Hello, I am going to see the Vanderbilt Mansion this weekend and am a bit confused over their booking policy. They said that you can only book an event one year in advance so it would not be possible for me to book a June 2004 wedding until June of 2003. You can hold the date but there is no guarantee you will get it until the one year mark. I am not so sure how I feel about this? Should I just eliminate it as an option? How can I book any other vendors if I can't be 100% certain I will have my hall? How have other Vanderbilt Mansion brides dealt with this?
michele31
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Re: Vanderbilt Mansion booking policy
I have never heard of that. So if you call on June 1 at 9am the date is yours? Ask them exactly how it works.
ssdare
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Re: Vanderbilt Mansion booking policy
I did not encounter this issue 'cuz I booked within 1 year's time. I think the reasoning behind their policy is that the mansion is part of a college and they can not guarantee that far in advance because they are subject to the college's scheduling and I think they do this so that your event would not be interrupted by college students or events.
Unfortunately I don't have any advice for you but at least it shed some insight on their policy.
karen32
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I think ssdare is right. They'll probably pencil you in for that date, but if the college needs it for a function, they get priority. At the one year mark, the college should know their schedule for sure.
EvenEdan
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That's exactly it, they said that because it is part of the college they cannot guarantee availability that far in advance. They will hold your date but not until the same day in 2003 does it become officially booked. If I really like it do I take a chance? Will other vendors be flexible with me on this now and then we can finalize one year in advance? I feel like I don't have that many other options, I will not have a huge guest list and I really want a beautiful, elegant place that is not too pricey. Do they exist?
Sonicstef
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Re: Vanderbilt Mansion booking policy
I didnt plan it this way but I had to change my reception site 10 months before the wedding. At this point, all my vendors were already booked and we had to consider a different day b/c we werent sure if the new site we picked would have that day available.
I found that 10 months out, most of my vendors WERE already booked for the weekend before and after my wedding but were available for other weekends within the month. All of them were willing to change the day for me providing they were available.
So my point is - if you really LOVE this reception site and plan on booking solid vendors then moving the date in the worst case scenario will be a pain but not a complete impossiblity.
Cindy
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Gee, that seems kind of odd
stacey27
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I feel with that policy they should not be operating a catering hall out of that building.Its just not fair to the brides who book more then a yr away.But i guess its the brides choice if they want to take the chance.Good luck to all the brides who take the chance.
ChristineC68
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My cousin encountered this when they were planning their wedding except they had to wait until 6 months before the wedding. This was in California though.
It's inconvenient but in a way it makes sence for them as a business practice. The events they book are at current market rates. (Not defending them - just a thought )
CathyB
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I know it's irritating, but the school just looks at it as incremental revenue. Since this isn't their main line of business, they have worked it around their needs, rather than the needs of potential catering customers.
My mom works for a college on LI and I was annoyed that even with her connections I couldn't get a better deal when I looked at having the rehearsal dinner on campus.
If you love it (it is a beautiful facility) I'd get penciled in, and then keep checking their website to see when the academic calendar covering June 2004 comes out. This way you'll have a good idea if the date will be free earlier than June 03. Then I'd make an appt to book in person at 9am exactly 1 year before.
EvenEdan
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Re: Vanderbilt Mansion booking policy
Clpunch- Do you know if there is a specific month/date that is most likely to be available? Excluding winter months. I realy wouldn't care if it is May, June, September or October. Thanks for the help.
CathyB
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Re: Vanderbilt Mansion booking policy
It's really hard to say. Every college is different. But they tend to have the same type of events each year. So if you looked at the calendar for this year and noticed that they are having the annual gala in June, it'd be a safe bet it would be in June next year.
As far as specific months, May has commencement, so that might be a busy time with school clubs holding events there. June would prob. be safe, since there is only summer sessions going on, if they hold them. Sept. & Oct. are early in the Fall semester, so I'd imagine that it would be easier than May.
If you are nervous, you should keep looking. There are plenty of other beautiful facilities out there that will let you book further than a month in advance.
