As a wedding calligrapher, there’s nothing quite as rewarding as seeing my work come to life as the Bride and Groom intended it to be - all set up on their wedding day! I had the honor of working with Morgan and Mike on their hand-lettered seating chart and welcome sign, and there is something truly special about seeing their personalized signage pieces become a meaningful part of their reception. The Galloways’ elegant July wedding at the Westin Great Southern Columbus was a joyful celebration that showed how being intentional with small details creates a cohesive wedding look for a memorable wedding experience.

wedding party photos at the ohio state house in columbus, ohio — *Wedding Party Photos at the Ohio State House in Columbus, Ohio | Photo by Captured Photography*

If you’re new to this blog, I’m Allyson, owner of The Pemberley Creative. I offer a wide variety of hand lettering and calligraphy services, and I specialize in wedding signage. If you are planning a wedding in Columbus, Ohio and are looking for ways to personalize your wedding décor, I would love to hear from you! Contact me here and we can start creating bespoke signage pieces together to complete your wedding vision.

LET'S TALK WEDDING SIGNAGE!

The Venue: The Westin Great Southern Columbus

After a wedding ceremony at First Community Church, Morgan and Mike hosted their wedding reception at The Westin Great Southern Columbus. This spectacular ballroom wedding venue in the heart of downtown Columbus doesn’t need much introduction, but it’s worth noting the rich history behind this hotel. The hotel and attached theater were built in 1897 after a series of fires had struck downtown Columbus, destroying most of the hotels in that area. Owners touted the building as the Great Southern Fire Proof Hotel, due to its construction of fire resistant materials such as brick and tile. As of 2024, it is the only historic hotel still remaining in downtown Columbus. (1)

The highlight of weddings at the Westin is having your reception in the distinctive ballroom that only a 130 year old venue can offer. Able to seat up to 420 guests, the white and gold ballroom has all of the trappings of a venue fit for a black tie wedding: tall ceilings, stained glass, crystal chandeliers, and gold architectural details everywhere. The tall windows and mirrors make the space bright and airy during the day, and the ballroom transitions perfectly to an elegant nighttime celebration.

the westin great southern columbus ballroom wedding — *The Westin Great Southern Columbus Ballroom | Photo by Captured Photography*

The Westin Great Southern also has ample opportunities for photo locations both in and outside of the hotel. The new Mr. and Mrs. Galloway took wedding party photos at the Ohio Statehouse, golden hour photos in the downtown area outside the hotel, and some late night photos in the elevator. These locations create the opportunity for both formal wedding portraits and fun, candid shots that capture Morgan and Mike’s love story in a way that lets the joy of their wedding day shine through.

Bride & Groom Photos in Downtown Columbus, Ohio | Photos by Captured Photography

The Reception Details

Morgan had a clear vision in mind for her seating chart, which, as a wedding calligrapher, is something I truly appreciate! She had a specific seating chart display in mind: four hanging frosted acrylic panels with guest names listed in gold, a perfect tie into all of the gold elements in the Westin’s ballroom. A header of “‘our favorite people” and the couple’s initials finished off this gorgeous/elegant seating chart display. This hand lettered seating chart is a perfect example of how small details, such as the color of the lettering, can beautifully tie into your venue and create a cohesive overall feel on your wedding day. They finished off the look with some greenery that matched the other details like the cake decorations and place card ribbons.

wedding seating chart display on acrylic — *Wedding Seating Chart Calligraphy on Frosted Acrylic | Photo by Captured Photography*

We finished off Morgan and Mike’s custom wedding signage with a mirror wedding welcome sign of formal white lettering to stand out on the reflective surface. The couple welcomed guests to their reception with this hand-lettered welcome sign that perfectly captured the sophistication of the day. The mirror added depth and elegance, beautifully reflecting the timeless gold décor and candlelight of their evening reception.

A Day to Remember

While the stunning venue and carefully curated details set the stage for an unforgettable celebration, it was the joy and love radiating from the couple and their guests that truly brought Morgan and Mike’s wedding day to life. Their photographer, Abby Lewis of Captured Photography, noted how clearly the bride and groom stayed in the moment, not letting the stress or overwhelm of a big wedding dampen the fun they were having. Their close-knit family and supportive wedding party helped keep the joyful atmosphere going, not only by taking good care of the Bride and Groom but also keeping the mood light with plenty of laughter throughout the day.

Even when they realized their wedding rings were missing from their wedding ceremony, Morgan and Mike kept their cool as their wedding team took charge. The bride and groom borrowed rings from their matron of honor and best man for the vows, and the photographer retrieved their actual rings before the ceremony was over. Not a single guest noticed the commotion, and now the couple has a special story to share from their big day!

What Morgan and Mike looked forward to most on their wedding day was the chance to celebrate with all of their closest friends and family. For over a year leading up to the big day, many of their loved ones made plans to travel to Columbus to attend the wedding. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have so many important people celebrating together in the same room to create new memories. The couple took advantage of this occasion and gathered their college friends for a reunion photo, showing their school pride with an Ohio University flag.

Groomsmen Photo at Ohio State House & College Alumni | Photos by Captured Photography

The best part of the day according to the happy couple? Officially being husband and wife, of course! A close second was seeing their wedding reception set up for the first time. Morgan and Mike took a moment to themselves during the cocktail hour to have a “first look” in the Westin Great Southern Columbus ballroom. It was a special moment they shared - for Morgan to appreciate how all of the gorgeous details came together, and for Mike to realize Morgan’s wedding vision come to life! Let’s make reception “first looks” a trend!

I asked photographer Abby Lewis what her favorite part of the day was – she shared about a heartwarming moment of the groom. While taking solo shots of Morgan, Abby overheard Mike, watching his new wife, quietly tell the videographer, “She’s just so beautiful!” It was a small, but powerful memory that is a beautiful reminder of what weddings are all about - celebrating the love between the Bride and Groom.

Bride & Groom in Downtown Columbus | Photos by Captured Photography

Morgan and Mike’s wedding at the Westin Great Southern Columbus was the perfect blend of elegance, joy, and special moments surrounded by loved ones. I was happy to contribute to their day through my calligraphy as a small way to support their celebration and bring their wedding vision to life. Congratulations to the Galloways - may your marriage be blessed with many happy years!

Vendors

Morgan and Mike had such a talented vendor team that made everything come together! Please check them out for more examples of their work.

Planner/Coordinator: Glamourous Weddings Dayton Ohio
Photographer: Captured Photography
Videographer: Poveda Films
Florals: The Flower Shoppe Dayton
Hair: Sarah W Hair
Makeup: Almaz Faces
Calligraphy : The Pemberley Creative
DJ: Luminary Productions Co
Dress: Carrie Karibo Bridal
Transportation: Xtreme Limo

(1) History Details on The Westin Great Southern Columbus: https://www.columbusmakesart.com/place/10580-westin-great-southern-hotel

Venue Details

Address: 310 S High St, Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 228-3800
Website
Capacity: 420 in ballroom
Guest lodging available in the hotel

All photos shown below are courtesy of Captured Photography

I hope you were inspired by Morgan & Mike’s ballroom wedding at the Westin Great Southern Columbus! As a professional calligrapher, my goal is to not only create day of wedding details for my couples, but to be a helpful resource for them as well.

Interested in learning about another beautiful wedding venue in central Ohio?

Check out my post about the Old Barns at Dry Run Farms and see how I would style your wedding signage there!

LEARN MORE

I go into full detail about all of the possible wedding signage options you may want to consider in my free guide, Your Ultimate Guide to Wedding Signage (plus a checklist!). You can get it now by signing up here.

Want to know what I consider to be “must have” wedding signage? Read my blog post about it here.

Looking for more wedding signage ideas and inspiration? You can see some of my favorite pieces that I have created here.

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The Venue: The Westin Great Southern Columbus

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