Vanderbuilt Mansion at Dowling vs. Venetian Yacht Club

Hello, I am planning a fall wedding, yes, fall 2008.
We are currently trying to decide between the Vanderbuilt Mansion at Dowling College run by Lessings and the Venetian Yacht Club in Babylon. The most important thing to us is the people that are going to be there, that the food be delicious and the music gets people dancing. We like each of these locations and I need some input from people who have had or been to weddings at these venues.
Here are our current thoughts on the two locations:
Vanderbuilt Mantion
-beautiful location, different type of venue, I can see where I would take my pictures, and it would not need a lot of added decoration
- have had food done by Lessings, it is beautifully done and delicious
Concerns :
- Value for the money. Even with the dates not being booked this close we have been told that they have a $10,000 minimum, so even though they have days available, we were offered $25 off per person for a Saturday, but only $4 off the original price for a Sunday, making the difference between the actual price of either day $6.
- Due to the minimum $$ amount, there is no discussion about changes to the menu, etc. affecting the actual price.
- handicap accessibilty (affects 2-3 guests), since it is an old mansion, anyone in wheel chairs would need to be taken around the entire building to get to the ceremony out back , and then back around to go inside.
- bridal suite is the house's library, so it does not have a bathroom of its own.

Venetian Yacht Club
- Lovely location.
- the wedding would be at the time of sunset, so I would have minumal decorations, so as not to detract from it
- value for the money, we actually feel there may actually be too much food at the cocktail hour
- staff seems lovely, helpful, and attentive
Concerns:
We've never been there and do not know anyone who has, so we don't know how the food is (I seen some reviews but the maority are from 2 years ago).
- don't know if staff is as attentive the day of the wedding, and if everything is run smoothly

I would greatly appreciate any input, as we need to decide within the next week.

HI I WENT TO THE VYC FRIDAY FOR A WEDDING WHILE IT WAS BEAUTIFUL AND THE VEIW WAS GREAT MY WHOLE TABLE DID NOT ENJOY THE FOOD

ALSO THEY HAVE A NO SHOT POLICY AND WERE VERY RUDE ABOUT TELLING US THAT!

THE ROOM WAS SET UP SO THE TABLES WERE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE DANCE FLOOR WHICH WAS BAD BECAUSE WE DID NOT SEE THE OTHER PEOPLE AT ALL IT WAS LIKE 2 SEPERATE WEDDINGS, THE GROOMS SISTER FELT THE SAME WAY. ALSO COULD NOT SEE THE BRIDE AND GROOM UNLESS U GOT UP AND WALKED OVER TO THEM

SORRY SO LONG HTH

I AM HAVING MY WEDDING AT THE VYC - MY FIANCE DID A TASTING THERE PRIOR TO BOOKING AND MOST OF THE FOOD WE REALLY ENJOYED BUT SOME WAS SO-SO. WE TOOK THIS INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN CHOOSING OUR MENU. I WOULD RECOMMEND YOUDO THE SAME PRIOR TO BOOKING W/ THEM.

THE VANDERBUILT AT DOWLING IS BEAUTIFUL AND SOMETHING WE ALSO CONSIDERED. DEPENDING ON WHAT TIME OF YEAR YOU ARE PLANNING ON GETTING MARRIED DOES NEED TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT. MY FIANCE ACTUALLY WORKED THERE FOR YEARS AND THE AC IS NOT TOO GOOD IF YOUR PLANNING A SUMMER WEDDING. ALSO THE BATHROOMS ARE NOT GREAT BECAUSE IT IS AN OLD MANSION. THE FOOD IS VERY GOOD. I JUST ATTENDED A WEDDING THERE 3 WKS AGO. ALSO IT IS NICE THAT THEY HAVE OTHER AREAS FOR PEOPLE WHO DO NOT WANT TO PARTAKE IN THE MUSIC AND DANCING. I WAS AFRAID I WOULD LOOSE HAVE MY GUESTS AND FELT IT WAS EASIER TO RANGLE EVERYONE INSIDE FOR THE IMPORTANT HIGHLIGHTS AT THE VYC. HOPE THIS HELPS!

I just booked at the Venetian for these reasons:

-The price was right.
-The view is just amazing.
-I had a tasting, and the food was phenomenal. The chicken was juicy, the servings were large, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, after a bad tasting experience somewhere else.
-I was recently at a party, and a woman was talking about a wedding she went to at the VYC recently. She had no idea I was even engaged. She could not stop talking about the food.
-My family recently attended a wedding there, although I did not. They all RAVED about the food. My aunt said that she had never had service at a wedding like that in her life. There is a waiter for every table, and they take your drink orders at the table, as well as at the bar.
Also, I liked that the dancefloor was in the middle of the room, because everyone has a view of the dancing. Sometimes, the older guests can't dance, and they like to watch everyone else dancing. I thought this would include everyone.

Although, i have to say, I'm a bit concerned after reading the post saying they were just there and didn't like the food. What was it you didn't like? Please advise. Thanks!