The Westin in Columbus, Ohio continues to be one of my favorite wedding venues to photograph in the central Ohio, so naturally, I knew it needed to be featured on the blog! I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Kathy Johnson, Catering Sales Manager of The Westin Columbus. From past wedding days, the Westin’s grand ballroom is instantly a jaw-dropper with the gold detailing, marble floors, and incredible staff. I am so grateful to have learned more about the venue and what it has to offer, and to share it with you all today!

HISTORY

The Westin was built in 1897, it was one of the seven original hotels in Columbus.  They are the only one of the original hotels that is still standing and operating as a hotel today. When the hotel was first built, the Grand Ballroom was the formal dining room and the ballroom was on the seventh floor. Now it’s switched around and the Grand Ballroom is known as the ballroom today. All of the marble, stained glass, plaster work, and other features are still original to the ballroom. There are a lot of history in the walls, but the hotel has also changed a lot over the years. It became branded as a Westin more recently, with just completing a full renovation in March of 2017 (except for the grand ballroom). The ballroom has been hosting weddings since it was open, for approximately 120 years

THE SPACE & WHAT’S INCLUDED

The Grand Ballroom is the main space the venue has to offer for weddings, holding up to 300 guests and known for it’s beautiful marble floors and gold details. Most couples use it for their reception space, with about half holding their ceremony on-site as well. A six hour rental of the ballroom is included with the food and beverage minimum, which also includes a complimentary suite for one night at the hotel. Many couples book it the night before the wedding to get ready in! It’s the perfect place for weddings all year round, hosting many winter weddings with no fear of weather. The ballroom itself is beautiful for indoor portraits and there are many portrait options right around the hotel outside in the downtown area!

An event manager is included with the rental as someone who is there to help couples throughout the whole detailing process. They are also present the day of, with their main focus being inside the ballroom. They are there to help set up and tear down, as well as coordinate dinner service, catering, and their staff. Essentially, they take care of everything that happens inside their ballroom. Many of their couples opt to have a wedding planner to guide them through other parts of their day and for an extra set of hands. They’re there to help you and to make sure everything that happens in the venue runs smoothly.

Further information on their packages and what they offer can be found here!

THE EXPERIENCE: WHAT MAKES THE WESTIN UNIQUE?

Kathy explains, “It’s such a special day and we are very lucky to be a part of it.” For a couple to choose them to be a part of their experience, it’s an honor. Their end goal is to make sure they take care of all the details and logistics of what’s happening in the ballroom so the couple can enjoy the company of their friends and family on their wedding day. They don’t want anyone working on their wedding day or setting things up. They have an amazing staff who have been with the Westin for 10+ years doing upwards of 50 weddings per year, so there is years of wedding experience there.

“They have an amazing staff who have been with the Westin for 10+ years doing upwards of 50 weddings per year…”

The Westin’s gorgeous ballroom is simply like non other in the greater Columbus area. The space is beautiful, there isn’t much like it out there. It has a lot of history in its walls. It’s charming, elegant, and classic. If that’s the look you’re going for, it’s hard to compete with. More than that, the staff really make The Westin stand out from other venues in the area. Kathy states, “I know that whatever I put down on that event order, it’s going to get executed, and executed flawlessly. They genuinely care about the service that they provide.” As a photographer, I can attest to how great their team is to work with. They truly work to give you an amazing wedding experience. Being in a hotel, you get that aspect of the service culture that is like no other.

WEDDING VENUE ADVICE FOR COUPLES

Kathy’s biggest piece of advice for couples is to have transparency. Don’t be shy in telling them what you want for your big day. “Give us all the information, tell us too much. Don’t be shy to say no, that’s not going to work for me, or yes, that’s exactly what I want.” Over communicate and don’t be afraid to tell them what you want. They are there to serve you, and are ecstatic to hear your vision for your wedding day. They want to make that happen for you. Tell them what your priorities are so they can cater to what you want the most for your wedding. Organization is also another key thing in making the process run smoothly. Knowing when they need certain information and preparing for that goes a long way in everything going as planned!

“They are there to serve you, and are ecstatic to hear your vision for your wedding day.”

Below are a few images of the space itself without a setup! It’s simply a gorgeous space! Engaged couples, if you’re looking for an elegant, classic ballroom space for your wedding day, look no further! Visit The Westin Columbus’ website here for testimonials on what some of their past couples have to say about their expertise!

Below is a reception set-up from a wedding I shot there!

And now for the ceremony set-up! Simply a beautiful option for receptions and ceremonies!

Now for some portraits around the Westin from a wedding day in December of 2017! From the getting ready portion of the day…

And some portraits inside the ballroom + outside right around downtown: