Thank you for Fort Snelling wedding ceremony

Question:

Dear Pastor Tomkin:

Thank you does not even begin to cover how wonderful our "Asian Fusion" wedding turned out. We found our site originally because of your review of Fort Snelling Chapel, I have had so many compliments about our ceremony, how wonderful your heartfelt delivery was, and how much fun everyone had chatting with you and Julie!

All of your vendor suggestions were right on for us. We especially loved working with Ideal Hall in St Paul (from your review on your blog) and Pazzobella Flowers in Minneapolis (from your personal review). I have no idea what I would have done without your recommendations.

Thank you again for everything.

Happy Bride and Groom November 7, 2008
(Mary and Phil Phillips)




Answer:

Dear HB&G,

You're very, very welcome! And thank you for offering the picture and the kind words for my blog!

Warmly,

Pastor Tomkin Coleman
Minneapolis Weddings

p.s. Photograph courtesy of Jessi J.J. Meyer.

Wedding reception draping in Minnesota

Question:

Dear Reverend Coleman,

I have one other question, if that's okay...

Do you know of a few places that provide draping to venues, like tule and white christmas lights? I have heard of Richfield Floral, but any others you know of?

Thanks!

Early Rising Bride



Answer:

Good morning, E.R.B.,

I highly recommend Heartstrings Bridal in Hopkins, Minnesota. I have worked with Jennifer, the owner, many times, and she is very friendly, as well as very experienced. I hope this helps!

Warm regards,

Rev. Tomkin Coleman
Minnesota Wedding Officiant

Brunch Wedding & Reception in the Twin Cities

Question:

Hello Reverend,

I came across your site today and was very impressed!

I am recently engaged, and am wondering what you know about late morning weddings. Do you have any suggestions on venues for a ceremony and brunch reception in the Minneapolis/St. Paul Metro?

I appreciate your help and expertise!

Take care,
Early Rising Bride




Answer:

Good evening, E.R.B.,

Great question! Very classy idea. How many guests are you thinking of having?

Warm regards,

Rev. Tomkin Coleman



Follow-Up From Early Morning Bride:

We are thinking no more than 200 people.

-Early Rising Bride




Answer:

Good morning, E.R.B.

Ah, I'm so glad I asked! When the number of guests is over 20, then the event is too large to be in a restaurant. With hundreds of guests, only a reception hall can feed that many people.

So this is good news! Virtually any reception hall (whether a mansion, hotel, museum, farm, amphitheater, or historic site) can accommodate a 10:00 am wedding. I'm thinking out loud, but the schedule might be something like the following:

• 10-10:30 - Wedding
• 10:30-11:30 - In an evening wedding, this time would be named the "Cocktail Hour", but since it's a morning wedding, this period might be termed the "Social Hour". This is the time where you're accepting congratulations from guests, and guests are moving from their seats at the wedding ceremony to their seats at the reception tables
• 11:30-12:30 - Brunch reception
• 12:30 till end (2:00 pm?) - In an evening wedding, the post-dinner dancing would be during this time, and then the reception would end, but for a brunch wedding, there probably wouldn't be any dancing, and this would be a time that the guests, now finished eating, would wind up saying their goodbyes.

With these thoughts in mind, I'd suggest looking through my list (which you've probably already been looking at) of premiere wedding reception sites in the Twin Cities, Minnesota. It's not an exhaustive list, but any of them would be able to host a brunch wedding reception.

Plus, with a morning wedding, you'll have more dates to choose from than a bride who wants an afternoon/evening wedding. Most Saturday afternoon/evenings in 2009 at the premiere wedding reception sites in the Twin Cities are already booked (except for the Historic Concord Exchange in Saint Paul, MN, which just opened), but all of them will have most Saturday mornings available.

I hope this answer helps!

Warm regards,

Rev. Tomkin Coleman
Minnesota Wedding Officiant & Planner

Weddings at the Grand Hotel in Minneapolis, MN

Question:

Hello Reverend,

I was searching the web and noticed your site, and your section about weddings at Minnesota hotels (it is very nice!). I have been with the Grand Hotel Minneapolis for 8 years and have never really had many recommendations for my brides for reverends/officiants. I would love to meet with you and show you our ballroom and how we have become one of the premiere wedding reception centers in the Twin Cities. Please let me know.

Thank you so much!

Warm Regards,

Katie Grace
Director of Catering
Grand Hotel Minneapolis


Answer:

Katie and I then chatted, and I'll be meeting with her on Monday. Review and pictures to come later next week!

Rev. Tomkin Coleman
Twin Cities Wedding Officiant & Planner

Wedding reception site in MN that allows own catering

Question:

Dear Rev. Coleman,

I'm looking for a Minnesota wedding reception site that allows you to bring in your own catering, and found your wonderful blog. I am attempting to book my wedding/reception at a place you mentioned, The WaterfallView in Anoka, but they seem to not answer their phone, return messages, or answer e-mails on a timely manner... I have been trying for several days! The reason I want to work with them is because they allow you to bring your own food. Well, at this point I'm not sure if I want to book with them anymore... Do you know of other reception locations (approx 200 guests) that allow you to bring your own food? I'm not looking for anything fancy, I am just looking to save on a caterer.

Thank you,
Bride With a Small Budget



Answer:

Good afternoon, Bride With a Small Budget,

Thank you for your e-mail! I am so sorry that The Waterfall View in Anoka has been so very, very bad at returning messages. That is really unprofessional.

Unfortunately, it is really difficult to find a site that permits you to bring in your own catering, even though many brides are looking for such a site. There are so few premiere wedding reception sites in the Twin Cities, and all of them make their money from the food, not from
the rental fee, so if you are looking to pay only the rental fee (and not $10-12,000 food and beverage minimum), then you are usually looking at sites that are not as high-end. Which makes sense, I guess... a site that makes $12K on food is going to be a really nice place, while
a site that makes $500 (just for the rental fee) is not going to be as high end...

I am sorry about The Waterfall View...it is the nicest site I have heard of that allows you to bring in your own catering. Other than that, it is VFWs and such that would permit it...

I am sorry that this is not the answer you wanted, and hope it is at least helpful!

Warmly,

Pastor Tomkin Coleman
MN Wedding Officiant & Planner




Follow-Up:

Dear Reverend Coleman,

Thank you so much for your reply!

I have decided to go with the Shoreview Community Center. You can bring your own food, but it has to come already prepared with no use of their kitchen, which we could make work. You may use this to inform you're other brides who inquire this information. And rental fees are very reasonable.

Thank you so much for the response, I really appreciate it.

Sincerely,

Bride With a Small Budget

New wedding blog by Amy Rubens

From Facebook:

Amy Rubins just posted "Really...Everything??? on her wedding blog.


Answer:

Amy Rubins is the wonderful Twin Cities, MN area wedding coordinator from Fete Perfection - she's amazing! I've worked with her many times, and one of my favorite moments was after a wedding ceremony, as the bride and groom exited their home, as all their loved ones were lined up to congratulate them...as the couple proceeded to their antique limo, a huge POOF from a confetti cannon launched up beautiful streamers everywhere, and then fireworks were launched in the background. What an amazing send-off! The pictures were fantastic - great job, Amy!!!

Warm regards,

Rev. Tomkin Coleman
MN Weddings with Rev. Coleman