About Vibiana

Vibiana is a former cathedral turned wedding venue in the Historic Core of Downtown Los Angeles, standing on the same block since 1876. It served as the city's Catholic cathedral for over a hundred years, until the 1994 Northridge earthquake left it badly damaged. The Archdiocese built a new cathedral a few blocks away, Our Lady of the Angels, and preservationists fought to keep the original building standing. They won. The cathedral was restored and reopened as an event venue named Vibiana. Chef Neal Fraser and Amy Knoll Fraser have owned and run it since 2012, and later added their restaurant, Redbird, inside the old rectory.

Couples are drawn to Vibiana for the building, a landmark that's one of a kind in Los Angeles, for the way it shows a different side of the city by hosting an elegant, formal wedding right in the middle of Downtown, and for a menu designed by the chefs at Redbird. That combination lets a couple bring together their love of LA history, a formal celebration, and great food in one event, while giving guests an experience they typically won't find elsewhere.

Ceremony and Event Spaces

Vibiana Main Hall

The Main Hall is the original cathedral nave, lined with marble columns beneath a vaulted ceiling, and the original marble alter as a focal point. The ceremony can happen here or in the courtyard next door, then guests move outside for cocktails before the reception returns to the Main Hall.

Redbird Restaurant & Lounge 

The Redbird Restaurant & Lounge sits on the first floor, with a central bar and open-air dining under a retractable roof, looking out toward the Vibiana bell tower. Couples often use it for a rehearsal dinner or as a reception space.

The Garden

Between the Main Hall and the Little Tokyo Library, The Garden is framed by olive trees and string market lighting, with a pizza oven and beds of herbs along one side, and the Vibiana bell tower rising above the trees. Couples often use it for the ceremony, cocktail hour, or the reception itself.

West Room 

The West Room is on the second floor, the largest of Redbird's private rooms, with high ceilings, original painted beams, and a patterned tile floor. It's often used for a rehearsal dinner, set up either for a seated dinner or a cocktail-style gathering.

East Room 

The East Room sits on the second floor, a rectangular room with a show kitchen, tile floors, and a covered patio that looks out toward Vibiana. Its patio bar and views make it a popular spot for a smaller ceremony or an intimate rehearsal dinner.

The Nest

 The Nest is on the third floor, an intimate room with an open kitchen, set beneath a retractable roof with downtown views. Ceremonies can take place on the balcony, and while guests have cocktails near the open kitchen, the balcony is reset for dinner.

Cardinal's Quarters

 Cardinal's Quarters occupies the fourth floor, once home to the rectory's cardinals, with a working fireplace, deep jewel-toned walls, and an outdoor balcony. It's often used for intimate ceremonies, receptions and cocktail parties or as an after-party space.

Bishop's Perch

 Bishop's Perch is the smallest of the fourth floor rooms, a square dining room with its own patio and a view of the Vibiana bell tower. It's typically used for intimate celebrations.

What We Love About Vibiana

Historic Architecture

The property's original 1876 architecture runs from the facade straight through to the columns, arches, vaulted ceilings, and tall windows inside the main hall. We use both environments as part of the couple's portraits, letting the exterior and interior bring two distinct creative directions into the same day.

Diverse Spaces

The garden and courtyard feel entirely different from the marble hallways and gold mosaic-tiled alcove, and the original cathedral quarters read nothing like the restaurant's modern dining room. We like moving a couple through those areas, natural to formal, historic to modern, since each change gives the portraits a different feeling.

Urban Setting

Vibiana sits in the middle of Downtown LA, and the building itself has been part of the city's history and culture since 1876. We like setting that historic, urban backdrop against the formal feeling of a wedding day, since the contrast gives the whole day a different kind of energy.

Insider Tips

Getting ready onsite in Cardinal's Quarters or Bishop's Perch is an option. We like photographing in these rooms because the look carries through into the rest of the day's images, and starting everyone in one place means more time for portraits later.

Later in the evening, we love pulling a couple aside for a few quiet minutes in some of the lesser photographed corners of the property, the balcony, the stairs leading up to it, even the old confessionals. These spots get overlooked during the day since there's rarely time, but the more relaxed feeling of the evening makes them a great fit for a few photos.

Stepping out front of Vibiana after dark is one of our favorite parts of the night. We love the contrast between the elegance inside and the raw energy of Downtown just steps from the front doors.

Who is the Right Couple for a Vibiana Wedding?

Couples who want to get married at a historical venue are drawn to Vibiana, the building has stood on the same Downtown Los Angeles block since 1876, with original details like the marble columns, vaulted ceiling, and altar still in place. These couples also care about guest experience, and Vibiana offers a range of settings to move through, from an open courtyard to a formal interior. What's on the menu matters just as much to these couples, and Redbird's kitchen custom designs it for every event.

Vibiana's history is still visible in the details, from the marble columns lining the Main Hall to the altar that's stood in place since 1876. Beyond that, the property gives couples eight distinct spaces to choose from, an open garden, a rooftop lounge, rooms that have their own unique feel. And, for those who love food, Redbird's kitchen designs a menu for every event held on site. We love the contrast this property gives us to work with, the formal marble interior, the courtyard's greenery, and the urban landscape just outside the front door.

For More Inspiration

The best way to get a feel for what your day could look like at Vibiana is to see real weddings we have photographed at this property. Take a look at the celebrations of Kimberly & Michael, Ashley & Thomas, and Lauren & Kyle to see how different couples have brought their vision to life here.

Considering a Vibiana Wedding?

Whether you are still exploring venues or have already chosen Vibiana, 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.