I'm sort of new to writing reviews, so i'll have to figure out how to post photos later...
My husband and I got married here on October 23rd, 2015 and neither of us could be happier with both the venue and the staff. We booked the venue back in March, I believe, after our first walk through with Ani. We found 440 after our other venue (Tiato - Santa Monica....that's a horse of a different color) fell through. Ani responded to my email quickly, stayed late to accommodate my then Fiance and I, took her time to show us all the beautiful parts of the venue and then .... wait for it....even let us up onto the roof for a sneak peek at the city!
We were SOLD.
We met Ani two days later with a cashiers check and signed the contract immediately.
THE STAFF
I mainly communicated with Ani throughout the entire process, although, on a day I decided to pop in to the venue randomly, I was helped by Emma who was as sweet as could be, gave me contacts for lighting and made me copies of the floor plan without hesitation.
Although Emma was wonderful, Ani (the girl who runs the space) was my favorite. :) She willingly and patiently answered all of my questions via email and text, she helped me organize the In N Out truck and helped me deal with all of the insurance they needed in order to cater the event, she worked with the fire marshal for me because we wanted candles EVERYWHERE, she personally called and emailed with our bar tender to make sure we had the right paperwork in order to serve alcohol, she was there for our rehearsal and helped organize people( we had a wedding party of 28 people...I know, I know. I'm Italian), she came in the day before the wedding when we were setting up and helped me figure out a decorating dilemma and offered to text a friend in the business and see if they had any ideas, and she went above and beyond the day of the wedding by being available to help with directing guests from the parking lot entrance to the front entrance, something she wasn't responsible for.
I guess the thing I loved most about Ani was that she was basically always available, and when she wasn't, there was someone else just as competent and patient to fill her shoes. Seriously, she was so patient with me. Poor girl. I must have texted her 80,000 times. By the time the wedding was over I was a little sad that I didn't have an excuse to talk to her anymore.
THE SPACE
We knew going into the wedding that we wanted a venue that was beautiful on it's own, that was open and big enough to hold all 240 people attending our wedding, and we wanted a space we could own - we wanted our guests to walk in and know, without a doubt, that they were at OUR wedding.
440 was EXACTLY that. The space is massive, but manageable. The brick is so raw and amazing and the ceilings are exceptionally beautiful at night - high and open. You really don't need much in this venue. Actually, we felt like the more we added, the more it took away from the integrity of the space. We used the table clothes, chairs and tables that were included with the venue cost, and they worked out perfectly for us. There are a million and one spaces for photos. We took some really amazing ones in a loft-like space upstairs. And the elevator.....my god, the elevator. It's beautiful and fully functioning. The grooms room is downstairs and is very - edison-esq. The bridal suite is upstairs. It's clean and open and has an air conditioner, which I really appreciated once I was in my dress. There are hooks along the left wall to accommodate the hanging of bridesmaid dresses, and a standing mirror that got a ton of use the day of. The only problem I had with the bridal suite was that the bathroom is not easily used in a full dress. But, there is a shower in there which I thought was cool.
We were able to decorate the space exactly how we wanted and were made to feel that no idea we had was off limits. However, we were exceptionally careful to manage the balloons we used because it would be impossible to get them down if they were to float to the ceiling.
Anyhow - we had a great experience with 440 and the staff members that we were in contact with. I would get married in this venue again in a heart beat. And the best part was, it's affordable and beautiful for a venue of its size in Los Angeles....and it doesn't look like a hotel banquet hall.
TIPS
Go with the lighting package that 440 offers. You won't be sorry. They were by far the most affordable, they covered the space perfectly and they were willing to light certain areas for me that weren't originally included in the initial quote, at no extra cost. They know the venue like the backs of their hands and they just know what works.
Hire the Valet! This saved our asses and was 100% affordable and made our guest feel so much more comfortable, especially the older generation. read more