18 Best Small Wedding Venues in Minnesota
You might not think that a wedding and event design company known for big, immersive experiences would love small weddings, but we do! There are so many unique, special ways you can design an intimate wedding experience. Here, we’re rounding up our top picks for best small wedding venues in Minnesota, including rustic, industrial, rooftop, indoor, and outdoor venues. The ideas are endless!
Want to hand your small wedding planning over to the pros? Check out Minne Weddings for our all-inclusive small wedding experiences in Minneapolis.
Small & Intimate Wedding Venues in MN
Hewing Hotel
Photos by Lucas Botz Photography
A warehouse turned hotel in the North Loop, the Hewing Hotel can only be described as northwoods chic. The combination of original architectural elements with nordic touches create a unique Minnesotan experience. It is at once cozy and comfortable and luxe and modern. A variety of spaces throughout the property are well suited for small weddings.
To see a real wedding here, check out Claire & Alex's Hip Hewing Hotel Wedding
The Annex
The Annex is great because it has the right balance of personality and flexibility. It's such a versatile space with a 40' skylight, exposed brick walls, and lots of lush green plants. It also features an incredible mural on the exterior of the building. Located in south Minneapolis in the LynLake neighborhood, it is walking distance to lakes, restaurants, and bars.
The Hutton House
Photos by Cadence and Eli
Tucked away in an unexpected corner of Medicine Lake, The Hutton House is the perfect intimate wedding destination. The gorgeous, versatile space is one of the most sought after wedding venues in Minnesota, and it’s easy to see why—bright modern interiors, a dramatic staircase for a grand entrance, and a relaxed, welcoming vibe.
The Hutton House’s Fireside room is perfection for small fetes and the outdoor courtyard makes it even more versatile. This venue makes for an incredible indoor/outdoor small wedding experience.
Aster Cafe
Located in the heart of St. Anthony Main this historic riverfront venue is on "the prettiest street in Minneapolis" and the perfect spot for a small wedding. It has a very unique tent for outdoor ceremonies or receptions, plus a couple of different indoor private event spaces.
Orchestra Hall
Photos by Cadence and Eli
Orchestra Hall isn't just for music loving couples, although the acoustics are the best in Minneapolis. This venue hits all the right notes for small weddings.
The modern addition finished in 2013 provides several spaces for ceremonies and receptions. In fact, your wedding can move throughout the spaces creating a truly one-of-a-kind progressive experience. The expansive windows, terraces and patios overlook Peavey Plaza and Nicollet Mall.
Brick x Mortar
This brownstone rooftop is one of the best kept secrets in Minneapolis. The city skyline is a picturesque backdrop for an intimate wedding. Gather around one of the fire pits or relax in some lounge furniture! Inside the space is cool and chic, so if Mother Nature doesn't cooperate you still have a great plan B.
If you’re looking for a rooftop wedding venue, Brick x Mortar might be it.
GLASS HOUSE
Photos by Tiffany Kokal
Planning and Design by Laine Palm
The Glass House (formerly known as the Holden Room) is located in the hip North Loop neighborhood and shares a home with Hennepin Made. This modern industrial space boasts tall ceilings, ample natural light, and laid-back vibe. Open up the garage door and make your way outdoors in their brand new courtyard. The space is so versatile and intimate.
City Club Saint Paul
City Club Saint Paul is located in the West Seventh neighborhood of Saint Paul, MN. It has a great historic vibe, inside the Historic Rathskeller building built in 1863. This unique small wedding venue was once the original gathering space for brewers, employees, and patrons involved with Schmidt Brewery. The space was carefully restored and is now on the national historic registry.
The stone floor, red wood ceiling, and vintage chandeliers immediately take you back to a different era.
Walker Art Center
Photos by Jeremie Barlow
The iconic Walker Art Center was practically built with small weddings in mind. Sleek and modern, the museum is a blank canvas for your wedding inspiration.
The street-level and rooftop terraces, plazas, and sculpture garden across the street mean you can have an artful outdoor ceremony or reception. The indoor venues boast incredible views of downtown Minneapolis. (Bonus: your guests will get complimentary gallery admission).
If you’re looking for a rooftop wedding venue or outdoor venue for your small wedding, Walker Art Center would be a perfect fit.
Neu Neu
One of the best features of the Neu Neu is the outdoor parking lot "courtyard" which is perfect for couples who want to have food trucks at their small wedding. Guests can mingle indoors and out depending on the weather. The Green Room and getting ready space are To Die For. The Main Studio has 22' tall rafter ceilings. which means you can hang just about any decor you want, from cafe lights to floral.
Theodore Wirth Regional Park
Photos by Rivets & Roses
This sprawling Minneapolis park has three excellent and distinct options for small weddings. The historic Wirth Chalet Fireplace Room (pictured here) and Pavilion are full of character and charm. Their fireplaces are great to cozy up to for a winter wedding. The modern Trailhead contrasts its sister properties featuring Scandanavian styling. All spaces are great for indoor and outdoor use, taking full advantage of the beauty of the park.
Pique Travel (Excelsior, MN)
Travel agency by day, event space by night, this charming venue in Excelsior is not to be missed. Constructed in the 1940s and originally home to the Lyman Lumber Warehouse, the newly renovated space features a vaulted wooden barrel ceiling and hardwood floors that still have the original painted pallet markings.
The large windows and fireplace are two more unique amenities that add to Pique Travel's appeal. Get ready and then stay the night at the Bird House Inn less than a block away.
Each Other
Photos by Joe and Jen
Each Other is the lovechild of Mother Co. Plants in Minneapolis, created as an elevated extension of the shop for private events. Each Other is a space of texture, warmth, and simplicity, reminiscent of Southwest architecture. The large glass doors open into a pretty little courtyard perfect for entertaining indoors and out. Each Other doesn't require a lot of decor, but if you are looking for something easy and unique to enhance the space you can rent plants from Mother next door!
The Lora & Hotel Crosby (Stillwater, MN)
Two hotels in historic Stillwater were made for intimate gatherings. The Lora is an award-winning hotel built into a cliff along the banks of the St. Croix river. Get married in their Cave Room, which features original stone walls from when the building used to be a brewery in the late 1800s.
Hotel Crosby can be described as laid-back luxury, taking decor cues from the lumber trade that was once a booming industry in the St. Croix River Valley. Located on Main Street, Hotel Crosby is within walking distance to just about everything.
5 Big Wedding Venues that Work for Small Weddings
Small weddings aren't just for small venues. Many of the most popular Minnesota wedding venues aren't limited to small events but can still host them beautifully.
If you've always wanted to have your wedding at one of these venues but thought your wedding was too small, think again! Through innovative design and smart floorplans you can have the tiny wedding of your dreams.
Machine Shop
Photos by Cadence and Eli
While the main floor at Machine Shop gets all the love, the upstairs space is just as pretty and has multiple different options for a ceremony set up. An intimate wedding of 50 or fewer guests could fill the space nicely with the ceremony and reception. Everything is on one level with the bathrooms and dressing rooms close by.
Of course, the main floor is also wonderful and allows for some decor elements the upstairs does not—a large, dramatic ceremony backdrop for one (like we designed for this inspiration shoot).
Machine Shop has several rolling wood walls that make great partitions to divide up the space into smaller areas. Create a flow through the main floor for the different activities that are happening so your guests are getting a brand new point of view for the ceremony, reception, and dinner. Or, utilize both the main floor and upstairs, keeping in mind that you will need more decor or furniture to make the spaces feel appropriate for a small guest count.
Have your own small wedding at this incredible venue in June 2024 - learn all about it here!
Loring Social
Photos by Cadence & Eli
Located in the heart of Loring Park, Loring Social is an industrial wedding venue with quiet charm. Its polished marble accents and white Italian chandeliers work to provide contrast to the historic warehouse space. The space's unique layout is a dream for small weddings and provides couples a few different options for flow.
For warm weather weddings, start with the ceremony in the front room (Waverly Room) then move into the middle space to the bar area for cocktails and appetizers. Then it's on to the back room (Chelsea Room) for dinner and dancing. The large garage door opens to an enchanted alleyway. Guests can hang outdoors during the reception or you can have a food truck pull up for late night snacks.
Have your own micro wedding here in 2023! Check out our December date here.
THE WHIM
Photos by Cadence & Eli
The Whim is Northeast Minneapolis’ newest venue and it couldn’t be more perfect for small celebrations.
Immersed in natural light and 1920s industrial beauty, The Whim is a design-ready space of sweeping white brick and elevated timber ceilings allowing you complete freedom to curate the tiny wedding of your dreams. If the weather is nice, you can utilize their beautiful outdoor patio before moving guests inside to the front of the space which features a gorgeous nook with a built in bookshelf to display photos or flowers or whatever you want. Set up the ceremony against the wall of windows for an intensely beautiful backdrop. You could do an entire small wedding in just the front of the space, with their curtains blocking off the back. Of course you can also open the curtains to reveal a second set up, perhaps dinner and dancing. Their hidden basement speakeasy space provides another fun element for you.
Want to get mini-married here? We have an October date for you already planned!
Quincy Hall
Photos by Cadence & Eli
Quincy Hall is the latest venue to arrive on the scene and we LOVE it. Located in Northeast Minneapolis, this cool, eclectic, and industrial space has soaring 40’ vaulted ceilings, expansive windows, and open floorplan making it ideal for weddings of 10 to 1,000. It boasts a lot of great amenities including free parking.
The space can easily be divided with their curtains and gray wooden rolling walls, which is ideal for creating distinct, intimate spaces for the various aspects of the wedding day. Have your ceremony close to the entrance with all big windows and natural light, then move to another area close to the beautiful built in bar for social hour, then a final space for dinner. The options are endless for you to create your own custom flow throughout the venue.
Photos by Lucas Botz Photography
At first glance this cool brick and timber, loft-style venue in Northeast Minneapolis seems like one big room, but it divides itself into smaller areas naturally. As guests get off the elevator, they can head to their left. The ceremony can be set up two different ways, depending on preference and guest count. A micro wedding of 30 or less could do the whole wedding on this side of the space, taking advantage of the built-in bar and soft natural light.
If your guests go to the right, there is a small room with a sideboard that belonged to Johnny Cash and more beautiful space. Set up the ceremony against the dark gray wall with your mingling and seating off to the side near the windows. Of course you can use the whole space in the same manner, having the ceremony and social hour on one side and the dinner (and dancing) on the other.
Planning your small wedding in Minnesota
If you’re considering a small wedding in Minnesota or Minneapolis, but you don't know what kind of small wedding is right for you, check out our handy flowchart.
Small weddings are our jam. We would love to craft a truly original, intimate, and personal experience for you and your short list of guests. Spring, summer, winter, fall—small weddings are for any season.
Consider a Micro Wedding Package
Looking for a simple and stylish small wedding that requires almost zero work on your part? Then you should check out Minne Weddings.
Minne Weddings are all the awesome parts of a wedding without all the stuff you don’t want. Planned by top Minneapolis wedding planners Rocket Science Events (that’s us!), we provide the wedding venue, officiant, planning, design, flowers and decor, photography, rentals, and more.
Welcome to the new way to wed.