The Backstage Event Center

patient with us as we made selections on the menu and decor and we loved working with them. The food is delicious, the onsite team was wonderful and the setup of the event was flawless! I highly recommend this venue if you are looking for a space for a larger group dinner!

ry responsive and easy to work with. They quickly pivoted at the last minute to rearrange some of the decor. The venue was a quick walk from our hotel. Highly recommend Backstage Events!

d easy to work with; making suggestions based on past events. I would highly recommend hosting your special event at Backstage!

e, flexible, and went above and beyond to help us customize our menu and the overall event. We did a cocktail-style wedding with food stations for about 160 guests. We were a little nervous about the non-traditional setup, but everything flowed so smoothly and our guests raved about how much fun the night was. The food and drinks were amazing (many guests told me it was the best wedding food they've had in a long time). Our guests were using the outdoor patios all night, despite the chilly March evening (it was super pleasant out there thanks to the heaters). Maren and crew helped set up and tear down, making that part of the process a breeze. We planned our wedding from out of town, and Backstage made the process as seamless as possible with their inclusive services and coordination assistance, saving me a ton of stress and headache. Based on my research, the pricing is also very reasonable for the location, venue, and quality of food/service. I truly could not recommend this venue enough for the perfect downtown Cincinnati wedding.

and romantic feel. And although the venue is downtown, there are still 2 terraces available to step outside and enjoy the fresh air/ views of the city. The staff were absolutely wonderful and the food is AMAZING! We got so many compliments on the food, which I feel is difficult to say about most wedding food. One of the reasons we chose the Backstage is because of the food- the fact that it's made by the restaurant means it's restaurant quality- and it was just that. Working with Elenya the Sales & Event Manager made the planning process very clear cut/ helped us stay on track. Elenya was always timely and helpful with her responses. On the night of our wedding- the serving staff treated my husband and I like King and Queen. Everything turned out beautifully and we would do it all over again! Thank you to everyone there that made our night special. Highly recommend booking The Backstage Event Center!

attentive, ensuring every detail was taken care of. The food was absolutely delicious, and our guests enjoyed the location amid the fun of an exciting Blink weekend in downtown Cincinnati. We couldn't have asked for a better place to celebrate our very special family event. Thank you, Backstage!

le wedding here! Everything was so perfect and Elenya made my life easy from start to finish. I don’t have the words to describe how easy and amazing it was to host an event with Backstage and I couldn’t recommend them more. So grateful!!!

rom our day of coordinator and everything day of went incredibly smoothly. We were impressed by their wait staff. At the end of the night, they even packed up all of our stuff for us which made it so smooth the next day to pick it up. I wouldn’t have changed anything about our experience at Backstage.

very way possible. Beginning with the food selection, cocktails, music, flowers, floor plan. Everything was on time, the food was delicious and presented beautifully. Cleanup was a breeze. They even helped us with our personal belongings after the event. The dessert literally flew off of the dessert table. It was incredible. I wished we lived closer to enjoy it all the time.

nt smoothly. The place is beautiful-rustic/industrial. The appetizers were great and the flaming donuts were amazing! We went with the Cincinnati experience with Larosa’s pizza and Skyline Cheese Coney’s stations. The pizza was a little disappointing but I know its hard to feed a lot of people all at once. Excellent experience and would highly recommend!

cess and actual day of celebration. The venue itself was absolutely gorgeous for our afternoon reception and the food was fantastic. All of our guests were gushing about the food! The wedding day went super smooth and we could not recommend the staff and venue enough.

for family and friends! The food was next level from the appetizers to dessert! The bartender and staff were attentive and extremely nice! Overall I would rate our experience a 100! My only issue now is trying to come up with another reason to throw a party for 33 people at this venue!

ars.

answered, and the whole process was simple and streamlined. The online portal made it very easy to contact Elenya, look at our documents, and make changes to our banquet order. The venue is spacious, romantic, and filled with gorgeous wooden flooring and decor. After our initial tour, we returned closer to our event for our food tasting and to finalize day of details. The BEC team both set-up and tore down our decor. They made my vision come to life. The day of the reception, we had an incredible kitchen and serving staff ensuring our group was fed and hydrated. The walk-up bar never had a long line, and we felt very catered to the entire night. Elenya organized our other vendors such as florist and DJ which was so helpful. We had a nice night, so the balcony was opened up for our guests to enjoy the city lights. The BEC team went above and beyond for us, and we couldn't have had a better night. Thank you all so much <3.

promising in other categories. But not here. The staff was welcoming, helpful and kind every step of the way. The food was fantastic (you could re-visit Nicholsons on your anniversary/eat similar dishes). The location is neat. You're downtown and get great views with the two balconies. Their space is also very accommodating if you plan to do both a ceremony and reception. I could go on for hours. Our guests still rave about this venue and we do too. Couldn't be happier with our choice!

to work with! I had a some last minute changes and questions and they were on top of it all. The reception went so smoothly, if there were any issues we didn’t know about it! We had multiple people come up to us during and after the reception say that it was the best reception they’ve been to! People raved about how beautiful the space was, and how good the food was. I highly recommend The Backstage and their team to host your next event!

the team was able to accommodate all of our requests, and the venue was a great place to kick off our wedding weekend!

irst appointments when we were deciding on the venue. Once booked, the great service continued. Shannen and Natalie were wonderful-they were patient, personable, answered all our questions, and made suggestions when we needed them. They were even able to get us a special bottle of bourbon that we requested. The night of the event was wonderful! The room as so pretty, the kid zone was a hit with the kids, and the weather was perfect, so we were able to take advantage of the outdoor patio. The meal was delicious and the flaming donut station was a hit! Service from the servers and bartender were top notch. I would highly recommend this venue!

cating with me throughout the planning process and on the day of the rehearsal and wedding. The food was fantastic! A month later people are still commenting on the food and venue. Thanks to Backstage!!

super attentive to detail and the food was delicious!!

ter the tour, we canceled all our other venue tours as we already knew BEC was the venue for us. Kudos to Cara and her team as they did an outstanding job! On the day of the rehearsal, Cara was so accommodating and helped make sure our rehearsal went smoothly. She even let us start setting up some of the décors early. On our wedding day, Cara and her team were ready for us; the rest of the décor looked amazing and she really captured my vision. The food was delicious; highly recommend the crab cakes as an appetizer and the caramelized brussels sprouts as a side dish. We got a lot of compliments on our choice of venue and everyone was super happy with the wait staff and bartenders’ exceptional work. BEC and Cara exceeded our expectations and I highly recommend this venue!

the set up and flow of the evening, the food, and the ambiance. All of that was because of this venue. I am a very inexperienced party planner, but Cara was so amazing in helping us plan our wedding. She did a great job of following up and checking in, which really helped ease my worries. No questions were too small. She made everything so easy, and for that, I am super grateful. On the day of the wedding, I truly felt like I didn’t need to worry about anything, and I had such a fun time. Th staff during the event were also amazing. They were very attentive and made sure to check to see if I or my husband needed anything (special shout-out to Ethan! He was so great). They were very polite, and the service was excellent. I seriously feel like my wedding was perfect, and this venue and the staff were a big part of that.

f the room. I based my tables off the seating arrangements we had agreed upon but when I arrived to the venue there was no seating chart. (they told us they would provide/only provide place cards for those with dietary restrictions which we did but no one else knew where to go) However when we arrived the tables were not arranged in the way we agreed upon however in the way we initially were looking at but as far as I knew we had changed it. if I would have known the tables were going to be the old way I would have sent the original table layout. Other than that however the location, especially during blink, was absolutely 1/1 other than the parking. the pictures we got down in the alley will truly be one of a kind. the food from the appetizers (highly recommend the chicken and waffles) we're absolutely incredible. The coney bar was actually Skyline and that was a huge bonus. The bartenders and staff made sure my wife and I never had an empty hand. our guests raved about the venue and food and you could not ask for better lighting. The balcony's, dance floor and kings and queens chairs made for incredible photo ops that we will cherish forever. Giving Cara and her team a 5 star rating because despite the few mishaps they truly delivered on an unforgettable night. Everyone was well fed, well taken care of and happy. My Grandma got a front seat to the dance floor and that was the most important thing.

patience with my questions (I was very green), her promptness, attention detail, and flexibility. That evening that staff was exceptional with their service and little details that arose. They went beyond my expectations adding beautiful candlelight and other touches to enhance the decor which made it even more special. All of our guests commented on how good the food was. I am happy to give them our highest recommendation!!

tive. The week of the event, she called vendors for me which took a ton of stress off. The day of the wedding, she set up all the decor and made sure everything was ready to go. It looked amazing and she captured my vision perfectly. It was a dream come true! The bartenders were also amazing. We have received so many compliments on their service and everyone thought they were hilarious! Anytime they saw my husband in line for the bar they served him first, and we also had another bar tender assigned directly to us who had a new drink in our hands before we finished the last ones. The food was also to die for, especially the chicken & waffles and goetta balls from the late night bites station. When we left, the bar tenders had a to go bag for us with cake, left over food, utensils and water bottles. It was much needed. We picked up all our decorations and left over cake on the Monday after the reception, and they had everything together for us and put away nicely. Cara came down the elevator with a cart and helped me load everything into my car. I didn’t even have to go inside. I am reliving this day over and over in my head because it was so perfect and it was all because of the backstage staff!! You will not regret booking this venue for your big day!

of space and setting for both! The venue is so beautiful in and of itself that we only needed a few decorations/flowers to make it absolutely perfect for us. Cara was amazing to coordinate with! So professional, knowledgeable and helpful. We highly recommend book the Backstage Event Center for any event you have!

ous and I personal loved the chicken and waffle bites. The bartenders were so friendly and very efficient. The logistics of the event were seamless and everything came off right on schedule. We can’t thank you enough for a beautiful venue and an evening that exceeded our expectations.

we ended the tour! We had both our ceremony and reception here which made it very convenient for our guests. Cara was absolutley amazing! She answered all of our questions and was so very helpful for recommendations. I don't know how Cara does it, but she remembers every little detail! We opted for food stations and did a taco bar, bbq slider bar, and mac & cheese bar. For the cocktail hour, we did a cheese plate, goetta balls, bacon wrapped bangers and chicken & waffle bites. For the drinks, you get so much options! 4-5 craft beers, great liqour options and they were more than happy to provide Guinness cans (my favorite beer). Our guests cannot stop talking about how good the food was! There are debates which appetizers or station was better with the aunts and uncles, lol! When I was doing my research, other reviews mention great food but it's 100% true! Our guests also cannot get over how pretty it was inside and because we had great weather, the outdoor patios where fully used! But for the most important review, our guests and us cannot stress enough how great the staff was during the whole event. They really run a tight ship and were just on top of everything! We seriously cannot be happier with BEC and would do it all again if we could! If you are thinking about booking (which you should!), try to stick around 150 for ceremony but reception can hold much more. Cara is so flexible and can help manage the crowd! Ugh, can I just relive our wedding? Such a perfect day and BEC helped make it happen!

etter!! Cara Shipp and her team at The Backstage Event Center went "above and beyond" and didn't miss a detail. They are willing to do anything and everything it takes to make an event special and memorable... they had great recommendations and were such a pleasure to work with!! Cara & team wanted our event to be as perfect as we wanted it to be... and it was PERFECT!!! Delicious food, outstanding service, beautiful room set-up... it was even better than I expected!!!!

ening goes as planned does not go unnoticed!

get. She was also very accommodating when we made last minute changes to the time of the event. Katie and Adam were there to assist us in any way when we arrived to set up for the event. It was overall a very pleasant and enjoyable night. My only suggestion would be to have either weekend or later hours during the week to tour the event center. Thanks for everything! Mike and Eileen

atie, the event planner, is an absolute joy to work with. My daughter had to postpone her 2020 wedding, and Katie and the staff made sure her wedding in 2021 was absolutely perfect. Not only is the venue beautiful, but the food is TO DIE FOR!!! Everything is prepared on site. We served salmon and filet mignon and our guests raved about the food. The chicken & waffle appetizers, along with their bacon-wrapped bangers and the bruschetta were a huge hit. And the service during dinner was AMAZING! I cannot say enough about Backstage - it definitely flies under the radar. Our guests were blown away and everyone was so complimentary. We are SO grateful to Katie and the entire staff at Backstage for making our celebration most memorable and absolutely PERFECT in every way.

. The food was delicious. The room was beautiful and the team working the event could not have been more helpful. The entire evening was a huge success thanks to the staff and chef. I would definitely recommend this venue for any wedding or other special event.

guests days after saying it was the best food, service, atmosphere, and overall wedding they've ever been to which makes us so happy! Cara and Katie made all of the planning and coordinating so easy. I'm a control freak and tried to do so much myself...I should have let them do all of it because everything they handled was executed beautifully. The team at Backstage is the most hard-working crew and exceptional group of people I've ever encountered. I can't recommend this venue enough!

ked past the time she was suppose to leave to assist us with set up, gifts, the cake and even the music genre! ALL of the guests RAVED about the food, the vibe, the balcony and so on! Katie was an absolute pleasure to work with and went above and beyond to make my son and daughter in law's rehearsal perfect!

ny wedding aesthetic and so much to offer. Beautifully rustic but modern interior with 2 large balconies looking over busy parts of the city. Capable of hosting small and large groups. My wedding was incredibly romantic with minimal additions needed to the interior decor. The team that put everything together did a fantastic job and deserve more accolades than I can offer in this single post. My event coordinator, Katie Swantko, did an impeccable job. So accommodating and I feel like she cared as much as I did (if not more) about everything being as perfect as I imagined from the second I chose the venue. She was there to make sure I was happy even until the second I walked down the isle and the rest of the night that followed after. This place is booked heavily during wedding season (and it’s obvious why) and she was still always checking in with me about details, updates, changes, etc., even when I know she didn’t have time. I was honestly never worried about a single detail of the day, simply because of how effectively she works as a coordinator. Bravo, Katie. The food was unbelievably impressive. For cocktail hour, we had shrimp cocktail, a large charcuterie spread, chicken and waffles, and heirloom tomato + mozzarella bites. For dinner, we did a duet plate of chicken piccata and flat iron steak with bordelaise, mashed potatoes and green beans with shaved Parmesan. Every single steak and the chicken were cooked to perfection. The vegetarian meals (pasta with a garlic wine sauce and seasonal vegetables) were so delicious, as well. The portions and the plating were impressive and EVERY guest has mentioned how great the food was. Even the kids macaroni and cheese dishes were perfect! I can not recommend this venue enough. If you choose this space and the team that comes with it for your wedding or any event, I’m so excited for what you’re about to experience!!!

a, great outdoor views, exceptional staff and amazing food - they have it all!!

esitation!

own Cincinnati adds another space for your guests to enjoy. The BEC exceeded my expectations. The organizational efforts by my event coordinator, Katie, made for a seamless experience for me and my guests. The food was exceptional. I chose a family style serving style for a more relaxed and social setting. The staff and their timing was amazing! From the appetizers, dinner, and then dessert…each was more delicious than the next! The BEC takes great pride in the presentation of their food. Everything was delicious and beautiful. The staff was well coordinated and worked hard to see that my guests were comfortable. Katie was accommodating to all of my needs, including drop of decor before the event and the needs of my guests. She was accessible to me for any questions I needed answered during my planning process. The bar was managed very well, pours were generous, and my guests felt so welcomed. The space has a great flow and a cool vibe. Be sure to add the lights to your package to compete the look of the space. I loved the food so much at BEC, that I’ll be calling on the chef for future catering needs. Enjoy this perfect, memorable space!

complimented the venue and the food. I would highly recommend, especially for the price!