Pasadena Masonic Temple Review
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The Pasadena Masonic Temple isn’t your average banquet hall. In fact, you might recognize its storied halls from blockbusters like Titanic and Iron Man 2. With its Hollywood intrigue and blank-slate flexibility, this historic spot invites couples to dream big. While it’s not a traditional wedding venue, with a vision, the right team, and a little creativity, you can transform it into a celebration space your guests won’t forget.
Price
At $3,500, couples can rent the venue from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.—a rare, full-day rental at an accessible price point for Los Angeles. Your booking includes the use of multiple rooms and tables and chairs.
Here's what’s provided:
Tables:
29 oval tables (72” x 60”)
25 rectangular tables (96” x 30”)
10 round tables (5 feet)
Staff:
One on-site staff manager
One required security officer per 100 guests (a plus for larger events)
The venue also includes a mounted projector, which is handy for slideshows or video presentations, and a built-in stage in the ballroom, perfect for a live band or entertainment.
Here’s what the venue doesn’t include that you should be aware of.
The chairs that are included are dated and far from wedding-ready, so we recommend budgeting for a full rental set to elevate the look. No linens are included, so that needs to be accounted for as well.
There’s no on-site parking available, and vendor parking is extremely limited. Couples should arrange a nearby garage buyout or provide Uber vouchers for both guests and vendors to ensure smooth arrivals and departures.
Candles are another important consideration. Pasadena’s strict fire codes mean you’ll need a permit for any open flames, even if you’re using fully enclosed hurricanes. If candlelight is a must for your design, make sure you factor in both the extra time and budget required to secure those permits.
Finally, the conference room, which is frequently used for cocktail hour, comes with harsh overhead lighting and a fairly plain aesthetic. To create the right ambiance for a wedding celebration, you’ll want to invest in additional decor, draping, or lighting enhancements in this space.
Rating: 10/10
Planning Process
Working with the venue manager, Ron Alcom, was a mixed bag. While he knows the venue inside and out, weddings aren’t his main focus—and it shows. Many logistics required extensive follow-up and clarification. Notably, the venue has strict rules around furniture placement—nothing can be moved or removed between the foyer, ballroom, or conference room, which may limit your setup options.
Lighting was a significant consideration for our 2025 couple. The ballroom’s existing lighting creates unflattering shadows that could have impacted photography and key moments like the first dance or toasts. To avoid shadows and ensure flattering coverage, we brought in $4,500 worth of lighting enhancements, including uplights, band lighting, and spotlights. Without it, the ambiance would’ve felt dramatically different.
Rating: 5/10
Day-Of Execution
The wedding day began with early guest arrivals, but the catering team seamlessly and kicked off the evening without issue. Guests enjoyed drinks, hors d’oeuvres, and live piano music for 90 minutes before transitioning into the ballroom for dinner.
A 90-minute cocktail hour gave guests ample time to enjoy drinks, bites, and live music—although we ran into issues with the venue staff locking the baby grand piano, despite prior approval for our pianist to play. After multiple conversations and delays, the piano wasn’t unlocked until 5:30PM—nearly two hours after the musician arrived.
Vendor logistics presented additional challenges. Staff were notably absent during key load-in hours, complicating setup for a 19-piece orchestra, AV equipment, and vendor meal coordination. The designated vendor area—a small, unkempt outdoor patio filled with trash—required major clean-up and left something to be desired.
Guest comfort was another issue, particularly during cocktail hour, where ventilation was limited. With 200 attendees, certain spaces felt noticeably warm, a factor couples should consider if hosting a summer wedding in this venue.
Rating: 5/10
Is This the Venue for You?
The Pasadena Masonic Temple is an excellent option for couples prioritizing budget and ready to take a hands-on, design-forward approach—just make sure to plan ahead and bring a strong vendor team who can help you navigate the hurdles.. Its affordability allows you to allocate more of your budget toward lighting, rentals, and florals—elements that are vital for transforming this space into a tailored celebration. The full-day rental option is a rarity in Los Angeles, and the venue’s built-in features, like the stage and projector, add convenience for larger events or entertainment-heavy receptions.
However, it’s important to be aware of the venue’s quirks and restrictions. Limited parking, stringent candle regulations, and unpolished cocktail spaces may require additional coordination and investment in upgrades.
