Pasadena wedding photographer

Timeless imagery documented with a fine art approach and editorial flair

of your special momentsgorgeous photosMolly Lichten is a Virginia wedding photographer for those wildly in love. With over a decade of experience, and more than 250 weddings photographed throughout Washington DC, Northern Virginia, Maryland, Southern California, and beyond, she works hard to capture the beauty of your special moments in eye-catching, dreamy, and dynamic photographs that will stand the test of time.

Molly’s work has been featured in numerous magazines and blogs, including The Knot, Virginia Living, Washingtonian Weddings, Style Me Pretty, Martha Stewart Weddings, Magnolia Rouge, Carats & Cake, and Southern California Bride. She was selected as a WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Award winner for every year from 2017 through 2025. Molly was named a finalist for the 2023 and 2024 Belle Lumiere Magazine End of the Year Awards, the 2019 and 2020 Magnolia Rouge Photo Awards, and Southern California Bride’s "Best of" Photography Awards. Most recently, one of Molly’s 2024 Tidal Basin cherry blossom sessions was featured in the Washington Post, and her work was published in the 2024 winter edition of The Knot, as well as the February 2025 and February 2026 issues of Virginia Living magazine.

As a devoted military wife and maltipoo mom, Molly splits her time between Brambleton, Virginia, the city where she and her family now reside, and Pasadena, California, the city where she grew up. In June 2022, Molly and her husband welcomed the newest member of their family, Molly’s absolute favorite photographic subject, baby Juliet.

Hello and welcome! My name is Molly, and I am a Pasadena wedding photographer for those wildly in love. Born and raised in Pasadena, I have been photographing weddings throughout Southern California and the East Coast since I began my photography career over a decade ago. As a military spouse, my husband’s Navy career has taken us to many cities over the years, but Pasadena has remained a constant for both my family and my photography career. Today, we split our time between Pasadena and Northern Virginia, and I continue to photograph a select number of weddings and celebrations in Southern California each year.

At the core, I believe in love and romance. In natural light, happy couples, and real, organic moments. I believe in creating art and in collecting fragments of time. But, most importantly, I believe in capturing images that will last a lifetime. I absolutely adore what I do, and hope we get the chance to work together to make some magic.

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Featured Pasadena Galleries

and kisses at midnight.and MoonlightGive me romance

View the galleryColorful Summer Caltech Athenaeum Wedding

Wedding couple at Caltech Athenaeum wedding in Pasadena

A vibrant summer celebration at one of Pasadena’s most beloved wedding venues. Caroline’s parents were married at the Athenaeum nearly four decades earlier, making the venue an especially meaningful place for her and Ebuka's own wedding.

View the galleryPasadena City Hall Engagement Session

Pasadena City Hall engagement photo on staircase

I grew up dancing with Joan, so it was especially meaningful to capture her engagement session at Pasadena City Hall. Getting to photograph a friend I’ve known for so many years in such an iconic Pasadena location made this session one I’ll never forget.

View the galleryArlington Garden Engagement Session

Couple kissing during their engagement session at Arlington Garden in Pasadena

When I was in high school, my class helped plant some of Arlington Garden’s first plants when it was still just a square plot of dirt. I’ve loved watching the garden grow over the years, and returning for an engagement session felt very full-circle.

A Pasadena Wedding Photographer Who Knows the City Inside and Out

There is something so special about getting married in Pasadena. Having grown up here, I may be biased, but I’ve always loved the city’s historic architecture, charming homes, lush gardens, and views of the San Gabriel Mountains. And, of course, there is that incredible Southern California light. My husband and I got married just outside of Pasadena at the Villa del Sol d’Oro in Sierra Madre, so I know firsthand just how magical it can be to tie the knot here.

Over the years, I have captured countless weddings throughout Pasadena and the surrounding area, whether it’s an intimate celebration at a historic venue, a garden wedding surrounded by family and friends, or a beautiful black-tie affair. I also photograph engagement sessions and proposals throughout the city, and love finding new pockets of light in both the iconic places and hidden nooks that make Pasadena so special.

Planning a Caltech Athenaeum Wedding?

The Caltech Athenaeum has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. My parents have been members of the Ath for nearly fifty years, and some of my earliest memories include spending time there with my family. Years later, the Athenaeum became one of the first places where I photographed weddings, and today, it remains one of my favorite venues of all time.

If you’re considering the Athenaeum for your wedding, I've put together a complete guide with everything I’ve learned from photographing weddings there, including my favorite ceremony and reception spaces, getting-ready locations, and photo spots throughout the property.

Read my Caltech Athenaeum Wedding Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you photograph weddings in Pasadena?

Absolutely! Pasadena is where I grew up and will always be home, and I continue to photograph a select number of weddings in Southern California each year.

Do you photograph engagement sessions in Pasadena?

Yes! Pasadena is one of my favorite places for engagement sessions. Between the gardens, historic architecture, mountain views, and beautiful Southern California light, there are so many possibilities.