Vanderbilt Lakeside Bar Room & Guesthouse — Restaurant in Town of Claverack

We had a 17 person intimate wedding at Vanderbilt Lakeside Inn in December. It was a last minute decision and we only had about 5 weeks to plan.

I am quite particular about what I wanted — something both homey and refined. A place where everyone attending could stay a weekend that had some services like good food without feeling intrusive like a hotel would have with many employees and vendors around at all times. We also wanted to be able to include our dog in the special moment. When I came across Vanderbilt, I just knew it was THE place. They had all the conveniences we were looking for (catering, full buy out, karaoke / games, sound system, large tables, seating, glasses, plates, ample furniture and hang out spots, etc) to host a seamless event, while still providing a lot of privacy per our desire. Given our tight timeline, I did a video call to see the space and didn’t try the food before booking. Henrietta was very well organized and flexible in communicating and planning. She provided a lot of suggestions that were extremely helpful.

To be honest, having not seen the space in person, I was worried that the photography on their website might have made the space seem nicer than it is — we’ve all been there where we see beautiful photos and arrive only to realize that the photos were misleading. Well, when we got there the day before the wedding, the first thing I did was run inside to look at the space. And it completely blew away my expectations. It was even better than I imagined in a best case scenario. The ceiling heights, the decorations, the general layout, everything was perfect. I had a lot of guests come in the door and rave about how beautiful the space is.

One thing we didn’t want to spend a lot of money on was decorations. We simply didn’t have the bandwidth nor the appetite to spend thousands on flowers and managing vendors through out the day. We wanted to get as close to a DIY wedding while still making it feel special. Vanderbilt is SO well decorated that we almost didn’t have to do anything outside of some flowers to make the space work. In fact, you don’t even need flowers if you don’t want to with how beautifully they’ve decorated the space between the paintings, dried flowers, eclectic decor, furniture, etc. We ended up doing our own flowers the morning for less than 500$ (grocery flowers and a Costco greenery table runner), mainly focusing on creating a beautiful table setting. Professional flowers would’ve cost thousands of dollars in traditional undecorated venues.

Between the beautiful space and decorations, our photos turned out amazing and we looked (and felt) like movie stars.

On top of all of this, the food was very good and they were flexible with dietary restrictions. We especially enjoyed the BBQ welcome dinner which was a surprise hit amongst guests. They even made a smaller non-spicy cornbread (separately from the japaleno cornbread for everyone else) for my MIL who is sensitive which we didn’t expect!

While it was a winter wedding, we did get outside to take some photos that turned out great. And we also did a nearby hike to high falls after we checked out that was 5 minutes away. We absolutely loved the winter vibes but I can imagine how beautiful the backyard can be during the summer with the deck, games, and lake view!

I’m someone who didn’t want a traditional wedding or wedding space, wanted to balance costs and focus on the right things, yet still had high standards when it came to hosting a classy but fun event. You might call those asks impossible to meet but Vanderbilt did it! I could easily see a traditional wedding here too. That’s the beauty of Vanderbilt, you can customize the experience the way you need to achieve your dream wedding.

Words can’t describe how grateful I am to have found the space and the owners who are very clearly extremely meticulous, hard working, and talented individuals. Thank you, Matt and Henrietta, for the unforgettable time! I’m not going to lie, I’m already thinking about the next event we can...

My husband and I booked Vanderbilt Lakeside for our intimate 50-guest wedding in September 2022. The entire process from inquiring about the space to the day of the wedding was perfection and everything we had dreamed of. We highly recommend the Vanderbilt Lakeside and if we could have our event here all over again, we would!

First and foremost, the owners Henrietta and Matt provided us with exceptional service, guidance, and attention. They went above and beyond in every aspect. Henrietta communicated professionally, quickly, and patiently with us. Going into the weekend we felt very prepared and organized thanks to her. She had rearranged some of the rooms to fit our preferred layout and devised a rain plan, so all bases were covered. The day of the wedding everything went as planned and stress-free in large part due to Henrietta and her team.

Matt, also the chef, executed the food flawlessly to give our guests the most delicious appetizers and dinner. Matt worked with us to personalize and tweak the menu exactly how we wanted, which we really appreciated. He also readily accommodated our guests with dietary restrictions such as vegan, gluten-free, and kids. Even I wanted to try the kids’ meals because they looked so good! After the event a few of our guests said it was the best food they’ve ever had at a wedding.

Another highlight of Vanderbilt Lakeside for us is the space. We fell in love with its beautiful, sophisticated cozy aesthetics right away. We rented the space for the entire weekend and were able to have 15 close friends stay with us. The rooms, each with its own full bath and thermostat, are comfortable and cozy. Some rooms are connected to a nice outdoor porch as well. For the event, other than flowers, we did not bring any other decorations as we just loved the look as is. We especially liked all the potted plants which made it feel like home to us.

For the event, our ceremony was downright picturesque. It took place under a large sprawling tree in the backyard overlooking the lake and surrounded by wildlife. Dinner on the deck was beautiful as well with two large farm style tables under string lights. This was especially delightful at dusk. The bartender and waitstaff were incredibly friendly, helpful, and fun. It got a little chilly on the deck during the evening, so Henrietta and Matt quickly brought out heaters which was really appreciated by our guests. During the reception, guests moved comfortably throughout the space inside and outside enjoying the game room (with pool, shuffleboard, etc.), bar, bonfire, dance floor, and more. Safe to say our guests were not bored, and even Matt was dancing by the end of the night!

The combination of people, atmosphere, space, and food at Vanderbilt Lakeside really are outstanding. Again, I would highly recommend this place to anyone who is looking for a beautiful stress-free event. You’ll be in good hands!

Thank you, Henrietta, and Matt. We wish you all the best and hope to come back sometime...

My husband and I had our 90-guest wedding at the Vanderbilt on 6/8/24 and it could not have been any better. We found the Vanderbilt on Airbnb when looking for a unique wedding venue, visited it in January of 2023, and booked it instantly- didn’t even see another venue. ||As stated in previous reviews, Henrietta made the planning process as easy as possible. We communicated mainly via email, but she allowed us to come to the space as often as we needed (I think between both of our families we were there 3 times). She also provided a list of vendors that previous wedding parties had used at the Vanderbilt, which I used for our planner, tent company, shuttle company and photographer (all great).||When it came time for the tasting, we were provided with an extensive menu of food and drinks curated by Matt. We were blown away by the food. ||As the wedding day approached, Henrietta was easy to communicate with and flexible. She helped us plan a thorough rainy day plan B, and was the bearer of good news when she called me 2 days prior to tell me the weather looked good and we were going with plan A.||The weekend of the wedding was incredible. Our families stayed in the 8 rooms upstairs Friday and Saturday night. Henrietta and Matt were in early on Saturday to get everything prepared. Their team was incredible. After the ceremony, Henrietta greeted us with champagne and a congratulations. When cocktail hour ended and we realized we were so busy that we didn’t even eat our appetizers, Henrietta put together a plate for us and brought it over. ||I’ve heard from a number of guests that the food was the best they’ve had at a wedding, and I agree. ||It’s important to note that the staff was also FUN to have around. Bartenders and servers interacted with guests and kept the energy light and fun. ||The next morning, Matt prepared a great breakfast (much needed) for those staying at the Vanderbilt, even including some leftovers of our banana pudding dessert from the night before. ||Now let’s quickly talk about the space. The Vanderbilt Lakeside is the most unique space I’ve ever seen. Each room has its own personality and is decorated meticulously and beautifully. I only had to bring in decorations for the tables, as the venue itself was already perfect. The deck was a perfect fit for our 90-person dinner. The lawn, outdoor bar, and lawn games were a hit for those who wanted to chill out rather than dance. The Bar room was the perfect size for our musicians and a dance floor. The rooms upstairs are clean, all about the same size, and all have their own bathrooms to make for a comfortable stay. ||Overall, I cannot recommend the Vanderbilt enough. We’re racking our brains for an excuse to host another event there. Henrietta and Matt are incredible...