So it's looking like there's gonna be rain on my wedding day (SATURDAY).. Besides the venue, I'm trying to think of indoor locations around COlumbus (downtown area and slightly beyond) that might be good for photo opportunities as well.

Any suggestions? places that require minimal hassle to get in...

Good luck. We get hassled all the time. I would shoot for places that are photographed a lot, like the businesses in the Short North (cup o jo has always been cool about letting use their building), Grandview, German Village areas. There is a gazebo in Goodale Park that you could use.

Sorry couldn't be more of a help.

ask your bridal party if they have any wealthy parents or realtives in the area that could get you into a country club for an hour to take pictures. or even somebody with a big formal entry way and staircase in their home.

just brainstorming here:

museum of art
franklin park conservatory
the westin

i'll go ask some of my other old married friends

Right there around the Hockey Arena ---no money
Dowtown, riverfront area. --no money
Franklin Park --why pay when you can just walk through and take photos, public park. no cost.

how about amongst the warhol exhibition at the wex? and/or on the wex stage? i hear you might have some sort of "in" there.

(your best bet is franklin park conservatory, assuming there's no other wedding there that day. springing for the wedding party to get in is a small price to pay for all that flowery goodness.)

franklin park has admission cost of $7.50 per adult.

i made a quick call and they said it would be fine. their rules are don't change in the bathrooms and be courteous to other customers.

there is nothing going on there between 3-5 on saturday. you should call to double check all of this.

check with your photographer about light, b/c he or she wouldn't want to be hauling anything all over that place.

good luck

oh, a friend of mine said check with local gallery owners

So, they change seasonally, but Oakland Nursery may be a possibility. They have a pretty good indoor houseplant room for that verdant theme and they have that "side room" which often has an outdoor look to it. It may not hit the spot, but there's no admission.

Other top of the head ideas...

Drake Union at OSU on the banks of the oldnmuddy...
Hyde Park on the cap has some nice red backdrops...


BTW, in many cultures, rain is seen as a good omen and sign of fertility and growth.

Columbus Music Hall?
The Art Museum is not a bad call.


What about Skully's?

Maybe the main entry (the old part) of the Main Library branch downtown? There are some nice architectural elements in there. There's also the bandstand at the Park of Roses -- it's not indoors, but it's covered ...

Edited to add: Aaaaand ... I just saw that you said downtown-ish. So, I guess Whetstone's no-go.

Okay, another idea: it seems like some of the universities (I'm thinking CCAD, Columbus State, Capital) should have some interesting indoor spaces and wouldn't balk at having pictures taken.

And another: the Statehouse is open for tours on Saturdays and hosts weddings, so I imagine that they're used to photo shoots there, too -- I'd call to find out what kind of restrictions/rules they might have, though.

There's a couple buildings at North Bank park, IIRC.

Whetstone was actually our original plan (we live in Baja Clintonville, so it's just down the road), but if it rains, we want to be able to get everything done downtown so we ladies don't have to wander around several locations in our dresses.

The library might be a good idea. I feel like Franklin Park Conservatory is too far out of our way and we don't want to pay the additional $75 to get everyone in.

is the dolphin lounge out in gahanna still open? because if it is, that's your winner. serious.

thanks for the recommendations everyone, appreciate it

Franklin Park Conservatory is great, and there's enouhg ambient light there thay your shooter should be able to get away with on-camera light.

Also, the Statehouse is fantastic. You need to contact CSRAB to get the permit ($10, maybe?) and it's lotsa fun. I shot this htere 10 years or so ago, and the scan's pretty crappy, but...

http://www.betterimage.com/lzg5b.jpg

...to give you an idea of the fun you can have. Also, the Rotunda's fantastic to play with.

dude, take your pictures up at the shelf (4th floor under skylab)

tons of lights, clean white room, indoors, and probably FREE

they actually had a wedding there months back

you can get their contact from www.theshelf.org

There is a specific room in Franklin Park Observatory called the Palm House that is kind of like a rainforest that I have seen people use for photos. There is also a fountain in there and a nice staircase. From the main entrance go up to the 2nd floor and walk straight back, past the cafe.

And if there is a brief respite in the rain, they have a nice porch overlooking the grounds.

I don't have any idea how you access the interior but there is also Jeffrey Mansion in Bexley.

The Wexner Center. Use the stage at Mershon

If you want strobe lights and black lights you can use my basement...we're in the same neighborhood