If you’re even thinking about getting married at the Madonna Inn, you’re already my kind of people! I’m a wedding photographer who lives for color, personality, and a good bit of irreverence – check out my portfolio here – and if I could live at the Madonna Inn, I would have moved in yesterday!
So I don’t just want to shoot a wedding there. I need to.
[Okay, real talk—this place is seriously a dream wedding destination for me. The color. The vibe. The maxmimalism. I’ve been dying to shoot a wedding at the Madonna Inn with a couple who’s ready to lean all the way into the camp & the color. If that’s you? Let’s chat! I’m even offering special, one-time bucket list pricing for the right fit because I want this so badly. Let’s make it happen! ]
When I visited, I stayed in the (ridiculously charming) Merry Room and shot everything on Portra 400 35mm film (on my gorgeous sweet baby angel Contax G2) because what better way to match this gloriously kitschy icon than with a little analog magic?
If you’re planning a Madonna Inn wedding, consider this your personal photographer’s love letter / planning guide / let’s-scheme-together moment!
Why the Madonna Inn is Wedding Gold
This isn’t your run-of-the-mill ballroom. It’s neon pink. It’s velvet, glitter and gold. It’s themed rooms that range from fairytale to fever dream and no two rooms look the same.
Weddings here feel different. They’re playful, colorful, a little over-the-top in the best way.
From a color loving, personality driven photographer’s perspective? That’s heaven.
-
Color everywhere—no boring neutrals.
-
Unique rooms for getting-ready photos (like my own Merry Room stay! We ran into a group of girls at the pool who lamented not snagging the Merry Room and we laughed and apologized for being the reason why).
-
Iconic spots for portraits— that hotel sign is basically an engagement announcement on its own and just imagine the drone shots on the blue & pink tennis court!!
My Own Visit to the Madonna Inn (35mm Film Photos!)
When we planned our road trip from San Fransisco to LA down the Pacific Coast Highway, I couldn’t just not stay at the Madonna Inn.
I picked the Merry Room (because yes, I am 100% on theme) and spent the whole afternoon wandering around with my Contax G2 35mm film camera, living my best Wes Anderson-meets-vintage-destination-wedding fantasy.
-
The famous sign beckoning like an invitation to run away and elope
-
The dining room dripping in pink and gold
-
That gloriously extra room decor (our room had glitter wallpaper)
-
Weird, wonderful, kitchy details around every corner
I shot it all on film because it deserved that slow, deliberate, timeless vibe.
Why I Want to Photograph Your Wedding at the Madonna Inn
Real talk? Traditional + timeless weddings are wonderful, but personally, I’m obsessed with weddings that don’t follow the traditional script. The ones where you skip the expected, lean into your personalities, and make your guests say, “Oh my god, this is so THEM.”
Madonna Inn is built for that.
-
Elopements in your own themed room? I’ll bring the flash and the film!
-
Full-blown party weekends with your favorite weirdos? Sign me uppp
-
Pink wedding dresses, cowboy boots, disco balls? PLEASE?!!
My photography style is colorful, candid, a little editorial, but always real. This place lets us get creative without ever feeling stiff or staged!
Tips for Planning Your Madonna Inn Wedding
-
Book early. It’s iconic. The best rooms and dates go fast (remember those girls who wished they had snagged my room?)
-
Embrace the kitsch. Lean in. Think themed outfits, vintage cars, fun signage, bold colors!
-
Think film or film inspired. 35mm or Super 8 is chef’s kiss here—it just matches the vibe! But plenty of photographers can mimic digital to look like film (I snuck a few in this post actually, and I’m not talkin about the ones that clearly look digital)
-
Plan for color. Bold florals, statement attire—it all works but so does a softer vintage feel
-
Make it a weekend. San Luis Obispo is magic. Wine tasting, coastal drives, and a wedding that feels like a mini-vacation! Hearst Castle isn’t far if you like touring old mansions + they have wild zebra
Let’s Talk About Your Madonna Inn Wedding
Planning your wedding at the Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo? I’m a film-loving, color-obsessed wedding photographer ready to capture every neon-lit, very-you moment (see my full portfolio here)! Sure, I’m based in Florida, but I’m a Destination Wedding Photographer so I’ll travel anywhere for couples who want their wedding to feel personal, fun, and truly theirs!
Reach out here to chat about your Madonna Inn wedding plans
