Astin Mansion

Astin Mansion offers customized wedding or reception packages for the Bryan- College Station area tailored to the size and special requirements of your event. Rates can change seasonally and various packages are offered.

Please contact the mansion at 979.822.9999 to schedule a tour and consult and inquire about rates.

How many guests can Astin Mansion accommodate?

Astin Mansion regularly hosts receptions of up to 200-250 guests with buffet service and dancing in the Mansbendel Room. The downstairs has 10 sets of large French doors to the outside, so guests have freedom to enjoy different areas of the property easily. Each room of the mansion has an equally decorative but slightly different style, including a room that is entirely wood paneled and a room clad in stone. The variety is delightful and is a refreshing change from the sometimes predictable layout of the more commercial setting.

Utilizing outdoor spaces including our 58 foot-long antique brick patio, two porches, and/or tent space, the mansion can comfortably accommodate 250-300 guests. The mansion's front lawn is large and gracious, featuring stately, mature post oaks and live oaks. The north lawn behind the house is gated and enclosed by a fence, with an original carriage house, an original child's playhouse which is available for children to enjoy during the event, and ample lawn space for tables or tents.

For formal sit-down dinners in which each guest will require a table setting, the mansion can seat up to 150 indoors (not including covered porch space). Because of the flexibility of our space, Astin Mansion can accommodate both large galas and intimate events.

How is Astin Mansion priced?
Astin Mansion offers customized wedding or reception packages tailored to the size and special requirements of your event. Prices can change seasonally. Please call Astin Mansion for a quote.

What is Astin Mansion responsible for?
Astin Mansion will set up of all the tables, chairs, linens, and any of our décor items rented. Astin Mansion will break down the tables, chairs and linens, while your caterer is responsible for washing and putting away all of the china, silverware and glassware. The caterer is responsible focleaning the kitchen and area immediately surrounding the buffet and coffee or drink serving area, and Astin Mansion staff clean the rest of the house after the event.

The client is responsible for setting up and breaking down any personal items such as centerpieces, framed photographs, or any approved décor item that the client wishes to bring.

Astin Mansion provides a hostess who is present throughout the event. This person acts as the contact for any needs that arise, as well as the liaison among vendors, wedding party, and the mansion. The hostess also ensures that the facility, including the bathrooms, remains stocked and tidy throughout the event.

How many hours does our rental fee cover?
Astin Mansion is rented by the hour and the rental rates and hour minimum changes seasonally. Weeknights and Friday and Sunday rates offer a significant discount from Saturday rates.

Does Astin Mansion bill for time needed to set up for an event?
All set-up and break-down must take place within the rental period. This includes time that the mansion may need to be open for floral, cake, and other deliveries and set-up, including the caterer’s set-up and clean-up time. If you would like additional set-up time before the event (for floral design, décor work, etc.), the building can be made available for additional time at a reduced rate of $60 per hour.

How late is Astin Mansion open for events?
Astin Mansion events may last until midnight. Typically, this means that all clean-up has taken place and guests have left by midnight. If you would like for the event to continue up until midnight (the guests leave at midnight/ d.j. contracted to play until midnight), you will be billed for clean-up time after midnight at $60/hour; otherwise, you should plan to make sure d.j., bar, and caterers know to end the event in sufficient time to be wrapped up, finished with cleaning, and leaving the premises by midnight. Because we are located in a residential neighborhood, guests must be in the process of vacating the premises by midnight.

Can our rental period begin before noon?
For weddings occurring earlier in the day, the mansion may be open as early as 8 a.m.

Can we plan a wedding for a Friday or a Sunday?
Absolutely. Some of the nicest weddings we have hosted occurred on Fridays and Sundays. Our rates for these days is greatly reduced from the Saturday wedding, which frees up your budget for some of the special touches you otherwise might not include. Friday and Sunday are weekend days, after all, so don’t overlook this possibility.

What caterers do you recommend?
You may view our list of preferred vendors to obtain contact information for caterers who are approved to do business at Astin Mansion. Our preferred caterers are proven professionals who are exclusively endorsed by Astin Mansion and pay a 10% commission to the mansion.

Can we go off the preferred vendor list?
In some cases, we may be able to approve caterers who are not on our list, but there is a $250 flat fee and approval process required from any vendor who is not currently on our list.

May we choose our own d.j., cake services, photographer, etc.?
You may contract other vendor services of your choice. Astin Mansion must be notified in advance of each vendor who will be doing business on-site. Each outside vendor must sign an Astin Mansion Policies and Procedures Agreement, indicating that they have read and understand all rules and conditions for proper use of Astin Mansion property.

Can we rent items from outside vendors?
Astin Mansion requires that you rent all tables, chairs, and linens through us. China, glassware, and flatware may be ordered through the mansion or handled by a preferred caterer. The order is flexible and you are welcomed to make any changes in quantities or selections up to 14 days before the event. We will assist you in making any changes appropriate according to your RSVP numbers.

Astin Mansion will receive and return any sub-contracted rental items, whether they are rented by the family, caterer, or the mansion. We charge a 20% coordination fee based on your additional rental item total (items included in our basic package are not subject to the fee). This fee covers our time in estimating, ordering, receiving, and assisting in planning your event. Because we are most familiar with our facility and how to plan for table and chair numbers and layout, our handling of the rental items saves you time and prevents confusion. It is a beneficial service to you and we feel it ensures quality and consistency so that each Astin Mansion event achieves our standard of excellence.

What is your alcohol policy?
Bar services must be provided by our preferred vendor, JJ’s. Licensed bartenders must be contracted through JJ’s. JJ’s is a proven professional vendor that is exclusively endorsed by Astin Mansion and pays a 10% commission to the mansion.

Does Astin Mansion help with decorating?
You may rent the Astin Mansion décor package, which includes large glass vases with pillar candles to decorate the 120-foot front walkway of the mansion, strands of suspended paper lanterns to adorn the trees of the lawn or serve as lighting under the tent, and any of the various urns, vases, votives, and other adornments in our stock. Set-up and break-down of these items is included.

May we have candles inside the mansion?
Any candles inside the building must be contained by glass. No taper or pillar candle is allowed without being enclosed. Period. This means that the traditional candelabra cannot be used. If any unenclosed candles are being placed on tables on the event day, they will be removed.

Does Astin Mansion provide parking?
Yes. There is a parking lot directly across the street from the mansion. There is also ample street parking in front and on nearby side streets.

Is security required for Astin Mansion events?
Yes, security officers are required for all evening events and daytime events with more than 100 guests. Astin Mansion will arrange off-duty Bryan police for security services and either bill you or deduct the charges from your security/damage deposit. Off-duty BPD officers are $25/hour per officer and typically, 2 officers are required.

What form of payment does Astin Mansion accept?
We accept Visa, Mastercard, and personal check if paid at least two weeks in advance, in addition to cashiers checks and cash. All credit card transactions will be assessed an administrative fee of 3%.  

How do we hold a date?
A signed Contract and Policies, Procedures, and Rules sheet, along with a 50% deposit (based on estimate total) and a refundable security/damage deposit holds a date.

What is the cancellation policy?
Please see Astin Mansion’s “Policies, Procedures, and Rules” to review the cancellation policy. This information will be given to you during your mansion tour.

Is the security/damage deposit refundable?
Yes. The security/damage deposit is collected when you book your event. Astin Mansion will inspect the facility following your event and refund the deposit in full if there is no damage to the facility and grounds.  Any charges for damage incurred will be subtracted from the deposit and the balance will be returned to you. If desired, the mansion will also pay the security officers on the night of the event and deduct the amount from this deposit (this saves the family from having to write even more checks on the night of the event). In the rare case that damages incurred exceeded the deposit, you will be billed for those charges. You can expect to receive a check for the refund in 2-4 weeks after the event.

Should we have insurance?
Although it is not required, it is a good idea to secure insurance for your event. There are times when a death in the immediate family or other unforeseen 'act of God' event can challenge the best-laid plans. We are only able to refund your deposit payment according to the cancellation policy. One source for wedding insurance can be found at www.wedsafe.com

How can I see the mansion for myself?
We will be happy to give you a tour of Astin Mansion by appointment. We are often able to accommodate tours after 5pm or on selected weekend dates with prior notice. Please come to tour the mansion with sufficient time to tour the main downstairs, bridal suite, grounds, and guest quarters, as well as to discuss basic information for your customized quote package.

How do I contact the mansion for additional information or to set up a tour?
Please call the Astin Mansion office, 979.822.9999.

Astin Mansion was built in 1924 by Roger Q. and Nina Heard Astin. A paragon of the grand nineteen-twenties style, this architectural gem has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  

The Astin family was a prominent Bryan family who owned Rivermist, a cotton plantation. Nina Heard Astin came from a prestigious background in McKinney, Texas. Nina’s husband, Roger Astin died at age 39, leaving her widowed with 2 small children, John Heard Astin and Nina Bess Astin. Neither of the Astin children had children, so there were no heirs to the Astin estate. Nina Heard Astin, who was well known for her generosity and community involvement, outlived both of her children and bequeathed her estate to this community in the form of the Nina Heard Astin and Nina Bess Astin charitable trust. The trust continues to support several of Mrs. Astin’s favorite organizations, including the Boys and Girls Club, as well as scholarships and other causes.

Astin Mansion was designed by architect Hal B. Thomson, designer of many of Texas’s finest homes, including many in Dallas’s Highland Park. The Georgian Revival home has 96 windows and 16 sets of French doors. It also has the original slate roof and many original fixtures and detail, including fine craftsmanship in wood, stone, and iron.

The wood and stone carvings in the house are the work of Peter Mansbendel, a Swiss-born carver who immigrated to Austin in 1911. Mansbendel’s work graces many fine homes and buildings in Texas. The intricate swag of flowers over the mantel in our main room represents some of his finest work, and for this, we gave the wedgwood blue and white room the name “Mansbendel Room.” More examples of Mansbendel’s work can be found at www.petermansbendel.com.

Many of Nina Heard Astin’s personal photos and other possessions are now housed in McKinney at the Heard-Craig house, formerly the home of her cousin Kathryn Heard Craig: www.heardcraig.org.