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There are very few days in your life that have as much meaning as your wedding day. You’ll acknowledge the date in some special way each year on your anniversary. You’ll tell the grandkids about it at your 50th wedding celebration. It’s a celebration of your love and commitment, and it should be a special, memorable, beautiful occasion—but first it has to be planned. There are many factors that go into planning a wedding, but the largest piece of the planning puzzle is deciding where you want to celebrate. This will not only account for the biggest slice of your budget, but will help set the theme for your wedding. Are you more city-chic or country? Fun and festive or spiritual and serious? Do you want an elaborate bash with all of your friends or an intimate wedding with less than 50 guests? Where you choose to celebrate your union is a decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly. You’ll spend most of your wedding day here, so it’s vital that the venue is exactly what you want.
For couples wishing to add a little culture to their big day, it doesn’t get much better than the iconic Walker Art Center. The Walker’s shimmering façade and sweeping skyline view of Minneapolis, as well as convenient underground parking, seamlessly integrate form and function. Indoor and outdoor spaces can accommodate anywhere from 50-250 guests. (Many couples are married outside on the terrace and then move the party indoors.)
Guests attending a wedding at the Walker can tour the gallery or pose for photos by the popular Spoonbridge and Cherry sculpture outside. Another bonus? The exclusive caterer is internationally acclaimed chef Wolfgang Puck.
Brides and grooms wishing to capture the romance of a bygone era find the perfect fit at The Saint Paul Hotel, a local landmark since 1910. It’s not difficult imagining presidents Herbert Hoover or Woodrow Wilson strolling through the lovely English garden outside—in St. Paul’s charming Rice Park area—or admiring the beautiful architecture inside. Elegant extras such as ceiling drapes, candles, rich ivory linens and beautiful china, glass, silver, and crystal add a sophisticated feel to the space. With a long-standing reputation as the place to host a party, and a staff that treats bridal parties and guests like royalty, it’s no wonder that weddings here book out as far as 18 months in advance.
Another turn-of-the-century venue steeped in character and charm is 490 Summit, a gorgeous Victorian mansion in the heart of St. Paul’s Summit Avenue neighborhood. Built in 1883, the mansion is rich with details of the past. The warm and welcoming atmosphere includes a paneled library, ornate hand-carved staircase, charming dressing area (bride’s room), and five dining rooms. The mansion can accommodate up to 250 guests.
At Embassy Suites Minneapolis Airport and Embassy Suites Bloomington, all-inclusive packages help make the wedding day stress-free so that couples can focus on enjoying their wedding day. In addition to a very attentive, professional, and friendly staff, the locations “have the feeling of being outside when you’re inside,” says Renee Lawler, wedding and social catering manager. “Our facilities are great for winter weddings. When your guests walk in, they forget about the cold, snowy weather; they feel like they’re in a warm tropical environment.” The atrium of Embassy Suites Minneapolis Airport is a tropical paradise of palm trees, lush plants, and waterfalls, while the Bloomington atrium has a European and Spanish flair. The Bloomington location can accommodate up to 450 guests, and 300 can fit comfortably at the Minneapolis airport location.
You don’t have to be a member at North Oaks Golf Club to get married there, but after experiencing the fabulous food and service in such lovely surroundings, a lot of people ask how they can become members, says Kay Zeigler, membership/catering manager.
A venue for all seasons, couples equally love the outdoor patio and gazebo and the warm and inviting Lakes Ballroom, accommodating up to 250 guests. In the ballroom, multiple windows let the sunlight pour in and show off spectacular year-round views of the 18th green.
Other benefits of getting married at North Oaks Golf Club include mouth-watering menu options ranging from asiago encrusted chicken to broiled Norwegian salmon to bone-in beef tenderloin, valet parking, and tasteful décor such as beautiful artwork and gold chandeliers.
At Midland Hills Country Club in Roseville, brides often use words such as “classy and elegant” to describe the space. Special event rooms include St. Andrews, seating up to 50 guests and featuring a built-in wine cabinet, beautiful arched ceiling, and large cove window, and Turnberry Hall, seating anywhere from 130 to 200 guests comfortably and offering views of the golf course. Other perks include a private seasonal patio, an LCD projector and screen (ideal for slideshows), and wireless Internet.
According to Jan Knudtson, Midland Hills Country Club membership sales and catering director, guests most often comment about the central location, the hot and delicious food, the friendly and professional staff, and the
beautiful ballroom.
The best part about planning a wedding at StoneRidge Golf Club in Stillwater is the fact that Catering Manager Matt Anderson, with over 15 years of experience and over 350 weddings under his belt, will be at your service handling all the details from your first meeting, to the tasting, to the reception and even the day after your reception to make sure the conclusion of your event is flawless. The club is very pretty (both indoors and out), people rave about Chef Ron Bohnert’s award-winning menus, and fun bridal parties have had creative photos taken outside in a row of golf carts.
For a wedding that doubles as a weekend experience, couples are heading out of town to resorts and lodges. Destination weddings in Minnesota appeal to outdoorsy people who prefer an option that’s not too fancy or formal. The scenery is beautiful on its own without spending more on decor, and the weekend becomes a fun reunion for family and friends.
At Bluefin Bay, a seaside resort on Lake Superior 80 miles north of Duluth, the staff really knows how to roll out the red carpet and welcome wedding parties. The website ResortsandLodges.com recently named Bluefin the No. 1 Wedding Resort in the “Top 10 Minnesota Wedding Resorts List.” The article states, “Bluefin’s private Tofte Cove is the romantic backdrop to commemorate your already romantic occasion. Exchange vows and your first kiss as husband and wife on this secluded cobblestone beach. The fun doesn’t just happen at the wedding and reception either! Take a wedding party sea kayaking on Lake Superior or hike to Oberg Mountain. Or, perhaps you prefer to snuggle up in your suite with a private fireplace, whirlpool tub, and lake views.”
Not only are the views fantastic at Cove Point Lodge in Beaver Bay, the lodge is also romantic, quiet, and secluded—providing all the right ingredients for a small, intimate wedding.
Some couples are married in front of the Great Hall fireplace; others choose to get married outside on the lakeside lawn, on the point, or at Split Rock Lighthouse. Wedding season at the lodge is from December through May, and honeymoons are popular year-round.
Breezy Point Resort, located in the Brainerd Lakes area, is another get-away-from-it-all resort setting, a short distance from the hassle of big city traffic and distractions. Wedding options include spacious formal or informal ballrooms, romantic outdoor ceremony locations (there’s even a quaint chapel on-site seating up to 100 guests), affordable lodging accommodations, and a plethora of outdoor recreation. It’s the staff, though, that goes above and beyond.
As one guest said of his Breezy Point experience, “The facilities are nice and well-kept. The food was very good and service was right on time. The staff followed through on everything just as we had ordered it.”
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