About La Venta Inn

La Venta Inn sits at the top of the Palos Verdes Peninsula, overlooking the Pacific Ocean and the California coastline. The property was built in 1923 by Frank A. Vanderlip and the Palos Verdes Project, originally as a sales office called "Clubhouse 764" for the development of Palos Verdes Estates. A year later it opened as an inn, and it quickly became one of the area's most recognized gathering places. In the 1920s and 1930s, guests included Charles Lindbergh, Greta Garbo, Charlie Chaplin, and Bob Hope. In 1990, the California State Office of Historic Preservation designated it a California Historic Resource. The building has been hosting weddings for decades, and that history shows in how the property feels when you are actually there.

Couples are drawn to La Venta Inn for the history, the views, and the feeling of having the property entirely to themselves. The 1923 building, the California Historic Resource designation, and the clifftop setting on the Palos Verdes Peninsula give it a combination that is specific to this venue. Hosting one wedding at a time means the day stays personal from start to finish.

Getting Ready, Ceremony and Reception Spaces

The Ocean Cottage and Hideaway Suite

The Ocean Cottage was built in 1946 on the west side of the property, with the ceremony lawn just steps away. The Hideaway Suite sits behind the venue with a private patio and lawn. Both spaces give each side of the wedding party a calm, private place to get ready.

The Ceremony Lawn

The ceremony lawn overlooks the Pacific Ocean and the California coastline to the north. On most days you can see the Santa Monica Mountains on the horizon and the beach towns along the coast. Most couples exchange vows on the Palos Verdes stone platform.

The Courtyard

The courtyard is built around a Spanish fountain with original blue tilework and is where most couples host cocktail hour. The Palos Verdes stone walkways, climbing vines, and cupola overhead give it a natural transition point between the ceremony and the reception.

The Garden Rooms

The Garden Rooms serve as the main reception space, with large windows on two sides looking out over the ocean and the gardens. The multi-leveled floor plan and open layout give it a less formal and relaxed feel.

The Ballroom

The Ballroom has hand-hewn ceilings, wooden floors, a working fireplace, and chandeliers. One side opens to the courtyard and the other to a patio with views of the ocean and Los Angeles skyline. Most couples use it for dancing and the later part of the reception.

What We Love About La Venta Inn

Ocean Views

The ceremony lawn, the courtyard, the patio off the Ballroom, and several outdoor areas across the property all look out toward the Pacific and the Los Angeles coastline. We love that the ocean view is not limited to one spot, which means it is present throughout the day giving the property a real SoCal experience.

Spanish Colonial Architecture

The adobe walls, red tile roofs, and original courtyard fountain give the property an intimate, Old California character. We find it works especially well for environmental portraits, where the architecture gives us strong compositional elements and varied angles to work with across the property.

Gardens and Grounds

The property has several distinct garden areas with mature plantings that have been in place for over a century. We always try to incorporate a natural element into at part of our portrait work, and the variety of garden settings here gives us beautiful options.

Insider Tips

The Ocean Cottage and Hideaway Suite are on opposite ends of the property, which gives each side of the wedding party their own private space to get ready. Both are well-suited for the quieter moments at the start of the day and can serve as a private retreat throughout.

The property has many distinct backgrounds for portraits across the courtyard, gardens, stone walkways, and outdoor terraces. We typically plan for two portrait windows during the day, with the second one timed for golden hour on the far lawn where the ocean view and sunset are at their best.

One of our favorite moments to capture at La Venta Inn is during the recessional. With the couple in the aisle and guests on either side, we can get a wide shot that takes in the entire scene with the coastline stretching out behind everyone.

Who Is the Right Couple for a La Venta Inn Wedding?

Couples who value history and location will find La Venta Inn is a perfect fit. The 1923 building, the California Historic Resource designation, and the position high on the Palos Verdes Peninsula make it one of the more distinctive venues in Southern California. The ocean views, the Spanish Colonial architecture, and the elevated coastal setting give out-of-town guests an experience that feels distinctly California. And because the property only hosts one event a day, the entire property is theirs for the day.

La Venta Inn brings together a century of history, a clifftop setting on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, and a property that hosts one wedding at a time. The day flows naturally across the ceremony lawn, courtyard, Garden Rooms, and Ballroom, and guests get a coastal California experience that is hard to find anywhere else in Southern California. The range of indoor and outdoor spaces gives us a lot to work with throughout the day. It is a property we are always glad to return to.

Inspiration

The best way to get a feel for what your day could look like at La Venta Inn is to see real weddings we have photographed at this property. Take a look at the celebrations of Amanda & Jordan, Olivia & Raul, Regina & Charlie, and Naomi & David to see how different couples have brought their vision to life here. To learn more about this incredible venue, we highly recommend also checking out their Venue Report.

Considering a La Venta Inn Wedding?

Whether you are still exploring venues or have already chosen La Venta Inn, 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.