Jan 18

Jan 18 Los Angeles Wedding Venues: The 1909

The 1909 is a hidden gem - so hidden that we had been driving past it on Topanga Canyon Road for years and didn’t event know it was there. For those looking for a beautiful, mountainous wedding setting minutes from a big city, this is the venue for you. We’ve now had our bartenders there for half a dozen weddings and absolutely love this location for our clients.

As of the last time we were there, 9:30 AM is the earliest that you can drop items off for the house, and 11:00 AM is the earliest you can leave items for the outside areas. This is important to know because of the hilliness of the property. Give yourself plenty of time to drop items off and to get them to the spots they’ll need to be for the ceremony and the reception. We usually suggest about an hour and a half to two hours to set up and prep for weddings, and you definitely won’t want to cut any corners with the timing for this space.

When it comes to parking, we highly recommend that you take a cab, ride share, or book a bus for transportation to the 1909. Topanga Canyon Road is a two lane, winding road with sharp turns and blind turns, and prone to falling rocks. Even if you’re planning to abstain from alcohol for the night we recommend leaving the driving to a professional. For those family members, guests, or bridal party people who insist on driving themselves, there are forty spots in the lot, and about twenty-five along the street. However, we highly recommend that you do not park at this location.

The 1909 Venue in Topanga Canyon Dressing Room

The house has everything you need for getting ready, with ample space for your entire wedding party. There’s great lighting for hair and make-up, private bathrooms, places to store your change of clothes and purses, and a great spot to duck into in the middle of the reception if you just need a moment of quiet.

What we love about this space is all the ceremony options that it gives the bride and groom. Whether you want to have your friends and family gather in the amphitheater, on the meadow, or inside the house, you cannot go wrong with the beauty and charm. The 1909 also has lawn games available for guests to play with while waiting to take their seats, or during the post-ceremony photography session.

This Girl Walks Into a Bar Bartenders at the 1909 Venue in Topanga Canyon

Although there are many physical bars at this location both outside and inside, you’ll need to rent coolers, drink tubs, and additional trashcans either from your bartending service or a rental company. It gets very hot here during the summer months and you’ll burn through ice quickly, so stacking it in a pile is not really an option. Make sure that you’re prepared with a place to store the ice both indoors and outside, and to properly chill all the wine and beer well in advance.