Venue Suggestions and General Ideas

klerach

Hi!  I am currently living in Colorado and planning my wedding in MN (where I am from).  I am having a hard time finding reception venues.  Our total budget for the wedding is $14,000.  This is posing a problem because we are expecting between 200-250 people.  

I am thinking of getting married on March 23, 2013.  I need some suggestions for inexpensive (<$1000 rental and <$20/person before taxes and service charge) reception venues.  

Also, just general feedback on March weddings and if it would be better to wait and have an outdoor early summer wedding.  This is tricky becuase I am going back to school and only have a small time frame between when my student teaching ends in May and my school starts again in June.  I have approximately a 2 week window in late May/early June and a 2 week window in the beginning of August.

Thanks for your help! 

SSaltzman87

Any general area you're trying to stay in? That'd help with our recommendations :-)

I'd check out the Mermaid in Mounds View, Medina Entertainment Center, Embassy Suites in Bloomington or the one by the airport/MOA.

HTH!

tpender13

I would think March would be better for a budget standpoint than a summer wedding. It should be considered off-season so vendors may offer discounts, or something like a no food/beverage minimum.

Do you have an area you'd like to stick around?

I'm probably not the best for suggesting venues based on a particular budget, partly b/c our wedding was relatively small, but some general ideas for keeping costs low...

Are you set on having a guest list that big? If we would've invited aunts/uncles/cousins, our guest list would've been at least that large, which we didn't want. So we didn't invite any extended family. It would've been nice, but keeping the budget down and having a more intimate affair was more important to us.
Having your wedding at a non-meal time and just serving, say, apps and dessert can also save money. We skipped flowers, and only used a handful of silk ones.
Also, neither of us like cake, so we served cheesecakes -- WAY cheaper than wedding cake.

Fluffernut

I'm not sure how far out of the cities you would look, but our reception venue is the St. James Hotel in Red Wing, MN.  They have affordable options and have really been willing to work with us on pricing.  (Our ceremony venue is at Central Park in Red Wing.)

klerach

Yes, sorry I forgot the general area!  I am thinking within an hour radius of the twin cities.

Thanks!!

klerach

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_minnesota-minneapolis-st-paul_venue-suggestions-and-general-ideas?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:81Discussion:8a46b484-37dd-4a81-a7e4-7b720dce7bd1Post:5d1b662a-7650-42d9-834e-95a2fd64dd7c">Re: Venue Suggestions and General Ideas</a>:
[QUOTE]I would think March would be better for a budget standpoint than a summer wedding. It should be considered off-season so vendors may offer discounts, or something like a no food/beverage minimum. Do you have an area you'd like to stick around? I'm probably not the best for suggesting venues based on a particular budget, partly b/c our wedding was relatively small, but some general ideas for keeping costs low... Are you set on having a guest list that big? If we would've invited aunts/uncles/cousins, our guest list would've been at least that large, which we didn't want. So we didn't invite any extended family. It would've been nice, but keeping the budget down and having a more intimate affair was more important to us. Having your wedding at a non-meal time and just serving, say, apps and dessert can also save money. We skipped flowers, and only used a handful of silk ones. Also, neither of us like cake, so we served cheesecakes -- WAY cheaper than wedding cake.
Posted by tpender13[/QUOTE]

<div>
</div><div>
</div><div>We are set on having our guest list that big, I have a really large close family (which is a majority of our guest list).  But we do have a lot of out of state guests so we will see how it all plays out.  Have you ever been to a brunch type wedding?  That is an idea we have been throwing around...a 10am-ish ceremony followed by a mimosa brunch....</div>

klerach

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_minnesota-minneapolis-st-paul_venue-suggestions-and-general-ideas?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:81Discussion:8a46b484-37dd-4a81-a7e4-7b720dce7bd1Post:cadd364a-081e-4643-8c20-38e2962a5ac9">Re: Venue Suggestions and General Ideas</a>:
[QUOTE]I'm not sure how far out of the cities you would look, but our reception venue is the St. James Hotel in Red Wing, MN.  They have affordable options and have really been willing to work with us on pricing.  (Our ceremony venue is at Central Park in Red Wing.)
Posted by Fluffernut[/QUOTE]

<div>Thank you for the suggestion, I will have to look into that.  </div>

Peterin43

Another cheaper loactioin that can fit 200 is Camrose Hill Farm in Stillwater.  http://camrosehillflowers.com/farm.html
 I would have loved to have ours there but with 2 huge families- we could cut the list enough. 

I also had a friend recently get married at Dellwood Golf Course.  It was a Friday night wedding but they managed to pull the entire wedding off for around $12,000 with just under 250 quests invited.  They cut costs by cutting the bridal party which saved them money in many areas from meals, gifts, flowers, groom's dinner etc.  

I agree with tpender13- March will save you a lot of money all around due to "off-peak" dates.

Good Luck

jennipea382

I'd say Profile Event Center but I know it's booked that day ;-) If you don't mind changing the date I'd say it's worth checking out!

tpender13

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_minnesota-minneapolis-st-paul_venue-suggestions-and-general-ideas?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:81Discussion:8a46b484-37dd-4a81-a7e4-7b720dce7bd1Post:34201bd4-02f3-4f11-8be7-7ca555e58161">Re: Venue Suggestions and General Ideas</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Venue Suggestions and General Ideas : We are set on having our guest list that big, I have a really large close family (which is a majority of our guest list).  But we do have a lot of out of state guests so we will see how it all plays out.  Have you ever been to a brunch type wedding?  That is an idea we have been throwing around...a 10am-ish ceremony followed by a mimosa brunch....
Posted by klerach[/QUOTE]

I haven't been to one, but I think this sounds nice. If you're thinking about having it earlier like this, and you're not set on having a typical evening dance reception, you could also consider doing it on a Sunday. Having a non-Saturday wedding can also save you money.

klerach

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_minnesota-minneapolis-st-paul_venue-suggestions-and-general-ideas?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:81Discussion:8a46b484-37dd-4a81-a7e4-7b720dce7bd1Post:f5481d63-104f-4dbd-af4d-151c196b4528">Re: Venue Suggestions and General Ideas</a>:
[QUOTE]I'd say Profile Event Center but I know it's booked that day ;-) If you don't mind changing the date I'd say it's worth checking out!
Posted by jennipea382[/QUOTE]<div>
</div><div>That is too funny that you picked that date too, it is sure to be a good one :)  Have you booked your DJ yet?  I booked with Bellagala and was able to get it for $495 (normally $1095), if you haven't you should definitely check them out!  My friend is having them DJ her wedding next weekend, I can let you know how they are.

</div>

hippolover

Hi!
I am also living in CO and planned my wedding in MN.  My H and I are from MN too.  Anyways, I got married in Jan and it was beautiful wedding! There wasn't even a snowflake on the ground.  MN can be tricky with weather, but if you are set on your date in March, I would keep it just cause you never know what you could get on that day.  I never expected no snow and 54 degress in Jan in MN.

Let me know if you need anything else!

goatlady12

I'm getting married the Central Park in woodbury.  The amphitheatre rents for a minimum of (two hours) $220 or $250 I can't remember exactly and then like $70 each hour after that.  The sound system is like $20, baby grand piano is $50.  They have a garden you can take pictures at.  I don't know what the hall rental is attached to the Amphitheatre, because our reception is somewhere else.  But, it's worth looking into.  We have our whole ceremony and pictures covered for $350. 

lizrywedding

In Response to Re:Venue Suggestions and General Ideas:[QUOTE]I'd say Profile Event Center but I know it's booked that day ; If you don't mind changing the date I'd say it's worth checking out! Posted by jennipea382[/QUOTE]

Im having my reception at the profile! I am so excited!

jennipea382

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_minnesota-minneapolis-st-paul_venue-suggestions-and-general-ideas?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:81Discussion:8a46b484-37dd-4a81-a7e4-7b720dce7bd1Post:e1aa437d-7ba9-4ffb-9e31-f44b23ffde75">Re: Venue Suggestions and General Ideas</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Venue Suggestions and General Ideas : That is too funny that you picked that date too, it is sure to be a good one :)  Have you booked your DJ yet?  I booked with Bellagala and was able to get it for $495 (normally $1095), if you haven't you should definitely check them out!  My friend is having them DJ her wedding next weekend, I can let you know how they are.
Posted by klerach[/QUOTE]

I have a friend who is a DJ (he's been on the radio up here in St. Cloud and he's DJed MANY sorority formals, haha), so we booked him. He matched the in house DJ price (he's normally $700). But thanks for the suggestion!

misscrafty84

I'm having my reception at Crow River Winery, though it's probably right at the hour away from the city mark. I thought they were really affordable and they are really open still for March. It's brand new, and gorgeous!

klerach

Thanks for all the suggestions ladies!!  We bookd our reception venue this weekend at Guardian Angels church.  We can bring in our own caterer and our own liquor!