YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Maybe it’s the scenery. Or it could be the customizable space and made-to-order menu or even the memories the venue evokes.
Mahoning and Shenango Valley event centers provide many comforts and accommodations for weddings, parties, corporate events and special gatherings.
“Almost every weekend we have weddings here,” says Julie Eckenrod, director of marketing at Buhl Farm Park in Hermitage, Pa. “A lot of people like our venue because they like to do everything on their own. I think that is kind of the trend.”
Buhl Farm Park provides the venue, table and chairs, and event organizers book the caterer and other features. It has many areas available to rent to suit a range of events. The Casino and Conference Center features the Casino Ballroom on its second floor (the word casino refers to its role as a gathering place).
The capacity of the ballroom, often used for weddings and receptions, is nearly 200.
Larger Events
Rich Sedoris, advertising and marketing coordinator at CTW Development Corp. in Canfield, Ohio, says that company’s Waypoint 4180 is seeing trends shift to larger weddings.
“We are seeing larger bridal parties (with more bridesmaids and groomsmen) along with larger numbers of guests invited compared to the last two years,” Sedoris writes in an email.
At the Eastwood Event Centre in Niles, Toni Cameron, director of sales and catering, says a mix of large and smaller events dot the schedule. And with the pandemic a few years in the past, people are becoming comfortable hosting large events.
“We’re one of the largest event spaces in this immediate area,” she adds. “And our space is very customizable, not only with the movable walls and things, but also the decor is very neutral, so it kind of allows people to have any color palette and know that it will look great in the space.”
The largest space accommodates 750 guests but it can be broken down into different configurations to create more intimate or open layouts, Cameron says.
“So, from there, we can do a lot of fun things, like really build out a huge cookie table display,” she adds. “Something else that’s really popular that we’re seeing are food stations.”
Stations may be broken down by food type such as one for meat and another for salad or by ethnic food category such as one for Mexican cuisine and another for Italian.
Amenities
Sedoris points to the size of Waypoint and its varied amenities as what draws people.
“Aside from 26,000 square feet of space, Waypoint 4180 is an attractive option for weddings and conferences because we have the Courtyard by Marriott adjoining the venue,” he says. “Having overnight accommodation a few steps away makes a multiple-day event a little easier for guests. In addition to wedding receptions, we have been utilizing our large outdoor patio more in the past few years for wedding ceremonies. Plus having Kennsington Golf Course right there means there is always something to do.”
Eckenrod at Buhl Farm Park believes the scenery plays a key role in attracting people to that venue.
“We have the full wrap-around porch, the veranda, on both levels,” she says. “Honestly, I think it’s the scenery that really attracts them, and the low cost.”
People have access to the hall as well as the grounds and many make use of most of it. They book a rehearsal dinner in the conference room, the reception in the ballroom and a cabana at the pool for an afternoon wedding party gathering.
The gazebo and Julia’s Garden, both on the grounds, provide picturesque settings for wedding photos.
“We have a lot of people that have their wedding up at the gazebo or in Julia’s Garden, and then come back here for their reception,” Eckenrod explains. “Everything is so close by, within walking distance, even for those that are here from out of town.”
Buhl Farm Park is surrounded by a lake. “To me, that’s the beauty of it,” she says.
Many venues offer pretty scenery, but Eckenrod believes they pale in comparison to the lake and its environs.
The marketing director also points to the park’s history and community significance. The park was created in the early 1900s by industrialist Frank Buhl and his wife, Julia Forker Buhl, as a way to share their wealth with the community.
“It’s beautiful, especially the ballroom upstairs,” she says of the casino building. “And for our community members and people that grew up here in the area, this building is engraved in their heart. A lot of people refer to it as our community’s gem. It means a lot to a lot of our small-town community.”
Many who grew up in western Pennsylvania and moved away choose Buhl Farm Park for their nuptials.
Other Events
But people book event venues for more than weddings.
“We host a lot of banquets, charity events and conferences,” Sedoris says of Waypoint. “The Athena Awards banquet has been at Waypoint 4180 for the last few years now, and we have been hosting many multiple-day conferences.”
In the summer though, weddings dominate the slate of events at Waypoint.
“While we see weddings all through the year, we typically have one to two weddings every weekend from May through September,” Sedoris says.
Eastwood Event Centre also hosts a wide variety of events.
“We do a lot of charity galas,” Cameon says. “We do quite a few auction style events and then, of course, a lot of corporate business as well.”
This year, corporate and similar events outnumber weddings at the Niles center, but many weddings have been booked there over the next couple of years.
But Eastwood’s busiest time is opposite most similar establishments.
“Our busiest time is fourth quarter, September through December,” Cameron says. “We do a lot of events during that time.”
Through the summer, the center hosts a lot of corporate-style business events with social events picking up from August through year’s end.
The Food
While those who choose Buhl Farm Park for their events select their own caterer, both Waypoint 4180 and the Eastwood Event Centre provide in-house catering.
“We have our executive chef on site for all events,” Sedoris says of Waypoint. “Our menu has signature packages and enhancements that are carefully crafted to make personalizing an event menu more efficient without losing that personal touch.”
Those who pick Eastwood Event Centre for their wedding or other event have options too. The center doesn’t have standard buffets.
“We kind of allow them to create their own buffet or create their own plated dinner,” Cameron says.
And while some people come into the center knowing exactly what they want for a wedding or event, staff is ready to help those who want and need more guidance.
“Our staff and our team, we really try to be super flexible, so we work pretty closely with all aspects of the event and all of their vendors to really try to make the events go off seamlessly for them,” Cameron says.
Pictured at top: Waypoint 4180 in Canfield, pictured at dusk, is a popular Mahoning Valley venue for weddings and corporate events.