Availability and Booking: 

How do I find your Wedding Pricing Guide?    Simply complete the basic form on our website under the ‘Weddings & Events’ tab and you will automatically receive an email with our PDF.

What are the food and beverage costs and options?    When you complete the form mentioned above, you will receive a 2nd email containing the catering menus.  Or, simply request it and we can email it to you!  They are amazing and are below other caterer’s cost that are of equal quality and content!  Furthermore, there are many options to choose from so you can customize your way!

What dates are available?    To get the most current availability, please go to our website under the ‘Weddings & Events’ tab.

How far in advance can the venue be reserved?    30 months

How does the booking process work?    We have streamlined this process to make it very simple and user-friendly.   Once you let us know you’re ready to move forward, you will receive an email with a link to book.  You will get to choose your options, sign the contracts, view your invoice and pay your deposit all in one smooth process.

Capacity and Accessibility: 

How many guests can the venue accommodate? 

175 guest capacity.  Inviting, say, 190 will often end up around this number assuming a 90% RSVP rate.

200 guest capacity:  Allowed with rental of portable restroom trailer, shuttle service for 50+ guests and rental of any tables and chairs needed to accommodate more than 175.

Is there a minimum guest count?   Yes, our minimum guest count is 50.

What time can events begin and end?    Events (ceremony and reception) can begin as early as 1pm and must be limited to 8 total hours. Music must end by 10pm and all guests not registered to stay in the home (16 max) must vacate the property prior to 11PM.

Is the venue accessible to guests with disabilities?   Yes, the event center main floor is all one level and has ADA Compliant restrooms.  Note, however, that the bridal prep suite is upstairs.

What time can my vendors arrive to start setting up?    Vendors are welcome to arrive at 7 am on the day of your event (10:30am for Sunday weddings).  PLEASE NOTE, all vendor pick-ups must occur by your check-out time.  Prior day access may be available with a signed addendum and additional charge…inquire within.

What are my access times?

Use of the downstairs of Event Building from 7am until 11pm the day of your event (10am-11pm for Sunday weddings).  Limited  to 25 people until ceremony start time.

Use of the upstairs Suite of Event Building from 7am to ceremony the day of your event for up to an additional 25 people (9am- ceremony for Sunday weddings).  

Use of the Event Building from 7am to 9am Sunday (Monday for Sunday weddings) for item removal and clean up.

Use of the event building at any other times or for any other uses (rehearsal dinner, extended set-up time, etc) requires contract addendum. If signed and purchased, you can also add:

A) Use of the downstairs of Event Building from 9am to 4pm on Friday (Weekend Wedding Experiences only) for set up and decorating

B) Event space rental to host a Rehearsal Dinner and/or Meet and Greet day before your event from 4pm until 9pm.  This is for the Weekend Wedding Experience only.

C) New:  The addition of a Monday brunch is being offered for Sunday weddings!

Pricing and Payments:

What is the venue rental fee and what is included?    We offer various packages depending on time of year, day of week, etc.   We recommend downloading our Wedding Pricing Guide from our website for all details and options.

Are there any additional fees (e.g., service fees, administrative fees, etc)?   We are very focused on avoiding hidden costs and fees.  All costs associated with your event are straight forward and are spelled out clearly in the Wedding Pricing Guide and your Contract.

What is the payment structure?    Amounts vary slightly based on year but we require 10% to book your event with additional payments at the 12-month, 9-month and 6-month marks from the date of your event.

What forms of payment do you accept?  Check, ACH (1.5%) or Credit Card (3%)

Do you require wedding insurance?   Yes, we will provide you with a link that leads you to a simple form to complete…or simply find an option online!  The cost is typically around $170-$190.

Catering

Can I hire my own caterer?    We have an exclusive caterer to assure your weekend goes flawless and leaves your guests talking for years!  They will not only provide a top-notch food and beverage experience, but will also handle all of your linens, silverware, plates, glassware and more!  The entire staff is phenomenal!

Amenities:

• • We include almost EVERYTHING!  
  • 1,250 square foot GORGEOUS suite for hair and make-up the day of your event.  The area has an amazing lakeview, multiple mirrors and prep areas, lounging areas, minifridge/coffee bar, Bluetooth music box, restroom and more!
  • 175 ceremony chairs (white resin slatted) plus 175 reception chairs (white resin, padded)
  • 22 round tables for reception.  These are 60” foldable, white tables that comfortably fit 8 guests.
  • 2 wine barrels and a butcher block top.  This can be used as a gift table, cake table, etc. (for indoor use only).
  • 2 additional interior and 4 exterior wine barrels for décor or table bases.
  • A beautiful wine stave easel for your entrance/greeting sign!
  • Dance Floor.  This stays in place year-round and is located centrally in the backside of the ballroom and in front of the DJ station.  It is black and is 21’ x 18’ in size.
  • Built-in bar.  No need to rent a bar top!  We have a built-in bar with refrigeration, sinks, storage and more.  Our caterer will staff it for you and will provide cups, ice, mixers and whatever beverages you all agree upon!
  • Exterior bar used for cocktail hour following ceremony and up until 7pm.
  • Plates, silverware, glassware, etc. are part of your package with our exclusive caterer and they can also handle all linens for you if desired!
  • Two 75” tv’s and a 50” TV for slide shows (able to be synced from a laptop)
    

What is your restroom situation?    We have 9 total restrooms on the estate… 2 on the main floor of the event center, 1 in the suite of the event center, two portable restroom outside for convenience and four in the main house (the latter only accessible to the 16 lodging guests).

Are the ballroom and suite air-conditioned/heated?    ABSOLUTELY!  We have AC throughout including in the ballroom, suite, foyer, restrooms and caterer’s prep and bar areas.  For heat, not only do we have forced heat throughout, but we also have in-floor radiant heat in our ballroom for extra comfort.

Tours:

How do we schedule a tour with you?    You can book directly on the calendar on our website or simply reach out to us directly through our portal.

If we book with you, are we able to come tour the property a 2nd or even 3rd time?   We fully understand the desire to see the space to plan, show family and friends and to, well, just visualize your big day. That’s why we offer at least monthly ‘open houses’ where you can come walk through each time if you’d like!   This also allows us to keep our calendar open for first time tours so they can also get that so important one-on-one treatment like you did.

We live out of town but really want to tour your venue. What should we do?   We have a Matterport of the house on our website where you can virtually walk through the entire space. We also have video and detailed pictures of the event space that has proven very beneficial.  A Matterport for the event space is forthcoming.   If you choose, you can have your initial tour as a virtual tour live with one of us!  We HIGHLY recommend an in-tour person at your earliest convenience...we know our pictures online are great but CONSTANTLY hear is so much better in person! 

Parking: 

Is there ample parking available?   Yes!  We have space for roughly 8 cars in the house driveway (for the lodging guests), 50 spaces in the main gravel parking lot around the event center and another 50 in the grass overflow parking area.  Note, the grass lot should not be used during heavy wet periods.  We also require our 3rd party vendors to use the overflow lot at all times when possible.

Do you require a shuttle?    Only for weddings seeking approval for over our 175 limit.  However, we strongly suggest carpooling and/or shuttle services for all-sized events.  This is for safety, convenience and, well, it creates a more fun, memorable experience!

Ceremony Details:

Is there a dedicated ceremony space?   Yes, there is a gorgeous, lake-view lawn area below the event building that measures roughly 50’ x 150’ and is your ‘blank canvas’ to set up the ceremony as you’d like.  Add yard games like bocce, bag toss, etc. or even add a lower outdoor bar area with high top tables spread throughout the lawn…its all your choice!  

For the ceremony, are chairs provided in addition to the reception chairs or will we need to rent them?    We provide all ceremony chairs and the arbor.  These are all stored neatly in a storage unit directly next to the ceremony lawn for your convenience.  Some venues charge as much as $2,200 for a set up service but we have found our groups choose to handle this piece and arrange precisely to their liking.  

If we are planning on the ceremony outdoors then moving indoors for the reception, what would the back-up rain plan be?    This is entirely up to you but most hosts set up the ceremony chairs inside the building or simply use the reception seating that would already be in place. A tent set up in the lawn is another excellent option.  We encourage you to work with your planner on these details and how they would be handled.

Rehearsal Dinners:

Do you allow rehearsal dinners on site and what is the maximum capacity?   Yes, absolutely…we encourage them!   We allow up to 125 guests as well!  Rehearsal Dinners only apply to our Weekend Wedding Experience option.  Our ceremony rehearsals are free and our rehearsal dinners require an addendum and fee.

Do I need to decide if we’re hosting a rehearsal dinner when we book?    Not at all.  This can be added down the road but you’ll want to provide adequate time to plan accordingly with our caterer.

Do the Rehearsal Dinners need to be catered?    Yes, we require our exclusive caterer, Timber Stone, to help create a wonderful evening with you!

What hours can we host a rehearsal dinner?    You can have use of the facility for up to 4 hours and all dinners must be completed by 9pm.  

Can we also host a Meet and Greet for those arriving in town that evening?    Yes.  The same rules above apply for food/beverage, capacity, duration and end times.

Do I need our event insurance to cover this event as well?    Yes, absolutely.  This is an easy process that can be done while obtaining the insurance for ceremony and reception…just add the extra day!

Set-up and Clean-Up

Reception/Ball Room:

For set up, let us know how many tables and chairs you need left out and we will have them out and ready.  The caterer will take care of the table cloths and, if requested, the table settings.  You then can provide center pieces and decorate at will!  The facility and grounds have considerable natural beauty already so most choose to have minimal decorating and set up!  For tear down, you can leave all of the ballroom tables and chairs in place!

For clean-up, the caterer will take care of everything related to table settings, food, bar, etc.   They will also do a quick sweep their ballroom and bar areas.  You are asked to simply make sure all of your belongings and decorations are fully removed prior to checkout time and trash and items are picked up outside on the grounds.  Any excessive messes or spills must also be cleaned up.  Aka, the property must be left in ‘broom-clean’ condition. 

 All rented furniture/items must be removed from the property prior to 9am (10am for Sunday weddings).  

For the hair and make-up suite, we ask that ALL personal belongings and excess trash is removed prior to 11pm the night of your event.  

 Ceremony:

We provide the chairs and arbor in the storage near the ceremony site.  Your team can set those up in any fashion you desire.  Some negotiate that piece with their wedding coordinator or designate some family members or wedding party members to handle.  It doesn’t take long and we have a cart to assist!

For clean-up, we ask that you return all chairs, arbor and anything else used to their original location and stacked neatly and orderly.  If there is a wedding the next day it sometimes makes sense to leave some or all of the chairs and arbor out, but this should be approved by management first. 

Other:

Should I hire a wedding planner?    We highly encourage a professional wedding planner to enhance your experience and make sure your day goes smoothly! We have great options for you…just ask!  And, it’s always wise to share these FAQ’s and your contract with them!

Can we serve our own alcohol?    Per the NYS Liquor Authority, all alcohol must be served with proper licensing. We require this to be through our exclusive catering team. NO OUTSIDE ALCOHOL IS ALLOWED IN THE EVENT CENTER AND ON THE EVENT CENTER GROUNDS AT ANY TIME.

Is smoking allowed?    Smoking is allowed on the grounds, but disposal of all cigarettes, cigars, etc. must be made in containers. Smoking is prohibited indoors.

Are there restrictions on using outside vendors, or do they have a preferred list?     We can provide you our vendor list that includes many great vendors used at the Manor House Estate in the past. There are many more out there you are free to use as well!  As noted, though, all food and alcohol must go through our caterer with the exception of the wedding cake and other possible dessert options.

Are fireworks allowed?    Fireworks, Chinese Lanterns, hot sparklers, cold sparklers, etc. are Absolutely forbidden. Damage deposit will not be refunded and fines may apply.

What is your open flame policy?    You can have candles on the tables if they are enclosed in glass with a 2” or less flame. Any other flames within the building or on the grounds are strictly prohibited.

Do you offer sound equipment?     We do have two large speakers mounted on the back wall that you are free to Bluetooth into. To ensure the best possible sound quality, we do recommend working with your preferred DJ or band. They can also help coordinate the flow of the evening with a schedule of your events in hand (ie, announcing of wedding party, first dance, cake-cutting, etc.).  We also have a PA system that can be used for outdoor ceremonies (additional charge).

Do you offer Sunday, Mid-Week or Offseason Weddings?    We offer all of the above for your convenience! Please see Wedding Pricing Guide for details.

Noise limitations    Music should cease no later than 10pm. All music must be at a respectable level and must be set up inside the ballroom.  Musicians or a modest volume speaker is allowed outside for the ceremony and cocktail hour (up to 7pm).

Lodging Options:

Ask us for a copy of our extensive vendor list!

What are lodging options in the area?    There are so many great options in the area for lodging...hotels/motels, endless Airbnbs, Quality Bed and Breakfasts and more!  Penn Yan, Hammondsport, Branchport, Watkins Glen...to name a few!

HOUSE-SPECIFIC FAQ’s (Lodging):

What are the check-in and check-out times?  Are they flexible?    Check in is 4pm on the date of your arrival and check out is 10am on the day of your departure.

We have an entire team involved in making the property in perfect shape for your wedding and for other wedding that precede and follow…lawn crew, landscapers, cleaners, maintenance, etc.   Due to the numerous schedules of others involved and our goal to satisfy all host’s expectations, we unfortunately cannot allow early check-ins or late-check outs.

How many guests can the venue accommodate?    16 is our maximum.  This does not include those under 2 years of age.  THIS MUST BE MET AT ALL TIMES AND ALL HOURS OF THE DAY DURING YOUR STAY.

Are fireworks allowed?    Fireworks, Chinese Lanterns, hot sparklers, cold sparklers etc. are Absolutely forbidden. Damage deposit will not be refunded if these occur and additional fines may apply.

Is smoking allowed?    Not in the home. Smoking is allowed on the grounds, but disposal of all cigarettes, cigars, etc. must be made in containers.

Is the home handicap accessible?    There are 3 steps into the home.  Once inside, the main floor has two bedrooms, a restroom, kitchen, living room and dining room

Is there ample parking available?    The house parking lot can fit 8 cars comfortably.  The event parking lot can be used as overflow if needed.

Are linens provided for the home?    Yes, all sheets, pillowcases, blankets, body towels, hand towels and washcloths are provided.

Are paper products provided for the home?    The kitchen and baths all have starter rolls. Guests will need to bring additional paper products.

Are pets allowed?    Pets unfortunately are not allowed in the home.

Are we allowed more than 16 overnight guests or visitors during the day?    16 is the limit.

Are event guests allowed use of the home?    Up to 16 lodging guests are allowed within the home and on the grounds of the home. All event guests must remain in the event area of the property.  A detailed map of both properties will be provided within your contract and on your portal.

What are the lodging check-in and check-out procedures?    We will reach out to you prior to your arrival for your 4 digit access code.

Are campers, tents or RV’s allowed?     Unfortunately, no campers, tents or RV’s are allowed.

Can we add additional nights?    Depending on which package you have chosen, additional nights may be available.  Please inquire within.