Historic Dayton Arcade Wedding Photos & Venue Information
July 28, 2024
Dayton Arcade Weddings
The Dayton Arcade is one of the most unique wedding venues in downtown Dayton, Ohio. As a Dayton wedding photographer who has photographed this historic landmark since 2017, I have documented weddings, events, and the incredible transformation of this iconic building. The Arcade’s glass Rotunda, historic architecture, and modern event spaces create an unforgettable backdrop for wedding photography.
Photographing weddings a the Dayton Arcade is one of the highlights of my career, and I can’t wait to shoot many more weddings at this iconic Dayton, Ohio, wedding venue.
Dayton Arcade Events is the official event manager for this downtown Dayton event space, the most iconic Dayton wedding, reception, and event venue.
Why Choose The Dayton Arcade For Your Wedding
- Historic downtown Dayton architecture
- Three-story glass Rotunda with natural light
- Indoor ceremony and reception options
- Unique photo locations throughout the building
- Weather-proof wedding photography location
- Convenient downtown Dayton location
Is the Dayton Arcade one of the best wedding venues in Dayton? The venue rental spaces, the Rotunda and The Tank, are perfect for hosting large weddings. The Dayton Arcade Events service is great, and the catering is amazing. The adjacent parking garage and street parking is easily accessible for guests. The built in hotel, Hilton Garden Inn, provides easy, indoor access to the entire event. No need to worry about drunk driving! And finally, this is a world class revitalized building(s) that is beautiful, large, and one-of-a-kind.
Dayton Arcade Wedding Ceremony & Reception Spaces
The Rotunda
Weddings and events take place in the famous glass Rotunda (South) and The Tank. The historic glass rotunda is a huge three-story open area with a domed glass ceiling providing an incredible amount of natural light. On sunny days, you can see the shadows dance around the floor, much like those on a sundial. There are large restrooms on the north side of this reception space as well as a dedicated kitchen for catering. The entire complex is accessible and air conditioned.
The Tank
The Tank is a below-ground event space that is partially designed for entrepreneurs to pitch ideas to investors. During wedding days, it is used for cocktail hours between the wedding and reception. After the ceremony, guests make their way downstairs to The Tank. High-top tables, two bars, and plenty of room to mingle occupy wedding guests until the reception begins. While the Rotunda is on the first floor, The Tank is in the basement. There is an elevator on the north east side of the Rotunda for accessing The Tank.
The Getting Ready “Bridal” Suites
In the basement, adjacent to The Tank are two getting ready suites. These are used for wedding couples and wedding parties to get dressed and prepare for the wedding day. These are nice but are by no means the largest in Dayton. There are no windows or natural light. For large wedding parties, these suites will be too small. A good solution would be to spend the night(s) at the Hilton Garden Inn and do most of the getting ready in a hotel suite. These suites are definitely good, just not huge.
Wedding Photography Experience At The Dayton Arcade
Since 2017, I have been legally photographing this building, thanks to the City of Dayton. It started as an urban exploration passion of mine. Since Cross Street Partners acquired this property and secured funding, I have been one of three official photographers providing before, during, and after photos of the revitalization.
I have photographed the Dayton Arcade before, during and after its redevelopment. When I first gained legal access in 2017, the complex was a very different place. I continued documenting the building as Cross Street Partners and its partners renovated the historic Arcade and brought new uses to the complex. Today, the revitalized Arcade includes wedding and event spaces, The Hub, the Hilton Garden Inn and other businesses and residences.
More About The Dayton Arcade Wedding Venue
A special thanks to former Mayor Nan Whaley and the Dayton City Commission for helping make this development possible. This was a critical piece to the revitalization of downtown. Also, thanks to Model Group and MODA4 for doing a great job with this joint venture.
Bonus: Check out The Hung and the various office buildings along Fourth Street, Main Street, and Ludlow Street to get the whole picture of this Dayton wedding location for exterior photos.
Dayton Arcade Address, Parking & Capacity
Address: 35 W 4th Street Dayton, OH 45402
Parking: Parking garages and street parking
Capacity: 500 guests
Dayton Arcade Photographer Reviews And Testimonials From Arcade Events
A Five-Star Review From A Bride’s Mom
“You are an awesome photographer!! So creative and the pictures are incredible!! You captured everything at my daughter’s wedding. I am so grateful!! I highly recommend you to anyone who needs a photographer for their special day!!” – Arcade bride’s mother
A Five-Star Review From The President Of The University Of Dayton
Dr. Spina was kind enough to write this photography review for me after our session at the Dayton Arcade. As a Dayton photographer and former University of Dayton photographer, this meant so much to me. I worked at UD for 14 years doing I.T. work. When I had free time, I photographed thousands of photos on campus. So all of my worlds collided when I photographed Dr. Spina at the Dayton Arcade for the University of Dayton.
Dayton Arcade Wedding Photography Tips
Tip: Book early because this amazing Dayton wedding reception venue books up quickly.
Tip: Leave plenty of time for wedding photos. The venue is amazing. At my first wedding here, I had very little time for bridal portraits, and the switch from ceremony to reception happened around us during formal photos. I’m still happy with the images, but 30 more minutes before the wedding would have made them even better. Time is critical at this venue. Ceremonies are often short, so make the most of your cocktail hour.
Dayton Arcade Wedding Photos
Hilton Garden Inn Dayton Arcade Commercial Photography
Commercial Photographer In Dayton Ohio
In 2025, I finally photographed the Hilton Garden Inn inside the historic and revitalized Dayton Arcade as a hired professional. For seven years, I had photographed the Arcade with the goal of landing commercial work there. Hilton Garden Inn Dayton Arcade and Cross Street Partners now hire me to capture this downtown Dayton gem.
What I Photographed at the Hilton Garden Inn
Tom Gilliam of Tom Gilliam Photography and I were co-hired to shoot an exhaustive list of assets at the Hilton Garden Inn. We split the responsibilities which included public spaces and rooms. For the hotel room photography, we had a list of the various room types such as king, two queens, or queen ADA tub. Photographing the rooms was difficult because lighting for photos is not good. For a room stay, the lighting is perfect.
Directions For Commercial Photography
Hilton provided a 10 page PDF of the brand guidelines for photography. I was fascinated because I am always dealing with restrictions and requirements with wedding photography. Their most interesting directive was to have all the lights on in the rooms. This was less than ideal for me, as there were different color temperatures introduced. But, I had to deal with it. Things I watch for at weddings, I watched for here, too. Things out of place, trashcans, and messy rooms are some of the things I try to correct before photographing. I wanted to do a good job and for the Hilton Garden Inn to succeed.
This was a fantastic opportunity to be a commercial photographer in Dayton, Ohio.
The Hub At The Arcade
The Arcade is the newest old building in downtown Dayton, Ohio. The Hub is now open and is the first new tenant. It is a partnership between the University of Dayton and The Entrepreneur’s Center. You enter this historic 9-building downtown Dayton complex (specifically The Hub) from Main Street between 3rd Street and 4th Street. I have provided and still provide many images for Arcade and The Hub. Contact me if you also need commercial photography.
Photos Of The Hub At Dayton Arcade
Below are photos taken in the newly renovated spaces. You can see that Cross Street Partners, the primary developers, did a fantastic job marrying the historical elements with the modern amenities. I see so many historical elements in these pictures that others may not pick up on. I am the definitive source for Dayton Arcade photography. No one has more photos from demolition, revitalization, and renovation of this Dayton icon. Contact me for permission to use them.
Dayton Arcade Nighttime Exterior Photos
The Arcade, a place I have photographed dozens of times since 2017 is lit up beautifully at night after decades in the dark. Arcade nighttime photos of the Commercial Building, entrance, and The Hub are so beautiful. The lighting outside the building is done incredibly well and complements the architecture. Cross Street Partners did a fantastic job as the lead developer here.
Capturing Arcade Nighttime Photos
Most of the photos you’ll see online are of the historic Rotunda and The Hub. I like to photograph places at different times of the day. Take look at the results. The exterior looks even more beautiful with the lighting package that was installed. The signage on Main Street between Third Street and Fourth Street is the perfect addition to this area. The display windows beneath the sign hearken back to the days when this was McCrory’s store. I enjoy being a Dayton commercial photographer.
I Earned My First Magazine Cover And I Am Again A Published Photographer
In November 2021, I officially scored my first magazine cover and feature story as a published photographer in Dayton. The University of Dayton Magazine commissioned me to photograph the Dayton Arcade for a before-and-after series. Check out my first magazine cover and feature.
My directive was to photograph students entering and exiting The Hub, students using The Hub, and anything else involving UD students and the arcade. At one point I was able to capture students coming and going from the RTA Flyers into The Hub.
Although I have been published dozens of times in calendars, fliers, postcards, and more, this piece was very special to me. l have loved the Arcade since I was little, and the fact that I brought together this property, my UD work, and my photography is mind-blowing.
In May 2017 I gained legal access to the Arcade and got to see it before any demolition or work had begun. In fact, it would be a year later when Cross Street Partners out of Baltimore would begin any work. I used my 2017 photos to get in with CSP and eventually made myself an official Dayton Arcade photographer. As I worked at the University of Dayton, they knew of my photography business and relationship to the arcade. It is cool how my love for the arcade came together with my job at UD.
I Scored My First Magazine Cover – How I Made It
The cover shot came from a few hours of photos with students in them. I photographed students heading to class, in class, and leaving class. The photo below is of students getting off the RTA Flyer bus heading into The Hub on Main Street. Later I would photograph the RTA Flyer in front of the Arcade. A nice synergy of sorts. The Dayton organizations are working together. Contact me for your commercial photography needs.
Key Takeaways From My Dayton Arcade Photography
- Dayton Arcade is a premier wedding venue in Dayton, Ohio, featuring the iconic glass Rotunda and the unique space known as The Tank.
- The venue’s revitalization involved various community partners and is now a hub for weddings, retail, and entrepreneurship.
- I have photographed numerous events at the Dayton Arcade, gaining recognition including a magazine cover.
- For memorable weddings, book early and allow ample time for photos to take full advantage of the stunning venue.
Bonus Wedding Tip: Hire an inclusive and LGBTQ-friendly wedding photographer who will treat you, your guests, and your families with respect. It makes a difference in your big day.
Check out more of my Dayton and Cincinnati commercial photography and corporate photography clients.