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Weddings

About

The Western Reserve Historical Society hosts wedding celebrations and is the oldest cultural institution based in Cleveland, Ohio. The original structure dates back to 1867, with numerous historical buildings dotted around a picturesque green. Here, amidst beautiful mid-nineteenth-century architecture, museum galleries, scenic grounds, and woodlands, you can celebrate your own historical milestone.

Facilities and Capacity

There are numerous event spaces at The Western Reserve Historical Society, with indoor and outdoor options available. From pre-wedding parties to mini ceremonies and grand receptions, there is something to suit every couple's vision. The Hay McKinney Garden and Reception Hall is ideal for both small and large gatherings. The mansion house provides the perfect backdrop for photo opportunities with its ornate aesthetic and Gilded Age elegance. Inside, you can host a drinks reception for 50 guests or a micro wedding for 10 loved ones. The garden is suitable for larger gatherings of up to 200 people, where you can celebrate the day immersed in architectural splendor. For more intimate affairs, the Hanna Courtyard is a fairy tale setting for outdoor nuptials, complete with a pond, greenery, and tall trees. Afterward, guests can make their way to the Crawford Rotunda, a unique room filled with antique motorcycles and vintage cars. This space has high ceilings that allow natural light to pour in. There is space for live entertainment in this circular gallery.

Services Offered

The event team at The Western Reserve Historical Society looks forward to bringing your vision to life. They can advise you on which is the best space to hire to reflect your wedding vision. They are happy to recommend their preferred vendors for all your catering, floral, entertainment, and photography needs. They also offer guidance on local accommodation, parking management companies, and local event planning services.

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Frequently asked questions

Do you have a site fee for wedding receptions at your venue?

Yes

How many event spaces or rooms does your venue offer?

10

Describe your venue:

Museum

What kind of settings are available?

Indoor
Uncovered Outdoor

Which of the following wedding events does your venue service?

Ceremony
Reception
Bridal Shower
Engagement Party

What catering services do you offer?

Outside Cake

What bar services do you provide?

Cash Bar
House Beer
House Liquor
House Wine
Liquor License
Open Bar
Premium Liquor
Specialty Wine

What transportation and access is available?

Parking
Wheelchair Access

Reviews of Cleveland History Center at Western Reserve Historical Society

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Emily Sent on 11/16/2018
5 out of 5 rating

Venue was the star of the wedding

I cannot say enough about the WRHS -- we had an amazing wedding in the rotunda space. The carousel was the biggest hit, and it was so fun seeing pictures of all our guests on it. We also had access to the Crawford Auto Museum for the cocktail hour, and the guests loved looking at the old cars.
There was some confusion prior to the wedding (the venue went through 3 sales coordinators in a few months), but I thought they did a good job of passing the baton and communicating with me beforehand. There was a lot more staff from the museum on hand at the wedding than I was expecting, and they were all very nice and helpful to me and the guests. WRHS is a unique venue, and the staff there do a lot to help make the day special.
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Andrea Sent on 07/18/2018
5 out of 5 rating
My daughter's wedding here exceeded our expectations. Our out of town guests were blown away by this venue. If you want to be married in a beautiful garden, have cocktails while admiring antique cars, have plenty of room for dinner and dancing, and then just to make it really over the top, add a carousel for guests to enjoy - this is your location! The staff was awesome and so helpful and it was so unique and unforgettable.
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Laurel Sent on 08/17/2016
5 out of 5 rating
We held our daughter's wedding in the Hanna Garden and her reception in the Crawford Auto Aviation Museum which are both housed in the Cleveland History Center which is located at this address. (They have recently changed the name of the venue). The garden was absolutely perfect for the ceremony - it needed no extra decoration at all! It was also great to go inside for the cocktail hour and reception. Our guests loved the setting and seeing all the cars and planes which are on display!
Vintage
Jennifer Sent on 10/28/2015
5 out of 5 rating
BEAUTIFUL! After our first ceremony site didn't work we moved the ceremony here and I never looked back. The Hanna Gardens are gorgeous! As is the inside rotunda in the car museum. As it so happened it rained all morning the day of our wedding so we had to move it inside. The venue was gorgeous. Seriously. The staff was so helpful and kind, and even though we ran a few minutes late getting the ceremony started they were ever so helpful. Every question I had was promptly answered within a reasonable time. The only thing that occurred was some miscommunication regarding the extra hour, they thought it was before the wedding and I thought it was after the wedding. You also can't bring in your own alcohol, and while I sent a list of what we wanted was missed in the set up they didn't have any record of it. Luckily for me my photographer took care of the timing difference before I even knew it was a problem and when we mentioned the alcohol request they quickly corrected the mistake. You can't go wrong having the ceremony. Best decision ever! (Aside from my husband of course!)
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B Sent on 08/22/2014
5 out of 5 rating
My new husband and I just had our wedding here this past weekend and we could not be happier with this venue. It was amazing!!

First, the Hanna Garden was a beautiful spot for the ceremony, and the pictures are stunning with the columns, shrubs, and doorway framing us. There are so many great photo opportunities throughout the two gardens, museum, and mansion, so our pictures have a lot of variety.

Next, we had cocktail hour in the auto museum, which was great because it provided guests with a chance to mix and mingle, but also provided a great conversation starter as they walked around looking at the cars. Plus, our guest have been posting photos of themselves in front of these classics, and it is great to see they were also having a good time.

Finally, the reception was in the Crawford rotunda that offered a nice open feel with cars and planes continuing to add character to the event.

This place was perfect!! The rental price was reasonable, relative to other venues, the staff and Angie, the event coordinator, were so great and accommodating to work with, and they don't overcharge for alcohol by charging per glass. It was such a fun and unique event that we have been getting complements on the venue and our pictures all week. People are crazy not to book this venue.
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Nicole Sent on 07/04/2013
5 out of 5 rating
We only had our ceremony here and I cannot believe more people don't get married here. We got married on 6.22.13 and it was BEAUTIFUL. We got lucky with the weather and it was a very hot June day but we were able to have our outdoor wedding in the Hanna Courtyard. We got so many compliments on our location and people who now want to go back to visit.
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Chelsea Sent on 07/29/2014
4.9 out of 5 rating
I loved working with WRHS. They are friendly and try to accommodate you in any way. Although it is a bit pricey, I think it is very worth it. The space is beautiful and makes for great pictures. Our guests loved having things to walk around and look at if they didn't want to dance. I would definitely recommend it for a unique, beautiful wedding!
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Alicia Sent on 09/17/2014
4.7 out of 5 rating
My husband and I had our ceremony here earlier this month (Sept. 2014) and it was stunning.

It rained in the morning but cleared up hours before our 5:30 wedding. Angie and her staff worked to set everything up including the gorgeous bridal suite so I didn't worry about anything. The location is also super convenient and the car museum aspect of the site is really fun for out of town guests.

I fully agree with other commenters that the natural beauty of the grounds and the buildings mean you don't have to worry about additional flowers or decorations.

My only small complaint is that we had to set up our own audio with the DJ which we were more than happy to do, but pretty sure that when staff shut down part of the museum for the evening they also inadvertently cut power to our mics. Not a huge issue bc the space lends itself well to projecting your voices, just something staff there may want to consider for future weddings.

Again I think any couple would be lucky to get married here- amazing location, great staff and your pictures will turn out great!
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Linda Sent on 09/16/2017
4.6 out of 5 rating
The Hanna Garden was such a beautiful backdrop for my daughter's wedding! The pictures are stunning! The cocktail hour in the basement of the museum was fabulous and unique and the reception in the rotunda was just perfect. One good thing about this venue is that they provide the alcohol. I was pleasantly surprised at how economical the alcohol was when I received the bill! EVERYONE loved the wedding and commented on the lovely WR was! Issues: I rented colored uplighting for the reception area which was a waste, since the museum guards refused to turn down the lights surrounding the rotunda. Also somehow they didn't supply any gin for the bar, which I found out when I received the bill. Otherwise it was wonderful!
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Rachel Sent on 10/22/2013
4.6 out of 5 rating
We held our wedding ceremony in the Hay-McKinney garden on the museum property. It's a beautiful outdoor venue, resembling an Italian villa, and perfect for smaller ceremonies (we had 40 guests). Everyone who came complimented how lovely it was. The Hay-McKinney house is also reserved in case of inclement weather, a must in Cleveland.
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Awards

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Cleveland History Center at Western Reserve Historical Society frequently asked questions

The space offered by Cleveland History Center at Western Reserve Historical Society for wedding events is known for:
  • Museum
Cleveland History Center at Western Reserve Historical Society offers the following indoor/outdoor options for weddings:
  • Indoor
  • Uncovered Outdoor
Cleveland History Center at Western Reserve Historical Society offers the following types of wedding events:
  • Ceremony
  • Reception
  • Bridal Shower
  • Engagement Party
Cleveland History Center at Western Reserve Historical Society is recommended by 92% of couples who have used their services. Their overall rating is 4.6 out of 5 with the following breakdown: 4.8 in quality of service, 4.6 in flexibility, 4.6 in professionalism, 4.4 in average response time and 4.4 in value.
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