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Blog of Bridezilla: Chapter 1

We need a good place for our wedding ceremony/reception. Any ideas?

Requirements include:
- In or around the Minneapolis area
- Must be able to hold approximately 250 people
- Would like it to be a cool space, somewhat casual and/or retro. Lots of character!
- A space where we can have both the ceremony and the reception is preferred.

A few spaces we have considered (or are considering) include:
222: An Event Centre: Appeals to me because in addition to their food menu, they have a games menu. It appears that we can have skee ball and mini-golf at the reception!
Gale Mansion: I've heard good things, and it looks like a wicked cool space.
St. Anthony Main: A cool space (my old pre-teen hangout back when there were actual stores inside), and close to my favorite Catholic church ever (which we won't be getting married in, but perhaps we could sneak a photo out front!).
Alabaster Grand Ballroom at the Zuhrah Shrine Center: Do you think they would be offended if we all wore a fez from my mom's collection? (And yes, my mom has a fez collection.)

Other areas in which I could use your advice:
Photographers. We want one that costs less than $3,000 goddamn dollars, and who will let us keep the negatives. Does this even exist?

Videographers. Know any good ones?

Also, webcam: yes or no? Creepy or cool? I think it would be kind of appropriate, considering we met via our blogs.

Posted October 29, 2003 11:22 AM | On This Day: 2002

 

17 Comments

I was just at a wedding that happened at 222 - they had the wedding and reception at the same place. it was an alright place. Same day a wedding and reception at Solera downtown - that was pretty hot too.

where to start, 3 places to think of

1) Milwaukee Depot
2) MN womens Center
3) There is an event center at St. Anthony Main, they have a pretty room also.

Photographers, I will ask around, I know everyone at my office has gotten to keep thier negatives, I will see who shot.

videographers.. I know a bunch, but they won't be cheap.

Webcam.. hmmm, I find it kind of creapy, unless you have a bunch of friends who can't make it.

I agree with Bill about the webcam.

My brother is getting married and having a reception at Summit Manor in St. Paul this coming February. It looks pretty cool and is not terribly expensive.

http://www.summitmanor.com

Oh yeah--the Depot is TRES CHIC. Perfect for a wedding/reception spot. And we have a mutual friend/acquaintance who got hitched there. You can touch in for the inside scoop.

The LP's sister got married in the Zurah shrine temple. The reception was great--very Lawrence Welk. Big band action and a great dance floor. But the ceremony was a little like getting hitched in Disney's haunted mansion.

Just my 2cents.

I say do the whole thing by web cam. Save the money you would spend on a big wedding and reception and instead spend it by flying off to the Fiji islands. Get married on a beach there. Do a live webcast of the whole thing. Spend 2 months lounging about in paradise on the money you saved, then come home and blog about it. You will still be $10,000 ahead, you will have had the honeymoon most married couples only dream of... Then with the money STILL LEFT OVER that you did not spend on a big wedding, you could by brand new his and hers scooters and STILL have money left over to start on a baby room. (Hey.. 2 months in honeymoon paradise...come on...)

Merlin was the videographer at the last wedding we attended and hey, he's free! I haven't seen the finished product yet, so you may want to check that out first.

summit manor is a nightmare if the list of invitees is larger that 30 people. went to one this summer, and everyone was isolated from one another.

tortoise-
glad you mentioned that about summit manor. that is actually some of the reason they chose it. having a few divorces in the family, it will be nice to be able to separate groups. otherwise, if everyone is happy i can see where it would be a pain.

I mis wrote, I mean the Minneapolis Womens Club, we had a party their for work, it was really nice, very warm, the food was decent enough.. it was just a pleasant place, besides, Tiny Tim died there.

another passing thought, if you are willing to drive a few hours, just outside of Madison WI is the winter home of (I think it was) the Ringling Brothers Circus, they have a museum, you could have your wedding at the Circus Museum.

no?

It was Just a thought

Fiji! Fiji! Fiji! Fiji! Fiji! Fiji!

What about the St. Paul caves for a wedding location?

idea from our conversation last night, the Cemetary by Lake Calhoun

Use the Gale Masion. Nothing like getting married in the ghetto!

Sees-ly If you run out of booze Fanklin-Nicollet LQ is fully stocked with 40s.

My wife and I had our reception at the Park Tavern bowling alley in St. Louis Park last Sat. It was very casual and you may not get a nice sit down meal, but everyone there had a great time. Prices are listed on their website. http://www.parktavern.net/
We invited 250 and the final cost was just under $4000. Oh, I stumbled on your site searching for Uncle Franky's on Google.

My wife & I had our reception at the Wabasha Street Caves in St. Paul. They can accomodate ceremonies too. Dunno about price or availability tho. http://www.wabashastreetcaves.com

hey whats this about seperation at Summit manor??? Im having ~ 50 guets, are the rooms not big enough to accomadate???? seeing it in Jan... Kinda scared now!!!