Venue Reviews - Weddings in Minnesota Mansions

These Minneapolis and St. Paul sites are all gorgeous mansions that are available to rent for both wedding ceremonies and  receptions. The Saint Paul mansions are all on gorgeous Summit Avenue, and the Minneapolis mansions are in South Minneapolis, just south of downtown.
 
Like all the premier wedding ceremony and reception sites in the Twin Cities, you are either required to use their catering, or in some sites you are required to use one of their approved caterers. All these premier Twin Cities wedding venues have the pretty standard $8-10K food and beverage minimum if you are having your wedding on a Saturday in the summer (prices are much more flexible on other dates).

The wedding sites reviewed are as follows:

University Club on Summit Avenue in St. Paul

420 Summit Avenue, St Paul, MN ?55105 - (651) 290-7135 he Imagine having your wedding reception at the same place where the author F. Scott Fitzgerald hung out! The University Club on Summit Avenue in St. Paul, MN, is a gorgeous mansion/club at the top of Ramsey Hill with an amazing view of the Mississippi River Valley. Fitzgerald lived right down the street, partied at the University Club, and wrote of the 1920s flappers in one of the best American novels of all time - The Great Gatsby.

This is the University Club's main Summit Room, which is much bigger than this picture shows.
When you add Terrace Room (below right), it can hold 160 guests.

The University Club in St. Paul actually has two locations, and this review is for the Summit Avenue location on the top of Ramsey Hill (the other location is in downtown Saint Paul). The food is by the same people who run the award-winning W.A. Frost Restaurant on Cathedral Hill in St. Paul.

Wedding ceremonies at the University Club on Summit Avenue can be held in any of several rooms, depending on the size of the wedding (from 5 to 200). Most of the wedding receptions (dinner, dancing, etc.), though, are held in the large Summit Room, which has a gorgeous view over the Mississippi River Valley. Food tastings are complimentary, plus, you can get a wedding cake through them via the award-winning Buttercream Cakes.

Note -  usually there's no incentive for you to let a venue know that you found their venue through my website, so often a venue doesn't know that it's my site that recommended them. So, for a limited time:

• If you contact the University Club in St. Paul, MN , please let them know Rev. Tomkin sent you (even if you don't use my services).  
• For a limited time: If you do book the University Club for your wedding reception (again, even if you do not use my services), let me know and I will send you a FREE bottle of vintage Dom Perignon champagne--right to your home. You can use it to celebrate booking such a fabulous wedding reception venue!

Closest hotel: The 5-star Helmsley Saint Paul Hotel is about a mile-and-a-half away. 

Capacity: 160 guests. While the club doesn't offer valet parking, they can help coordinate this service with a vendor.
Note: Smaller weddings of 5-80 guests may use one of their other rooms - one has a fireplace, others have the amazing view of the river valley.
Site rental fees vary greatly depending on the day, the room, and the season. For instance, for a Saturday in the summer, the fee would be $1500, and food and beverage minimum $4,000, but these prices could be half that, depending on the date and your requirements. They ask that you please contact the management to get specific quote because the price varies so much, it really varies on the circumstances.
Phone number: (651) 222-1751 (Julia Struve). The best way to contact her, though, is via e-mail at jstruve@universityclubofstpaul.com.

 
 

St. Paul College Club Mansion in St. Paul

990 Summit Avenue, St Paul, MN ?55105 - (651) 227-4477

The St. Paul College Club offers a very reasonable price for such a large, gorgeous mansion. It's one of my favorite wedding spots in town. The club is located next to the Governor's Mansion on prestigious Summit Avenue. The St. Paul College Club has a lovely and spacious living room with soft light (perfect for photographs). They have several rooms for congregating and mingling and many fireplaces throughout, which can be lit for wedding guests to enjoy. There is also an adjoining reception hall, pictured above (on the left). The club offers both indoor and outdoor weddings, which makes this venue very versatile. Their lovely garden blooms throughout the spring and summer, adding to the enchantment of outdoor ceremonies here.

Most indoor wedding ceremonies at the St Paul College Club are held in this main room in front of the fireplace (pictured to the right). Receptions are held in the neighboring ballroom.

The St. Paul College Club is unique among St Paul and Minneapolis venues in that it charges an hourly rental fee instead of a pre-set fee, which makes it one of the most reasonable prices for these large, grand Minnesota wedding sites. The hourly rate is from $220-$275, and as far as I can tell, the St. Paul College Club is the only Minnesota wedding venue that works this way. The club includes table linens, linen napkins, and rose centerpieces for every one of your guests' tables. Their personal French chef caters all of their weddings, lending variety to their menu choices. Their staff is very professional, experienced, and friendly - they ensure that your guests' needs are always taken care of. You can bring your own liquor for the bar, which is amazing and basically unheard of at reception halls - stocking the bar on your own can save you thousands of dollars at your reception.

The St. Paul College Club is on Summit Avenue, a block from the parallel-running Grand Avenue, which has many great restaurants for a rehearsal dinner, including the Lexington restaurant (old-school American). Or you could venture downtown to Meritage (a French Brasserie), which is located on St. Peter street.

Closest hotel: The 5-star Helmsley Saint Paul Hotel and the is about a mile-and-a-half away. 

Capacity: 250- 325 guests
Location: 990 Summit Avenue, St. Paul 
Site Rental Fee: $1,000
Food and beverage minimum May-December: $3,500
Phone Number: 651-227-4477 (Ask for Wendie Price, the Event Coordinator.)

   

Van Dusen Mansion in Minneapolis

1900 LaSalle, Minneapolis, MN 55403 - (612) 253-0255.

The Van Dusen Mansion was closed for a couple years, but has now been remodeled and is once again open for weddings. The intricate woodwork and warm light of the chandeliers creates a cozy feel, even though the adjoining reception hall is quite large. The Van Dusen Mansion has several small rooms for congregating or for small wedding ceremonies, the large reception hall next door, a carriage house in back for small weddings, plus an outdoor courtyard. Located right next to downtown Minneapolis, the Van Dusen Mansion is close to the Uptown neighborhood, as well. Mintahoe provides the catering.

Great place for a rehearsal dinner: The award-winning Rudolph's Ribs, about four blocks away, which offers private dining.
Closest hotel: The 4-star Hyatt Regency is about six blocks away.

• Rental fees and capacity (for a Saturday afternoon/evening):
• Mansion, both floors - $2,000. Seated - 75, cocktail reception - 150.
• Event Center - $3,000. Seated - 200, cocktail reception - 200.
• Carriage House - $2,000. Ceremony - 100, cocktail reception - 150.
• Courtyard - $500. Ceremony - 150.
• Overnight suites - $325, must be rented with an event space.

Food and beverage minimum for a Saturday: $8,000
Phone Number: 612-253-0255, ask for Lisa Brenna.

 

Semple Mansion in Minneapolis

100 West Franklin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN ?55404 - (612) 290-4448?

Semple Mansion (the Grand Palladian Ballroom) is right next to downtown Minneapolis, close to the Uptown neighborhood. The mansion is also known by its largest and most famous room: the Grand Palladium Ballroom, which is the only original ballroom left in Minneapolis. Built in the style of the Second Renaissance Revival, the Semple Mansion has a classy old-world feel to it. The breathtaking lobby has a large, three-tiered Swarovski crystal chandelier encompassing 36 candle-shaped crystals. The amazing Grand Palladium Ballroom is on the third floor. Most wedding reception halls are rather plain, because the reception hall is a latter-day addition to the mansion. The Semple Mansion is different from other Minneapolis and St. Paul mansions because its ballroom is period, too. Rather than the dark woodwork of most of the mansion rooms, the ballroom has large white columns with gold leaf and a Renaissance-style painted, curved ceiling. The terrace off the ballroom has a beautiful view of downtown Minneapolis. Built-in seating around the edge of the ballroom provides fun and cozy places for guests to sit.

You can use your own caterer at Semple Mansion, which can bring down costs, and unlike any other mansion in Minneapolis, they allow you to bring your own liquor. 

Great place for a rehearsal dinner: The award-winning Rudolph's Ribs, about three blocks away, which offers private dining.  
Closest hotel: The 3.5-star downtown Minneapolis Convention Center's Millennium Hotel is six blocks away.  
 
Capacity: 250 guests
Location: 100 West Franklin Ave., Minneapolis
Site Rental: $4,400 for a Saturday
Food/Beverage minimum for a Saturday: $3,000 food and $1,500 beverage minumum.
Phone Number: 612-290-4448 (Ask for Katherine Hendrickson. She is very friendly and easy to work with - you'll love her!)
 
 
 

Gale Mansion in Minneapolis

2115 Stevens Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN ?55404 - (612) 870-1662?

The Gale Mansion, which hosts both indoor and outdoor weddings, is located close to downtown Minneapolis. Built in the style of the Italian Renaissance Revival, the mansion - a favorite spot for Minnesota weddings - overlooks the beautiful Fair Oaks Park and the Minneapolis Institute of Arts (a fun and convenient place for guests to visit). Gale Mansion has many indoor rooms for congregating, all of which have hardwood floors, Oriental carpets, and fireplaces (eight fireplaces in all). Upstairs there are changing rooms for men and women, which are designed to look like living rooms. The Gale Mansion is smaller than other wedding reception sites listed on this page, but the location (right next to downtown Minneapolis) makes it ideal.  

Great place for a rehearsal dinner: The award-winning Rudolph's Ribs, about a mile away, which offers private dining.  
Closest hotel: The 3.5-star downtown Minneapolis Convention Center's Millennium Hotel is six blocks away. 

Location: 2115 Stevens Ave., Minneapolis
Capacity: 120 guests for an indoor ceremony; 220 guests for an outdoor ceremony
Site Rental Fee: $1,700. They provide the catering, and the food minimum varies depending on the time of year.
Food and beverage minimum for a Saturday: $4,500
Phone Number: 612-870-1662 (Ask for Angela.)

New: More notes on the Gale Mansion

 

 

Blaisdell Manor Mansion in Minneapolis

2322 Blaisdell Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN ?55404  - (612) 874-0880.

Blaisdell Manor is a warm and inviting Georgian mansion. Three Sons Kitchen provides the catering, and Blaisdell accommodates anywhere from 10 to 400 guests (the largest mansion in the Twin Cities), with many options for in-between-sized weddings. Blaisdell Manor hosts both indoor and outdoor weddings (although the outdoor site can only accommodate about 35 to 50 standing guests). If you choose the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden for your wedding ceremony, you can then just walk the 1-1/2 blocks to Blaisdell Manor for your wedding reception. 

Great place for a rehearsal dinner: Buca di Beppo, a wonderful Italian restaurant that can accommodate large groups of people, is about a mile away. All their dinners are all served family-style.
Closest hotel: The 3.5-star downtown Minneapolis Convention Center's Millennium Hotel is about a half-mile away.

Capacity: 10 to 400 guests
Location: 2322 Blaisdell Ave., Minneapolis
Site Rental Fee: Room rental fee for a Saturday is $2,000, plus a $350 ceremony fee  and other,variable fees, such as bar set-up, cleaning, security guard, and servers. Aaron at Blaisdell asked me to point out that like all site rentals, Blaisdell's fee does not include food for the reception ($6,500 is the Saturday/holiday food/beverage minimum, plus 18% service charge and 7.775% sales tax). Details can be found at this link (a PDF document).
Phone Number: 612-874-0880.

 

 

Harrington Mansion in Minneapolis

2540 Park Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN ?55404 - (612) 8253-0255.

The Harrington Mansion at the Zuhrah Shrine Center can be rented for your wedding ceremony, and then you can have the reception at the Zuhrah Center next door, which has four ballrooms for you to choose from. This incredible Minneapolis mansion has carved wood, ornate brass fittings, and elaborate chandeliers. When you enter the Harrington Mansion through the large main door you'll see the main staircase - the wedding ceremony may be held on that upper landing. The stairway then splits and continues up on two sides, converging again on the second floor, which has an indoor balcony. Guests can stand on either the first floor or on the second-floor balcony to view the wedding ceremony. 

Great place for a rehearsal dinner: The Harrington Mansion and Zuhrah Shrine Center can accommodate your rehearsal dinner in one of several rooms. The Mansion's library seats up to 40 people, and the gorgeous patio will accommodate 45 seated guests. If you're looking for a larger room, the Oasis Bar in the Event Center will seat up to 60 people in a more casual setting that includes a full-service bar, two pool tables, dartboards, and six flat-screen TVs.

Closest hotel: The 3.5-star downtown Minneapolis Convention Center's Millennium Hotel is about a half-mile away.

Capacity: 50 to 600 guests
Location: 2540 Park Ave., Minneapolis
Site Rental Fee: 

• Rental is $595 (no ceremonies only) for a 40ppl ceremony in conjunction with a reception in the Zuhrah Shrine Center, which can accommodate up to 600 for the reception.
• Rental for the largest ballroom in adjacent Zuhrah Shrine Center is $1295 with a $6000 food and beverage minimum on Saturday nights.
  

Phone Number: 612-253-0255 (Ask for Julie Terran.) 

 

   

Summit Manor Mansion in St. Paul

275 Summit Avenue, St Paul, MN 55102 - (651) 387-3283.

Summit Manor (Summit Mansion) on beautiful Summit Avenue in St. Paul, Minnesota, is one of the smaller mansions in town, making it perfect for more intimate weddings. There are very few sites that are good for 30 to 100 guests, which makes Summit Manor even more special. I am very fond of this this little gem. You can have your wedding outside on the beautiful grounds or inside in the big room in front of a fireplace. The stairway pictured above (to the right) works well for the bride's grand entrance.

Summit Manor asks that visitors call the manager directly at 651-387-3283 to inquire about rental fees. Basically, on a Saturday in the summer, the rental fee is $275/hour with a 4-hour minimum (totalling $1100), and $20-$35/person for food with 100 person minimum, (about $2,000-$3,500) but rates are much more flexible when it's a Friday or Sunday, or in cooler weather. 
Capacity: 150 guests
Location: 275 Summit Ave., St. Paul
Phone Number: 651-387-3283