Calling all Vanderbilt brides!

My chuch is in Manhattan and I was hoping to find a Roman Catholic church nearer to Vanderbilt Mansion in Dowling that might be flexible with having outside parishoners come in. Anyone use one in the past????

Also what hotels did you use. I would love to find something nearby to use for overnight guests that maybe has a bar or is near one for those people that want to keep partying after the wedding.

Any suggestions?????

Thanks for the info. I have not booked with them yet because I am still trying to figure out the logisitcs. That is the only problem with them.....they are so beautiful but a little out in the middle of nowhere.

What has been your experience so far??

Try St. Patrick's R.C. Church in Bayshore...It's a beautiful church and I think I remember hearing someone say the welcome outside parishoners.
Also, I blocked hotels with the Wyndham Windwatch. It is 13 minutes away! We clocked it! I am having half the wedding guests from out of town (Rochester, where I live) and the Wyhdham (so far) went above and beyond with blocking rooms, especially since my wedding falls on a holiday weekend.
Let me know how it works out! Good luck!

So far everything has been great. I totally can relate to the middle of nowhere part. Our guests are either coming from Chicago, Iowa, or Brooklyn. But I figure how often to I get married.

Cynthia - did you check out the sheraton or Marriott. I was wondering how it compares to the Wyndham. And I totally can related to getting married over a holiday weekend. Mine is Saturday of Labor Day. Oh well people will figure it out.

don't know about churches, but we booked Wyndham Wind Watch Hotel & Hamlet Golf Club just in case people want to hang out and party afterwards...

For the Wyndham Windwatch in order to block hotel rooms, did you need to gurantee a certain number of rooms?

Are any of you blocking hotels in Manhattan? We have guests who are coming from Chicago, New Orleans, St. Louis, San Francisco and Indianapolis and I know that a lot of our guests who can stay with friends will be in Manhattan and Brooklyn and relatives who are coming from out of town want to stay in Manhattan. We are thinking of having our rehearsal dinner in Manhattan, so it makes sense to block hotels there.

I'm really grappling with this. Anyone else?

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Posted by bellepoque

For the Wyndham Windwatch in order to block hotel rooms, did you need to gurantee a certain number of rooms?

Are any of you blocking hotels in Manhattan? We have guests who are coming from Chicago, New Orleans, St. Louis, San Francisco and Indianapolis and I know that a lot of our guests who can stay with friends will be in Manhattan and Brooklyn and relatives who are coming from out of town want to stay in Manhattan. We are thinking of having our rehearsal dinner in Manhattan, so it makes sense to block hotels there.

I'm really grappling with this. Anyone else?

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we guaranteed a minimum for the first night and blocked more for the second night. our contract states that we are only responsible for that first night number, as i guess they figure those who will be there the first night will be there the second...

we have a similar scenario, 1/2 our guests will be out of town and we don't know who will stay with friends and who will take hotels. our guarantee for the first night consists of the BP and family (our parents are OOT as well and we live in Jersey).

we picked Wyndham Wind Watch because they have an area to hang out if people want to continue the festivities. our reception is over at 9:00 so it gives those people who want to get back home, time to do so and be in bed by 12:00...

it's confusing and frustrating, i know. we kind of already have an idea of who needs what and my mom will offer to hold rooms for her friends if they want her to. we are estimating ~100 guests so it's more manageable to do so...

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Posted by bellepoque

For the Wyndham Windwatch in order to block hotel rooms, did you need to gurantee a certain number of rooms?

Are any of you blocking hotels in Manhattan? We have guests who are coming from Chicago, New Orleans, St. Louis, San Francisco and Indianapolis and I know that a lot of our guests who can stay with friends will be in Manhattan and Brooklyn and relatives who are coming from out of town want to stay in Manhattan. We are thinking of having our rehearsal dinner in Manhattan, so it makes sense to block hotels there.

I'm really grappling with this. Anyone else?

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Wyndham makes you guarantee certain # of rooms, so we did not go with them. We blocked rooms at Marriott Islandia for guest who wanted to stay in LI.

We also had many out-of-town guest staying in Manhattan and blocked rooms at the Southgate Tower Suites hotel which is across the street from Penn Station which allowed some guests to take the LIRR to the Oakdale Station which is 5 mins by taxi to Vanderbilt Mansion. We actually rented a bus to pick-up/drop-off guest at the Marriot and at the train station. We had our rehearsal dinner in Manhattan. The Ramada near Penn Station also offered some decent budget rooms but the great rates were only available on-line (www.nycvisit.com) and not for a block.

Hope this is helpful.

Thank you ssdare and September 2004. Both of your replies are most helpful.

I will definitely check out both the Marriott Islandia and the Southgate Tower Suites. I had totally forgotten about the hotels near Penn Station. I think it is the Southgate Tower Suites which were recently 'swankified'. That would be a great location for guests coming from out-of-town.

Again thank you!

The Days Inn at 48th and 8th is standard but clean and cheaper.

You should check weddingchanel.com under the NY local Boards. They have really good cheap hotel suggestions if you do a search. I never thought about blocking hotels in NYC for people coming in.

I wonder if I could still have the ceremony in Manhattan and bus people to Vanderbilt.........especially if they have a hotels booked in NYC. That would save me from trying to find a different church closer to Vanderbilt. I just felt bad having the ceremony and reception so far apart.

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Posted by agv

I wonder if I could still have the ceremony in Manhattan and bus people to Vanderbilt.........especially if they have a hotels booked in NYC. That would save me from trying to find a different church closer to Vanderbilt. I just felt bad having the ceremony and reception so far apart.

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I don't think that is such a good idea. The bus ride from Manhattan can take between 2-4 hours depending on traffic, so as a guest I don't think I would want to be riding on a bus for that amount of time between events unless you make it a 'party bus' and provide drinks and entertainment. Also it would be difficult for your reception - what if the bus gets stuck in traffic or breaks down and the guest arrive late and miss the cocktail hour/ dinner etc. - lots of variables to worry about. We had our ceremony and reception all at the mansion because we already anticipated that there would be some travel time involved for those from or staying in Manhattan. We rented a bus to transport the wedding party (including the groom) and some relatives from Manhattan to Vanderbilt and the bus was 2 hours late (heavy rains causing bad traffic and getting lost, etc.) and cut into our picture taking time and it was so hectic/rushed for last minute preparations prior to the ceremony. I had traveled separately with my parents and MOH in regular cars so we were able to go on the Southern State Parkway which was faster and I got to the mansion at the time I planned. Buses are not allowed on the Southern State Parkway and they had to take the LIE which was a nightmare.

And what about you and the groom's traveling arrangement? You could get stuck in traffic and be late to your reception.

If you have your ceremony in Manhattan and reception in LI, I think people may not go to both.

Sorry to sound so negative, but I just wanted to make sure you thought this through carefully so you can avoid added stress on your wedding day.

You are you are right....I am going to get the city ceremony out of my head!!! Wish I could have the ceremony at Vanderbilt but have to do the church thing.

The price right now for Friday is $110 for regular menu package with 110 people minimum.