St. James Hotel - Est. 1875 -

d and absolutely fell in love with the ambiance and amenities. Shelly, event manager, worked with me every step of the way, and made planning a wedding in just four months a breeze. The prices are slightly higher than other venues in the area, but the amenities that accompany it are what makes it worth it. Having almost everything in one place was amazing, especially for a couple that just wanted to get married and have a fun party and not stress about all the details and correlating multiple vendors. We loved the venue so much we spread everything out to utilize as many rooms as possible! We were able to enjoy Jimmys Bar for our Rehearsal/Grooms Dinner and Social Hour, the Port Side Room for Ceremony and Reception, as well as Scarletts and the Port. We also utilized the Bride and Grooms Ready Rooms (Hamline Suite and Billiard Room). Our guests have not stopped complimenting the food, their guest rooms and really the overall experience, as it was exactly that, an overall experience. Our suite was amazing and made us feel so special for our big day. There were some strict rules, but despite my crew being a fun bunch, we had no issues. I would just recommend having those conversation with people ahead of time. We had an absolutely amazing time and would hands down book this venue if we had to do it all over again.

tes and the ceremony/reception in the Summit room. We worked with Daniel during the planning process and he was always accessible for questions and wasnt shy about sharing his opinion (which I found very helpful). The staff were great to work with on our wedding weekend and were always accessible. Our guests loved the Summit room and the food! I recommend using their preferred vendors list to ensure your day is smooth. They also really like you to follow their rules so make sure your group can behave! Overall great experience and cant wait to come back!

the St James, it was wonderful to see how everyone enjoyed the space- from the Port bar at the end of each evening to the morning time with breakfast at the Scarlet Kitchen the morning of the Wedding- we just loved how the St James was our home for the wedding celebration. Working with Daniel to coordinate our events was easy and he was very responsive and communicative. The staff for our events in both the historic lobby and adjoining rooms for the rehearsal dinner along with the Laurentine room for our day after Brunch were top notch- making the events run so smoothly and seamlessly - and our guests cannot stop talking about the amazing food that was enjoyed at both events as well. The Brinner brunch option was a real winner - and a real treat to cap off the wonderful celebration of marriage for Sydney and Sam. We look forward to our next stay at the St James and highly recommend it to others for their Wedding or special occasion. It's truly a special place.

inner, and reception were beautiful and the staff was attentive and helpful.

for our cocktail hour and the Summit Room for our reception. Our guests had so much fun seeing the hotel and those that spent the night truly enjoyed their rooms. Our guest also mentioned how our food was the best wedding food they have ever had! (it was very, very good!) We were so happy to work with Daniel during our wedding planning. He is seriously the best! He knows his stuff and does everything he can to help make your day exactly what you want. He is also a great tie breaker when you are both stubborn, or has a great new idea to add. He was professional but also fun and got back to us in a timely manner. The other staff at the hotel were just as amazing! We got married during the blizzard on December 22nd 2022 and the staff at the St James Hotel STAYED the night to make sure they could be there for our wedding. This meant so much to us and I think that alone should show you how committed they are to making sure you have the best wedding day! Book with the St James we promise you will not regret it. While you are there utilize River Blu Salon for your hair and make up needs and Clementine Flowers for your floral needs. It was fantastic having both on site! We loved our wedding day even if it was a blizzard! So check out the St James and while you're there tell Daniel, "Hi" from us! (Jared, Katie and Kenny too!)

so stayed at the hotel for several days. When looking for a venue, we were on the hunt for an all-inclusive location. Agonizing over room layouts or centerpieces and coordinating across multiple vendors was not something we were willing to do. The St. James gave us just enough options to make it feel personalized without being overwhelming. Their list of recommended vendors was very thorough and we chose our officiant, DJ, and photographer from that list. We walked out of this hotel planning our anniversary return trip. If history, small-town charm, and an all-inclusive format is what you're looking for, this is the place to go. Food/Catering: Our guests were raving about the reception dinner for days afterward. We had a plated dinner service as part of the package and every step was flawless. From the timing of the courses, presentation of the dishes, and flavor (don't mess with a classic, the Minnesota Pot Roast is where it's at), the staff killed it. Many thanks to Amy Zerwas, who was the genius behind our cookie bar and three-tiered cookie-disguised-as-a wedding cake. Also, many locals we talked to in town highly recommended: "Amy's Pretzel and Beer Cheese" (served at the hotel's restaurant Scarlet). Even if you don't get married here, have a meal at the Scarlet. My wedding party did…several times. I lost track of the number of pretzels we ordered over the course of 3 days. Ceremony/Reception Space: The St. James is a historic hotel for a reason. We got married in their original Victorian Library, Lobby, and Dining Room. You don't need extra décor or flowers in a space like that. The photos online don't do it justice. Additional Services: Don't hesitate, to reserve the ready rooms. Ever traveled with a group and tried to hang out/make plans in one person's cramped hotel room? The St. James offers a Bridal Ready Room and a Groom's Ready Room which you can reserve for the day of your wedding. These are large suite-like rooms that have plenty of seating, a private bathroom, mini kitchen, and (in the groom's room) a pool table, darts, and TVs. These rooms kept everything organized and people together on the day of the wedding. You can also have breakfast/lunch catered for the rooms, and my god was that worth it too. Accommodations: The rooms fit the hotel's overall aesthetic…they're beautifully old world and you feel like you've been transported to another era. Clean, cozy beds and the steamboat theme is adorable. Staff: Everyone at the hotel was kind, welcoming, and helpful. There was another larger wedding occurring at the same time as ours in a different part of the hotel but had the wedding coordinator, Daniel Holtz, not warned us about it, I never would've guessed. Daniel checked in with us consistently throughout the day and made sure all the smaller details and last-minute changes were handled. Despite having to reschedule our original wedding date, planning the event was seamless. Location: If there's one thing to give you pause, it's the location. Red Wing is about an hour south of Minneapolis so if you're flying in, transportation needs to be considered a little more carefully; however, the town has plenty to do and you should give yourself at least a day on the front and back end to walk around the historic downtown.

as soon as we showed up on wedding day, we felt like we were in such good hands. Everything is absolutely beautiful and no stone is left unturned. Working with the Clementine Flowers and having the availability of the salon right in the hotel itself was just another added perk. All of our guests raved about how lovely the venue was. We would definitely recommend them to anyone planning a wedding!

ur contract, and by the end, our final total was over $5000 MORE than we had planned due to "Taxes and Fees" and some hidden costs. I know that is normal to an extent, but it was surprising nonetheless, and really put a damper on the last leg of wedding planning. The hotel was also going through a time of turnover, so three separate people handled our wedding and it was challenging throughout the process to get ahold of employees, even for simple things like accommodations. Our food was INCREDIBLE! We had the pot roast and chicken parmesan and had several comments from guests at the wedding and after about the quality of the food.

ed the in-house florist, Clementine, so I was able to see my flowers as I drank my morning coffee. The baker was also onsite. They have ready rooms set up for bridal parties of all sizes. The food, the hotel’s historical, and view of the river from the summit room venue were a huge hits with all of the guests. I highly recommend this venue to anyone for any event!

just a wedding! All was amazing.

taff. The space is just perfect for getting some great shots with photographers as well. We will for sure be back to the St. James in the future.

side was there wasn't always perfectly smooth communication. The portal for payment didn't work very well, as we didn't get half of the payment invoices when we were supposed to. Sometimes responses took a week to some of our questions, and the day before the wedding the onsite staff didn't know we had asked for a room to be locked with our stuff, but it was all ultimately taken care of.

the floor to ceiling wrap around windows make it stunning. We loved being able to have the hotel be a one stop place for a lot of our day. Hair, makeup, ready rooms, photo spaces, rooms for the night, etc. Our guests were always commenting on how nice of a venue it was. The food was also extremely delicious, and I am still dreaming of it! The wedding manager was fairly easy to work and kept us updated on any changes and upcoming deadlines, but with the stress of getting details worked out, questions answered, payments submitted, and vendors coordinated, I wish communication responses were more timely. Details were not missed though and each point I had a question about would be addressed, just not as timely as I would have liked. All of the hotel staff were so professional and wonderful, though some of my family did have trouble with the reception staff. Things were worked out, but I feel it was a headache that could have been approached a different way and avoided. Overall, I would certainly recommend the St. James Hotel as a wedding venue for any couple looking!

ive venue made the planning process much less stressful and Abby and the banquet staff were awesome to work with! The only thing I wish had been a little better was communication during the planning process, but it’s hard to blame them when they have so many weddings going on. I highly recommend the St. James overall!

d 100% recommend the St James!

elt like everyone was incredibly patient, flexible, and experienced. The food was AMAZING and with so many venue spaces we felt like we had so many options for our ceremony and reception. Despite getting married when COVID regulations were constantly changing, Abby (the event planner) did an amazing job of keeping us in the loop and always coming up with a solution when things changed. An awesome perk was that our loved ones LOVED exploring the hotel and Red Wing during our wedding weekend!

ur micro wedding. Everywhere you look, there's perfect photo opportunities both inside and outside of the hotel. It was awesome having everything we needed conveniently located right in the hotel (ceremony/reception spaces, catering, floral shop, salon, baker). It was definitely a weekend we'll never forget. Thank you, Abby and St. James Hotel staff!

remotely. The king flat was the perfect addition to our trip and the Laurentine room the perfect venue. The wait staff during the rehearsal was incredibly good.

, block of rooms for guests all in one location. The food was amazing and we heard high praise from all our guests. The staff was so polite and helpful. We could not have imagined a better location for our wedding!

its you. The staff is super friendly and professional, the service and menu for the event were amazing, Seriously cannot stop thinking about the Chicken Brie de Meaux I had for dinner. For sure the best dinner entrée in the Micro wedding package. Everything was great honestly, amazing experience. A special shoutout to the St James Hotel's wedding planner Abby and the entire staff for accommodating all of our very last minute requests to make our special day an unforgettable one! thank you! 100% one of the best experiences ever. Highly recommended!

he Summit room. The banquet manager Kate was wonderful to work with. She made sure everything was perfect for the day. She helped with the audio and made recommendations on items to be set up. The food was AMAZING!! We had so many compliments on the wild rice soup and the wine. Thank you to everyone at the St. James that helped make my daughter's as wonderful as it could be during the pandemic.

were blown away by the beauty and charm of this historic Red Wing hotel. Not only were there beautiful reception rooms, but those rooms were easily transformed into amazing ceremony locations, which was also on the top of our list (an indoor ceremony at the same venue). Abby Hanson was our Wedding Manager from the hotel and she was so great to work with. She was prompt with answering emails and phone calls and usually answered our questions before we even knew we had them. They have a convenient event order form that gets filled out gradually as you get closer to the big day and that was super helpful to keep track of what still needed to be done. We got a block of 20 rooms at the St. James and the whole weekend was centered there, which was so fun for our friends and family! We had the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner the night before also at the St. James, and guests visited the bars in the hotel while our ceremony room was being flipped for the reception. Then we had brunch at one of the restaurants on Sunday morning. The St. James caters all of its events and we were very pleased with the food choices. We got a lot of compliments on the dinner options we chose. Plus, that was one less vendor we had to deal with. Overall, we are so glad we chose the St. James to be the venue for our wedding weekend-it was an amazing experience and we will definitely be back!

r our anniversary!

went off without any issues and many of our guests came up and told us it was the best wedding they've ever been to, and many said it was the best wedding food they've ever had. We also had the River Blu SPA inside the hotel do hair and make up and that was just so convenient. They also did such a beautiful job. I would highly recommend them. I can't thank you enough for exceeding all of our expectations. We wanted to give our daughter her dream wedding and we wanted our guests to feel welcomed, well fed and entertained. It was all that and more!

eception and dance at the St. James and working with Abby Hanson and her team made everything very easy and fun. We used outside vendors as well as those within the St. James (Clementine's and River Blu Salon) and it all came together wonderfully. Finally, I cannot overstate how charming the reception area, the rooms and the entire facility is.

1 year engagement anniversary -- and that's when we knew we wanted our wedding here. There is so much history and beauty surrounding you, it is mesmerizing. The hotel's wedding coordinator, Abby Hanson, is fantastic. Planning with her was so easy, she's very organized and responsive -- she knows what she's doing and does it well. We held our ceremony in the Victorian Dining Room and had our reception in the beautiful Summit room. The view is breathtaking. Our guests could not stop talking about the food, they're still raving over Chef Sarah's pot roast! Everyone enjoyed their stay, the beautiful rooms, and all of the restaurants the hotel has to offer. Everything about our wedding day was perfect, and we owe it all to the staff at the St. James Hotel. I highly recommend this place for any event! Until next time! Love, Jordan and Alex

multiple compliments from guests). The historic wing had a romantic set up. The wait staff was incredibly kind, helpful, smooth, and on top of their game. The venue itself had very reasonable pricing (especially compared to the pricing in the twin cities) and included a suite stay with a jacuzzi and a couple other gifts for us. The hotel itself has multiple restaurants in it so it's good for celebrating the night before the wedding and the morning after. We would highly recommend the St. James Hotel to anyone looking for a cozy romantic spot!

tbeat. Since we decided on a winter wedding, we wanted everything to be as convenient as possible and I think the St. James provided that with the ceremony, hotel, and reception being in the same building with easy access to a florist and salon as well. The food was incredible and Abby and her staff were with us every step of the way to make sure it went perfectly.

re but I would do you a disservice if I said too much more than, just go see it and talk to them! You want to experience it for yourself. I'm sure that you will find the St. James to be absolutely fantastic. The hotel is kept up beautifully, the history is rich and the details magnificent. The diversity of spaces for your wedding cannot be matched, whether it is the gorgeous Historic Wing with library and fireplace, the intimate Laurentine, or the majestic Summit with spectacular river views, such big windows! Go see the Summit room! Go visit the St. James Hotel! I'm sure it will either become your venue or set the bar for your search and you will be so glad you went. A few details about our wedding: January 13th, 2019- Sunday Brunch Wedding. We used the Historic, Laurentine, and Summit and were delighted with all three spaces. The food was excellent. The staff was great. And the prices were fair, especially for a winter, Sunday, brunch wedding. I said I wouldn't say too much but it is easy to get carried away when speaking about the St. James Hotel. Thank you St. James Hotel! Daniel & April

ar surpassed any of my expectations. The hotel was decorated beautifully for the holiday season and we were able to capture some pretty stellar bride and groom pictures in the historic library. The summit room offers a spectacular view of the Mississippi River Valley. This view cannot be beat! The wedding manager (Abby) was fantastic to work with and responded to our emails very quickly. The food is prepared at the St. James and was delicious. I highly recommend the pot roast! The banquet staff was professional and polite, too. There's no need to look anywhere else for your reception - you will not be disappointed!

lace. The views from the summit room are to die for, especially at sunset. The food was amazing, and we heard from every guest how much the loved the venue and the food. Abby was an amazing help and was always available to answer all of our questions. Wish I could do it all over again. And the little touches around the hotel when it is your wedding was amazing (don't want to spoil it). and to top it off, there is a salon in the hotel that took care of my entire wedding party with NO problems and we all looked amazing!

the beauty, the service was the best. Abby Hanson was our wedding coordinator (part of the deal when we booked), and she was there for us every step of the way, from helping us choose our food, to reserving rooms for our guests, and being available on the big day to keep things running on track. We received a free suite on the wedding night and it was filled with beautiful gifts upon entering. If you want a wedding that is self-contained, go to the St. James. Your guests will thank you when they don't have to drive anywhere after the ceremony or reception. I will never forget that day and the St. James made it everything I hoped and dreamed for!

above and beyond the call of duty to help us make our wedding a beautiful and joyful celebration. The venue is gorgeous, there is ample free parking for guests, the hotel rooms are beautiful, and the food is delicious. Abby Hanson (the wedding sales manager) worked closely with us from day one to give us a seamless, stress-free wedding planning experience. I would recommend this venue to anyone who wants an amazing value and a perfect, beautiful, stress-free wedding.

special and fun! We appreciated her dedication to our day up to and on the day of. Food, flowers, hair, make up and nails all done on site and with no regrets. Huge shout out to Allison at Clementine for her exceptional dedication and passion to her craft. Heads up for those thinking about doing a wedding brunch, opt for buffet as our continental was composed of little, and too few pasteries. The fruit was fresh however ran out as well. Also, we held out ceremony outside near the river which was really the icing on the cake. Good local, service and accommodations. Thank you!

s helpful and professional. We loved every minute of it!

r a great experience for our guests. The food was outstanding (Minnesota Pot Roast, pasta primavera & Tuscan chicken) and the venue warm, friendly, and inviting. The view of the Mississippi from the Summit Room can't be beat. Highly recommended! Excellent experience all around.

smoothly executed. My wife and I felt so taken care of, our guests had nothing but fantastic comments about the venue and the staff. The food was delicious and the atmosphere was stunning. I would 100% recommend the St. James to any couple looking for a classic, scenic and veteran group of wedding staff.

rything in one place with an outdoors ceremony and indoor reception. When I first got info on the St. James, I thought it was too good to be true. It met all of our criteria (we did out ceremony in the park behind the St. James) and was in our price range. I figured there had to be a catch but there wasn't! It was seriously PERFECT! They were incredible to work with throughout the process. They responded promptly to our many questions and helped us every step of the way. The work we had to do for set up and tear down was minimal and they provided pretty much all of the basics that many other DIY venues lacked like china, linens, tables, easels, etc. Instead of being a generic hotel ballroom though, this hotel has so much character! As soon as I walked in and saw the view of the river from the Summit Room, I knew we had to get married there. We loved that everything was under one roof- getting ready, our florist (Clementine is the best!), the hotel for the guests and our complimentary honeymoon suite. It made logistics so much easier! The staff was all so helpful and attentive. They really went out of their way and wowed us with little surprises along the way. Our families and guests were so impressed! The food was absolutely incredible! We did tacos and had mac and cheese bites for late night snacks- sooooo good! The only problem we ran into was that we ran out of hotel rooms in our block, the St. James and every hotel in all of Red Wing for our date (Sept 16). If you are getting married in the fall, book LOTS of rooms way ahead of time to ensure all of your guests have accommodations. The St. James is a small boutique hotel that has a lot of charm and fills up fast. We couldn't imagine getting married anywhere else. Definitely go with the St. James! You won't regret it :)

he Summit Room, and both spaces were gorgeous. The staff were all friendly and accommodating, and the wedding coordinator, Abby, was so great to work with. The price was so reasonable, and it was a great getaway weekend for our guests. We stayed at the hotel, used the salon downstairs to get ready and got our flowers from the shop in the hotel - all in one spot, it couldn’t have been easier or more perfect!! So grateful to the St James for making our wedding an absolutely dream!

imes within 2-3hrs. She is knowledgable and friendly. The venue is gorgeous and recently updated! Great price too! The catering staff goes above and beyond to make sure that you and your guests are well taken care of. The waiters/waitresses were constantly asking us how it was going and complementing us on our big day! My parents even noticed how tentative the staff was! Thank you so much for making our big day special!

guests loved it!