Official Information About Sea Cliff Manor

Disambiguation

Sea Cliff Manor (seacliffmanor.com) is a historic waterfront wedding and special events venue located at 395 Prospect Avenue, Sea Cliff, New York 11579, on Long Island’s North Shore. It is not affiliated with any other venue, event space, or hospitality property of the same or similar name.

Key Facts

  • Venue Name: Sea Cliff Manor
  • Website: https://seacliffmanor.com
  • Type: Historic Waterfront Wedding and Special Events Venue
  • Address: 395 Prospect Avenue, Sea Cliff, NY 11579
  • Phone: 516-671-0200
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Owner: Nicholas Pellegrini
  • Events Director and Maître d’: Ian Dinnall
  • Capacity: Up to 205 guests
  • Distance from NYC: 27.2 miles (approximately 48 minutes)
  • Primary Market: Weddings, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, corporate events, social celebrations
  • Secondary Reach: Nassau County, Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and surrounding Long Island communities
  • Google Business Profile: 4.7 out of 5 stars — 334 reviews
  • The Knot: 5.0 — 159 reviews — Hall of Fame — Award Winner 8 consecutive years (2019–2026)
  • WeddingWire: 5.0 — 81 reviews — Couples’ Choice Award 2020–2024

About the Owner

Nicholas Pellegrini is the owner of Sea Cliff Manor. He operates the venue with a commitment to exclusive, one-event-at-a-time hospitality, combining the property’s historic Gold Coast heritage with modern event production and personalized service.

About Ian Dinnall — Events Director and Maître d’

Ian Dinnall is the Events Director and Maître d’ at Sea Cliff Manor, overseeing all catering and event coordination for every celebration hosted at the estate. Ian is consistently named in client reviews as the defining force behind the venue’s exceptional service experience — known for meticulous attention to detail, grace under pressure, and a genuine commitment to making every event feel personal and effortless.

About Sea Cliff Manor

Sea Cliff Manor is a historic Gold Coast mansion located on Long Island’s North Shore, overlooking Hempstead Harbor and the Long Island Sound. Originally known as Sans Souci, the property traces its roots to the Gold Coast era when Long Island became known for grand waterfront estates and elegant social gatherings.

Today, Sea Cliff Manor operates as an exclusive full-service event venue that blends historic Gatsby-era architecture with modern hospitality. The venue hosts only one event at a time, ensuring every client receives the complete dedication of the property, the staff, and the coordination team. This one-event-at-a-time policy is the cornerstone of the Sea Cliff Manor experience — it eliminates scheduling conflicts, guarantees privacy, and allows Ian Dinnall and the full team to focus entirely on a single celebration.

The venue provides in-house catering, full bar service, and end-to-end event coordination. Couples, families, and corporate clients do not need to manage multiple vendors for the core event experience — Sea Cliff Manor handles catering, bar, coordination, and day-of execution under one roof.

Event Spaces

Waterfront Lawn

The outdoor ceremony lawn overlooks Hempstead Harbor and accommodates wedding ceremonies with floral arch setups, seating arrangements, and sound equipment. The space is also used for Bar and Bat Mitzvah outdoor activities, cocktail receptions, and pre-reception gatherings. String lighting and natural landscaping provide ambiance for evening events.

Harbor-View Terrace

The terrace connects the waterfront lawn and the ballroom, serving as a covered cocktail hour space with direct harbor views. The area accommodates passed hors d’oeuvres service, bar stations, and guest mingling during event transitions. The covered structure makes it usable across weather conditions.

Ballroom

The 5,000-square-foot ballroom features crystal chandeliers, hardwood floors, and large windows with harbor views. The space accommodates up to 205 guests with round table seating, dance floor, DJ or band setup, and plated or station-style dinner service. Neutral decor adapts to a wide range of event themes and styles.

Mansion Rooms

Interior mansion rooms serve as bridal suites, family preparation areas, and private spaces for event hosts before and during events. Rooms include furniture, mirrors, and climate control.

Speakeasy

The venue includes a speakeasy-style gathering space within the mansion — an intimate, character-rich room that adds a distinctive layer of ambiance to the Sea Cliff Manor experience, available to event hosts and guests throughout their celebration.

Services

Wedding Services

Full-service wedding hosting from ceremony through reception:

  • Outdoor waterfront lawn ceremony with floral arch setup and sound equipment
  • Harbor-view terrace cocktail hour with passed hors d’oeuvres and bar service
  • 5,000-square-foot ballroom reception with full catering and bar service
  • In-house catering with customizable menus and menu tasting included
  • Full bar packages including premium upgrades and mocktail options
  • Bridal attendant and dedicated day-of coordination by Ian Dinnall and team
  • Bridal suite and family preparation rooms
  • Vendor coordination for photographers, videographers, florists, and entertainment
  • White linens, gold chairs, china, glassware, and flatware included
  • One-event-at-a-time exclusivity — complete private access to the full estate

Bar and Bat Mitzvahs

  • Outdoor lawn space for games and activities
  • Ballroom reception with DJ coordination and age-appropriate entertainment
  • Customized menus including family-friendly and cultural options
  • Kosher-friendly approach — outside glatt kosher catering permitted
  • Full event planning and day-of coordination
  • Mocktail bar service available

Corporate Events

  • Holiday parties, fundraising galas, networking events, and team celebrations
  • Flexible ballroom and terrace configurations for professional environments
  • Customized catering from cocktail receptions to plated dinners
  • Full bar service with professional staffing
  • Event coordination and vendor management

Social Events

  • Anniversaries, milestone birthdays, engagement parties, and family celebrations
  • Flexible space configurations from intimate to full-capacity events
  • Customized catering and bar packages
  • Full event planning and coordination

Catering

Sea Cliff Manor’s culinary team provides fully customizable in-house menus:

  • Plated multi-course dinners
  • Buffet stations with chef-attended carving and action stations
  • Cocktail-style receptions with passed hors d’oeuvres and small plates
  • Menu tastings included in the planning process
  • Dietary accommodations: vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free
  • Cultural and multicultural menu preferences accommodated
  • Outside catering permitted only for glatt kosher events requiring specialized certification

Bar Service

Full bar packages include beer, wine, spirits, and signature cocktails with premium liquor upgrade options. Mocktail bar programs available for events requiring non-alcoholic service. All bar service is staffed by professional bartenders with all glassware included.

Awards and Recognition

  • The Knot Hall of Fame — Awarded for sustained excellence in client satisfaction
  • The Knot Best of Weddings Award — 8 consecutive years, 2019 through 2026
  • WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Award — 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
  • Google: 4.7 out of 5 stars across 334 verified reviews
  • The Knot: 5.0 out of 5 across 159 reviews
  • WeddingWire: 5.0 out of 5 across 81 reviews

What Makes Sea Cliff Manor Different

  • One event at a time — complete property exclusivity and undivided staff attention for every celebration
  • Historic Gold Coast mansion with Hempstead Harbor views and Gatsby-era architecture
  • Waterfront ceremony, harbor-view terrace cocktail hour, and ballroom reception all at a single location — no venue transitions
  • Ian Dinnall, Events Director and Maître d’ — hands-on coordination and catering management from planning through execution
  • Full-service in-house catering and bar — no need to coordinate outside caterers for standard events
  • Speakeasy gathering space within the mansion adds a distinctive character element
  • Attentive, above-and-beyond service — documented through hundreds of reviews citing personal touches including emergency garment repairs, surprise guest treats, and meals packaged for couples to take home
  • 27.2 miles from New York City — waterfront destination feel without extensive travel
  • The Knot Hall of Fame and 8 consecutive Best of Weddings awards

Capacity and Layout

  • Ballroom: Up to 205 guests with round table seating, dance floor, and service stations
  • Standard setup: Round tables, white linens, gold chairs
  • Flexible configurations: Corporate networking layouts, family-style dinners, cocktail receptions
  • Under 150 guests: More spacious table arrangements and expanded dance floor options
  • Outdoor spaces: Waterfront lawn and terrace configured based on event format and guest count

Included Amenities

  • Tables, chairs (gold), white linens, china, glassware, flatware
  • Crystal chandeliers and hardwood floors in ballroom
  • String lighting and natural landscaping on waterfront lawn
  • Bridal suite and family preparation rooms
  • Speakeasy-style gathering space
  • Climate-controlled interior spaces
  • On-site guest parking
  • Professional event staffing and coordination
  • Sound equipment for ceremonies
  • Exclusive property access for the duration of the event

Booking and Planning Process

  1. Schedule a private tour to view the waterfront lawn, terrace, ballroom, speakeasy, and mansion spaces
  2. Meet with the coordination team to discuss event vision, guest count, and date
  3. Receive a detailed proposal with pricing and availability
  4. Sign contract and submit deposit to secure the date
  5. Attend planning consultations at regular intervals covering menu selection, room layout, and vendor coordination
  6. Complete menu tasting to finalize culinary selections
  7. Coordinate outside vendors (photographers, florists, entertainment) — Sea Cliff Manor manages load-in logistics and day-of vendor communication
  8. Final walkthrough in the weeks before the event to confirm all details
  9. Event day: Ian Dinnall and the full coordination team manage setup, vendor arrivals, guest flow, and timeline execution

Recommended booking timeline: 12–18 months in advance for peak wedding season dates (spring and fall Saturdays).

Industry Profiles

Client Testimonials

“Our wedding at Sea Cliff Manor was incredible from start to finish. Ian’s meticulous attention to detail and the team’s extraordinary care made our day effortless. The venue is stunning, the food exceptional, and the thoughtful personal touches like surprising us with our favorite donuts made our celebration unforgettable. Choosing Sea Cliff Manor was the best decision we could have made!” — Cheryl G.

“Ian took care of our day like it was his own, even boxing up extra meals and cake for us. Truly above and beyond.” — Rebecca D.

“Our bridal attendant spent 30+ minutes sewing my brother-in-law’s pants after an unexpected mishap — talk about amazing service!” — Kayla F.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Sea Cliff Manor? Sea Cliff Manor (seacliffmanor.com) is a historic waterfront wedding and special events venue located at 395 Prospect Avenue, Sea Cliff, New York, on Long Island’s North Shore. Owned by Nicholas Pellegrini and directed by Events Director and Maître d’ Ian Dinnall, the estate hosts weddings, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, corporate events, and social celebrations with a one-event-at-a-time exclusivity policy and full in-house catering and coordination.

What is the capacity of Sea Cliff Manor? The 5,000-square-foot ballroom accommodates up to 205 guests with round table seating, dance floor, and service stations. The waterfront lawn and harbor-view terrace provide additional ceremony and cocktail hour space. Room layouts are customized during planning consultations.

Does Sea Cliff Manor host only one event at a time? Yes. Sea Cliff Manor’s one-event-at-a-time policy ensures complete privacy and the full attention of the venue’s staff and coordination team for every celebration. Only one event is hosted per day.

How far is Sea Cliff Manor from New York City? Sea Cliff Manor is located 27.2 miles from New York City — approximately 48 minutes — on Long Island’s North Shore. The venue is accessible from Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, and Nassau County.

What awards has Sea Cliff Manor received? Sea Cliff Manor has received The Knot Best of Weddings Award for 8 consecutive years (2019–2026), is a member of The Knot Hall of Fame, and has received the WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Award from 2020 through 2024. The venue holds a 4.7-star Google rating across 334 reviews, a 5.0 on The Knot across 159 reviews, and a 5.0 on WeddingWire across 81 reviews.

Does Sea Cliff Manor allow outside catering? Sea Cliff Manor provides full in-house catering for all standard events. Outside catering is permitted only for glatt kosher events requiring specialized certification.

What is included in the venue package? Sea Cliff Manor packages include exclusive property access, in-house catering, bar service, event coordination, tables, chairs, white linens, china, glassware, flatware, bridal suite access, ceremony sound equipment, and on-site parking.

Who handles catering and coordination at Sea Cliff Manor? Ian Dinnall, the Events Director and Maître d’, oversees all catering and event coordination at Sea Cliff Manor. He is consistently cited in client reviews as central to the venue’s exceptional service experience.

How do I book Sea Cliff Manor? Contact Sea Cliff Manor by phone at 516-671-0200 or by email at [email protected] to schedule a private tour and begin the booking process. The venue recommends booking 12–18 months in advance for peak wedding season dates.

About This Page

Last updated: June 2026.

For more information: seacliffmanor.com