Los Angeles Union Station
A 1939 Mission Revival, Streamline Moderne, and Art Deco landmark in the heart of Downtown LA — where Lulan Studio has photographed weddings and engagement sessions, including a Gatsby-themed wedding whose gallery was featured in bridal publications.
A 1939 landmark train station in the heart of Downtown LA
Commissioned in 1933 by three railroads and opened in 1939, Los Angeles Union Station is sometimes called the last of the great American train stations. Designed by the father-son architecture firm of John and Donald Parkinson, it blends Spanish Colonial, Mission Revival, Streamline Moderne, and Art Deco elements — soaring ceilings, tall arched windows, patterned tile, and travertine floors throughout. It's a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. LA Metro has owned the station since 2011; private event rentals are coordinated by Hollywood Locations, not the railway operator itself.
Weddings and engagement sessions, photographed on location
We've photographed weddings and engagement sessions at Union Station, including a Gatsby-themed wedding whose gallery was submitted for — and featured in — bridal publications. The venue's own property management team later reached out to us directly to request images from that wedding for their marketing. We're familiar with the Ticket Concourse's soaring scale, the Grand Waiting Room's art-deco details, the Fred Harvey area, and the North and South Patios.
Good to know before you book
- Private event rentals are booked through Hollywood Locations, not LA Metro or the railway operator directly
- A Certificate of Insurance is a standard requirement for outside vendors — confirmed directly through our own bookings there
- Union Station remains a fully operating transit hub, so expect some public foot traffic and noise near non-rented public areas
- The venue quotes signature rates starting at $15,000 — confirm current pricing and exact scope directly with Hollywood Locations
Where we like to shoot
- The Ticket Concourse's 62-foot ceilings and grand arched windows
- The Grand Waiting Room's art-deco chandeliers and patterned tile floor
- The North and South Patios' fountains and arcaded walkways
- The iconic clock tower and colonnaded entrance for classic Old Hollywood portraits
What couples and guests notice about Los Angeles Union Station
62-foot ceilings, marble floors, and art-deco chandeliers give a sense of grandeur that's hard to match anywhere else in Los Angeles.
A 1939 Mission Revival and Streamline Moderne landmark that's still a fully working transit hub — a genuinely historic backdrop, not a themed one.
Private bookings run through Hollywood Locations rather than the railway operator, and some public foot traffic is normal near non-rented areas — worth planning around.
Planning your day at Los Angeles Union Station
Planning a wedding at Los Angeles Union Station?
Reach out to check your dateAbout Union Station Los Angeles
Opened in 1939 as the last of America's great railway stations, Union Station is a working landmark and Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument #101 whose Mission Revival, Spanish Colonial and Streamline Moderne architecture has starred in Blade Runner, The Dark Knight Rises and countless productions. Its event spaces range from the cavernous Ticket Concourse and the intimate Fred Harvey restaurant to the fountain-set North and South Patios.
Couples choose Union Station for its blank-canvas grandeur and one-of-a-kind sense of place: 30-foot ceilings, hand-painted tiles, terrazzo floors and mature courtyard trees that need almost no decor. As a fully rentable historic site with open vendor and catering policies, it suits design-forward couples who want a downtown wedding that feels like nowhere else in LA.
Location · 800 N Alameda St, Downtown LA / Little Tokyo
Style · Historic 1939 rail terminal, Art Deco / Mission Revival
Capacity · Up to 500 seated (2,000 standing) in the Ticket Concourse
Venue fee from · $9,550 (patios) / $15,000+ signature spaces
Best season · October–May (mild, lower heat on open patios)
Last updated July 2026 · Official LAUS rate sheet & venue-rentals page, The Knot, WeddingWire, Discover Los Angeles
The complete Union Station planning guide
Capacity & spaces
Ceremony · 500
Reception · 500
Cocktail/standing · 2,000
Rentable spaces
- Ticket Concourse — the signature 1939 hall with black-walnut ticket windows, soaring beamed ceiling and terrazzo floors; 500 seated or 2,000 standing
- Fred Harvey — the restored former Harvey House restaurant with tile, arches and vintage detail; 250 seated or 500 standing
- South Patio — expansive open-air courtyard with fountains and mature trees; 300 seated or 700 standing
- North Patio — intimate garden courtyard beside the historic waiting room; 250 seated or 350 standing
- Grand Waiting Room — landmark public hall with 286 Art Deco leather-and-mahogany chairs, available on a limited basis
Pricing
Ticket Concourse (daily license) · $15,000
Fred Harvey (daily license) · $16,000
South or North Patio (daily license) · $9,550
Patio add-on (with Concourse/Fred Harvey) · $3,500
Prep & strike day · 50% of daily license fee
Refundable security deposit · $2,000 minimum
Holding deposit · 50% non-refundable to reserve
Catering & bar
Catering is open and off-premise: couples bring in a licensed caterer of their choice and procure rentals separately, with limited house power (a generator is recommended for heavy lighting). Bar service is fully customizable, but liquor-liability and vendor insurance are mandatory for all events.
Rules & restrictions
- One-day-in, one-day-out load-in/out unless otherwise arranged
- DJs and live bands permitted (a working station, so sound is managed thoughtfully)
- Open flame/candles subject to approval and LA Fire Marshal sign-off
- Historic-preservation limits: no attaching to or altering protected surfaces
- Security officers, site rep and porter/cleaning are mandatory and built into rates
- Certificate of insurance including liquor liability required from couple and vendors
Getting ready, parking & access
Getting ready · On-site dressing room available; many couples prep at nearby DTLA/Little Tokyo hotels
Parking · Large on-site paid parking lots and structures; valet can be arranged; served by Metro rail and bus
Accessibility · Fully ADA/handicap accessible with ramps and elevators throughout the historic terminal
Rain plan · Indoor Ticket Concourse and Fred Harvey provide covered backups for patio ceremonies
How to book
Rentals are managed by Hollywood Locations; submit the Event Reservation Request form or call (213) 725-6828 with your date, guest count and budget. Popular Saturdays book 9–15 months out, and a 50% non-refundable holding deposit secures the date.
Photographing Union Station
The Ticket Concourse's clerestory windows throw dramatic shafts of light across the terrazzo floor midday, while the black-walnut ticket windows and long arched breezeways create leading lines that photograph beautifully in any light; the covered south passageways stay evenly lit even at noon.
For portraits, the palm-lined North and South Patios glow at golden hour, the enclosed garden courtyards offer lush green backdrops, and the Streamline Moderne clock tower and neon signage make a striking blue-hour and night backdrop.
Engagement sessions at Union Station
Union Station is an iconic LA engagement-session backdrop, though as a working transit hub it has limited public-photography access outside a booked rental.
Best time · Weekday mornings for softer crowds and light
Signature shot · Under the Ticket Concourse arches or by the ticket windows
Access · Public areas walkable; event spaces require rental/permit
The studio scouts the light-filled concourse and patios in advance and times the session around crowd flow and golden hour so the landmark reads clean and cinematic.
What couples love
- Genuinely one-of-a-kind, cinematic historic architecture that needs little decor
- Multiple distinct spaces (grand indoor hall, restaurant, two garden patios) under one roof
- Open catering and vendor policy for full creative control
- Central DTLA location on Metro with abundant on-site parking
- Fred Harvey called 'the most complimented part of our day' by a real couple
Good to know
- Mandatory add-ons (security, site rep, porter, valet, fire-marshal review) add up quickly beyond the base license
- Minimal in-house planning support — you build the vendor team yourself
- It's an active train station, so public foot traffic borders event zones
- Limited house power means generator rental is often needed for lighting
- Historic-preservation rules restrict what can be attached or altered
A typical wedding day at Union Station
Getting ready — Prep at a Little Tokyo/DTLA hotel or the on-site dressing room, then arrive by mid-afternoon
Ceremony — Vows in the Ticket Concourse or on a fountain-set patio under mature trees
Cocktail hour — Guests mingle on the North or South Patio while the main hall is flipped
Reception — Dinner and dancing beneath the 1939 beamed ceiling and ticket windows
Golden hour — Steal away for portraits along the arched breezeways and by the clock tower
Frequently asked questions
How many guests can Union Station hold for a wedding?
The Ticket Concourse seats up to 500 for a reception or holds 2,000 standing; the patios seat 250–300, and Fred Harvey seats 250.
What does it cost to rent Union Station for a wedding?
Daily license fees run $9,550 for a patio, $15,000 for the Ticket Concourse and $16,000 for Fred Harvey, plus mandatory security, site rep and cleaning.
Can we bring our own caterer?
Yes — Union Station has an open catering policy; you hire a licensed caterer and arrange rentals separately, with liquor-liability insurance required.
Is there a curfew?
Rentals run on a standard period (about 14 hours including setup) with overtime billed beyond it; end times are set in your contract.
Do we need event insurance?
Yes, a certificate of insurance including liquor liability is mandatory from the couple and vendors.
Is parking available?
Yes — large on-site paid lots and structures, plus valet options, and the station is directly on Metro rail and bus lines.
Is the venue wheelchair accessible?
Yes, the terminal is fully ADA accessible with ramps and elevators.
What's the rain backup?
The indoor Ticket Concourse and Fred Harvey serve as covered alternatives for patio ceremonies.
Can we have a live band and dancing?
Yes, DJs and live bands are permitted; as a working station, sound levels are coordinated with the venue.
How far in advance should we book?
Prime dates book roughly 9–15 months out; a 50% non-refundable holding deposit reserves your date.
Who manages the rental?
Event rentals are handled through Hollywood Locations at (213) 725-6828 via the Event Reservation Request form.
Getting there & logistics
Address · 800 N Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
From LAX · ~19 mi · 35–50 min
Transit · On-site Metro rail & bus hub (Union Station)
Nearby getting-ready hotels
- Miyako Hotel Los Angeles (Little Tokyo, walkable)
- Hotel Figueroa, DTLA
- The Hoxton, Downtown LA
- InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown
The history behind Union Station
- Opened May 3, 1939 as the Los Angeles Union Passenger Terminal, celebrated by nearly 500,000 attendees
- Designed by father-and-son architects John and Donald Parkinson, blending Art Deco, Spanish Colonial and Mission Revival styles
- Nicknamed 'the last of the great railway stations' built in the United States
- Designated Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument #101 in 1972 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980
- The ticket hall features 30 American black-walnut windows and the Grand Waiting Room holds 286 original Art Deco chairs
- A frequent film location, appearing in Blade Runner, The Dark Knight Rises and Pearl Harbor
Similar venues we love
More venues we photograph: Greystone Mansion · The Biltmore · The Oviatt · The Belasco · Carondelet House.
Planning a wedding at Union Station? Reach out to check your date →
