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The
following are my favorite parks for wedding ceremonies in
Minnesota. (Also see the section on gardens,
which includes many public parks.) While there are other wonderful
outdoor sites in the Minneapolis and St. Paul metro area, I have
found that these are the ones that couples choose over and over
again, for their facilities, beauty, and location.
New: While most parks do not allow chairs for wedding ceremonies, Minneapolis Parks now allows this practice. Irvine Park in St. Paul also allows chairs because it has a large bricked area.
Parks reviewed for use as outdoor wedding ceremony sites:
While
the the parks reviewed here are especially recommended for outdoor
wedding ceremonies, any park in the Twin Cities area can be
used. The main criteria for outdoor wedding sites are location and
beauty. While most couples initially look for a park that is near
their wedding reception site, sometimes they fall in love with a
particular location, even if it's farther away.
Note: If you want to research parks other than the ones listed on this page (perhaps because of their proximity to your wedding reception site), here are good resources:
Minnehaha Falls from one of the landings on the south side, which
is a perfect spot for an outdoor wedding with 2 to 10 guests.
You'll probably want to explore the park to find the exact place
that's perfect for you, but many small outdoor weddings are held
on this particular landing. A few more guests can stand on the
landing above and look down on the ceremony.
The view from the top of the Minnehaha Falls is spectacular, and wedding guests (especially children) love the view, but wedding photographs are not usually taken on this narrow bridge because it's too difficult to get a good view of the falls from here. It's better to go to the north or south side of the falls for photos. To see the falls from the bottom of the canyon, view this 360-degree view.
the viewing platform. Another site at
the park for a small wedding (2 to 10 guests) is at the
pergola (gazebo), which is pictured on the top right
above. The pergola is about 50 yards south of the falls, across
the street from the antique railroad station called the Princess
Station or Minnehaha Depot. For more
on using Minnehaha Park
for wedding ceremonies, check out this
blog article (opens in a new window). Minnehaha
Park has a pavilion/bandstand (pictured to the right)
available for use as a backup rain location for a fee of $800.
If
you're having your wedding ceremony at Irvine Park,
you may want to rent the Ramsey House's Carriage
House, too, which is practically next door. Note that this
is not the Ramsey House mansion/museum (which is not available for
rent), this is the carriage house next to the mansion. If you have
your ceremony in park, you get ready at the carriage house ahead
of time, then walk the short block to the park. Inside
are two rooms with tables, chairs, mirrors, and three restrooms. When
you rent the carriage house, you get it before, during, and after
your ceremony in the park - both for storage, so you and your
guests can use the bathroom. If you're renting the carriage house,
you also get all of its parking, too, so everyone, including your
guests, can park there and you don't have to worry about anyone
parking in the wrong place or getting towed. If
you're getting married in the park and rent the carriage house,
your can also take pictures in the carriage house yard, which
includes the front veranda of the Ramsey House. The
rental cost $150 per hour, with a 3 hour minimum. Chapels
Parks
Gardens
Mansions
Museums
Hotels
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Comparison Matrix