Westin Columbus
Westin Columbus Weddings
By DJ Rod of Buckeye Sounds | Columbus Wedding DJ & Founder of WedVenColumbus
The Westin Great Southern Columbus
310 South High Street
Columbus OH 43215
(614) 228-3800
👥 Up to 300 guests
💒 Ceremony on-site: Yes
🚗 Valet & garage parking
🚫 Outside caterers: Not permitted
🏨 189 hotel rooms available
Westin Columbus – Elegant Downtown Wedding Venue
A Historic Ballroom for Timeless Celebrations
If you’re dreaming of a luxurious downtown Columbus wedding, the Westin Great Southern Columbus offers one of the most breathtaking ballrooms in Central Ohio and maybe the entire state. Known as the McKinley Ballroom, this historic space blends timeless architecture with modern amenities for a truly unforgettable reception.
Located in the heart of downtown Columbus, the Westin is perfect for couples who want convenience, elegance, and a guest experience they’ll never forget.
Why Couples Love Weddings at the Westin Columbus
The McKinley Ballroom is a showstopper — stained glass windows, floor-to-ceiling mirrors, Carrera white marble floors, and soaring ceilings create an atmosphere that needs minimal extra décor. Natural light floods the room during the day, while soft evening lighting adds a romantic glow at night.
The ballroom can hold up to 300 guests for your reception. Today this classy and elegant ballroom is used to create absolutely magical wedding ceremonies and receptions for Central Ohio couples!
Its timeless decor features stunning original stained glass, lots of natural lighting, magnificent floor to ceiling mirrors and windows, and Carrera white marble floors.
Having your reception at a hotel offers many conveniences. After your incredible reception, the new couple can retire to your complimentary wedding night suite. Your family and wedding guests from out of town may also enjoy the advantage of preferred guest room rates for the evening.
If you are looking for a beautiful and elegant ballroom for your reception, you simply must visit the Westin Columbus. The staff at this venue is also among the best in Central Ohio.
Wedding Ceremonies At The Westin Columbus
Don’t think for a minute that you can only use this beautiful ballroom just for your reception! The Westin Downtown Columbus can provide everything that you need for your wedding day in-house. In addition to the ultimate reception, you will also have the option of having a beautiful ceremony in the Grand Ballroom or the more intimate Seneca Room.
So if you are considering having your reception and ceremony at the Westin, here is what typically happens.
The ceremony space will be in two-thirds of the ballroom. Your actual ceremony will occur at the front of the ballroom - ie the High Street side of the ballroom.
There is a large section of white draping that the bride and bridesmaids ‘hide behind’. Not only does this hide part of the room from view, but it also makes for a dramatic entrance.
Once the ceremony is completed, your guests will go out to the lobby for the cocktail hour. While this is happening, the staff will begin to change the ballroom over for your reception. During this time the wedding party is often getting pictures taken.
Your guests will then come back into the ballroom for the reception where you can be assured of having a wonderful time for your family and guests.
Picture-Perfect Moments At The Westin Columbus
Photographers (of course brides and grooms) love this venue for its architectural beauty and natural light. Some of the most striking shots include couples framed by stained glass, reflected in the ballroom’s mirrors, or enjoying quiet moments on the grand staircase.
More Insider Tips For Receptions At The Westin Columbus
So if you’re not too tired to hear this for the 100th time on this post, the ballroom is really beautiful. You typically don’t have to do too much extra decor in this ballroom, which is really nice bonus. Having said that, lets start off with some decor thoughts.
On the floral side, tall centerpieces work very well in this room with its very high ceilings.
We see a lot of soft pastel colors being used in the ballroom. But don’t be afraid of using a bolder and perhaps a bit darker color to make your reception stand apart.
If you are considering having decor lighting for your reception, the columns in the ballroom are the perfect focal point. This can really enhance the look of the ballroom.
Finally, here are some thoughts about the actual hotel from the point of view of you and your guests.
The actual hotel rooms are unique too. Most hotel rooms are all the same design - very basic. But the Westin is so unique that there is a wide difference in some of the rooms. Some of smaller and actually quite quaint. But others (especially the corner rooms) can be very large.
Another nice thing about this venue is that they usually only have one wedding happening at any given time. That means you can almost always be assured of having their full attention. For Saturday weddings, there are typically two time periods available. You can have the ballroom from noon - 5PM or from 7PM- Midnight. You can of course get the ballroom for the entire day.
Wedding Vendors DJ Rod Recommends For Your Columbus Wedding
After years of performing at the Westin Columbus, these are the wedding professionals I've seen deliver exceptional results:
📸 Photography Nicole Dixon Photographic — Warm, documentary-style wedding photography capturing real moments.
🎂 Wedding Cakes The Cake Studio — Custom wedding cakes built around your vision.
👔 Formalwear Romanoff's Classic Tuxedos — Columbus's go-to tuxedo shop for over 40 years.
Looking For A Wedding DJ At The Westin Columbus?
I've performed at hundreds of Columbus weddings including many right here at the Westin Columbus. See real wedding recaps and find out why couples trust Buckeye Sounds to keep their dance floor packed all night!
See real wedding receptions at the Westin Great Southern Columbus
Westin Great Southern Columbus Wedding FAQs
How many guests can Westin Great Southern Columbus accommodate for a wedding?
The Westin Great Southern Columbus accommodates up to 300 guests for a wedding reception in the McKinley Ballroom. The room includes a generous dance floor and can be configured for both ceremony and reception in the same space.
Can you have both a ceremony and reception at Westin Great Southern Columbus?
Yes. Both the ceremony and reception take place in the McKinley Ballroom. The ceremony is typically set up in two-thirds of the room, with guests moving to the lobby for cocktail hour while the staff resets the space for the reception..
Does Westin Great Southern Columbus allow outside caterers?
No. Catering is provided exclusively in-house by the Westin's culinary team. The hotel's catering staff is experienced at large events and handles everything from plated dinners to cocktail-style receptions.
What is parking like at Westin Great Southern Columbus for wedding guests?
The Westin offers valet parking for wedding guests. There is also a large public parking garage directly across the street making parking convenient even for larger weddings.
What makes Westin Great Southern Columbus unique compared to other Columbus wedding venues?
The McKinley Ballroom is in a category by itself among Central Ohio wedding venues. The combination of original stained glass windows, Carrera marble floors, floor-to-ceiling mirrors, and soaring ceilings creates an atmosphere that requires minimal additional decoration — the room is simply that beautiful. Add in the downtown location, 189 hotel rooms for out-of-town guests, and a one-wedding-at-a-time policy, and the Westin delivers an experience few Columbus venues can match.
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