The Grand 1858 at Minneapolis Event Centers

e place with rustic and stone accents. Planning a wedding during a pandemic was a challenge not only for us but especially for the Entourage. They did the very best in helping us plan everything especially with all the weekly changes due to the Covid Virus. Our numbers kept changing due to cancellations and they were very understanding and accommodating. They were very concerned about providing the very best experience while protecting our guests and there staff. They knocked it out of the park on every step. From the planning to the incredible food Chef Juvenal and his staff provided to the bartenders and the wait staff. I have not had one complaint from one guest which to me speaks volumes and I can be very critical, I actually asked guests afterwards what they thought and they said everything was great from the selection of hor d’oeuvres, to the strawberry and beets salad, then to the main course of filet and chicken marsala. I could keep on going but really I just want to give a Big Thank You to Kaleia, Daniel, Chef Juvenal and the rest of the entire staff. You all made our Wedding Day Great and we will be forever grateful. Go check it out. I highly recommend it.

ot say enough good things about Minneapolis Event Centers and all the wonderful people that work there!

d attentive service provided by Minneapolis Event Centers. I would highly recommend anyone wanting to hold a first class event to use this venue and group! Exceeded all our expectations and desires, thank you for making our wedding day so incredible and memorable!

m about their venues some good but some for sure bad. So i knew how good i had it choosing the right venue. Thank you so much to the entire staff for making our day wonderful and for running everything so smoothly! I for sure mention you guys to my clients when they tell me they are looking for a venue. Thanks again!

we suddenly faced planning a whole new wedding. I had read horror stories from brides and grooms losing money on vendors during COVID, but the staff at Minneapolis Event Centers was nothing short amazing. They were flexible and understanding. They helped me throughout the months in creating the wedding of our dreams set for November 14th. We ended up with an intimate and beautiful wedding, just as glamorous as originally planned. Despite the difficulties of this year, we could not be happier with how our wedding turned out and it was done in a fun but safe manner and was the highlight of everyone’s year.

on. Caterer is onsite which makes for seamless execution. Minneapolis Event Centers coordinates with a rental company and florist to create a white-glove experience if desired - It made our wedding day perfect! My husband and I 100% recommend this venue and staff for all couples planning a wedding!

ce area. Highly recommend!!!

guests stepped into the venue the staff provided exceptional service to us and all our guests till the minute we stepped out. They knew how to help us and what we needed before we even had a chance to ask. The headwaiter, I don't know how he did it, being in a million places at once, but he was wonderful, thank you! Then the food! The food was incomparable!! Absolutely top-quality, our guests are still raving about it, saying it was the best they've ever had. And of course, the beautiful venue itself, the design and lighting system can’t be described in words how stunning it is. Even after being there for hours, you still want to look up and enjoy the lighting... That day it wasn't just a venue provided to us, it was soooo much more! They helped our whole wedding run smoothly, even helping with things that they didn't have to help with... Again, thank you Carly for helping our dream wedding become a reality, without you and your exceptional staff it wouldn't have been possible!!!

r great thing about Grand 1858 is that everyone there is super friendly and responsive. Melissa, the coordinator, who worked with us, is super nice and was extremely accommodating, helping us setting-up the wedding exactly how we wanted it (many places don't do that!) in terms of decor, food, organization and drinks from the first to the last day. She was always available even when we called her or emailed her at the craziest hours with the most weird requests... The day of the wedding everything looked immaculate. The organization and the service were impeccable. The food was great, of great quality, prepared well, and abundant (so were the drinks...). Everything went very smooth. Considering the service we received, we had a great value for our wedding. Everyone enjoyed the food, the venue and the party, including us! Thanks Grand 1858!

edding party and guests, no heat strokes! The woman I worked with, Carly, was fantastic, she was always knowledgeable, and prompt in replying to my many questions and bridal freak outs as I planned. At one point, my now husband and I realized we had overestimated how many guests would be attending. We could not get a refund for the things we had already booked, but Carly offered to use the money we had put down to upgrade the menu for our guests. It really made an already lovely event spectacular. The food was delicious, and the decor was exactly what I wanted. Everything was straightforward and we had no unpleasant surprises when the bill came. Thank you again to the Grand 1858 staff!

ic backwoods wedding, while the garden offers an enchanting vintage, easy-beauty feel. We fell in love. The staff works incredibly hard to make your day about you. You don't feel like an item on an assembly line. Minneapolis Event Center is extremely organized and your participation is key. They have an online planning site that is very user friendly and allows their vendors & staff to communicate to ensure everyone is on the same page. Planning a wedding takes time and effort. I saw our big day unfold even better than I had imagined. A party planner myself, I put so much heart and soul into all of our little details. Minneapolis Event Center staff brought them to life. The venue is worth every penny. Our wedding was nearly two months ago and we still have people talking about how beautiful our day was.

incredible. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable, and willing to bend over backwards to give you everything you want and need. If you are considering Grand at all, stop deliberating and pull the trigger. I promise you will not regret it.

Melissa and the staff were great. Every interaction with them was easy and pleasant. Even though they didn’t have to, they accommodated a vendor of mine who was confused about delivery time on the day of the wedding. I loved that I could pick the layout and especially that we didn’t have to worry about buying alcohol for the reception since we selected the open bar option for our thirsty guests. You definitely get bang for your buck here-we visited a number of other venues and no other place compared in price, food or alcohol.

ere ready to answer any questions I have had through this process. In this short time that we have known her, Carly has made us feel like family! I can’t wait to have my wedding at Grand!

day of servers and bartenders were so accommodating and friendly. The process leading up to planning my wedding at The Grand 1858– absolutely awful. We went through 5 different coordinators (if that’s not a reflection on the business I don’t know what is) in the year we had the venue booked and after each coordinator, it was as if we were starting the planning process all over again. We had to re-explain all the details that we wanted to which each coordinator had a different reaction. Some coordinators told us things couldn’t be done while others said it could which caused so much confusion. A specific example would be that our first coordinator told us that we could have an Instagram feed up on the TV screens that would update with photos after one of our guests posted a photo using our wedding hashtag. Cool, right? It was on our Event Order from day one of the planning process. After the many coordinator changes, we sat down for our final meeting a week before our wedding and when I asked a question about the Instagram feed our coordinator told us she had no idea what it was. How could that be?! Even worse, she gave me a number of their AV person and made me call him who ended up being an absolute jerk. What is the point of a coordinator if I have to make all the calls? In the end, they figured out the Instagram feed but it wasn’t after many frustrating emails days before the wedding. Also, there is a fee for absolutely everything. Even if you pay for the Pretzel Bar which is about $6/person, it is an extra $50 for the pretzel stand. To try to make up for the hassle we had days before the wedding, our coordinator organized having wireless microphones for speeches and then sent us a $170 bill for the microphones two weeks after our wedding. All in all, the coordination leading up to my wedding created so much extra stress that I would caution anyone who is thinking about booking with the Minneapolis Event Center. Another note, they promised final invoice 6-8 weeks after the wedding. It’s been 16 weeks and I still haven’t heard a thing from them.

uded day-of coordinator – that is the truth. Melissa, our contact at the MEC was the best. She made everything happen without any hitches (or if they happened neither me or my husband knew about it). From the start the MEC was great to work with. They share pricing, have timely meetings where you can discuss timelines, food, etc so you continually feel like you are making forward progress. When we had questions, we could always reach out and Melissa would get back to us in a very timely manner. And, the food tasting – it was great! We were able to bring up to four other people with us, which is a HUGE bonus. This way our families could join and provide their input (which parents love to do). The tasting was fun, the food was great and provided us a glimpse into what the night might look like. The week of, we did a rehearsal at the venue. As there was an event on Friday, we were able to do a rehearsal on Thursday and it allowed our families and bridal party to see the space ahead of time. Melissa walked us through everything so we would be ready the day of. On the day of, the bridal suite at the Grand was perfect. All the ladies got ready there and Melissa helped set up all of the personal items (place cards, guest book, bathroom baskets, etc). This made our lives so easy as we didn’t have to do any crazy running around or setting up. Melissa also managed our vendor load-ins and when the ceremony started, she helped manage our spacing and then oversaw the timeline all night (cocktail hour to dinner to cake cutting to first dances). The appetizers and dinner were also tasty. Everything came out hot and all the guests enjoyed their food. It was truly an incredible night! Melissa and the MEC team, thank you for all you did to make our wedding the best day!

. But that you can tell from pictures! Our ceremony was outside in the courtyard and let me tell you, this space looked like it was straight out of a fairy tale! Our wedding ceremony was at 6 PM on a Friday evening and there was absolutely no sound of traffic or construction that you might think there would be in an outdoor downtown Minneapolis setting. This space also fit our 210 wedding guests with ease! Outside of the physical space of the venue (which again, both my husband and I and ALL of our guests couldn't stop raving about how beautiful it is), the team at Minneapolis Event Centers and Entourage Event Groups is absolutely incredible. The communication from the moment we toured the venue to the weeks after our wedding was nothing short of flawless. Our coordinator was Ashley Nelson, and we met with her at least 5 different times for planning sessions that typically lasted 2 hours each. The attention to detail and care that the team at MEC displays for each of their couples is so genuine - they made this wedding planning experience much easier than it would have been without them. Ashley was with us starting the night before at our rehearsal dinner (which was hosted at another one of MEC's property's - The Mansion at Uptown, see separate review) and all day on the day of our wedding. She took care of all the little details, from communicating with our vendors, to helping set up decor, to queuing our wedding party down the aisle, to ensuring dinner went so smoothly. Her effort and time made this day so special for us. All of our guests raved about how delicious the food was (we offered the Champagne Chicken, Beef Medallions & Mushroom Risotto), how beautiful the space was, and how helpful the staff was. All in all, booking our wedding here was the best decision we made throughout the entire planning process!

an't possibly go wrong here. We had Melissa Zenk as our Wedding Coordinator which was provided with the venue and we could not have been happier! She was better than we could have ever hoped for. Super organized, very easy to contact and get answers from and work with. Overall she is just a fun, great person and we would recommend working with her to anyone and everyone! Thank you and all of the staff so much for making it a day we will never forget!

inks were served quickly all night and the bartenders knew their stuff. The dinner staff was amazing and served salads and plates quickly for a room of 195. Food quality (apps, salad, dinner) was exactly like the tasting and received multiple compliments from our guests (we knew it would be good already). Price is competitive so that is not a differentiator for this venue, but the professionalism and experience from the staff and planner was amazing! We had no stress day of and just enjoyed the work we put in beforehand with MEC. The Grand venue was also PERFECT. Our wedding of almost 200 had our table space off the dance floor and everyone fit without any chair maneuvering in the tight spaces. We had nice weather so we got to enjoy the patio for both cocktail hour and the after-dinner portion of our night. Couldn’t have been happier with how the day went!

in our wedding planning, which they always do, and both of these women went above and beyond to make things work for us! On the day of everything went so smoothly, our guests LOVED the venue and the food. Our photographer said it was the best food she's ever had at a wedding. Not only is the space stunning but it is in just a great area for photos, even in the winter! Can't recommend the MEC enough, which ever space you choose you can't go wrong because the staff will do whatever they can to give you the wedding you are envisioning!

nd Ashley and couldn’t have been happier with the coordination, planning process, and execution of our wedding! They are both incredibly helpful, knowledgeable, professional, and we felt they truly cared about us and making our wedding day perfect for us and our guests (while staying within our budget)! We didn't experience any stress or worries during the planning process or the day of our wedding! The food was absolutely delicious (the group tasting event was a blast!) and the bartenders and serving staff were friendly and helpful. With 175 guests, the layout and flow of the space was perfect. The get-ready spaces for the bridal party and groomsmen were a dream; so relaxing, perfect for get-ready pictures and having a secure space to store personal items or have some private time during the wedding! (The bridal suite was picture perfect and had an abundance of mirrors, cozy seating, outlets for hair/makeup team, storage, and a space for food/drinks!) The location of MEC is also prime for photos - the St. Anthony Main area, nearby Stone Arch Bridge, and the mix of nature and industrial gave our photographers so many options! We highly recommend MEC!

ur wedding day and how great the food and space was. Having a coordinator with the space was by far the biggest perk for both of us. Daniel truly helped us pull off our dream wedding. Everything was absolutely perfect and stress-free, thanks to him. Every suggestion and piece of advice that Daniel had for us was so appreciated - he is a rockstar and we loved working with him so much. If you are looking for a beautiful space, with great service, great people, great food, and low stress, this is absolutely the place for you!!

sed that everything (ceremony, cocktail hour, reception) was in one location. Not to mention the beauty of St. Anthony Main! We were fortunate enough to work with Becca for 18 months (long engagement), & she was incredible throughout the whole process. Well organized, friendly, & was able to actualize our vision for the day perfectly. She was quick to reach out/respond if there were any questions, even more than a year in advance! On the morning of, there was a big storm & the power went out. As soon as the lights went off, Becca came to find us & assure us that she was communicating with both the city & the power company to get everything sorted out--& she did, so quickly! Becca was a total rockstar throughout the entire planning process & stayed on site the whole wedding day to make sure that everything went off without a hitch. I cannot recommend her or the MEC enough. Check them out, you won't be disappointed!

s the perfect space. Food was good (came out hot and service was excellent). Planning wise, Becca made it a great experience. They are very organized and genuinely happy to work with you. Becca was fantastic, along with the rest of the staff. Plus, we love that part of town, there is a good parking ramp across the street. We very highly recommend this space as it really cuts down on outside vendor needs as they are the Bar, food and the wedding planner all in one. Thank you Becca for bringing fun, joy and expertise to all of our planning sessions. We cannot recommend the Minneapolis Event Centers enough. -Wilson P.S. We actually were a little under our bar tab and the venue cut me a refund check. I would have had no way to truly verify that with them, so I appreciated their honesty.

for dinner and dancing. It was gorgeous! When we were searching for reception venues, we met with Ashley at the MEC and she was marvelous to work with. She answered all our questions, was honest, personal, and professional. Then we got Hannah for our wedding coordinator, and she was phenomenal! She was so much fun to work with and we felt like we had known her forever. She knew exactly what kind of wedding reception we wanted, and made the whole planning process and big day seamless. We loved her! It was a stunning venue and we’re so glad we chose it for our wedding!

edding planner, Daniel Holtz, who made our visions come to life on our big day. Great staff, great food, and a gorgeous space...we highly recommend.

have been possible without the dedication and support of Becca and Wendy! We cannot express enough, how thankful we are for choosing MEC! Your thorough planning, guidance and most importantly, friendship during the planning process and beyond mean the world to us! See you soon!

dy Schallock, the Chief Operations Officer is AMAZING. She made us feel like we were family and she truly cared about our experience leading up to our wedding day and the day of. Our wedding Coordinator was Hannah Hendricks and she was FANTASTIC! Hannah helped us feel calm and organized throughout the planning process and the day of our wedding. We know that she without a doubt made our wedding day so special. She is so organized and truly cares about what you want for your wedding day. We highly recommend MEC. The venue is absolutely breathtaking and you will not find better staff anywhere else.

verything vendors/details wise before and day of the wedding. I can honestly say I didn't have one worry that day. Most brides have told me how stressful that day was and all the things that came up. This was not the case at MEC. Their staff is so professional and helpful. Thank you, Hannah and Daniel! The food was also a big concern for me when picking a venue. We did the chicken, beef short rib and butternut squash ravioli. We had so many guests tell us it was the best wedding food they have ever had. I personally had the beef short rib, and it came out steaming hot. Great work by the kitchen staff! The bartenders were also amazing, and quick! The space is gorgeous, and we had no rain, so we were lucky enough to get married in the garden, which was beautiful. I honestly can't think of one thing that made me second guess going with MEC's. They were worth every penny !

tor and we were beyond impressed with her. At our first meeting with Becca she knew all the details we had planned with our previous coordinator. She was so energetic and genuinely excited for us and our day. From start to finish Becca made things run smoothly. She was so kind to our family and friends and was quick to offer a helping hand with everything. MEC truly made the process from start to finish so easy! Minneapolis Event Centers was so easy to work with. Their planning tools and guidelines are so helpful and the staff is very flexible and will go out of their way to accommodate any requests you have. We brought in cupcakes from an outside vendor (close family friend) and not only did they accept it, they went out of their way to make sure the vendor had everything they needed and the appropriate set up. We truly felt the entire staff just wanted our day to be special. The food was incredible! We served: pork tenderloin, butternut squash ravioli and beef medallions at our wedding. The majority of our guests have made a point to contact us after the wedding and tell us it was the best wedding food they have had. The serving staff, bartenders, security, every staff member was so kind to our guests. Our family and friends kept commenting on how great the service was, especially considering how many guests we had. The bridal suite is so gorgeous and spacious. I had a very large group of women getting ready (15+) in the morning and the bridal suite easily accommodated everyone plus the hair and makeup artists. The ONLY negative we experienced with this venue was with the staff at the end of the night (when the coordinators were no longer there, otherwise I know this would never have happened). My parents asked to get into the locked room to gather our presents and the staff working told them no (it eventually got figured out). Overall, the end of the night staff was pretty rude to my family (who were just trying to clean up and get out of there timely) and not helpful. That was disappointing, but we shared this with the venue after our wedding and they assured us it would be addressed. We do trust that they will do something about it. We can't say enough positive things about this venue or our experience - especially with Becca. If we planned our wedding all over again, we would hands down choose MEC again.

ss and was professional, accommodating, and extremely helpful throughout the entire process. All 230 guests raved about the Riverside and the View rooms and the entire staff at MEC made sure that our big day was nothing short of a dream come true for my wife and I. In a business that in my opinion can get out of control with markups, MEC was fair and upfront and more competitive than a lot of venues we looked at in terms of getting the most bang for our buck. We loved our experience with MEC!

a. She has such a warm personality and strong attention to detail. Her recommendations were great and she really helped us get the most out of our budget. She executed our day perfectly! We got so many compliments from our guests about the staff and the venue. I’m so glad that we chose MEC!

the night, or a sense of progression. We had around 150 guests that night and they were all comfortably seated around the dinner space. The dance floor was also the perfect size for many of our guests to get their dance moves flowing without having to disturb the dinner tables. Overall, we received SO many compliments on how beautiful the day was and how amazing our venue space was from guests all over the country! Furthermore, the staff at Minneapolis Event Center are dedicated to making your vision come true in terms of food, drinks, decor, and so many other details. Our guests raved about the food (we chose Salmon, Pork Tenderloin, and Butternut Squash Ravioli) and the chefs at Minneapolis Event Center are more than capable of accommodating for any food allergies or special needs. Our planning meetings with Becca were so helpful to ensure that the day went exactly as planned and the serving staff were wonderful the evening of our reception. We honestly could not have asked for anything to be better!

l and made it feel seamless. The food was very tasty and plentiful and I appreciated how they went out of their way to work with us to put together a satisfying menu for a non-meat wedding on NYE. Most of our guests were from out of town and it was -15 that night but what everyone left talking about was how "warm" it was inside. Thank you to everyone at MEC especially Jamie who was our planner.

e very organized and coordinated seamlessly with all of the vendors. - CONTINGENCIES: They have a ton of experience, multiple wedding venues under their management and a big staff such that if something goes horribly wrong they are well suited to fix it. I wasn't aware of anything that went wrong for our wedding, but as they said, if something did go awry, they'd fix it and no one would ever know. - VENUE: The venue itself is beautiful and particularly great for those who want to do that ceremony and reception in one place with seamless transitions. Because the space itself has so much character (e.g., brick and accent walls, wooden beams and pillars), you really don't need to add much to the space to make it feel decorated or special. - FOOD: The food was very good. We didn't end up trying any of the appetizers ourselves, but the entrees were great and we heard nothing but positive things from guests. CONS - PLANNING SERVICE: MEC told us before we signed on that the venue came with wedding planning services, to the point where you could consider the cost of a wedding planner baked into the venue fee. However, they really don't offer that. You are assigned a wedding coordinator, but that person just engages on the things that directly impact MEC (e.g., food selection). I asked our coordinator if she had any planning resources and she simply referred me to The Knot. While our coordinator did do a lot of work as there were many things that the venue had to be looped into, the service they provided was very far from what you'd get from an actual wedding planner. - COST TRANSPARENCY: As is common with a lot of venues, we were nickel and dimed over many things. While perhaps that's to be expected, what made things really frustrating was the lack of transparency we had into what constituted an extra free and how much it cost. It created an enormous amount of stress for me throughout the whole process feeling like I was constantly waiting for them to spring on additional charges or to change the pricing of something we had already decided upon. Some specific examples: -- They changed the cost on us for our corkage fee and late night pizzas. -- They miscommunicated the way in which alcohol gets charged, which if left uncaught would have left us on the hook for more than we wanted -- They tried to charge us a significantly higher price for drapery even though they had previously quoted a much lower price -- They told us we could bring in our own catering for lunch and then surprised us weeks later with two $50 charges for bringing in an outside vendor -- I had to ask them to break out the service charges and taxes in the event order to figure out that they were charging 2% more on the service fee than was in the contract and they were erroneously charging alcohol tax on corkage fees, which resulted in a $1,300 overcharge. They changed it, but I got no apology for the mistakes. If you do decide to go with MEC, I recommend you ask a ton of questions upfront and get everything you can in writing. It is truly a fantastic venue, and MEC runs a world-class operation on the day-of the event, but it is important to understand what exactly they are providing and stay on top of the charges.

uests have raved about the food and how intimate our space was with still having 200 guests. Our day had the perfect flow with a huge thank you to Becca Jarson!!! Becca was so great through the whole planning process and she was amazing on our wedding day. She made us feel at ease the whole day and she was so organized and helpful. We truly can’t thank her and MEC enough for helping to make our wedding day so perfect and memorable!!

We especially loved the flow of going from an outdoor ceremony in the patio garden to the cocktail hour in the atrium to the reception in the ballroom. The food was very good, and we appreciated that the chef was receptive to the comments we had after the tasting. Niki, our coordinator, was extremely helpful and receptive throughout the whole process, but she was even more exceptional when it came down to the actual day of. She did an amazing job making sure that everything went smoothly. And she even got the cost estimate almost exactly on the money. We would definitely recommend an MEC wedding.

the grand draping, to the amazing conservatory and outdoor garden space. We worked with Jamie throughout our wedding planning process and she was so helpful whenever we had any questions or wanted to make changes to our menu/floor plan. She was super easy to communicate with and she always responded to me very promptly when I contacted her. She made us feel really comfortable and was flexible with the changes we wanted made. The day of our wedding went flawlessly (as far as I knew) and if there were any issues that came up she took care of them without having to ask us. We also got soooo many compliments from our guests on how great the food was, many people told us it was the best wedding food they had ever had and we were equally impressed with our own meals. Overall, I cannot recommend the MEC staff and the Grand 1858 enough for doing such a great job at making our wedding day exactly what we had hoped it would be!

t pork loin they'd ever eaten. And if you're picking appetizers go for the bacon wrapped figs! I loved that the space requires so little decoration to make it wonderful. The exposed brick, wood beams and cafe lights are just stunning and the bridal suite is such a beautiful place to get ready. I loved having our ceremony in the Garden and the flow of indoor/outdoor spaces worked wonderfully. It's so nice to have a venue that mixes the city with beautiful outdoor spaces so well. There are so many great photo opportunities around the area without anything being overdone. The staff was just wonderful. Jamie was so accommodating and responsive as we planned our big day. The bartenders brought me the last of my favorite beers right out to me (so thoughtful!), our head table server (I think his name was Paul) was checking on us just the perfect amount and my parents were so thankful for the friendly security guard who helped during the load out time at the end of the evening. Jamie, the bartenders, the serving staff and the doorman/security guard were all so wonderful and kind!

ed with Jamie, and she was always dependable and fun to work with. I loved that she walked me through each step and was always patient. For such a high stress and emotional industry she really keeps her cool, and I was lucky to work with her. I recommend this location for its beauty and personality. You really get quality in all aspects, and the bridal suites are the best! This place keeps it easy so you aren't running around looking for food vendors or place settings. All in one very gorgeous spot. Plus parking for guests is a breeze and cheap by downtown standards! Thank you Jamie and MEC for all you did for me!

rdinator did EVERYTHING and was all over any questions or outside vendors and anything else we needed. Other staff we interacted with at the end of the night were also exceptionally nice and helpful. Guests had a good time and so did we.

way - amazing! Also, we received so many compliments on the space from our guests! Many said it is the prettiest venue they'd seen! Having a locked bridal suite and grooms suite was extremely helpful, and made the day even more special. The food is delicious, and the service is great! Also, they have security watching the doors at all times during your wedding day, and they were really nice. Do be careful with anyone that needs the elevator - you need to make sure you can let them in through the back door that is always locked, just a good thing to know ahead of time! We are so happy we chose MEC!

uld have thought of! We're so lucky to have had the opportunity to work with Jamie and have our wedding at MEC!

was a delight to work with during the wedding and very responsive throughout the whole wedding planning process. Hats off to Nicki and the staff at the MEC for helping the wedding come off without a hitch!

ed, yet flexible to make our day perfect. The space itself is so naturally beautiful that it took a lot of pressure off of us to decorate the space (which was one of my favorite things about it!). Our guests also loved it and have continued to comment on it being the perfect size, in a good location with a great ambience. We highly recommend MEC and The Grand!

get within $100 so listen to their planning and scheduling. If there's something you want or need they will go above and beyond to make it happen.

room still felt very intimate and special during the ceremony and reception. It was nice to have a venue that took care of catering and provides a coordinator for the process, as well. Guests loved the food! The thing that keeps this from being 5 stars was just some short-comings in terms of our coordinating team on the day-of. During the wedding and reception, there were a few times when I, as the bride, should have been just along for the ride. But I felt like my wedding party or I had to take on giving people direction or making things happen - ushers not knowing where to go, family not knowing about the processional, bartenders not being ready or having enough of them, keeping bathrooms tidy during the reception. I was honestly happy to keep things moving and to an extent, that's what your bridesmaids are there to help with! Overall, I think this is an excellent venue and we're so happy we ended up here. Just be ready to take charge a bit in the process.

ests on the space and how it fit so many people so comfortably and how great the food was. And last, but the absolute best, was Niki, the wedding coordinator. SHE WAS SPECTACULAR! Not only is she the most organized person I met throughout the wedding process, but extremely helpful and so accommodating. She made sure our day flowed perfectly from beginning to end and ensured our wedding day was exactly what we had planned. I could not recommend this venue any more; it was by far one of the best decisions we made for our wedding day! Hope you enjoy just as much as we did!

rdinator was incredibly helpful every step of the way! The communication leading up to the wedding day was always very timely and well organized! We are so happy we chose Minneapolis Event Centers for our wedding day and would highly recommend it to others!

ut perfectly! They made our day a dream come true!

he was very informative but not the most "warm" towards us and I felt as if it was an inconvenience to her to show us around. I'm sure yours are done numerous times a day so we get it but we were actually very interested in the venue. We sat down to talk about the actual cost of the venue itself as well as catering and we did put ourselves down for a date and we were told by Ashley they she was going to email us more information such as links to their Flickr account and pricing, etc. We have still yet to hear anything from her and since then decided to go with a different venue. It seemed to us as if she didn't think we were seriously considering the venue.

ples.

ion in the ballroom, which was convenient for us and our guests. The planning process was smooth (and I asked a ton of questions!), we received great advice and pricing was clear every step of the way. Every inch of the venue is beautiful and I could not say enough about the staff ... everyone we worked with along the way: Sheila, Niki, Kastina, to the day of staff like our security guard, etc, helped make our wedding day perfect! On top of our experience being fantastic, we received so many compliments from our guests, family and wedding party about the food, the staff and the venue. MEC is the whole package and I'd highly recommend this venue for your big day!

ncluded--helpful for any budgeted event! We both really enjoyed the bride and groom suites for getting ready, so nice to bring everything there, lock it up and not have to worry! The day of our event went so smoothly and Niki and her team were so lovely to work with. We received many complements on how beautiful the space was, how organized everything was and specifically how hot the food was when it was brought out! Perhaps not the norm when preparing a meal for 175 people! We would recommend the MEC to anyone who asks and if I would have to do it all over again....we would still choose the MEC Grand Ballroom!

Niki and Sheila and their referrals for other services such as decor, flowers, DJ, hotel, and transportation. They are true professionals and the best at what they do! We had high confidence that we were in good hands the entire process and our wedding day could not have run more smoothly. Working with Niki and Sheila was so much fun, they are wonderful people, and they brought joy and laughter to the process. Our ceremony was downstairs in the boardroom and our reception was upstairs in the Riverside room. We continue to get complements on how "stunning" the location was and how fun the wedding was for our guests. On our honeymoon, we asked each other if we would've changed anything, and it's a great feeling to feel we had the exact wedding we would've wanted and to not wish we could've changed something. It truly was the best day ever:) THANK YOU! Kenzie & David, December 2016 wedding

as if she put forth so much time and effort to help the day go perfectly. Thank you MEC for a fabulous day--we had so many compliments about the venue!!

t and made the whole process as stress-free as possible! I would highly recommend this venue, especially for someone that is looking for a venue that will take care of a lot of the details for them.

forgettable night. We ended up having to move the ceremony inside vs. the courtyard but our coordinator, Kastina, was super patient in letting us wait until later in the day to give the final decision. Even though the rain kept us inside, it did not put a damper on our day at all! Kastina and the team moved quickly to get everything set up and it looked so beautiful! Instant tears, I tell ya. :) In the evening the weather cleared and we even got to enjoy the annual Aquatennial fireworks in the area - how magical is that!? I am so so over-the-moon pleased with our day and couldn't be happier that we chose to have our big day at MEC! Wendy, Kastina and the rest of the team: Thank you, thank you for everything!!!

l and the team's ability to make us feel like we were the only clients they were supporting was amazing! And I haven't even started talking about the space. We had our entire wedding in the Grand-- ceremony on the patio, cocktails in the atrium and dinner/dancing in the main room. The event center is a gorgeous mix of modern and historic-- yet you can make it your own and it looks superb in photos! If you were thinking about getting married or planning your next big event be sure to plan it with amazing team at the Minneapolis Event Center!!

ofessionalism in the months before our wedding and her sheet awesomeness the day of. Our 300-guest ceremony was held on their beautiful patio at 5 and it was gorgeous. Beautiful landscaping, tons of greenery, and lights around every tree... all provided by the venue. Though we had to get an outside caterer to make 300 Chinese meals, we were lucky enough to have the MEC make our appetizers for cocktail hour. Ridiculously good! The venue is beautiful with a ton of great photo locations nearby, the food is amazing, and the staff is the best of the best.

middle of the dance floor with LED lighting, amazing. The bar views overlook the river and the lights of downtown Minneapolis. Great opportunities for wedding pictures with the backdrop of the Stone Arch Bridge, the downtown skyline and the renovated buildings of St Anthony Main.. But the key to any event are the people who do all the work to make everything go smoothly. Sheila Cachuela was our planner and it couldn't have gone better. She listened to what we envisioned and made all the right suggestions to make it a perfect day. The event staff were excellent, responsive, smiling, and I think they were having as much fun as we were. We had our wedding below the Riverside room in one of their banquet areas. Initially we were going elsewhere but the hassle of transporting everybody(especially the grandparents) to different venues didn't make sense. The bride and groom changing rooms are very good. Having the wedding there just made everybody relax and not worry about trying to hurry to get to the next venue. Good idea. We had a private dinner for family and close friends after the ceremony. Food was great, the service was better. Afterwards, walked upstairs to the reception and the party began. This is a must see venue.

(Oh and it is stunning in photographs).