Attended a wedding at this venue recently. I was impressed by the drive up to the actual mansion. The atmosphere was amazing and there was adequate space for guests to mingle during the cocktail hour. There is a distinct charm to the space. We had an awesome time. read more

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Photographing at Bourne Mansion was so much fun! We were blessed with a great weather day so we were able to utilize all of the grounds as well as take great photos indoors. Bourne is a beautiful and classic mansion- like it was made for the camera! It was also a great to venue to work at as the staff really took care of our couple and their loved ones. We really enjoyed the food as well! Can't wait to go back! Jenn & Ro J&R Photography www.jrphotony.com read more

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Came here for a friend's wedding and was blown out of the water by everything the venue had to offer. From the beautiful scenery of the grounds and buildings, to incredibly well decorated interior, this place is certainly no eye sore. The staff were incredibly helpful and attentive through the whole day and made everything feel seamless. And on top of it all, the food from cocktail hour all the way through dinner was absolutely delicious, not a miss to be seen. If I ever get married, it will be hard to pass up on going with a place like this. read more

I attended Bourne Mansion as a wedding guest. This was probably one of the most beautiful wedding venues I've been to. Everything from the food to the service was absolutely spot on! There were plenty of options for food during the cocktail hour, and the main course was delicious! read more

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Great staff and venue Beautiful grounds at Historic mansion . Lessings Hospitality Group does a great job with food and service read more

We were at a wedding reception at Bourne Mansion. The service was just outstanding. All the servers had their act together. Food was nothing less than outstanding. read more

Um Wow - And not in a good way. Let me start by saying the venue is amazing. BUT, the wedding coordinator/planner that comes with the place (you are required to use) is one of the most abrasive, disrespectful, tyrannical individuals I have ever seen (bald; a little heavier set guy). He berated employees, yelled and bossed the bride/groom around all night, and was extremely difficult about absolutely everything. It was obvious from the beginning that it was his show. I was just a guest at a wedding and he ruined the entire experience for everyone (bride/groom and guests). And funny enough I ran into some people who attended a different wedding there and they said the exact same thing. I have zero bone to pick other than I don't want to see another person's wedding ruined here. read more

We went to the Bourne Mansion for a wedding event. The venue was very historic with valet parking and a water fountain out front. The entrance room presents a grand staircase and a fireplace amount some lounge couches. The mansion rooms are each a bit unique and have their own historic feel like those that you think of in the game Clue. The ballroom was long and had a nice stage area for the 8 person band to play all night. The one complaint with the venue space would be that there are only single stall restrooms in the place and there are only 3 total that I saw and one was out of order. The bathroom doors are also made of solid wood and are very very heavy to open from either side. The outdoor courtyard area is very large and peaceful and well maintained. There were plenty of tables and chairs outside for cocktail hour. The food at the cocktail hour included a pasta station including a broccoli rabe and sausage version, meat station with lamb (the meat fell off the bone it was so tasty), prime rib, and boiled salmon. And a mash potato bar. Of course the classic antipasto station was a bonus. The dinners included chicken, veggie dish or filet minion. The only issue here was that the filet I ordered was supposed to be well done and it came out pink. They brought out two more which were also each pink inside. Not sure why the kitchen wouldn't have a cooking thermometer or just cut into the filet to make sure it's well done. But what I could eat of the ends of the filet were very good and tender. read more

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Miriam is the fairy godmother when it comes to dream weddings. She helped us put together the most beautiful wedding that was better than anything we've ever dreamt of. From the moment we pulled down the long driveway and saw the deer running through the fog on a rainy December day we knew the Bourne Mansion was magical. We met with Miriam and absolutely fell in love with the place. Everything from the planning and the meetings to the actual wedding day was so easy and flawless. The Bourne Mansion staff really knows what they are doing, everything is so professionally put together and they have it down to a fine science. Our wedding day was perfect, everything went so smooth and honestly was very stress free. The whole wedding process was stress free because we knew we were in good hands with a highly professional team. Our guest had an amazing time and we are being told it was hands down the best wedding most of our guest have been too.  The attention to detail by Miriam was so impressive and Asia our bridal attendant was so kind and by our sides the whole night making sure things were just right. Our Matre d, Jake, was unbelievable!! He was the BEST!  He was so on top of everything and he made us feel so special. Not only was he so attentive to us but to our parents and our bridal party as well. He was constantly checking in on them making sure everyone was ok and had a drink. He really made our night so special and was there for us for anything we needed. The Bourne Mansion team is truly the dream team and we feel so lucky to have started our marriage off in such a beautiful place surrounded by not only our friend and family but such amazing people from the Bourne Mansion team. If you are considering the Bourne Mansion look no further this is the place!! read more

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I went for a wedding recently and the entries experience was amazing. Now only is the venue gorgeous, but the food, drinks and service were all delightful as well. This a prime location for a wedding! read more

Do yourself a favor, if you are thinking about Bourne Mansion for your special event go elsewhere. This place is run as the catering hall equivalent to a stock-dumping 'boiler room.' The manager and staff don't give a rat's derriere about the place or about the affair; this is what I concluded after attending a wedding reception at Bourne Mansion. Here's how I arrived at the aforementioned: I was invited to my close friends' wedding and I first-hand knew about the small fortune that the couple spent on their wedding reception. Their entire affair prior to and post the Bourne Mansion was first-rate. While the property is perfectly situated on the water in Southern Long Island, the grounds are only partially and haphazardly groomed. Both the interior and exterior of the main building is in various levels of decay and disrepair (see my pictures). I couldn't believe my eyes. One of the banister's support columns towards the bottom of one of the staircases was broken and someone attempted to repair the column with clear tape. The column was in open view of the main hallway. There are numerous other similar examples. Bourne Mansion Is one of those places that upon a quick look seems great but upon closer inspection one notices the lack of detail and indifference to proper maintenance. Food quality was non-existing and collectively the staff was horrible. I don't know where to begin? Should I begin with the waiter that botched-up my order four times, or share with you how the buss-boy (a native English speaker) ignored me several times when I told him that I wasn't finished with my food. I think it was the fifth time when I stood-up and told him to leave me alone. I believe that the buss-boy made it a point of aggravating me and he succeeded. I attended the affair with my then 6 year old and she needed a band-aide. After asking several waiters for a band-aide and being told that they didn't have any I took it upon myself to find the manager. After asking for the manager and being told that they weren't available I began the search for the office with my daughter in tow. Surely someone must be in charge I thought to myself despite it seeming that the staff was running amok. The majority of the staff was a combination of confrontational, hostile, aggressive and indifferent. In one of the empty rooms on the ground floor I found a young guy sitting solo at a table going over some papers that seemed like they were either receipts or order checks. "Excuse me I'm looking for the manager" I said. He wholeheartedly ignored me. I approached where he was 'working' and I repeated my question. He looked at me as though he wanted to punch me ( a look I'm all too familiar with as it seemed to always be the look my ex-wife gave me). I'll be right with you he said in an annoyed tone. When he finally stopped what he was doing and asked me what I wanted in an equally annoyed tone, I said I needed a bandage for my daughter. He said that he didn't have any. I then said that I couldn't believe that a catering facility didn't have a first-aid kit and he then said that he'd look again and left the room. Within a few seconds he emerged from an adjoining room with a band-aide. Enough said. When alas it was time for me to leave (early) I couldn't find the parking attendants. Apparently they was hanging out in one of their own cars (I assumed the car belonged to one of them) chatting. After about 15 minutes of just standing there waiting for a valet, a valet emerged from the car in which they were loitering. I would have gone up to the car but I didn't know that the car was full of the valets. What are the chances of actually getting my own car I thought to myself? My feeling was that I wouldn't have particularly minded it as long as they would have brought me a car better than my own; it would have made for a good story or in this case the cherry on top of my ordeal at Bourne Mansion. In a reasonable amount of time the valet showed up with my own car and I tipped him accordingly. While ordinarily this would have been the desired outcome, I left upset because by the valet actually doing their job he robbed me of my cherry topping punchline to my horrible experience at this very crappy venue. read more

Bourne Mansion - Oh my... - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Oakdale, New York

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I recently attended a wedding about a week ago. What a beautiful place!! By far not what I expected. The mansion itself is absolutely gorgeous. Outside and in. The staff was on point with everything. The maitre D Steve was nothing like I've seen or experienced. He went out of his way to make everyone feel comfortable and taken care of. I, as a regular guest, was treated like royalty by him! Coming from the catering world, I've never seen someone so attentive to detail like him. He went out of his way to even get me flip flops because my feet were killing me! His personality and attention to all is incomparable and unmatched! If you're having a wedding soon, STEVE Is the man of choice!! read more

STUNNING. Recently attended a wedding here and was very impressed. We, and many other guests arrived at least an hour before the cocktail hour was ready and the staff did nothing to guide us on what to do. We had to figure out where to check in our coats and a large room to the right of the entrance that we could rest our feet. Other than that the complaints are minimal. The cocktail hour was fantastic. Lighting a bit dark, and some of the meat overcooked (I think that may have been on request of the groom's family as it is part of their culture, but I am not sure). For dinner I believe I ordered the steak, I'd remember better but I was a frequent barfly, and the bartender made some very delicious Goose and tonics. For a refurbished former Gold Coast mansion, the acoustics were surprisingly good. Plus the staff entertained us with ghost stories, and the maitre-d was very accommodating to us. Overall great! I wish the weather was a bit warmer so we could've explored the amazing grounds a bit. Oh well, next time. Plus, the mansion only hosts one event at a time, so you're really the only ones there. Oh Big PLUS: when the entrees came out, they came out all at once. No table was left sitting empty-plated moros-ley looking over at their next door neighbor chowing down. P.S if you ever do go there, ask the staff to tell you the ghost stories, especially about the pool in the basement and the painting over the piano, and ask them how it feels when they're the only people in the mansion cleaning up late at night. You'll get all sorts of awesome chills. read more

This place is amazing as far as a location for Weddings/Events. According to the friendly Valet guy, Calvin, The Bourne Mansion was once La Salle Military Academy. The location got it's name from Frederick Bourne, who was the president of Singer Sewing Machine Company and built and lived at this location at the turn of the 20th century before it was turned into the academy. It now is part of St. John's campus, with rumors of becoming a hotel. The acoustics were very good in the main hall where the dancing and dinner happened, so I would suggest bands make allowances for this. One of the younger guests was holding his ears through the night because he found it very loud. Personally, I did not think it was too loud, but there were some mixed reviews here. The wood floors and vaulted ceilings in the ballroom created an amazing sound in what appeared to be at one point a chapel (via the pipe organ on one wall and the choir loft on the other). The grounds had deer and geese just chilling in the wild surrounding the main building. The back of the building is on the water. The sophisticated charm of this location is definitely worth checking out if you are looking for an amazing event space. Think Great Gatsby. Enjoy. read more

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My husband and I got married at Bourne Mansion on 3/23/19 and I cannot put into words how perfect it was, but I will try. We visited a ton of venues, but knew from the beginning that Bourne was "the one." Venue - obviously beautiful, but we liked that it also has character and uniqueness - definitely not "cookie cutter." The backdrop is gorgeous and while we got married indoors (which worked out well), we made sure to take lots of pictures both indoors and outdoors. The ballroom is one of a kind and was plenty spacious for our ~200 guests. Food - delicious. They have a wide range of options for cocktail hour and we got a lot of compliments from our guests about the food (especially the filet mignon), some even saying it's the best food they've ever had at a wedding! I highly recommend adding on some sort of late night "snack." We had hot pretzels on the way out and they were a hit! Staff - spectacular. From the very beginning, Miriam was incredibly helpful and genuine. She guided me throughout the process and was very responsive to my many questions. I honestly couldn't have planned our wedding without her. When we met Steve (our maitre d), we knew we were in great hands. He helped set the run of show, kept everything running smoothly throughout the day and made sure we (and our parents) were taken care of the entire evening. My bridal attendant Catherine was excellent. She made sure I had everything I needed and helped with my dress, flowers, cake, etc. All in all, magical! We will never forget our perfect wedding day thanks to Bourne! read more

I recently attended a wedding at the Bourne Mansion it one of the best experiences I have ever had. The venue is absolutely beautiful and it's a perfect setting for a picture perfect wedding. The staff was friendly and attentive. They were right there to answer questions and refill our drinks. The bartenders were on point, friendly, and knowledgeable. STEVE ABOVE ALL WAS ONE OF THE GREATEST ASSETS TO THE EVENING. He runs a tight ship and ensured that everything was going smoothly and efficiently. He definitely added to the evening to make it a great experience for all parties involved. His hospitality and management took this event above and beyond. Here's to you Bourne Mansion and especially to you, Steve! Thanks for a great night! read more

Bourne Mansion - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Oakdale, New York

I attended a work event here with about 300 people present. The venue was amazing and especially for weddings. I was wondering what the upstairs is like as I'm sure its as impressive as downstairs. Heard it was recently purchased by an Indian business and so not sure if they have already funded a refurbishment or if the venue will become even grander once they have invested in it. Interesting to observe they had a lot of security who were visible but unobtrusive. Perhaps because of weddings they are geared up for that. Starter stations were good, Chinese, also saw one with roast meats being sliced, one with beef, veal and shrimp in gravy or sauces, also a cheese and cold meats station. Main course was awful, didn't hear anyone say they had a satisfactory meal. All of us who had the salmon said it was dry. The people who had the beef said it was tough (not sure if they use a cheap cut to maximize profit margins or simply one of those things) and the vegetarians said the vegetables were served on a naan but that tasted like it was from a packet. In other wedding venues I've visited the caterers sometimes bring their own tandoor to give naans the correct flavor, perhaps they warmed theirs in an oven or pan. I didn't stay for dessert but later I heard that wasn't up to muster either. So in conclusion venue was great, if they permit it organize your own catering. read more

Went to 2 weddings and have one more next year food always was cold and bland, but beautiful setting and cocktail hour was great. acoustics in hall is horrible at one point toward the end of the night everyone had went to other areas. Too expensive for the service you get read more

I got married at the Bourne Mansion on May 15, 2021 and it was perfect! I was a Covid bride who had to unfortunately reschedule the big day from 2020. As soon as we went to Bourne for a site visit, I completely fell in love with the vintage glam environment and envisioned myself as a bride there! In the beginning, my only concern was whether the food would be amazing or not because they do not do any tastings beforehand - word to the wise, THE FOOD WAS AMAZING. Our guests are still raving about how professional the team was and how incredible our cocktail hour, dinner, pretzel truck, Viennese dessert room (do it, it is completely worth it) was! Working with Miriam was one of my favorite parts about this venue. She was so helpful and a complete pleasure to work with and bounce ideas off of even when we had to postpone our wedding due to Covid. She has such a warm personality and had the best suggestions for our best day. Then our maitre'd for the big day was Steve who was equally amazing! Let me tell you what surprised me the most about the Bourne staff leading up to and especially on the day of my wedding, they all actually cared about making it the most seamless and perfect day for me. You would think that they would be over it since it is weddings all the time, but that is not the case. Steve was so excited for us and took our day so seriously to make us feel extra special even with the covid rules that was still in effect at the time. Even as there was a minor flaw in the evening (no one else noticed aside from the two of us) by the DJ, Steve was already on it. Also, we had a few cultural elements in our ceremony that the venue happily accommodated. The support that we received from the entire staff and the seamless execution of our big day was unmatched. I highly recommend Bourne Mansion for your big day! read more

If you want a wedding in a mansion in NY (because you can't afford Oheka Castle), and NYIT de Seversky has simply got a wacky floor plan and is a bit too small.. you are left with Bourne Mansion. It is literally the bigger version of NYIT de Serversky. In any case, although some reviews mention that the grounds are old or unkept, I must disagree. The venue is old, but that's part of the charm of this place. I chose this location because of the outdoor ceremony location. You are gambling with the weather, but oh damn was it worth it. Ok. So I got mixed reviews about the food from guests. It ranges from okay to good. The seafood risotto was the best dinner overall. It was delicious the next day too! We added lobster for $15 pp... this was extremely expensive if you add on tax and their administrative fee. Not really exactly worth it, nor delicious, but good for bragging rights LMFAO. In terms of dealing with Lessing's who runs manages and caters this place. Miriam is very good at her job of selling this place to you. She was reasonable and accommodating.. but please realize for future brides that you actually need to speak with Steve, the general manager of Lessings to plan the details. Speak with him about what's okay and not okay to do. He knows all the answers. Don't wait for Miriam to figure anything out for you. Steve was friggin incredible at managing the day of schedule, and instructing people what to do. I can't thank him enough for how incredible of a job he did. Up until the actual day of the wedding, I didn't feel like there was any "exceptional service" I was receiving despite the ridiculous amounts of money being spent here................ but the work that Steve did to make my day as enjoyable for me as possible despite the madness ...... I am eternally grateful. read more

My daughters wedding was yesterday and we could not have asked for a more beautiful day!! The mansion itself is spectacular and the views of the great South Bay is breathtaking. So were the deers frolicking in the bushes and out on the grass. We had approx 270 people and the food was awesome. Miriam for the past two years was so nice working with us and answering all of our questions and concerns. Lastly, Steve our maitre'd was so awesome. We had a few glitches when we first arrived, but Steve kindly worked them out for us...overall the day was PERFECT!!! read more

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Went to my brothers wedding this weekend Steve was absolutely amazing he made sure everyone was okay and everything ran smoothly . Aniya was another person that was so helpful and on point read more

Came here for a wedding last year. Everything here was great but there were some noises in the background while the bride and groom were reading their vows. Over all I enjoyed the food and atmosphere here. It's a great place to hold a wedding. read more

My fiance and I went to check out the Bourne Mansion as a potential wedding venue. What a waste of time... The pictures online make it appear somewhat appealing but in person is another story. It is in very bad shape. There are cracks in the walls, ugly decor, etc that you don't see in the pics. It could use a major facelift. Definitely poor presentation and I'd be embarrassed to have my wedding there if it was left in the state I saw it in. I also know friends and close family who've been here prior that have said the chairs are extremely flimsy (literally broken under people). So if you somehow settle on this place you're looking at additional rental costs because the stock seating is in poor shape. Further, it is a Lessing property and these people are just horrible to work with. The manager, Ben Nierenberg, scheduled to meet with us at 2pm and kept us waiting over 40 minutes because another couple walked in 5 minutes before us without an appointment. No one met us at the door and we were left waiting until I had to interrupt the other couple's tour and ask what the deal was. No apology offered and just said to wait up front or "show yourselves around if you're in a rush". Very, very unprofessional. We did show ourselves around, saw the dismal state of the venue, and didn't need to see/hear anymore. Do yourselves a favor and stay away from this place. read more

Came here recently for a wedding and wish it wasn't raining because the property is very impressive! *Trying to find the coat check was a very annoying and frustrating task which should be figured out by the staff. And it seems other yelpers have had similar experiences with that! Cocktail hour was awesome! Walking through the mansion, you may find various tables of different foods to snack on. The food was very flavorful and the bartender did a great job on the drinks! I wish the décor was a bit more modern on the inside, because it sometimes felt like we were in grandpa's library but I guess that's the vibe the bride/groom wanted since no changes were made and they had almost no decorations. BIG plus: the entrees came out all at once so you don't have that horrendous buffet line that cheapens any big event. read more

The drive into the mansion is very nice and pulling upto it made me feel like Bruce Wayne lol Came here for a friends wedding during a rainy day, so i think there was a lot of potential in the place we didn't get to experience. The inside was a bit old fashioned for my taste, but if your into the old timey interiors this place is a true winner. They had tons of rooms to allow you to serve and setup multiple food stations and most importantly the place had numerous bar areas, so you could stay thirsty my friends. The main hall was large and beautifully lit, and had plenty of space to allow you to decorate or do whatever your heart desired I'm a sucker for outside patios, and this one was breathtaking with acres upon acres of open space, leading to the water. Overall great venue, nice staff and nice looking place read more

My husband and I were married on May 18, 2019. Miriam was an absolute delight and was amazing to work with. She answered every. single. question I had, at any time of day! The day of the wedding came and the day worked out FLAWLESSLY, with no stone unturned. The bridal attendant, Catherine, was wonderful and made sure both bridal parties needed anything. Steve ran the day impeccably! Always making sure we were doing okay, as well as my parents. Everyone raved how great the food was and what a great time they had. We cannot say enough good things about Miriam, Catherine + Steve and cannot thank them enough for making our wedding day so special! read more

Was at a wedding reception at the Bourne Mansion on 10/23/21. It was one of the best receptions I have ever been to. The venue is a magnificently maintained historical Long Island mansion that has been kept true to its original character. It is located right on the south shore with amazing views of the ocean. The staff were superb and responded to every request and question with a smile and attentiveness regardless of whether it was their assigned table or area. The GM Steve was involved and continuously ensured everything was running well and that guests were accommodated. The food was beyond excellent and the rigatoni bolognese was the best I've ever had (and I'm a real foodie); wish I had their recipe! If you need a magnificent venue for a function this IS the place to be!! It doesn't get any better :-)) read more

This mansion was an incredible place for a wedding. My best friend had her reception here and they did such an incredible job. The bridal parties had their own suites to get ready in and just relax. The sophistication of the mansion helped make this night to feel magical and memorable. They make it feel as though it is an old mansion with a new twist. You can feel the history with in the house and the rooms, but can see how everything is well-maintained. This is an incredible place to get married or host an event and I would recommend it to everyone. It has an incredible view overlooking the bay and is a perfect spot for a photo opportunity. read more

Came here for my friend's wedding this past weekend. Bourne Mansion is part of St. John's campus and it's really beautiful. It's close by the water so the whole charm of it is that you get to take your date/significant other out by the water to enjoy a nice stroll throughout the evening. If it wasn't so cold out that night, I'm sure more people would've been outside. The acoustics were ok in the main hall for the band and the entire time I was there, it just reminded me of Animal House. lol That in itself is a great feeling especially with my group of friends. read more

Bourne....more perfect than even I, Mother of the Bride, could have dreamed. When we arrived a couple of hours ahead to take the photos, Steve met with us, the bride, groom, family and bridal party and gave us the game plan. We immediately knew we were in good hands! The whole staff, shout out to the bridal attendant- Jennifer, was amazing! Thinking of a 'day of' event planner: no need. Steve is a pro and the warm and welcoming staff made us all relax! The food by all accounts of the guests was delicious and plentiful. I hope I'm invited back as a guest some time soon to try it all personally. Some of the guests thought the happy hour was the dinner. From beautifully carved meats, pasta bar, cheese towers, raw bar, and passed appetizers, it couldn't have been better. Dinner was awesome, too and the servers fabulous! Many guests said it was the prettiest venue & best food at a wedding, even before the after party snacks came out, so good!. Through it all was Steve with a careful watchful eye making sure everyone was delighted. And they were! Thank you Steve and staff! read more

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My Son and Daughter-in- Law got married here on March 1, 2014 and everything about their wedding exceeded our expectations 100 fold. Everything from the wedding ceremony to the hot pretzels being served as we left the Mansion that evening gave us such joy. For that I wish to thank Steve and his staff who ran the the whole evening perfectly. We all were able to relax and enjoy the wedding knowing we were in good, caring hands.. The Bourne Mansion itself is exquisite. Its warmth, charm, and class made our guests feel special being there. The cocktail hour was beautifully set in a candle-lit atmosphere. Every station decorated lovely. The food and drinks was excellent. The martini bar a big hit! Our guests raved about all of it., especially the filet mignon-cooked to perfection!. The ballroom is stunning with its high ceiling and balcony. The acoustics were a concern for my son, but the music sounded just great. I have a minor complaint, if any guests do arrive early there needs to be someone on staff specifically assigned to the task of showing them to the coat check and to a place where they sit. Besides that Steve and his staff were warm, friendly and very accommodating. I highly reccomend the Bourne Mansion for your wedding venue if you want your day to be perfect and your guests to feel loved & appreciated read more

Went to a wedding Saturday night. Service staff=great! Food=great! Decor and view=spectacular! Highly recommend for any occasion. read more

I truly cannot put into words how absolutely overjoyed my husband and I were that we picked the Bourne Mansion for our wedding! It was truly an experience like no other. When we first met Miriam she told us it was going to be a fairytale wedding and she was RIGHT. every. single. detail. was just perfect I couldn't ask for anything more. From the moment my husband and I arrived to take pictures with Steve greeting us at the entrance with two glasses of champagne to watching our guest's reactions as they walked into the venue, it was just out of this world. Working with Miriam leading up to our wedding was an absolute joy and she was so responsive and helpful throughout the entire process. Steve was a BLAST and kept the show running smoothly all day. If there were any issues behind the scenes we would have zero idea because Steve was on top of everything. The food was out of this world. Appetizers like chicken and waffles and mini lobster rolls completely knocked it out of the park and the dinner and drinks were just phenomenal. The entire staff was friendly and professional and the venue is obviously breathtaking. I can't believe how lucky we were to have our wedding at the Bourne Mansion and I truly cannot recommend it highly enough. read more

Everything about Bourne Mansion was so spectacular I had to leave a review. I was the photographer for a wedding here a while back. I must say, I've shot at countless locations but this one produced some of the most gorgeous photographs. To have a beautiful, expansive ballroom that wasn't just an extension that reads as an afterthought like many other venues, but one that has the same essence as the rest of the mansion was wonderful. The grounds are neatly kept and the venue pristine. Gorgeous backdrops and beautifully decorated rooms for photographs around every corner. The food was delicious and the staff kind and professional through and through. 5 star experience, I look forward to photographing future events here. read more

Bourne Mansion - John Warren Wright Studios - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Oakdale, New York

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Nice view out back however the building is cheap. Roof falling off, tinyass doorways that are not wheelchair friendly. The ramps are scattered and the ac is for shit, my chair was falling apart and the soda syrup tasted like it was expired since the year of the flood read more

Attending a wedding for a friend at the Bourne Mansion and was in the bridal party. It is an absolutely stunning venue (a historic old mansion), food was delicious, and excellent service. The Maitre D' Steve was very friendly and seemed to run things perfectly. We really enjoyed our night and hope to be able to return for more weddings! read more

When the Father of the groom hears comments like - it was the best wedding I ever attended. That covers it! The food , service and venue location are top notch. Working with Miriam and Steve was a pleasure. read more

Lessing's venue ? Food allergies ? HEADS UP !! In our family, as in many others, there are some severe food allergies that need to be managed carefully, as ingestion or those allergens can quite be literally life threatening. Having experienced hard lessons, we have learned to become extremely careful and thorough in all of our interactions with restaurant staff, catering facilities, etc., we've come to realize that it's essential to do our homework, and THEIR homework to avoid serious complications from exposure. Accordingly, when booking our daughters wedding, at the Bourne Mansion in Oakdale, one of Lessing's premier venues, we took great pains to ensure that shell fish, peanut and gluten intolerance issues were clearly communicated to the catering sales staff, and the catering managers. This was done repeatedly, both face to face, and in written correspondences. Assurances were given, including a specific promise that my wife, who has a condition called celiac (gluten intolerance that triggers a severe auto-immune response when exposed) would have nothing to worry about. As mother of the bride, she would be assigned specific wait staff that would know about her condition, and would hand deliver to her only those items which were safe for her to consume. We were given those assurance DIRECTLY by the catering manager, in the presence of the sales manager and senior wait staff manager. They expressed great confidence in their ability to make certain that there would be no problem. Suffice it to say, their confidence in themselves was undeserved. As the wedding ceremony concluded and the cocktail hour began, my wife was given our d'oeuvres that were not safe for her. Not even close. She was given them by the head wait staff manager, and when questioned about whether these were safe for someone with celiac (are they REALLY gluten free) my wife was given every assurance and confidently consumed what she was given and continued greeting her guests at our daughters wedding. Within a few minutes, we knew a mistake had been made. A few minutes later, my wife who was sadly all too familiar with what would come next, retreated to the suite reserved for the bridal party where she spent the next three hours of our daughters wedding, being violently ill. We were understandably concerned for her health, and happily she rebounded after a few hours and was able to return to the reception for the last few minutes of our daughters wedding. She missed most of it. I missed a lot of it, as did other family members (several of whom are medical professionals) who were helping look after her. We demanded an explanation as to HOW COULD THIS HAVE HAPPENED, and never received one. They couldn't explain it, were apologetic of course, but offered no explanation and no compensation. They even went so far as to tell my wife, a women who just missed most of her daughters wedding reception because of THEIR clear neglect, that the contract we signed with them holds them harmless, so any civil action we might pursue would be for naught. To review: o We communicated the concerns and the problem and the severity of same. o They assured us there would be no problem - this is their business and they know their craft o They went so far as to SPECIFICALLY assign wait staff directly dedicated to the mother of the bride to ensure nothing went wrong. o Something went horribly wrong. o Their response - sorry, things happen, get over it. This also wasn't an isolated experience. Since our daughters wedding, we have been guests at other affairs hosted at Lessing's managed venues and have experienced problems ourselves, or have learned of others who had similar experiences. None as severe as that experienced at our daughters wedding, but bad enough that people affected had to leave the affair. What venues ? o Three Village Inn - Stony Brook NY o The View - Oakdale NY o Crest Hollow Country Club - Woodbury NY ... all managed by Lessing's. It's been almost a year since our daughters wedding - any it really was a beautiful venue and a beautiful ceremony, but sadly, my wife missed most of the reception, as did those that were trying to help look after her. Mistakes happen, we realize, but their arrogance and the fact that their sloppiness with such serious issues is apparently chronic, has caused us to consider contacting a personal injury lawyer. The contract language may well provide them some protections, but the flagrant and chronic nature of their unprofessional and unsafe contact may be serious enough to pierce the veil. We shall see. read more

What a disappointment. This is the second time I've been to an event at the Bourne Mansion. Both times I didn't eat the main course. This time after asking for my steak well done. I was given raw steak on two occasions. My wife had a bone in her chicken. And they refused to give us any more bread. At least we could eat that. The manager a bald man. Tall. Angry looking believe his name is Steve. Was constantly yelling at the servers. Being loud and aggressive body language. If it was my wedding I wouldn't want to see that in my video. I observed him come to our table. Introduce himself and then proceed to ignore us as we did not eat anything placed in front of us. I observed him yelling at the bridal attendant while the couple was dancing their first dance. And telling a waitress to hurry the "f" up. He doesn't like his job. And it's obvious. The service is awful. A large event with at least 18 tables. And six servers take the plates one by one to the tables. If your the last table your screwed. The food is cold and your just annoyed. If your table 1. Your eating first and waiting for the last table. It's for the look of the service. But honestly I just want my food. Then they hold it up and place it in some orchestrated fashion which is completely useless when it's late and your starving already. Then the food is awful and you have to beg for bread or even for it to be reheated. Forget the fact that there is a person grabbing your glasses. Forks and plates the second you appear to be done. Even if your not. I finally said when he grabbed yet another glass from me. I drink the ice. Leave it. It's a beautiful place but the food and service just ruin it for you. The excuse of my waiter of the bad food. Well it's open bar. Too bad I don't drink. read more

Bourne Mansion - Thank you Steve the manager for my well done steak. This is the second one. Didn't eat. - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Oakdale, New York