Free wedding coordinator in Minnesota

Dear readers,

A couple years ago I blogged about the wonderful Marisa Lang of Grand Gatherings Wedding Coordination, and considering the economy, her unique service is especially popular now - she offers free wedding coordinating in Minnesota. It's the "free" part that makes her services unique in the Twin Cities, MN area: you don't have to pay a penny for her work - she gets her money from the vendors. So you get great advice and great help, at a perfect recession price. Nice!

Here's how it works - you meet with her, chat, tell her what you'd like, and then later she comes to you with 3 proposals: One might emphasize music, another might emphasize photography, another might emphasize food. Then you can decide which option works best with your preferences.

As Marisa correctly says,

"You will pay exactly the same amount for these services as you would if you spent all the time finding them directly. The bonus to you is the full time attention of a planner who works to make your event perfect, but you pay nothing for that service."

Marisa's phone number is (952) 496-9083 and her e-mail is MLang@GrandGatherings.net Giver her a call. I've worked with her before - she's experienced, friendly, and you can't beat the price!

Warm regards,

Rev. Tomkin Coleman
Minnesota Weddings with Rev. Coleman

Hennepin County Marriage License phone number

Question:

Dear Rev. Coleman,

Per our previous e-mails, when I had mentioned that I have the phone number to the Hennepin County marriage desk, it's actually just the main number for Hennepin County, which is 612-348-8919. When they answer, just ask for the marriage desk.

If you're already married, but have a question about your license, have your souvenir copy (or official copy, if you have it) readily available, they ask for some information off of it to reference your license status.

Take care!

New Bride



Answer:

Dear NB,

Thanks so much for the info (612-348-8919, then ask for the marriage license desk). Readers will appreciate it!

Also, readers, feel free to visit my page on how to get a marriage license in Minnesota.

Warm regards,

Rev. Tomkin Coleman
MN Wedding Minister

Follow-up to free new bride name change kit

Question:

Hello, Rev. Coleman,

We are already married, but I came across your website - which is amazing! I wish we would have found you before the wedding!

For the download of the free name change kit you referred to in your last blog post, that link led me to an error page. Your tips and information are so helpful, would you be willing to email that kit to me?

Also - We got married on the 28th of March of this year and still have not received our marriage license, is this wait normal? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

New Bride With Old Name


Answer:

Dear NBWON,

Congratulations on your wedding! Also, thank you so much for your kind words - you made my day.

I'm so sorry that the download didn't work. Theoretically, when a person clicks on the link, it's supposed to then download a Word document...but that kind of thing doesn't always work. Sorry for the inconvenience!

Attached is your free new bride name change kit...(readers, here's the link - hopefully, it will work for you!)

By the way, would you be willing to do me a favor? If you find that you have questions about any part of the kit, feel free to let me know, so I can correct it and make the kit even better!

Warm regards,

Rev. Tomkin Coleman
Twin Cities Wedding Officiant & Planner

p.s. Regarding your marriage license - it can take a while for your Minnesota county (whether it's Hennepin, or Ramsey, or whatever) to process your marriage license and mail you your stamped and certified copy (it can take up to a month!) If the process takes any longer than that, I'd recommend calling your minister, and then calling the county (sometimes the county has your address wrong, for instance).

Free New Bride Name Change Kit

Question:

Dear Reverend Coleman,

My friend said that you gave her a free new bride name change kit. Everyone else on the web charges $20-$30 for one. May I have a free one, too?

Thank you!

New Bride in Minnesota



Answer:

Dear NBM,

Sure! Here's the link to download my free new bride name change kit. It's in MS Word format.

The kit specific to Minnesota, but it's pretty universal. One of the links in the kit goes to the Minnesota DMV, but other than that link, the kit works for any bride in the U.S.

I hope this gift helps!

Warm regards,

Rev. Tomkin Coleman
Minneapolis Wedding Officiant

Rev. Coleman nominated for MN Bride's Best of 2009

Question:

Dear Rev. Coleman,

Minnesota Bride Magazine is pleased to announce that you are a finalist in our Best of 2009 reader's choice awards. The seventh annual awards honor the top wedding professionals in the state. Our readers and your industry peers choose the finalists and winners at mnbride.com. We received over 4,000 votes this year and are happy to name you as a finalist in the following category:
Best Wedding Officiant in Minnesota

The winners will be announced at an awards reception in July, with live music, cocktails, and hors d'oeuvres as the winners are revealed and we applaud those who make wedding day drams come true.

Sincerely,

Mary O'Regan, Editor
Minnesota Bride



Answer:

Good evening, Mary,

Thank you so much! I'd be honored if I win, and I look forward to receiving your invitation in the mail. You throw such great parties!

Warmly,

Rev. Tomkin Coleman
Minnesota Wedding Officiant

Recommendation for Wesley Church in Minneapolis for weddings

Question:

Dear Rev. Coleman,

Even though we couldn't use your services (we have a minister), this is a wholehearted recommendation for Wesley Church, which I actually found through your recommendations for chapels for weddings in Minneapolis, MN. We were married last April there, there isn't a more beautiful church in town! (er, aren't they all beautiful). It was nostalgic and gorgeous. Molly, Wesley's wedding coordinator, did a great job of helping. It was just the perfect day.

Melissa (Last Name Withheld)
Title Withheld
Company Withheld



Answer:

Good afternoon, Melissa,

That's wonderful that Wesley Church worked out so well for you!

May I use your recommendation on my blog? Other brides would be so happy to hear of your great recommendation!

Warm regards,

Rev. Tomkin Coleman
Wedding Officiant in Minnesota


Follow-up:

Dear Rev. Coleman,

Yes, by all means, use the recommendation! By the way, it was magical. And one of the best things is that if you have a large number of guests, they can accommodate that! I have a great map and directions of the place already done, if you'd like a copy (I'd have to dig it out, though).

Melissa (Last name withheld)
Title Withheld
Company Withheld



Follow-up:

Dear Melissa,

Wow, yes - I'd love to have a copy of that map! Many brides will be thanking you!

Warm regards,

Rev. Tomkin Coleman
Wedding Officiant in Minnesota

Average wedding prices

Question:

Dear Rev. Coleman,

I’m doing a project for school on planning a wedding ceremony in Minnesota. I would need to know a cost for the Chapel, Organist, Soloist, Clergy and Janitorial services. Is there any way you can help me figure out these prices?

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Saturday Night Studier

Answer:

Good evening, SNS,

If you are not a member of a church, and are renting the chapel and hiring services individually:

• Chapel prices: $650 is common, but I've seen them as high as $2,000, such as at the Minneapolis Basilica
  
• Organist: Some pianists can work with an organ, and Sharon Planer is such a pianist. Sharon's rates are $250.
• Soloist: In my opinion, the best in the Twin Cities is Diane Martinson, who is also listed at - a page all about her is at $150.
  
• Clergy: My fee is anywhere from $450 to $1200, depending on what services you need.
  
• Janitorial service: For the above chapels, the janitorial services are included
  

I hope this answer is helpful!

Warm regards,

Rev. Tomkin Coleman
MN Wedding Minister & Planner

British bride looking for wedding site in Minneapolis, MN

Question:

Hello, Rev. Coleman,

I'm so glad to have found your site!

I'm English and my fiance is American, we are currently working and living in Mumbai, India and are planning to marry in the Twin Cities, Minnesota area. The reason for choosing the Twin Cities is because the majority of my fiance's family live in the Minneapolis area, with the exception of one brother and mom who still live in North Dakota where he was born. We figured it is fairly easy to get from ND to the Twin Cities and it is a direct flight from Amsterdam too, which makes it easy for my sister and family to fly out.

It will only be a small wedding and we're thinking of maybe 50 people but it could be as high as 70/80, maybe.

Although we love the look of the Van Dusen Mansion in Minneapolis, (reviewed on your page about Minneapolis mansions for weddings), we kind of can't figure out where within the mansion the wedding could take place. Also we kind of get the feeling the caterers will turn out to be very ,very expensive.

We now think we like the look and idea of the Fort Snelling Chapel, it seems ideal for a small party. Please can you advise me what it looks like from the outside in terms of is it set in gardens, is it on a main road or set back from the road etc.

If we were to choose the Fort Snelling chapel, we would then have to decide on a nice venue for our wedding party. We want somewhere that isn't too far away, someplace that isn't too big for a smallish party of guests, and we still haven't decided whether a sit down meal or buffet meal is the best option. We definitely want a dance floor and a bar that will serve until midnight or maybe even 1am. We then have to bear in mind that guests who have come into town then have to get back to their hotels too, which is why we were considering holding the reception at a hotel to eliminate the after reception travel and drinking and driving, but then again we could arrange some sort of taxi or bus service if we hold it outside a hotel.

Gosh, it kind of sounds complicated right? And what makes it even more complicated is that we will have to do most of the arranging via email and/or phone, but we do think we should have the opportunity to visit the US maybe January next year to sort out some wedding related things and then the next time will be for the wedding. Would this be a problem in terms of using the chapel because we wont' be able to attend any of their services, also I am a divorcee would this be a problem with marrying in this chapel?

In terms of dates, we are thinking one Saturday in late July or August 2010 although we know these book up quickly so we kind of need to get moving I guess.

We really would like your thoughts, guidance, ideas etc to help us arrive at a decision and start making some bookings.

Many thanks and kind regards

British Bride

p.s. love your website, it so informative, clear, helpful, well laid out, easy to navigate around etc....I'm just glad I came across it!



Answer:

Good morning, BB,

What a great email! Congratulations on your engagement, and your upcoming wedding. You are so sweet to plan your wedding in the Twin Cities, where your fiance's relatives can come easily. You are giving him a great gift. And yes, direct flights from London (and Amsterdam) are handy!

I have worked with many couples from out of the country, and the process works very well. Usually non-local couples are from out-of-state, but several have been from out of the country (one couple from Japan, two from the U.K., and one from Germany). Here's how it usually works - it's easy, fun, and interesting:

• As you have started now, you can ask me questions that you can't ask anyone else.
• Then once you've found a place you like that's available, then you can book it. Booking goes quite easily (once you've made the decision!)
  
• Then we can talk via conference call...
• Then you'll receive the scripting via email...
• And then you can make changes via email throughout the coming months.
  
• When you're in town, you can then apply for your marriage license (it takes 5 days to get, called the "waiting period". The license is good for up to 6 months.)
  
• The night before the wedding I'll conduct your rehearsal (and we get to meet each other in person!) Then everyone will be comfortable and confident.
  
• Then on the wedding day, everything's taken care of, you just enjoy your day and be in the moment. What a great, easy, fun way of planning!

>>Although we love the look of the Van Dusen Mansion,
>>we kind of can't figure out where within the mansion the wedding could take place.
Ah, I see what you mean. Wedding ceremonies larger than 15 guests are held in the attached, newer (not Victorian) reception hall, shown here, to the right. It's fine for the purpose, but not nearly as fancy as the Victorian mansion part of the place.

>>Also we kind of get the feeling the caterers will turn out to be very, very expensive.
Ah, that's not actually so. Aren't you glad you asked? Reception sites that are in the same class (everything listed on my website is what I would consider "premiere"), usually wind up being in approximately the same price range, either through their food/beverage minimum ($8,000-$10,000 or so), or because the meals usually wind up being about $50/each (or more, of course), and alcohol about $30/each. The last time I talked to the Van Dusen, they had several different caterers one could use, and they're all about the same price, and they're often the same ones that are used at many different sites around town.

However...there are many nice reception sites that are cheaper (I'm thinking of the Fort Snelling Officer's Club). These kinds of sites may not be amazing historic mansions, or word-famous museums, but they're still quite nice (what would they be called? Maybe "more affordable", instead of "premiere"?) So, in other words, most of the premiere sites cost around the same ($50-$100/guest) , and then most of the "more affordable" sites cost about the same ($30-$50/guest).

>>We now think we like the look and idea of the Fort Snelling Chapel,
>>it seems ideal for a small party.
Correct! It's a beautiful site for a small wedding.

>>Would this be a problem in terms of using the chapel because we wont'
>>be able to attend any of their services, also I am a divorcee would this
>>be a problem with marrying in this chapel?
It's no problem if someone is divorced, nor is it a problem if you are not a member. Just FYI, while most churches will not let non-members rent the church for a wedding, all the churches and chapels I listed at http://www.mnweddingminister.com/sites/chapels.html will rent to non-members (and all are fine if someone is divorced).

>>Please can you advise me what it looks like from the outside in terms of
>>is it set in gardens, is it on a main road or set back from the road etc.
Well, there's a reason that no one shows the surroundings of many reception sites...they're usually surrounded by a parking lot. But don't be discouraged...it's the very rare site that is surrounded by gardens, or a park, or anything like that. (Millenium Gardens in the Minneapolis suburb of Plymouth is an exception, as it's surrounded by a park, and the Wesley Church in downtown Minneapolis is across the street from a park). Sorry...got way off track. Anyway, Fort Snelling Chapel is very isolated, and you have to go through acres of Fort Snelling parking, then over a bridge, then you reach the Chapel parking lot (to the right is a distant shot...). The location is fine, and isolated, but it's not like it's surrounded by gardens and you'll probably not be taking tons of pictures on the grounds (unless the chapel is in the background).

>>If we were to choose the Fort Snelling chapel, we would then have to decide on a
>>nice venue for our wedding party. We want somewhere that isn't too far away,
>>someplace that isn't too big for a smallish party of guests, and we still haven't
>>decided whether a sit down meal or buffet meal is the best option. We definitely
>>want a dance floor and a bar that will serve until midnight or maybe even 1am.
>>We then have to bear in mind that guests who have come into town then have
>>to get back to their hotels too, which is why we were considering holding the
>>reception at a hotel to eliminate the after reception travel and drinking and
>>driving, but then again we could arrange some sort of taxi or bus service if
>>we hold it outside a hotel.
Wow, that is a lot of requirements, but hey, it's good that you know what you want, and that your're very upfront about it. The first thing I should emphasize is that there are VERY few premiere wedding reception sites in the Twin Cities, and if you are interested in a Saturday wedding in warm weather, they book up REALLY fast.

So I realize that these following options I'll suggest aren't a lot of options, but they're specifically picked to your needs. Note that the Twin Cities isn't all that big...there's only a few premiere spots to choose from. All of them listed here have a dance floor, a bar that serves till midnight, and you can have a sit-down meal or a buffet. (Side note - surprisingly, a buffet is often more pricey than a sit-down meal. The reason is that for a sit-down meal, the chef can make exactly the right amount of food, which keeps the price down). Some thoughts:

Antique photo of the Fort Snelling Officer's Club

• Affordable option: Close to Fort Snelling Chapel is the Fort Snelling Officer's Club. While it isn't a premiere site, it is very affordable. The link is broken right now, but their website and their phone number is(612) 725-2272.

St Paul College Club on Summit Avenue in St Paul, MN

• Garden option: The St Paul College Club is a beautiful mansion, and you can have a wedding ceremony in the back. The Saint Paul College Club is on gorgeous Summit Avenue, the longest stretch of Victorian homes in the U.S. Beautiful spot, a premiere site, and get this - you can bring your own alcohol in, which saves you a ton of money. I know of no other premiere wedding reception site in the Minneapolis, St Paul, MN area that offers this option.

• Convenient option: A hotel. Definitely, definitely, definitely. Ceremony, reception, and rooms all in the same place. Super-convenient for out of town guests. Also, downtown Minneapolis hotels are connected by the light rail system directly to the Minneapolis/St Paul airport. Nice!
  
• There are many great Minneapolis hotels for weddings. All are premiere sites. If you want a cheaper option, try the Hilton Garden Inn in downtown Minneapolis...it's new (fairly small, but can hold 80 guests...a review of the Hilton Garden Inn in Minneapolis is in the post I did yesterday, below).
  
• The other convenient option is the Historic Concord Exchange, which is a mansion with hotel rooms in it! They're a premiere site, but surprisingly affordable because they're new.
  

>>In terms of dates, we are thinking one Saturday in late July or August 2010
>>although we know these book up quickly so we kind of need to get moving I guess.
You are correct - the sites are booking up quickly, and so are my services. Saturdays in warm weather book FAST!

>>We really would like your thoughts, guidance, ideas etc to help us arrive
>>at a decision and start making some bookings.
Hopefully, with the above guidance, and the suggestions above, one of the above will work for you. My advice would be, take stock and then decide if affordablity, gardens, or convenience is the most important consideration, then book a site. Just so you know, any of the sites listed above, or any of the sites listed on my website, would make you very, very happy - it's just a matter of what priorities are the most important.

>>p.s. love your website, it so informative, clear, helpful, well laid out,
>>easy to navigate around etc....I'm just glad I came across it.
Thank you! I've found that once brides see my site, they spend a ton of time on it, and then wind up using my services, as they realize that instead of a stressful wedding planning time and a stressful wedding, they can have an experience that's easy, classy, fun... it's really a service that can be found nowhere else. Hopefully, I'm not booked up on the Saturday you pick! I'd be honored to be part of your special day.

If you have any other questions, I'm always here for you!

Warmly,

Rev. Tomkin Coleman
http://www.mnweddingminister.com

Hilton Garden Hotel in Minneapolis now open for weddings

Question:

Hello, Rev. Coleman,

I love your reviews of Minneapolis hotels for wedding ceremonies! I thought that you might want to know that the Hilton Garden Inn Hotel in Minneapolis is now open, and I thought, as you plan so many weddings, I thought I'd let you know about our opening! We are located on the corner of 4th Avenue and 11th street. Please feel free to shoot me an email or give me a call if you ever have any questions or needs.

Thanks and have a great day!

Andrew Brown
Sales Coordinator
Hilton Garden Inn Minneapolis Downtown
612-339-6633
www.minneapolisdowntown.hgi.com



Answer:

Good morning, Andrew,

Thanks for the information on your new downtown Minneapolis hotel! May I ask a few questions?

1. What is the food/beverage minimum for a wedding reception at the Minneapolis Hilton Garden Inn on a Saturday?
2. How much do you charge per guest for a wedding reception at Hilton Garden Inn, i.e. $50 or whatever, and what does that package include?
3. How much do you charge per guest for liquor?
4. Do you charge extra for having the wedding ceremony at the hotel (in addition to the reception)?
5. Do you have a picture of the reception hall set up for a reception? Example: White tablecloths, perhaps tulle and Christmas lights hanging from the ceiling, white chair covers, and centerpieces (though this not strictly necessary).
6. Also, does Minneapolis Hilton Garden Inn have something that brides like that other downtown hotels don't have?

Thanks!

Warm regards,

Rev. Tomkin Coleman




Follow-up:

Hi Rev. Coleman,

I will do my best to answer your questions:

1. The Hilton Garden Inn of Minneapolis's banquet hall can hold 80 guests, with a very small food/beverage minimum ($2,000).
2. We don't have a wedding reception dinner package, per se, but for example, a chicken or salmon dinner with salad, fruit, rice, potatoes, veggies and rolls is $28 + 20% gratuity + 10.4% tax = $35/person.
3. An example of hosted bar prices is $30 + 20% gratuity +10.4 tax=$40 for 3 hours. Keep in mind we are certainly open to negotiating rates and modifying all of our options.
4. Most likely, there is no additional charge for a wedding ceremony.
5. We don’t have any pictures finalized yet as our professional shoot just took place a little while ago. I will certainly keep you updated on any new information or pictures that we have.
6. One big draw of the Hilton Garden Inn in downtown Minneapolis, MN, that I have noticed so far is our 2 complimentary shuttle vans. Even if the bride chooses not to hold her reception here and just to have a room block, the vans are a big help for transporting guests to and from ceremonies and receptions.

If you would happen to have any time to stop by I would love to show you around the hotel so you could see it first hand and we could also discuss any other questions you may have at that time. If this is something that interests you please let me know and we can set up a time!

Thanks,

Andrew Brown
Sales Coordinator
Hilton Garden Inn Minneapolis Downtown
Main: 612-339-6633
Direct: 612-367-5967
Fax: 612-339-6644
www.minneapolisdowntown.hgi.com

p.s. Thanks for your time, and I look forward to working together in the future.