Houdini Estate Wedding - Los Angeles, Ca - Breanna + Eric
bre + eric’s houdini estate summer wedding
Nestled inside Los Angeles’ Laurel Canyon, the Houdini Estate is a sprawling Los Angeles wedding venue with endless charm and tons of space! On a sunny July Saturday, Bre + Eric got married at the historic estate surrounded by friends, family, and the flowering pink bougainvillea that’s so iconic of LA. Despite being near some of the most popular spots in the city like Beverly Hills and West Hollywood, this venue feels incredibly private, secluded, and romantic. This is one of my favorite garden venues (see more venues like this here!)
where is the houdini estate?
This historic, massive wedding venue is nestled in Laurel Canyon near Mt. Olympus in Los Angeles, California. It’s about 35 minutes from Los Angeles Airport so it’s convenient for out-of-town guests, and just 8 miles west of the legendary Griffith Observatory.
where you or your guests should stay in Los Angeles
Bre + Eric both got ready at the estate - Eric and the groomsmen upstairs in Houdini’s living room, and Bre and the bridesmaids downstairs. The groomsmen took a quick dip in the pool beforehand -- the same pool Houdini himself practiced his infamous underwater tricks! A crazy, totally Houdini-feeling moment was when Eric decided he needed a knife to elongate a button hole on his shirt… without taking it off — there was a little tension in the room as the groom had a kitchen knife pointed towards his abdomen just moments before the first look. Meanwhile, Bre’s mom helped her zip her dress downstairs! Once Eric was in position, I guided Bre to the spot and captured the magic as it unfolded. Bre wore a dress and veil by Hayley Paige and shoes from Betsey Johnson. Eric wore a suit from The Rack.
After their first look, we took a few portraits around the estate and then took wedding party and family photos before the ceremony began. The wedding ceremony at the Houdini Estate was held on the mansion’s beautifully designed mosaic driveway. The wedding party made its way down the aisle to a solo violinist before Bre + her dad, but at the last moment Bre’s Hayley Paige veil flew off! Luckily, this badass bride wasn’t the least bit rattled by this and continued on. Her brother officiated, which incorporated some traditional elements but was largely made up of custom vows by the bride and groom. The last line of Breanna’s vows really got me, quoting Ben Harper’s song “Forever” “cause not a day less will do.”
Spending lots of time with guests was a high priority for Bre + Eric. By doing as many photos beforehand as possible, they were able to enjoy cocktail hour. Friends and family had traveled thousands of miles to celebrate, so they wanted to spend every possible moment with them! We squeezed in a few moments of portraits at the end of cocktail hour. I love playing around with veil shots - check out this wedding for more bridal veil inspo!
Guests went to the outdoor Houdini Estate reception lawn, down a brick ramp inlaid with black handcuffs (in classic Houdini style). The large wooden tables were crafted by Breanna’s dad and they looked incredible! Eric’s mom did the florals for each table and I think they added such a beautiful pop of color to the reception! Bistro lights hung above the dancefloor.
Guests sipped cocktails and horchata from Taco Chihuahua. The couple made their grand entrance and toasted the guests + people that made this gorgeous day possible.
Taco Chihuahua served super fresh, entirely authentic Mexican tacos for a true SoCal twist on wedding catering, which I LOVED. (Click here to see another wedding with tacos!) Soooo delicious, for real. Toasts followed dinner which are always some of my favorite moments. Bre + Eric got up for their first dance, and HOLY MOLY Y’ALL — it was seriously impressive. They danced to Alabama Shakes’ song “I Found You,” followed by a father-daughter dance and a mother-son dance. Funny story: Susan + Brett, whose wedding wedding I photographed earlier this year, had the same first dance song!!! I can’t deny— it’s romantic, upbeat and SO catchy which isn’t super common in so many “first dance” songs. Then the dancefloor opened and it had so much energy! Guests were swing dancing and even waltzing on the Houdini lawn dancefloor. The bride changed into a short dress from Lulu’s, perfect for dancing on a warm summer night, and her bridesmaids changed into dresses and rompers as well. The crowd grooved and cheered long after the sun went down on Los Angeles to timeless 90’s classics. It was a magical Los Angeles wedding and I loved every second of it!
WHERE TO EAT WHILE YOU’RE IN LA
Since the Houdini Estate is conveniently located, you’ll have plenty of options for where to eat while you (or your guests) are in Los Angeles! I recommend grabbing sushi at Sugarfish or an amazing Italian meal at Osteria Mozza.
After the wedding, Breanna wrote me this incredible 5-star review on The Knot: “We couldn’t have been happier with Morgan. We were looking for a photographer with a documentary/photojournalism style and were so happy with our photos. Prior to the wedding she was super responsive and provided great insight into the timeline. On the day of, Morgan was punctual, professional yet comforting and relaxed, and FUN! We love Morgan!” Ummm excuse me while I PRINT THIS and hang it above my desk. I love what I do, and the best compliment someone could ever give me is a glowing review on not only the end result, but on how they FELT during the wedding day. My goal is always to help my clients feel comfortable in front of the camera on their day so they can ENJOY IT. And y’all, Bre + Eric’s wedding was so dang fun there’s no doubt in my mind that everyone in attendance had a real good time.
MORE DESTINATION WEDDING IDEAS + RESOURCES
Bryanna + RJ’s Destination Vegas Wedding with 7 Magic Mountains First Look
The Best Garden Wedding Venues in SoCal
Information for weddings/elopements in Moab, UT
See a Northern Utah Mountain Elopement
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Venue: The Houdini Estate
Ceremony Dress: Hayley Paige
Veil: Hayley Paige
Suit: Nordstrom Rack
Shoes: Betsey Johnson
Florals: Wildflora Design
Food: Taco Chihuahua
Catering Staff: Gourmel Catering