Shade Hotel in Manhattan Beach
So isn’t it funny the places you think will be your least favorite end up being the one you love and the one that was your favorite didn’t quite meet the mark!? Well unfortunately that was the case for Shade Hotel in Manhattan Beach. Now do not get me wrong- this place is AWESOME! If I only had about 50 guests and my ceremony location was a little closer to Manhattan Beach then this would be my venue for sure.
The venue offers several different event spaces to use for your ceremony and/or reception. The middle courtyard area can be used for ceremonies as well as a reception. There is a lounge/bar area that can also be used for a small cocktail style gathering, and the sky deck (poolside) can be used for a reception.
I was only interested in touring the Sky Deck because it had an ocean view and it was poolside- the ingredients of my perfect venue! The area unfortunately does not have much seating space and its slightly smaller than expected. I loved the modern-chic decor and it would not take much decorating to make this area look fabulous. Poolside lighting is already in place and space heaters would also be available since it does get chilly at night because of the ocean breeze. There are plenty of plants around the deck so again this would cut down on flower decorations and centerpieces if a bride was trying to save money. It’s within walking distance to the Manhattan Beach Pier so if your guests stayed in the area there would be plenty to do, lots to see. They do offer guests a 10% discount on their rooms (which are gorgeous by the way!) With the food and drink package options you could really stay under $8000 for about 80-100 people. That’s a GREAT deal for the area. I also give their food two thumbs up! We arrived at Shade a little early before our appointment and had lunch out on the patio at their onsite restaurant. We all (my mom, friend, and I ) had something different and we agreed the food was great! So anyway, I certainly do not give them a bad rating at all. Unfortunately just for the number of people we’re expecting and the location it won’t be a match for us this time. I’ve attached some of my own pics I took of the hotel on my trip out there!