Bourne Mansion

I recently visited both Bourne Mansion and the Vanderbilt Mansion at Dowling. I'm in LOVE with Bourne, but I was wondering if any one else has been checking it out and if so, were you able to work with the pricing?

It's a beautiful venue, but unfortunately, I will be paying for the wedding out of my own pocket, so I need to budget as much as possible. Any thing you guys can offer me would be great!

Thanks!!!

Both the Bourne Mansion and the Vanderbilt Mansion are Lessings properties. I've already met and spoke with both representatives, but I was hoping to hear from others if the prices that were quoted were negotiable.

They do provide you a blank canvas, but the canvas is absolutely BEAUTIFUL. So I think if we just add some floral arrangements and lighting, it'll be more than enough to brighten up the room~ :)

i love love loved the bourne!

and i personally do not think it needs to be dolled up, it has such a beautiful feel to it!

the one thing i would be careful with is the food...if you do decide to book..my suggestion is to make sure they make it VERY CLEAR about who makes the food, when and where it is made...

this is the main reason we nixed it off our list, we didnt get a clear answer about their food..

buttt i will tell you i have heard nothing but great things about both places.

also to answer ur question...i know that the site fee is not negotiable...the pp price is slightly negotiable, at least that's what an LIW bride told me


also if you like the bourne, check out the royalton mansion too, it's gorgeous! this is our top contender right now, havent booked yet tho

I actually asked about the food, since that's a HUGE part of my decision making factor. The food is provided by Lessings and it's made to order, on premises. Marination and overnight processes take place at the main hub at Timber Point, which is only a 10 min drive away.

The food is absolutely delicious. I got the opportunity to sample some at one of their venues.

I am getting married there this October - we just booked in late January.

The place is beautiful - yes it is a 'blank' canvas ... but you also don't have to deal with ugly carpets, low ceilings, and decorations you don't like ( those were ALL big factors for me).

They provide the basic linens, uplighting through them is only $950.

Yes site fee is not negotiable but you make a check out to St. Johns Unviersity needs to be done 3 months prior to wedding... and can be a tax deduction since you are making a 'donation'.

Food is wonderful - FH and I are HUGE foodies and was very important to me.

Think price pp can be negotiated...but also depends on day of week and time of year.

HTH
Heather

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Posted by hamptonsbride2010

I am getting married there this October - we just booked in late January.

The place is beautiful - yes it is a 'blank' canvas ... but you also don't have to deal with ugly carpets, low ceilings, and decorations you don't like ( those were ALL big factors for me).

They provide the basic linens, uplighting through them is only $950.

Yes site fee is not negotiable but you make a check out to St. Johns Unviersity needs to be done 3 months prior to wedding... and can be a tax deduction since you are making a 'donation'.

Food is wonderful - FH and I are HUGE foodies and was very important to me.

Think price pp can be negotiated...but also depends on day of week and time of year.

HTH
Heather

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Are you working with Ben? I thought that the food was good, but I still haven't had the sit down tasting, just had some at their venue show. Do you know if they take the dinner orders at the table or do they take it before they enter the grand ballroom? I remember Jen at the Vanderbilt mentioning something like that and it seemed odd.

Yes worked with Ben.

I had a food tasting a while ago...salmon was the best i've ever had, filet mignon and the chicken (could't eat the chicken allergic to mushroom)

I wouldn't think they would take the menu order before guests even sit down.

Check out this good review

http://www.liweddings.com/chat/topic-658830-1.html

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Posted by ooxrosaliexoo

i went there the origional price for a friday night in november was 125 he put me down to 120 and then 117 i am from st johns university so he tried to help me out as much as he could but i couldnt stand a 4000 site fee to me it wasnt worth it. but then agian i am on a tight budjet, i asbolutely ADORED the place so if you can do it go for it! however i did not like that for bottled beer they allow only 2 and then each add'l is 1.50

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Can you explain the bottled beer part to me? It's an open bar, so the guests can drink as much as they like. Are you saying that if I were to add another beer to the already 2 given selection, that it would cost 1.50 per bottle?

my understanding was it was 1.50 pp for the added bottle beer- and yes to add to the two they already offer-

i think its a flat fee...not 1.50 per beer consumed

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Posted by LoveyDovey

my understanding was it was 1.50 pp for the added bottle beer- and yes to add to the two they already offer-

i think its a flat fee...not 1.50 per beer consumed

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ic... ok. 1.50 x the min head count can add up. my guests will just have to make do!

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Posted by hamptonsbride2010

Yes site fee is not negotiable but you make a check out to St. Johns Unviersity needs to be done 3 months prior to wedding... and can be a tax deduction since you are making a 'donation'.

HTH
Heather

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I keep hearing about this! I should ask whether the same is true for Dowling!

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Posted by Gerbera

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Posted by hamptonsbride2010

Yes site fee is not negotiable but you make a check out to St. Johns Unviersity needs to be done 3 months prior to wedding... and can be a tax deduction since you are making a 'donation'.

HTH
Heather

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I keep hearing about this! I should ask whether the same is true for Dowling!

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i actually asked when I met with Jen at Dowling. The sit fee check will be made out to Dowling College, but it's not as simple as they make it seem. You have to work with your personal accountant and see if it actually qualifies as a 'donation'.