Venue Reviews - Weddings in Minnesota Restaurants

What if you need a very small wedding site, for perhaps two to fifty guests? A restaurant can be the perfect choice. 

I've chosen the following intimate wedding sites in the Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN, area for their beauty, class, and their experience hosting small wedding ceremonies and receptions.  The image at the right is on the rooftop of Stella's in Uptown Minneapolis, MN.

Photos, site information, and reviews for: 

• Nicollet Island Inn in Minneapolis, MN (different from the Nicollet Island Pavilion, which is reviewed here)
  
• Forepaugh's Restaurant in St. Paul, MN
  
• W.A. Frost Restaurant in St. Paul, MN
  

Nicollet Island Inn

95 Merriam Street, Minneapolis, MN 55401 - (612) 331-6528

The Nicollet Island Inn in downtown Minneapolis, MN, right along the Mississippi River, is perfect for small wedding ceremonies and receptions, but you can also rent the entire building or a large wedding.

Have you ever been to a charming Bed and Breakfast? The historic Nicollet Island Inn on the Mississippi River right in downtown Minneapolis, MN is like that, but a bit larger, with 24 rooms. This inn is romantic,gorgeous, intimate, and yet large enough for a big wedding reception, too. Voted "Most Romantic Getaway" and "Best River Views of the City",the 100-year-old Nicollet Island Inn is right in the heart of downtown, yet has an old-world, historic feel to it. This family-owned inn, newly remodeled by owners Larry and Caryl Abdo, focuses on personal attention, and whether you're the bride, groom, or mother of the bride, the staff really gets to know you and your needs. As Special Events Director Erin Brunelle puts it, "The people who are here, we coddle!"  The Nicollet Island Inn ha s a concierge available at all times, and free valet parking during busy hours (regular free parking the rest of the time). Horse and carriage rides, while not directly associated with the Inn, are available, and those rides exemplify the historic, old-world-elegance and charm of the place.

About half the wedding ceremonies and/or receptions at the Nicollet Island Inn are small,  with perhaps 10+ guests, and thus are held in one of their gorgeous little ballrooms. The Island Ballroom has an outdoor patio, shown to the right. If you have a larger wedding (either at the Inn or another venue), you might have our rehearsal dinner in one of these smaller ballrooms, catered by with their award-winning French European world-class cuisine, created by executive chef Adam Droski.

Large wedding ceremonies at the Nicollet Island Inn:

• With larger wedding ceremonies, the Inn sets up a cathedral tent and flooring outside which holds up to 150 guests.

Large wedding receptions at the Nicollet Island Inn:

• If you rent the entire building for your reception, the Inn can hold 240 guests. 
• If you'r renting the entire building, the wedding reception is usually set up in the following way: 
• The upstairs bedrooms go to wedding party, parents, etc.
• The main floor is set up for the cocktail hour (note: a lounge singer works really well with their baby grand).
• The dance band or DJ sets up downstairs.

The Nicollet Island Inn has an amazing historic past, and lies right at the heart of the founding of Minneapolis. Originally the "Twin Cities"referred to the two cities of Minneapolis on the west bank of the Mississippi, and Saint Anthony on the east bank (thus the name of thenearby building, Saint Anthony Main). Steamboats started docking on Nicollet Island, right by where Native Americans had harvested mapletrees. As Minneapolis expanded to encompass Saint Anthony, the island stayed wooded, with only a few select buildings. Now, the Nicollet Island Innis the only inn on the whole length of the Mississippi, and is a unique and special wedding venue.

My favorite part of the Nicollet Island Inn (besides the world-class restaurant that preares your food?) You and your guests may stay there, if you like, intheir individual, classically-decorated rooms with hand-refinished antiques. The bride and groom stay in a complimentary cornersuite, with free champagne and petite fours. It's a really big deal to have your wedding party and parents stayingat the same place that you're having your ceremony and reception. Everyone gets to enjoy the whole weekend together, and they don't haveto waste any time traveling. Weddings are all about people, and at a wedding venue like the Nicollet Island Inn, the most important peoplein your lives can spend the whole weekend together, growing closer and celebrating together.

Amazingly, there is no rental fee per se at the Nicollet Island Inn, you just have to make the$4,000 food and beverage minimum. Note that right across the street on  Nicollet Island is theNicollet Island Pavilion, which is a completely separate venue (reviewed below). While the Inn is great for small weddings(10+), you may also rent the whole building, which accommodates up to 240wedding guests. Contact Erin Brunelle at 612-331-6528 for more info.

For a very small wedding (often less than 10 guests) I highly recommend the gorgeous St. Paul mansion/restaurant Forepaugh's. If your wedding ceremony is somewhat small, you can have both your wedding ceremony and reception in one of their newly redecorated Victorian rooms. If you are looking for a wedding reception venue (without a ceremony), much larger groups (up to 150) can be accommodated on Saturday afternoons until 4:00 pm. Irvine Park from the St. Paul Parks Department for $150, and then having the wedding reception at Forepaugh's restaurant.

Wedding Ceremony (and Reception)
Capacity: Up to 30 guests
Room Rental Fee:

• $250, if the ceremony and reception are in different rooms.
• If the wedding ceremony and the reception can be in the same dining room, and if you'd like that option, then only the food and beverage minimum is required for that specific room. Guests would sit or stand around the tables in the room to witness the ceremony.

Rooms:

• The Parlor on the first floor is an ideal room for a casual wedding ceremony for 15 people or less
• The Olson Room on the first floor accommodates up to 30 people. Brides can make their grand entrance walking down the staircase into the Olson Room.
• The Terrace on the second floor is a lovely area for a wedding ceremony, weather permitting. The Terrace accommodates up to 30 people.
• The second-floor Lanpher Room is a also great room to have a ceremony and dinner in, if 22 people or less.

Wedding Reception (no Ceremony)
Capacity: 2 to 150 guests.

Timing: Wedding ceremonies must be no later than 3:00 pm.
Location: 276 Exchange St. S., St. Paul, MN
Site Rental Fee: See above.
Food and beverage minimum for a Saturday: It really depends, but often $1,000-$1,500 (depending on the room) unless it's a really small wedding.
Phone Number: 651-224-5606. Ask for Joni.

W.A. Frost Restaurant in St. Paul

W.A. Frost Restaurant in the Cathedral Hill district of St. Paul is one of the classiest places in the Twin Cities, and it's a wonderful location for small weddings. W.A. Frost will rent out a small room for between $25 and $100, depending on the time of day. You may reserve a room from either 11:00am to 4:00pm or from 5:00pm to midnight. W.A. Frost doesn't have space for a ceremony with more than 10 to 15 guests, but a small, intimate wedding and reception works very well here. Check out the garden patio in the back - it's one of the best outdoor dining spots in the Twin Cities. Wedding ceremonies are occassionally held there, as well.

Capacity: 2 to 15 guests (up to 40 for receptions)
Location: 374 Selby Ave., St. Paul
Site Rental Fee: $100 to $150, depending on which rooms are rented
Food and beverage minimum: $500 or $1000, depending on which rooms are rented
Phone Number: 651-224-5715