The Lift Dayton Area Historic Former Factory Wedding Venue

October 24, 2024

My Final Wedding Of 2024 – The Lift Dayton

My 245th wedding since 2007 and my final wedding of 2024 was at The Lift in Dayton, Ohio. This Dayton wedding venue is a revitalized factory from the 1900s situated in the Huffman Historic
District. I had been in The Lift a few years ago when it was just a shell, unpainted, and unfinished. I had been anxiously awaiting October 2024 to finally photograph a beautiful wedding and reception at this
large event center.

Hiring Me For Their Wedding And Engagement Session

I love it when a good wedding couple hires me to photograph their wedding. Hiring me in 2023, they chose to have their complimentary engagement session in the historic Oregon District. They were nervous about performing well in front of the camera. I made the session fun and easy to help them feel comfortable. Upon delivery of the digital gallery, they let me know how comfortable I made them feel. I love making couples happy and receiving five-star reviews.

The Lift Wedding Venue Details

This indoor wedding venue is large featuring 20,000 sq. ft., a designated bar, bridal suite, groom’s lounge, and four large areas for your event. Two rooms downstairs can be used for a wedding ceremony and cocktail hour. The two upstairs rooms can be used for reception seating, dancing, dinner, and other reception-related activities. The area that is used for the buffet also has a large built-in bar and tons of space for a wedding DJ, photo booth, and dance floor. The property is ADA-compliant with ramps and two elevators, one being a historic freight lift. Multiple restrooms and great air conditioning are great additional features here.

Finding The Lift

Your first time arriving at The Lift may be confusing, This former ice cream cone factory sits in the center of a neighborhood of historic houses. It is so hidden, that I would guess some neighbors may not know it exists. Trust the GPS, you’re going the right way down a dead-end street. There are two parking lots, a small one on the east side and a large one on the west side. The west side lot is closer to the main entrance.

Bridal Suites And Wedding Prep Areas

The bridal suite is one of the largest and well-lit in the Dayton area. It features couches, a table, a television, several hair and makeup areas, large windows, a private restroom, and a storage closet. Makeup artists will love the large amount of natural light in this room. A small fridge packed with drinks is a nice perk for the ladies. The groom’s lounge is an L-shaped room with couches, television, and large wooden dressing lockers for the groom and groomsmen. This room is much smaller but has plenty of storage space and counters. There were 6 guys in the room at the October wedding, and the room was adequate. At most venues, the groom’s prep area is often overlooked. Not at The Lift!

Outdoor And Sunset Photos

If you are looking for outdoor areas, there are very few. Since this is sandwiched between historic homes and a former Norfolk-Southern railroad track, there is virtually no outdoor space. At this wedding, I was able to use the railroad area (out of service) to shoot a few sunset photos with trees in the background. This was basically the only option. Being so close to downtown Dayton and I-75, it would be easy to incorporate a park into your Lift wedding day if that is something that interests you.

Why Should You Choose The Lift For Your Dayton Wedding

If you are looking for a classy and historic Dayton wedding venue with a large amount of space for your wedding and reception, The Lift is for you. Great service and a beautiful building help set this venue apart. The black-and-white aesthetic at The Lift is unique and allows you to decorate it the way you want. Bright floral arrangements would really pop for your reception, for example. You can’t go wrong when choosing this excellent Dayton wedding venue.