Wedding Photographers & Videographers at The Discovery Center Downtown, Altoona

A wedding at The Discovery Center Downtown fills one of Altoona's biggest event spaces. The former Heritage Discovery Center on 12th Avenue is now run by The Columns Downtown as an extra venue for downtown Altoona, with seating for 600. For your wedding photos and video, that size means room for a dramatic grand entrance, a dance floor that can hold a crowd and a mezzanine above the floor.

Your wedding reception has the run of the building for the weekend: setup on Friday, all day Saturday and Sunday access by appointment. Tables and chairs for up to 450 people are included, with round or long banquet tables set to the design you choose, along with the bar and refrigerator equipment and an elevator to the mezzanine. That upper level can give your photographer and wedding videographer a view looking down on the dance floor, so ask whether it can be used during the toasts and the first dance. The website doesn't mention ceremonies, so ask if you'd like to hold your wedding ceremony in the same room.

During the week of the event, a venue coordinator handles access for your vendors and keeps the evening on schedule, and end-of-night cleanup is included. Full-service catering is available, or you can ask for vendor recommendations. Guest parking is across from the venue. The center is also a heritage interpretation site, and permanent exhibits are planned.

• Schedule a walkthrough to see the hall and the mezzanine.
• Bring your photographer to plan your wedding day timeline and the grand entrance.
• Ask about photo and video guidelines, catering and linens.

A little about The Discovery Center Downtown

The building opened as the Altoona Heritage Discovery Center, a place to tell the story of the city. The family business behind The Columns Downtown now operates it as an event venue for weddings and other celebrations.