Cincinnati Museum Center brides? Would like some opinions :)

phfiely

Hi,

I'm considering using the Cincinnati Museum Center for both  my ceremony and reception and wanted to get some opinions and advice on the venue. A few things:
 
-I would like 150 or less guests, so likely wouldnt use the rotunda (except for some awesome pictures). Has anyone used the other rooms they offer? Are they still beautiful like the rotunda is?

-Does anyone have an idea of catering cost (food and open bar)? I know that you have to use their caterer and was just interested in quality/value.

I will be going to visit my family in Ohio so Ill have a chance to view the venue myself, but just wanted to get some advice from real brides who have used/are going get married there!

Thanks so much for any help!

mumel16

I visited there, and loved the rotunda!  We needed a room for only 120-150 tho, and after seeing the rotunda the smaller room kind of just looked like any other hotel banquet room in comparison.  But the building is beautifull!

mumel16

Wait, ignore my comment!  I just realized I got the museum center confused with a different venue we visited!  I'm sorry!  I have no thoughts on this topic

kaybrand

Our daughter is having her reception there next year.
If you go to the Union Terminal Website and click Information Center (located on the upper left side), then click facility rental you should be able to find the current pricing. I think the catering starts at $55pp - this includes dinner, drinks, tables, linens, china. Centerpieces are not included. And that is the starting price. There are many upgrades.
The Losantiville Cafe and Cincinnati Diing Room are wood paneled.
One thing to be aware of: there are restrictions on decorations, and time to set-up is a bit limited because of the museums. If you are using outside vendors (excluding the caterer) be sure they understand the restrictions.
We are working with Andrea Howard who has been very helpful and has been willing to meet with us several times.

phfiely

Thanks! Didn't see that info when I was looking at the website. Is your daughter having open bar there? I wonder how much that adds...

phfiely

Just found the menus...sounds pretty good that you can get 4 hour open bar and food, linens, stemware etc for 75$ a person! Definitely thought it would e more expensive there!

ams195

I'm getting married there on August 20th!! Well, I'm having my recpetion there I should say. The Rotunda is beautiful, but I found the dining rooms to be more intimate. I'm having 200 guests, but I just still felt like the Rotunda would only be appropriate for a guest list upwards of 350. Another thing that is better about the dining rooms, is it's much better in terms of your acoustics. I don't know if you plan on having a band or a dj...but sound bounces all over the place in the Rotunda. The rooms themselves I think are very classy and elegant...with the exception of the bathrooms! EW!!! They have this beautiful decor and then the bathrooms are just super tiny and super boring and out-dated. We are going to try to dress them up as much as we can. They did say that a remodel of the bathrooms is in the future plans, but no time really soon. I don't know why you are getting married, so it might be done before then. However, the bathrooms alone is not enough to decide to go somewhere else. In the area which serves as your cocktail area/dance floor there is a beautiful balcony that you can use to toss your bouquet or your photographer can take pictures up there. There are restrictions on decorations. Nothing that adheres to the wall, but we are having some free standing flower arrangements made and I think it will be fine. THE FOOD IS AMAZING!!! I can't complain about the food at all. And the chefs are really good about changing or modifying things. For ex. "I really think this potsticker but can it have a sweet sauce instead of a tangy one?" and they will change it and schedule another tasting with you! The time constraints are something that has been a little bit of a worry to me, however I'm determined not to let it stress me out!! If the rooms are not booked, you can get it earlier, if they are, you can get in 2 hours before. And easy way we've found to aleviate some stress is just develop a team of about 4 "non-essential to the wedding party" close friends or family. Go over directions and have them go over and set up or help the staff set up. 

I will say one thing I'm a little uncertain about is, how we will do the dances and things. Usually the dancefloor is in the center, so people can get up and stand around the floor and watch if they want, but you can usually see from your seat. Well...there are two different rooms for the sit down dinner and the dance floor... I think everyong COULD cram in the cocktail room if we tried...buuuut then people will have to stand, and not everyone will be able to see, etc. Thats the one thing that has kinda of threw me off. Other than that, the view of the city is great, the pictures in front with the fountain will be amazing, food is great, open bar...and so far the staff has been really accommodating.

Hopefully, if you decide to choose there for your wedding, I'll have more nothing but good things to tell you in.... 23 days!!

Good luck !!

mschneid02

We got married there a year ago. 
--The rooms are beautiful. I'm not sure what kind of decorations and set up time one would need. The rooms themselves are all you need. Seriously - you are paying for this beautiful old historic building.
--Andrea was great about changing things around from their set menu. We wanted open bar the whole time, but didn't care as much about giving people lots of food options or the fanciest food options. So, she worked wtih us on that.
--I can't remember the names of the rooms, but we had our ceremony in one, cocktail hour in the Cincinnati Museum (cost extra), dinner in room 2 and dancing back in room 1. I thought it worked out well. there were tables set up around the dance floor so people just moved in there.
--Just keep in mind that (depending on your timing) you won't really be able to do pix in front b/c the museum will be open and people will be walking around. Andrea can take you to all the cool places within the museum center to get pictures - including the Cincinnati Museum.
--the rotunda would be very loud.

It was an amazing place to get married.