Weddingbee boards

Has anyone had a reception here or been to one? They're renovating, so it should be nice, but I am wondering about the food...

We originally wanted our wedding to be at the Bear Mountain Inn. When we went for a tour we were told that they were renovating but SHOULD be done by Sept 2010 (which was our 1st choice for a wedding month) and that when we booked the Inn we would also be holding a spot at the Overlook Lodge just in case they didn't get enough funding to finish the renovations. We crossed bear mountain inn off our list after seeing the lodge. The place looked like a nursing home and the food didn't look like anything special. I have heard better things about the food from the Bear mountain inn.

Bear Mountain does have an amazing ceremony site. You can have the ceremony in front of the old carousel. We saw pictures and it looked amazing.

I'm having my wedding at Bear Mountain Inn October 2, 2010.  I'm very nervous that it won't be ready in time.  The date keeps getting pushed back, they are telling me now 2010.  If it's done right it will be gorgeous, but I'm taking a huge chance!  Marisa, where did you decide to have your wedding.

Hi Ladies,

We went with the Overlook Lodge at Bear Mountain State Park. Not sure what you mean, meaghank, cause I didnt think it was very nursing home-ish...just simple with great natural surroundings. We're going to have the ceremony on the patio, most likely. I think with the right flowerrs, everything will be excellent. The coordinator, John, is amazingly detailed and organized and the prices are incredibly affordable. We had a huge tasting and I was more impressed with the entrees than the cocktail options, but I think we are going to kick in some more money and upgrade cocktail hour. We're renting out all of the stone cottages, which are also being rennovated, and having our family and friends stay there and in the lodge. I saw a rennovated room in the lodge and it was gorgeous. The bathroom had granite, the headboards were oak, and everything was rustically chic!

I think we're doing a bbg for a rehersal and a farewell breakfast the morning after the wedding. I am really excited - we're doing a summer camp like theme and I think everyone's going to have a blast. There's no sound ordinance or rules about rbinging in your own alcohol, so we're planning on having a wild after party as well...

mle - I can understand your concern, but I really wouldn't worry, they should be good to go with the Inn by !0/10!

Marisa,

Great to hear.  My parents went up there this weekend and we are all at ease after speaking with John.  I think it's going to be awesome!  Let me know who you are going to go with for flowers, I'm in need of a vendor for that.  Are they negotiating the bbq since you are having it on premise? 

Good luck planning!!!

mle0125 - isn't John awesome? I haven't talked to him about the BBQ thing, but I am assuming that it will probably be a bit less expensive for my family to coordinate it ourselves, I just need to find out if John can set up the logistics for me. We have a friend who owns a deli/butcher shop (sounds so Soprano's but we're so not), so he can probably get us some good stuff.

Not sure what I am doing with flowers, I am going to do some of it myself. Have you decided who's doing your hair and makeup?

Do you know if the catering is different at the Inn as opposed to the Lodge?

M

I haven't met John but my parents really liked him.  Said that he seemed very detail oriented and professional.  I was thinking of having a girl come to the lodge to do hair and makeup.  Catering is the same, they are on the hunt for an executive chef to oversee all food operations but have a chef for the lodge currently.  In the inn they are building a kitchen so I'm hoping all cooking will be done on premises.  You had a tasting?  How was it?  What was good?  I booked my wedding when another woman was catering director, she was horrible and didn't know anything!  John defininitely seems like a better fit.  Where are you going to have your after party?  In one of the lodges?  It is $100 I think to keep the bar open (cash bar) after the open bar...we were considering doing that. 

We aren't offering transportaion. Most of our family and friends are going to spend the night and we'll  have a brunch in the morning!

Same.  I'm not offering transportation either.  The rooms are really affordable and most of our guests will likely stay over.

NJACCOI -

What is the second floor of the inn?  I have the first floor booked which is the main reception room?  John never mentioned that the 2nd floor would be another venue site.

Hi everyone!  I am going to look at the Bear Mountain Inn next Friday, 12/11 to see it for a possible location.  I've been looking for a casual place where people can spend the weekend and play around (there is a zoo for kids, as well as the merry-go-round).  Does anyone have any updates on the status of the renovation?  Has it been pushed back any more? 

Good luck to all of you!

Hawaii2NewYork -

I am using reverend Sara for our officiant.  She isn't religious and has been great so far - do a search on ceremonies from the heart and you can probably find her webpage.

I'm using Sally Duvall for makeup.  She is awesome and will pretty much spend 6 hours doing makeup.  A little pricey but worth it.  Supposedly, opening of the 1st floor of the inn is still slotted for May.  I don't know if they've found a chef yet and I'm worried about the food!  For flowers, I'm using FlowerGirl in Valley Cottage.  Met with her and she totally understood what I was looking for and her stuff is amazing. 

Wow - John resigned? Who did you speak to?

Just so you know, when I visited in August, the Lodge was already complete. The Inn is what is not complete. The Inn is the larger venue.

I was reading poor reviews to and freaking out about my wedding, but the reveiws are from earlier this year, and they are still in the midst of their renovation and restaffing. So, I am trusting that it will go well.

M

Yeah, I just called and Michael is apparently going to call me back. When I called, I asked if the new chef had started and if all the hotel rooms had been renovated - the guy on the phone said "yes." so that made me feel a bit better. I think that once you talk to Michael, you should take a look. It's great since all the rooms have been renovated, so everyone can stay in one place, and the lodge has a beautiful view and got a  great face lift...I will keep you posted on my stuff, please do the same!

I've cancelled my wedding at Bear Mountain.  After a very troubling meeting to discuss my wedding I was left with little faith that 1. The Inn would be ready in time for a 10/2 wedding and 2. Management is competent.  I also noticed a comment that was put on facebook regarding the state not giving money that was promised and that opening of the inn will be delayed.  It was soon after deleted.  I was informed that they will be having Octoberfest and it would interfere with my ceremony.  Lots of drunk people and noise, just what someone wants for an intimate and special occasion.  Ridiculous.  During the planning process I was told by John that booking additional rooms incremental to the 20 blocked would not be a problem - I really wanted to get the individual lodges.  In the meeting the new mgr Michael said that all rooms have already been reserved to other guests.  Needless to say, finding all this out right when I was about to hand over the 50% check was troublesome.  In the end I decided I'd be happier and less stressed with my wedding anywhere but Bear Mountain.  When we left Bear Mountain we spoke with a construction employee and he also left us feeling like we'd be better off elsewhere.  Good luck to everyone with 2010 weddings! 

Laurendianna -

Here is Sally's website (she is amazing!).  I was fed so many lies by John and then Michael was just a jerk to be honest.  When you are spending $20k on a day you should get treated properely.  AND DEFINITELY not kept waiting an hour.  I'm so glad I was able to cancel and get my deposit back, we had the 1st catering manager I forget her name add a clause to contract.  If you aren't happy it isn't too late to change...we found a different venue for the same date and same price with better options.  Best of luck.

http://www.sally.xbuild.com/

Fellow Bee's I want to thank you for all your comments about Bear Mountain Inn, we just crossed that off our list of possiblities!  Thanks for saving us the headaches!!

Hi All,

I wanted to let everyone know that I had my wedding at Bear Mountain on June 5 at the Overlook Lodge and the day and Michael was AMAZING. Michael and his staff were attentive and wonderful. The food was the best that I have ever had at a wedding (and I am not saying that  because it was my own - nearly everyone of my guests gushed about the quality of the food), the weather and location was perfection and my farewell brunch the next morning was seriously to die for  - a huge assortment of goodies and high quality food, held privately in the cliff house with staff that were once again wonderful. I can't say enough positive things about my experience there.

I will admit that I was really nervous that everythin would blow - but I am happy to say that I was dead wrong. If anyone needs any help with their Bear Mountain wedding - please email me!