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Comparison Matrix
Comparative list of wedding ceremony and reception sites in the Twin Cities, MN
Back to the FAQ
My recommendations for wedding sites:
Chapels Outdoor Sites
Mansions Museums Hotels Restaurants Historic Comparison Matrix
"Local brides find that your pages on reception sites are the most helpful tools on the web"
- Marissa Lang
Wedding Coordinator
Grand Gatherings |
Engaged couples in the Minneapolis and St Paul, Minnesota metro have long needed a tool for comparing wedding reception sites. Finally, here's a complete matrix of the costs and capacities of all the wedding ceremony and reception sites in the Twin Cities. I haven't included chapels or outdoor sites, because they don't offer receptions.
My goal is to have information on every single reception site in the Twin Cities, with pictures, contact information, capacity, prices, and pictures. Feel free to email me if you have pricing info, notes, or pictures of any upscale wedding ceremony/reception site I've missed, and I'll put it up right away. I receive no pay for listing these sites, rather, this is simply helpful information. Other wedding guides, such as the Knot.com, etc., don't list every Twin Cities site because they only accept sites that pay. In addition, this is the only guide available in Minnesota, either on the web or in print, that shows prices for wedding reception sites.
If you want to sort the following list by seating capacity, city, or anything else, feel free to copy and paste it into an Excel document. The pictures don't copy/paste well, but the text and links do.
I've assumed a 10-hour rental (2-4 pm pictures, 4:30 pm wedding, 5-6 pm cocktail hour, 6-7:30 pm dinner, 7:30-midnight dancing.)
Important note: Pricing can be difficult to compare, but here is how it's done:
- Rental Fee
- If there is a rental fee, it's listed
- Some reception sites waive their room rental fee if you use their catering and you make the minimum food/beverage charge, usually $5,000-$10,000
- Food and beverages
- Food and beverages are extra, often with a minimum charge
- If outside catering is allowed, that means you can bring in your own licensed caterer, whose fees range from $10-$50/person*
- Other usual charges
- $5 for linen
- $5 for tables and silverware
- $5 for salad
- $3.50 for dessert
- 20% more for security, bartenders and servers (sometimes this is a flat fee)
- 7% sales tax
- So, a $20 entree would then total $48/person
- An open bar (optional)
So, while this matrix is helpful, the final price varies greatly.
These Minneapolis and St Paul, Minnesota wedding reception and ceremony sites are sorted by rental fee - fancier places naturally charge higher rental fees. The exceptions are restaurants and hotels: upscale restaurants charge a low fee because they don't allow dancing and thus weddings there don't take much space, and upscale hotels charge a low fee because they make their money solely from the catering.
Tip: Once you visit a site, if you decide that you really like one, go ahead and book it immediately. There are a limited number of event spaces in the Twin Cities area, and they book fast.
Minneapolis and St Paul area wedding reception and wedding ceremony sites,
with pictures, prices, seating capacity, and contact info:
|
Wedding Ceremony / Reception Site |
City |
Phone |
Seating capacity |
Rental fee - See important note above |
Type of wedding venue |
Lowest priced entree.
See above note for other charges. |
Notes |
Picture
(click photos to enlarge) |
| Paddleford River Boat |
St Paul |
800 593-9308 |
710 |
$5,500 |
Mississippi paddleboat |
$20.00 |
More often, it rents for $1650 for 3 hours |
 |
| Semple Mansion |
Minneapolis |
612 290-4448 |
250 |
$4,600 |
Mansion |
Outside licensed caterers allowed* |
See reviews of weddings in mansions |
 |
| James J Hill Library |
St Paul |
651 265-5447 |
175 |
$3,700 |
Historic site |
Outside licensed caterers allowed* |
See reviews of weddings at historic sites |
 |
| McNamara Center at the U of M |
Minneapolis |
612 238-4012 |
170, or up to 800 |
$3,500 |
Historic site |
$19.00 |
See reviews of weddings at museums |
 |
| Cedars Hall |
NE Minneapolis |
612 379-8989 |
450 |
$3,500 |
Banquet hall |
Outside licensed caterers allowed* |
The banquet hall can be divided for much smaller weddings, too |
 |
| Weisman Art Museum |
Minneapolis |
612 625-9683 |
240 |
$3,400 |
Museum |
Unpublished prices, estimated $50.00 |
See reviews of weddings at museums |
 |
| Landmark Center |
St Paul |
651 292-3228 |
450 |
$2,750 |
Historic site |
Outside licensed caterers allowed* |
See reviews of weddings at historic sites |
 |
| The Great Hall |
Saint Paul |
651 228-9456 |
300, or up to 500 |
$2,450 |
Historic site |
Outside licensed caterers allowed* |
See reviews of weddings at historic sites |
 |
| Walker Art Center's Gallery 8 Cafe |
Minneapolis |
612 375-7553 |
150 |
$2,000 |
Museum |
$50.00, but includes salad and dessert |
See reviews of weddings at museums |
 |
| Harriet Island Pavilion |
St Paul |
651 292-7010 |
275 |
$2,000 |
Historic site in a park |
Outside licensed caterers allowed* |
In a huge park, right on the river, across from downtown St Paul |
 |
| Edinborough Park |
Edina |
952 832-6790 |
350 |
$2,000 |
Indoor park |
Outside licensed caterers allowed* |
Unique indoor-park environment with more than 6,000 trees, plants, and flowers |
 |
| Lady Of The Lake |
Minnetonka |
952 929-1209 |
150 |
$2,000 |
Boat |
Outside licensed caterers allowed* |
Ceremonies are usually held on the boat, before the launch |
 |
| Mill City Museum |
Minneapolis |
612 238-4012 |
130, or up to 700 |
$1,850 |
Museum |
$25.00 |
See reviews of weddings at museums |
 |
| Gale Mansion |
Minneapolis |
612 870-1662 |
220 |
$1,850 |
Mansion |
$22.00 |
See reviews of weddings in mansions |
 |
| Black Bear Crossings at Como Lake |
St Paul |
651 488-4920 |
200 |
$1850 |
Park pavilion |
$24.00 |
See reviews of outdoor wedding sites |
 |
| Dakota Lodge |
West St Paul |
651 437-3191 |
200 |
$1,600 |
Golf course |
Outside licensed caterers allowed* |
|
 |
| Hillcrest |
St Paul |
651 774-6088 |
200 |
$1,500 |
Upscale country club/golf course |
$15.50 |
Incredible view from the balcony |
 |
| Minneapolis City Hall |
Minneapolis |
612 596-9518 |
275 |
$1,500 |
Historic site |
You must use one of their caterers, which start at $15.00-20.00 |
Here's a 360 tour of the room |
 |
| Woodbury Central Indoor Park |
Woodbury |
651 714-3500 |
320 |
$1,400 |
Indoor park |
Outside licensed caterers allowed* |
An indoor park with banquet rooms. Here's a virtual tour. |
 |
| Richardson Nature Center |
Edina |
763 559-6700 |
150 |
$1,400 |
Nature center |
TRP's policy states you must use one of their caterers, which start at $12.50 |
The building incorporates sustainable design principles and exhibits them for interpretive benefit |
 |
| Elm Creek Park's Chalet |
Maple Grove |
763 559-6700 |
200 |
$1,200 |
Park pavilion |
TRP's policy states you must use one of their caterers, which start at $12.50 |
Huge fieldstone fireplace, cathedral style ceiling, overlooks a park |
 |
| Van Dusen Mansion |
Minneapolis |
612 874-1900 |
350 |
$1,200 |
Mansion |
You must use one of their caterers, which start at $25.00 |
See reviews of weddings in mansions |
 |
| Lake Harriet Spiritual Community |
Minneapolis |
612 922-4272 |
200 |
$1,100 |
Church |
Outside licensed caterers allowed* |
Beer and wine only. Limited dancing. |
 |
| Columbia Manor |
Minneapolis |
612 789-2627 option 5 |
200 |
$1,050 |
Country club/golf course |
You must use one of their caterers, which start at $25.00 |
Outdoor wedding ceremony location available |
 |
| 317 On Rice Park |
St Paul |
651 726-8800 |
180 |
$1,000 |
Historic site |
$19.50 |
Historic building |
 |
| Cowles Conservatory at the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden |
Minneapolis |
612 370-4929 |
75 |
$1,000 |
Museum |
You must use one of their caterers, which start at $25.00 |
See reviews of weddings at museums |
 |
| The Braemar Room |
Edina |
952 826-6791 |
250 |
$1,000 |
Country club/golf course |
$17.00 |
Rated one of the top 75 public golf courses in the nation |
 |
| Blaisdell Manor |
Minneapolis |
612 870-7875 |
400 |
$1,000 |
Mansion |
You must use one of their caterers, which start at $25.00 |
See reviews of weddings in mansions |
 |
| St Paul College Club |
St Paul |
651 227-4477 |
200 |
$1,000 |
Mansion |
You must use one of their caterers, which start at $25.00 |
See reviews of weddings in mansions |
 |
| Centennial Lakes Park & the Park Centrum Building |
Edina |
952 832-6789 |
120 |
$950 |
Park pavilion |
Outside licensed caterers allowed* |
Modern building, plus an outside wedding site location on a small lake |
 |
| Black Bear Crossings at Como Lake |
St Paul |
651 488-4920 |
200 |
$1850 |
Park pavilion |
$24.00 |
See reviews of outdoor wedding sites |
 |
| Riedel Mansion |
Minneapolis |
763 757-3920 |
250 |
$700 |
Mansion |
Outside licensed caterers allowed* |
1880s mansion in a park |
 |
| Harrington Mansion |
Minneapolis |
612 871-3555 |
50 |
$600 |
Mansion |
$18.00 |
See reviews of weddings in mansions |
 |
| Summit Manor |
St Paul |
651 228-9111 |
100 |
$600 |
Mansion |
$16.00 |
See reviews of weddings in mansions |
 |
| WA Frost Restaurant |
St Paul |
651 224-5715 |
48 |
$150 |
Restaurant |
$23.00 |
Beautiful 1800s restaurant. No dancing. |
 |
| Forepaugh's Restaurant |
St Paul |
651 224-5606 |
200 |
$150 |
Restaurant |
$17.50 |
Victorian restaurant in St Paul. Restrictions on time. No dancing |
 |
*Outside caterers must be licensed, and they vary greatly in price.
Aesop's, Lisa's, and TST start at $8.25, Lookout and Campion Rose Burns start at $13.00.
Here's my blog entry recommending TST.
The largest caterers in town are Mintahoe Perfect Host ($15.00), D'Amico ($19.00), Three Sons ($20.00), Lancer ($23.00), and Mintahoe Apples ($24.00).
As detailed at the top of this page, prices usually wind up another $25/person more than this, once the salad, dessert, linens, tables and silverware, servers, and taxes are factored in.
|
|
Weddings At Hotels
The pricing on hotels are very different than other reception sites, and so they're listed separately here on the bottom.
Hotels charge a low fee because they make their money off of their catering
and on hotel rental to guests staying there. |
|
Wedding Ceremony / Reception Site |
City |
Phone |
Seating capacity |
Rental fee - See important note above |
Lowest priced entree |
Lowest priced entree |
Notes |
Picture
(click photos to enlarge) |
| Hyatt Regency Hotel |
Minneapolis |
612 370-1234 |
150 |
$0 (see note in red above) |
Hotel |
$65.00 |
See reviews of local hotels |
 |
| Marquette Hotel |
Minneapolis |
612 333-4545 |
500 |
$0 (see note in red above) |
Hotel |
$65.00 |
See reviews of local hotels |
 |
| The Depot in Minneapolis |
Minneapolis |
612 375-1700 |
450, or up to 800 |
$0 (see note in red above) |
Historic site |
$62.00 |
See reviews of local hotels |
 |
| Radisson Plaza |
Minneapolis |
612 339-4900 |
300 |
$0 (see note in red above) |
Hotel |
$61.00 |
See blog review |
 |
| Embassy Suites Hotel |
St Paul |
651 224-5400 |
150 |
$0 (see note in red above) |
Hotel |
Unpublished, but at other Hiltons it's $42.00 |
See reviews of local hotels |
 |
| Marriot City Center Hotel |
Minneapolis |
612 349-4000 |
150 |
$0 (see note in red above) |
Hotel |
$30.00* |
See reviews of local hotels |
 |
| Crowne Plaza Hotel |
Minneapolis |
612 338-2288 |
175 |
$0 (see note in red above) |
Hotel |
$26.00* |
See reviews of local hotels |
 |
| Hilton Hotel |
Minneapolis |
612 376-1000 |
150 |
$0 (see note in red above) |
Hotel |
$24.00* |
See reviews of local hotels |
 |
*As detailed at the top of this page, prices usually wind up another $25/person more than this, once the salad, dessert, linens, tables and silverware, servers, and taxes are factored in.
Wedding and reception site question:
Dear Reverend Coleman,
We are still (frantically!) looking for a ceremony/reception site. We recently toured the Carlson Conservatory and Rotunda and although we loved the facility, we had some hesitation about the capability of the staff as well as their seemingly strict restrictions. I was wondering if you had performed any weddings at either of those locations and whether it seemed well organized and well executed? I apologize for soliticiting your advice, but we just moved here and have found it difficult to obtain objective reviews. Thank you!
Answer:
Good call on the Carlson Towers Conservatory - it's gorgeous! Yes, I've performed many wedding ceremonies there (3 times on the outside pavilion on the lake, and 1 time indoors), and had only positive experiences. The weddings I've performed there have gone extremely well and interaction from the staff has been very positive (although minimal... they take a pretty hands-off approach to ceremonies there, which actually works fine for me.) I hope that opinion helps, for what it's worth!
It's too bad that Carlson has rigid policies, but usually with a big place like that, it just takes one incident several years ago for the staff to then institute a rigid rule (sometimes, it's the insurance company that insists on the annoying rule), and then future couples have to work with that overly-restrictive rule. It's really too bad, but actually, that kind of rule-making is pretty common at most reception sites. (If the specific rule impacts on something that is super-important to you, though, that may mean that you wind up choosing a different site... it all depends on your thoughts, ideas and the choices available.)
Usually, I advise brides to book sites really quickly (basically, there are only a few reception sites in the Twin Cities, and they book up extremely fast), but since you're looking at a Sunday, that does give you more flexibility. So...my thoughts would be that if you are finding that there are many sites with availablity, then I'd recommend taking another week or two to decide. But if most other sites are booked, then I'd recommend just grabbing that site and then making the best of that site as you possibly can. There are only about 30 weekends in warm weather in Minnesota, and with the millions of Minnesota residents, those few reception sites' weekends book up EXTREMELY quickly.
Warm regards,
Rev. Tomkin Coleman
Response:
Dear Pastor Tomkin,
Thank you very much for your reply and suggestions. We have scheduled 5 tours this week so hopefully I will have a definite location and date for you next week.
I'm glad to hear that the weddings you performed at the Carlson Center went well. I had reservations about the staff because so far they have seemed slightly unorganized. I am usually not bothered by strict policies because I am pretty conservative and do not need anything out of the ordinary; it was mostly language used in the brochure describing what would happen in the instance of bad weather that bothered me.
Anyway, hopefully this week we will find the "perfect" location. I will get back to you as soon as we have something confirmed. Thanks again!
Response:
That's so great that you have five tours scheduled - you're so organized! You should be able to find a site that you really fall in love with.
As always, if you have any questions or need advice, I'm always here for you.
Warmly,
Rev. Tomkin Coleman
Catering and judge question:
Hi Reverend Coleman,
I contacted you about a month ago regarding your services. I've looked on your website as well, and it's a wonderful resource. Thank you! I'm really sorry you're not available for our date. We finally have the outdoor place - I was waiting to see if we could stay until 11:00. I am wondering what you could offer us as far as our specific needs. I am undecided if we should do any of it inside or just do it all outside, and if we can make it all work outside. Do you have any suggestions for who could do a pig roast for us?
Anyway, I was trying to find out how much is costs the County judges to marry people; they won't tell me for a few more months. Do you know how much? If you haven't noticed, I wonder if I need help planning. I contacted wedding planners, but most don't call back. With knowing our plans, how would you be able to help us?
Thanks!
Answer:
For a pig roast, check out Little Piggy Catering at 612-332-7571 (their alternate number is 952-492-5886). They have a cost calculator at http://www.pigroast.net/menupage.html
I'm not sure if they do pig roasts, but for amazing food at really good prices, the best prices (and coincidentally, amazing food, in my opinion) I've found is TST Creating Catering. Their phone number is 651.488.0971. For instance:
-$9.50 Stuffed Canadian Pork Loin Roasted Whole Whole roasted stuffed Canadian back pork loin served with oven brown potatoes, baby carrots, tossed salad and dressing.
-$8.25 Baked Quartered Chicken served with cheesy baked potatoes, California medley & garden harvest salad.
Most catering services charge a minimum of $20/plate, and are more often $50/plate.
As you've already found, the most reasonably priced site is usually a park (although some reception sites will waive their fee if you use their catering).
The judges I've talked to charge about $250 for a wedding. If you have other questions, I'm always here for you.
Warm regards,
Rev. Tomkin Coleman
Large Capacity Wedding Reception Sites in Minnesota
Hi, Rev. Coleman - you have a wonderful blog and your chart on reception venues in the
Twin Cities is great, however,
I am looking for a site in Minneapolis or St. Paul, MNthat
can handle 400 people for a sit-down dinner.
Any ideas?
Thanks so much!
Answer: Good question! Here's the largest capacity wedding reception venues in the Twin Cities, with their seating capacities.
Warmly,
Rev. Tomkin Coleman
My recommendations for wedding sites:
Chapels Parks Gardens
Mansions Museums Hotels Restaurants Historic Comparison Matrix
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Top photo courtesy of Zumach.net. Many other photos by Sky Blue Rose. Please do not distribute. All Rights Reserved
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