For the contract, you are only agreeing to your event space, rental timeframe, date, food & beverage minimum, room rental, and ceremony fee (if applicable). Your estimated guest count is listed on the contract; however, you are not held accountable to hit that number. You are only responsible for hitting your food & beverage minimum.

Yes, a $1,000 deposit is due with your signed contract.

The remaining deposit schedule is as follows:

50% Remaining Balance Due 6 Months Prior to Wedding

25% Remaining Balance Due 3 Months Prior to Wedding

Remaining Balance Due 1 Month Prior to Wedding

If you are over your food & beverage minimum or added rentals through The Grand Event Center, the overage payment must be paid no later than 3 business days prior to the wedding.

All food & beverage purchases designated for your reception that are pre-planned with your planner and billed to the master account the day of the wedding goes toward your contracted food & beverage minimum. Food and beverage added in addition to your wedding reception, such as mimosas or lunch for the bridal party, will not count toward your reception food and beverage minimum.

Yes, absolutely. We are happy to check availability for showers, rehearsal dinners, and brunch the next day. All of these events are separate from the wedding reception and cannot be applied to your wedding food & beverage minimum. This is contracted separately from the wedding.

The Grand Event Center provides a planner that will work with you from the day you sign your contract until the follow up after the Big Day!

The week of your wedding, you will setup a meeting with your Grand Event Center planner to bring in and go over the décor you would like placed at your ceremony and/or reception. This is an included service in all our wedding packages. SETUP You must ensure that you bring in ALL décor items not provided by your vendors. This includes gift bags for the guests staying in the hotel if you choose to do so. At the décor meeting, you will review the final Banquet Event Order (BEO) and confirm that the final payment for any overages are paid in full. On your big day, we will setup the décor you brought in as discussed during the décor meeting. We will also coordinate with your vendors for both setup and teardown, so you don’t have to! We are happy to set up your décor, but please note we do not assemble items. We ask that escort cards are alphabetized prior to the décor meeting. TEARDOWN At the end of the night, you are expected to take your gifts, cards, sentimental items, and the top layer of your wedding cake (if you are saving this). It is a good idea to give this task to someone other than the couple or immediate family / bridal party. Everything else can be picked up the next day. Our team will place all your décor in the green room for you to pick up the next day. We do not box up the items for you, but we do hold onto all boxes that the items were delivered in to make the process easier for you in the morning. Please note that we are not liable for lost or broken items during setup or teardown. If that is a concern, you are more than welcome to setup the space prior to the wedding and teardown immediately following the reception.

We do not allow sparklers, confetti, loose glitter, Chinese lanterns, rice, or tapered candles that are not enclosed with glass. You may have open flame if it is within a glass vase/hurricane. We also cannot have fog machines or indoor firework displays. If you choose to forego these rules, there is a cleanup fee/damage fee charged based on property’s discretion.

We ask that you track the number of guests attending that are under 21 so we can modify their package price to remove the bar component. We will provide a kid’s meal of chicken tenders, fries, and applesauce for $12.00 per child (12 and under) plus service charge and tax.

Dogs are allowed for the ceremony, but the Courtyard by Marriott Columbus OSU does not offer guest rooms for pets unless they are service animals. However, our Hyatt Place Columbus OSU next door does allow dogs if you need a dog friendly guest room!

We provide ceremony rehearsal space the night before your wedding. We do not guarantee that you will be rehearsing in your contracted ceremony space. If there is an evening event at The Grand Event Center the night of your rehearsal, we will have another space available for you. Check with your planner to coordinate a time the works best for the two of you and with The Grand Event Center’s availability.

During the rehearsal, your Grand Event Center planner will line everyone up and them know how to walk down the aisle, then we leave the rest of the ceremony up to the officiant.

The Grand Event Center hosts 1-2 wedding tastings per year.  These are typically scheduled between January – March of each calendar year.  You will be sent an invitation to the tasting approximately 1 month in advance so that you have time to plan accordingly!  For the tasting, you are able to invite up to 4 guests to come with you.  You will be sampling chef’s selection of our seasonal hors d’oeuvres, salads, dressings, entrees, sides and have the opportunity to sample our wines.

All food and beverage must be through our on-site culinary team. We do allow outside vendors to provide cake/desserts for your wedding reception. If you have a specific question regarding a specific recipe, family tradition, or late night snack, please consult with your planner.

The Courtyard by Marriott Columbus OSU is physically connected to The Grand Event Center, and it is also managed by the same management company. We can coordinate a hotel room block with an established rate for your guests. The Hyatt Place Columbus OSU is located adjacent to The Grand Event Center, and it is also managed by the same management company. We can coordinate a hotel room block with an established rate for your guests at this property as well.