Central Ohio's Most Popular Wedding Dates

The Most Popular Dates For Central Ohio Weddings

There are SO many different variables to consider when planning a reception. But you MUST set a date very early in the process. So here are our picks for the most popular wedding dates in Central Ohio. 

We will take a look at both the 2024 and 2025 wedding seasons dates as that's what most wedding venues (and vendors) are currently getting inquires for.

Lets start off with the assumption that the prime 'wedding season' is from April - October. Saturdays, and especially Saturday evenings during these months are by far the most popular.

So here are the variables that make a wedding date popular in greater Columbus area.

1) GOOD WEATHER DATES:
Some dates are busier than other because they offer the chance to have really nice weather. After all, who wouldn’t want to get married on a perfect spring or fall day?

In Central Ohio those would be in the late spring /early summer (May and June) and then in the fall (September and October). These prime dates give you the chance to get some really incredible outside pictures without the summer heat.

During this prime time, your ceremony can be outside too without the same concern about the excessive heat and humidity.

2) OHIO STATE FOOTBALL
Lets start off with the biggest factor for all fall weddings....OSU Football. Even if you are not an OSU football fan, you should look at the OSU schedule if you are considering a fall wedding reception. 

The reason for this is that some football Saturday dates are more busy for wedding vendors than others.

By FAR the most popular dates are those rare weekends in the fall when OSU does NOT play any games.  These 'bye weekends' are almost always among the busiest weekends for many wedding vendors just because of the increase in demand.

Looking at the 2024 OSU football schedules you will see the bye week is October 19th, 2024.

The OSU bye weekends will be VERY busy weekends. Many Central Ohio wedding vendors will typically find themselves turning away inquires for these dates. If you are wanting these dates you should try and book your wedding vendors as quickly as possible. 

Consider the home and away games during the football season.   As a rule of thumb, away football dates are more busier than home football dates.

The opponent is also a big factor.  Generally if OSU is playing a lesser opponent, there will be more wedding inquires.  Why is that the case? A lesser opponent means there is a better chance of having an early kickoff (noon or 3PM) which won’t interfere with an evening reception. 

Taking a (VERY EARLY) look at the 2024 schedules, a few dates stand out to us because of the opponents.

On October 12th, 2024, the Bucks will play at the newest Big 10 member, the Oregon Ducks. This will be a game with HUGE national implications and you almost be sure this will be an evening kickoff.

On the opposite end of the football interest spectrum, the first two non-conference games on August 31st and September 7th will most likely be a noon kickoff.

Finally on November 2nd OSU will play vs Penn State. While night games in November are rare, this will be a very big game, and you can still have some great fall weather. We would expect this to be a big weekend for weddings in Central Ohio.

3) PROM SEASON (mid April - mid May)
So this one might surprise you. You might be wondering why prom season might impact your wedding date? There are three reasons!

First, proms will take A LOT of the limos in the area. So if your wedding date falls into this time, make sure you book your limo as soon as possible.

Second, while high school homecoming dances almost always take place at the school, proms are held in venues. Generally speaking, proms usually need larger venues to host the large number of students attending. But you may want to ask any venue that you are considering if they have any proms booked that same evening.

Finally, many DJ companies also work school dances which simply increases the demand for their services.

4) HOLIDAY WEEKENDS
The two big holiday weekends are Memorial Day and Labor Day. We get multiple inquires for both the Saturdays and Sundays of these two weekends. 

The interest in these dates is easy to see. These are the weekends when many people may have off on Monday, so these long weekends are the perfect time to travel and celebrate.  

Memorial Day: May 29, 2023. May 27, 2024
Labor Day: September 4, 2023. September 2, 2024

One of the only downsides to these weekends is that travel during these times can be a hassle and expensive.  The sooner that you can inform your guests of you having these dates the sooner they can make their reservations. 

5) LARGE CONVENTIONS
There are two very large conventions in Columbus every year.  These conventions can take up a lot of hotel rooms all around Columbus, but ESPECIALLY in downtown.

You have the Arnold Classic which is held in early March at the convention center in downtown.

Then you have the American Quarter Horse Congress which happens in late October at the Ohio Fairgrounds.  

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How OSU Football Impacts Your Fall Columbus Wedding

How Ohio State Football Can Affect Your Wedding Day (even if you’re not a fan)

Fall weddings are VERY popular, and for good reason. The nice weather and the color makes is nice for both your guests and for your wedding pictures!

Fall is Central Ohio also brings Ohio State football. These games can affect your wedding even if you don’t care at all about football. Not only on game day, but also with the planning process, so its wise to try to plan for it in advance because it has wide range effects.

Here are our insights on how to reduce the impact on your wedding that Ohio State football can have on Central Ohio weddings in the fall.

So here are the variable for you to consider!

1) HOTEL ROOM BLOCKS:
This might be pretty basic, but the weekends with home games you are going to have more people in Columbus wanting hotel rooms.  This increased demand might make it a little bit harder to find hotel rooms, or it might increase the costs. It will probably do BOTH! Book your hotel room block as early as possible to lock in the price.

It goes without saying that you should probably avoid hotels in the immediate campus area. Downtown hotels often are typically busier than the suburban hotels too.

A key thing to help you here is to inform your guests (especially those from out of town who may not understand this effect) the importance of booking their rooms early. This last point can’t be stressed enough.

2) FOOTBALL TRAFFIC
So this has to do more with the kick off time than anything else. This is a problem because the kickoff time is often not determined until a few weeks before the game due to TV schedules. You might have a noon kickoff, 3:30, or if its earlier in the football season (September and October) you might even get an 8PM kickoff.

Traffic can be easy to get around, but if you or your guests get caught in the traffic, it can cause a lot of delays and hassles.

Your biggest concern will having your guests and wedding party to the ceremony and reception venues.  So figure out the route that they will most likely be taking. Once again the guests that are not used to OSU football traffic might need to be warned about.

Needless to say you want to stay away from 315 for 2-3 hours before and after the game. 

3) THE ACTUAL GAME
This is where a lot of debate takes place.... how do you let your guests watch the game without your reception turning into a football watch party. We have some pretty strong thoughts about this, and it usually involves NOT fighting it.

Here is why. Guests missing a game, no matter how big or small, are going to search for a way to keep up with the score.  This is much easier with people being able to watch the game on their cell phones. Every fall weekend we see lots of people sitting at their tables watching their favorite teams play on their phones. But honestly its not much different from when people check on their social media sites either.

It’s up to you to determine how important it is to save them from feeling compelled to stream the game during your reception.

Let your guests know in advance that they will be able to watch the game. There might be a bar at your venue that will be showing the game on their TVs. Or they will bring a TV set into the foyer area. But we want to warn you that this tends to draw the crowd out of your ballroom and away from the dance floor. 

A better idea would be in the venue has a fixed bar area that has a TV set. Sure you will have a lot of people gathering around it, but at least they will still be in your area.

Finally, the most radical idea. Some DJs can bring in large TV sets and set them by the dance floor and show the game on them. You can turn this into a positive if you have TVs are large (65 inches) and placed properly so that a large portion of your guests can watch the game while still staying on the dance floor. This can create a win-win scenario.

Taking some simple measures like this in advanced can greatly enhance the experience for your guests, and maybe limit the complaints from your football-fan friends.

4) THE UNEXPECTED DATES
So you’ve been planning your wedding around the football schedule because you don’t want the hassle. Good for you. BUT don’t forget that there are dates that aren’t listed on the schedule!

If Ohio State plays in the Big 10 Championship, that game usually takes place the evening on the first Saturday in December. Since OSU is quite good right now, there is a very good chance this can happen very often. This would also be a HUGE game so the interest in watching this game will also be very high. You also be almost positive that game will be in the evening.

You also have the college football playoffs. But most of these dates are being held in January, and will be out of town, so the impact on having OSU make these games are not that big for a local wedding reception.

We hope that these have helped you with your planning.

O H!

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Venues With Great Views Of Downtown Columbus

Wedding Venues With Great Views Of The Columbus Skyline

Columbus does have some great wedding venues.  But that list narrows if you are specifically looking for a venue with a great view of downtown.  Luckily you have found THE list with just that information.

1) Ivory Room
This room gives you a great look at the Scioto River bank as it crawls along next to the downtown area. The large glass windows in the venue really makes the city view a focal point at all receptions. 

2) COSI
Its right across the Scioto River from downtown, so yeah it has a great view. COSI also has some rooms that have the great view. You can have your ceremony outside, or they have an awesome balcony too. 

3) Smith Brothers
This wedding venue gives you a totally different look from most of the others on this list.  Located on the north side of downtown this offers a unique perspective of the city skyline.

4) Sheraton On Capital Square
This one might be a surprise. While the ballroom doesn't have a view, there is a small patio located on the 20th floor with an AWESOME view of the capital square. You can't have your reception up there, but the view is totally different as you are looking down on the state house and the capital square area.

5) The Boat House
Most of the ballrooms have views of downtown to go with very tall glass windows. But the real bonus is the porch on the back.  When the weather is nice you can't beat this. Imagine hosting an after hour party on a nice cool summer night on that porch. And you can even have your ceremony on the back porch!

6) The Fives Columbus
Opening in 2020, The Fives gives some unrivaled views of downtown. There is a unique upper level area that will overlook the downtown area.

7) The Peak At Edison
One of the newest wedding venues, The Peak gives unique long distance views of downtown Columbus. There is a small patio area that can be used for your ceremony or for reception space.

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Here Are Some Great Downtown Wedding Venues

How To Incorporate Ohio State Into Your Wedding

How To Bring Buckeye Love Into Your Reception

1) Buckeye Food / Treats:
So this should be an easy one. Buckeye candies are always popular with guests at a wedding. These are easy to purchase at most places in Central Ohio, or you can make your own! And there’s no better way to show your Buckeye Pride at the dessert table than with these tasty treats.

We’ve also seen some really cool wedding cakes or groom’s cake that incorporate OSU football.

2) Have Brutus or the OSU Marching Band at your reception:
You can get lots of great photos with Brutus and so will your guests. You can click on this link to get information about having Brutus show up.

You can also have members of the OSU Pep Band at your reception. Imagine do a live version of Script Ohio at your reception. Hey its your special day - why not have the two of you ‘dot the i’ at your reception? That will be a huge crowd pleaser. Click this link to get information on for a pep band.

3) Pictures On The OSU Campus:
So there are several very popular locations to get these pictures. You have the stadium of course. Either inside the actual stadium or outside in the rotunda. It doesn’t get much more Buckeye than this.
Then you have the Student Union.
The Main Library
The Oval / Mirror Lake

4) OSU music:
It should be easy to drop in some OSU fight songs into your reception. We’ve seen many wedding parties / wedding couples enter their ballrooms with the Buckeye Battle Cry or Fight The Team. This ALWAYS gets the crowd excited!

You can also do a small version of Script Ohio at your reception. Just make sure your entertainment has “Le Regiment” by the OSU band ready to play (thats the official name of the Script Ohio song). Have somebody pretend to be the drum major to lead the group. The tricky part is timing it just perfect so that the couple can run out and ‘dot the i’.

And how many receptions end with Carmen Ohio? Get your family in friends to form a circle, put their arms over each other, and sing. This moment also makes for great pictures!

5) OSU Decoration:
Who says you have to have table numbers for dinner? Why not have seats named after locations or famous Buckeyes? You can have the “The Oval” table. Or the “Jesse Owens” table.

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Newest Columbus Wedding Venues

Newest Columbus Wedding Venues

Columbus has always been very lucky that it has a wide range of wedding venues to choose from. That range is about to get larger with the addition of FOUR new wedding venues that opened just a short time ago. 

So here's the list of the new venues, and what you can expect from each of them!

The Fives Columbus

Opening in 2020 this venue promises to be one of the most unique in Central Ohio.

The ballroom has floor to ceiling windows that can be opened. There is a new park area just steps from the building that is perfect for pictures or even a ceremony. There’s also a great view from the upper level that overlooks the downtown area. There are several areas to host your wedding that can be combined to be on the largest in area.

The Exchange At Bridge Park

This new venue is located in the new and hot area of Dublin, this is going to be a great place for weddings.

Its large - you can have 500 people for a wedding.  It has a nice patio area that will be perfect for cocktail hours or even a ceremony.

There are hotels next door for your guests to stay, and a large parking garage across the street.  There are also several new restaurants within a short walk in the newly developed area.  Its just in a great location. Its run by Cameron Mitchell too which is a plus.

Marriott Columbus University Area

We got to see this new venue a short time ago and we are very excited about it.

The ballroom is large (7000 sq ft) and beautiful. Of course you have a brand new hotel for your guests to stay at which has many cool areas and features. Lots of free parking too.

There is also a unique outdoor setting to say “I do” during your wedding ceremony.

Its location makes it really easy for you to get wedding pictures on the OSU campus. You should expect this hotel to be very busy during the fall with the home football games weekends.

Renaissance Columbus Westerville-Polaris

Opening in Spring of 2018, this upscale hotel wedding venue has eight stories and 222 guests rooms.  Its easy for your guests to find due to its great location just off the Polaris exit.  There are lots of great restaurants and shopping just a few minutes drive for your out of town guests to enjoy.

The will be one of the largest ballrooms when it opens.  There will be 15000 feet of space and can hold up to 750 people for an event. 

The Revery

If you are looking for something really different, this venue is on an actual rooftop that over looks downtown Columbus!  This might be something different for Central Ohio and maybe the entire state too.

Under a different name and a different owner, The Revery had closed. But now in 2021 The Revery has re-opened and has several unique areas including an “outdoor” terrace and an “indoor” dining room. Those words are in quotations, because the space can become a completely outdoor or a completely indoor venue, depending on the weather! 

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10 Tips For Your Outdoor Wedding Ceremony Or Reception

10 Tips For Your Outdoor Wedding Ceremony Or Reception

Getting married surrounded by the beauty of nature is something at the top of the wedding wish list for many Central Ohio couples. For all the wonderful gifts Mother Nature gives us, she is the boss. You must be prepare for the unexpected. To help you prepare for an awesome outdoor wedding we’ve pulled together some of our favorite tips for pulling off a gorgeous day that’s comfortable for you and all your guests.

1) Tents Will Cost You More Than You Think
Today’s couples want to have outside receptions more and more. If your venue doesn’t have a ‘permanent’ tent already set up, you will need to rent one. And this can be pricey, especially if you are expecting a large number of guests. Finding a ‘real tent company’ that knows what it is doing, and can set it up properly can be tough. The labor to set up a tent is much more than you think. Don’t forget that you can put sides on the tent and then have air conditioning, but that’s also an extra expense.

2) Electrical Power
Just because you are in a beautiful rustic setting doesn’t mean you won’t need power! Lighting of course is a major need, but you also have to consider that your caterer will need power. So will your entertainment. And here’s the thing to remember - you can’t run one long extension cord from your house and then attach several power strips.

3) Lighting
While candlelight is romantic, it doesn’t work great once the sun sets. You need to have lighting so that your guests can move around as well as get food. But don’t just think about the actual venue area. Think about the path that your guests will need to walk to get to the venue also. You can get some battery powered lights to place along the path.

4) Remember the wind when placing your place cards

If your reception venue is outdoors you’ll want to remember that wind is ALWAYS a thing. And if your place cards are just paper they WILL blow away if it’s at all windy. Think about using something with a little weight to it. Cute and clever ideas we’ve seen include painted rocks, wooden fans, mason jar beer glasses, or, our personal favorite, succulents! Bonus: now your place cards double as your wedding favors!

5) Think about a beverage station to welcome your guests

Whether the weather is chilly or hot, a welcome beverage can warm up or cool down your guests as they arrive to await your grand entrance! Think about hot cider or cocoa for a cold weather wedding or ice tea, water and lemonade for a warm weather wedding.

6) Think about lap blankets for cold weather

If you are anticipating cold weather on your date, consider purchasing inexpensive blankets for the guests to use during the ceremony and then take with them to your reception. If it turned out to be 80 degrees on the wedding day, instead of returning them, donate them to a local homeless shelter and feel great about giving back to the community as part of the wedding!

7) Choose a weather-proof cake during hotter months

Nothing holds up to hot weather quite like fondant. And you can do so many cool, creative things with it! A real cake pro will easily be able to help you with this. If you’re having an outdoor wedding during a warm-weather month consider a fondant cake. This is something that you will need to discuss in advance with your baker!

8) Have umbrellas on hand (just in case)

No matter what they say about rain on your wedding day being good luck, no one really wishes for it, especially if your wedding is outdoors. But it’s best to be prepared, just in case.

9) The wind - when it comes to your ceremony

Most people don’t consider how loud it can be outside. But the wind does make a lot of noise. Don’t believe us? Go outside and try to talk to someone a couple of feet away in a normal voice. Tough isn’t it. Now think about your vows. You won’t be saying them in a loud / clear voice so that it will be easy for Aunt Nancy in the 4th row to hear them. You’ll be lucky to say your vows. The ceremony is the important part of the day and it needs to be heard. You just don’t need a microphone, you need several to make it all work. Your DJ or band should be able to supply the proper microphones (please note the plural) in order to make this happen.

10) Choose your shoes

So you might just think this is for the brides and the bridesmaids. And mostly it is, but there’s still something to be gained if you are a groom too. If you’re getting married in a big outdoor area, you’ll want to be comfortable walking around (and dancing!). Also, keep in mind, if you’re going to be on grass during any part of your day those some shoes will sink right into the grass and make it difficult to walk (not to mention get mud all over the heel).

11) Bathrooms

Yeah this is sort of important. If you are considering a reception at a private house, think about how your guests will get from the reception into the bathroom at the house. Are you going to have 200+ guests sharing one bathroom? Do you want your guests to use the bathroom anywhere in the house or just one specific?

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