Santa Monica, California
Hotel Casa del Mar Wedding Photographer
A restored 1926 beachfront landmark, Hotel Casa del Mar pairs a grand Italian Renaissance lobby and ballroom with direct Pacific Ocean views for luxury Santa Monica weddings.
About Hotel Casa del Mar
Hotel Casa del Mar opened May 1, 1926 as the exclusive Club Casa del Mar, an Italian Renaissance Revival landmark on the Santa Monica sand designed by architect Charles F. Plummer. After Navy use in World War II and years of decline, a roughly $50 million restoration returned it to a luxury hotel in 1999, and it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000. The result is a beachfront wedding venue where a grand double staircase, coffered ceilings, and mosaic-tile floors meet floor-to-ceiling ocean windows.
Weddings center on the beachside Colonnade Ballroom, with its 13-foot coffered ceilings and adjoining terrace, supported by indoor and al fresco spaces including the Conservatory, Palm Terrace, and Colonnade Terrace. All food and beverage is handled by the hotel's in-house culinary team, and couples get an ocean-view suite to get ready in. It is a full-service luxury option for celebrations up to around 450 to 500 guests.
Location · 1910 Ocean Way, Santa Monica, CA — directly on the beach
Style · Historic 1926 Italian Renaissance beachfront luxury hotel
Capacity · Up to ~450-500 guests; Colonnade Ballroom holds up to 600 reception
Ceremony · Indoor Colonnade Foyer or outdoor beachfront 'The Bow'
Best season · April-November peak for beach and golden-hour light
Facts drawn from the hotel's official events pages, a Lin & Jirsa venue guide, and the WeddingWire listing (rating, pricing, capacity). Square footages and space capacities are from the hotel's venue pages; pricing and rating from WeddingWire.
The complete Casa del Mar planning guide
Capacity & spaces
Seated dinner · Up to 360 rounds in the Colonnade Ballroom
Standing/cocktail · Up to 600 reception in the Colonnade Ballroom
Ceremony · Up to 150 indoors in the Colonnade Foyer; beachfront ceremonies at The Bow
Rentable spaces
- Colonnade Ballroom — ~4,200 sq ft beachside main hall with 13-ft coffered ceilings, divides into three sections
- Colonnade Foyer — draped indoor ceremony space with chandeliers, up to 150
- The Bow — outdoor beachfront ceremony location
- The Conservatory — ~1,750 sq ft light-filled room for smaller receptions
- Palm Terrace — ~2,432 sq ft al fresco space
- Colonnade Terrace — ~1,640 sq ft ocean-adjacent outdoor terrace
- Crimson Room and Boardroom — intimate rooms for small gatherings
Pricing
Peak Saturday · ~$50,000 starting (peak season, April-November)
Off-peak · ~$40,000 starting (off-peak, December-March)
What's included · Site fees run ~$4,000-$6,000 per ceremony and reception; bar service ~$97 per person; complimentary valet parking
Catering & bar
All food and beverage is provided in-house by the hotel's culinary team, with chef consultations and personalized tastings. Menus emphasize seasonal coastal California ingredients, and specialty add-ons (such as premium late-night menus) are available. No outside catering.
Rules & restrictions
- Amplified music is permitted in all spaces but must end by midnight
- Alcohol is served through the hotel's licensed bar program (about $97/person)
- Open-flame and candle policies follow hotel and beachfront fire codes — confirm with events staff
Getting ready, parking & access
Getting ready space · Two-story penthouse suites on the private top floor with panoramic Pacific views; Sea Wellness Spa access
Parking · Complimentary valet parking included
Load-in · Beachfront hotel with dedicated event/loading coordination through the catering team
How to book
Book through the hotel's Catering and Events office. As a high-demand luxury beachfront landmark, popular peak-season Saturdays go 12-18 months out; full hotel buyouts are also available for private celebrations.
Photographing Casa del Mar
Casa del Mar is a photographer's venue. The grand double staircase, coffered ceilings, and mosaic-tile floors provide dramatic architectural frames, while bay windows deliver directional ocean light for portraits. Beach access with the Santa Monica Pier in the distance, the pool deck, and the outdoor promenade give a full range of coastal and estate-style backdrops in one property.
For timing, a late-afternoon ceremony around 3-4 PM catches angled light on the architecture, and golden hour around 5-6 PM is ideal for beach portraits. Midday sun from about 11 AM-2 PM is harsh on the sand, and evening ballroom uplighting is recommended to warm daytime receptions.
Engagement sessions at Casa del Mar
The beach, historic staircase, and ocean-view interiors make Casa del Mar a striking engagement backdrop, blending coastal and architectural looks in one spot.
Best time · Golden hour (about 5-6 PM) for the beach; late afternoon for interiors
Permit/fee · The public Santa Monica beach is free; interior/hotel sessions require guest or event booking
Standout spots · Grand double staircase, bay windows, beachfront with the Pier, and the pool deck
Coordinate interior or pool-deck sessions with the events team; the adjacent public beach needs no permit for a couple's shoot.
What couples love
- Direct beachfront setting with true Pacific Ocean views
- Historic 1926 architecture — grand staircase, coffered ceilings, mosaic floors
- Ocean-view penthouse getting-ready suites
- In-house luxury catering and full-service hotel amenities
- Everything (ceremony, reception, rooms, spa) in one landmark property
Good to know
- It is a high-end venue with starting costs around $40,000-$50,000 plus per-person bar and site fees
- Music must end by midnight
- Peak season (April-November) books far in advance
- Beach ceremonies depend on weather and tide; have a Colonnade Foyer backup plan
- Guest parking is valet-only (complimentary) given the beachfront location
A typical wedding day at Casa del Mar
1:00 PM — Getting ready in the ocean-view penthouse suites
3:30 PM — Ceremony at The Bow on the beach or in the Colonnade Foyer
4:30 PM — Cocktails on the Colonnade Terrace overlooking the ocean
6:00 PM — Dinner and dancing in the Colonnade Ballroom
11:30 PM — Last dance before the midnight music cutoff
Frequently asked questions
Where is Hotel Casa del Mar?
At 1910 Ocean Way, Santa Monica, CA 90405, directly on the beach just south of the Santa Monica Pier.
How old is the building?
It opened May 1, 1926 as the exclusive Club Casa del Mar and was fully restored and reopened as a luxury hotel in 1999; it joined the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.
How many guests can it accommodate?
Up to roughly 450-500 guests overall, with the Colonnade Ballroom holding up to 600 for a standing reception or 360 seated at rounds.
What is the main reception space?
The beachside Colonnade Ballroom, about 4,200 square feet with 13-foot coffered ceilings, which can be divided into three sections and opens to a terrace.
Can we have a beach ceremony?
Yes. The Bow is an outdoor beachfront ceremony location; the Colonnade Foyer is the indoor alternative for up to 150 guests.
How much does a wedding cost?
WeddingWire lists starting prices around $40,000 off-peak to $50,000 peak, plus ceremony/reception site fees of roughly $4,000-$6,000 each and bar service around $97 per person.
Who does the catering?
The hotel's in-house culinary team handles all food and beverage, with chef consultations and tastings; outside catering is not permitted.
Is there a place to get ready?
Yes, two-story penthouse suites on the private top floor offer panoramic Pacific views and room for the wedding party and vendors.
What time does the music have to end?
Amplified music is allowed in all spaces but must end by midnight.
Is parking included?
Yes, complimentary valet parking is included for weddings.
When should we book?
Peak-season (April-November) Saturdays typically book 12-18 months ahead; contact the events office early.
Are hotel rooms available for guests?
Yes, multiple room types are offered at preferred wedding rates, and full hotel buyouts are available.
Getting there & logistics
Address · 1910 Ocean Way, Santa Monica, CA 90405
Nearest airport · Los Angeles International (LAX), about 25-30 minutes
Drive time · About 30 minutes from downtown LA; adjacent to the Santa Monica Pier
Nearby getting-ready hotels
- Hotel Casa del Mar (on site)
- Shutters on the Beach (next door)
- Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows
- Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel
The history behind Casa del Mar
- Opened May 1, 1926 as the exclusive Club Casa del Mar, designed by architect Charles F. Plummer
- Used by the Navy in World War II, then restored for about $50 million and reopened as a luxury hotel in 1999
- Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000
Similar venues we love
More venues we photograph: Shutters on the Beach · Fairmont Miramar · Annenberg Beach House · The Park Club · The Harper.
Planning a wedding at Casa del Mar? Reach out to check your date →
