Image: Sarah Babcock Studio
Client Testimonials
The Brightside certainly doesn’t fit the cookie-cutter mold of event spaces. From concerts and wrestling matches to yoga retreats and weddings, so many amazing connections and memories have been made here. Our goal is simple - to bring people together in the celebration of love, art, and community…and have a good time while doing it!
We like to think that we are authentic, inclusive, quirky, free-spirited, and even hip at times.
We’re wildly beyond perfect, yet perfectly you.
We could go on and on telling you how awesome we are ;-) but thankfully our clients say it best.
We chose the Brightside for our wedding because of the character of the building and for the flexibility of the space as well as the team. They worked with us so much and helped us create the perfect day.
We loved the beautiful exposed brick and all of the character. The chalk board wall was also a super fun way to incorporate art that went with our theme.
Being able to bring in our own catering was huge for us. We had a very unique menu and they allowed us to do all of the food ourselves. We also got to have our friends at our favorite coffee shop do coffee for the reception.
They allowed us to create the day exactly how we envisioned it and make it a reflection of the two of us. Then they helped us pull it off by being so accommodating and gracious!
We love The Brightside!
-Josie & Brett
Team Brightside - I’m not sure ‘Thank You’ sums it up appropriately, but I also simply don’t have the words to describe it.
I am not always easily impressed and Brad is such a perfectionist. That combination doesn’t always make it easy to work with us, but at the end of the day...YOU NAILED IT!
It was perfection at its finest and for that, we are speechless and full of gratitude!
A million thanks to you and your team!
-Jack & Brad
We chose the Brightside because it felt like the venue that was the most us. It feels fun, it has a great laid-back vibe, and it’s just super cool.
My favorite element was really the flexibility of the entire building. We could do ceremony, reception, and pictures all at the same place and they all look so amazing and different.
We used the food truck plug-ins, keg tap for our custom wedding beer, and bridal suites. It was absolutely perfect. We had so much space to get ready and have the makeup artist come and work right there. We literally were able to have every single thing we wanted. Leading up to the wedding the keg taps weren’t there yet and Carli did a great job of keeping us updated on when they’d arrive.
I couldn’t imagine a better experience. The space is affordable, so customizable, and you aren’t limited to only working with certain vendors. It’s in a great spot downtown close to everything. Carli and her team are such an asset to any bride with their communication. It was a perfect day!
-Gina+Josh
The Brightside was the perfect venue for our wedding! Carli, Hamilton, and their team made the experience so amazing! They are truly great people who make your event exactly what you want it to be.
The venue is so beautiful, and it has a variety of rooms and outdoor areas for pictures. Our guests loved the venue! It was the perfect day!
-Kara and Alex
We cannot thank Carli, Hamilton, and the Brightside Team enough! They went above and beyond making sure everything was perfect for our wedding! They were amazing at communicating throughout the planning process and the actual event. We would highly recommend them and their beautiful venue.
I received so many compliments on how picturesque, yet how unique the place was and that you can tell the staff truly cares.
-Sarah & Andrew
The Brightside is an amazing venue! I had the opportunity to photograph a gorgeous wedding there over the weekend and I can’t stop thinking about it! The Brightside gives you an industrial feel while giving you the ability to customize it to your needs. The staff is super friendly and nice. The parking is great and you’ll find the property has many photo opportunities. You simply can’t go wrong booking The Brightside for your wedding or event.
-Savannah, Savannah Linn Photography
We used The Brighside for my daughter's rehearsal dinner in April. Carli and Hamilton were so nice and easy to work with. They went above and beyond to help with anything we needed. I felt like they cared about the event as much as we did. The room was perfect and everyone enjoyed the evening. Many of our guests commented on what a "cool" venue The Brightside was. As a long time Daytonian, I am so proud of downtown Dayton and all the great things that we have to offer. The Brightside is certainly one of the awesome new venues downtown. I look forward to visiting again soon!
-Janet Mary
We had an amazing experience planning our wedding at The Brightside! The venue is beautiful with multiple zones that allowed us to stay on-sight all day from getting ready, to our ceremony, taking photos, and finally our fabulous reception. We booked far in advance and the venue just kept getting better and better as the owners are continuously making amazing improvements to the space! On top of the physical venue the planning tool provided made not only venue specific planning a breeze, but also general wedding planning. I especially found the guest list tab of the planning spreadsheet more useful and comprehensive than many of the other planning tools/websites I had tried. The team at the Brightside made sure everything ran smoothly and that everyone had a fantastic time! I would highly recommend The Brightside to anyone planning a wedding or other event of similar size! -Sydney & Alexander
Our daughter was looking for an urban/industrial space for her wedding. We were interested in another downtown space prior to her engagement, but we quickly found out that space was not going to work with our budget.
We found the Brightside in a brochure passed out at a bridal show and the ad immediately appealed to me as it looked like just what our daughter wanted. From our first visit, Carli endeared herself to us and the space was everything we had hoped for and more. The ballroom was simply cool, with the exposed brick and wood beams. Carli had just ordered tables and chairs that would be included in the rental; they had bar options we could work with; there were two distinct areas to have a separate ceremony space and reception space. It was everything we wanted.
We loved the Brightside when we booked it, but we loved it, even more, a year later when it was time for our daughter’s wedding. The upgrades were more than we could ever have expected. The ceremony space got a facelift and was light and beautiful. We preferred the eclectic/mismatched chairs, but they also had an option of all white chairs for the ceremony. The added bridal suite and groom’s suite were spacious and beautifully decorated. The whole exterior had been painted and a new mural added. All these things were unexpected bonuses and made a big difference in our day. Our photos are gorgeous!!! We had so many guests rave about how cool the venue was as well.
Working with Carli and her team was a dream come true. She was always quick to respond to any questions and was a great resource. We booked our DJ from her suggested vendor list and he was fabulous! (Shout out to Isicle!) She and Hamilton are committed to making your event everything you want it to be, and we were always confident that they would help us have a wonderful day. We had a shop small/shop local theme with our vendors and that started with Carli and Hamilton. They love Dayton and are making a difference downtown!
-Kathi and Chris, parents of the bride
We're both Dayton natives and love supporting local businesses. We knew we wanted to book at a space that not only felt like "us" but one that was also heavily invested in our community. One of our favorite things about living in a city like Dayton is how close-knit the community is – The Brightside checked all of the boxes with their positive impact on our city and passion for bringing people together.
Alec and I met when he was in a band so a lot of our relationship revolved around live music so the fact that our wedding venue doubled as a music venue was a big draw for us. It felt like the perfect mix of formal and fun.
The Brightside has to be one of the most professional and affordable places to get married in Dayton, I would suggest them to anyone looking to get married. -Taylor & Alec
Downtown Dayton holds a special place in our hearts so having our wedding at such a beautifully restored space in the heart of downtown made our wedding feel truly reflective of our personalities. We did our first look in our home in St. Anne’s Hill and took the rest of our photos around the neighborhood. The fact that the venue was just a 2 minute drive was a huge help the day of.
Carli was amazing. She was super flexible and worked so hard to accommodate all of our guests while still following CDC guidelines and keeping us all safe. She went above and beyond to make sure every detail was perfect and the whole day went so smoothly.
We couldn't have asked for a better venue and would recommend The Brightside to anyone looking to get married or host an event. It's an amazing space run by amazing people and they're constantly working to add more improvements. And we love, love, love our Brightside merch!
-Martha & Tung
The Brightside went above and beyond all of our expectations!! The bar/lounge was big enough to hold the appetizers and 130 guests comfortably. The ceremony/reception space was perfect! There was plenty of space for us to hold the ceremony and reception and not have to worry about maneuvering at all! We fell in love with the exposed brick, high ceilings, and wood beams. The staff I collaborated with did everything and more to ensure that our wedding day went smoothly and perfectly! They helped me with vendor referrals that fit our vibe. They were always quick to respond to emails, calls, and texts which always helped give me peace of mind.
-Brittney and TJ
We could go on and on about how much we loved The Brightside! From the aesthetics and style to the affordability and versatility the venue allows for outside vendors, we could not have chosen a better venue.
We really fell in love with the rustic elegance that Brightside already had with little to no decorating required. There were so many ways to make the space our own for our big day. It was the perfect place to say “I do!”
The venue is absolutely affordable and has so much to offer. The ability to utilize the entire venue and separate our wedding ceremony from our reception was amazing and allowed for a true room reveal for us and our guests.
We truly enjoy being a part of The Brightside “family.”
-Jazzmin & Meech
The Brightside checked all the boxes for our dream wedding!!!
We wanted to get married in a space in downtown Dayton that could accommodate a live band, have a flexible catering policy, and most importantly, be affordable. It was absolutely the ideal space for our rock'n'roll-themed wedding! All our friends and family said it was the "most fun they've ever had at a wedding." We feel a great deal of pride that our celebration was enjoyed by all!
We are both HUGE music fans, so for us, the stage, sound system, and lights really won us over! We threw a massive concert for our reception, with full horn sections, and we could not have done it without the extensive sound gear and the top-quality sound and lighting technicians they partner with.
Ever go to a concert and your ears are ringing after the show? Happens to us all the time, but never at The Brightside! We had been in other large more expensive downtown venues and they were nothing but echo chambers.
We cannot talk more highly about how great the ballroom and bar at The Brightside sound for vows, toasts, and music. There was no echo anywhere and everyone could hear everything all throughout the day.
It was such a lovely experience celebrating our love in a space that has so much personality and soul. The Dixon family has poured their hearts into this space, and you can feel that presence when you're in the building. They've done such an outstanding job rehabbing this forgotten corner of Dayton, so it felt really good to support them back. If we had it to do all over again, we wouldn't change a thing!
-Libby & Mitch
Add your story to ours!
We would love to share your Brightside experience with other couples who are just starting their planning journey. You can email us at TheBrightsideDayton@gmail.com highlighting your favorite aspects of The Brightside, helpful planning tips for couples, and what your guests thought of your wedding. Of course, we’d also love for you to include a link to your wedding gallery with your email so we can relive your special day and see your smiling faces :-)
You can always share the love on Google and Facebook reviews too.
Thank you for sharing part of your life story with us! We appreciate you and look forward to seeing you again at The Brightside!