Graduate Minneapolis

nal throughout the entire planning process. The food and bar were great from the appetizers all the way to late night snacks. We received many compliments on how helpful and friendly the staff were the entire night. And the hotel was a beautiful setting for pictures!

everyone. We worked with Michael W. and he was very helpful throughout the entire process. We had a couple of hiccups but Michael was able to get things squared for us. All in all we had a great experience and so did our guests. I would highly recommend.

el the event planner was amazing. He was so helpful in making sure everything was set and perfect for out day. Michael worked with our vendors to schedule deliveries, he set up a multiple personalized requests for the day and made the planning experience enjoyable. I would recommend The Graduate for any event and for a fun stay in the heart of the beautiful U of MN campus.

I have stayed at many times over the years) did wedding packages, I was thrilled. I knew that I wanted to book a venue that would let us do both the ceremony and reception in the same space. What you get depends on which package you choose, but catering, flatware, linens, tables, chairs, alcohol, servers, bartenders, and honestly some things I'm forgetting about are all included and at a surprisingly reasonable price. And Michael, the catering and events director, could not be more lovely to work with. He far exceeded our expectations and made every step go smoothly. It's just an added perk that your guests can also stay at the venue.

d to plan everything out in 50 days and we didn't have a ceremonialist. He helped us with a timeline, tables diagram, menu and bar options and let us decorate in the way we wanted. Amanda was also very helpful with decoration and in the day itself. The guests really liked the place and we could take awesome photos around campus. I highly recommend this place for the organizational skills of the employees, cleanliness, and location.

s let us know the newest information and how it would impact our reception. They made everything really easy and made sure we didn't overlook even the smallest detail. Michael was extremely helpful through the whole process. He was always there to answer our questions in a very timely manner and kept track of our many, many changes during planning. After all of the planning we did, we were stunned at how great the ballroom looked and how smoothly the day went. Our guests were in love with the uniqueness of the ballroom and had a great experience with the hotel side of things as well.

easy to work with leading up to our wedding. Initially, we looked at several venues, but the Event Director, Michael Wicinski, won us over on The Graduate. He was absolutely wonderful to work with and helped us through all the details to make sure our big day was everything we could have asked for. Michael continued to blow us out of the water with his warmth, excellent customer service, meticulous organization and detail orientation. He made our wedding planning stress free. Our wedding was biking-themed, and The Graduate made sure we had a bike as part of our decor as well as for our photos. They definitely went above and beyond, and we couldn't be more happy with how our wedding reception turned out. We HIGHLY recommend anyone to have The Graduate as their wedding venue!

aking that process very easy and as stress free as possible. Every step of the way, they were great in communicating with us the current guidelines and trying to make the wedding as great as they could. When it came to day of, the service staff was very nice and helpful and the food was great! Would highly recommend this venue as they could not have been better to work with, especially during the stressful year that was 2020.

100 guests in the Meridian Ballroom, spread out into 24 tables. Even tho it was a covid wedding it was still the best day and thankfully no one got sick. I would recommend The Graduate to any couple considering it. Things that were important to me- centrally located for guests all over the twin cities, and can get ready, take pictures, get coffee, get lunch, get a beer, have your ceremony, and reception, and sleep all without getting in your car. The other major pro: the team at the graduate. From checking in to the hotel, working with Marisa during the whole planning-during-a-pandemic, to the actual catering team the day of, everyone was so great, helpful, and positive.

of Michael, the Director of Catering and Events. He went above and beyond and made the process fun and easy! Our wedding was in February so everyone loved the convenience of being at the hotel for both the ceremony and reception while having the option to stay the night. The hotel accommodations were incredible. We loved the restaurant (The Beacon), Starbucks, the Top golf suite (where we had our rehearsal dinner- so fun!), the amazing hotel rooms, rooms available for storage, and the expansive event space, which was large enough for our band. We had so many compliments about the food- so good! We were also able to host a brunch the morning after for our out of town guests. If we could do it all over again, we truly wouldn’t change a thing! The ambience of the Graduate Hotel, the accommodating staff, and all of the amazing details make it a one of a kind wedding venue that we highly recommend!

the serving staff were very attentive and respectful. We thought the value was amazing for the quality of our event.

s was explained very well along with what they would recommend us based on our situation. Graduate was great on communication and answering all our questions that led up to the night. Graduate was great at reminding us about information that was on a time sensitive schedule. The night of it wedding, the staff were always around asking if there was anything they could do for us without being intruding. Graduate made marriage planning a lot easier for us. I would recommend Graduate to anyone who is in need of a place for all or part of their wedding.

il oriented, timely, and great communicators throughout. The Pinnacle Ballroom was the perfect choice for our intimate ceremony and cozy reception. Michael was the greatest coordinator to work with. He partnered with all the hotel preferred vendors I hired leading up to our event to make sure nothing was left out. The food was definitely the main attraction for several of our guests, the portions, dishes, and variety they offer is outstanding. Our wedding weekend was absolutely flawless, and we are still getting rave reviews from all our family and friends who attended.

I really can't praise them enough. Incredible value for the price point too. Very very happy we went with them for our wedding venue!

st them. We also had our rehearsal dinner in the Top Golf Suite, and it was a casual, fun balance to an elegant reception dinner the next day.

ed, thank you graduate!!

t balance of all things--the chef is amazing and is willing to work with you to adjust your menu to provide culturally inspired dishes they may not typically serve, though we ended up selecting food from the menu. We are shameless foodies and everything was delicious. Everyone we worked with at the Graduate made the planning process easy, though of course the MVP was Michael, the director of catering and events, who we were lucky enough to work with to plan our wedding. He was always responsive and a total pro--he thought of everything and made sure everything was prepared for the day of. He even found Pisco (a very important Peruvian liqour) and worked with the kitchen to make a hosted cocktail during our cocktail hour. Our event took place in the Meridian ballroom and it is a beautiful enough space that it doesn't need much sprucing up (which was huge for me and my miserly budget). There is also an outdoor patio, which was an awesome way to spend some of the event/evening outside while also not having to depend on good weather to make our break your event. The Graduate staff does a lot to show you what they can do with the space--there was an opportunity to see the event space set up with different options and meet their suggested vendors. Though we ended up going with different vendors, it was a great chance to see the space, try some of the food, and pick the brains of everyone there with the many questions my mom and grandma had. :) We are a Minnesotan-Peruvian couple--let's just say that dinner was served a bit later than Minnesotans typically eat and the serving staff was cognizant of the fact that the kids were getting peckish. They brought out some of their food a little bit early. Essentially, I could not say enough good things about this venue and the wonderful people behind making your wedding day the way you want it to be.

of the staff are extremely responsive and go above and beyond to make sure that your wishes are met and your event goes smoothly. A must see!

able. They allowed us to bring welcome bags to pass out to our guests, which was appreciated! They block price was very affordable and their amenities are very nice!

eeper and you interact and get to know the people who work here. Michael and team at the Graduate were phenomenal to work with from our first connection all the way through the day of, and even afterwards. They took care of us and our guests like we were family. Michael even covertly fluffed my train for my walk down the aisle. I'll admit I was apprehensive about having a ceremony in a hotel initially, but now that we've experienced it, we wouldn't have done it any other way. Our friends and family raved about how meaningful the ceremony felt, and how welcoming the venue was in terms of decor, amenities, space, service, and convenience. We'd be remiss if we didn't mention the other shining star, the food. Chef-designed meals, quality service, and the convenience of pairing catering with the venue; a well-oiled machine. Our guests appreciated the familiarity / proximity to campus venues they've visited before (e.g. knew where to park), and enjoyed having the ceremony, cocktail hour, reception, and accommodations all in one spot. Our guests with special dietary and accessibility needs felt right at home. We had plenty of instagram-able photo ops and we were within walking distance of many beautiful outdoor photo spots (Armory, Scholar's Walk, etc.). Can't really say enough about how fortunate we feel to have held our special day here.

ils/finishes (it's been newly renovated) and food were all top-notch. We would HIGHLY recommend it to anyone consider a wedding in the Twin Cities area. Michael and his team were very attentive and accommodating for all of our requests throughout the entire weekend (even those that came in last minute). We held our ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception here. I/we cannot stress enough the value of having everything in one location, and all things coordinated through a single point of contact (as opposed to separate vendors and coordinators). It made the entire process so much simpler than I imagine it would have been otherwise. A couple extra perks: - Incredibly convenient/accessible central location, yet not right in the middle of either of the downtowns, making it very easy to get to/from. - The hotel rooms; every one of our guests that spent the night commented on how much they loved the hotel (and staff). Its unique decor is truly one of kind and quite memorable (in a good way). - Large venue; We had 230 guests, and were still able to have a large dance floor without relocating tables after dinner. It would have fit plenty more people comfortably, and given the room partitioning possibilities, it would allow such that a smaller event would feel very intimate as well.

experience from start to finish was just fun at this venue! From our food/wine tasting, to the constant communication with any updates and reminders, to the decor, ceremony, reception, and an awesome bridal suite! Everything was just a flawless process with this beautiful Minnesotan hotel! I would have our wedding there again in a heartbeat!!! Thank you Graduate Minneapolis!

g a bride wants to worry about on her big day is venue issues. Michael and his staff went above and beyond on fulfilling our needs and wants. I felt like I had nothing to worry about from the moment we started working together. The venue was perfect, the food (we chose a buffet) was spectacular, the staff was friendly and

where else!! I would recommend this hotel to anyone and everyone looking for an amazing hotel experience for your wedding!! You truly will have the best day ever!

nd on schedule. Having our wedding at the Graduate was a great decision and we, and our guests, had wonderful times.

food and the balcony off of the ballroom was an extra little perk. It was easily accessible for our nearly 60 out of town guests.

lly great! The location of the ballroom was great and the ballroom itself was beautiful, giving our guests the option to be inside or outside on the patio. It worked out really well for a Minnesota summer! Made our day really special!

happier with how everything went. Working with Michael and the rest of the hotel staff was fantastic, the food was great, and the recent updates to the entire hotel really added to the feel of our wedding. - Liz & Hunter

reat state, Minnesota. On the day of our wedding, we walked across the head table stage and received the best day of our lives. (Better than a diploma) :) Working with Michael, Connor and Andrew was seamless. They went out of their way to do everything they could to make all our wedding-day-dreams come true. Here's what our guests said about their experience at the hotel that made my husband and I proud of Michael's team, and all the hotel staff who served our guests: "I never leave reviews for anything but I'm leaving a review for the Graduate. Best service I've had at a hotel in a very long time!" -- "The beef you served literally fell apart. Best wedding food I've EVER had!" -- "Your wedding was at the coolest hotel I've ever stayed in. We LOVED the unique Minnesota design and for that reason, your wedding was truly one-of-a-kind!" Beautiful space, amazing staff, delicious food, world-class service and all centered around Minnesota. Every bride deserves this kind of experience for their guests. You can't find all of these amazing characteristics anywhere else. If you're looking to give your guests the BEST Minnesota wedding experience, contact Michael and his team so they can show you the space and help you paint your wedding day picture with their BRILLIANT and unique brush. Every stroke on your wedding day will be PERFECT! From the bottom of our hearts, thank you Michael, Connor, Andrew and all of your hotel’s staff for giving us the wedding night of our dreams...and truly...so much more. -Kassie & Jake

the Graduate made everything run smoothly!! Graduate Minneapolis has an elegant touch and it is beyond beautiful!!!! Our reception was perfect and we are so glad we chose Graduate Minneapolis!!

tlyn was great. The hotel was renovated a few months prior to the wedding and the quaint, Minnesota-themed changes were cute. We used two of the suites for the wedding party to get ready on the wedding day which was very convenient (though they could not confirm early check-in until the morning of). We also utilized the shuttle service to transport guests to/from a few wedding events. I am not aware of any major concerns from our guests.

ie-cutter feel. It was perfect for our style and what we were looking for, plus much more reasonable than other venues we had toured! Kyle Heidelberger and the entire staff of the Commons were accommodating, open, fun, and helpful throughout the entire planning process and during the day itself. When we wanted to setup an oil and vinegar tasting station, Kyle worked with the banquet staff to make it happen. In addition, the food was AHHHMAZING. Tyler Malson delivered an incredible meal for our guests and even customized the menu to include one of my favorite dishes, Maple Glazed Pork, that wasn't on the original banquet menu! People are still telling us how great the food was -- and how much they loved the venue. If you are looking for a friendly, fun-loving, open, accommodating, and one-of-a-kind venue that doesn't make you feel like you are just another bride/groom, this is YOUR PLACE.

I am living in Las Vegas and planned a wedding in 5 months to be at the Commons Hotel in the Pinnacle room. We had an incredible time! Everything went smoothly, and I ended up right at my budget! I also appreciated that they had lowered rates so that out of town family could easily find rooms. The food was fantastic, the flow of the night went smoothly, and everyone said this was one of the best weddings they had been too! I was even impressed that due to unforeseen lobby construction, Kyle cut some of our costs to accommodate the circumstances. He has great customer service abilities, and I would highly recommend him to anyone who is looking for an affordable and classy wedding. Great job, Kyle!

. During the planning process, every email I sent was responded to quickly, and their manager Kyle always went above and beyond to answer my questions and to help us plan our event. The weekend of our wedding, we stayed at The Commons Friday through Sunday and could not have received better treatment. Every staff member I dealt with, especially during our event, was kind, attentive, and went above and beyond to ensure that we were having the best day ever! We received nothing but compliments and rave reviews from all of our guests on the food, venue, and service!

ess then half way through the planning process with them. We were worried to have someone new coming in and our worries were quickly put to rest. Kyle is so responsive and goes up and beyond of his job description to make sure the day goes as exactly as envisioned and smoothly. He was more than willing to meet at the hotel as many times as I/my Mother : ) wanted and emailed back and forth with me as many times as I needed (Included basically everyday for the two weeks prior to the wedding). And there were a lot of emails from me. Kyle is a great guy, he made the process feel very tailored to us and became a friend in the end of this all.

ff, was the best! Always attentive, replied promptly, and truly went above and beyond the call of duty.....picking up the chair covers at a relatives home, getting supplies at the CVS on the wedding day in his nice suit, and providing a lovely large room (with coffee) for the bridal party to get themselves ready for the afternoon wedding. He also worked with us throughout the planning process to keep the cost down, which I really appreciated. We also planned the whole event from Las Vegas, where the bride to be lived and from CA where I live. In regards to the staff, they were all extremely helpful and accommodating! We had about 35 out of town guests from all over the country and all of our guests were very happy with the accommodations. Our VIP suite had two bathrooms, a large seating area and a bar area with lots of shelves behind the bar that held all of the wedding "stuff". Lots of space! We can't me more pleased with the reception venue and the hotel. I just wish I had another excuse to visit Minnesota so that we can stay at the Commons again!

expectations we had. While the hotel was busy the entire weekend, the hotel staff made us feel like we were the only ones there. We also made reservations at the Beacon Restaurant for a happy hour between our wedding ceremony and reception. The food and service we received were top-notch! (I received a text 2 weeks after the wedding from a bridesmaid still talking about the food we ordered at Beacon-- to die for!) Thank you to everyone (especially Melissa) adding to our wedding day! I would highly recommend The Commons Hotel to anyone looking for a wedding venue or just a hotel option for their wedding day!

ling to assist or help very much at all. I think it was a bit pricey for what we truly got. It felt like we were being nickle and dimed for a lot of little things and felt very unnecessary. The food was SPECTACULAR! I was so thrilled with how high quality the food was and how much food we got, doesn't normally happen with banquet halls. Althohugh I was pretty frustrated that as the bride the hotel staff took my dinner away before I had more than 2 bites, aka I didnt get to eat my $70 steak. The large ballroom with foyer area and outdoor patio was a huge hit with our guests and provided a lot of room to walk around. I was disappointed that she didn't offer us better room block rates as 90% of our guests were from out of town. Because of this we had many people stay at other hotels, which in the end is a loss of revenue for them. The hotel staff working the event (besides Brenda) were great. Kang (the lead banquet manager or something like that) was absolutely phenomenal. He went above and beyond to make our day wonderful and was so incredibly helpful to all of my family and friends that asked anything of him. I would say if you are looking to book this venue, ask if you can work with someone besides Brenda. I think the venue is beautiful with a great location and for a decent price but Brenda was very difficult to work with and I wouldn't ever work with her again. I would suggest to The Commons that you are more flexible with your receptions and really work with the bride and groom, after all we are giving you 20K in revenue and let's face it, there are 100s of other places we could have chosen right in Minneapolis. Best of luck Brides-to-be!

onsive to our requests and questions. Our guests loved the food and variety of the menu. We also had a lot of out-of-town guests, but it was easy for them to stay at the Commons due to location on the green line and proximity to Minneapolis & St Paul. We loved the laid-back vibe of the hotel and our guests loved hanging out on the outdoor patio adjacent to the ballroom. I was reluctant to hold our reception in a hotel generally, but the Commons had great character and style.

say how absolutely wonderful she was. If there ever was a perfect place to have a wedding ceremony and reception, this is the place. Everything went smoothly. The food was amazing. The staff were helpful. Everything you could imagine for your day. This is the place!

ails and calls. The hotel itself is so chic and the rooms are beautifully decorated! We have gotten so many compliments on the food and the service staff and we couldn't have been more happy with this place! Definitely recommend!!