Minnesota is home to some of the most breathtaking wedding venues, each offering a unique blend of elegance, charm, and sophistication. I loved what the Simply Elegant Group had listed for their top picks, but wanted to add in some of my personal favorites. Whether you’re looking for a grand ballroom, an intimate garden setting, or a contemporary art space, the Land of 10,000 Lakes has it all. Here are my top ten of the most elegant wedding venues in Minnesota that will leave a lasting impression on your guests.

1. Walker Art Center – Minneapolis, MN

Art lovers will appreciate the sleek and modern ambiance of a Walker Art Center wedding. With its contemporary design, floor-to-ceiling windows, and stunning skyline views, this venue is perfect for couples looking for a minimalist yet strikingly elegant wedding setting. Did I mention Walker has a rooftop venue and space for outdoor cocktail hour?

Highlights: Indoor and outdoor ceremony venues, bright and welcoming reception space with city views, no decoration needed if you want to keep it minimal but still elegant.

Things to Consider: Parking — there is a paid lot attached to the museum and an open-air lot within walking distance. Either way, let friends and family know ahead of time. Free First Saturdays — Walker Art Center offers the free admission the first Saturday of each month. This usually includes special activities for kids in the Sculpture Garden on nice days. Be prepared for larger crowds in public spaces those days.

See more photos from the Walker Art Center Wedding Venue in my blog post, here.

2. The Depot Downtown Minneapolis – Minneapolis, MN

A historic train depot turned luxury event space, The Depot offers timeless elegance with its grand halls and classic architectural details. Whether you envision a grand ballroom affair or a more intimate gathering, this venue provides a blend of historic charm and modern refinement. At the heart of downtown Minneapolis, the Depot Downtown also offers plenty of nearby and walkable scenic outdoor sites for a variety of portrait backdrops.

Highlights: The Depot has several options for Ceremony and Reception spaces, based on your guest count and vibes. Also, the hotel lobby has kitschy character that works well for portraits.

Things to Consider: Parking — there’s an outdoor pay lot and street parking (also metered) so let friends and family know ahead of time.

3. Nicollet Island Pavilion – Minneapolis, MN

Located on the Mississippi River, Nicollet Island Pavilion is an iconic Minneapolis venue known for its panoramic city skyline views. This historic venue features exposed brick walls, vaulted ceilings, and stunning riverside scenery. Whether you opt for an indoor or outdoor ceremony, this venue exudes charm and sophistication with a gorgeous reception space that overflows onto an outdoor deck.

Highlights: Nicollet Island Inn has parking on site, which is always nice and it’s within walking distance from the Nicollet Island Inn — a historic hotel with a lot of cute character. If you need a getting ready room or room for the night, the Nicollet Island Inn is definitely a smart choice.

Things to Consider: Weather — The Nicollet Island Pavilion has outdoor and indoor space for your ceremony, so you can always have a “Plan B” in bad weather. It’s important to note though that Minneapolis can sometimes have a cold breeze coming off the Mississippi River in Spring and Fall, and harsh sunlight/hot weather in the Summer. Come prepared with shawls/fans/sun umbrellas for guests, they’ll appreciate your forethought!

4. Hewing Hotel – Minneapolis, MN

Nestled in the heart of the North Loop, The Hewing Hotel combines historic charm with modern “Nordic” luxury. Its rustic brick walls, timber beams, and rooftop views make it a stylish and intimate choice for couples looking for a chic urban wedding venue. The sophisticated atmosphere and exceptional service ensure an unforgettable celebration.

Highlights: The Hewing Hotel has a gorgeous lobby and rooftop for portraits, but their bridal suite/getting ready room is just as nice for getting beautiful prep pictures.

Things to Consider: Ceremony — Hewing has an indoor ceremony space, with an attached room for cocktail hour. While guests enjoy libations and hors d’oeuvres, the ceremony space is flipped for the reception. Unfortunately they do not offer an outdoor ceremony space, but it’s still beautiful and easy to decorate.

5. Bavaria Downs (Edward Anne Estate) – Chaska, MN

Bavaria Downs offers an enchanting and grand setting for weddings. The Edward Anne Estate boasts European-inspired architecture, lush landscaping, and an exquisite ballroom with floor-to-ceiling windows. Its fairytale-like ambiance is perfect for couples looking to create a timeless and opulent wedding experience.

Highlights: The “bridal suite” (upstairs getting ready room) is a stunning grand suite with attached green room and deck. While most brides choose to get ready here, groom’s can also opt for this scenic space. I use this room for bridal portraits, but it works well for bridal party pictures and couple’s portraits too. Multiple ceremony sites: outdoors there is permanent seating lining the iron gazebo, but you could easily set up a ceremony near the fountain outside, or the back patio. Indoors the reception hall is usually used as the ceremony space, but intimate weddings could also opt for the library!

Things to Consider: Chaska can be a hike, depending on where your guests are driving from, so you may want to consider reserving a shuttle to move guests to a nearby hotel.

Learn (and see!) more about The Edward Anne Estate in my recent blog post, here.

6. A’bulae – St. Paul, MN

For a contemporary and stylish wedding, A’bulae in St. Paul offers a rooftop view of the capital city with sleek, modern interiors. This luxurious venue blends high-end technology with sophisticated design, making it an excellent choice for a refined and memorable wedding celebration. Designed specifically as an event venue, they’ve thought of it all — from the getting ready suites, bar and cocktail lounge, large open reception space, and dance area.

Highlights: Mears Park is within walking distance and provides a great space to do bridal party photos, first looks, or just couple’s portraits. A’bulae also has one of the most beautiful getting-ready suites I’ve ever seen, with plenty of mirrors and seating. A’bulae also offers on-site parking with a paid ramp, which makes it easy for family and your guests.

Things to Consider: Rush hour can affect your guest arrival, especially if you choose a Thursday or Friday wedding. Talk with your wedding planner to preemptively plan your schedule to avoid rush hour hiccups. The same can be said for days CHS field is entraining a Saints game. I should also mention their rooftop can get HOT and bright in the summer, so plan ahead with sun umbrellas, sunglasses, and fans for your guests.

7. Minneapolis Event Center – Minneapolis, MN

Located in St. Anthony Main, the Minneapolis Event Center provides a mix of historic architecture and modern amenities. With exposed brick, grand chandeliers, and customizable/modular spaces, this venue is ideal for couples who want a sophisticated yet unique wedding experience. This space actually has three different venues in one, usually with two-three separate events happening at once.

The Grand 1858 Venue is the go-to if you’re looking to have an outdoor ceremony. Located on the left-side of the main floor, this space has a downstairs getting-ready room, and also offers a beautiful glass atrium butting against the bricked-in outdoor ceremony spot. No need to “flip” the room if you have your ceremony outside — it has a spacious reception area with a separate bar room for your cocktail hour.

The Riverside Venue is the other “main level” venue (on the right side of the building) with a slightly smaller space, with an indoor ceremony area that is blocked off and “flipped” during cocktail hour.

The View Venue is on the lower level of the building and has an adorable “alley” that is gated off for guests to hang out in. On nice days you could also have your ceremony there, or even an intimate reception.

Highlights: This building is one block off of Saint Anthony Main — in fact, if you walk down the steps to the right of the building, you land at Aster Cafe, which is one of the most scenic spots in Minneapolis. You can see the Mississippi River and Minneapolis skyline, along with the beautiful storefronts of Aster, St. Anthony Main Theatre, and more. If you have extra energy (and good footwear) you can also venture down to the Stone Arch Bridge — it’s within walking distance!

Things to Consider: With three events happening at once, the area can get busy, but I’ve always seen the staff have clear signage marking each event, with people on-site at each door to make sure guests get where they need to go. I think they also tend to stager the events, so not everyone is arriving at once.

Another thing to consider with it being downtown Minneapolis is traffic and guest hotel accommodations — it may be useful to rent hotel blocks at a nearby spot and make the suggestion for guests to uber/lyft into the event so they don’t have to worry about parking.

8. Redeemed Farm, Scandia, MN

Redeemed Farm, located in Scandia, Minnesota, is a premier wedding venue known for its refined rustic elegance. The venue offers a perfect blend of vintage charm and modern luxury, making it a standout choice for couples seeking a sophisticated yet warm wedding atmosphere.

Highlights: Redeemed Farm offers lush outdoor spaces, including their vineyard and well-manicured gardens. These are perfect for ceremony locations or portraits in between the events of the day.

The owners of Redeemed Farm are so sweet and very accommodating to reasonable requests — like photographing the couple with their horses.

Things to Consider: Scandia is about an hour away from the Twin Cities, so it’s useful to secure room blocks in nearby hotels for your guests so they don’t have to drive all the way back the night of your event.

9. The Regency – St. Cloud, MN

The Regency is an elegant venue offering a luxurious ballroom with high ceilings, crystal chandeliers, and sophisticated decor. Its classic charm makes it an excellent choice for couples seeking a refined and glamorous wedding setting.

Highlights: West Saint Germain St., where the venue sits, is a cute hub of hotels, local bars, and small-town scenery — perfect for both your guests and dynamic wedding photos.

Things to Consider: The room will need to be “flipped” from ceremony to reception space if you have both at The Regency. The staff makes sure this transition is seamless, but it’s always good to know in advance!

Want to see more? I have photos from The Regency Wedding Venue, here.

10. Semple Mansion – Minneapolis, MN

The historic Semple Mansion exudes elegance and grandeur, making it an ideal venue for a classic, vintage-inspired wedding. With its ornate chandeliers, intricate woodwork, and stunning ballroom, Semple Mansion offers a regal atmosphere that will transport your guests to a bygone era of luxury.

Highlights: Stepping inside Semple Mansion is like stepping into another world… as in “I don’t think we’re in Minneapolis anymore.” It is surprisingly serene, despite being just south of Downtown Minneapolis.

Semple has a seamless flow for events, with a space for everything. If you choose to have your ceremony on the main level, they will flip the space for the dance while dinner is being served on the stunning third floor. Alternatively, you can have your dinner and dance upstairs but still utilize the bar in the main level for cocktail hour. I should also mention they have a newly renovated basement level — which now takes on speakeasy vibes and is perfect for portraits.

Things to Consider: Weddings at Semple can utilize the whole property, but if you wanted to venture out with your bridal party for photos, etc, I would recommend renting a shuttle service to avoid parking mishaps. There isn’t a lot immediately around the property that I’d recommend for photos.

Minnesota offers an incredible array of elegant wedding venues to suit every style and vision. Whether you prefer a modern urban setting, a charming historic mansion, or a scenic outdoor escape, these venues provide the perfect backdrop for an unforgettable wedding day. Wherever you choose to celebrate your day, I would love to capture it! Check out my wedding photography prices and information.