Kohl Mansion Wedding Photography
Nat and I first fell in love with Kohl Mansion at the start of our photography career. Every time we've photographed a Kohl Mansion wedding there's always something magical about the light, architecture, and beautifully landscaped grounds which leads to the best wedding photos. The timeless style of this Burlingame venue draws us back with excitement each time.
On this day we had the pleasure of photographing Maryam and Jean-Marc's lively multicultural wedding. Their wedding was a beautiful blending of family cultures: Persian, Spanish, French, and American. This combination made for some beautiful traditions, contagious dancing, and so much love you could wring it out like a honeycomb.
We met Maryam at her sister's wedding that we photographed in 2009. We were really looking forward to seeing this family again and it was a pleasure to be reunited for another great celebration. Zahra and Ryan's wedding at The Ralston Hall was one of our favorites.
Maryam and Jean-Marc ended up creating one of the most intimate weddings we've ever attended. And it was an intimate event even with over 150 guests.
What we found most special was how inclusive it felt to be there. Their friends and family were warm and you could just feel the intimacy between the guests. It was like people truly came together to pour all of their love and happiness out onto Maryam and Jean-Marc.
Kohl Mansion Wedding Venue Spaces
Kohl Mansion features distinctive indoor and outdoor spaces oozing with character and history. The elegant and grand brick estate provides privacy and exclusive use of the entire mansion and grounds. The venue can be rented for an entire weekend day or weekday evening. During weekday mornings and afternoons, the rose brick mansion operates as Mercy High School, a Catholic college preparatory all-girls school.This facility has a great variety of spaces that can be used for your wedding day. The wood-paneled library houses a marble fireplace as well as a Grand Piano. The English rose garden has over 100 hybrid tea rose bushes in many colors. And the main dining area has beautiful dark wood panels made from oaks grown adjacent to the property.
Having Your Wedding at Kohl Mansion
The Kohl Mansion wedding capacity is 200 people seated indoors or 300 on the lawn. We've even photographed a wedding here that had people seated for dinner inside the Great Hall as well as on the outdoor Patio, at the same time. The oak paneling and expansive ceilings of the great Hall create an acoustic setting that works great for bands and reception music.We love to get interesting angles whenever possible and Kohl Mansion has a perfectly situated staircase right next to the outdoor patio. It's a lot of fun to capture candid wedding photos right from the second or third floor of this building.
Kohl Mansion wedding cost can range from $7,500 - $15,250 per event depending on the day of the week, time of year, and guest count. The rental fee provides an 8-hour window minimum and includes a refundable security deposit. Located in Burlingame, California, this wedding venue is comfortably secluded in the hills above the Peninsula.
Read up on Kohl Mansion Wedding History
"The Oaks", as the venue was originally called, was built between 1912-1914 in what is now Burlingame. Architects Howard and White designed the 63 rooms of the red brick mansion. A chapel was built adjacent to the master bedroom for Bessie Kohl, who was a Catholic.Frederick Kohl was an heir to a shipping fortuned and along with Bessie Kohl they loved to entertain in their Tudor style mansion. It was often the site of lavish parties. The Great Hall has many carefully designed architectural details, including fluted wood paneling.
In 1982 Kohl Mansion was entered into the National Register of Historic Places and also recognized by The California Historical Society. The National Register of Historic Places is a list of historically significant landmarks throughout the United States. The Loma Prieta Earthquake of 1989 caused significant damage which took two years to repair. In particular, the ceiling of the great Hall was netted to catch any falling plaster.
Sisters of Mercy and Kohl Mansion
Sisters of Mercy bought the house in 1924 and used it as a motherhouse and novitiate. It was purchased for just $230,000 and included all 40 acres. When the house was originally offered for sale, Frederick described the property as follows:"On a sheltered eminence, half-hidden by its guardian trees, is the Kohl residence - a dignified manor house, typical of the Tudor days, mature and venerable as its surroundings. The seasoned reds of the old brick walls, the mullioned windows in their settings of stone, the rambling gables, the slated roofs - all blend in mellow harmony with the patriarch oaks, the well-kept lawns, the broad terraces, the comely parterres, and the quaint tiled walks of the summer rose-garden."
Mercy High School opened in 1932 and continues to operate to this day. This school has a capacity of just under 400 students and there's a 10:1 faculty to student ratio. This is one of nine high schools sponsored by the Mercy Education System of the Americas. The soaring ceilings of the Hall also provided great acoustics for plays and choral performances.
Contact Information:
Terri Baldocchi and Dianne Devin 2750 Adeline Drive, Burlingame, CA Phone: (650) 762-1137 www.kohlmansion.com
If you're getting married at Kohl Mansion and you're looking for experienced wedding photographers, we'd love to hear from you! This is a special venue that deserves photographers who appreciate the unique style and elegance of this historic space.
Contact us to see if your date is available and for more information.
“Mike and Nat have a synergy that allows them to capture a full complement of beautiful formal and candid photos. We would definitely use them again for any family photos, events, etc.”
Shannon H, Nella Terra Cellars in Sunol, Ca
“A huge factor in our decision is that Mike and Nat are a pair and with a large wedding, we wanted to make sure all angles were captured. After meeting with Mike and Nat, we hired them on the spot.”
Olivia F, Villa Ragusa in Campbell, Ca
“Without interrupting the flow of events or drawing attention to themselves, they captured every special moment and more. Mike and Natasha are incredible and we'll always be Choco Studio fans!”
Kimberly Y, The Bridges Golf Club in San Ramon, Ca