Up today, we’re featuring what just might be the West Coast’s most perfect art deco venue….
In 1925, James Oviatt was already a successful businessman. His department store, Alexander & Oviatt, had been attracting a high-end Los Angeles clientele in downtown LA for nearly a decade. He was in the midst of plans for their next expansion, a new building, constructed from the ground up…
… when he took a business trip to Europe. The original building design was in Italian Romanesque style, but luckily for us, he happened to find himself in Paris at the dawn of a new age… 1925 was the year of Paris Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes, the birthplace of Art Deco.
Oviatt was awed by these new designs, and upon his return to the States, he ordered the architects to construct the new building in the brand new style. He spared no expense, importing over ten tons of Lalique glass for use throughout the building.
And so the first true art deco building made its debut in Los Angeles in 1928 (and it included a 10 room art deco penthouse on top for Oviatt’s own residence.) The store closed in the 60s, but both the main space (a restaurant and venue now known as “Cicada“) and The Oviatt Penthouse are available for weddings and events, and they are the perfect backdrop to a Los Angeles art deco wedding. Take a look!
(also: If you are an art deco fan who happens to be visiting Los Angeles, be sure to check out the wonderful LA Conservancy and their incredible walking tours. They have an Art Deco Tour that features Cicada and the Oviatt Penthouse, and the other stops on the tour are a delight as well. They do great work!)
Love the rich crimson tones, amazing vintage venue, black & white film backdrop and moody images from this Art Deco movie theater wedding inspiration shoot, sent to us from photographer Tuan B & Co. As a nod to the original Vaudeville era of this gorgeous 1915 venue, the Logan Theater in Chicago, Illinois, they even …
This incredible vintage style New York City wedding, from photographer Brian Hatton, is a straight-up stunner from start to finish. Dominique and Roberto flew 200+ guests and loved ones from Mexico to NYC to celebrate their vintage inspired wedding at the Central Park Boathouse. The couple’s portraits in the city and park are some of …
The Queen Mary was born first as a luxury ocean liner (her maiden voyage was in 1936), became a troop ship during World War II, and was a glamorous cruise ship for decades. In 1967 she was sold to the City of Long Beach, and has been open to the public off and on since …
The venue search is one of the first and most defining elements of the entire wedding planning process. We’ll be featuring fabulous vintage, landmark and historic spaces from around the world for thematic inspiration and (for those who live close enough) as actual “ooh, I want to book this!” ideas. First up: a perfect art …
Art Deco Venue | Cicada + The Oviatt Penthouse
Up today, we’re featuring what just might be the West Coast’s most perfect art deco venue….
In 1925, James Oviatt was already a successful businessman. His department store, Alexander & Oviatt, had been attracting a high-end Los Angeles clientele in downtown LA for nearly a decade. He was in the midst of plans for their next expansion, a new building, constructed from the ground up…
Photo via Flickr user Floyd B. Bariscale
… when he took a business trip to Europe. The original building design was in Italian Romanesque style, but luckily for us, he happened to find himself in Paris at the dawn of a new age… 1925 was the year of Paris Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes, the birthplace of Art Deco.
Paris Art Exposition, c.1925
Oviatt was awed by these new designs, and upon his return to the States, he ordered the architects to construct the new building in the brand new style. He spared no expense, importing over ten tons of Lalique glass for use throughout the building.
And so the first true art deco building made its debut in Los Angeles in 1928 (and it included a 10 room art deco penthouse on top for Oviatt’s own residence.) The store closed in the 60s, but both the main space (a restaurant and venue now known as “Cicada“) and The Oviatt Penthouse are available for weddings and events, and they are the perfect backdrop to a Los Angeles art deco wedding. Take a look!
(also: If you are an art deco fan who happens to be visiting Los Angeles, be sure to check out the wonderful LA Conservancy and their incredible walking tours. They have an Art Deco Tour that features Cicada and the Oviatt Penthouse, and the other stops on the tour are a delight as well. They do great work!)
Related Posts
Art Deco Movie Theater Wedding Inspiration
Love the rich crimson tones, amazing vintage venue, black & white film backdrop and moody images from this Art Deco movie theater wedding inspiration shoot, sent to us from photographer Tuan B & Co. As a nod to the original Vaudeville era of this gorgeous 1915 venue, the Logan Theater in Chicago, Illinois, they even …
Vintage Style New York City Wedding | Dominique + Roberto
This incredible vintage style New York City wedding, from photographer Brian Hatton, is a straight-up stunner from start to finish. Dominique and Roberto flew 200+ guests and loved ones from Mexico to NYC to celebrate their vintage inspired wedding at the Central Park Boathouse. The couple’s portraits in the city and park are some of …
The Queen Mary | Vintage Venue
The Queen Mary was born first as a luxury ocean liner (her maiden voyage was in 1936), became a troop ship during World War II, and was a glamorous cruise ship for decades. In 1967 she was sold to the City of Long Beach, and has been open to the public off and on since …
Art Deco Venue: The Thaxton Building
The venue search is one of the first and most defining elements of the entire wedding planning process. We’ll be featuring fabulous vintage, landmark and historic spaces from around the world for thematic inspiration and (for those who live close enough) as actual “ooh, I want to book this!” ideas. First up: a perfect art …