About the California Club

The California Club is a wedding venue on Flower Street in Downtown Los Angeles, surrounded by the high-rises of the financial district. Founded in 1887, the club moved three times before relocating into this building in 1929. Architect Robert D. Farquhar designed the seven story clubhouse in the Italian Renaissance Revival style. The building has since been listed on the National Register of Historic Places and designated a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument.

Couples are drawn to the California Club for its privacy, the contrast between its historic interiors and the modern skyline view, and the formality of a private club. Members sponsor every wedding held here, so most guests have never set foot inside before the ceremony. Formal rooms open straight onto a patio with downtown right outside. And because it is a private club rather than a public venue, the whole night maintains a sophisticated feel.

Ceremony and Reception Spaces

First Floor Main Lounge

The Main Lounge is on the first floor and hosts cocktail hour for couples with a larger guest list. Its formal furnishings and traditional details add to the unique feel of the space.

First Floor Patio

The outdoor First Floor Patio gives couples the option to move cocktail hour outside. It is also a nice option for a ceremony for those who prefer more of a courtyard feel with the natural element of trees and high-rises rising above.

First Floor Main Dining Room

The Main Dining Room functions as the club's ballroom for dinner and dancing. Along with the Main Lounge for cocktails and First Floor Patio for a ceremony, it suits weddings with a larger guest count.

Second Floor Gold Room

The Gold Room serves as an indoor cocktail space for couples hosting a more intimate gathering. The formality of the room, with antiques decor and gold theme, adds to the whole experience of a sophisticated event.

Second Floor Dining Room

Next to the Gold Room, the Second Floor Dining Room can be set for either the ceremony or the reception. This space is particularly nice if a ceremony needs to be held indoors.

Second Floor French Room

The French Room can be used for getting ready, a ceremony, or for dinner. It’s a beautiful space with its pink color scheme and antique decor.

Third Floor Patio

The Third-Floor Patio, with a view of the city skyline, is the club's main outdoor ceremony space which can accommodate a larger guest count. Most couples use this area for their ceremony before heading to the first floor for cocktails and the reception.

Third Floor Dining Room

The Third Floor Dining Room offers a medium sized indoor option for a ceremony or reception. When combined with the patio for an event, it incorporates the urban views of downtown with the formality of the club’s interiors and gives guests a full experience.

Third Floor Private Dining Rooms

There are multiple Private Dining Rooms on the third floor that offer the most intimate setting in the club for couples planning a smaller gathering. Each room is unique with its layout, but it still carries the historic ambiance that the club is known for.

What We Love About California Club

Historical Location

The California Club is located on Flower Street in Downtown Los Angeles, next door to the Los Angeles Public Library. Both buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and also has a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument status. We love shooting somewhere with that much documented history

Architecture & Décor

Vintage furnishings, tall windows, wrought iron doors, a grand marble staircase, the French Room, and the formal library are all still exactly as they were built. We love the range these details give us across a wedding day, from the staircase for a formal portrait to the quieter, more private feel of the library. The third floor patio adds something different, with views of the downtown landscape.

Impeccable Service

For every wedding, staff at California Club customize the menu around the couple's own requests. We've seen that same attention carry through the rest of the day too, guests taken care of without having to ask twice.

Insider Tips

The best light on the Third-Floor Patio is in the late afternoon when the sun starts to set and in the evening when downtown starts to light up. We love to plan for portraits here as the sun is low or when the skyline is glowing.

The marble staircase works well for portraits throughout the day. Early on, it's a clean backdrop for formal portraits before the ceremony. Later, once the dancing has been going for a while, it becomes a quieter spot for a few relaxed shots away from the reception.

We also like to take the couple outside the club itself. The library next door, Maguire Gardens, and City National Plaza are all within a short walk, and a few frames of the couple walking the streets downtown adds a different feel from the formal interior of the building.

Who Is the Right Couple for a California Club Wedding?

Couples who choose the California Club want a formal wedding in the city. The interiors are just as formal, with vintage furnishings, wrought iron doors, and a grand marble staircase. They like a traditional day, moving from the ceremony to cocktails to dinner. They also want the city around them, and the club is in the middle of Downtown LA with landmarks and skyscrapers on every side.

The California Club has stood in Downtown Los Angeles since 1929, and its rooms have held gatherings for almost a hundred years. The club's nine spaces across three floors give couples many options, from an intimate ceremony and reception to one with a much larger guest count. It is also a private club, not a public venue, so every wedding here has an exclusive feel. Having photographed many weddings at this location, we think California Club is a great fit for couples who want a formal day in Downtown LA.

Inspiration

The best way to get a feel for what your day could look like at California Club is to see real weddings we have photographed at this property. Take a look at the celebrations of Jacey and Rob, and Shane and Louis, to see how different couples have brought their vision to life here.

Considering a California Club Wedding?

Whether you are still exploring venues or have already chosen California Club, we would love to connect. We have photographed here throughout the year and would love to share what we have seen and learned from documenting weddings at this property.