Planning Guide · Mahoning Valley
Historic halls, garden ceremonies, lakeside receptions and barns out in the country. Here’s a local filmmaker’s look at the venues around Youngstown worth touring.
Picking a venue is usually the first big decision you make after getting engaged, and it shapes almost everything that comes after it. It decides your date, how many people you can invite and a lot of how the day feels. The good news is that the Youngstown area has more variety than people expect, and you don’t have to drive to Cleveland or Pittsburgh to find somewhere beautiful.
I’m a wedding filmmaker based between Salem and Canfield, so I spend a lot of time thinking about venues from behind a camera. Below are some of the best wedding venues in Youngstown and the rest of the Mahoning Valley, grouped by the kind of day you’re picturing, along with a few things I’d keep in mind as a filmmaker.
Before you tour
The capacities and details below come from what each venue shares publicly. They can change, so always confirm current numbers, pricing and availability with the venue directly.
If you want a ballroom that feels grand without trying too hard, Stambaugh is the one most people around here think of first. It was built in 1926, and the Tyler Grand Ballroom holds up to about 550 guests. There’s also Christman Hall for smaller celebrations and a formal garden outside for ceremonies or portraits.
The stone staircases and chandeliers make classic, cinematic shots easy. If you’re planning portraits inside, ask which spaces get the nicest window light in the afternoon.
The DeYor is a great fit if you love the idea of getting married in a theater. Ceremonies can happen in Powers Auditorium, and receptions move to the 1930s style Grand Lobby, which holds up to around 360 guests. The Flad Pavilion is the more modern option, with big glass windows and a patio outside.
This one is a restored train station, and it has a ton of character. The tin ceilings rise about 40 feet, there’s a spiral staircase, and an outdoor deck looks over the Mahoning River for ceremonies. The main dining room seats about 150, with room for about 110 more on the balcony, so it works really well for midsize weddings.
Old brick, warm light and a little bit of railroad history make for a really pretty film.
Fellows is the Valley’s botanical garden option, with about 12 acres of gardens inside Mill Creek MetroParks. You can have your ceremony at the Victorian gazebo or Kidston Pavilion, and the indoor Rossi Auditorium holds up to about 220 guests for the reception. If the weather turns, the whole wedding can move inside.
Late spring and early summer are when gardens like this really show off. If you’re still deciding on a season, I wrote a whole post on the best time of year to get married in Ohio.
The Lake Club sits on about 125 acres overlooking Evans Lake, and the grounds are beautifully kept for outdoor ceremonies. The ballroom holds up to around 500 guests, and smaller rooms like the Sky Room and Veranda Room work well for rehearsal dinners or more intimate receptions.
These two sit right next to each other. Avion has three stone fireplaces, chandeliers and views of the lake, and it can host anywhere from about 35 to 325 guests. Drake’s Landing is a full service banquet center with lake views of its own, which makes it a nice pick if you want your ceremony by the water.
Water always looks good on camera, especially near sunset. If you can, save a few minutes by the lake right before the sun goes down.
If your guest list is long, Mr. Anthony’s can handle it. It’s the largest banquet hall in Boardman, with room for up to about 2,000 people, and the space can be divided for smaller receptions. It has been around for more than 30 years, so it’s a name most local families know.
The Maronite Center has about 12,000 square feet and room for up to 800 guests. It can be split into two separate halls, each with its own dance floor, bar and patio, and the venue handles catering and planning too.
Waypoint 4180 is one of the newest venues in the area, with 26,000 square feet of event space. It’s flexible too, with smaller rooms that work for as few as 20 guests. There’s a Courtyard by Marriott right next door, which makes life easy for guests coming in from out of town.
This rustic barn dates back to the 1860s and has about 3,000 square feet inside. Outdoor ceremonies are available from late spring through early fall, and the setting feels a lot farther from the city than it really is.
Out near Salem, The Barn & Gazebo is surrounded by pine trees, with a ceremony chapel for about 200 guests and a barn that seats around 350. It’s climate controlled, so it works year round and not only in the summer.
Once you’ve narrowed it down, a few practical things will help you decide.
Once you’ve found your venue, the next step is usually your photographer and videographer, since the good ones book up for the same busy Saturdays. You can see my collections and pricing here or read more about filming weddings in Youngstown. And if you’re still on the fence about video, here’s my honest take on whether a wedding videographer is worth it.
Let’s talk
Share your date and your Youngstown venue, and I’ll be in touch with availability and a few ideas for your film.
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