Can't say enough good things!
Our wedding on July 13, 2024, was truly unforgettable, and we can’t say enough good things about the day. We searched all over Long Island for a venue that would stand out from the rest, and that search led us to Bourne Mansion. From the moment we booked in October 2023, everything ran smoothly. If you’re a bride who feels the weight of making sure every detail is perfect, you’re in great hands with Miriam and her team. They guide you through every step of the planning process with frequent check-ins, vendor recommendations, and invaluable advice.
When it came time to select our menu, we were blown away by everything at the tasting and had trouble choosing. Miriam's expert guidance helped us make those big decisions with confidence. Steve, our Maitre D, was exceptional—professional, fun, and on top of every detail. He and Nicolette, our bridal attendant, were always nearby to ensure everything went off without a hitch. The food was delicious, the drinks were flowing, and there was never a line at the bar. Our guests couldn’t stop raving about the day, and we are so grateful we chose Bourne Mansion as our wedding venue. Highly highly recommend this venue!!
Alex
We had the most magical wedding experience at the Bourne Mansion on 5/2/25 ! From start to finish, every detail was handled with such care and elegance, making our special day truly unforgettable. The mansion’s historic charm and beautiful grounds provided the perfect backdrop for our reception, leaving our guests in awe. The food was absolutely phenomenal—each dish was delicious and beautifully presented, receiving rave reviews from all our guests. It truly elevated the entire celebration. A heartfelt thank you to Miriam, whose professionalism, kindness, and attention to detail went above and beyond. Miriam made the planning process smooth and enjoyable, always answering our questions promptly and ensuring that everything ran perfectly on the big day. Her support truly made all the difference. We couldn’t have asked for a better venue or a more dedicated coordinator. If you’re looking for a stunning location with exceptional service, the Bourne Mansion and Miriam are the perfect choice!
Stefanie H
Dear Steve,
Before Michelle and I head off to our honeymoon, we wanted to send you a sincere “thank you” for making our dream wedding a reality. In the weeks leading into the Big Day, you made the entire planning process as easy for us as you could. And from the moment we walked into the Bourne Mansion, you were there to guide us through the entire night. The Mansion was set up beautifully, and no detail was overlooked. We were so impressed with the organization and execution of the night. Our guests were all blown away by the beautiful venue, perfectly groomed grounds, and amazing food (in fact, several guests had mistaken the Cocktail hour for the main dinner!).
Most importantly, you made us feel like we had so much time. We’ve always been told that the night would be over in the blink of an eye, that we’d never get to eat anything, and we’d never be able to visit every table. But you and your team have perfected the timing. We had plenty of time to dance all night, eat dinner (all 3 entrees!), and still visit all 17 tables to thank our guests for coming. You made us feel like royalty – personally delivering our drink of choice to us on the dance, along with ice water, and a damp towel to cool us off. We had read reviews online about how great Steve was, but even those reviews don’t do you justice.
So thank you, Steve. Our wedding wouldn’t have been nearly as perfect without the attention, support, and direction that you gave us on Friday evening.
Sincerely,
Andrew and Michelle
Michelle & Andrew
Dear Steve,
Magic! If challenged to define in one word, last week’s wedding of our daughter Marissa and son-in-law Noah at the Bourne Mansion this would be it. You and the Lessings’s Organization helped make our celebration one which everyone who was there said was “amazing!”
Working with you was a true delight. We felt totally confident in your command of the day’s flow in everything from getting the ceremony “just right” to getting us fed first so that we could make the rounds to personally greet each of our guests. You also worked terrifically with our wedding officiant and our band to bring a seamless flow to the day.
It has also occurred to us that you have this other wonderful skill set that probably often doesn’t get the attention it deserves. You so well managed the intricate ballet of getting two hundred-fifty people comfortably seated for ceremony, “toasted” afterwards, happily served at multiple bars throughout the entire party, and well fed at cocktail hour and again at dinner. We were quite amazed! Many of our guests - including a band’s music director, the owners of an entertainment-D.J business, and a P.R. director for a large corporation who does a lot of events - commented about what a terrific maitre’d we had. We didn’t have to be told . . . we know we had the best and appreciate that fact immensely!
Working with you, your assistant, Fegge, Ben Nierenberg (who came through with promised facility improvements that exceeded expectations), Jason Henry (who was so helpful and supportive), and Neal in your office has been a wonderful experience. While we would imagine managing party after party can after a while make them seem mundane, throughout ours you gave ours your all. You and the entire Lessing’s Organization should take pride in the wonderful way you make folks special occasions extra special!
Marissa & Noah
Dear Mr. Melita,
We could write a novel about all of the great things that you and your team did to bring a "fairy tale" reception in a "fairy tale" setting to Michael and Dana's wedding day, but a simple and heartfelt "THANK YOU" sums it all up!
Your attention to detail, coordination, presentation, and concern for all of our guests was over the top. This is true for every one of your staff members we came into contact with.
We also cannot say enough about the quality of food and the service that your team provided. Our guests are still raving about it!
Lastly, we can't thank you enough for turning what could have been a very stressful situation for my wife, Anna, after losing her diamond bracelet, into another "memorable moment"! While she was still being overcome with both the agony of losing it to the thrill of your coming up with it, I acted on her behalf by showing my "feminine side" and giving you a kiss. Believe me, it was worth it! Unfortunately, our friends caught the moment on camera and I will be forever explaining it!
Again, on behalf of Michael and Dana, my wife Anne, our friends and relatives who traveled all the way from Massachusetts, Colorado, Dominican Republic, and Baltimore, we sincerely thank you for making this day a most memorable and happy one. We would recommend Lessing's and Steve's team to anyone and everyone with a resounding "nobody better!"
Sincerely,
Michael and Anne Wanyo
Michael & Anne Wanyo
Dear Steve,
I am so sorry I didn’t write to you sooner, but I went away shortly after the wedding to recuperate. I want to personally thank you for the amazing wedding my daughter and son-in-law had at the Bourne Mansion, this past July 3rd.
. Selecting just the right venue for their special day was not an easy task. My daughter decided from the very beginning that she did not want to use a traditional catering hall which
typically has “glass entrance doors, mirrored walls and marble floors.” She wanted “something
different.” After looking at numerous places we discovered the Bourne Mansion. As we walked through the rooms, we fell in love with the charming decor, the comforting atmosphere and the spectacular grounds. From the moment we met Ben we felt like we were in good hands. He was a pleasure to deal with from the beginning and very reassuring about the kind of wedding we could expect from Lessing’s.
Even though we absolutely loved the setting, I was very skeptical about what the food and the service would be like. We live in Brooklyn and we didn’t know anything about the place or
anyone else who had even heard of the Bourne Mansion. While we were very satisfied with the food service at Timber Point for the Bridal Expo and the food tasting Melissa and Joey went to shortly prior to the wedding, I was very worried what the food and the service would be like the day of th wedding. Knowing the majority of our guests were going to be traveling a long distance, I wanted everyone to feel it was really worth the trip.
Needles to say we were not disappointed at all. The service, the ambience, the presentation of the food, the quantity and the taste of the food exceeded our expectations. Your staff was phenomenal. Each and everyone of tham were accommodating, eager to please, polite, helpful and courteous. the entire staff, including yourself, truly catered to us and made us fee like you really cared. My daughter grew up in a home where my husband and I always entertained family and friends. She hoped having her wedding at the Bourne Mansion would feel like it was our home for the day. Here dream became a reality.
We had all the comforts of home and thanks to you and your staff it was a huge success. All of our family and friends are still raving about the wedding and how much they enjoyed everything. I would highly recommend the Bourne Mansion for any special event.
I can’t thank you enough for the role you played at the wedding. I never realized how important the maitre d’ is at an affair. You are truly amazing. You are so calm, organized, confident and very professional. You had everything under control even the nervous “mother of the bride.” Even though I was very happy about the wedding, it was a very difficult day for me and my
daughters. My husband passed away less than 2 years ago, and having this wedding without him by my side was very hard and lonely. You may not realize it, but you made me feel so much better because of the way you handled every aspect of the wedding. You made me feel like I had
someone I could depend on throughout the affair.
I am convinced this wedding would not have been as successful as it was without you and and our expertise. You and your staff made us all feel important and it was very comforting to know you were there to make sure everything went smoothly and that everyone, especially the bride and groom, was really enjoying the wedding. I hope Lessing’s appreciates you. They are very fortunate to have you.
Thank you again for your personal touch, your advice and for your patience. It was a
pleasure meeting you. I can only hope that I will be invited to the Bourne Mansion as a guest in the near future.
Sincerely
Marie Pellegrino
Marie Pellegrino
Steve and Ben,
I have been planning events in my career for the last 10 years for three major corporations I have worked for: Disney, Sprint and Pepsi. I was a bride who knew what I wanted and how I wanted it. The hardest part about planning any event is assuring you communicate your wants to the venue and vendors who has to execute and trusting them.
I handled my wedding as any other event I have planned in the past, and I tried not to get emotional attached. In all the events that I have done, this went by far the best, the smoothest, and all of my dreams were truly met, thanks to the two of you and the staff at Lessing’s.
From the moment Rob and I walked into the Bourne 14 months ago, we realized this was the venue of our dreams. An old mansion, the nostalgic smell, the rich colors, and the feeling that brought us back to generations before us. Ben guided us through everything and worked with us to assure we were able to get everything we wanted with all the extras the Bourne had to offer. He was like our miracle worker. Less than a week before the wedding, we met with Steve, who was going to assure everything we setup with Ben was going to be executed. Robert and I had 18 boxes of stuff, from pumpkin place cards, key chains for the valets, candies throughout the mansion, menus, table numbers, and pictures. Oh and those apple pies favors there were dropped off the day before. My job at this point was to trust, god was that hard.
We walked into the mansion on our wedding day, Steve was like our personal bodyguard. He was more attentive to both rob and I more than we could even imagine. He helped us when we were seating. He told us when to eat. He handled a lot of out-0f-control kids' and he did everything with a smile. We used the Bourne house florist, and when I saw the room come together with all my touches, the lighting and the florist Ben gave us, a tear came to my eye. It was more beautiful than I ever dreamed.
My guests are still talking how this was the best wedding ever and I truly know they aren't just saying that. From the food to the service to ambiance it was magically. Rob and I look at each and know as much I would like to take credit for everything, I can only say we couldn't have done it without the staff at the Bourne and the vendors they recommended. Any bride and groom would be crazy not to have their wedding there. It is the most unique, well-put-together venue on Long Island.
Andrea & Robert
Andrea & Robert