Villa de la Vina
A private 10-acre estate in the Santa Monica Mountains near Agoura Hills, with a landmark pool and Mediterranean-revival architecture — a private estate where Lulan Studio photographed real weddings in 2021.
A private estate in the Santa Monica Mountains
Villa de la Vina is a privately owned 10-acre estate tucked into the Santa Monica Mountains near Agoura Hills and Malibu, built in a Mediterranean-revival style with roughly 10,000 square feet of interior space and 20,000 square feet of grounds. The estate is known for its landmark pool — framed by a stone aqueduct-style archway and waterfall — along with romantic archways, jacuzzis, and canyon, mountain, and vineyard views across the property, set behind two private gates.
Weddings we photographed at this estate in 2021
We had the pleasure of photographing and filming real weddings at Villa de la Vina in 2021, working alongside the venue's team and each couple's outside vendors — florist, caterer, and officiant. We came to know the estate's pool and archways, its canyon and mountain views, and its Mediterranean-revival architecture as a striking, private backdrop for both ceremony and portrait coverage. As the venue's approach to hosting private events has evolved since then, we'd recommend confirming current wedding-hosting details directly with ownership before booking.
Good to know before you book
- This is a private estate — wedding hosting requires written approval from ownership in advance
- Additional event insurance is required for weddings and other gatherings held on the property
- No wedding-specific pricing or guest-capacity figures are published — confirm both directly with ownership
- The property sits behind two private gates in the Santa Monica Mountains near Agoura Hills
Where we like to shoot
- The signature pool, framed by a stone aqueduct-style archway and waterfall
- The estate's carved wooden doorways for dramatic, editorial-style portraits
- Canyon and mountain vantage points across the 10-acre grounds
- The Mediterranean-revival architecture and archways throughout the property
What couples and guests notice about Villa de la Vina
A private, gated 10-acre estate with a landmark pool and sweeping canyon and mountain views — a genuinely different backdrop from a typical event venue.
Carved wood doorways and Mediterranean-revival details throughout give couples striking, editorial-style portrait locations.
As a private estate rather than a dedicated event venue, wedding hosting requires written approval and additional insurance — plan to confirm details well ahead of your date.
Planning your day at Villa de la Vina
About Villa de la Vina
Villa de la Vina is a private roughly ten-acre estate set behind two exclusive gates in the Malibu/Agoura hills, widely recognized as 'The Mansion' from ABC's The Bachelor. Its palatial interiors layer gold plaster-cast ceilings, Austrian crystal chandeliers, arched mirrored windows, marble fountains and columns, and 30-foot frescoed halls, opening out to garden patios, one of the most photographed pools in the world, and hillside vineyard views.
Couples choose Villa de la Vina when they want a fully private, buy-out estate that feels like a European palazzo without leaving Los Angeles. With up to 300 guests, 12 on-site guest rooms and total exclusivity, it suits luxury weddings that prioritize privacy, dramatic architecture and a bring-in-your-own-team blank canvas over a turnkey banquet hall.
Location · Malibu / Agoura Hills, CA (private gated estate)
Style · Mediterranean-revival estate; opulent European villa
Capacity · Up to 300 guests
Venue fee from · On inquiry (~$50,000 minimum investment)
Best season · May–October (dry season for outdoor/pool areas)
Last updated July 2026 · Lulan Studio venue page, Art & Soul Events, PartySlate
The complete Villa de la Vina planning guide
Capacity & spaces
Ceremony · 300
Reception · 300
Cocktail/standing · 300+
Rentable spaces
- Gold Room — signature indoor ceremony/dining hall with gold plaster-cast ceiling and arched mirrored windows
- Frescoed Grand Hall — reception and dancing beneath 30-foot frescoed ceilings and Austrian crystal chandeliers
- Garden Patio — outdoor cocktail and al-fresco dining with vineyard and hillside views
- Pool Terrace — the estate's landmark pool, driveway and outdoor fireplace for photos and lounge areas
- Guest Suites — 12 on-site chandelier-lit rooms used for getting ready and overnight stays
Pricing
Estate buy-out minimum · ~$50,000 (quoted privately)
Venue fee · On inquiry
Catering / bar · Additional, via outside vendors
Catering & bar
Villa de la Vina has no in-house kitchen, so full-service plated dining is brought in through outside or preferred caterers, giving couples full menu freedom. Bar service, staffing and rentals are likewise coordinated through your own or the estate's recommended vendors; confirm corkage and bar-service arrangements directly with the estate.
Rules & restrictions
- Curfew and end-time set by the estate as a private residence — confirm at booking
- Amplified music permitted; hillside/residential sound limits may apply after a set hour
- Open flame and candles — confirm the estate's fire policy for the pool and interior halls
- Confetti, sparklers and petals — subject to estate approval
- Full private buy-out; all vendors coordinated in advance
- Liability/event insurance typically required for private-estate events
Getting ready, parking & access
Getting ready · 12 chandelier-lit on-site suites for both parties to prep and stay overnight
Parking · Private on-site estate parking; valet recommended for full guest counts
Accessibility · Historic multi-level estate on a hillside; some areas reached by stairs
Rain plan · Move indoors to the Gold Room and frescoed halls (30-ft ceilings) for ceremony and reception
How to book
Villa de la Vina is a private estate booked by inquiry only, typically through the estate's management or an experienced planner. Reach out 9–15 months ahead for peak dates; expect a customized quote around a ~$50,000 minimum plus outside catering and vendors.
Photographing Villa de la Vina
Light is best late morning through golden hour: the frescoed halls, mirrored windows and marble fountains bounce soft directional light for European-editorial portraits, while a first look beside the marble fountain around 3 PM keeps guests out of frame. Reserve the pool terrace and driveway for golden-hour and blue-hour couple portraits when the hillside glows.
Strongest backdrops are the Gold Room's plaster-cast ceiling and arched mirrors, the Austrian crystal chandelier halls, the marble columns and fountains, and the landmark pool, outdoor fireplace and sweeping vineyard-view patio for dusk and night-flash frames.
Engagement sessions at Villa de la Vina
As a private buy-out estate, on-site engagement or pre-wedding sessions generally require booking access through the estate, but the layered interiors make it a striking portrait location for couples already reserving their date here.
Access · By arrangement with the estate (not open to drop-in shoots)
Best light · Golden hour on the pool terrace and driveway
Top backdrop · Gold Room chandeliers and marble fountains
The studio handles estate access requests, scheduling and a shot list so an engagement or pre-wedding session flows straight into your wedding-day look.
What couples love
- Total privacy — a fully gated estate buy-out with no shared events
- Show-stopping architecture: gold ceilings, Austrian crystal and 30-ft frescoes read as a European palace on camera
- One of the world's most famous pools, driveways and outdoor fireplaces
- 12 on-site suites for getting ready and staying the night
- True blank-canvas flexibility for luxury design teams
Good to know
- High minimum investment (~$50,000) plus outside catering and vendors adds up quickly
- No in-house kitchen or turnkey packages — you build the team, which needs more coordination
- Remote gated hillside location means a real drive and guest transport/shuttles to plan
- Pricing and availability are quoted privately with limited public information
- Multi-level historic estate can be challenging for guests with mobility needs
A typical wedding day at Villa de la Vina
Getting ready — 1:00 PM in the chandelier-lit suites
Ceremony — 6:00 PM in the Gold Room (or garden for outdoor)
Cocktail hour — 6:45 PM on the vineyard-view garden patio
Reception — 7:45 PM grand entrance and dinner, dancing under 30-ft frescoed ceilings
Golden hour — pool terrace, driveway and fireplace portraits before a midnight sparkler exit
Frequently asked questions
How much does a wedding at Villa de la Vina cost?
It is a private estate with an approximate $50,000 minimum investment, quoted privately, plus outside catering, bar and vendors. Total spend typically lands well above that once catering and design are added.
What is the guest capacity?
The estate hosts up to 300 guests for ceremony and reception, with room for cocktail-style events of similar size.
Is this really the Bachelor Mansion?
Yes — Villa de la Vina is the Mediterranean-revival estate widely known as 'The Mansion' from ABC's The Bachelor, set on roughly ten private acres in the Malibu/Agoura hills.
Is catering included?
No. There is no in-house kitchen, so full-service plated dining is brought in through outside or preferred caterers, giving you full menu control.
Can we serve alcohol and what about corkage?
Yes, bar service is arranged through your caterer or vendors; confirm corkage, bar staffing and insurance requirements directly with the estate.
Is there a curfew?
As a private residence the estate sets the end time and sound limits per event; confirm your curfew at booking.
Where do we get ready?
There are 12 on-site chandelier-lit guest suites used for hair, makeup and getting ready, and both parties can stay overnight.
Can we have the ceremony and reception on-site?
Yes — you can hold the ceremony in the Gold Room or gardens and the reception in the frescoed halls or on the terrace, all within one private buy-out.
What's the parking and guest arrival like?
Private on-site parking is available and valet is recommended for larger counts; because it's a gated hillside estate, many couples arrange guest shuttles.
What happens if it rains?
The ceremony and reception move indoors to the Gold Room and frescoed halls with 30-foot ceilings, so the day proceeds fully sheltered.
Can we do an engagement session at the estate?
On-site sessions require access arranged through estate management; it isn't open for drop-in shoots, but couples booking the venue can often schedule portraits by arrangement.
Getting there & logistics
Address · Private gated estate, Malibu / Agoura Hills, CA (disclosed on booking)
From LAX · ~35 mi · ~50–70 min
From Hollywood Burbank (BUR) · ~20 mi · ~35 min
Nearby getting-ready hotels
- The Malibu Beach Inn
- Calamigos Guest Ranch & Beach Club, Malibu
- Sheraton Agoura Hills Hotel
- Homewood Suites Agoura Hills
The history behind Villa de la Vina
- Built as a Mediterranean-revival estate spanning roughly ten acres in the hills above Malibu/Agoura
- Widely known as 'The Mansion,' the filming location for ABC's The Bachelor and The Bachelorette
- Famous for one of the most recognized pools, driveways and outdoor fireplaces in the world
- Set behind two exclusive private gates for full privacy and exclusive-use events
Similar venues we love
More venues we photograph: Greystone Mansion · Calamigos Ranch · Houdini Estate · The Biltmore · The Ebell of LA.
Planning a wedding at Villa de la Vina? Reach out to check your date →
