Dream weddings on historic Summit Avenue.
101 to 150 guests
Holds ceremonies and receptions
David McLaughlin
OWNER
Typically responds within 24h
AWARD WINNER (12X)
Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot
Dream weddings at a historic St. Paul mansion This dignified stone mansion provide a gracious inviting atmosphere for the reception you and your guests will always remember. A courteous staff relieves you of all responsibility so you can enjoy the day with your guests. The unique mansion style reception is the perfect location for those who want something different for their special day.
Summit Manor is an elegant yet comfortable setting with beautiful grounds for you and your guests to enjoy. We provide a complete reception service including the use of the Mansion, complete catering service, centerpieces, linens, silver service, dance floor, beautiful grounds, bar facilities... everything you will need for your perfect day.
For fastest service please call 651-387-3283
SummitManor.com
ElopeinStPaul.com
Pricing details
Starting prices
Reception:
Contact for price
Ceremony:
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Bar services:
Contact for price
Catering:
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Starting prices don't include service fees, taxes, gratuity, and rental fees. Guest count and seasonality may also affect prices.
Amenities + details
Amenities
Ceremony Area
Dressing Room
Indoor Event Space
Liability Insurance
On-Site Accommodations
Outdoor Event Space
Reception Area
Wireless Internet
Ceremony Types
Civil Union
Commitment Ceremony
Elopement
Interfaith Ceremony
Non-Religious Ceremony
Religious Ceremony
Second Wedding
Vow Renewal Ceremony
Settings
Backyard
Castle
City Hall
Country Club
Estate
Garden
Historic Venue
Library
Museum
Park
Restaurant
Trees
Venue Service Offerings
Bar & Drinks
Bar Rental
Cakes & Desserts
Cupcakes
Other Desserts
Destination Weddings
Destination Wedding Packages
Destination Wedding Planning
Food & Catering
Planning
Destination Wedding Planning
Wedding Design
Rentals & Equipment
Service Staff
Awards and Affiliations
Any questions?
Meet the team
David McLaughlin
Owner
David has been in the wedding business for over 35 years and is passionate about making your day elegant, unique and most importantly fun!
For fastest response call 651-387-3283 or schedule a tour online:
SummitManor.com
For small, micro or last minute weddings with many options including photography and officiant visit:
ElopeInStPaul.com
For Wedding Photography visit:
https://ambermphoto.com/
Reviews
5.0
out of 5.0100 reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.
Review Summary
This AI-generated summary is a snapshot of this vendor's ratings and feedback.
Summit Manor is highly praised by reviewers for its exceptional service, delicious food, and beautiful venue. The staff, especially David, is commended for their professionalism and attentiveness throughout the wedding process, making it stress-free for couples. Guests were impressed by the elegant decor, intimate setting, and multiple spaces available for different activities. The recommended vendors received positive feedback, and the affordability of the venue was highlighted as a bonus. Overall, Summit Manor is described as a dream wedding venue where every detail is carefully taken care of, creating unforgettable memories for couples and guests alike.Review photos
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Samantha A
Highlighted review.
5.0
10/02/2024
Our wedding at Summit Manor was truly a dream come true! We knew we were in good hands from the moment we first toured the venue with David. The day of, the food was delicious, with every dish beautifully presented and bursting with flavor. Our guests still rave about it! The service was impeccable. There was even a doorman which made everything feel so luxurious.
David was truly the star of the show when it came to planning. He guided us through every step of the planning process with professionalism and care, making what could have been a stressful experience an absolute breeze. I’ve heard from many brides how difficult and overwhelming wedding planning can be, but thanks to Summit Manor and David, everything flowed smoothly from start to finish.
Amber, our photographer, captured the day in stunning detail. Her photos are breathtaking and truly capture all the joy and beauty of the day.
We couldn’t have asked for a better experience or a more perfect setting for our wedding. Summit Manor exceeded all our expectations, and we highly recommend it to anyone looking for a wedding venue that truly takes care of everything.
Morgan S
5.0
12/29/2024
Summit Manor did an amazing job at putting together our intimate fall wedding. David and Amber were so easy to work with and handled all of our details with ease.
We knew we were in good hands from the first day we set foot in the house for our tour. It was nice to find a venue that was pretty much turnkey. This allowed us to focus on other areas such as guest lists, wardrobe etc.
Not to mention they were kind enough to recommend their trusted vendors so we could dial in our own custom touches.
The food was phenomenal and my family still talks about it until this day. The grounds are well kept and their staff went out of their way to treat everyone special.
A stand out was our doorman who stole our guests heart. He was so attentive and added that touch of class to our event.
David and his team oversaw every detail and he helped us plan every step of the way. He took all the worry and guesswork out of our hands which was appreciated. His expertise and recommendations were on point.
My wife and I can’t thank Summit Manor enough and our family will cherish that day for years to come. If you are looking for a beautiful venue, with great food and excellent service this is it.
Any questions?
Anna S
5.0
12/27/2024
My wedding at Summit Manor house was even better than I could have imagined! David leads with a "no stress" mentality which was SO refreshing! He even hired a doorman (Danny, who was excellent) for the day-of to direct everyone. It felt like a fabulous house party - the intimacy of the space forced our guests to interact and made it easy for my husband and I to talk to all of them. The basement bar area and porch gave guests who didn't want to dance a space to hang out, and people stayed until the end. All the outside vendor recommendations (Adagio DJ, Liquidmotion Bartending) were excellent and David was great at organizing vendor delivery and set-up the day-of the event. Summit's food was also delicious!
Amanda S
5.0
12/27/2024
When we first toured Summit Manor, David assured us that he'd take all the stress off our plates, and that's exactly what he did. The venue itself is beautiful, timeless, and intimate, and David helped us plan and execute every aspect of our reception. He was so communicative and helpful and Summit Manor was the perfect place for our big day.
Jessica R
5.0
12/26/2024
We are so glad we chose Summit Manor for our ceremony and reception! On our actual wedding day morning we were so nervous, but once we arrived and saw the team in action and everything landing in place our anxieties were at ease! Thank you for the thoughtful and personal help in every step of the process.
Jessica R
5.0
12/16/2024
They are amazing and know what they do, we really lucked out finding Summit Manor! The staff was also unbelievable! Our whole day came to life because of Summit Manor. Five Stars!
Claire D
5.0
10/30/2024
Summit Manor helped us create a dream wedding day! The bridal suite was a great space to get ready. We were married on the staircase and it was a perfect place to share our vows. Everything was perfect.
Elana T
5.0
10/06/2024
Summit Manor was such a beautiful place to have our wedding. There were so many different places in the house for guests to relax, dance, eat, and celebrate. David, who manages the manor, was invaluable when it came to wedding planning and making sure the big day went smoothly. I am so glad we had our wedding there, I wouldn't have changed a thing. It was such a gorgeous and fun day.
Beth
5.0
12/29/2023
Everything was wonderful! It was our only daughters wedding and could not have been more happy with Summit Manor. It was a prefect June day and we loved that our guest could be seated outside. The mansion is beautiful and so we had to do almost no decorating. The catering was truly tasty and we received so many compliments from guests about the food. David and the staff truly did take care of everything and my daughter and new son in law just seemed to float through the day. We are were pleased with everything and so grateful to Summit Manor.
Bethany L
5.0
12/11/2023
My husband and I recently used Summit Manor Reception House for our wedding reception. It was wonderful!!! The staff was friendly, helpful and professional! They did a great job keeping the events of the night flowing and moving along and we didn't have to worry about a thing! Also, the food was delicious and they had a great variety of menus to choose from. Most of all, the owner, David, was SO accommodating, flexible and helpful!!! We had several special requests and he helped us with every one of them. Also, he was very helpful in planning the entire evening and helping our vision of the evening come true!! This is a beautiful place to have a wedding reception or any special occasion. It was perfect because people could be and do whatever they wanted throughout the evening. They could be outside or on the front porch talking and enjoying the beautiful weather, in the main room dancing, upstairs playing games or downstairs at the bar enjoying a drink! Absolutely EVERYONE enjoyed themselves!! Also, the cost is VERY affordable! There are several perks like they don't charge you to cut and serve the cake, you can bring in your own alcohol and they provide all the center pieces. Plus, you don't need to decorate because it is already such a beautiful setting. I would HIGHLY recommend using Summit Manor reception house!
Dina E
5.0
12/11/2023
We recently had our ceremony and reception at the Summit Manor House. It was a marvelous event. During our first meeting with David McLaughlin, the coordinator, he said his goal was to have us feel like guests at our own wedding. I will say he achieved that goal. The planning for the ceremony and reception were very easy, as David responded quickly to each email and call. He is very organized and had all the answers. I love the low-stress planning as Summit manor takes care of all linen, tables and seasonal flowers. He also was very flexible with some unique requests I had for our reception. I was initially worried about not being able to taste the food before the reception. David assured me the food was good. I have to say the food was outstanding. All of our guests were impressed with the food and many people went back for seconds. The Buttercream cake was great. David was there the day of the ceremony and reception and coordinated everything well. I highly recommend The Summit Manor for special events. It is a classic location for an elegant event.
Jessie C
5.0
10/16/2023
My wife and I got married here in September, and we were so happy with our venue choice! Summit Manor is beautiful, and it was crucial to us that we had rooms at the venue for getting ready rather than having to get ready somewhere else. We had the ceremony outside under the big oak tree with the provided arch, and it was an absolutely beautiful fall day. Our cocktail hour was outside, and for the rest of the reception our guests were able to wander in and out, mingling outside and dancing inside. The mansion vibes were excellent, with all of the dark wood, bookshelves, built in decor, and downstairs speakeasy. We barely had to bring any of our own decorations. David was so easy to work with, and made all of the planning very seamless. He was happy to accommodate our requests for a charcuterie table cocktail hour and breakfast for dinner. We got so many compliments on the food! The venue size was perfect for our guest count of 100. Highly recommend Summit Manor as a wedding venue.
Laura T
5.0
9/17/2023
We loved every minute of our day!
Summit Manor was just what we were looking for. It's beautiful, classy, elegant and low stress at the same time. Best off the food was amazing. We had so many compliments from our guest on the catering. We had the beef medallions and salmon, highly recommend.
David and his team took care of everything from start to finish. He was great to work with and made the whole process seem just too easy.
Five stars for sure and we would add more if we could.
Thank you David and Summit Manor!!!
Adrianna W
5.0
7/27/2023
My husband and I got married here in June 2023, and had a fantastic experience! We really had the perfect wedding. Multiple of our guests said our wedding was the best they had ever been to, and ALL of the credit for that goes to David, the site coordinator, who was incredibly helpful at every step of the process.
Below are a couple of highlights from the day:
The food was AMAZING! At our wedding, we had salmon and beef, and it was so tasty! All our guests were talking about how much they enjoyed the food. I know it can be difficult to prepare food for a large amount of people, but they really exceeded all my expectations!
The staff at Summit Manor and all the preferred vendors (provided upon booking with Summit Manor) were really great. Very easy to work with, and they all seemed to be familiar with how events are run at Summit Manor. The whole day ran very smoothly, and went off without a single hitch!
The venue is VERY beautiful and unique. It was really great that the entire venue was usable to our guests (the basement area speakeasy, the main floor, upstairs areas, and patio/outdoor areas).
If you are getting married, or looking for a venue to host an event, I would HIGHLY recommend you check out Summit Manor!
Sam I
5.0
5/30/2023
We had our wedding at Summit Manor and it was the best party of my life. David made event planning a breeze and it was very comforting that they have an in-house chef that makes the food fresh to order (and not sitting in hot boxes all day). The food was phenomenal. In my ten years of wedding catering experience, I've never had a salmon cooked that perfectly. During the party, David helped keep us on track and was flexible to the guests' needs. We originally planned to have the Welcome/Blessing in the Manor, but since the weather was perfect and all the guests were outside enjoying the day, we moved it outside to not disrupt the flow of the event. From planning, to our getting ready in the morning, through the party, and at the end of the night when David helped my parents pack up our gifts, décor, and belongings -- it was fantastic. I would give this 10 out of 5 stars if I could. Highly recommend.
Olivia L
5.0
10/12/2022
Summit Manor is stunning and is everything I wanted in a wedding venue. From the moment we contacted them showing interest they were on top of things, answering any questions we had and guiding us on next steps. David was amazingly helpful and was pretty much an impromptu wedding planner and day of guide for us and was open and welcoming to any and all questions we had and was prompt and timely in all communications we had leading up to the wedding. He put our worries and anxieties at ease with his honesty and reassurances about everything. On the day of the wedding he was on top of everything, made himself available to us whenever we needed him and him and the staff were amazing. He helped us keep our timeline for the day which was so helpful. We did a brunch buffet and our guests loved it and remarked how amazingly lovely our day was. I couldn't have asked for anything better in a venue.
Elisa S
5.0
10/05/2022
We will forever be grateful that we chose Summit Manor as our wedding venue! We chose Summit Manor pre-COVID and had to postpone twice. We also live in the UK, and David stuck with us through thick and thin! He was always accessible, cool as a cucumber in calming an anxious bride, and full of helpful ideas and suggestions, but also flexible and fun. He got to know us and our story, and worked with us to create our perfect day. He had recommendations for other vendors who were all also top notch, and all of them commented on how much they love working with Summit Manor! All of his staff are consummate professionals. I can't believe that after almost 3 years of stops and starts, the wedding went off without a hitch! The food was delicious, and all the guests were full of compliments. Our special day, when it finally arrived, was simply the best because of this stunning, intimate venue!!
Teri L
5.0
10/04/2022
This is an AMAZING place to have an event at. The home is gorgeous! There are rooms to change clothes in, (if needed), beautiful bathrooms, a library, a bar and beautiful grounds. The food was the most amazing and flavorful fare I have ever had at a wedding or restaurant! It's not your standard catered food. Its top notch. I just want more! From the garlic mashed potatoes to the wedding cake and everything in between was 5 star meal. David was a perfect host and we just can't thank him and his wife enough for creating such a warm and stunning venue.
Cat D
5.0
10/01/2022
David at Summit Manor was an absolute delight to work with! We started looking for a venue in February of 2020, hoping to have the ceremony in September of '21. But when we made the difficult decision to postpone the reception due to Covid, David could not have been nicer & more understanding! The venue itself is a gorgeous historic house in the Cathedral Hill neighborhood of St. Paul and having the catering done on-sight was a major factor in choosing Summit! David also provided a list of vendors, that we weren't required to choose from but it definitely also helped make the process a lot easier. It was a bit rainy the day of and when we had to make an indoor or outdoor decision for the ceremony, David was ready to spring into action! Plus we received a ton of compliments on our food (breaded chicken and a butternut squash ravioli). The most wonderful thing about Summit was that we could really make the space our own. If you don't want to decorate, that's cool! The venue is beautiful on its own! But David really let us bring our own random things to personalize the space. My sister even reached out to him (behind my back!) to request a TV for for MOH speech because she wanted to do a powerpoint (which was incredible.) And David helped make it happen! Literally the entire evening ran smoothly because David was there taking care of the behind the scenes things so that we could really enjoy ourselves. This was a fantastic venue!
John S
5.0
7/20/2022
Amazing place! We had our 100-guest wedding here. It was absolutely perfect. The place is beautiful and the food top notch. Thanks David!
Emily K
5.0
6/02/2022
The Summit Manor really is a charming venue with an intimate, family like atmosphere. David and his team were great. David is very personable, professional, and on overall kind hearted man. He was easy to work with and made us feel taken care of throughout the planning process and on the wedding day. He was also culturally sensitive and accommodating by making a halal meal for my partner's family and providing a ramp for aunt's wheelchair up the front steps. Would I recommend this venue? Yes! Support this small family-owned business and you won't regret it.
Caleb S
5.0
12/29/2021
We chose Summit Manor for the unique reception setting. From the get go, David was so easy to work, with providing us with excellent recommendations for vendors which would work within the space. The place was decorated stunningly for our winter wedding. The food, service, and atmosphere were simply put, perfect. Our guests could not stop raving about their time are so pleased to have such a flawless experience.
Nicholas A
5.0
10/11/2021
What a great place!!! Everything about our reception at the Summit manor was perfect. The owner David was so nice and so easy to work with. We did a cocktail reception with appetizers which were all delicious. Everyone that came couldn't get over how great everything was.
I would recommend the Summit manor to anyone looking to have a party where just about everything is taken care of for you.
Sue M
5.0
9/27/2021
What an amazing venue! David and the staff were excellent to work with. We had so many compliments from our guests regarding the beautiful mansion, food, and service. As the mother-of-the bride, I would absolutely recommend this venue to anyone looking for a stress-free wedding!
Debra P
5.0
9/15/2021
Summit Manor Reception House has my highest recommendation. Our reception was perfect. Excellent food and service, all in the most beautiful venue! David and his staff are the best! Thank you!
Karen B
5.0
9/11/2021
In these uncertain times, David and his staff were extremely professional and responsive to everyone and everything the entire evening of our postponed reception at Summit Manor. He saved us money and gave us honest feedback about the food and alcohol service. His team was prompt to serve, clean up and assist in every way possible. Guests raved about the food. It was a warm evening, and the easy access to the water and tea station was perfect. David was present in case we needed anything and the clean up at the end of the night was fast and efficient. The house looks beautiful and they set up tables outside so people could enjoy the grounds and weather. I would highly recommend this venue to anyone who wants to have an elegant fun celebration. As a parent of the groom, I was very happy with the entire experience!
Kate H
5.0
9/11/2021
Everyone raved about the venue and the delicious meal! Thank you for making our wedding everything we wanted!!
Kathy W
5.0
8/23/2021
Our wedding was fantastic! The guests raved about the food and beautiful venue.
Kathryn E
5.0
7/13/2021
The whole day was magical!
Your home was beautiful, yard and gardens were lovely, your staff did a great job, food was very good… You made it a very special day!
A heartfelt thank you!!!
Maria T
5.0
6/23/2021
I can't say enough good things about our experience with Summit Manor and David. His professionalism, excellence, kindness, and generosity was what made our wedding planning and day-of so beautiful, stress-free, and fun. The venue itself is stunning and we didn't worry at all about any day-of details. David and his staff handled everything. He told us before that he wanted us to feel like guests at our own wedding and we sure did. I can't recommend this place enough!!
Emily L
5.0
4/03/2021
We cannot say enough good things about our wedding at Summit Manor! David made the process easy and was very helpful walking us through all the steps and decisions that needed to be made. David’s experience shows, and he allowed us to be flexible , but has a wealth of experience you can draw on when you don’t know what to do. We appreciated how much was included through the venue, decreasing the need to juggle multiple vendors. We also appreciated how smoothly and seamlessly the day went, which was due to the professionalism of the staff. David was able to make sure things progressed on time, while keeping a natural flow to the event.
We loved the venue and appreciated the ability to transition to an inside ceremony quickly if required by the weather – thankfully not an issue for us. We also enjoyed the historic character of the venue, and guests seemed to like the ability to transition easily between indoors, the front porch, and the yard.
The food was very good. It reminded us of home cooking (in the best possible way) and was well executed. The quality of the food was something that numerous guests made positive comments about. We also recommend ordering the cake from Buttercream, which Summit Manor has worked with before, since they delivered the cake at no charge, and the entire process was very low hassle. From start to finish, David and his team made our wedding day one to remember!
Dina E
5.0
10/27/2020
Five Stars is the least we can do for all that David and Summit Manor did for us. The mansion is amazing, the food was fantastic (we had so many compliments) and David was so kind and generous to us from start to finish. Thank you to all at Summit Manor!
Julie P
5.0
9/29/2020
My daughter had her reception at Summit Manor! We absolutely loved everything! It was a classy venue. David was awesome to work with. He always got back to us right away. On the day, he was there if we needed anything. We can’t thank him enough.
Julie, mother of the bride!
Cassidy W
5.0
9/24/2020
We had the most beautiful wedding ceremony at Summit Manor this past weekend! We had been in touch with David for more than a year, and had originally planned a large wedding ceremony and reception for September 20, 2020. With COVID-19, we decided that we wanted to postpone the big party we'd put down our deposit for. David was very flexible about letting us decide on a new date whenever we're ready, with no penalty. In the meantime, we decided we'd like to move forward with a ceremony on our original date. We almost didn't even ask David, since we assumed a second event would be out of the question, but he was kind enough to let us have a small ceremony on-site free of charge (except for a small cleaning fee). The beautiful location (that oak tree!!) really shone in the early fall setting and we were able to safely have the ceremony we'd dreamed of. David is so kind, comforting, flexible, and human in his work as a host here. We were so grateful to have chosen Summit Manor and have him in our corner when things got difficult this year.
Kaylynne S
5.0
9/23/2020
David is very friendly and helpful. He kept my stress level down while things looked uncertain in this pandemic. We were able to still have everything we wanted for our special day. The food was so amazing, our guests were just going up for seconds and more. David’s recommendation for dessert was also a hit for us and our guests. I couldn’t see having our wedding anywhere else besides Summit Manor.
Kelley U
5.0
8/02/2020
Summit Manor is a beautiful venue with historic charm. It's the epitome of old St. Paul and was the perfect setting for our wedding ceremony and reception. David was incredibly flexible and understanding throughout the process of attempting to plan a wedding amidst a global pandemic. Many of my friends getting married this summer did not have similarly pleasant experiences with their venues, so I'm incredibly grateful that we chose such an accommodating vendor!! If you want an intimate and unique wedding, I highly recommend Summit Manor!
Nick B
5.0
7/14/2020
The venue is gorgeous! It was a perfect backdrop for our wedding day. Looking forward to the pictures with such a beautiful building.
David was awesome in helping us put together a fairly last minute wedding plan as things constantly shifted due to the changing COVID landscape. He was patient with us being indecisive, gave us great suggestions, and made sure we had everything we needed to have a wonderful, intimate wedding!
I totally recommend this venue for a wedding, or any other event. Especially if a classic, gorgeous manor could help the vibe!
Erica M
5.0
10/21/2019
We had our wedding in September at Summit Manor and everything was just perfect. The day was beautiful and we just loved being able to be both inside and out. Our guests just raved about the food and how fun the whole day was. We were on the dance floor all night and loved taking breaks down in the speak-easy. It was a second marriage for both of us and so just wanted it elegant and fun and that is what we got. Everyone was great to work with and being able to bring your own alcohol was a big savings. We had to do literally no decorating, the place is amazing. I have never written a review on anything before and so not sure what else to say besides we both wish we could give more than five starts to Summit Manor and their whole team. Highly recommend.
Adam K
5.0
9/26/2019
Summit Manor is a fantastic venue that was a wonderful setting for our wedding. We held our ceremony outside under their giant oak tree and the reception inside, which had a cool speakeasy basement bar. My wife and I had a great experience working with David and all the Summit Manor staff. David was very easy to work with and very responsive to our questions. He guided us through the planning process and helped to ensure everything ran smoothly on the day of the wedding. We felt David and his staff really went above and beyond to help our wedding be stress free. I would highly recommend Summit Manor.
Jessica P
5.0
9/25/2019
From our very first meeting all the way through until the end of our wedding night, we had a fabulous experience with David and Summit Manor. First of all, the venue is absolutely gorgeous! You can tell the building and grounds are lovingly cared for. We had our ceremony under the huge oak tree and reception inside throughout the three levels. Our guests seemed to really enjoy the various spaces and uniqueness of the venue. David was an excellent resource throughout the entire planning process. He was always very prompt in answering questions and had excellent suggestions for us when we asked for ideas. David was there the entire wedding day, and he along with his team went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect for us. The day flowed smoothly and without any issues. We truly loved the venue and highly recommend Summit Manor!
Thuy-Trang N
5.0
9/12/2019
We like to thank David for his care and support during our special day. I highly recommended Summit Manor Reception House.
Barbara M
5.0
9/12/2019
Our daughter was married with reception to follow at Summit Manor over Labor Day weekend. Both our daughter and ourselves live overseas so all the planning was done long distance by email and phone. David was always quick to respond, made things so much easier, and took lots of stress away. The house and yard are beautiful, charming, and well maintained. There was plenty of space for guests to roam around, mingle, eat, and dance. The setting was great for photos as well. At the time we signed the contract, there was a designated caterer (Mintahoe) we had to use which was pretty good since it saved us time doing research. The speakeasy bar downstairs and adjoining rooms were a big hit with the guests. I highly recommend this venue. Thanks David for making our daughter and son-in-law's day so special!
Patti S
5.0
7/04/2019
We had our daughter's wedding at Summit Manor in February. Who knew that a winter wedding could be so wonderful and absolutely perfect in the "snowiest month" in MN history!
Seriously, David and his crew made the entire event a dream wedding for our daughter and new son-in-law. He met our every need and concern with the utmost care, concern, and professionalism. David was so easy to work with and truly everything he said happened just as he described. If we would of done anything different, it would have been to trust David more than we already did. He and his staff we hidden in the background making it all work flawlessly (I had 2 drink spills and I don't think anyone even knew because the staff was so attentive!) We had about 75 guests and there was room for plenty more in this stately mansion. We enhanced the already magnificent structure with a few candles and some greens with pine cones. It was not even necessary but certainly was a reasonable option instead of spending lots of money on decor.
The Speakeasy in the basement was everyone's favorite place to spend some of their time visiting and catching up with one another. I cannot recommend this venue high enough for satisfaction, value, food, service, DJ and the wedding experience in and of itself. We had a couple of unique requests (you'll have to ask him!) and he was able to accommodate them. If you want an elegant, yet can be simple, perfectly orchestrated event, then Summit Manor is your choice! This was as close to perfect as it gets!
Nicole H
5.0
6/11/2019
David and Amber made our wedding as stress-free as possible. They were incredibly helpful every step of the way! They had suggestions for things we'd never have thought of that made our ceremony perfect and were incredibly supportive in making sure our vision for our wedding materalized day of. We showed up with everything taken care of--the day could not have gone more smoothly!
Pat S
5.0
6/03/2019
Summit Manor is a beautiful venue; it was perfect for our daughter's wedding. Because it's a mansion rather than a large open space, it is warm and intimate.
The venue only hosts one event per day. Other places we looked at hosted multiple events per day plus restricted when you could access the space to get ready. The only requirement was that we let them know in advance when we wanted to arrive so that someone would be available to let us in.
We also appreciated that everything was included rather than a la carte. There were no extra charges for having both the wedding and the reception at Summit Manor or for them to set up chairs outside for the wedding, or for them to move the wedding inside if the weather changed, or to use the bride's dressing room or for the groomsmen to use a dressing area.
The bride's dressing room was perfect. The bride, bridesmaids, flower girl, and mothers could all get ready at the same time -- even with someone doing the bride's hair and makeup and another person doing the makeup for the bridesmaids.
David was fabulous to deal with. He was extremely knowledgeable and provided the guidance we needed to pull everything together. He met with us (parents of the bride and bride and groom) multiple times and kept in contact with us to keep our plans on track. He was always available to answer our questions and address our concerns, even those unrelated to the venue.
David volunteered to review the vows since the bride and groom wanted to keep them secret from each other (and everyone else) before the ceremony. He was ready to provide help in writing the vows, although that wasn't necessary as both vows were perfect and complemented each other, no revisions necessary.
An hour or so prior to the ceremony, we had a rehearsal. David walked us through everything and put everyone at ease with his calmness and sense of humor.
He also told participants that he was going to touch them before touching them to move them into place. Since not everyone likes to be touched -- especially if they don't know someone is going to touch them -- I thought that this was very considerate -- as well as typical of the way that he conducted everything related to the wedding.
One of the things that David had told us was that Summit Manor was a stress-free place; we weren't to stress about anything, he would guide everything. Rather than setting specific times for events (cake-cutting, toasts, etc), he observed what was happening and when the logical flow said it was time to move on and then he quietly rounded up the appropriate people, no announcements or disruptions. When we arrived, he gave each of us a card with his cell number and told us that if we needed anything, we should call him and not waste time/effort trying to find him. We never did need to call him; magically he was somehow right there whenever we needed anything or had a question.
David requested feedback; he asked what they could have done to make the wedding better. I can honestly say that I can't think of a single thing that David or Summit Manor could have done to make the prep or the wedding better.
Pat (MOB)
Elizabeth N
5.0
4/10/2019
David was so helpful and responsive, and it was the perfect venue for our small and intimate ceremony. He helped us walk through each step we needed to take care of and offered helpful suggestions when we weren't sure. On the day of, Amber was a great photographer and it was so nice we could book the venue and photographer together. We wanted something easy but memorable and personalized, and that's just what they provided!
jenni p
5.0
12/27/2018
We could not have been more pleased working with Summit Manor. From the initial tour up to the day of our wedding David and his staff were very welcoming, professional and helpful. We are so grateful to have discovered Summit Manor!
Caroline C
5.0
6/25/2018
Summit Manor is more than just a venue. Our main goal in our wedding reception was to throw a party that was inclusive and generous to all the most important people in our lives. Summit Manor does not allow wedding coordinators, but you won't need one. David guided us through each moment, giving us excellent advice and helping us run a party with more grace and ease than we could have done on our own. Summit Manor also does all the set up and clean up of the space. It was great not to have to ask our bridal party to come early or stay late to set the scene. Furthermore, this place is much more budget friendly than you'd think. They have a venue fee and then a menu fee, but you will save a lot of money here - especially if you don't care about too much about matching décor. Here are the many ways you will save money:
1. The liquor store they work with allows you to buy your own alcohol and return the unopened cases. We provided a full open bar with opens catered towards our guests including some gluten free beer for two VIP guests. And we did it all for about $3,000 less than open bar costs at other venues.
2. They provide all linens, tableware, flowers, vases and decorations for set up and staffing. We only purchased flowers for the bridal party - and we purchased no extra decorations. They had both potted plants outside and vases of farmer's market flowers on the inside. The space is also just beautiful, so you don't need much else.
3. They have light jazz music running through dinner, so you don't need to hire musicians or a dj for dinner music. They also have many partnerships with local vendors - we got a discount on our DJ through them.
4. It's an all inclusive venue, so you can get married there and then move right into the reception. We did get married at our church - costing us a little more in space fees, but we would have saved another $1,000 just to pay the honorarium and have our priest come to the venue itself.
The one thing to note is that the food they provide I would definitely describe as stereotypical wedding food - not really anything to write home about. However, none of our guests seemed to care too much about that, and there was plenty of food for people to eat, which was more of our concern. If you care deeply about the food, don't choose this venue. If you care deeply about throwing a party all of your guests will rave about, choose this venue.
Finally, Summit Manor has an in house photographer. She was generous in her time, her pictures are awesome, she really knows the space - a separate review will come on her page, Amber McLaughlin Photography. Hope this helps you plan an awesome day! Cheers!
Jenna S
5.0
6/11/2018
Thanks to David and the Summit Manor team, it was a perfect day.
Martie C
5.0
12/11/2016
We had our wedding at Summit Manor last July, and it was the best choice we made for our wedding by far!! David (the owner and on-site coordinator) makes the wedding process easy. You won’t have to sweat every detail because David has it taken care of. He is a master at coordinating weddings and other events in his unique venue and is there to answer every question. Another bonus: he is not afraid to give advice! He gives great advice and has great recommendations for all of the vendors. Even when the wedding was months and months away, he answered all of our questions and was always available. The day of the wedding, all of the Summit Manor staff was extremely professional. Everything flowed wonderfully! Every issue was taken care of, and it was nice to have David there who already knew our style and preferences. We are so happy with how everything turned out! Now another bonus of Summit Manor goes without saying--it is gorgeous! You will get very unique pictures, and many of our guests commented on the beauty and uniqueness of a “mansion wedding.” At first, it was hard for us to visualize, but David had great advice for what works at this venue. In addition, having a summer wedding, we wanted a space that had a place for an outdoor wedding (which Summit Manor has, and it is beautiful). Many venues we visited, however, had nice outdoor spaces, but their rainy-day backups were very sad. Summit Manor has a great back-up space on the steps indoors as well as the outdoor locations. Finally, Summit Manor will save you money. You have to pay slightly more for the venue upfront, but what we learned is that this was totally worth it. They won’t “nickle-and-dime” you. Things like cake-platters and glassware aren’t extra like at many Twin Cities venues, and they even give you free floral centerpieces! On top of that, our decorating bill was zero dollars! It is already gorgeous, so why change that? Also, as a pro-tip, some vendors that work with David have a special Summit Manor rate (Buttercream, A Ran Music Service), so check those out if you choose Summit Manor! We highly recommend that you check out Summit Manor and meet with David to see what it is all about!
David M
5.0
10/31/2016
The greatest day of my life.
We really wanted a different kind of wedding. From the get go we thought a destination would be for us. Then the reality of grandma traveling and other factors soon made that thought just an unrealistic dream. Summit Manor truly brought that dream to life in a different way. This grand old mansion with all the inside and out for guests to explore and visit was so different than the drab wedding we feared. It was amazing. It is the perfect venue for those who want to "get away" and have a different experience. Our wedding was amazing under the great oak and reception was just beyond words.
We could not possibly recommend them enough. Everything was done for us and we just enjoyed our day. There were plenty of planning meetings, but the day of seem to just flow. We loved moving around the mansion and the grounds talking to guests. Perfect.
The food was phenomenal. ! So many compliments from guest to even count. We loved it. We had a cake from Buttercream and A Ran as our DJ. Everything was just so nice. I even took their advice and got a new suit from Heimie's. Just like other reviews have said, go with their recommendations! All were great!
So much could be said, but let me just say this... as a groom you wouldn't expect so much praise, but I loved it and so did my amazing bride. Extra bonus... when we got our pictures back... WOW yes Summit Manor is the place for the most amazing pictures you could imagine.
Erin M
5.0
10/31/2016
Our wedding at reception at Summit Manor was beyond all our dreams. We were promised that we and our guests would have an experience to remember and that is exactly what happened. We had so many friends and family ask us how we found Summit Manor and let us know they had never been to a wedding like it. Made us so proud and happy of our choice.
From the first planning meeting until the moment we left for our honeymoon all was taken care of and planned. We felt like friends and family to the Summit Manor staff. On the day they took care of every detail. David our planner was there, but we also met others who just made us feel at home. We did take all of their advice and used their DJ, Judge, Bartender and Photographer recommendations and they all worked seamlessly together.
We ordered a Buttercream cake and loved it. We also opted for the photo wall, really funny (and embarrassing) pictures. So glad we did.
The food was fantastic! The menu choices were a bit overwhelming, but David and his staff helped us pick. We went with the Salmon and Roast Beef. Many, Many, Many compliments from our guests. Highly recommend the salmon!!!!
A big thank you to David and all the Summit Manor Staff. We are so grateful.
Brittany P
5.0
10/31/2016
David made our day so stress free! He is so personable and easy to work with. Also, all of the staff were so friendly and helpful. We didn't worry about a thing! We truly just got to enjoy the day. The venue is beautiful, needs very little in the way of decorating. The food is phenomenal. Overall, I could not have imagined a better day. I wouldn't change a thing.
Kristin H
5.0
10/31/2016
Summit Manor was AMAZING. David went above and beyond to make sure that we and our guests were having a great time. He was very helpful throughout the planning process, and was willing to talk with us at anytime. We had a brunch wedding, and we had rave reviews about the food from our guests. The day of went smoothly, and David and his staff effortlessly coordinated the whole thing.
Pat S
5.0
10/31/2016
Thirty-four years ago, my husband Roger and I held our wedding reception at Summit Manor Reception Hall – a place of warm elegance, wonderful food, and supportive staff headed by Mike and Judy McLaughlin. When our son announced his engagement in 2015 and we started planning the groom’s dinner, Summit Manor immediately came to our mind. We contacted Summit Manor and spoke with David, the son of Mike and Judy, and found him to be just as supportive and welcoming as his parents. The venue continued to be a place of warm elegance where David listened to our ideas, gave us suggestions, and supported us in many ways. The groom’s dinner held on October 7, 2016 went without a hitch, flowing smoothly throughout the evening. The food was delicious, the staff courteous and unobtrusive, allowing us to enjoy the time with family and friends. Summit Manor holds a special spot in our hearts – a place where we celebrated our wedding, a place that began the weekend of our son’s wedding, and maybe a place where our grandchildren will celebrate their wedding reception or groom’s dinner. I would full-heartedly recommend Summit Manor for any and all events. Thank you David and Summit Manor!
Johanna Z
5.0
10/27/2016
A beautiful venue with historic charm! we loved having our family and friends gather together at Summit Manor. David and Amber were lovely to work with, and made the organization and planning of our event simple and enjoyable! Also, the food was delicious!
Barbara L
5.0
10/27/2016
Great location and fabulous staff. We have celebrated many family events at Summit Manor and each one has been wonderful. Summit Manor has never let us down.
Steve H
5.0
10/25/2016
Just married October 2016 at Summit Manor. From the initial consultation to the end of the wedding night, David and Summit Manor were excellent to work with and the venue and day was amazing! The food was really good and David worked with all the vendors (ones he recommended!!) to make our day as stress free and enjoyable as possible. Guests liked the ambiance, food and the photo wall! I would highly recommend Summit Manor for an all-inclusive venue for your wedding!!
Jennifer M
5.0
8/12/2016
We are so incredibly happy with the choice we made to host our wedding at Summit Manor. To start, David is the man! He is very present in the planning process, and the day of our wedding he blew us away with his service, ability to stay on the ball, and how he and his staff were "everywhere but no where" in that they took care of everything, but were not in the way or disruptive to the party at all. They literally take care of everything--if you are a couple that doesn't want the added pressure or stress of DIY'ing tons of decorations, centerpieces, and other tiny details that weigh you down, this is your spot. So many of our guests went out of their way to tell us how great the venue was, so unique, historic, great vibe, how wonderful the staff was, how delicious the food was, etc. I want to highlight the food portion--David was wonderful and flexible to work with to create a menu we wanted---we had different ideas than what we listed on sample menus, etc and he helped our ideas come to life--and made sure the price was something we were okay with. The house is historic, so while it has a lot of wonderful unique qualities, also keep in mind it is older, so if you aren't into vintage or want something totally modern, you won't enjoy this place as much but if you can appreciate the character or want that St. Paul vibe, you'll love it, and the Summit neighborhood is such a scenic backdrop for photos. We couldn't imagine our day being held anywhere else. Thank you David, and your staff, for doing your job so well!
Megan O
5.0
7/14/2016
Summit Manor was the perfect venue for our wedding and reception! The space is beautiful, elegant, and welcoming! David McLaughlin was a wealth of knowledge and provided support and resources throughout the planning process. He helped to simplify things and calmed my concerns. It was great to have a person to coordinate things the day of so I didn't have to worry about it. The food was amazing and well presented. The wait staff were very professional and checked in with me throughout the day to talk about what was happening next. They made the day run smoothly! I would highly recommend Summit Manor! You won't be disappointed!!
Rachael A
5.0
7/10/2016
David and the team at Summit Manor are beyond exceptional at what they do. If you are looking for a laid back and stress free event, look no further than Summit Manor. Between the ease of choosing options and the reasonable prices they offer, our wedding day surpassed anything we could have expected. We were skeptical about the food, since there is no tasting, but everyone from vegetarians to my meat-eating-only uncle loved the food! The vendor recommendations were excellent; we went with Instant Request for DJ services, and even had friends take their business cards for their own future events.
They promised stress free for our April 2016 wedding, and they definitely delivered.
rachel h
4.0
4/28/2016
Lathan and I were very happy with our experience at Summit. It was the first place we toured when looking for a reception location for our wedding. We were welcomed in with open arms. Despite planning a small wedding we never felt looked down upon like we did at some venues. All of our questions were courteously answered. David made the process very simple.
The day of our wedding everything went smoothly on Summits end. It all went as we had planned it. Our guests had a wonderful time and enjoyed the food immensely. Lathan and I didn't have to sweat over logistics the day of because the staff there took care of everything. We felt well taken care of and relaxed, which as a bride is a relief after the long process of preparation that went into making our special day a reality.
Sydney S
5.0
10/25/2015
We had an awesome experience having our wedding reception at Summit Manor. We liked that Summit Manor was a unique location, had good value, and included many things with the rental cost. David was very helpful and responsive throughout the process. He was able to provide different ideas we hadn't thought of and give us recommendations for other vendors (we used his DJ recommendation and they did a great job). Our wedding was wonderful. We heard nothing but good things from guests about the beautiful house and the excellent food. Everything went without a hitch!
a member
5.0
10/19/2015
It has almost been a full year since our wedding an we are still getting compliments on everything. We had such a great experience from day one of planning and we just couldn't possibly be happier.
The venue is just magical with all the charm you could hope for. We loved the low stress environment the staff constantly says it will be. Truly... we were told this no less than 20 times there would be no stress and it absolutely was a no stress all day. They take care of everything, we even found out days later things that other vendors had forgotten or missed and Summit Manor just jumped in and took care of it without even saying anything at all. They just did it.
The food was great and we loved the fact we saved so much money by being able to bring in our own alcohol.
5+ Star rating for Summit Manor!
a member
5.0
9/24/2015
We were absolutely delighted with the entire process - site selection, planning, menu choices, ceremony options and execution that David and Amber provided at Summit Manor.
The experience and professionalism was apparent from our first meeting with David. He gave us a sense of calm and confidence that took the worry out of our lives. He listened extremely well and gave us options that made our ceremony a very personal experience and it that came off without a hitch - with the exception of us forgetting the rings in the house! The choice of having the ceremony inside or outside was great.
The food was outstanding, and again our options were such that we could not go wrong on the choices. Our guests raved about the service and the excellent food.
David and Amber are 'real people' that have a sense of dignity and professionalism and always acted in a friendly manner. They ask the right questions and always had our best intentions in mind.
We would return to Summit Manor for any type of event and have every confidence that we made the correct choice.
Melissa B
5.0
8/31/2015
My husband and I searched for a venue that would feel like we were getting married in our home. Summit Manor fit the bill perfectly with a casual and intimate environment! David and his staff were incredible. Seemingly everywhere and nowhere during the festivities. We couldn't have asked for a better fit than them. David always responded to our phone calls and emails and walked us through what needed to be done the day of the ceremony. The food was fantastic and we didn't have to worry about anything on our special day, everything was taken care of for us. We would highly recommend this venue to anyone looking to host a special event, wedding day or otherwise!
Sarah J
5.0
6/13/2015
We had our ceremony & reception here last weekend. David and the staff were amazing! They went above and beyond to make everything perfect.They were on top of everything and I know it wouldn't have gone as smoothly without them. I am so thankful I found this venue! Also, all my guests LOVED the house and couldn't stop talking about it!
Charlotte R
5.0
1/04/2015
We are so happy to have chosen Summit Manor for our outdoor ceremony/indoor reception. This place takes care of everything (including table decorations if you want), which made it the perfect location for our wedding. David and staff were easy to plan with, professional, contributed their years of expertise, and handled all of the details. Food was great. Space is perfect for both dancing and catching up (older relatives have a quiet place to chat while the young'ns rip up the dance floor). The event was stress-free.
Great place for a fantastic wedding!
Michael P
5.0
11/28/2014
I am a physician and have very little free time. I felt my free time slipping away and our anxiety rising as my bride to be and I shopped around for a wedding venue. Fortunately we received Summit Manor as a recommendation from a coworker. Five minutes after starting our meeting with David we both knew this was the place for us. David calmly laid out everthing we needed for our big day and then offered to assist us, as much, or as little as we desired.We left everything to David and felt a huge sense of relief after we departed. As our big day approached David filled us in on the plans and everything went perfectly! Unlike our wedding ceremony which had a few glitches :-)
I would recommend Summit Manor in a heartbeat.
Rebecca G
5.0
11/22/2014