Aghh... finding a venue is driving me batty!!

maybe984

So, I'm nearly at my wits end when it comes to finding a venue.

I love everything about Nicollet Island Pavilion, but Mintahoe's catering is too expensive.

I looked at Columbia Manor today, and I liked the main space... but the outside of the building and other parts of the interior just seemed beat up and dirty.

I absolutely LOVE the idea of the Enchanted Barn in Hillsdale, WI... but it doesn't have indoor plumbing and I don't want to have to use a port-a-potty in a wedding gown.

Can anyone think of an inexpensive venue (think $1,000 or under rental fee with either choice of caterer or a reasonable in-house caterer) that fits into the historic/simple/slightly rustic vibe that I'm trying to go for? Oh, and to top it off... something that at least has ONE Saturday or Sunday in October available (I'm ready to give up on the 10th altogether.)

If anyone of you can find my dream venue, I will seriously become your best friend.

emilykathleen511

I don't know that it would be your dream venue, but it at least fits the pricing and date parameters (especially for a Sunday):

www.mississippidunes.com

Another you might look into, although it is more urban than rustic, but you can bring in your own caterer is Metro State University.

Liberty27

I am using Afton Alps in Hastings MN.  It is a golf course in the summer, and ski resort in the winter and is super beautiful, and it has indoor plumbing- lol!  I believe the rental fee is $650-$900 for a Saturday depending on which of the two reception spaces you chose, and no catering minimum.   They use an in-house caterer but it is really reasonable (around $15 pp).  You shoud check them out. 

Qston

I struggled with the same thing, so I can totally relate!  Neither of these are particularly fancy, but have some great features for the right couple, so I love recommending them... both have a whole lot of charm, and are pretty unique, and pretty close to your budget, I think: Upper Cut Boxing Gym or, Old Arizona Theater.

Old Arizona is a kind of blank slate open room (the seating and staging is all removable, so not what you think of for traditional "theater"), with an adorable kind of westernish, charming courtyard. And Upper Cut  Gym is just that, a boxing gym, but its in an old warehouse, with huge wide open awesome space, and you can either leave the boxing rings there or move them out, depending on how much space you want. They also have a cute little courtyard off to the side.

Both can have your own caterer brought in, too!

kkaew816

Here's a link to a thread that listed a bunch of venues
http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_minnesota-minneapolis-st-paul_last-minute-summer-venue

There's also a link to another thread I posted within that thread.

This website also has list of venues, including mansions and historic sites
http://www.mnweddingminister.com/OtherSites.html

Otherwise, try Bellagala
http://www.bellagala.com/
They have a venue search there too

And a plug for my venue, Washington County Historic Courthouse, their rental fee is $1300 for a Friday and maybe $1600 for a Saturday, that includes ceremony and reception, outside caterers allowed and you can bring your own booze

Good luck!

maybe984

Thanks for the suggestions everyone!

Qston-- I was already kind of interested in Old Arizona. I was a theatre minor in college at the U of M, so getting married in a theater space would be kind of fitting. I was wondering, though, is the space painted all black? I know that's pretty standard for most theatre spaces... but it seems like it would be a pain to decorate around.

Oh, and kkaew... I am seriously considering the Washington County Courthouse. If I can save a ton on catering and booze... that's WELL within my price range and would be a nice middle-ground for my MSP-based friends and my Western Wisconsin-based family and such.

kkaew816

Maybe-that's why we chose the Courthouse as well, my family is all in Wisconsin and don't like driving in the 'big city'. With bringing in our own alcohol it's actually going to save us money, plus everyone can drink for free all night. Otherwise, if we went somewhere else, we would have only been only to do a limited open bar for only part of the night with our budget! If you like Mexican food, Acapulco is catering for us and they are charging about $13 pp including food and linens. If you have any other questions feel free to send me a PM!

hkiesling

We had our reception at Summit Manor and were extremely pleased.  They charge by the hour, so a shorter reception would cost you less than a longer one.  They do their own catering ($18 - $30 per head depending on what you want, ours was $23 with two meat options on buffet).  You can bring your own alcohol, which saved us a lot of money.  They also include a lot of things like linens, china, cake stand, fresh flowers on all the tables (i.e. no table decorations for me!), cake cutting, waitstaff, etc.  It was a really good deal.  I don't know if they'd have any openings in October still, but definitely worth a look if you like the old manor style.

izzyjenni

Try Mendakota Country Club in Mendota Heights.  The rental is $900 for four spaces and a beautiful outside terrace.  The inside is just as gorgeous.  Per plate is between $21-$30 (Filet Mignon).  They are voted in the top on the knot.  I am doing my wedding here and couldn't be happier with the space!
www.mendakotacc.com

debbieupper

Boy, do I know how you feel. I was going for that same vibe --- "rustic elegance" --- for a fall 2010 wedding. We ended up going with the Little Log House in Hastings and we LOVE it. I don't know what availability they have left in Oct. though. They are over $1000, though, but they do allow any licensed caterer, so you could find a less expensive one and it could work.

Other options you might like: 

-Tartan Park Pavilion

-Riverwood Inn and Conference Center

-Gibbs Farm

-Gale Woods Farm

-Minnesota Horse and Hunt Club

I have a spreadsheet of 37 options I made when we were looking that might fit what you're looking for. Contains details like contact info, alcohol/catering/noise policy, cost, seating capacity, addt'l notes ...

PM me with your email if you want to take a look at it.

decemberjen

no idea on any of the details - but this place looks nice http://camrosehillflowers.com/farm.html

Qston

Ohhhh,  camrose hills was really pretty, too, totally fits that rustic vibe, but I think it was kinda spendy.

Old Arizona might have black walls, now that you say that, it totally made me question my memory. I think 3 of the 4 walls are black, however, the back wall is white, or has (red?) curtains that can be pulled, because I know she said we could show a slide show up there... I guess our decorating will be more focused on table top stuff anyway, and not really putting too much around on walls, so I wasn't paying too much attention to it. There's a disco ball and twinkly lights that sound kinda cheesy, but make the quirky-ness of the place that much more charming.

Just a note on it, FI and I had pertty much already decided we were going to do our ceremony and reception at Upper Cut, but it was pushing our budget a bit, and so we were still looking at a few other places, Old Arizona was one of them. We pulled up outside of it, and both sort of sighed at each other, and concluded we hated it already, but decided to go ahead, because we had already made the appointment. But as soon as we got inside, we both totally changed our tune and fell in love with the space, and ended up booking there. I think though for us, the courtyard was a huge draw, since it will be August, and we are hoping to have our bar area and cocktail time out there. (fingers crossed!)  Good Luck with your search. I am curious to know what you pick!

schmood

I don't know anything about this place but recently ran into a HS friend who is having her wedding here in November.  She said that it recently opened, so there's a chance they may have openings available in Oct still?

http://www.threeriversparks.org/group-gathering-places/weddings.aspx

beka0404

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_minnesota-minneapolis-st-paul_aghh-finding-venue-driving-batty?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:81Discussion:20c80ab1-96ab-4947-b918-8cf9106d2061Post:68f4d2bc-7f19-423d-9b86-304d53ab6ce2">Re: Aghh... finding a venue is driving me batty!!</a>:
[QUOTE]I don't know anything about this place but recently ran into a HS friend who is having her wedding here in November.  She said that it recently opened, so there's a chance they may have openings available in Oct still? <a href="http://www.threeriversparks.org/group-gathering-places/weddings.aspx" rel="nofollow">http://www.threeriversparks.org/group-gathering-places/weddings.aspx</a>
Posted by schmood[/QUOTE]

<div>Silverwood Park? I was just going to suggest that.</div><div>
</div><div>I have no idea on availability, but Bellagala has a list of open catering sites:</div><div><a href="http://www.bellagala.com/vendorfetch/find_site.php?by_name=%23&by_location=&by_style=&by_size=&by_price=&by_feature=private_catering" target="_blank">LINK</a></div><div>
</div><div>... And open liquor sites:</div><div><a href="http://www.bellagala.com/vendorfetch/find_site.php?by_name=&by_location=&by_style=&by_size=&by_price=&by_feature=private_liquor" target="_blank">LINK</a></div>

maybe984

Thanks, ladies! I am really digging some of the suggestions. I now have an appointment to see the Washington County Historic Courthouse on Friday... and will look into the other suggestions as well. A lot of you seemed to pick right up on what I was looking for.

Speaking of which, debbieupper, I'm totally PMing you for that spreadsheet. I'm pretty sure we have ridiculously similar tastes... so I trust your work!

roz7157

Alot of these places don't allow hard liquor, like the Washington Court House and Anything in the three rivers district. Does anyone know of a spot that allows hard liquor?

libbyh123

We're having our ceremony and reception at Minneapolis City Hall.  It's a beautiful venue and pretty easy to get to as far as downtown goes.  Ours is on a Sunday, and we're paying $1300.  They give you a choice of four caterers, and they all seemed pretty good.  The coordinator there is also great to deal with and very responsive, so that's a big plus in my book.  The pictures on their website don't do it justice, but they can give you a pretty good idea.

libbyh123

...And they allow full bar, as long as the caterer provides it.

MesmrEwe

The Old Stillwater Courthouse is definitely a good rec'...

Also...  Little Log House Pioneer Village (littleloghouseshow.com) is another good venue with a rustic feel yet plenty of indoor plumbing ;o)

You could also check out Welch Village or Buck Hill as options...  Afton Apple Orchard...  Pine Tree Apple Orchard...  Kilkarney Golf Course... Stoneridge Golf Couse...

MaggieandJake

I had the same feelings about Nicollet Island...so I checked out the boat club which is also catered through Mintahoe.  It's only $1000 rental and a 3000 catering min.  I would totally have my reception there, but they were already booked on my date

When I talked to the rep from Mintahoe, they said that it has the same feel as Nicollet Island just on a smaller scale (about 150 person capacity)