Cairnwood Vendors

dubs25 · April 2011

Hey girls! Just curious if anyone has chose Cairnwood as their venue and if you are allowed to us any vendor you want or have to pick one of their pref. vendor list. Thanks

angel33284 · April 2011

The only hall that I am aware of that demands the right to refuse certain vendors is Greystone Hall. You can select any vendors you want at Cairnwood. And you have to be careful with their preferred vendor list as some of the vendors may have paid to be on there.

CaitC21 · April 2011

You can use any vendor, every venue will give you a set of vendors that they rec but feel free to use whoever!

Jamy0807 · April 2011

I disagree with angel. I don't think a reception facility especially one like Cairnwood would put a vendor on there because they paid to be. They are not going to recommend someone who isn't going to do a good job. That'll reflect poorly on the hall if they aren't worthy.

LaRositaMonita · April 2011

Jamy, I will actually agree with angel on this one, as she clearly said that it doesn't happen all the time, but does happen very frequently. In the year or so that I lanned my wedding at Normandy their "preferred" vendors were kind of a revolving door, and my salesperson did actually admit that some preferred vendors were on the list due to advertising. This is not the case universally, though...so really, to the OP, just research vendors you love and book 'em, just don't be persauded by "preferred" list one way or the other. If you are concerned with a vendor knowing how Cairnwood works/is laid out, which is valid, you can always ask in meetings if they have worked there before. We can always make general recommends here.

brizzie918 · April 2011

I think that Cairnwood definitely has an exclusive caterer, Jeffrey A. Miller catering, so you can't bring in anyone you want. They also had really strict rules about other things...i can't remember exactly, i stopped looking when i found out how WAY over budget it was for us.

Good luck, it is gorgeous...so jealous if you end up getting married there!

CaitC21 · April 2011

I dont know when Brizzie looked at Cairnwood, but when i went we had a choice of 5 or 6 catering companies

brizzie918 · April 2011

I looked into it a year ago...so it could have for sure changed...i just know that was the deal then.

Even better for you if they have added variety b/c that caterer was on the expensive side if i remember correctly.

CaitC21 · April 2011

Here are there prefered catering companies

http://www.cairnwood.org/preffered.html

When I was looking there I met with Culinary Concepts, they were awesome.

In the long run, after a lot of number crunching we decided on elsewhere, but we can all help with awesome local vendors!

angel33284 · April 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_pennsylvania-philadelphia_cairnwood-vendors?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:105Discussion:fe846ac0-fbd7-4bec-a705-d85e5dfb912fPost:f88bca0c-b37a-4268-8e5d-ad715f325fd2">Re: Cairnwood Vendors</a>:
[QUOTE]It is illegal to not allow certain vendors to work at a facility. It is a violation of civil rights. The only thing they can do is recommend to use someone they are comfortable with or charge a fee to go outside their recommended list. They can't refuse anyone.
Posted by CleverGirl01[/QUOTE]<div>
</div><div>It's not illegal and it's not a civil right to be able to use vendors. A reception hall is a privately owned business and they can refuse to allow any vendor to work there if they want. In fact they can refuse to book any couple for any reason if they want. DH owns a landscaping business and he turns away people all the time if he doesn't like them.

</div>

angel33284 · April 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_pennsylvania-philadelphia_cairnwood-vendors?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:105Discussion:fe846ac0-fbd7-4bec-a705-d85e5dfb912fPost:e0f30b67-386f-49ec-ab6f-341e6b924363">Re: Cairnwood Vendors</a>:
[QUOTE]Listen Ken it is a civil rights violation. "The right to refuse service" is not constitutional AND neither the DJ, photographer, or, like yourself, the videographer can be refused the right to work in such a place ESPECIALLY since the reception hall is nothing more than a building rented by the bride. The bride holds the cards in her decision making NOT the reception facility. If you showed up videotaping a wedding cursing and being drunk then the hall can ban you BUT if they have no foundation for refusal they can't prohibit you from working.
Posted by CleverGirl01[/QUOTE]<div>
</div><div>Listen Columbo. Just because somebody asked about preferred vendors and Ken Stillman just happened to do a blog post about preferred vendors is a coincidence.</div><div>
</div><div>And if you think just because a bride waves a check that any wedding vendor has to accept then you are nuts. They can refuse you for any reason, however they don't have to tell you the real reason. If you walk into a reception hall and are a complete biotch they're gonna tell you they are already booked, even if the real reason is that they don't want to to work with somebody they know is going to be a problem.</div><div>
</div><div>There are actually lots of professionals that don't have to accept your money and do your service. Ever called a doctor or dentist and are told they aren't taking any new clients? Ever go to a photographer's site and it says they are done booking for the year? Again, just because you wave a check doesn't mean they have to provide a service to you.

</div>

angel33284 · April 2011

Just ignore all these crazy people on here. They live to start drama on these forums. Use whatever vendors you feel fit your style. In fact, if you do a Google search you can probably find lots of vendors that have worked there that aren't on their preferred list.

Bride_to_be_2011 · April 2011

I agree with angel! I know for a fact certain places won't let the pros at their venue lol.

angel33284 · April 2011

For the catering I think they can make you chose their vendors, but I think they give you a wide selection. remember these people have full access to the house and kitchen and they probably want to make sure the people they give access to are honest and reputable.

But for photography and DJ and such, they probably don't care who you use, unless they had a bad experience with them. Like maybe a DJ that played too loud and wouldn't turn down when asked.

[Deleted User] · April 2011

I'm actually getting married there! they have 8 caterers to choose from. We are going with Karens Catering.

tdmiller · September 2011

How did you like Karen's catering? Did you have stations or a sit down? We are planning a dinner on the patio and wanted to find out if you did the same. Would appreciate any insight you can give us.

Thanks,

Vicky

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