Everything you need to know about your Minnesota Wedding, from finding the best venue for you, picking the date, and choosing when to get married.
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As a Minnesota wedding photographer, Laura Alpizar services throughout the entire state of Minnesota. From the couples session to the wedding dinner to the reception and preparations, wedding photography is our thing!
Minneapolis and St Paul both have a wonderful scenery and a growing variety of weddings! As a photographer I will make sure your incredible day is captured in the most beautiful and genuine way!
Wedding Photography in Minnesota
Minnesota offers a rich variety of culture and stunning locations for capturing the essence of your special day! While Minnesota’s landscapes may differ from the bustling urbanity of NY, Chicago or LA, they possess a unique allure. Picture saying ‘I do’ in the rustic charm of Equestria West surrounded by rolling hills or amidst the historic elegance of the Van Dusen Mansion in Minneapolis. When you venture into the heart of the city, you’ll discover gems like the chic Machine Shop, reflecting more modern urban aesthetics.
Minneapolis has incredible historic buildings, such as the timeless architecture of the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.
In St Paul, you can explore the lakeside beauty of Como Park’s Marjorie McNeely Conservatory or the historic charm of the Landmark Center in St. Paul.
Just outside the city, the serenity of a lakeside ceremony at Grand View Lodge in Nisswa or Catalyst link in the same town, can truly show you the picturesque sides of Minnesota.
Minnesota’s wedding venues offer a diverse array of options, whether it’s rustic charm, elegance or modern! From urban chic to natural wonders, our lens captures the beauty of your moment against the backdrop of Minnesota’s extraordinary wedding venues.
Minnesota Engagement Photography
Engagement photos are a great way to capture this time in your lives and freeze in a little bottle made of happy photos.
Minneapolis and St Paul both provide plenty of landmarks and picturesque spots for your engagement photos! Or you can choose to schedule your engagement photos at the Minnesota Arboretum, a wonderful area with great variety of natural areas.
I usually recommend my couples to pick two outfits and two locations for a more complete session. For example, the urban beauty of Minneapolis lake , combined with the gardens of Arneson acres. Both are truly great locations for engagement photos, and you can accomplish taking photos at both places in the same evening.
Picking a location for your engagement that showcases your personality is a great way to add up to your already fantastic story:
Here are my favorite wedding Engagement Locations in Minnesota!
Minnesota has a reputation for having nice people, who love nature, enjoy good food and know how to bare the cold. As a wedding photographer, I love working in such beautiful state and this is why I created this guide on getting married in Minnesota! With ten thousand lakes, many rivers, farmland , parks and woods, it gives a truly assortment of Minnesota wedding venues and options for getting married at.
From the popular Twin Cities area to the magical woods of the North Shore, you can find so many beautiful places to get married. Full of historic mansions, gorgeous barns and with a growing trend of elopements you can find more than you think .
As you read through this guide to getting married in Minnesota, you’ll also discover a few more things that are good to know about unique weddings in Minnesota.
What’s the best time to get married in Minnesota?
Many Minnesota venues offer indoor spaces perfect for cold winter nights, and outdoor patios for longer summer evenings.
While we do have weddings all seasons (and in all kinds of weather), the most popular time to get married in Minnesota is from May to September which, include late spring, summer, and early fall seasons. This is the time venues are usually busier as well as other wedding vendors.
Here is a little walkthrough the Minnesota seasons, weather specifics source is from Weather-us.com
Seasons in Minnesota
Winter Weddings
Gorgeous snow backdrops but chilly temperatures! Winters are cold and snowy in Minnesota. You will want to prepare, so consider snow boots, mittens and winter shawls for photos outside.
If you opt for a December wedding, the holiday spirits might warm you up! Temperatures are the lowest in the coldest month of January (we tend to get polar over here)
February and March bring slightly warmer temperatures, but plenty of snow.
Spring Weddings
Technically, March brings the Spring, but I have found that to be positive thinking. I consider March still winter with average temperatures of 34°F (1.1°C) to 45°F (7.2°C) . Snow continues to show here and there with a little bit of slush and rain. April turns a bit warmer as both gardening and wedding seasons start!
May is peek Spring: a gorgeous month full of perfect days and pleasant days, with the average being 56°F as flowered trees and luscious greens start to pop up. Rain jackets and backup plans for outdoor ceremonies are a must.
Summer Weddings in Minnesota
The summer months are hot, but June is one of the most pleasant months of the year. The average temperature ranges from 44 to80 degrees Fareneheit during the day make it the most popular month nose to nose with September. For outdoor wedding photos and ceremonies keep a backup plan (tents and umbrellas work for most!)
July tends to be the safest when it comes to rain, but the hottest month indeed. A lot of Lakeside weddings happen, as the lakes bring nice temperatures in its proximity. Late August temperatures can drop a bit but the thunderstorms can return.
. The summer days are full of sunshine with the sun setting around 8-9 PM. Here is a great breakdown of a Wedding Timeline in the Summer!
Fall Weddings
Outdoor wedding venues in Minnesota are a wonderful way to experience this crisp, golden and colorful season. Peak color is usually Mid October but can sometimes be earlier. The scenic highways and lakes are wonderful to just be around!
Fall temperatures are mild, with the average temperature in September 70 degrees Fahrenheit, while October tends to stay around the 60s.
Fall is the golden time for weddings and a busy time for engagement sessions as well. Looking at fall’s gorgeous colorful photos you will easy see why it is so popular for couples.
The Twin Cities area offers a great variety . You can find small venues, unique venues, indoor venues perfect for the colder season and gorgeous outdoor spaces for those long summer days.
How far in advance should I book my Minneapolis Wedding Venue?
A: Since some Minneapolis venues are quite popular and often booked more than a year in advance, I recommend you schedule them as soon as you are engaged, wether or not you have a date, you will find a date they have open with them.
Minnesota Wedding Venues
Best Minnesota Wedding Venues
Minneapolis Wedding Venues
If you love Minneapolis as much as we do and want to get getting married in the state’s most popular city.
St Paul Wedding Venues
A list of my favorite venues in St Paul
Unique Wedding Venues in Minnesota
A list of the most unique venues all around!
Minnesota Small Wedding Venues
Small Weddings have fewer guests and require simpler planning, usually all you need is a venue, a few vendors and a set date! Some couples choose to keep the ceremony limited to close friends and family.
Minnesota Elopements
As a way to focus on just the two of us, Elopements are getting so popular ! Here are two useful resources if you are leaning to eloping away:
- Minnesota Elopements Guide
Unique ideas for your wedding.
If you are brainstorming for unique ways to make your wedding truly yours, I have witnessed wonderful couples truly tailor the wedding of their dreams, so I have gathered a bunch of alternative ideas for your wedding and also for your Unity Ceremony
What to do in Minnesota
If you are having your guests visit for your wedding, you can give your guests a truly Minnesota experience.
- The cities : From sightseeing to incredible cuisine, the Twin Cities offer an incredible amount of restaurants, theathers and museums:
- The lakes : I am a little embarrased to mention so many things about the lakes, but Minnesota is truly the land of lakes!
- The fairs: The greatest Minnesota great together, the Rennaisance Festival and the Winter Carnival are great ways to start!
- The Northshore : The Lake Superior is sworn to take your breath away !
Wedding Timeline Planning
Building your timeline draft is great, your photographer or your planner can help you with this.
Here are some wedding timeline tips to help you draft a timeline since the start:
Minnesota Wedding Vendors
There are some incredible vendors in Minnesota, check the ones I have liked to work with the most:
- Best MN vendors
Number of Weddings in Minnesota
How many people got married last year in Minnesota – (State)?
The total number of weddings in 2022 was 33,834 and Minnesota – (State) ranks 26 out of 51 States in number of weddings. (Source: TheWeddingRepport)
Minnesota Wedding Average Cost
How much do couples spend on a Minnesota wedding ?
When it comes to tying the knot in the Land of 10,000 Lakes , the average wedding cost in Minnesota for 2022 was $27,358 and Minnesota ranks 19 out of 51 States in average wedding cost (Source: The Wedding Report)
I recommend exploring the subject of the Average wedding cost in Minnesota vrs Real Wedding Cost in Minnesota as a starting point of reference for your spending plans!
Wedding cost breakdown:
| Venue | 37% |
| Catering | 29% |
| Band | 13% |
| Wedding Rings | 9% |
| Photographer | 9% |
| Florals | 8% |
| Videographer | 7% |
| Liquor | 8% |
| Attire | 7% |
| Wedding Planner | 6% |
| Event Rentals | 6% |
| LIghting and Decor | 6% |
| DJ | 5% |
| Guests Entertainment | 4% |
| Transportation | 3% |
| Ceremony musicians | 2% |
| Stationary | 2% |
| Cake Desserts | 2% |
| Hair & makeup | 1% |
| Wedding favors & Gifts | 1% |
| Officiant |
1% |
Source: TheKnot
Conclusion
Minnesota is definitely full of diverse landscapes, from great cities to picturesque country. Not forgetting the cultural influences and the progressive, but not inflated lifestyle, Minnesota is truly a memorable wedding destination ! We cannot forget the seasonality of the wedding industry, however in every season, Minnesota weddings reflect a perfect blend of tradition, natural beauty, and real fun celebrations!
