I feel so helpless

danimarie88

Hey girls! I have a dilemma. FI and I both live in New Brighton and would love to keep our ceremony and reception close by. I would love to have a church wedding, but most of our friends and family find it silly to have a church wedding if we're not affiliated with it.

Here's the hard part...we want either lodging attached or VERY close by. Can we find a place that will do a ceremony and reception (preferably indoors) for about 200-225 people?

We looked at the Embassy Suites in Bloomington and while I LOVED it there I just don't know if it's a great idea to spend $15,000 there.

wittyschaffy

If you and your FI want a church wedding, have a church wedding. It is YOUR day, not your friends' or family's.  When they get married, they'll have their chance to have their day just the way THEY want.  Until that happens (or when it did), they had their shot.  Plan your day how you want it to be.  

danimarie88

Thanks, Witty! This is true and I really should sit back and think about it more with FI.

Hypothetically speaking, if we were to do a ceremony and reception at one place what would you recommend?

musicalsunlight

Have you looked at the Mermaid Event Center in Moundsview? That is pretty close by and has rather reasonable rates I think. It has a hotel attached as well.

danimarie88

We toured the Mermaid on Saturday as well! I love their lower ballroom (Atlantis?) We weren't able to meet with the catering manager...just looked at the spaces, but I had some info she emailed me before Saturday. I thought it was going to be a lot cheaper than the Embassy Suites, but once we broke it down and tried to compare apples to apples, the Mermaid only came in a little over 1k cheaper. Is it worth it to save a thousand dollars but be in charge of finding someone to dj, do your centerpieces, figure out your cake? Maybe I'm worrying about this too much

KristinAndAlan

Have you looked at Profile Event Center?? 

And as far as Embassy goes.. its 15,000 for what? You have a lot of guests so if that is food and all I dont think its too bad of a price!

jennipea382

Profile Event Center!! They can do all in one and it's pretty reasonably priced (especially in the off season). There are hotels nearby but I can't remember how close. What about doing a shuttle to make sure no one's driving drunk or walking late at night? Some places will do it free or at a discounted rate if you have a certain number of rooms booked there.

Mrs.SongBird531

I had my wedding (ceremony and reception) at the Mermaid and I really loved the experience their.  One of our guests actually decided to have his wedding there when he got married this past October. 

You can read the full review of them in my bio, but I HIGHLY recommend the Mermaid

schmood

I don't know the price of it, but the McNamera Alumni Center at the U of M is beautiful.  I've been to a wedding there where it had both the ceremony and reception in the same area.  It was set up for the ceremony, then everyone moved into an adjoining room for the cocktail hour, while the ceremony set up was taken down and reception seating was set up.   There is also a hotel attached, I'm not sure what the name of it is now as I think it recently changed.  It was a Raddison, I believe. 
I have also heard good things about the Eagan Community Center.  I didn't do very much research into it as I believe it was already booked for our date.  There are hotels close (within 1 mile) but not attached.... but you could likely get a shuttle to run btw the hotel and site. 

Landmark Center, St. Paul

Raddison City Center, downtown St. Paul

trixie549

Ditto the Mermaid...or what about the Hilton Garden Inn in Shoreview?

musicalsunlight

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_minnesota-minneapolis-st-paul_feel-helpless?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:81Discussion:af46d549-256e-4f86-8225-52489253e395Post:510daa95-05e7-4f04-b960-00d053de21ca">Re: I feel so helpless</a>:
[QUOTE]I don't know the price of it, but the McNamera Alumni Center at the U of M is beautiful.  I've been to a wedding there where it had both the ceremony and reception in the same area.  It was set up for the ceremony, then everyone moved into an adjoining room for the cocktail hour, while the ceremony set up was taken down and reception seating was set up.   There is also a hotel attached, I'm not sure what the name of it is now as I think it recently changed.  It was a Raddison, I believe.  I have also heard good things about the Eagan Community Center.  I didn't do very much research into it as I believe it was already booked for our date.  There are hotels close (within 1 mile) but not attached.... but you could likely get a shuttle to run btw the hotel and site.  Landmark Center, St. Paul Raddison City Center, downtown St. Paul
Posted by schmood[/QUOTE]

McNamara is pretty pricey. Landmark could be depending on who the caterer would be.

Dani, it sounds like you are looking for an all inclusive option. I think PEC and Mermaid are some of the best suggestions, though PEC does offer their DJ company too. But really, looking for additional things like making centerpieces (which you can do yourself pretty cheaply if you want) and a DJ aren't too bad. Neon Express is a DJ that gets good reviews around here that is under $500 for the guest list you have. Is $15000 your budget or is that over your entire budget? If all inclusive is your highest priority, then perhaps paying more is worth it? If not, there are a lot of suggestions we all can give for venues that aren't all inclusive, but that are lower priced. :)

danimarie88

15,000ish did include food at the Embassy! I should probably check out the Mermaid again and speak with the catering coordinator there. I guess I didn't realize you could have a ceremony there too. You guys are all so helpful! Love it!

danimarie88

The 15,000 is what we have been gifted between our parents. Anything else is our responsibility. We are EXTREMELY grateful for such a generous sum of money and just want to make sure we spend it wisely, ya know?

tpender13

Wha, what? $15K doesn't even include food? I mean, I've never looked into their prices myself, but that's just to use the building and their tables and chairs and stuff? That seems off...

Side note: I know that the DJ company Embassy uses/offers is Midwest Sound, and I (as well as many others here, I'd bet) would highly recommend them.

graysquirrel

I would also suggest checking out the Earle Brown Heritage Center. I can't remember if it is in Brooklyn Park or Brooklyn Center. They have a nice hotel on the grounds and different choices for ballrooms.

SSaltzman87

I definitely agree with checking out Mermaid again-saving $1k is a good chunk of change and that could easily be used toward something else or just keep it in your savings.

Earle Brown is another beautiful and unique option too, there are a couple hotels super close to it.

I'd also check out Rosevine Hall in Roseville, they've got a bunch of different options for ballrooms and have a really nice beverage package too. There are several hotels by there as well.

musicalsunlight

There are places that are not all inclusive where you could probably fit into your budget, but I do see your concern about keeping everything within your $15,000. Good luck, let us know if you have any other questions after looking more into the Mermaid!

sndietz

This isn't too far from New Brighton, and I always thought the pics looked pretty.  There is that dumb extra tax in Mpls, though :-P 

http://columbiamanor.bellagala.com/

There is the Mounds View Event Center too, where you are free to bring in whatever food you want.  http://www.ci.mounds-view.mn.us/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={CC4EC37E-F5D6-429B-B80F-7254159D8F1A}

trixie549

The NB Family Service Center has some decent community spaces, if you're willing to DIY decorating, etc.

FutureMrsS13

The mermaid  my best firend is  having her reception there and if you do it on a fri or sunday u only have a 2,500 mini. and u get a bunch of stuff waved also..so think of that also! She is doing her whole wedding for 4k!

lamberma

Another good "all-inclusive" option is Oak Ridge Hotel & Conference Center (http://www.oakridgeminneapolis.com/) in Chaska.  They have packages which include a cocktail hour, dinner, cake, centerpieces, etc.  You can also have a ceremony there as well.  We are having our wedding there this September for about 200 guests and the estimated ceremony/reception costs (inlcuding taxes, services charges, some extra liquor/food beyond our base package, etc) was about $17,000.  Good luck in your search!

Germanda

Earle Brown is a great price point and the Embassey Suites hotel is now attached to their event center. Perfect!