Vanderbilt Museum

"Eagle's Nest" William Vanderbilt II Former Estate

Holds ceremonies and receptions

5.0

Verified reviews from real couples

We had the absolute joy of working with Tiffany, Debbie, and Elizabeth for our wedding at the Vanderbilt, and from start to finish the experience was incredible. We first got engaged at the Vanderbilt, and the team went above and beyond to make it special right from the beginning — arranging a private visit and even a custom planetarium show complete with fake tickets and security support to help us navigate the estate. That magical experience set the tone, and it was an easy decision to host our wedding here. Throughout our two-year engagement, the team was consistently supportive, welcoming us for multiple site visits and making sure we felt comfortable and confident in our plans. They provided us with a fantastic list of preferred vendors, many of whom we chose to work with, and all of whom were extremely professional (Bleu Sparrow, Hometown Flower Co, Abigail Kirsch, Don Hwang). While the venue doesn’t have certain amenities (like a full kitchen), with the right vendors everything came together seamlessly. On the day itself, the Vanderbilt team truly shined — the staff, tour guides, and security were all so gracious and helpful. Security went the extra mile to shuttle guests and vendors around the estate in golf carts, and the on-site team leaned in to make sure everything flowed smoothly. Our guests could not stop raving about the setting — from the breathtaking lawn ceremony overlooking the bay, to cocktail hour in the courtyard, to a stunning reception under the tent. The estate’s beauty and history made for an unforgettable backdrop. The only consideration for couples is that events can’t begin until after 5pm (since the museum is open to the public during the day) and music must wrap by 10:30pm due to the town’s noise ordinance. That said, everything else about the experience was absolutely flawless, and we wouldn’t have changed a thing. We are so grateful to the Vanderbilt team for helping us create the wedding of our dreams. They're the kindest people you'll work with! If you’re looking for a truly unique, elegant, and memorable venue, this is it.

Alexander L.

5.0

August 10, 2024, we celebrated our wedding at the Vanderbilt museum. It was a day full of love, joy and memories that we will cherish forever. Debbie and Lisha were our angels at The Vanderbilt Museum sent from the heavens. They helped us so much throughout the process of the wedding. They were always attentive if we had any questions or concerns which made the wedding process less stressful. The Vanderbilt Museum is a beautiful location, a true gem in the tri-state area. The Vanderbilt's architecture is a blend of Spanish and Mediterranean Revival. On a large estate with breathtaking views and museum spaces, we couldn't recommend enough!!!! We love architecture, gardens and waterfront locations and from the first day we toured the property we couldn't believe that the location had all 3 pointers that we loved. Although Vanderbilt only provides the site itself, everything else must be brought in by vendors. They provide you with a reliable list of vendors you can get in touch with that know the property well, Including our caterer East End Catering, who greatly facilitated the planning process. Every single one of our guests was praising their dinner, which was outstanding. Overall it was truly a dream come true for us. Thank You Debbie & Lisha for an unforgettable wedding day and for being a beautiful part of our big day. -Luisa & David

Luisa Cristal A.

5.0

Catering primarily to weddings, The Vanderbilt Museum, or "Eagle's Nest," is a stunning Spanish revival mansion in Centerport, NY. It is a one-of-a-kind, magical wedding venue located on Long Island's North Shore or "Gold Coast." It was the former summer home of William Vanderbilt II, who resided there from 1910 -1944. The panoramic views of Northport Harbor are second to none, providing endless photo opportunities. The Vanderbilt Museum Courtyard boasts incredible and unique architecture and materials, and abuts continuous, open decorative gardens. There are two reflection pools overlooking the landscape and the Harbor. The 6000 square foot Celebration Tent sits upon what was once Mr. Vanderbilt's golf course, offering magnificent views and remarkable backdrops. The Tent is an ideal location for wedding receptions and larger celebrations of up to 250 guests, while the historic courtyard can be used for cocktail parties, in conjunction with the tent or seated dinners for up to 125 guests. The Rose Garden overlooks Northport Bay and features a reflecting pool fountain, historical columns, and decorative Samuel Yellin iron gates, and is an idyllic backdrop for photography. The Vanderbilt Museum hosts only one event a week, to ensure best-in-class service, each Saturday from mid-May to mid-October.

17+ years in business

Speaks English

Medium team (11-20 members)

Amenities + details

Amenities

Ceremony Area

Covered Outdoors Space

Dressing Room

Handicap Accessible

Outdoor Event Space

Reception Area

Ceremony Types

Civil Union

Commitment Ceremony

Elopement

Interfaith Ceremony

Non-Religious Ceremony

Religious Ceremony

Second Wedding

Vow Renewal Ceremony

Settings

Estate

Historic Venue

Museum

Tented

Venue Service Offerings

Rentals & Equipment

Any questions?

5.0

out of 5.0

9 reviews

Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.

Review Summary

This AI-generated summary is a snapshot of this vendor's ratings and feedback.

The Vanderbilt Museum is highly praised by multiple reviewers for its stunning grounds, historical charm, and impeccable service. Event coordinators like Tiffany, Debbie, and Lisha are commended for their professionalism and helpfulness throughout the planning process and on the wedding day. The venue is described as a gem in the tri-state area, offering a unique and elegant setting for unforgettable weddings, with guests appreciating the breathtaking views, seamless organization, and the ability to customize and personalize the event to create a dream wedding experience.

Search reviews

Alexander L

Highlighted review.

9/27/2025

We had the absolute joy of working with Tiffany, Debbie, and Elizabeth for our wedding at the Vanderbilt, and from start to finish the experience was incredible. We first got enga...

ged at the Vanderbilt, and the team went above and beyond to make it special right from the beginning — arranging a private visit and even a custom planetarium show complete with fake tickets and security support to help us navigate the estate. That magical experience set the tone, and it was an easy decision to host our wedding here. Throughout our two-year engagement, the team was consistently supportive, welcoming us for multiple site visits and making sure we felt comfortable and confident in our plans. They provided us with a fantastic list of preferred vendors, many of whom we chose to work with, and all of whom were extremely professional (Bleu Sparrow, Hometown Flower Co, Abigail Kirsch, Don Hwang). While the venue doesn’t have certain amenities (like a full kitchen), with the right vendors everything came together seamlessly. On the day itself, the Vanderbilt team truly shined — the staff, tour guides, and security were all so gracious and helpful. Security went the extra mile to shuttle guests and vendors around the estate in golf carts, and the on-site team leaned in to make sure everything flowed smoothly. Our guests could not stop raving about the setting — from the breathtaking lawn ceremony overlooking the bay, to cocktail hour in the courtyard, to a stunning reception under the tent. The estate’s beauty and history made for an unforgettable backdrop. The only consideration for couples is that events can’t begin until after 5pm (since the museum is open to the public during the day) and music must wrap by 10:30pm due to the town’s noise ordinance. That said, everything else about the experience was absolutely flawless, and we wouldn’t have changed a thing. We are so grateful to the Vanderbilt team for helping us create the wedding of our dreams. They're the kindest people you'll work with! If you’re looking for a truly unique, elegant, and memorable venue, this is it.

Luisa Cristal A

8/13/2025

August 10, 2024, we celebrated our wedding at the Vanderbilt museum. It was a day full of love, joy and memories that we will cherish forever. Debbie and Lisha were our angels at T...

he Vanderbilt Museum sent from the heavens. They helped us so much throughout the process of the wedding. They were always attentive if we had any questions or concerns which made the wedding process less stressful. The Vanderbilt Museum is a beautiful location, a true gem in the tri-state area. The Vanderbilt's architecture is a blend of Spanish and Mediterranean Revival. On a large estate with breathtaking views and museum spaces, we couldn't recommend enough!!!! We love architecture, gardens and waterfront locations and from the first day we toured the property we couldn't believe that the location had all 3 pointers that we loved. Although Vanderbilt only provides the site itself, everything else must be brought in by vendors. They provide you with a reliable list of vendors you can get in touch with that know the property well, Including our caterer East End Catering, who greatly facilitated the planning process. Every single one of our guests was praising their dinner, which was outstanding. Overall it was truly a dream come true for us. Thank You Debbie & Lisha for an unforgettable wedding day and for being a beautiful part of our big day. -Luisa & David

Any questions?

Nicole G

7/22/2025

The Vanderbilt Museum is a true gem in the tri-state area. From the moment we toured the property, my husband and I knew it was the one. We had always envisioned a European estate ...

feel for our wedding—and the Vanderbilt over-delivered. It doesn’t feel like a typical wedding venue. With so much variety across the grounds—from the celebration tent, to the courtyard, the stunning gardens, and the ocean views—it offers a level of beauty and charm that’s hard to find. We held our ceremony in late June 2025 on the Great Lawn, cocktail hour in the surrounding gardens, and our reception in the courtyard. While we understand this layout may no longer be available, it truly was beyond our wildest dreams. Our guests were blown away by the stunning property—so many told us they had no idea a place like this existed on Long Island. The staff was equally exceptional. Tiffany and Debbie, the Event & Site Coordinators, are pros who know the Vanderbilt inside and out. They were incredibly communicative, organized, and easy to work with. Although the Vanderbilt only provides the site itself and everything else must be brought in, they offer a list of trusted vendors who are very familiar with the property—including our caterer, East End Catering —which made the planning process so much smoother. The whole team but especially Tiffany and Debbie were amazing in the week leading up to the wedding and on the day itself. Tiffany made sure every detail was accounted for and helped organize our bridal party flawlessly. We are so grateful to have had our dream wedding at the Vanderbilt—and thankful to the weather gods for the beautiful day! If you're looking for a timeless, elegant, and one-of-a-kind venue, we can't recommend the Vanderbilt Museum highly enough.

Mary B

11/11/2024

10.7.23 was the best day of our lives at our wedding at the Vanderbilt Museum. When my husband and I got engaged in June of 2021, we began our search for our wedding venue right aw...

ay. We knew we wanted a “Gold Coast” vintage vibe, close to the water, and a historic mansion. We had toured many different venues but all were lacking in one or more of these areas, not to mention other venues were completely out of our price range. After a google search, we found the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum and Planetarium and quickly reached out to the event coordinator to set up a time to visit. From the moment we pulled into the parking lot with the large Eagles greeting us we knew the Vanderbilt was special. The views were incredible, the mansion was impressive, and the celebration tent where the reception would take place sold us on this venue. We weren’t afraid of a DIY venue where you bring in catering, decor, and rentals, which is what the Vanderbilt is. This aspect of the venue allowed us to completely customize our wedding and add personal touches. When we first signed our contract with the Vanderbilt in 2021 we had a different event coordinator. The current event coordinator, Lisha took over in March 2023. At first we were nervous that there was a switch in coordinators 7 months before our wedding but we knew we were in excellent hands with Lisha from the moment she set up a meeting with us to review our wedding and the vendors we had booked. Lisha was so hands on and made us feel so at ease during the months leading up to our wedding. She is a true professional and such an asset for the Vanderbilt. She answered all our questions, was so supportive, and really helped our vision come to life. The staff at the Vanderbilt were so understanding and allowed us to come before to store our decor and let us store it overnight. Three days before our wedding we had a problem with one of our vendors for the dance floor. Within minutes of the first phone call from the vendor, Lisha was on the phone communicating with us and the vendor, helping us to solve the issue. This communication continued as we worked with her and the staff to create a rain plan as showers were forecasted on the day of our wedding. Even without utilizing the courtyard for our cocktail hour, the tent served all purposes and was perfect and comfortable. We felt so much less stress knowing Lisha was there for support and was able to help us in all aspects of planning. Lisha and her staff made our wedding vision come true. The Vanderbilt was our dream venue and made our vintage wedding vision come to life. We are so appreciative of Lisha and the staff and would highly recommend the Vanderbilt!

Sophie F

9/26/2024

The Vanderbilt was the only venue we viewed, and once we did, we knew that was the only place we wanted to have our wedding. The grounds speak for themselves, they are truly show s...

topping. We had guests from all over the world and everyone thought they were in Europe. The staff, specifically Lisha and Debbie are incredibly kind, accommodating, warm, and knowledgeable. From the beginning, they were extremely communicative and professional, but also so friendly and a pleasure to work with. Throughout the whole process, I felt like I could honestly take a back seat, because I knew I was in the best hands. Lisha truly made our wedding day so seamless. It could not have been more perfect! You will not find another venue like the Vanderbilt on Long Island.

Nicole Z

9/11/2024

We had our wedding at Vanderbilt Museum in August and it was the best experience from start to finish! Debbie and Lisha were extremely helpful through the entire process - from the...

moment we toured, leading up to the wedding and of course day of we felt very supported. Lisha was our rock when it came down to planning and executing. She worked with our many vendors, taking the lead and coordinating them, problem solving and advocating for us! Our day would've not been the same without her - we couldn't rave enough about her!!! We had our ceremony on the water, cocktail hour in the gardens, and our reception in the courtyard. We got extremely lucky with the weather - it wasn't too hot or humid and the rain held out for most of the day. We had a bit of a rain delay before the reception, and although there is a tent on the property that we could've used we really wanted our reception in the courtyard. Ultimately, Lisha was able to work her magic!! She coordinated with our vendors to accommodate our guests indoor briefly, ensured our reception was exactly how we wanted, and even extended our reception a little to make up for the delay. The venue itself is absolutely stunning - it was truly a magical day. All of our guests felt transported to Europe. It's a unique venue and really has everything you could possibly ask for. We can't recommend enough!

ellie b

4/05/2024

I had my wedding at The Vanderbilt museum on 8/26/2023 and it was the most incredible day! The site itself is stunning, so even on the worst day it still would be a gorgeous venue....

I chose to do my wedding slightly different then most did at The Vanderbilt and Lisha was more than accommodating in helping to make it all come together! She is incredible and has great energy and truly wants you to have the best day. She goes above and beyond to help make your day as perfect as you would want it and help your vision come to light! She was incredibly responsive to any questions I had throughout the whole process. Also the other staff involved on the wedding day, such as the gold cart valet attendants were all great and everything seemed to go smoothly. There is nothing like this venue anywhere else on long island and all our friends and family felt like they took a trip to Europe! I worked with East End Caterers since you have to hire an outside vendor and they have done numerous weddings at The Vanderbilt so they made everything go super smooth as well (will leave a review with them also!)

Jaclyn V

4/03/2024

Lisha was amazing! The weather did not cooperate on our big day… it rained all day. Lisha and the team at the Vanderbilt went above and beyond to ensure that us and our guests didn...

’t even notice the weather! Between shuttling our guest in an enclosed shuttle to walking guests with umbrellas into the mansion, we really felt taken care of! Please do not let the thought of rain be your reason for not choosing this beautiful place to celebrate your marriage. Lisha and the team can work with you and get creative to make your day amazing no matter what the weather is! Our guests loved the museum and still talk about the uniqueness of the venue! The pictures came out fantastic as well!

Lynn C

9/07/2023

If you’re considering your wedding here and want to have the best day of your life, do not hesitate, BOOK IT! We considered a number of venues on and off Long Island, but Vanderbil...

t took the 'wedding' cake. When we toured the grounds at Vanderbilt we were sold. There is something exceptionally special about this place and we, as well as our guests, were AMAZED at all the Vanderbilt offered. Our guests were able to enjoy their cocktails and move around the carefully manicured grounds to take in the view and indulge themselves in some history in the various open museums. The courtyard was the bread and butter of the day, which makes you feel like you’re in the middle of a European oasis. Our guests then proceeded to the most beautiful tent on Long Island which fit our 225 guests extremely comfortably. Trust me, the tent is BEAUTIFUL. And you can decorate & customize it anyway you wish to make your day extra special. What made this place extra spectacular? No, it isn’t the lavish grounds, the beautiful views of or the mummy in the museum, it was the staff. Lisha and her team went above and beyond and absolutely crushed it. We had only worked with Lisha for a few months prior to the wedding, but she made us feel so comfortable from the moment we spoke with her. Unlike other wedding venues where the coordinator acts on behalf of the venue, you’re just “another wedding,” Lisha genuinely has the couple’s best interest at heart ensuring that we had the best day imaginable. She did it, we did have the best day of our lives and are living the highs of our wedding day months later. Our guests rave about the wonderful day and experience. Vanderbilt allows you to make the day your very own and it is so worth it!

Service area & Contact info

180 Little Neck Road, Centerport, NY

Open map

(631) 854-5579

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Vanderbilt Museum

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Review Summary

Service area & Contact info

Wedding vendors in Centerport

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