Venue Reviews - Weddings in Minnesota Amphitheatres

Carlson Towers
701 Carlson Parkway, Minnetonka, MN, 763-212-1448

Carlson Towers in Minnetonka, Minnesota, with its soaring architecture and rolling landscape, has caught the eyes of many residents, but few brides-to-be have discovered the stunning outdoor wedding options behind those green slopes. Carlson Towers offers a Roman-style amphitheatre surrounded by a spring-fed lake, with a marble arena for wedding guests. It’s easy to get to the Towers because it’s at the intersection of major highways I-394 and I-494, but even commuters that drive past the Towers each day usually have no idea that a gorgeous lake and rotunda are nearby. The lake is set in a valley, so it feels completely isolated. While standing there, it’s impossible to tell you’re in the middle of a big city.

Having a wedding processional is an absolute must for the bride who chooses the Carlson Towers. A majestic processional down the amphitheater’s main stairway provides a breathtaking entrance for the bride and her attendants. Don’t worry about being seen before the ceremony – the Carlson Towers has a staging room for preparation, and the walled terrace behind the amphitheater ensures that guests will not glimpse the bride before her grand appearance.

Ceremony flowers are highly recommended for this grand outdoor tableau because they add vibrancy and color to the lush natural greenery. Colorful blooms transform the scene from a place of quiet contemplation into a panorama of grand and vivid splendor. Be sure to bring a parasol for grandma, though – the amphitheatre provides no shade for those who might need a little extra protection!

After the wedding ceremony, the Carlson Towers' terrace provides a perfect spot for the receiving line. The bride and groom can greet their guests before ushers direct them to the cocktail-hour site, which is mere steps away. When guests enter the adjacent rotunda, they’ll discover a breathtakingly beautiful indoor fountain, soaring columns, and marble floors. The rotunda can host up to 180 guests, with catering provided by the exceptional Bon Appétit.

The rental fee for a summer Saturday wedding ceremony and reception in the Carlson Towers amphitheatre and rotunda is $3,500 (or as little as $2,000, depending on the day and month).
The purchase minimum for a Saturday wedding is $14,000 (or as little as $9,000, depending on the day and month).
For availability, call 763-212-1448 and ask for Dawn Crawford Dacut or Carol Cummings.
 
 
 
Centennial Lakes
7499 France Avenue, Edina, MN 55435, 952-833-9580

Further to the south, Centennial Lakes in Edina also offers a spectacular outdoor wedding option, hidden right in the heart of the city. Low hills surround the park, creating a feeling of cozy isolation, but tall buildings in the distance provide an exciting preview of the upcoming reception. Centennial Lakes’ outdoor wedding site combines the best aspects of nature and city life, with a ten-acre lake, a walking path around the shoreline, and an outdoor amphitheater. The Centennial Lakes Amphitheater sports a covering for the wedding party, which keeps the ceremony shady and cool. Half the lake is roped off, providing complete privacy for the wedding, while model sailboat races and a lawn bowling green on the distant side of the lake add a charming touch to the event.

The gentle hills surrounding the Centennial Lakes Amphitheater provide privacy for the bride and wedding party as they prepare for the processional. For the most dramatic effect, the bride and her attendants should sweep down the aisle from one side of the amphitheater while the groom and his attendants enter from the other side. Their guests, seated in a combination of rounded amphitheater seats and provided wooden chairs, will be surprised and delighted by this grand simultaneous entrance.

Setting up the receiving line right after the ceremony, rather than waiting until the reception, is a must-do for outdoor weddings at Centennial Lakes. The wedding couple and their parents can assemble in front of the low brick wall by the water’s edge, with the lake providing a gorgeous backdrop for the bride and groom’s greeting.

Don’t forget to tell your limousine driver to wait for you behind Centennial Lakes' southern hills! While guests use the convenient west-side parking lot, the bride, groom, and wedding party can make their own private getaway behind these southern hills, either for pictures, private celebrating, or simply for a hassle-free ride to the reception.

To rent the Centennial Lakes for a wedding ceremony and reception, including the Amphitheater plus the Fireside and Parlor Rooms, is $1,075.
Any licensed caterer can cater (most have a minimum of $3,000), but you must use their beverage service.
To rent, call 952-833-9580.
 
 
 
Millenium Garden
14800 34th Avenue North, Plymouth, MN 55447, 763-509-5285

With Minnesota’s ten thousand lakes, it's nice to include one if you're having an outdoor wedding. The Millennium Garden at the Plymouth Creek Center utilizes their lake in a very different way than the previous two wedding sites. Unlike the others, the Millennium Garden is set on a flat, grassy plain and features a backdrop of trees with a beautiful pond on the right extending as far as the eye can see. The Garden’s gates and flowerbeds form the other two borders of ceremony space, creating a location of beautiful contrast: The woods and ponds on the north side are reminiscent of a North Woods lake, while the south side resembles an old-world English garden.

The focal point of the Millennium Garden is its splendid wooden pergola, which creates a welcoming, open background for guests entering the site. For wedding ceremonies at the Millennium Garden, the Plymouth Creek Center sets up rows of white wooden chairs on the lush, perfectly manicured lawn. Guests can relax with their feet directly on the soft grass.

Presentation is everything at a wedding, so for the most dramatic effect be sure to instruct your guests to proceed from the parking lot directly to the Garden on their left, rather than through the Center on their right. This way, your guests will go down the valley and straight into the magnificent Garden.

After the wedding ceremony, you'll want to set up your receiving line just outside the Millennium Garden’s gates, so your guests can clearly see their next destination: the Plymouth Creek Center’s gorgeous reception facility. When guests arrive at the Center, they’ll be greeted by the Plymouth Room’s huge north-facing windows, which offer a spectacular view of the ponds. The combination of the lush Millennium Garden and luxurious Plymouth Creek Center reception hall will add a magical feel to your special day.  Click here for an amazing 360-degree view of the Millenium Garden. More videos are at this site.

If you are a non-resident, renting both the Plymouth Creek Center and the Millenium Garden for a wedding ceremony and reception on a Saturday:

• $475 to rent the Millenium Garden for a ceremony (you get the garden for 3 hours).
• Another $1,255 if you want to rent the Center for a reception (6 hours).
• If you would like alcohol served, you must hire a Plymouth police officer at $60/hour.

For catering, you must use one of their three caterers, but there's no food/beverage minimum.
Millenium Garden/Plymouth Creek Center's phone number is 763-509-5285.