Carillon Park Wedding Photos & Information
July 22, 2024
Carillon Park Weddings
Choose this living history venue, Carillon Historical Park, if you love Dayton and want to be surrounded by historic buildings and vintage transportation. The property is large enough that two weddings can be on-site simultaneously. A full-size train operating around the property’s historic buildings can provide an activity for early-arrival guests. While this won’t be running after hours, it may also be available for use as a backdrop.
My Take On Having A Wedding At Carillon Historical Park:
Dayton History’s main campus is a great wedding venue in western Ohio. This national historical landmark and museum features some of the most important buildings and vehicles in the City’s history. For a history buff, this park is a fun and unique place at which to have your wedding and reception. The wedding parties below were so much fun and allowed me to photograph them on a carousel and at historic buildings across the property. A Carillon Park wedding is a must-do wedding venue for any person who loves Dayton as much as I do.
2025 Carillon Park Wedding Film
Eichelberger Pavilion
The Eichelberger Pavilion is the newest and largest event center on the property. Added just a few years ago, this gigantic indoor two-story reception hall is great for large wedding, receptions, and corporate parties. The first time I walked in I audibly said “Oh my gosh, this is huge!” It is an open-concept space which allows for whatever table setup you can dream up. The second floor is a balcony overlooking the main floor and can be used for other purposes at a reception.
Wedding Couple Preparation Suites / Getting Ready Rooms
The bridal suite is located upstairs and is one of the largest in the Dayton area. I walked in and was blown away by how large it was. There is a full kitchen, kitchen table, restroom, and tons of space. It was not nicely decorated, which is fine. It served the purpose of giving the bride and her bridesmaids a place to get ready for the wedding.
The groom’s suite is located on the ground floor next to the event office.. It was smaller and was basically a room with some chairs.. I think it is mainly used as a storage room since there was a bar and television stands in there. It served its purpose for the groom and two groomsmen. I wouldn’t want to have too many more people in the room, however.
Wedding Couple Photos, Family Photos, And Wedding Party Photos
Dayton History makes available a golf cart and driver to drive the wedding couple and photographer around. Due to the multi-acre size of the property, this saves a ton of time. On this wedding day we when to several of the historical buildings, the transportation center, and the covered bridge. We didn’t have a lot of time, but the golf cart made our time significantly better.
Transportation Center
For more than a decade, the Carillon Park Transportation Center has been my favorite indoor venue. This small event space, situated at the western edge of the property close to the Reynolds & Reynolds clock tower, features a variety of vintage buses, train cars, and trolley cars. I have always loved public transportation, so I loved this venue. Due to logistical complications and the opening of the pavilion, Carillon Park no longer hosts weddings at the Transportation Center. However, it can be used for wedding photos during operating hours.
Other Backdrops And Things To See
Since this is a working historical center, there are dozens of buildings saved from Dayton’s past. I have favorites such as the piece of the Old River pool from when I was child. If you are having your event here, take a look at all the structures and have in mind some you like. I’ll incorporate them into your wedding photos. There is a vintage carousel inside that can sometimes be used for wedding photos too. There isn’t much space for the photographer to stand, so don’t expect a wide angle of the entire thing. Close-ups and medium shots look great here, however.
Tip: It is a long walk to the Transportation Center, so guests with disabilities may need assistance. They offer a golf cart service, but I am unsure if there is a cost. Inquire with the booking folks about extra services. Weddings in the Eichelberger Pavilion inside the main building are easily accessible from the parking lot.
Spring Wedding At Carillon Park’s Eichelberger Pavilion
At the end of March, 2025, I photographed my 246th wedding, this one at Carillon Historical Park in Dayton, Ohio. The couple rented the Eichelberger Pavilion for the day to have their wedding and reception. It was my first time photographing a wedding in the pavilion, and it did not disappoint.
Wedding Ceremony
The wedding ceremony took place on the ground floor of the pavilion near the double staircase. The couple had a custom made wooden arch as the centerpiece of their ceremony. Roughly 125 guests attended the wedding, and everyone was on time. The couple went an extra step and had the ceremony mic’d so everyone could hear. Nice touch!
Cocktail Hour Upstairs
After the ceremony and some family formals, everyone made their way to a delicious cocktail hour catered by Bernstein’s Fine Catering. Their food is excellent and their food artistry is the best in town. After the ceremony, seating was swapped out for dinner tables, it was time to head downstairs.
Wedding Reception
While this isn’t a typical bland, boring reception space, the reception was typical. It was a lot of fun and had dinner, toasts, and dancing. The dance floor is gigantic because the venue is large. I’d love to photograph a wedding here with 300+ guests.
