The Glendale Lyceum

I wish I could give the Lyceum more stars because they deserve it! My daughter and I began looking for a venue for her New Year’s Eve 2015 wedding over a year before the event because of the limited venues for a winter wedding on a holiday. We looked at the Museum Center, Cincinnati Club, Bell Center and a few others and they all met some of our criteria, but not all.
We needed a venue that wasn’t limited to one area. The evening would be long with a 5:30 ceremony and 6:30 arrival at the venue. The evening wouldn’t end until after the ball drop (12:30), so having somewhere to go when you weren’t dancing and could relax was a must. We need it to seat at least 250. We were also hoping for an all inclusive venue that provided china, flatware, glassware and linens.
Wish list items: a big screen to show the ball drop at midnight, fireplace, allowed to come the day before to decorate the venue, plenty of free parking and a place for the bridal party to get ready.
Imagine when we walked into the elegant Lyceum… a grand foyer with french doors leading into the ballroom — wood floors and chandeliers, large windows with window seats and a fireplace at one end and a stage with a big screen that could be lowered and used for our day of edit and midnight ball drop. To the right was a carpeted library with working fireplace and lots of seating for those trying to talk while the music played. But what sealed the deal was the old fashioned club in the basement with flat screen TV’s, juke box, bar, card tables and couches. We booked knowing that this was the perfect place for a New Year’s Eve wedding.
Over a year later, we had our daughter’s wedding and came to understand how little we appreciated this gem when we had first rented it. Over the course of that year, the manager, Cindy, and facilities manager, Kevin, were professional, friendly, helpful, open and enthusiastic to new ideas (600 balloons dropped from the ceiling at midnight? Sounds like a great idea!). They didn’t bat an eye at us stringing twinkle lights and asking if furniture could be moved so the seating would be just right for our event or setting up a champagne tower on the stage to kick off the midnight festivities (and, of course, they already had the coupe champagne glasses that we needed). They allowed us to come in 2 days ahead of the wedding to set up and leave everything there until the day after the wedding for clean up. We also couldn’t believe how lucky we were to get to use the newly renovated bridal rooms upstairs with a kitchen, living area, full bath and «getting ready» room with big mirrors, lots of lighting and even an ironing board.
My daughter’s wedding was definitely the elegant event that we envisioned with a jazz band playing on the stage, candles filling the ballroom and greenery draped over the fireplace. Although people noticed the décor, they gushed over the Lyceum and how perfect it was for our event. Lots of people stopped down at the club for a cocktail, checked on the football scores or played a round of Euchre. I saw all the couches filled in front of the fireplace in the library near the cake and the photo booth. The dance floor was packed and the sunroom was constantly being used as people stopped at the bar or the coffee cart. For a 6 hour reception, the Lyceum had just the space we needed and all the atmosphere for a glamorous night. It felt like we were hosting a reception in our home because of the warm and relaxing rooms.
I give the Lyceum bonus points for allowing us to bring in our own alcohol (great savings) and giving us a key so we could come and go as we decorated the venue. On the day of the wedding we arrived at 8 AM to start hair and makeup and finally left at 1 AM the next day. For such an important event, I was confident all year that our event was going to be handled well and can’t say enough about the beautiful Lyceum and wonderful staff.
A long post to say — book the Lyceum! You won’t be sorry! :)

The first time I saw the Glendale Lyceum, I knew it would be the perfect location for our August wedding reception. We could not be more happy with our selection! The space was the perfect size, and we loved the beautiful light-​filled main room. The chandeliers, french doors and mantles added touches of elegance and the side areas were ideal for the flow and format of the evening. While the space made for the perfect backdrop, it’s the Glendale Lyceum team that make it the best place in Cincinnati to have a wedding reception. Cindy and Kevin were so flexible, reliable, easy going and knowledgeable throughout the entire planning. They coordinated very well with our vendors and helped us completely customize the layout and pull of our vision. We’re so grateful for our experience with the Glendale Lyceum and they have our highest reccommedation!

We used the Lyceum for our wedding in July and I would recommend them to anyone! The venue is beautiful. It has several rooms that you can use for a variety of purposes — we used the patio for games, whiskey tasting in the library, cake display in the sun room, and dinner and dancing in the main hall. They have a ‘getting ready’ area upstairs that is newly-​renovated and to die for (think movie-​set makeup mirrors and lights)!
Cindy and her team are fantastic! They made everything so easy. We were able to get in early and set up — which is huge for the borderline perfectionistic bride who wants to do everything herself. I almost can’t believe how flexible they were! On top of all that, the Lyceum allowed us to work with whatever vendors we wanted. Again, unbelievable. We could chose our caterer/​bakery, bring our own drinks, work with any band, and bring in specialty providers. In addition, most of the vendors we spoke to listed the Lyceum as one of their favorite places to work. Since they have such a great working relationship, I had to do significantly less coordinating. For example, we used the Glendale Florist and I didn’t have to do anything beyond deciding on flowers — they coordinated delivery and set-​up times! Whew! It’s also worth mentioning that Cindy was great at making recommendations. From the layout of the rooms, to linens, she allowed us to leverage her expertise — most of us will only get married once, Cindy does this 20+ times a year!
The pricing is great as well, it’s itemized and you know where your dollars are going. I didn’t feel duped — which is wonderful. If I had to do it all over again — I would choose the Lyceum in a heartbeat!

Attn: Brides
If you want excellent customer service, a stunning backdrop and décor in each room, an intimate, but also glamorous aesthetic to your wedding or reception, then look no further, this is the venue for you! I couldn’t be happier with the endless support and execution of our wedding reception. I haven’t stopped smiling, and its really because of Kevin & Cindy’s attention to detail. I’ve lived in New York City for the past 10 years, but Ohio will always be home. Future brides do yourself a favor and check this place out:-) Kindra the Bride, April 13^th 2013 xoxo

We had our wedding reception here in the fall of 2008. The facility was perfect for our needs. There is an outdoor patio with tables and chairs right off of the bar/​cocktail area. The manager assisted us in working with the caterer and finding the perfect setup for the tables and food. The library provided nice soft chairs for our elderly guests and those who wanted to have more casual conversation.
One of the best features was that we had the facility for the entire day. We started decorating at 9am. The bridesmaids and I used the basement area for our space to get ready (this area includes a big screen tv and ping pong table, which could easily have been used to provide childcare during the party). We later used the basement as a little retreat for the wedding party, where we could have a drink and a bite to eat while we waited for our guests to arrive. Additionally, some of my favorite photos were taken on the grounds of the lyceum.
We had a live band, and the stage and sound system worked out perfectly. The staff also worked with us to reorganize the tables after dinner to create a dance floor.
We had guests who were wheelchair bound or had other mobility issues. The building has a wheelchair lift, and the staff were very attentive when assisting our guests. There are also wheel chair accessible restrooms on the main floor.
Another nice factor was that the lyceum has everything you need, so you don’t have to go to an outside agency to rent the tables, linens, chairs, china, glassware, and barware. This is a very classy, timeless building that can be as casual or formal as you’d like to make it. I would highly recommend this facility for anyone looking to plan a wedding reception, banquet, or other large gathering.