
Best time · Off-event daytime hours for full access to the halls
Signature shot · On the Chapel stage under theatrical lighting
Access · Booked/coordinated with Live Nation events team
The studio coordinates lighting with the in-house production team and works the stage, grand staircase and speakeasy lounge so the theater's ornate detail reads dramatic rather than dim.
What couples love
- Show-stopping restored 1926 architecture with a real stage and balconies
- Multiple distinct rooms (grand theater, ballroom, speakeasy, patios) for a full evening's flow
- Big capacity — up to 1,500 — for large Downtown celebrations
- In-house catering, bar and professional-grade AV/production built in
- Central DTLA location near hotels, Metro and the Convention Center
Good to know
- Pricing is quote-only and, as a premium Live Nation venue, tends to run high
- Largely windowless interior means you rely on venue lighting for daytime looks
- In-house catering and production reduce outside-vendor flexibility
- As an active concert/nightclub venue, your date must fit around its event calendar
- Downtown parking is off-site (lots/valet) rather than a dedicated venue lot
A typical wedding day at The Belasco
Getting ready — Prep in the on-site dressing rooms or a nearby DTLA hotel
Ceremony — Vows on the Chapel stage or in the ballroom Sanctuary under theatrical lighting
Cocktail hour — Guests scatter to the speakeasy Confessional and the two patio decks
Reception — Dinner and dancing beneath the ornate 1926 plasterwork and balconies
Golden hour — Skyline patio-deck portraits before the late-night dance party takes over
Frequently asked questions
How many guests can The Belasco hold?
Up to 1,500 across the full venue; the main Chapel theater holds about 1,300 reception, and the Sanctuary ballroom seats 250 for a banquet dinner.
What does a wedding at The Belasco cost?
Pricing is provided by quote based on date, spaces and guest count; as a premium Live Nation venue it's positioned at the higher end of Downtown LA.
Is catering in-house?
Yes — The Belasco offers full in-house food, beverage, bar and event-production services with custom menus and craft cocktails.
What spaces are available?
The Chapel (main theater), Sanctuary ballroom, Chamber, Confessional speakeasy lounge, lobby and two outdoor patio decks, bookable individually or as a full buyout.
Is it accessible?
Yes, the venue is handicap accessible with accessible entry and restrooms across its levels.
Is there parking?
Parking is via nearby Downtown lots, structures and valet; the venue is blocks from Metro and the LA Convention Center.
Is the venue indoors?
Yes, it's fully indoor and climate-controlled, with two outdoor patio decks as the only open-air, weather-dependent spaces.
Can we have a late-night reception?
Absolutely — as a Live Nation nightlife venue it's built for amplified music and late-night dancing.
Are there getting-ready rooms?
Yes, on-site dressing rooms (former backstage green rooms) are available, and many couples also prep at nearby hotels.
How do we book?
Contact the Live Nation Special Events team at (213) 348-2056 or thebelascoevents@livenation.com and submit the online inquiry form.
How historic is the building?
It opened in 1926, was designed by Morgan, Walls & Clements in Churrigueresque style, and is a designated Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument.
Getting there & logistics
Address · 1050 S Hill St, Los Angeles, CA 90015
From LAX · ~14 mi · 25–40 min
Nearby · Blocks from the LA Convention Center & Metro
Nearby getting-ready hotels
- Hotel Figueroa, DTLA
- The Hoxton, Downtown LA
- Freehand Los Angeles
- InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown
The history behind The Belasco
- Opened November 1, 1926 with a production of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, commissioned by the Doheny family
- Designed by the firm Morgan, Walls & Clements — with Stiles O. Clements leading — in ornate Churrigueresque style
- Built as a legitimate 'legit' theater in Downtown's historic theatre district
- Participated in the New Deal-era Federal Theatre Project in the 1930s
- Designated Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument #476 in 1990; reopened as an event/music venue in 2011 and operated by Live Nation since 2020
Similar venues we love
More venues we photograph: Greystone Mansion · The Biltmore · The Oviatt · Union Station · Carondelet House.
Planning a wedding at The Belasco? Reach out to check your date →
