Wedding Planning 101: Venue
We’re back with more wedding planning tips and this week it’s all about location! The venue is where all the magic happens, so it’s important this step doesn’t get overlooked. If you are following our advice, then you have already established your wedding-day vision, right? Whether you’re going for a glamorous chic soiree, a trendy and modern celebration, or a bright and organic outdoor wedding, we encourage couples to pick a space that is consistent with their overall look. If you haven’t defined the vision yet, then you’re not ready to pick a venue!
Not only should the venue fit in with the style of the overall wedding, but it should also be budget-friendly. {Still a little stressed out about the budget? Don’t fret. Before reading on, take a peek at our Wedding Planning 101 blog on budgets!}
The most important thing to do when touring venues is ask the right questions. Aside from the basic “What is the room rental and food and beverage minimum?” type of questions, there are many things couples forget to ask that are crucial to nailing down your perfect venue.
Capacity is often a confusing and overstated number. When a venue quotes capacities, think no dance floor, no bar set-ups and tables so tight you need to turn sideways to get through! Ask for sample floor layouts to really see whether your wedding will “fit” within the space.
We also encourage couples to ask for a sample BEO, or “Banquet Event Order,” which itemizes every little cost that a couple would need to pay. This is a definite must before signing your name on the dotted line! Don’t forget to ask about extra charges that can add to the overall cost. Here are some examples of questions you should be sure to ask: Are there additional charges for auxiliary room rentals? Does your venue charge extra for tables, linens, chairs, lighting or lounge furniture? What about AV equipment? Is there a bartender fee or bar set-up fee associated with the venue? Do you need to rent a dance floor? What is the parking situation for your guests? Is security required? After all, nobody likes those last-minute surprises {and neither does your bank account!}
There you have it. Now, go schedule some venue tours and blow this one out of the park! Stay tuned for our next Wedding Planning 101 post on catering!
Minneapolis Event Centers // Ashley & Patrick
Happy two year anniversary to Ashley & Patrick! In celebration, we thought we'd share their beautiful story and a few stunning images from their wedding.
Ashley and Patrick share a mutual love for travel and making big moves. They met in 2011 when Ashley took a last minute trip to Chicago from Michigan to celebrate New Year’s Eve with friends. Patrick, who happened to be at the same party, tried to strike up a conversation with Ashley about his goofy panda shirt. However, this technique was unsuccessful since she was going to veterinary school. With her uninterested response he walked away speechless, but later in the night he tried once more and won her attention. Ashley flew down to Texas three weeks later to visit Patrick, who had just made the move to Texas. After another eight months, it was Patrick’s turn to make a big move which landed him in Minneapolis with Ashley and their dog, Daisy.
After Patrick proposed, they celebrated with a night of surprises and friends. Afterward, they flew to San Francisco to continue the celebrations with friends! For their wedding, a fun-loving party was required. They flew in The Pete Saunders Band from New York for an incredible night of music and dancing. The look was soft and romantic with billowing baby's breath garlands and baby's breath clouds that had cascading orchids above the tables, which were accented with pops of soft corals, pinks, and gold. These elements created the whimsical feel they were hoping for.
Vendor Credits:
Event Planning + Design: Style-Architects Weddings & Events
Photographer: Photogen, Inc.
Venue + Catering: Minneapolis Event Center
Videographer: Sky Focus Films
Cakes/Desserts: Cocoa & Fig
Florals: Martha’s Gardens
Linens: Linen Effects
Hair + Makeup: Haus Salon
Event Rental: Après Party and Tent Rental // Rudy’s Event Rentals
Band: Pete Saunders Band, New York
Paper: Spark Letterpress
Transportation: Eclipse
Minneapolis Event Center // Hayley & Luke
We were so fortunate to be a part of Hayley and Luke's wedding. They couldn't have been sweeter or more adorable! Hayley and Luke started "dating" in junior high and haven't taken their eyes off each other since. As a young couple, they wanted to incorporate into their big day youthful and fun aspects in a sophisticated way, so we made it a priority, personalizing every detail.
To enhance the privacy and intimacy of their ceremony we brought in a truck load of arborvitae plants to fill in the existing plants along the fence enclosing the area. The ceremony also featured a custom floral backdrop made of fresh moss with pops of pinks fading to lighter shades in an ombre fashion. It was repurposed at the reception as a gorgeous photo booth backdrop.
After the ceremony, Hayley and Luke decided to ride off in-style with a pedicab succession down the Stone Arch Bridge. At the venue, we took advantage of the beautiful wood beams and created a chandelier of flowers hanging from ribbon, spanning the length of the head table. Instead of a traditional cake, we brought in delicious donuts and cupcakes for the reception. There were so many options to choose from, we made that {tough} decision easier by creating a menu detailing each flavor. A late night food truck with gooey delights such as pulled pork and caramelized onion grilled cheese sandwiches wrapped up the festivities.
From the gorgeous floral décor to the delicious catering sweets, every moment was perfect! Check out the images below of Hayley + Luke's special day!
Full Event Planning + Design: Style-Architects Weddings & Events | Venue + Catering: Minneapolis Event Center | Photography: Pixel Posey | Videographer: Flow Event Group | Bridal Gown: Posh Bridal Couture | Hair + Make-Up: Julie Swenson | Floral Design: Munster Rose | Linens + Chargers: Linen Effects | Event Rentals: Rudy’s Event Rentals, Apres Party and Tent Rentals | Band: Empty Pockets | DJ: Flow Event Group | String Quartet: Loring String Quartet | Donuts: Glam Doll Donuts | Cake + Cupcakes: Nadia’s Cakes | Food Truck: Fork in the Road | Invites + Day-Of Paper: Spark Letterpress | Transportation: Twin Town Pedicabs
Venue Feature: Minneapolis Event Center
I’m always saying how Minneapolis needs more amazing wedding venues given the long wait at the local faves, so when a new one pops up I have to scream “Hooray!” {especially when it’s large and amazing!} If you are looking for a venue, I definitely suggest that you add Minneapolis Event Center to your list. I reached out to the amazing talent who helped redesign the space to share the features that make this such a great venue. Here, Michael Basler, Marketing & Design Manager, Minneapolis Event Center shares his insights. What attracts couples to the Minneapolis Event Center for their weddings?
Couples are attracted to the rich history of our 1850's building and how we've blended just the right amount of modern design features to appeal to current trends. Our space was designed by event planners and designers. Our couples don't need to add a lot of decor to have a beautiful experience.
How does Minneapolis Event Center stand out from other venues in the area?
Our event center has an all-inclusive package. Our clients don't pay extra for things like security, event staffing, coat check, audio visual, linens etc… We've invested in dozens of LED up-lights and floodlights, filling the space with vibrant color and texture. We're also a lot of fun to work with!
Tell us about the spaces available at the Minneapolis Event Center and how they are most often utilized for a wedding.
Our spacious ballroom seats 400 for dinner, with a built-in Morroccan Hardwood dance floor. There is also a 2,000 square foot glass atrium space adjacent to the ballroom which functions as a very comfortable cocktail/lounge area. The atrium wall of windows opens up to our private, brick patio and lush, shaded garden space that offers a great outdoor ceremony space. If it rains, we simply transition the ceremony into the atrium.
What transformations did you make to the space?
We stripped back 30 years of drywall and drop ceilings to reveal the original exposed brick walls and massive hand-hewn beams. The process of restoring the brick was very labor intensive, but worth the extra attention to detail. The atrium space was a complete loss and had to be completely rebuilt from the ground up. The original brick patio was also disassembled one brick at a time, and rebuilt by hand.
What are the benefits of hosting an event at Minneapolis Event Center?
We are a venue in the heart of Minneapolis with the added benefit of 1400 parking spots right across the street. That's a feature that is very important to our clients. When you host an event with us, you get the entire indoor and outdoor space for the day. We never double book our spaces. We offer state of the art audio-visual on our LCD flat screen TV's, our projector and screen, and high-end sound system. Our chairs are mahogany chiavaris, with neutral pads. Our in-house culinary team prepares amazing meals for any time of day or night, right from our on-site kitchen.
What are the benefits of your venue’s location?
The St. Anthony Main neighborhood is so convenient to major downtown hotels, nightlife, theater and shopping. The pedestrian friendly walking paths meander along the banks of the Mississippi River with a gorgeous view of the downtown skyline.
What suggestions do you have for couples getting married in your venue?
We recently hosted a wedding where the couple was married on our patio, and immediately following the ceremony, they entered a horse-drawn carriage and went for a ride along the cobblestone streets. I thought that was such a great idea. Their guests enjoyed cocktail hour, while the couple was able to spend their first married moments together, by themselves.