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Photo by Kate McGough,
Perspective Studio

It all begins with four simple words: “Will you marry me?” And with that question, your life is forever changed. You are no longer a “me,” but a “we.” A wedding marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in your life.

And once you’re engaged, the planning begins! First and foremost, you need to estimate how many guests you’d like to invite. Do you want an elaborate bash with all of your friends or an intimate wedding with less than 50 guests? Do you want a casual wedding or a formal affair? The size of your guest list and type of wedding you envision will help determine the size of your budget.

Once you’ve established a budget, you can begin looking at venues, since that’s where the majority of your wedding day dollars will go. This decision shouldn’t be taken lightly. Choosing a venue is—quite possibly—one of the most important decisions you’ll make. You’ll spend most of your wedding day here, celebrating your marriage with loved ones, so it’s vital that the venue is exactly what you want.

According to The Wedding Guys®, ambiance and environment set the tone of your wedding, and the smallest details tie everything together. This trend was demonstrated over and over again at the lovely Chateau St. Croix Winery & Vineyard during Trend Wedding 2007. The winery, set within the rolling hills of Wisconsin’s St. Croix Valley, is a “little piece of Europe” right here in the Midwest. The grounds and ballroom offer an intimate, elegant, and unique setting different from the typical box-shaped hotel room. In order to make the event truly original and unforgettable, The Wedding Guys thought outside the box.

“We took something as simple as the art gallery and used it for the cocktail reception, and then later reinvented that same space as the ballroom for the entertainment and the dance,” Vassar explains.

Aaron McCallum, the Director of Events and Chief Operations Officer for Three Sons Signature Cuisine, agrees that the traditional wedding is falling by the wayside. Three Sons Catering operates Blaisdell Manor and Saint Anthony Main Event Centre.

“Newly engaged couples may be going to 4-6 weddings a year for their friends and there is a huge push to do something different.” says McCallum. Couples are looking for ways to interject their own unique personalities into their celebration. One easy way might be the food. McCallum says they are seeing a rise in weddings using multiple Food Stations versus the traditional buffet. This set-up creates a relaxed atmosphere that encourages mingling.

Photo by Kate McGough,
Perspective Studio

Three Sons Catering specializes in designing and creating each menu to fit their clients’ unique tastes. Their goal is to never serve the same meal twice. Using only fresh ingredients, they prepare everything from scratch. McCallum says his staff is trained to keep their eyes and ears open throughout the event so they can jump on anything that might improve the couple’s day. In one incident, an employee ran down the street to get a case of Red Bull because the Best Man mentioned it was the Groom’s favorite drink. This type of attention sets exceptional apart from adequate service.

Couples wanting to turn back the clock and relive the past by will love the University Club of St. Paul, whether it’s the regal Summit Avenue Clubhouse, refined Downtown St. Paul Clubhouse, The Commodore Hotel, or Stout’s Island Lodge, the beautiful facilities—all built prior to 1920—offer “the mindset of a bygone era in very romantic settings,” says Judith Keough, The University Club’s director of catering.

Ornate plaster ceilings, historic architecture, spacious windows, and marble floors set the tone, further complemented by exceptional service and incredible food.

“We will customize menus for any taste,” Keough says. “We work closely with couples to plan creative and ethnic menus or favorite family recipes.”

A local landmark since 1910, The Saint Paul Hotel has a reputation for being a sophisticated, timeless fixture in St. Paul’s Rice Park District; a historic icon of the highest degree.

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