The Columbus Athenaeum

Updated January 26, 2024

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About This Vendor

Historic Venue for Historic Occasions

The Columbus Athenaeum is a historic venue located in Columbus, OH. A timeless landmark in the community, it hosts weddings and corporate events, as well as concerts and theatrical productions. The property was established as a Masonic Lodge in 1899, and admitted to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997. Suitable for wedding ceremonies and receptions, this venue is in the heart of downtown Columbus near various 4-star hotels and two international airports. Its breathtaking turn-of-the-century architecture, grand theaters, and expansive ballrooms create an unparalleled backdrop designed to fill with wonder. Constructed in 1896 and beautifully restored, The Columbus Athenaeum has a dozen distinct spaces for intimate and large celebrations. Both theaters, which accommodate up to 230 guests, flaunt soaring hand-painted ceilings, impressive stages, and dramatic balconies that even the ancient gods would be envious of their beauty. Equally as lavish, the various small and large rooms can comfortably hold up to 900 guests. Exchange vows beneath the cathedral ceilings of the Priory before dining under a canopy of lights and swaying on the dance floor. For a genuinely swoon-worthy moment, pose for a stolen kiss in the vintage theater booths overlooking adoring guests. Difficult to fully appreciate, this venue is akin to being plucked from the present and transported within a moving fresco, from the classical art of ancient Greece to medieval mosaics. To-be-weds can feel assured that everything they need for their dream wedding is included in their chosen event package, such as tables and chairs, luxurious linens, and a variety of elegant decor. Experienced staff, alongside the venue’s executive chef, prepares sophisticated cuisine and takes care of each careful detail. For an unforgettable day, this vintage palace tells a story of beauty through time as eternal as your love for your partner.

Amenities & Details

Ceremony Area, Dressing Room, Handicap Accessible, Indoor Event Space, On-Site Accommodations, Reception Area, Wireless Internet

Guest Capacity

300+

Ceremony Types

Civil Union, Commitment Ceremony, Elopement, Interfaith Ceremony, Non-Religious Ceremony, Religious Ceremony, Second Wedding, Vow Renewal Ceremony

Venue Service Offerings

Bar & Drinks, Cakes & Desserts, Cupcakes, Other Desserts, Food & Catering, Planning, Service Staff

Settings

Ballroom, Historic Venue

Business Attributes

Pricing for The Columbus Athenaeum

Option	Value
Starting Cost	Affordable
Cost Starting
Price Range	$11,450 - $13,950+
Couples Usually Spend	$12,700
Peak Season Months	April-December
Peak Season Cost	$11,450 - $13,950+
Peak Season Reception Cost	$3,000
Peak Season Ceremony Cost	$800
Peak Season Bar Service Cost	$10
OffSeason Months	January-March
OffSeason Cost	$11,450 - $13,950+
OffSeason Reception Cost	$3,000
OffSeason Ceremony Cost	$600
OffSeason BarService Cost	$10

Browse The Columbus Athenaeum pricing PDF below for sample services and estimates.

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The Columbus Athenaeum Reviews

Kristen Osip (other) 5 out of 5 Rating

The Columbus Athenaeum was extremely accommodating when our original venue cancelled on us with 70 days before our wedding and made planning our event there as easy as possible! Their flexibility and willingness to adapt to our needs exceeded our expectations and helped to make our big day the best day of our lives. Their staff is professional, very responsive, and thoughtful when it comes to planning and execution and we couldn't have been happier with our experience. We worked primarily with Mark (the owner) and Samantha and loved every minute of it! Their attention to detail and willingness to go the extra mile made our night so much more special and memorable and we can't thank them enough for everything. We highly recommend this venue to make your wedding experience the best it can be!
Reviewed on 10-10-2023

Madison Lyberger (other) 5 out of 5 Rating

The wonderful staff at The Columbus Atheneum truly go above and beyond to ensure a seamless and memorable event. With its elegant architecture and graceful decor, the venue creates an atmosphere of romance and celebration. Throughout the celebration, they effortlessly orchestrate every detail, ensuring that everything runs smoothly and according to plan. The wonderful staff added an extra layer of magic to my wedding shower, turning it into an occasion filled with love, laughter, and unforgettable moments. This beautiful venue promises an unforgettable experience, as it becomes the canvas for cherished memories and the starting point of a lifelong journey of love and happiness.
Reviewed on 26-07-2023

Markee Osborne (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 31-12-2022
We just had a NYE at the Athenaeum and utilized both the Oak Room and Grand Ballroom for our event. I cannot recommend this venue enough, Mark and Susan went above and beyond to make sure everything went smoothly in the planning process and the night of. They accommodated every request (even a balloon drop ant midnight? and the night was better than we could have ever imagined. I will also add that nearly every guest of the 200+ we spoke to made a point to rave about the food! The space is gorgeous, convenient to so many hotels and restaurants and such a classic and historic feel.
Reviewed on 04-01-2023

Sara Goble (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 05-11-2022
If you’re trying to decide on a venue in the Columbus area, look no further!! We had our reception innthe ball room… so beautiful and spacious! We had a large guest list and they were able to accommodate on everything!! Natasha is the best to work with!!! She is kind, helpful and so attentive to detail. She took away a lot of my planning stress! We had guest constantly tell us this was the best food they have ever had at a wedding! We did the buffet and everything was sook beautiful. The desserts were phenomenal too. We worked with their in house florist and design lady, Tracy. She did amazingg on our flowers and centerpieces. I couldn’t say enough good things about this place, we just had the most amazing wedding because of the Anthenaeum.
Reviewed on 08-11-2022

David Bell (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 27-08-2022
The Columbus Athenaeum was a lovely venue for our wedding reception! We had originally gotten married in a microwedding in February and, on a whim, decided to have a large reception in August. We only had about 75 days to plan everything. Natasha and Samantha answered every question that we had, and we had a lot! Jennifer and the staff decorated the Large Theatre beautifully! We had some special decorations to honor our loved ones who are no longer with us, and they placed those decorations with special care and attention. The food was great - highly recommend the mashed potato martinis! We chose 4 specialty drinks in honor of our 4 cats and the bartenders made each drink taste so good. Special highlights - using the theatre gallery box for a special surprise for our guests, the food and cake tastings where we got a bunch of food to try, and they managed our cookie table that our guests loved. They were very flexible - at the very beginning of the reception a guest accidentally poured red wine on my dress. Natasha and the owner (whose name I unfortunately forget) mitigated the damage to my dress by pouring club soda on the stains as I freaked out. This delayed dinner but the staff smoothly transitioned to the new timeline. I want to emphasize that my dress would've been ruined had Natasha and the owner not moved quickly to help me. A great thing about using the Athenaeum is that they have a bakery and a DJ/photobooth company that they frequently work with, so we didn't have to find those vendors. The cake was delicious, the DJ kept the party going, and the photobooth attendant was so helpful and kind! This next point only tangentially involves the Athenaeum but most of our guests did not end up parking in the garage that is recommended by the Athenaeum. They found their own parking so our advice would be to forego a contract with the parking garage and, instead, use that money towards upgrading your package to include the mashed potato martini bar!
Reviewed on 05-11-2022

Hannah McMurray (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 23-09-2022
This venue is GORGEOUS!! The staff was so helpful throughout the whole process. Natasha was great to work with and helped ease the stress of the many details required to put together a wedding! I highly recommend utilizing this venue for both your ceremony and reception, it helped our night flow smoothly! I just recommend you have your photographer scope out specific spots for pictures, to avoid any time being wasted!
Reviewed on 29-09-2022

Asha Mall-Graves (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 10-09-2022
This venue is amazing. I chose it because it was very convenient (they helped me plan every little detail) and because it was BEAUTIFUL!!! My wedding planner Natasha was absolutely amazing!!! She helped make my dream a reality and she was so good at making suggestions. If you want as stress free a wedding as possible, go with this venue. Gorgeous day, gorgeous venue.
Reviewed on 20-09-2022

Sarah Niese (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 25-06-2022
This venue was absolutely amazing!!!! The space was beautiful on its own, little decoration needed but plenty of room to add your own touches. The staff was so friendly and easy to work with, meetings were timely and anything you could dream of is available. I would highly recommend this venue to anyone, I couldn’t have imagined having my wedding anywhere else! It was truly everything I could have wanted!
Reviewed on 18-08-2022

Melissa Dadaian (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 28-05-2022
My new husband and I got married at the Athenaeum this weekend, and we are so pleased that we chose them for the venue. The food was very good; guests raved about the meatballs and goat cheese & honey filo dough for hor devours and the prime rib carving station for dinner. They also were floored by the mashed potato martinis. I initially thought it was over-the-top to have potatoes in a martini glass, but people thought it was so cool! The Priory was beautiful for our ceremony and the Small Theater was perfect for our guest size. The lighting in there was beautiful. Lois was our initial contact but upon her departure Natasha took over and the transition was seamless. Sky was very helpful day-of, she was everywhere making sure things were running smoothly. Would recommend!
Reviewed on 30-05-2022

Taylor Van Deusen (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 16-10-2021
We LOVED working with The Columbus Athenaeum for our wedding this fall! Natasha, our wedding coordinator that the venue provided us with, was the absolute BEST! We enjoyed a wedding we would never forget and highly recommend other couples in the Columbus area to check them out!
Reviewed on 05-12-2021

Glenita Nutter (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 20-11-2021
The Columbus Athenaeum is beautiful. We couldn't be more pleased. All the staff are very professional, everything was just as we planned it. The food and cake were delicious. Our event planners Natasha & Gina are extremely helpful, professional. Both are so wonderful to work with all our guest loved them . I know we chose the right venue and recommend them to everyone.
Reviewed on 23-11-2021

Kelsie VonDeylen (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 23-10-2021
I cannot say enough good things about Gina and her staff! They were so helpful during the whole planning process and always giving us timely responses to any questions that we had. If we had any questions they were honest with their advice and feedback. Everyone raved about how amazing the food was and how beautiful the venue was. It was so convenient to be able to have our ceremony in Hellenic room and then the reception in the ballroom! The staff ensured that we had the perfect day. It was so great that we were able to drop off all our decorations & they made my vision for my wedding come to life. When searching for a venue, this one ended up being the most affordable & we are so glad we picked it. Would recommend this venue to anyone in their wedding planning process!
Reviewed on 19-11-2021

Ashley Cripe (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 21-08-2021
I highly recommend the Athenaeum. They are patient, kind, professional and knowledgeable. I did extensive research, received many quotes and decided on the Athenaeum. With my chaotic work life, a hip replacement, and re-planning the same wedding 3x due to covid... I could not have asked for better people to work with. Always prompt responses and did everything in their power to make my day special. I am very thankful for their flexibility and support. I had my ceremony and reception there. Everything was perfect. I am so grateful for Gina, for all that her and her staff did for me. Thank you Thank you Thank you!
Reviewed on 09-11-2021

Colleen Dempsey (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 23-10-2021
I can’t say enough good things about Gina and Natasha! The whole Athenaeum staff was amazing and my wedding was everything I wanted and more. The food was fantastic and everyone raved about the meatballs. Natasha made sure that not only my husband and I were taken care of but all guests in attendance. I am very thankful for how amazing job the Athenaeum staff did.
Reviewed on 25-10-2021

Caitlain Spangler (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 10-07-2021
Incredible doesn’t even being to describe. The staff, Gina and Colby, are just the kindest, most amazing humans. They took care of us and our guests! They went above and beyond to make the day more magical than we could even dream! The food was fantastic - many guests complemented. The evening was incredible. The planning was simple. I cannot recommend this venue enough. Absolutely get married here! Throw a party here! They are simply the best.
Reviewed on 14-07-2021

Emily Godshalk (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 29-05-2021
We got married in May and held our reception in the Athenaeum in the Large Theatre room, and we couldn't have picked a better venue. Everything was absolutely beautiful, and the staff were very friendly and helpful. They were great to work with throughout the whole planning process, and promptly responded to my emails whenever I had a question. With all of the uncertainty and anxiety we experienced planning a wedding during the COVID-19 pandemic, it was great to know that the Athenaeum staff was there for us and had our backs the entire time!We also appreciated that a lot of wedding details are taken care of for you by the Athenaeum staff when you have your event there- including food, alcohol, table and chair linens, set-up and tear-down. Being that it's a historic venue, you don't need many decorations, the rooms there are beautiful! They can also provide a photo booth and you can also have them make your wedding cake for you. The cake was delicious, and so was the food! Overall, we were very happy with our venue choice. 10 out of 10 would recommend!
Reviewed on 13-07-2021

Rachel Ross (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 26-06-2021
We cannot thank Gina and the rest of the amazing staff enough for all of their hard work! Gina was extremely helpful during the stress of our first venue filing for bankruptcy 5 months before our initial wedding date. She was also very kind and understanding when we had to postpone our wedding twice due to COVID. We were finally able to hold our reception at The Columbus Athenaeum on June 26, 2021 in the Large Theatre. It was everything we had hoped for and more! We would highly recommend The Columbus Athenaeum to anyone getting married or having an event!
Reviewed on 13-07-2021

Johanna Quarles (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 08-05-2021
The venue was absolutely stunning! The entire staff was amazing to work with and walked us through every step to ensure our wedding was exactly what we wanted. They more than exceeded our expectations! I highly recommend holding an event here and working with Lois! She was such a great help all the way through.
Reviewed on 10-05-2021

Laura Byrne (parent) 1 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 21-03-2020
Terrible venue. We had to cancel the reception due to COVID and they tried to keep ALL of our money. We could not get ahold of them and they would not return our calls. They did not try to work with us to reschedule. We finally had to sue the Athenaeum to get even part of our money back. They kept thousands! The food at the tasting was not good. They wouldn't provide vegetarian dishes for the tasting so we had to order foods for the reception we had never tasted. My advice - stay away from the Athenaem if you want your night to be special. I DO NOT recommend the Anthenaeum for anything.
Reviewed on 24-03-2021

Elizabeth Hodges (parent) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 24-10-2020
My daughter had her wedding /reception at the Athenaeum on Oct. 24th 2020. Lois was who we worked with and she was absolutely amazing. She was always quick to answer questions or and adjustments to time we needed. All the people working the venue were wonderful as well. We used the priory for the ceremony and the small theater for the reception. Both were so beautiful and worked perfectly. The food was amazing . Thank you all so much for making my daughter and her new husbands wedding so wonderful and memorable.
Reviewed on 27-10-2020

Rachel Near (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 05-09-2020
We had our wedding and reception in the Ballroom in September 2020, during COVID, and it was a great experience.From the beginning, Lois and the team at the Athenaeum made this an incredibly easy experience. They were extremely responsive to my many emails and phone calls, giving me options I hadn't even thought of, making the day so easy, beautiful, and fun. I truly appreciated how smoothly the day went thanks to the aid of the Athenaeum staff. And the venue was absolutely breathtaking. Our guests has a blast and I would not have done anything differently. Highly recommended!
Reviewed on 12-10-2020

Laurelin Bauerle (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 29-08-2020
We had our wedding and reception here and everyone loved it! We got so many compliments on how unique the space was. We used the Priory and the Small Theater and had around 75ish people. Both rooms were beautiful and the changing rooms and restrooms were super convenient. Lois was amazing at getting everything planned for us and the food and service at the reception were wonderful.
Reviewed on 27-09-2020

Mari Monaco (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 08-08-2020
Gina & her staff went above and beyond the day of our wedding. Everyone felt safe and were impressed by the gorgeous ballroom. The cocktail hour space in the balcony is incredible as you can look down on the main reception floor. Gina was very helpful and attentive to the numerous emails and questions I had as we navigated through planning a pandemic wedding. I will tell all of my friends about The Athenaeum when they are considering wedding venues. Being located downtown is another added plus!!
Reviewed on 08-09-2020

Vogue Harrison (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 14-03-2020
I cannot say enough positive things about TCA. We held our ceremony in the priory room, and our reception in the athenian. Both rooms were GORGEOUS and done exactly like we had discussed. We had a small wedding (45 people), and TCA went above and beyond for us. Gina was our rep and she was so sweet, thorough, and prompt. She never made me feel stressed or anxious. I knew we were in good hands with her. The entire staff from sales, to day of support, to the chefs, were so incredibly friendly and helpful. The only con I would mention is that the chicken was on the dry side, but that is such a small detail in the grand scheme of your big day. Do not hesitate to book your wedding/event at TCA!
Reviewed on 21-05-2020

Amelia Tetelman (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 14-09-2019
The Columbus Athenaeum put on our dream wedding! The Olympian Ballroom was absolutely beautiful on the wedding day. The staff did a great job of putting everything together and making sure the night was organized. Jackie was our planner and she was the best. She was patient and responsive with our questions and was flexible to our ideas. The location is great, just a short walk from hotels and bars. I can’t recommend this venue enough!
Reviewed on 06-11-2019

Laura Siegal (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 27-10-2019
A fantastic place for your wedding! We had our wedding Halloween weekend, and were going for a moody, vintage feel. We had our ceremony in the Macedonian Room, and reception in the Oak Room (highly recommend this space as it is beautiful). We couldn't have asked for a better venue or team to work with! Gina is fantastic and very responsive to questions and great to work with. It's obvious they know what they're doing here! Everything ran smoothly and looked beautiful! They food is also great! I couldn't has asked for a better wedding, and the Columbus Athenaeum made it happen!
Reviewed on 06-11-2019

Whitney Reed (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 12-10-2019
After doing some reach for other friends’ weddings, I stumbled across the Columbus Athenaeum. From the moment I saw the Olympian Ballroom, I fell in love with it. The room was large enough to hold a big wedding and the wrap around balcony above the ballroom for cocktail hour was so fun. It was an old world style venue that wasn't cookie cutter. I was looking for a unique space that would feel elegant and special and couldn't find any others to compare. I worked with Gina as my wedding coordinator and I couldn’t have been in better hands. Gina pulled together everything I asked for. Pre-mixed signature drinks, various program and favor placement, a specific order of events, and of course the food. The food was beyond delicious. It’s made on site, so it’s fresh and hot and whatever you do get the parmesan encrusted chicken because it’s divine. My husband’s father raved about the prime rib. And we did the mashed potato martini bar that was so worth the upgrade! For cocktail hour we did a meatball bar and it was such a hit. Our signature drinks were perfectly mixed and the bartenders never had a long line waiting—they were super fast. Gina is an organized and detailed person like myself and we were always on the same page double checking everything. Once the day came, my day of coordinator did fabulous and we were taken care of from the moment we stepped into the building. They got us drinks and food, helped direct guests, and facilitate in load out. Everything was set up and decorated for us, so all we had to do was show up! I even requested a children’s meal to be delivered to the groom (because he’s obsessed with chicken tenders) and they pulled it off. To top it off, they’ve recently started working with an in house designer. When Gina asked me my décor ideas and I explained them, she said, I think we might have the perfect décor for you! She encouraged me to compare to other florists as well and let’s just say they didn’t come close to matching what the Athenaeum’s decorator had. We had candelabras and floral toppers, candlesticks, and roses for days. It was elegant and gilded and luxurious looking and perfectly matched the feel I was looking for. We had an open bar and it was SO MUCH MORE AFFORDABLE than any other venue we looked at. We worked with Gina on amounts and took her recommendation to over order on beer and wine and encourage guests to drink the liquor and cocktails first! It worked perfectly. Most guests enjoyed the cocktails and liquor and then we could take home the unopened cases of beer and wine so we weren’t losing any money on them. The icing on the cake was the fact that we didn’t have to worry about clean up for the centerpieces or décor—only what we brought in! It was an incredible wedding and Gina helped make this a beautiful wedding for a cost we could afford. The whole team went above and beyond and I can’t even think of anything that went wrong. It’s a gorgeous venue, lovely staff, and you and your wedding will be in safe and capable hands.
Reviewed on 31-10-2019

Jenny Yohman (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 14-09-2019
My husband and I agree that The Columbus Athenaeum was the greatest choice we made for our wedding. From the beginning, everything was made easy for us, which is really helpful when planning a wedding and all the overwhelming stress that comes with it. We were first attracted to the Athenaeum because of its convenient location downtown and pretty pictures online. When we checked out the venue in person, we were sold. The Athenaeum has multiple different rooms available to use on your day, and they all have different features and architecture. We rented the small theater for our ceremony. The crew at the Athenaeum made the room absolutely beautiful for my day, it felt magical walking down the isle. They had all the decorations I could want, such as isle runner, flower petals, pillars, candles, string lights, and even an arch to hang flowers on (all for free!) it was so nice to not have to worry about finding all that myself. They even had an in house florist I could use, Tracie, who did an AMAZING job. The reception was just as perfect; we held it in the large theater. We were very impressed with the food and alcohol packages that The Columbus Athenaeum offered. Compared to other vendors, it was incredibly affordable and we did not have to sacrifice the quality. Everyone still talks about how good the food was. I was very impressed, and thankful, with how organized the staff was at the venue. We worked with Gina throughout the whole process, and she made sure we had everything we needed and wanted. She made sure we stuck to the timeline which made everything go as smoothly as it did. The Athenaeum worked great with all our vendors which contributed to the great day. Our friends and family keep talking about how wonderful and fun the wedding was, and we have The Athenaeum to thank!!
Reviewed on 07-10-2019

Amanda Weldon (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 21-09-2019
One of the best decisions I have ever made was choosing The Columbus Athenaeum for my wedding venue! They helped to give my husband and I the best night of our lives! Through the 18 months that I worked with Gina Cristofani, she was nothing but accommodating, personable and one of the best people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting! She was a powerhouse and helped create the most beautiful event and gave me everything I needed and wanted. TCA is the perfect place to have your wedding. The antique architecture, affordable prices, and wide range of selections for decor, food, vendors, etc is incredible. I wouldn't have had my wedding any other way. And thank you again to Gina for helping me coordinate such a perfect day! We love TCA!
Reviewed on 04-10-2019

Mary Zile (parent) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 10-08-2019
To the Columbus Athenaeum and Gina, our wedding planner: Thank you for making Jess and Larry's wedding very special. They both loved the event, and the guests had a great time. We were able to pick the food from many selections. It was all great, including the appetizers and the variety of desserts. We used the venue’s baker and had multiple flavors of cake plus cake pops, macaroons, truffles, and whoopie pies that was a real hit with the guests. We also used a florist from TCA recommended florist list. The florist was Tracey Zody from Z Creative. She was very imaginative and creative, and fit the flowers to the theme of the wedding. The flowers were beautiful! I liked the beautiful look of the venue, and we got many, many compliments on the Priory Chapel and Small Theatre reception areas. We had a wedding of about 150, so we picked the size of rooms to fit our wedding. It is fantastic to have 130 of their friends there for support, plus our families.We had a band for the reception and a violinist for the wedding. Gina worked with both of these vendors to get all of the details set. The program timeline was perfect. Gina was great to work with, explained details, asked the right questions, and remained very calm throughout the wedding planning period. Her staff was great as well, and very helpful in the setup and break down of the wedding.I would recommend TCA to anyone interested in a Columbus wedding.
Reviewed on 13-08-2019

Chelsea M (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 13-07-2019
I am so happy we chose the Columbus Athenaeum for our wedding venue! We chose to have our ceremony in the Priory Room and our reception in the Large Theatre. Both spaces were absolutely stunning. Jackie was our event coordinator and was wonderful to work with and very responsive to all of our inquiries leading up to the wedding. Leading into the wedding weekend the entire staff was incredibly helpful - they really do take most of the work out of your hands. They set up all of the décor I brought in, all I had to do was drop it off and leave a few written instructions! I also borrowed a lot of decorations from the Athenaeum, which turned out beautifully. They have a great selection of items and they do not charge to use them. The day of the wedding, everything flowed very smoothly. The staff was so helpful to keep us on track with the evening's events and were very friendly. Overall, I couldn't believe how perfect our wedding was and the Athenaeum made it possible! We've had so many guests say wonderful things about how much they loved the beautiful event spaces and how wonderful the food was! I highly recommend the Columbus Athenaeum as a wedding venue!
Reviewed on 29-07-2019

Emily Byers (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 18-05-2019
There is not enough words to describe how amazing my experience with this venue was! Jackie was our coordinator and she was absolutely phenomenal. We changed a lot last minute and it was no sweat off her back. She accommodated every single request with grace and ease. If it was me, I probably would have wanted to strangle us with our indecisiveness and last minute changes. Never once did I feel like we were an annoyance to her - she truly made this our day, and all about us. One of the reasons we signed on with the Athenaeum was because of the whole team. They say you're not buying a product, but you're buying the person who sells you the product (or so my friends in sales have told me;). Your product is great at the Athenaeum (the vendors, the venue... it's all beautiful) but it was Jackie and Gina who we bought into. Both of their welcoming attitudes, their ability to make you feel comfortable and calm, but most importantly, their accommodations and caring attitude. By the end of all this, we felt like they were family. That, along with the uniqueness of the Olympian Ballroom, are what sold us on the Athenaeum. We visited some very beautiful venues with comparable price points, but none of them had the ambience that the Athenaeum had and what Gina and Jackie could bring to the table. The weekend of our wedding, I've never felt more calm. Jackie and her team took our vision and brought it to life. Everything we wanted was done and THEN SOME - she made finishing touches that literally brought tears to my eyes. To be able to go into your wedding day not freaking out and at total ease - now that's a feeling I didn't expect. She handled the behind the scenes with grace, instructed us with everything we needed and even helped me pull off a huge surprise right in the middle of the reception - a performance by our alumni’s marching band! OU OH YEAH!A few other things to note - During the first food tasting, my fiance and I weren’t completely satisfied with the options that were given to us. I voiced my concerns to Jackie and within days Gina had scheduled a PRIVATE food tasting for us, where we could taste everything else and then some. We left feeling full, relieved, and with brand new selections for our wedding menu. It’s been about 2 months since our wedding and we are still getting compliments on how amazing our food was. The meatballs and mashed potato martinis are a MUST! I could go on and on with examples but I think I've made my point. You will not regret your decision signing on with the Athenaeum - the experience is magical, their vendors are top notch and everyone genuinely cares to make your day great!
Reviewed on 24-07-2019

Alexandria Diamond (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 27-04-2019
My husband and I got married at the Athenaeum on April 27th, and all I can say was that it was magical! We were married in the Macedonian room and then had our reception in the large theatre. It honestly felt like our dream wedding from start to finish. We worked with Jackie at the venue from the first day we walked in and she was amazing to work with. She tended to every one of our needs and made our special day exactly that, special. All I can say is that this venue is amazingly beautiful, stunning, and a lot of fun! We recommend this venue to any and everyone!
Reviewed on 13-05-2019

Sherrie Kessler (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 23-03-2019
Our wedding at the Athenaeum was amazing! We had our reception in the Small Theater. Gina was SO HELPFUL throughout the planning process and was always very responsive to emails and had great ideas and suggestions. Planning a wedding here was - dare I say it - easy! We received RAVE REVIEWS about the food and pie from our guests (get the brisket!). I would highly recommend the Athenaeum to future couples because it's truly a one-stop-shop and they handle so many of the little details for you.
Reviewed on 30-04-2019

Laura Soper (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 09-03-2019
Our experience at the Columbus Athenaeum was incredible! We had both our ceremony and reception in the Small Theater - it was beautiful! Jackie and rest of the Athenaeum team made the entire process SO easy for us as we planned our event from out of town. They were SO accommodating throughout the entire process and made sure we were well taken care of on our wedding day!
Reviewed on 11-03-2019

Emily Newbauer (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 27-10-2018
The Columbus Athenaeum was everything we could have wanted in a wedding venue and more! Everything was perfect the day of and the coordinators at The Athenaeum were very helpful throughout the day! Our wedding coordinator, Jackie was beyond helpful - from helping us choose a room the first day we met her, all the way until the day of where she helped coordinate the entire day from start to finish. She always gave us peace of mind throughout the entire process and quickly answered e-mails and calls whenever we had a random question! All of our guests raved about the venue, from the reception room and food, as well as the ceremony room and decorations. I cannot thank The Columbus Athenaeum enough for all they did to make our day so special and would definitely recommend them!
Reviewed on 18-02-2019

Jimmy King (professional) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 07-12-2018
Had the pleasure of our band (The Martini Affair) perform at the White Castle corporate holiday party at The Columbus Athenaeum. It's a beautiful location and the staff was very helpful and supportive. We hope to perform at a wedding there soon!
Reviewed on 09-12-2018

Kayla Mielnik (bride) 4 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 20-10-2018
The Columbus Athenaeum was the perfect venue for us. We loved the historic feel of the building and the fact that we could have our ceremony and reception in the same place. Everything went perfectly and the Athenaeum took care of everything for us (a huge load of stress off of our shoulders!). The only downside was the lack of parking, but this is to be expected when your venue is downtown. We were able to have all of our guests park at the 4th and Elm Garage (the Atheneaum even provided a parking map that we could share with our guests). All of our guests commented on how much they also loved the historic feel of the building. They were all super impressed with the food and many said it was the best wedding food they had ever had (some professional chefs included). Overall, working with the Athenaeum and Jackie was awesome and made our day go smoothly.
Reviewed on 03-12-2018

Caitlin Albert (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 17-11-2018
Everyone at The Columbus Athenaeum made our day a huge success. From the initial tour to the actual day-of, everything went smoothly and seamlessly. Jackie was our event coordinator and was a huge help along the way. My husband and I got married in The Large Theatre room- but there are many more rooms to choose from depending on budget and size of your event! I really liked that this venue took care of food & alcohol- even our centerpieces with the package we chose! It made everything SO much easier for me to plan. Also, during the wedding, there was an additional event coordinator present (I can't remember her name- sorry!) who was also amazing- she made sure we ate & helped keep everything in line. I would highly recommend this venue to other couples- it was the best day ever!
Reviewed on 27-11-2018

McKenzie Hull (bride) 2 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 06-10-2018
I held my wedding here and would not recommend it due to very poor customer service leading up to and after the event. They did not follow through on things they promised, lost the cake, did not provide the correct alcohol, etc. And rather than trying to help fix any of these problems, they were repeatedly very rude, including the manager that I spoke with.
Reviewed on 12-11-2018

W C (groom) 3 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 27-10-2018
3 stars; we will explain why here in a minute. We picked the Athenaeum for the ease of everything being under one roof, and not having to go far between the ceremony and reception. The planning process, and details around the wedding day went smooth. Communication with our coordinator was good and easy to get a hold of. We felt during the latter part of the planning process and finalizing things she was almost too busy to help and rushed things along without really caring. No empathy at times either.The reason why we picked 3 stars for this review was the rehearsal and ceremony itself. The rehearsal was set and we were trying to find our coordinator, and was able to. But, we ran into a problem that was NOT mentioned at any point during the wedding planning process. The coordinator left out the part that she WAS NOT a part of the rehearsal, and it was on us to do it. Talk about being very frustrated and pissed, that would do it. Not only was she not going to be upstairs for it for questions, she avoided us completely. Then, as we were chatting afterwards, the colleague of hers was very short with guests, and family that we had to go and turned off lights. It was 5 minutes after the rehearsal was over!! Very unacceptable business practice. Last, the day of the wedding. She again was nowhere to be found at times during the duration of the ceremony and the reception especially. We probably saw her 1-2 times during the afternoon at the reception, and not existent for the end of it. I am sorry, but this person is PAID to be there and she left our reception to be who knows where. Well, at the exit of our reception, we cannot find her and find where we were supposed to go to leave. I had to approach her boss and get a bit blunt with them on where this person was. We proceed downstairs to the lobby to find out that our planner was with ANOTHER CLIENT and NOT AT OUR RECEPTION HELPING!! At this point, we did not care and it was over, but to look over and see she completely ditched her job and not assist at the end our wedding shows a lot about character and integrity. All in all, if you use this venue, please do, it is great and central location in Columbus. But, ensure you keep an eye out for the above things as they may happen to you. Ask these questions and confirm this upfront before you sign the dotted line to ensure your day goes swimmingly. P.S. the coordinator we worked with was Jackie.
Reviewed on 09-11-2018

Caroline Chao (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 24-03-2018
I think I have to first public thank Jackie for making sure every detail of my wedding ran smoothly. I literally just had to show up and it was fantastic!I had not considered the Athenaeum as I figured it was well out of my price range- it was quite the opposite. Do not think that good value means that you will not receive good service...in fact, it was excellent!My guests were raving about the Large Theater. It was an absolutely breath-taking backdrop. It turned into an even greater dance floor! Guest danced until the very last song. People still rave about my wedding and the venue was a large part of their fun.
Reviewed on 18-10-2018

Libby Manifold (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating

Gina was fantastic with all of our planning and questions. Our day was beautiful and went off without a hitch!!
Reviewed on 01-09-2018

Lauren C (bridesmaid) 2 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 18-08-2018
If this your aesthetic - the price point and food are pretty decent. As a bridesmaid, the wedding planner the bride was assigned was very nice and helpful during the ceremony. After the ceremony things went downhill.Overall - unprofessional and decently angry staff. I am sure they were busy and overwhelmed with weddings this weekend but damn... I was impressed with the level of attitude.Two things ruined this place for me.1 - the most judgey bartender I have ever had the pleasure of trying to order from works here. I had attempted to order shots upon arrival at the wedding for the bridal party upon the bride's request. Rather than being told no we don't do that, can't do that etc. (reasonable) - I got lectured about how I didn't want to be that girl at the wedding. It was condescending and I got a good mansplaining for five minutes how i needed to watch my drinking for the evening. This was the very first drink I ordered. I wrote this off and just asked the lady for a different drink instead and figured that'd be the end. I also checked with the bride to see if they had requested the bartender keep the drinking low-key, maybe she was trying to follow her directions and just missed the mark... The bride and groom had not requested this.Later, another bridesmaid ordered a double and she received the response \"It's only 9:30\" and was given a barely alcoholic beverage instead.If you want to pass this much judgement on young women, don't be a bartender. This with the other staff snapping at us for asking questions about where we could put our stuff/move our supplies gives me the impression there isn't good leadership here.2- A bridesmaid was helping clean up (we were out by 11:30 pm) and she had placed her personal belongings and bag on a table by the door for easy access. It \"went missing\". Without her keys, phone, ID, or plane ticket she contacted all bridesmaids and as many party goers as she could in search of the missing bag hoping someone had grabbed it.The staff asked her to leave because they needed to lock up and she did and continued her search. She returned later after checking the hotel and with other party-goers and begged them to please check the reception one more time. She was told it was late, they wanted to go home and she could come back Monday. That would have been great, except she was flying out of state the following day (sunday). The stress this caused was unnecessary and it completely ruined this bridesmaids night as well as created a lot of tension trying to find this bag with all of her information in it.Monday she called the venue, one of the employees had moved it into a box in a room that was staff only. She had not misplaced it - they had moved it, then refused to help and apparently communicating with each other to solve this problem was just too much effort.I am hoping this was a one-off experience and the staff was just having themselves A Night. I know it happens. But I was very confused that a venue that does 100s of weddings gets away acting like this.
Reviewed on 21-08-2018

Kaitlyn Bregman (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 11-08-2018
We had our wedding (ceremony and reception) at the Columbus Athenaeum on 8/11/18. Everything was perfect, and the venue was a delight to work with! Jackie was our coordinator, and she was responsive and helpful at all times. The ceremony and reception spaces were both beautiful, and the venue takes care of most of the set-up for you. The food was also delicious, and we got many compliments on it from our guests. The venue is in a great location in downtown Columbus, and even our out of town guests found it easy to get to from their hotels. Considering how much the venue does for you, the price was more than reasonable. I would highly recommend the Athenaeum to anyone who needs to host a big event in Columbus.
Reviewed on 13-08-2018

Trisha Morris (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating

As a family, we have officially completed our third wedding at The Columbus Athenaeum. A lot of time and planning went into each event and, without a doubt, each event was a huge success because of the TCA staff. Each wedding was very unique because we were able to utilize the different spaces available. Part of the reason for going back each time was the unbeatable price and more importantly, our guests raved about the atmosphere and the customer service. One of the absolute best things about TCA is the FOOD! Everything is made right on site and it is so delicious! Guests still talk about the meatball bar and the mini-pastries! The menu is diverse enough that we were able to have different appetizers and entrees at each wedding, with the exception of the meatball bar which was at all three! We would like to say thank you to Mark, Susan and Gina, they took wonderful care of us and our guests.
Reviewed on 23-07-2018

Michelle Yeauger (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 03-07-2018
We recently had our son’s wedding ceremony and reception at the Columbus Athenaeum. We were on a tight budget and I researched MANY venues in the Columbus area before we picked the Athenaeum. It was two years in the planning and now our big day is over. I wanted to write to make sure all of you planning your events know that the CA was AMAZING in every capacity. They are efficient, affordable, flexible, friendly, helpful and on the day of the event were extremely attentive. My husband was so impressed how every time we turned around and needed something that one of the two attendants were there to get us whatever we needed. We had many comments from guests on how delicious the food was. We HIGHLY recommend the CA for any event and would use them again in the future.
Reviewed on 09-07-2018

Nina D'Eramo (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 09-06-2018
The Columbus Athenaeum was the perfect venue for our classic, glamorous, art-deco wedding. Every one of our guests were just raving about how cool, beautiful, and convenient our venue was (Located across the street from our hotel!). Favorite parts from guests were the dance floor stage in the Large Theatre and the delicious food! Jackie was made our wedding process super easy. I never questioned whether everything would be taken care of. TCA is THE BEST wedding venue in downtown Columbus, if not, the whole state of Ohio!
Reviewed on 24-06-2018

Kelly Saunders (bride) 3 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 02-06-2018
It was a beautiful venue and they made planning easy. We had a lot of difficulty after the wedding. Terrible at getting back to us. Charging our card for more alcohol and never giving us a receipt. It’s been two weeks and we haven’t been able to talk to them.
Reviewed on 16-06-2018

Liz Fernbach (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 04-11-2017
We had our reception at TCA in the Small Theatre on 11/4/17. I fell in love with the lights in that room. We worked with Jackie and she was amazing, and helped us so much throughout the process. She really helped our vision from the room come to life. It also made things very convenient to work with a venue that did all of the décor, food and alcohol themselves. Its also really nice that the linens etc. counted towards our event minimum – unlike the hotels we looked at. We used one of their centerpiece options as one of our upgrades, and they were perfect. The food was amazing! We received so many compliments from our guests about the food – especially the meat balls. I hate potatoes, so I love that their buffet had a pasta option. (My MOH who went to the tasting with us raved about the mashed potato martinis, even though we didn’t choose them). Jackie very helpful and understanding when we were indecisive about our food options. Everything was so good, it was hard to choose. We also decided to have their donuts for dessert instead of cake – and those were a huge hit with everyone!! Everything went so smoothly at our reception – the staff really did an amazing job of making our day perfect!
Reviewed on 21-05-2018

Stacia Momany (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 30-12-2017
We had the perfect ceremony and reception at the Columbus Athenaeum! Jackie was our venue coordinator and made wedding planning such a breeze! We were married in the beautiful Priory and had our reception in the Hellenic room. Jackie and her team made sure all of my requests were executed perfectly and our wedding day was seamless. I was in constant contact with Jackie via email for the 9 months leading up to the wedding. She is very organized and I always felt like a priority to her even when I asked the silliest questions like how many candles I needed to fill the windowsill. Thank you TCA and to Jackie for providing excellent service and a beautiful setting for our magical day! We couldn’t be happier!
Reviewed on 28-03-2018

Alexandria Long (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 27-01-2018
Loved loved loved The Columbus Athenaeum! We worked with Sarah and Gina and they were kind, professional, and brilliant! The food was amazing (we had the chicken bru blanc and the ratatouille {which was our vegetarian/vegan entree}) and all the vendors drop offs went smoothly. The bartenders were amazing and our guests loved the photo booth! The decorations were beautiful and tasteful and the whole night ran so smoothly!
Reviewed on 21-03-2018

Tiffany W (bride) 4 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 14-10-2017
The venue is beautiful and a great value! But I give it a 4 star rating because I think there is room for improvement. I found when working with the staff, there was a lot of miscommunication. I would talk to my coordinator and then come in and speak to someone else and they would have no idea what I'm talking about or contradict what I was told by my coordinator. They also provide a great packet of information and instructions but then look at you confused when you actually follow the instructions. I think too because they do so many weddings that they forget that for most people, this is their first one and forget to communicate some details and instructions. I was scrambling before my wedding to find some people to help set up the reception (because you can only enter the room 2 hrs before the start time) and then I went in 2 days before the wedding to drop of decor and mentioned that some people would be coming in to set up and the manager, again, looked confused. She proceeded to tell me that they will do all the setup. However, my coordinator never asked for any pictures, instructions, etc about how I would like to room to be set up. The manager also scoffed and said \"Well we do 100s of weddings to most people just trust us,\" when I questioned the fact that I was never asked for details on how I wanted centerpieces displayed, etc. Well that is fine if you think that but you should never say that to a client. I thought it was rude and unprofessional. That's great that you have that experience and one of the reasons I chose the venue. But that doesn't mean that you know exactly what I specifically want for my wedding. On top of all that, I walked in for the rehearsal and was told I would have a completely different coordinator than who we had worked with the whole time. The new coordinator was good. The day went as planned. It was just odd that there was no communication or explanation as to why they sudden switch. Overall, I would still recommend this venue but just think there is room for improvement when it comes to communication.
Reviewed on 30-12-2017

Emily Osting (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 04-11-2017
Nate & I just had our reception at the TCA on November 4th. We were living out of town during the engagement so I was a little nervous to plan an out of town wedding, but Jackie (my coordinator) made everything so easy! I met with her a couple of times and we emailed frequently. She kept me on track with the planning process and made sure I had my dream reception. We had our reception in the Ballroom. Our total guest count was 350 and everyone had enough space. The food was excellent! I keep hearing from our guests that it was the best \"wedding food\" that they have ever had! All the staff are very friendly and you can tell they are compassionate about what they do! You are all awesome and if I had to do it all over again I would do everything the exact same! I cannot thank you enough!
Reviewed on 29-11-2017

Brooke Brant (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 21-10-2017
Our reception was in the Oak Room (apps 110 guests). The staff at the Athenaeum is incredibly helpful and made the process so easy (Jackie is amazing)! They helped us figure out all the details, stay on track with our timeline, clearly communicated information, and our reception ran so smoothly thanks to them! The food is amazing - our guests keep raving about it! As far as weddings go, everything is reasonably priced for the great services and products you get.
Reviewed on 15-11-2017

Kat B (bride) 4 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 11-11-2017
Definitely had the best reception I could imagine! But the planning process was a struggle with the venue itself. But other than that, the food was amazing, the staff the night of the wedding catered to us to make it as simple and help us have as much fun as possible!
Reviewed on 12-11-2017

Amanda Klunk (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 28-05-2017
Definitely just like all the reviews say! Beautiful venue. They take care of everything for you and it was so nice to have food/alcohol/decor all from one place. It's a bit pricey and they have very strict rules that can be a pain. However, overall we had a great experience. I wish they allowed more time for the reception - that's my only gripe! It would be nice to be able to add on an extra hour or two for those who want a longer event. But Jackie was wonderful to work with and she helped the day of go smoothly! The food was really delicious - short ribs are where it's AT! I loved that Jackie had food waiting for us at our seats when we entered the reception and she went through the buffet line and filled our plates right away so we could eat while the other tables were in line. You can tell they have weddings down to a science - everything like clockwork and they know what they're doing.
Reviewed on 03-10-2017

Shannon Perkins (bride) 3 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 10-06-2017
So, I am giving this venue 3 stars because I did have some complications with the venue. During the planning and looking over the totals for the money owed, I had a couple of questions in regards to paying a service fee on a deposit. When I spoke with the facility and got a response back from the financial coordinator, the e-mail was completely inappropriate. Text was highlighted and in multiple colors that didn't necessary apply to the questions that I had asked. Also, the venue that I chose for the reception had cabaret tables however the linens were just draped over and looked very unpolished (I was shown cabaret tables that had the linens tied at the bottom as a model). The food was good and the service the day of was good so that is why I am giving it a 3. For a place to be all about customer service, there are definite areas of improvement.
Reviewed on 12-07-2017

Kara Stull (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 10-06-2017
We are still so happy with our experience at the Athenaeum. Our wedding reception was in the Olympian ballroom, and we worked with Jackie. She could not have done more for us and we are so thankful to her! She made the process seem easy and answered questions for us quickly and patiently, any time we asked (and we had a lot!). She met with me and my husband, my parents, and even let us check out the room throughout the year. She was organized, friendly, flexible, and accommodating, and even helped my parents pull off an outrageous surprise during our reception. I would recommend the Athenaeum to anyone looking for a large wedding venue. Everything was perfect, the food was great, and the initial list of approved vendors was so helpful! Thank you for everything!
Reviewed on 29-06-2017

Lisa Strobel (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 27-05-2017
When we were unsatisfied with reception locations in our hometown of Erie, PA, my now-husband and I began searching for venues here in Columbus completely \"blind\" -- we'd never been to a wedding here and the vast majority of our friends are transplants, too. Finding the Athenaeum was a godsend. We looked at several different rooms, but knew instantly when we entered the Large Theater that it was \"The One.\"Gina was a great, down-to-earth resource who guided us through the numerous decisions to be made. When neither the Station Menu or the heavy Hors D'oeuvres menu was exactly what we wanted, she worked with us to choose options from both, as well as some \"unseen\" options that ended up working exactly how we wanted. We enjoyed the food ourselves (Gina and an assistant made sure that in the chaos we got tastes of the cocktail hour offerings and plates of selections from each of our Italian, Mexican, and American dinner stations, so we didn't have the issue of not eating that you hear of from so many other brides and grooms) and we've heard nothing but good feedback from our guests. The bar arrangements/pricing was also one of the big draws and saved us considerably versus other venues we had looked at.The Athenaeum has some pretty strict rules about timing of set-up, take down, cookie tables, etc. but in fairness, they tell you about it all up front.We had a few disappointments along the way. Scheduling of appointments was a bit of a pain -- we were able to make it work, but my husband had to take time off of work to be able to meet with them during their business hours. We had questions about the menu but unable to speak with the Chef at the tasting reception after we had specifically been told they'd send him over. And I was a bit frustrated at a \"standard\" response when we'd finalized the order for everything (Food, linens, decor, alcohol, etc.) and I was told that if I didn't make pay our account in full on the same day they wouldn't be able to place our order and we could be responsible for \"rush\" fees. I understand that this is \"normal\
Reviewed on 18-06-2017

Cassie Rosario (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 10-06-2017
The Athenaeum was everything I wanted an more. Our event coordinator, Gina, and the whole staff were so wonderful throughout the whole planning process and the day of the event. They really are event professionals and will make sure every detail is covered so your day goes exactly how you imagined it to be!
Reviewed on 13-06-2017

Ken Rumbaugh (groom) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 27-05-2017
Our experience working with The Columbus Athenaeum (TCA) and our wedding were fabulous!!! Neither my husband nor I were very creative when it came to choosing a “look” for our wedding. Our amazing coordinator, Lori, helped us with every step of the process making it fun and easy! One of the many awesome things about the Athenaeum is it’s a one-stop-shop for many wedding essentials, including food, linens, table & ceremony décor and alcohol. This saved us a huge amount of time and stress! Lori made a number of suggestions to not only keep us within our budget, but to create an absolutely beautiful setting for our night. She had some really great ideas and we couldn’t have been happier with how everything looked. A number of our guests said they had never been there before and couldn’t believe how beautiful it was. We had several people tell us ours was the best wedding they ever went to and I will tell you: we did NOT spend an exorbitant amount of money! From the stringed lights overhead, to the character of the older building, to the perfectly set tables, it was stunning, elegant, and sophisticated without being “stuffy” or over the top. One thing that’s different from other venues: you are not invited to a food tasting until after you sign a contract. We trusted the reviews we read (and Lori!) which said they are known for their excellent food and not to worry about not having a tasting in advance. They were absolutely correct! We still went to the tasting, which was very helpful in our food selections. Everything we chose was absolutely delicious and the meal was very reasonably priced. One of our friends who is a very picky eater couldn’t wait to tell us she loved everything! We were not excited about one of the alcohol rules: if you order to little, there’s an upcharge to buy more the day of your event. If you order too much, you can keep unopened beer and wine, but not spirits. We didn’t like the rule about the unopened spirits, but they said the Ohio liquor laws do not permit them to let you take it. We followed TCA’s guidelines for ordering and were pretty close on the spirits. We had a lot of beer left and some wine, which was fine since we were able to keep it. Having enough alcohol without overspending was one thing we worried about, and it honestly turned out just fine. The overall cost of the alcohol was pretty reasonable considering our reception was 5 hours long with a full, open bar. We used a mix of TCA preferred vendors and those who were not and were really happy with all of them. If you choose a non-preferred vendor, my advice is to choose someone who is at least familiar with the Athenaeum. It is a big place, they have multiple events going on at the same time and have fairly strict rules for vendors related to load-in/load-out times, etc. This is necessary to keep things running smoothly for your event, as well as the others going on at the same time. Another recommendation: spend a little extra for the photo booth! We used TCA’s. The price was competitive with other vendors, everyone loved it and at the end of the night we had a memory book with notes and silly photos from our friends and family which is a really fun keepsake! I cannot overstate what an absolutely perfect night we had! The TCA staff did a superb job assisting us in the planning, keeping the night running smoothly and creating a truly beautiful setting and experience we will never forget. For value, quality and ambiance, I highly recommend them!
Reviewed on 04-06-2017

Sarah Overdier (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 15-04-2017
The staff at the Columbus Athenaeum are experts at customer service and hospitality. We had a phenomenal wedding at an affordable price in a historic and beautiful location! From the moment we inquired about having our wedding at the Athenaeum to the final load out at the wedding - every single detail was executed perfectly by their staff. The food is exquisite! We have a very \"foodie\" family and everyone raved about our wedding food. We had a buffet style diner but the staff served my husband and I and made sure we had drinks at all times. :) We were actually able to enjoy ourselves at our wedding. Every time I stopped in to make a payment or drop off a contract, the staff made me feel like I was their only client, when in fact they do hundreds events a year. We did lots of research on several types of venues including DIY style, and the cost for 160 guests at the Athenaeum was one of the most affordable options. And they did most of the work!
Reviewed on 23-04-2017

Sayje Stang (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 21-06-2018
Had our ceremony and reception in the large theater, and it was the best decision. Guests were blown away, everyone just kept taking about how beautiful it was and how amazing the food was. I think the biggest thing for me was that the wonderful staff and venue takes care of most everything. You don't have to hire and coordinate a lot of different vendors, which is a blessing as you get closer to the day. Highly recommend, our wording was unforgettable.
Reviewed on 21-04-2017

Jennifer Michel (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 17-06-2017
Wonderful venue!! I had my bridal shower here last weekend (in the Hellenic Room), and it was amazing. The room was decorated beautifully, the food was delicious, and it was the perfect space for my shower. They had couches and chairs that made for a comfy spot to open gifts and chat. I did not plan the shower my self, of course, but my family and friends that did said that the staff was very friendly and easy to work with. During the shower the staff was attentive and helpful. It's also a great location, right downtown and easy to find, with a parking garage nearby. I highly recommend this venue!
Reviewed on 20-04-2017

Heather Niccum (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 18-03-2017
Thank you to everyone at The Columbus Atheneum, especially Jackie, who played part in making our wedding day everything we could have dreamed of and more. Literally everything on the day of went smoothly, everyone raved about how incredible the food was, and how beautiful the Large Theater was for both our ceremony and reception. Jackie graciously worked around my ever changing work and nursing school schedule when planning and showing off the venue to my out-of-state family. She also was instrumental in bringing our (or my ) vision together to every last detail within our budget.I especially want to point out TCA was beyond accommodating to dietary needs. As the lone vegetarian in my family, it was nice to work with a group of people who made my dinner with my tastes in mind and not just \"the vegetarian option\" you would expect of other places. They also accommodated a guest with over 20 allergies needs delectably.
Reviewed on 22-03-2017

Sarah Haumschild (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 07-01-2017
I cannot recommend the athenaeum highly enough! As soon as I walked in to tour it I fell in love with the building, but what I really want to rave about is how easy and fun they made the planning process. Due to my husband's military orders, we had to plan a wedding in just under 6 months, with him on the other side of the country and me with a full time job and graduate school, so I needed a full-service venue that would make this process as painless as possible. TCA exceeded all my expectations! It was affordable compared to many other venues I saw, but included way more for the money than I expected, and it was BEAUTIFUL. I got so many compliments from guests about how gorgeous and elegant the venue was, how delicious the food was, etc. They were so easy to work with, and so professional, it made planning the wedding a breeze. They nailed my vision perfectly, and both my husband and I are so incredibly happy with how everything turned out!Also, while I am certain any coordinator on staff would have been capable, I worked with Gina and she was AMAZING, so helpful and professional, with great tips and recommendations- she really made what could have been a pressured and stressful process seem easy and fun, and I cannot speak highly enough of her service. I could go on forever, but will end saying I would recommend TCA to any bride, you will not be disappointed!!
Reviewed on 11-01-2017

Jess Spears (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 03-09-2016
The Athenaeum was our first choice for venue and we were so happy that it worked out. We were married in the Priory and had our reception in the Small Theatre. The entire day went flawlessly. We worked with Lori and Gina and they were both so knowledgeable and helpful. There was not a single thing that went wrong on their end all day long and the staff made everything happen while disappearing into the background. The rooms were beautiful and gave us the most gorgeous photos. Definitely go to the tastings in order to decide on your menu. We ended up choosing the second most expensive buffet option because the prime rib and mashed potato martinis were must-haves. We are so terribly happy we chose the Athenaeum. They do have rules and the price is not the cheapest, but it is absolutely a value for what you get- a beautiful, perfect day.
Reviewed on 05-01-2017

Anna B (bride) 3 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 29-10-2016
While the venue is beautiful, the price was not worth the services we received. There was hardly any communication between the employees when it came to questions I had about my wedding. When they decided to not believe me about what I received as a customer, I decided to write this review. When the appetizers came to my husband and my table, they were cold and when we asked for a hot plate they said there were no more but she would double check. A lot of my guests did not even receive an appetizer. The kids meals we ordered were delivered to the wrong children even though I gave them the table that the children would be at. The Athenaeum would not refund us any more than $500 even though our total guest count was almost 20 people short of what they charged us for. My wedding planner had warned me of the tricks they like to pull and how much they would charge us for each little thing and I still decided to give them a chance. I wish I hadn't because my wedding day was much less than exceptional. It was rushed by the coordinator they assigned to me and the atmosphere was extremely unprofessional once the final payment was made.
Reviewed on 28-11-2016

Katherine C (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 22-10-2016
I can not say enough about the Columbus Athenaeum- what an exceptional venue! Planning a wedding I initially felt very overwhelmed but they made it SO easy! We worked off of their list of preferred vendors and everyone they recommended was exceptional. Jackie was great about answering any questions that we had along the way and her expertise was much appreciated. My friend hired a wedding planner, but TCA is so organized that I didn’t feel like I even needed one! We were married in the Priory and had our reception in the Small Theater. What a cool venue! The Priory photographs really well and is perfect for a more intimate ceremony (we had just over 100 guests). The Small Theater is gorgeous with the twinkly lights hanging up everywhere- the evening felt magical and our photos are breathtaking. The décor is already so pretty that we only spent $150 for the tables which we used for artificial leaves and table numbers. In addition to the money we saved on decor, we also appreciated how reasonably priced everything was (food, alcohol, space rental) when we compared it to other venues that we looked at. Guests LOVED the food and they also liked that the dance floor was on stage. The stage isn’t so high that guests felt on display dancing there, but it’s high enough that everyone could see our first dances from their seats. The staff at TCA are exceptional. We gave them the items that we wanted placed on the tables and they did the rest. Everything looked beautiful and it was so nice just being able to enjoy the day without having to worry about anything because we knew we were in good hands!
Reviewed on 16-11-2016

Miranda Ally (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 19-12-2017
Jackie was amazing!! She was so helpful and knowledgeable. She answered every question I had and was so nice. She was there with me the day of our wedding and was really fantastic. She took care of everything. The venue itself was perfect. We used the small theater and it couldn't have been better. The lights make it seem like a fairytale. The food was wonderful, not to mention the great bartender. Every staff member is so helpful and has a great attitude. Jackie and the rest of the staff made it so easy on me. I love them for making our wedding day perfect!!
Reviewed on 19-10-2016

Kara Francis (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 15-10-2016
Lori, Gina and the rest of the staff at the Columbus Athenaeum were nothing short of incredible. From our initial visit to leaving at the end of our reception, everything went so smoothly and beautifully. Gina did a wonderful job of keeping everything on schedule on the big day, but without being strict or pushy with us on the timeline - it was a perfect balance of allowing us to have fun but still making sure we got in everything we wanted to do. There was a great variety of choices for food, drink and decorations, and the venue was also super flexible in allowing us to bring in our own decorative items to give our personal touch to the big day (and they even set up those extra items for us). Overall, I could not have asked for a more perfect venue and staff for our wedding day, and I wouldn't change a thing! Our guests absolutely loved it as well!
Reviewed on 18-10-2016

Jolene Petroc (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 08-10-2016
The Columbus Athenaeum was PERFECT for our wedding ceremony (Priory) and reception (Small Theater). The spaces themselves were stunning- such beautiful architecture and character that not much additional decoration is needed. The rooms were spectacular- linens, chairs, candles, centerpieces, lighting, etc.- everything came together in the most perfect way. Gina was absolutely incredible. She answered questions, offered suggestions, and kept us in the loop every step of the way. I could not have asked for a better TCA coordinator to help put our special day together. AMAZING. My husband and I went back to TCA after the wedding just to say 'goodbye'. She's truly wonderful. Compared to other venues, TCA is super affordable, especially considering the high quality of the food (seriously, guest are still raving about their meal), the event enhancements, and general packages. Things like cake cutting, set-up, menu card placement, etc. are all included AND TCA provides a healthy list of reputable vendors for flowers, photography, cake, and music. Working with TCA makes all of the planning so much easier and less stressful.I honestly could go on about how wonderful our TCA experience was for a lifetime. My husband and I are so pleased with how everything turned out and will certainly look fondly on our wedding ceremony and reception for many, many years to come. We've already joked that we'll be back for a vow renewal in 10+ years. Seriously. :)
Reviewed on 16-10-2016

Vera Filatova (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 03-09-2016
My husband and I visited over 10 places before we decided on TCA for our reception. We absolutely fell in love with the Large Theater. (However, they have several unique spaces.) Overall, it was very affordable and much cheaper than most of the places we had initially looked at for our reception. All the staff at TCA is very polite and professional (over the phone and in person). It was great to have everything in one place - food, alcohol, linens, centerpieces, etc. They literally take care of everything for you. We were even able to take the beer and wine back with us and had an after party. For our event, we worked with Jackie who was outstanding!!! She was very personal, organized, and accommodating. She made sure every little detail was in place and everything was perfect. The food at our wedding was phenomenal (even though we did not necessarily think that at the tasting). We did the platinum buffet. We had several people comment that it was the best food they ever had at a wedding. The donuts were a huge hit - would highly recommend! Absolutely everything was perfect, and we had such a fun time! Thank you so much Jackie and TCA staff!!! We cannot express our gratitude enough!
Reviewed on 13-10-2016

Madison Goudy (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 03-09-2016
We cannot thank the Columbus Athenaeum enough for the PERFECT wedding! We had our wedding in the ballroom and it was a great size for our 200 guests. We worked with Jackie and she took care of everything; she is a saint! Quick to email you back, answer all questions, and give insights on what works best in the space. From food, to decorations, to alcohol, to linens the Athenaeum worked with us to get exactly what we wanted. They went above and beyond to make our wedding perfect and we are so grateful! Our guests are still raving about how beautiful the venue was and how AMAZING the food tasted!! You will not be disappointed by this venue!
Reviewed on 04-10-2016

Tracee Keefer (wedding party) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 16-09-2016
Kudos to the Columbus Athenaeum team for an outstanding job they did to make Tracee and Elliott Keefer's wedding reception a regal and magical event! From the receptionist/hostess/bartender, Jessica Ellicott, to the sales and event planner, Jackie Kelley, to the customer relations manager, Lori Fiske, to the executive chef, Lynn Kirch and the GM, Susan Cassidy,and all who made this a night to remember, our many thanks go out! The room was splendid, the decor fine, the food delicious, and the atmosphere fun and elegant! It was a dream come true for the bride and groom! A fabulous time was had by all as reported by several of our guests!! We appreciate more than words can express how wonderful and memorable this day was made by all that you did!! God Bless you all!
Reviewed on 29-09-2016

Alyssa Brown (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 03-07-2016
We had both our ceremony and reception at The Columbus Athenaeum. The venue was absolutely perfect! We had a lot of guests coming from out of town, so having both events in the same place was ideal for our situation. We had our ceremony in the Macedonian Room which comfortably fit all 200 of our guests. We had our reception in the Olympian Ballroom which was the best choice we made throughout the wedding planning process. Not only is the room absolutely gorgeous, but it was also extremely spacious! We received many compliments from our guests about the beautiful set up. I am also extremely happy with the coordinating staff at the Athenaeum (big shout out to Gina!). There was not one thing that I had to worry about the entire night. The Columbus Athenaeum was the perfect venue for my husband and I. We recommend TCA to any bride who is looking for an elegant, spacious, and easy to plan venue.
Reviewed on 26-09-2016

Annie Moosa (bride) 4 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 18-06-2016
Gorgeous Venue for a great price. Lots to offer to make any style wedding come to life!
Reviewed on 06-07-2016

Sarah Larimore (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 04-06-2016
I had a wonderful experience having my wedding at The Athenaeum! The ladies were excellent in helping with each stage of planning and the day of couldn't have gone any better. I got so many compliments from my guests on the flow from the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception, along with how beautiful and unique the venue was. I was also told by several guests that it was the best food they've ever had at a wedding. I'm so glad I had my wedding there!
Reviewed on 14-06-2016

Courtney Oler (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 16-04-2016
The only complaint I have is with the hours it's really hard to work full time and get things done. Everything else was PERFECT. All night long I had people telling me how wonderful the food was and how beautiful it looked. We were in the Large Theater and they help advise me so that everything would look perfect and it did. I'm so very glad I pick to have my reception here.
Reviewed on 01-05-2016

Jenna Dougherty (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 19-03-2016
I cannot thank Gina and the staff at The Athenaeum enough for creating the perfect ceremony and reception for our special day! They staff and especially Gina went above and beyond to ensure our wedding day was exactly what we envisioned! We had so many complements on the venue, food, and staff from our wedding guests. I would HIGHLY recommend this venue to anyone planning a wedding! You will not be disappointed! Thanks again Gina!! You are the best!
Reviewed on 08-04-2016

Diana Chandler (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 03-06-2017
The Athenaeum was a great choice for our wedding! We went with the Large Theater Room and worked with Gina for most of the process. She was GREAT and very helpful with providing different options to accommodate our last minute changes to the big day. This venue is very unique and perfect for a downtown wedding. The food was soooooo good and the chef was able to provide amazing options for our guests with food allergies! We loved having our wedding here!
Reviewed on 03-04-2016

Mara Peyton (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 14-11-2015
I couldn't ask for a better reception. Everything turned out perfectly!! Gina was absolutely amazing to work with and making sure that every detail was taken care of. Our reception was in the Olympian Ballroom and it looked amazing. Gina and the staff were fabulous to us and our guests and made sure that the entire night ran smoothly. We've received so many complements on the room, the food, the decor, etc. There isn't one thing that I'd change. Overall an amazing experience and day. Thank you Gina and The Columbus Athenaeum!!!
Reviewed on 04-01-2016

Emily McCallister (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 17-10-2015
We got married on 10/17/15 at the Columbus Athenaeum. We used The Priory and The Oak Room for 100 guests. It was perfect. Gina was helpful and attentive and always kept things moving. I always felt like she had our best interests at heart (even if that meant TCA lost a few hundred dollars). The rooms are so stately that we used very little additional decorations. We received countless compliments on the food and atmosphere. TCA is upfront from the very beginning about rules and timing (when you're allowed in the room and when you have to be out). We also only used recommended vendors from the provided list from TCA. We did not want to risk a vendor new to TCA struggling with getting in and out of the room on time and causing us extra $$. We did not feel we needed to hire a 3rd party wedding planner since we had Gina and our DJ on site to keep everything running smoothly. Our banquet captain (Ben) did a great job and keeping my husband and I hydrated and taking care of anything we requested. We hand-picked 3 couples to help take decorations/cake/gifts home with them that night, and Ben worked with each to get them loaded out before our deadline.\r\rOverall, I would recommend The Columbus Athenaeum to anyone considering a Downtown Columbus wedding.
Reviewed on 02-12-2015

Meghan Huston (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 06-09-2015
Overall, we loved our experience at the Columbus Athenaeum! Gina really helped us to make our day exactly as we had planned to every last detail!\r\rLocation: Great for anyone wanting to remain downtown. We had a lot of people coming from out of town, so the proximity to the airport and ease of walk to the hotel were imperative. It was also nice to be near to other fun places so that out of town guests had places to see/things to do if they arrived the day before/early/stayed after. The venue was also great for us as we wanted it to have a bit of an city feel while also being \"classic and elegant.\" The Athenaeum was just that! \r\rPlanning:We actually started our experience at the Athenaeum with another planner who is no longer with the venue. I will say that she was much colder and a little more hesitant to do what we wanted. But it was all better when we got to work with Gina! She was fantastic! She really listened to what we wanted and gave us ideas on how to (affordably) achieve what we were wanting. She was also a great partner on helping us when we really didn't have a plan (i/e how much alcohol to purchase, food choices). She was very honest, and upfront. We knew that she wasn't just offering us the most expensive options, but the best options for us! \r\rThe day of: One word, Amazing! The room was set up exactly as we had expected it to be. Everything that we provided (favors, thank you card, heritage table) was set up as we had advised. The room looked fantastic! Also, all of the events occurred on time and all of our guests seemed to get where they needed to go without any issue. The service staff were wonderful too! Although, my husband and I didn't get much time to eat, we were waited on hand and foot and never wanted for anything! It was also fantastic that the staff really handled all set up and tear down, we only had to drop of the additional things that we wanted to include and arrange for people to load gifts, excess alcohol and decor afterwards. Like I said: Amazing! \r\rJust a few things that I would call out: \r1/ They host a lot of weddings at the same time. This made the rehearsal time for us a little different (mid-day the day before). Also, there are a lot of people attending other weddings around, but I will say that I only noticed this one time. Otherwise, they do a really good job of making it feel like it is only you!\r2/I don't think that this differs from any other place that I looked into for the wedding, but you feel like you get charged for a lot of little things (i/e if you want floor length/different color table linens, you are going to pay for it). \r3/They are also very strict with load-in and load-out times. It wasn't anything that we struggled with, but it doesn't quite give off an \"at your service\" vibe. \r\rNone of the above kept us from enjoying our day! Like I have said, it was exactly (if not better) what we wanted. The people at the Athenaeum were wonderful and I would recommend this venue to others without hesitation.
Reviewed on 19-10-2015

Lindsey Niederlander (bride) 4 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 03-10-2015
Danielle and the rest of the staff at the Athenaeum were fantastic during the planning period! From the moment we toured we knew it was the venue for us. She was patient with us through all of our changes. It's a great place if you want an all-inclusive venue! I would definitely suggest The Columbus Athenaeum to other brides or people looking for an event space. Our food was delicious and everyone complimented it all night, the space was beautifully set up, and the staff were quick to help the bridal party with anything they needed. I'm giving the Athenaeum 4/5 stars because there were some problems with our event, but they were minor. 1. The staff lost our cake knife & server, and we had to use theirs. They found it by the end of the night & returned it. 2. The alcohol ordering process involves the client choosing quantities of each alcohol, but the mixers are the Athenaeum's responsibility. They ran out of several juices and fruits during the event, and that was irritating since we didn't choose how many to order. 3. I also asked the staff to speak with my parents if we ran out of any alcohol because they were paying for the bar, and I didn't want to know if we were running out. However, the staff came straight to me once we ran out of wine. I went with the flow and pointed out my parents, I just wished I didn't have to worry about money during the event. The only other note I would say is the Athenaeum is very strict about timelines and rules. If you aren't willing to have a venue like that, then maybe look elsewhere. Even though a few minor problems happened during our event everything else was perfect!
Reviewed on 14-10-2015

Amy Amari Conley (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 26-09-2015
We had both our Ceremony and Reception at TCA and I was absolutely impressed with how everything went! Our ceremony was in the Priory and reception in the Oak Room. We initially started with Ann Clark, but as she had to retire due to health reasons, she hand-picked Gina Cristofani to be our new coordinator. Gina was fantastic! She met with us within days of the switch, put us at ease with her expertise and knowledge of weddings and our specific wedding plans, and was always quick to respond to any questions my husband and I or my parents had. We were able to bring all our decor items down for setup the week of, which was very helpful! My husband and I were even given the chance to get a sneak peek at our rehearsal of the Oak Room. The day before and the day of, she was on site, came to find me when I arrived at TCA, helped throughout the evening with getting us ready for the ceremony, getting our things downstairs, getting our guests down to the cocktail hour, and even came to find me before she left for the evening to see if there was anything else we needed from her or the rest of the staff. Everything was beautiful, and I wouldn't change a thing! They do have rules there and are sticklers for time, but we managed to abide by them just fine with no issues. The rest of the staff were equally as friendly and helpful - our captains at dinner were fantastic (1 saw me carrying my plate back from our stations and ran over to carry for me so I didn't spill anything on my dress!), they were constantly around making sure everyone had what they needed, and just very pleasant people to work with. Our decor went perfectly with the Oak Room, and we heard they are still talking about it! We had so many compliments from the staff - from the head chef to those helping us load carts into the service elevators to take to our cars at the end of the night. And the food was equally as fabulous! My husband and I knew we'd miss the cocktail hour due to pictures, but once we arrived we had our appetizer options (the meatball bar – which is a must!!, Spanakopita, Anti-Pasta platter options, and Bacon-wrapped Water Chestnuts) were waiting for us at our spots (which TCA told us they do for the Bride and Groom). All the station options we had picked we had personally tried at the tasting date and they did not disappoint! The head chef was there carving the Prime Rib, we had a pasta and mashed potato station, side items, the Chicken Beurre Blanc – all of it was delicious! Just like when we had sampled it all back in February. Also a plus is that the leftover wine and beer we were able to take home with us to use again in the future (since they are bought through the venue by the case). \rI know I will highly recommend TCA to any bride, and I know if we ever need a space (large or small) for a company function or other event, we'll definitely consider TCA. It wasn't the cheapest, nor the most expensive, but with what we got, it was definitely money well spent!! \rThank you so much to Gina and the TCA staff! You were absolutely wonderful to work with, and thanks for making our wedding a dream come true!
Reviewed on 12-10-2015

Lauren Bezilla (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 05-09-2015
Our wedding was over Labor Day this year. We had our reception within the Large Theatre. Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE was raving about the space. They loved how unique it was as did we! We did not want a standard ballroom, so this was a perfect fit for us. We worked with Gina from beginning to end and she was such a great help. She was very knowledgeable about the space and the options the Athenaeum were able to offer. The food at the reception was also wonderful, so good! Overall, it was a great experience. I wouldn't change a thing!
Reviewed on 30-09-2015

Emily Ickes (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 12-09-2015
If I did my wedding over, I would choose The Columbus Athenaeum 1000 times! We had a great experience from beginning to end-- I don't have a single complaint. We held our reception in the Olympian Ballroom. We worked with Danielle and she made everything from picking the menu to the decorations completely stress-free. She was a pleasure to work with! It was so nice to have TCA handle the food, decor and alcohol so I didn't have to find any outside vendors. The ballroom itself is beautiful so you really don't need a lot of extra decor, but they still have a lot of options to choose from. The food turned out great and several of our guests complimented about how good everything tasted. Overall, we were very happy and would definitely recommend TCA!
Reviewed on 29-09-2015

Anonymous (wedding party) 5 out of 5 Rating

Gina,\rWe want to extend our heartfelt thanks for all the work you did to make Amy and Josh’s wedding day truly their “best day ever”. The facility was perfect for our group and it looked magnificent. From the lobby to the Priory and especially the Oak Room. We had a vision with the food, linens, flowers, decoration, etc. but it could not have materialized without your hard work and guiding hand. Everyone commented about the entire experience and we know they really enjoyed themselves as did we. Please share with Chef Len that the food did not disappoint. We had so many people tell us it was the best food they ever had at a wedding and I would have to agree. I wasn’t able to sample everything but it wasn’t from a lack of trying!!! I can still taste the prime rib - yummmm. \r\rThe staff did their job seamlessly and we hardly knew they were there as they went about their work but responded quickly with any request. They were very helpful in getting us carts etc. and helping us get to the loading dock and in record time. When I looked at my watch with the last load it said 11:28. Even I couldn’t believe it. I can not think of a single thing that went astray or was an issue. That is quite a feat. \r\rAgain, thank you so much for the effort you made and how easy you were to work with.\r
Reviewed on 28-09-2015

Hilary Marshall (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 28-01-2017
I'm so excited to be using The Athenaeum for our wedding!! They made the booking process so easy, and I really like that they take care of everything in terms of food, linens, alcohol, and we even get someone to help us throughout the planning process. Every time I email my event manager, Gina she gets back to me super quick. She's been really helpful with recommending vendors, day of timeline, and pretty much anything else wedding related! I'll be sure to leave another review once our event is over, but so far I have nothing but great things to say about the Athenaeum!
Reviewed on 28-09-2015

Katie Dewitt (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 29-08-2015
Our wedding took place in the Large Theatre. Our colors were black and white with gold accents, so the beautiful gilded stage was a great backdrop for our reception. We loved working with Danielle Levulis, and everyone at TCA. They made everything very easy and were always professional. They have a lot of helpful paperwork outlining all of the options for food, set-up etc. The room was beautiful, and I loved that the food was in one area (not seen in the main area where we ate) and that there was a separate area for cocktail hour. Ive received rave reviews on the food and I agree! It was great, we went with the shortribs and apricot porkloin! Our appetizers were a big hit too- bacon wrapped water chestnuts, meatball bar and brie bites! It is annoying to have to clear everything out the night of the wedding, but I put an aunt/uncle in charge and they went to the Renaissance, picked up my car, and filled it with everything from presents to cardbox and the floral arrangements. That made things really easy. We were married close by at St Johns The baptist church, room block at the renaissance and rehearsal dinner at due amici- our guests loved that everything was close! TCA was an awesome pick and Im so glad we had a huge party there!
Reviewed on 24-09-2015

Lindsay Arnott (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 25-07-2015
I couldn't have chosen a better Venue! My guest are still raving about the amazing food and beauty of The Columbus Athenaeum. I was looking for the Vintage/Rustic feel and this venue gave me just that! Danielle was absolutely AMAZING!! I had a hard time making decisions and she was never at a loss for words in helping me to chose things! I also liked that she explained why she liked and didn't like things! She knows the venue so well and will let you know what works and doesn't work. We got married in the Priory room. I switched out the chair covers to Ivory and it really brightened the room and made it feel very \"churchy\"... We chose to have the wedding here as everyone was from out of town and the convenience made it easier on all. We had our reception in the Grand Ballroom. It was simply amazing. From the photo booth, to the linens. My guest are still raving! And my photos are FLAWLESS!! 6 weeks later and I'm still getting compliments on how wonderful the meatball bar and bacon water chestnuts are! If you are looking for the unique venue with a wonderful, helpful staff- Look no further, ladies! And request Danielle, although, all the staff were amazing!
Reviewed on 24-08-2015

Anonymous (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 27-06-2015
This place was awesome!! They were very helpful and worked with us to meet our needs.
Reviewed on 23-07-2015

Mitchell Smith (groom) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 20-06-2015
Food selection and service was excellent. The inclusion of an events planner at no extra cost simply by booking an event was an immense help. Plus the location was very convenient in relation to the hotel. Would definitely recommend.
Reviewed on 16-07-2015

Elizabeth Livingston (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 02-05-2015
We had our reception in the Large Theater- and I have never seen anything so unique and beautiful for a wedding! TCA saved us at the last minute when our original reception venue closed unexpectedly, and were so accommodating. Gina was awesome in helping us with the transition, and our reception was more beautiful than I ever expected. The staff was organized and took all of the stress out of the small details of planning, and had everything covered for us. We saved so much money on our bar with the way TCA has you preorder all alcohol. The food was great and we even got to meet the chef who helped us in our selections. We were so lucky our original venue closed because nothing could ever compare to the reception we had at the Athenaeum!
Reviewed on 01-07-2015

Rachel Lind (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 16-05-2015
Gina and the staff at The Columbus Athenaeum went above and beyond our expectations when we pictured our wedding venue. From the moment we toured, we knew that this was the place for us! We got married in the Priory and our reception was in the Large Theater. The staff was very professional and Gina did an outstanding job making all of my visions come to life with how I wanted our wedding & reception to be. They literally handle everything for you in regards to set up, which makes wedding day stress minimal! Our friends and family can't stop telling us what an amazing time they had. Everything from the food to the linens was perfect. This is by far the perfect wedding venue because it has multiple rooms depending on your price range and guest count. You can't go wrong! The food was delicious and above our expectations, we chose the Ruby buffet with a few upgrades to allow more options for guests and it was easier on us to not have to keep track of who wanted which entree! If we had one complaint it was that the night went too quickly! You can't go wrong with this venue!
Reviewed on 11-06-2015

Lauren Bokesch (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 23-05-2015
My fiancé (now husband) and I wanted to find the perfect venue for our dream vintage, downtown Columbus wedding, and from the moment we toured the Olympian Ballroom at the Columbus Athenaeum, we knew we had found the perfect venue for our reception!! Ann was our event coordinator and she was absolutely incredible! I am a very Type A person, and she was so organized, always responding to my emails within hours, answering any and all of my questions, and going above and beyond and match our vision of what we wanted our reception to be! When the day of the wedding came, Ann was right there, making sure that everything went smoothly and seamlessly, and it did! With her helping me plan the reception, there was no need for an outside wedding planner/coordinator. Our reception was absolutely stunning – our guests could not stop telling us how beautiful the ballroom looked! It perfectly fit our vintage, classic theme. The pricing is very reasonable as well! TCA has a pretty long and detailed contract, and they have many rules about anything and everything you could think of, so just make sure you read through everything prior to signing the contract and ask as many questions as you can think of!! We never had an issue, but only because we always asked Ann about décor, our cookie table, flowers, etc. beforehand! The best part of booking our reception at TCA was its location – our ceremony was at the Columbus Museum of Art (maybe 6 blocks down the street from TCA) and our hotel room block was at the Renaissance Hotel, which was right across the street! There was no need for shuttle service before/after the reception because everyone was able to walk to and from. It was so convenient! Also, the food was outstanding. Every single person who came to our wedding told us how delicious the food was!! My only complaint was their time restrictions. Our reception ended at 11:00 pm, and we had to be out (and by we, I mean every single person, vendor, decoration, etc.) by 11:30 pm or else we would be charged $100 for every 15 minutes you go over (which I think is absolutely ridiculous). We were able to make it out by 11:20 pm, but that wasn’t the type of stress I wanted at the end of my wedding day! We couldn’t book any later than 11 pm or else I would have just added an additional hour from the get-go. Regardless of this, TCA helped my husband and I create the perfect reception and one unforgettable night! I would definitely recommend this venue to anyone planning a wedding!!
Reviewed on 07-06-2015

Dana Tegowski (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 31-12-2014
We loved our New Year's Eve wedding at the Columbus Athenaeum. Gina was our wedding coordinator and incredibly helpful. She worked with our budget and made great recommendations on cutting costs and where to spend money. The food was AMAZING and everyone had a blast at our wedding and reception! The venue is gorgeous (we chose the large theatre for both the wedding and the reception) and everyone was commenting on how beautiful and unique the setting was.
Reviewed on 24-01-2015

Lindsay Meeker (bride) 3 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 13-12-2014
We went with the Athenaeum much like other people due to the \"one stop shop\" they offer doing the decor, set up/tear down, and provide the linens, centerpieces, lighting, food, and staff. We live two hours away and loved that we had a coordinator, Gina, to handle all the little details.\r\rWe used the Macedonian Room for our ceremony and it was beautiful and fit all of our 180 guests. We invited 275 and the room holds 200 and is the largest ceremony room they have besides doing both ceremony and reception in the same larger reception space together. You only get 30 minutes to rehearse and the time is given to you (typically 3-3:30pm on Friday for a Saturday ceremony so party members had to take off work) and have strict time constraints and in the contract it states you will be charged $100 for every 15 minutes you go over on both rehearsal and reception times so just be leery and plan ahead. We had no issues with this and the vendors for the reception that are on their list know about this and plan accordingly as well.\r\rOur reception was in the ballroom. It was gorgeous and the food was delicious. We had ice cream sundaes and hot chocolate for our cocktail hour and everyone loved it. My only complaint was that it was pre-scooped and it was all melted, and there was a great variety of toppings. The guests loved this sweet treat and our \"eat dessert first\" mentality. \r\rThe captain didn't seem to know that there were drinks pre-selected to have at the head table for toasts right away and came out to ask before we walked in what we wanted to drink. I told her those arrangements had already been made and there should be drinks there for the whole party. There was a lull and miscommunication between when speeches were going to be done and when dinner would be started. 10-15 minutes passed and no one was eating or talking so I said lets start eating but it didn't seem like the food was ready to be served. There were no attendants at the mashed potato martini bar (an upgraded cost) and people had no idea what the glasses were there for and just put the potatoes on their plates instead.\r\rWe had a sparkler exit arranged with lighters and sparklers dropped off with our decor and my husband went to the coordinator to find them because they weren't anywhere around the reception space under a table or anything and they were locked up in the office and the lighters were still packaged and not ready, so he spent time on that. People didn't get cake as it took so long to get it served after our cutting.\rWe also had a family member who has epilepsy have a seizure at the reception due in part to the heat of the ceremony room. Our family had it handled and the staff asked if they needed to do anything. We asked for a chair and water and never got them or any other check to see if he was okay and they seemed very unprepared for anything like this to happen. Luckily it wasn't a bad seizure and he was able to enjoy the rest of the evening but I was not impressed how the staff handled the situation. We also had memory photos of loved ones at the ceremony that were supposed to go to the reception and no one got them and my MOH set it up instead.\r\rGina was fabulous with her communication and planning. It's a pretty venue with great food, but I don't think for the thousands of dollars we spent the service was what it should have been & staff was not up to par and my husband and I should not have had to lift a finger for the $$ spent.
Reviewed on 23-12-2014

100 Reviews, with a Rating of 4.75 out of 5.0

Contact Info for The Columbus Athenaeum

Contact	Value
Facebook	https://www.facebook.com/thecolumbusathenaeum
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Website	www.columbusmeetings.com
Phone	(614) 222-6338
Address	32 N 4th St, Columbus, OH, 43215
Email	reception_desk@columbusmeetings.com

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