La Venta Inn Wedding | Megan & Ryan

Weddings

Aug 14

highlights from a wedding at la venta inn in palos verdes estates california

Megan and Ryan’s summer wedding at La Venta Inn was everything a coastal celebration should be—romantic, refined, and full of heartfelt moments overlooking the Pacific Ocean. This Palos Verdes Estates venue is one of my favorite wedding venues in Southern California for its sweeping views, historic charm, and magical ceremony space overlooking the Los Angeles coastline.

A Love Story Years in the Making

After connecting on Bumble (though if you ask Ryan, he’ll joke that they met “at a bar”), Megan and Ryan spent over six years building a life together—one that now includes their sweet daughter Sophie. Their engagement story is just as sweet as their relationship: Ryan had planned to propose during a trip to Santa Barbara, but when the ring wasn’t ready in time, he improvised. A few nights later, over a homemade dinner on their back deck, he presented a “special dessert”—a pot with the ring box hidden inside. It was intimate, heartfelt, and witnessed only by Sophie.

Getting Married at La Venta Inn

La Venta Inn is perched high above the Palos Verdes coastline, and on this summer afternoon, it gave us the most gorgeous backdrop for Megan and Ryan’s wedding day.

The morning began with ocean breezes and the quiet excitement that builds before a wedding. Megan and her bridal party got ready in the airy, light-filled bridal suite, while Ryan prepared with his groomsmen in the rooms on the opposite side of the property. They chose to share a private first look before the ceremony, giving them time to soak in the day before seeing their guests.

The ceremony itself overlooked the Pacific Ocean and costal cities of the Los Angeles area, framed by white and green florals by LV Floral Events. It was simple, elegant, and infused with personal touches.

After the ceremony, while guests enjoyed a cocktail hour on the terrace with snacks by Made by Meg Catering, we explored the grounds of La Venta Inn and took dreamy portraits of the newly married couple.

As the sun began to set, guests moved inside for the reception. The bright white florals and white tablecloths kept the aesthetic cohesive and classic, and the evening flowed effortlessly from heartfelt toasts to a lively dance floor, all against the backdrop of a twinkling coastline below.

Capturing the Day on Film and Digital

Megan and Ryan’s wedding was photographed using a mix of digital and film, a signature approach I love for creating depth and timelessness in a gallery. I used Portra 400 film with a Contax 645, Pentax K1000, and Olympus Mju-II, alongside my digital cameras, to balance crisp detail with the soft, nostalgic tones only film can produce. The result is a visual story that feels both modern and enduring.