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Affordable venues IN Minneapolis/St. Paul proper

hwidellhwidell
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in Minnesota-Minneapolis and St. Paul
Hello all, this is my first time posting! We're just starting our planning and wanted to see if anyone had any recommendations for affordable venues (ceremony and reception) that are actually IN Minneapolis or St. Paul (not suburbs). We'll probably have about 150 people, and a place that lets us pick our own caterer or bring our own alcohol would be ideal. We're thinking May 2012 and our budget will probably be $12-15K. Any thoughts? Thanks!
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Re: Affordable venues IN Minneapolis/St. Paul proper

  • tpender13tpender13 member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I bet you'll get a lot of recs for the Profile Event Center. It's near the U campus (I think?) and they let you bring in your own food and alcohol. A bunch of the ladies here have been very happy with them.
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  • SSaltzman87SSaltzman87 member
    First Anniversary First Comment
    edited December 2011
    St. Paul College Club is definitely within your price range, I had considered it for a while before really figuring out the numbers and concluded that it personally wasn't within my budget.

    Como Conservatory, Weyerhaeuser Chapel/AG Hill Ballroom @ Macalester College, and FIVE Event Center would all be in your budget as well. Good Luck!
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  • SuperRNluvsChefSuperRNluvsChef
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    edited December 2011
    The Profile is fantastic.  Except you can't bring in your own food.  They have a caterer.  But it's an awesome venue! Nothing but great things to say about it
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  • hwidellhwidell
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Yes, I've check out PEC from reading other posts, but their minimum for May is like $10,000 - way too high for us. Also, we're looking for something a little more vintage/charming, not so modern/club-like. Thanks!
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  • graysquirrelgraysquirrel member
    5 Love Its Combo Breaker First Comment
    edited December 2011
    The Landmark Center in St. Paul is gorgeous! I'm not sure how much they charge and their food policy, but I used to work there and can attest for how wonderful a job they do. It's location near Rice Park makes for lovely pictures, too.
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  • tpender13tpender13 member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Oooh! Black Bear Crossings in St. Paul. I think the size would be just about right for you. The place where most people do their ceremony is outside, but covered from shade/sprinkles, and it overlooks the lake. I never really looked into their prices b/c I knew it was out of my budget, but I think it might really work for you.

    I don't think they allow outside catering, though...

    http://blackbearcrossings.com/
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  • MaggieandJakeMaggieandJake member
    First Anniversary 5 Love Its First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I'd recommend the MN Boat Club.  It's on Raspberry Island in St. Paul.  It's supposed to give the same feel as Nicollet Island Pavilion but on a smaller scale (and price tag). 
    We would have loved to have it there, but unfortunately they were booked on our date (which we weren't able to be flexible on at all).  Their catering minimum is $3500 and run through Mintahoe catering.  I don't believe that there's a rental fee~but if there is, I'm pretty sure it was $1000 or less. 

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  • SSaltzman87SSaltzman87 member
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    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_minnesota-minneapolis-st-paul_affordable-venues-minneapolisst-paul-proper?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:81Discussion:d36537a9-ecf4-41bb-b498-d1fa35189b4bPost:7e3db36c-c600-4871-a74f-d3f1264a6ba6">Re: Affordable venues IN Minneapolis/St. Paul proper</a>:
    [QUOTE]Yes, I've check out PEC from reading other posts, but their minimum for May is like $10,000 - way too high for us. Also, we're looking for something a little more vintage/charming, not so modern/club-like. Thanks!
    Posted by hwidell[/QUOTE]
    Yeah, I personally never found PEC to be as economical as others have said.
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  • khornbachkhornbach
    First Comment
    edited December 2011

    St. Paul hotel can hold that many. They have a $13000 minimum, but that's in your range. There's a $750 room flip charge from the ceremony to the reception. Its a beautiful space, and they're great to work with!

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  • hwidellhwidell
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Just to clarify, our entire wedding budget will be in the $12-15k range (we think, less if possible!), not just the reception site/food/beverage cost or minimum.
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  • MAYA3300MAYA3300
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Harriet Island which is part of the St. Paul Parks and Recreation is affordable and I believe that you can bring in outside catering.  I don't know about the alcohol though.  A former Knottie used Harriet Island...though I can't recall her name.   
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  • shan87shan87
    Combo Breaker First Comment
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_minnesota-minneapolis-st-paul_affordable-venues-minneapolisst-paul-proper?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:81Discussion:d36537a9-ecf4-41bb-b498-d1fa35189b4bPost:a60f446a-57cb-449a-a842-6cb3fc87f23d">Re: Affordable venues IN Minneapolis/St. Paul proper</a>:
    [QUOTE]In Response to Re: Affordable venues IN Minneapolis/St. Paul proper : Yeah, I personally never found PEC to be as economical as others have said.
    Posted by SSaltzman87[/QUOTE]

    probably because as they have gained popularity their rates have increased. I think Danielle and Steph got a steal of deal, if I remember correctly.
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  • I Want CakeI Want Cake
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I can attest to the greatness of the St. Paul College Club.  We were working with a 150 person estimate and their deluxe decorating package (ceiling draping and other stuff) with an 8-9 hour usage of the space and it came out to around $11,000.  They let you bring in your own alcohol, too, but they do charge a bar usage fee (bar usage included in my estimate).  That'd still leave you $4,000 for everything else, which is completely doable if you choose the right vendors, but depends on if you're including things like your attire in your budget.  We also wanted our wedding and reception to be in Minneapolis and St. Paul proper, so we did the ceremony at the Cowles Conservatory at the Walker for $500 + music (officiant was free since he's a friend), then went to St. Paul for the reception.
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  • PaddyBPaddyB
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I am getting married at the Minneapolis Central LIbrary ( I guess technicially it is not the Hennepin County central library) in downtown Minneapolis. We are getting married the sunday of Labor Day weekend and the Food and Bev minimum is $6000. Unfortuntely, you cannot bring in outside catering or alcohol.

    I'm not sure what the Saturday Minimums are but, I think its around $8000. 

    If you are interested you should contact Mintahoe. 
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  • schmoodschmood member
    First Anniversary First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Check the Binz Refectory on the University of St. Thomas campus.  My sister had her ceremony and reception there.  Food was very reasonable
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  • Bimbi284Bimbi284 member
    First Anniversary First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Someone recently posted something about the Dayblock site...may be worth looking into!
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  • FutureMrsS13FutureMrsS13 member
    First Anniversary First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I agree with PEC i went and looked and the prices are to high for us..  for the locations.. Me and FI both thought the location wasnt the best for the price. Across the street when we were there the police were over doing something and towing his car away and he was ina cop car... We are from N burbs... so idk maybe that normal for that area but wasn't to pleased to see that while trying to find a nice reception... idk.. and 10k for it didnt seem like it was worth it. The lady was nice though!
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  • loveand3dglassesloveand3dglasses member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I had my reception at the Landmark Center. I spent about $11,000 for my wedding, not including the honeymoon. It was $2,000 to rent, so it was one of the things I spent the most money on for my wedding. You can bring in your own caterer, so I used a cheaper one (food was still great though!).

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  • emilykathleen511emilykathleen511
    First Comment First Anniversary
    edited December 2011
    I'm going to give a shout out to Metro State University. They have a beautiful hall with huge windows with a gorgeous view of the St. Paul skyline. They let you choose your caterer out of a list of their approved caterers. I don't know if they are flexible on that or not. They were our second place choice of venue.

    Here is their event info:

    http://www.metrostate.edu/msweb/resources/depts_services/bldg_services/events_schedule.html
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  • jeepbaby54jeepbaby54
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    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_minnesota-minneapolis-st-paul_affordable-venues-minneapolisst-paul-proper?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:81Discussion:d36537a9-ecf4-41bb-b498-d1fa35189b4bPost:70e87f57-579d-43dc-b8fd-d77832a2e7b9">Re: Affordable venues IN Minneapolis/St. Paul proper</a>:
    [QUOTE]I'm going to give a shout out to Metro State University. They have a beautiful hall with huge windows with a gorgeous view of the St. Paul skyline. They let you choose your caterer out of a list of their approved caterers. I don't know if they are flexible on that or not. They were our second place choice of venue. Here is their event info: <a href="http://www.metrostate.edu/msweb/resources/depts_services/bldg_services/events_schedule.html" rel='nofollow'>http://www.metrostate.edu/msweb/resources/depts_services/bldg_services/events_schedule.html</a>
    Posted by emilykathleen511[/QUOTE]

    They were our second choice for location also. However, our guest list wouldn't fit. So, we had to scratch it.

    I went to school there though and New Main is absolutely gorgeous. It looks out towards the St Paul Skyline and they have a little deck that you people can mingle on too.
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