Winter definitely happens here in Minnesota, which means you can avoid it when trying to plan your wedding or you can embrace it and just have a wedding at a venue that is very winter-friendly. Since there is less competition and sometimes a lower cost to having a wedding in the winter in Minnesota, it’s worth considering.
As a vendor, one of the hardest parts about winter weddings is loading and unloading in the cold and maybe in the snow. That goes for your guests too. While sometimes it’s unavoidable, some of the venues in Minneapolis make it a little easier on us to not freeze while transferring items or people.
Here are some of our favorite venues for a winter wedding in Minneapolis that make it easy to park, stay and play!
Only one of two non-hotel venues on the list but that’s because Elliot Park is right next door and attached, as is an underground parking ramp! Your guests can also take advantage of Finnegan’s Brewery on the bottom level and the great restaurant Tavola in the hotel so really, there’s no place else you need to be.
Boasting white walls, ceilings and an open-catering policy, Mosaic truly lets you create what you want in the space. While it is all indoors, there is a deck on the front of the space that looks down onto Fifth Ave so guests can still step outside to get a breath of the fresh, chilly air.
If you want to be able to take in the best views of the Twin Cities in the winter, then you will never get much better than Windows at Marquette! Located on the 50th floor of the IDS tower, this venue lets you see the beauty winter can create without having to be in it.
Windows is run by the great staff at the Marquette, which is just across Crystal Court so your guests can feel like they are almost outside with the green space there but then never feel the cold as they go to and from their hotel rooms. They also utilize the covered parking ramp of IDS so even if it’s snowing outside guests don’t have to ruin their shoes!
What we love about winter weddings at The Depot is that there are a few spaces to pick from there, depending on how much of the winter you want to see. If you want to forget that it’s happening, you can have a ceremony in the aptly named Winter Garden and move into the Great Hall for dinner and dancing. If you want to catch all the chilly action outside, opt for something in the Conservatory and Great Northern Rooms with their floor to ceiling windows.
The Depot has underground heated parking that leads right to the attached hotels, Renaissance or Residence Inn or can go right to the event spaces. With the great restaurant and bar Milwaukee Road your guests will be able to stay warm and cozy inside the whole time if they want to!
You don’t have to be University of Minnesota alumni to appreciate this gem of a space right in the middle of the Minneapolis campus. The Graduate Hotel has a couple of event spaces to choose from based on your guest count and preferences. The Washington Ave ramp is connected by skyway to the hotel and has over 1200 parking spaces, so plenty of room for your guests and convenient to stay out of the elements.
One of the hotel’s best features to beat the winter blues is their on-site Topgolf Suite! This space is popular for rehearsal dinners or as a getting ready space for the wedding party where they can test their skills all winter long.
If you have ever wondered what it could be like to get married and dance the night away in a snow globe, you may get the chance to do it at The Millennium Hotel! Their dome is amazing backdrop for the ceremony and with some great uplighting can be a magical space for your dance.
Don’t worry, their dinner space also has big windows that let you look out on a winter wonderland too. With an attached parking garage monitored by their security team, your winter wedding at the Millennium will be beautiful and easy!
If you aren’t sure if a venue is good for winter weddings or not, drop us a line! Venue searching is included in our planning services or can be a stand-alone service as well.
