Turtle's 1890 Social Centre

wedding, all of our needs were met by their staff without us needing to ask for anything. Their pricing is hard to beat. They cut our cake at no charge and they provided coffee at no charge. We did have to provide bistro tables and clothes because they didn't have any. This wasn't a big deal as we were notified well in advance. If we ever had an event of substantial size, we would go to Turtle's in a heart beat.

harge for every little thing, but Bryan includes everything you need in the room rental fee. Bryan is also a huge craft beer fan and we had a great time choosing our beer selection with him. The space is beautiful, the food was phenomenal and the entire staff was very impressive. We are so happy we chose to have our reception at Turtle's.

egetarian I wanted some options that were not on a typical wedding menu and the chef was open to making whatever I recommended. Brian totally respected my budget and worked with us to make our wedding wonderful and still within our means. The venue itself is gorgeous with the wood and brick, you can truly decorate it as much or as little as you want. My now husband and I were happy with our experience!

d his entire staff was so helpful and caring, which made everything enjoyable. The venue was spotless, unique, and affordable; the food was fantastic...only compliments from our guests; and Bryan and his staff are top notch (helpful and kind)! Our daughter found this venue on theknot.com and we are so thankful she did! Please do not over look this venue when searching for a wonderful place to host your wedding reception or special gathering!

of Barb was incredible at making sure things ran smoothly. The pricing of everything at the venue was also wonderful, it made it possible for us to have a great night with 200 of our closest family and friends at a price that didn't make us cringe too much.

est night possible. One thing that we really liked was that they don't overcharge you for anything & are very reasonably priced for being in the metro! Kudo's to Barb for making it such an awesome experience for us also, she is the best!!! It's a must see!!!!

ing last minute plans! We chose an appetizer menu for food and it was absolutely delicious! Guests raved about the food, and definitely went for seconds. We were able to have our own sweet and salty bar as well. Not to mention, you definitely cannot complain about the prices. The sound and lights for the dance floor were great as well and we had fun dancing away the night! If I had any complaints, I wasn't impressed with our bartender for the night. She wasn't very friendly and she didn't smile much. Everyone else was amazing!!!

what he predicted in that first meeting. We did a tasting, everything was delicious. We chose exactly what he said we would (stuffed chicken and roast beef). They don't nickel and dime you to death. He gives a fair price for top tier service and food. He was there in the morning when we arrived, made sure we were all set, and was there throughout dinner ensuring things were great. This is not an absentee owner who doesn't care. He takes his responsibility seriously and takes better care of the event than your own mother would. Bryan tells you that he and his team will do everything they can to make it all perfect and they deliver a thousand times over. We heard nothing but compliments from our guests on the food. We got rave reviews on the prime rib (we didn't have prime rib - the roast beef was so tender people thought it was!). Chefs Ron and Danny were awesome. Special dietary needs are no issue at all. Bryan's right hand gal Barb is a treasure. She keeps things flowing smoothly and consults on anything relevant as needed. She is amazingly talented at making everything run smoothly. She was a calming presence and I trusted her with all the important details. When we ordered pizzas late at night she told me to do 8. Looking around the room I didn't think that would be near enough, but decided she does this more than me. 😊. She created the mix and it was perfect. It all went and we didn't have leftovers or anyone wanting more. Our bartenders (Suz and Kortney) were kept busy by our friends and family and they were phenomenal. Efficient, friendly and fun too! If you go anywhere else you are over paying and will not come close to the quality we received. There is no reason to look further. This is THE south metro wedding venue! Thanks to all at Turtles for the best day we could have ever had. You rocked the weather too!! 😉

recommend this place to anyone! Absolutely fantastic.

ed on in a timely and organized fashion. They do a great job working with you to understand what you expect for the day (no matter how unique your ideas may be), and their experience shows in the smoothness with which the day goes. The food was excellent and numerous guests at our wedding commented on the quality, portion sizes, and the temperature of the meals as being top notch. The venue itself is beautiful for a reception and ceremony and from a value standpoint I have never worked with a team of people who are so focused on meeting your budgetary and timeline expectations for the day. For those that are looking for a beautiful, reasonably priced location in the Twin Cities- Turtles is a great place for your wedding day! - Jim & Cindy

Ron has outdone himself! This was the best wedding food I've ever had and I've heard nothing but outstanding comments from our guests about the food as well. We had the two-meat buffet (Roast Beef and Stuffed Chicken Breast) and everything was great! The unique character about this venue makes decorating so easy because you don't have to overdo it because it has it's own ambiance about the place. The room fee here covers so many things that other venues charge extra for so that saves you money. I can't say enough positive things about Turtle's. If you haven't checked it out yet, you really should!

ything stress free. We had a Friday reception with about 80??? people (still haven't counted everyone from the guest book) and opted to do appetizers and drinks. I was a nervous bride so unfortunately didn't get to try any of the food but I had people stopping me all night telling me how amazing it was. Some of the best food they have had at a reception. Everyone especially loved the chicken satay,steak bites and spinach and artichoke dip :) Not only is the space beautiful (very minimal decorating needs to be done) but it is so inexpensive. Very important for someone like me who was on a strict budget. By far the greatest price out there by a long shot and again I had people telling me all night how much they loved the venue and how beautiful it looked. Also the staff were very friendly. The bartender was so pleasant and had a smile on her face the whole night. That is so important because as important as the day is to me I wanted my guests to have a great experience as well. There wasn't anything I threw at Bryan that he wasn't able to make work and I appreciate that so much! Like I said I have nothing negative to say about Turtle's 1890 Social Centre. Please give this space a look when your planning your big day. You will not be disappointed!!Thank you again to Bryan for everything!

of wedding vendors who exploit the pocketbooks of couples by inflating prices simply because they know people will pay anyway to have what they want on that special day, Bryan is more than fair with all of his prices from the rental fee, to food, to drinks. He provides a lot of necessities you'd pay extra for elsewhere. He's excellent at coordinating with vendors so the day of runs smoothly and the bride/groom don't have to field questions-you'll be busy!! His experience in the business is priceless. The reception space itself is gorgeous-even better in person! You simply cannot go wrong with choosing Turtle's.

ere taken care of with no stress. I'd definitely host another event at Turtle's.

acter of the place--our decorations were simple because the hall is aesthetically pleasing on its own! Bryan is awesome to work with and was very helpful every step of the way. We always felt informed, and he never tried to rip us off by charging us for tiny things. We had a great time at our food sampling and beer sampling, both of which helped us get exactly what we wanted to serve. The food was great. We received many complements on both the food and the venue itself. Thank you, Turtle's, for helping us have a perfect evening.

wall, wood and tile accents! Bryan was amazing from the beginning - so friendly and prompt in returning my phone calls and emails. We really enjoyed our tasting with Chef Ron. ALL the dishes were amazing and it was so hard to make a decision. On the day of the wedding, Bryan left us in Tammy's great hands. She was so warm and helpful in making sure we stayed on time and everything went smoothly. The rest of the serving and bar staff were great as well. We can't say enough great things about Bryan, his staff and the beautiful space! We highly recommend it and would do it all over again in a heartbeat! Thank you for making our wedding day so special for us and all our guests!

He has had a lot of experience and knew how to handle every single thing that we asked him. Planning was so easy and I was not even stressed because Bryan had everything so well organized. In addition to the easy planning, the wedding reception was amazing! Every one of our guests loved the food and Bryan and his chef, Ron, did a great job at helping us personalize our menu. We also had late night pizza and many guests complimented on how it was the best pizza they have ever had. The venue is very beautiful and has a vintage vibe to it. All of our guests loved the venue as well. I was surprised at how affordable the venue was for how amazing everything was there! We had about 200 guests and it was perfect! I would highly recommend using Turtle's 1890 Social Centre as a wedding reception!

d/beverage minimum which was fantastic. The rental fee was the best around - with no hidden charges. We had a ton of compliments on the food - we did a buffet style, roast beef and stuffed chicken. Before the ceremony when our guests arrived, we had glasses of champagne with a raspberry for them - a nice touch! The staff was great and easy to work with - we had NO complaints at all. I would book this place for our wedding and reception again and recommend to anyone. You can do a slideshow as well which is nice to have or have a picture slideshow around 2 TVs at the bar run all night. The set up was nice, and the parking was good as well. Loved it at Turtle's!!!

ver had at a wedding reception. Then it was my turn to choose a venue for my daughter's wedding. They wanted Turtle's and I was not about to argue. I found out first hand how accommodating and organized they all were. We had a fabulous night and the food was outstanding down to the late night pizza. My only regret was that I didn't get a chance to try it. However, when the next daughter got married, we checked many other venues to change things up a bit. We ended up back at Turtle's due to the great feel we got there, the good was fantastic and Bryan and team did such a great job previously. This one also went off without a hitch. This time though, we instructed to keep the pizza's coming and I was able to get some this time around. Well worth the wait! Highly recommend; class A service with a great value. Natalie Culhane

ing and very minimal decorations! The staff had the ceremony chairs cleared in minutes after the conclusion of the ceremony, so we were ready for the dance. The space is truly amazing and has so much character--from its exposed brick to the tin ceiling, to the vintage bar! The open space was great for mingling and movement, yet it still felt cozy and warm on a winter evening. Add in the on-site catering and simple and very reasonable pricing for both food and space, and Turtle’s Social Centre is quite a find! There were no additional fees for linens, cake-cutting, hosting the ceremony, etc., like with most other places. There is a flat fee, and that’s what you pay. The food and beverage estimate that we got from Turtle’s was dead-on! While the space itself has abundant charm, even more charming is the proprietor, Bryan! From the moment we went to see the space all the way through the evening of the wedding, he was accommodating, friendly, and really put our minds at ease about our special day. He is an excellent communicator, responded quickly to our questions, and had all of our needs covered for the wedding. We opted for a heavy appetizer reception, and Bryan and his chef, who both have many years of experience in planning and hosting events, helped us plan a diverse and wonderful food and beverage menu. The staff were also wonderful and attentive and very professional. Many of our guests commented on how great the food, staff and ambience were. We highly recommend this venue to anyone planning on hosting an event!

ould recommend this venue to anyone and everyone! The owner, Bryan, was an exceptional planner. He helped my family and me throughout the entire process. He was very accommodating and listened to every detail that I had asked about. You cannot find another venue with such “individuality” available. We had about 200 people and had plenty of room in this space. I loved how it was private and outside people were not allowed into our reception. Gifts were safe, bathrooms were private, and parking was very easy. Bryan also suggested Holiday Inn and we were very satisfied with their accommodations (free shuttle, free room for bride and groom for 10+ others staying from wedding party). The wait staff did an excellent job throughout the night and Bryan was also there to help with everything. The prices were very competitive. We picked out our own kegs to serve with Bryan’s help. We stayed local with GrainBelt Nordeast, GrainBelt Light, and Four Daughters Loon juice. We had a Hot Dog and Burger bar with all of the fixings and sides, root beer floats, and had their amazing pizza at the end of the night. You are also able to provide your own dessert at the reception – this was a huge save for my budget. My reception was flawless! And the ambiance of this venue was perfect for my style. The exposed brick, the beautiful exposed tin ceiling, and the wood bar made for great pictures. Decoration was minimal, as the space has such a great feel by itself. I have heard so many positive comments from all of our guests on what a great venue this was for my reception. Please, GO SEE THIS PLACE! You will NOT regret it 

l couples to consider hosting their special day at Turtles- you will not regret it!

ble on both occasions with all you get for this and there wasn't any hidden costs, like the cake cutting for example. The food was amazing and I am still hearing about how great the food was from our guests. I love that you can have a chicken nugget basket for the kids that don't want the buffet. It's important to keep kids happy because it will keep the parents happy which makes for a much better experience all the way around. The staff was very nice and pleasant to deal with on the day of the Wedding. Bryan Turtle was so easy to work with on both occasions with all the planning. And you don't have to provide your own insurance for such events which makes it easier for any Couple planning their wedding. Loved having the pizza option after a couple hours of dancing too for our guests. It's a nice new trend and of course the pizza is so amazingly good as well! Turtles truly helps you out to make the most out of your important day. It was very cool to be able to have our ceremony and reception there. The guests truly loved that they didn't have to drive to 2 different place. Just in case you are looking for that option. I would recommend this place to anyone!

to earth and accommodating. We were on a strict budget and we were able to have everything we wanted and then some. Bryan takes great pride in his venue and is happy to have others enjoy the space that is dear to him. Then there is the food... Ron (the head chef) is the man! We had the most delicious meal of herbed chicken and roast beef au jous. The wait staff were extremely helpful and really took charge. I had zero worries and was able to enjoy 09/20/14 for everything it was!! Thank you TSC, thank you Bryan and your entire Turtles "family" we are forever grateful for making our dreams come true! Sarah and Neal Elsen

ing and friendly person to work with. He was professional and fun. The guests kept on commenting about the wonderful food and just the space itself. We did the buffet and it was outstanding. I would recommend this place totally and completely. We loved working with Bryan and everyone on his staff. It is THE place to have your reception.

ke all of our ideas a reality and within a reasonable price range. There are absolutely no hidden costs, no extra fees for extra servers/bartenders or cake cutting. I really love the antique feel of the place, the exposed brick walls and the metal ceiling tiles are beautiful. Our guests were impressed and really enjoyed themselves at our reception!

y it was.

our nearly 200 guests about the Venue, the workers & the food. Working with the owner Bryan also made the process so smooth. You really didn't have to worry about anything at all. It made the planning process so much easier. I would highly recommend any Bride-to-Be to definitely check this place out. You would be missing out if you didn't.

zing up a less-than-picturesque venue). We stumbled upon Turtles, contacted Bryan, the manager in charge of weddings, and we were set from there. Bryan was extremely helpful, honest, and knowledgeable, and did everything to accommodate our wants along with our budget. He's a really nice, honest guy, and put our needs first (rather than making it easier or more profitable for himself). As for the venue, Turtle's is absolutely gorgeous! It has an old-world feel (beautiful ceilings, exposed brick walls, mohagony bar/pillars, etc.) that made decorating really unnecessary. The day-of staff at Turtles were EXTREMELY helpful and flexible as well- it was raining so we had to move our wedding indoors, and the staff made a ceremony area with chairs and an aisle with only a few hours notice. They handled everything throughout the night (food, drinks, setting up, communicating with our DJ, etc.) so that we could just relax and enjoy our wedding/reception. Can't recommend Turtle's enough!!

ities area. His room fee covers a multiple items that other venues charge extra for which drives up the cost. His menu items also were very reasonable but the owner/cook are willing to work with any suggestions you may have. We went with the pasta bar which allowed us to choose two types of pasta, two types of sauce, dinner roll, and salad for about $17 per person. Children under 8 get their own special meal for $5 compared to other places that charge the full meal for a 4 year old. The venue's natural ambiance and décor allows you to spend less on decoration compared to just renting out a blank slate reception hall. This can free up your budget for other things. We had many guests compliment us on the location and how unique it was. The owner is very knowledgeable about reception planning as he has been doing this for 15+ years. We were happy we chose Turtle's and I think you will too as well.

ts came in from all over and it was so easy for all of them. The food was amazing and the portions were large. The price was unbelievably affordable! I would definitely recommend Turtles for your reception! Thank you for making our special day perfect!!!

squeeze out every penny we had. There were extra fees for cake cutting, turning fireplaces on, etc. Turtle's is NOT like that at all. The owner was more than fair with the pricing and upfront about costs. As a couple trying to have an affordable and beautiful wedding, Turtle's was a perfect match for us. Totally worth the drive out to Shakopee. The room is absolutely beautiful. It has a great vintage feel with lots of giant windows. We had about 130 people, and there was plenty of room to move around. The staff was wonderful all night, friendly and helpful. We also had this dream of having Chinese food as our wedding dinner. This, of course, wasn't part of Turtle's regular menu. But they listened our ideas and created a Chinese food menu just for us. Seriously, what other vendor would do that? Amazing.

dding reception. He was there the night of our wedding to make sure everything went well. During the planning process he returned my emails and calls within 24 hours. The week of the wedding he gave me his cell phone number to use if I needed him. The food was amazing. We received so many compliments. It’s not your “typical” wedding food, the quality is much better than any wedding I’ve been to. We got to meet with the chef, who was a blast to talk with, and test out the different options. We loved them all, it took us a few days to decide. We also served our guest late night pizza—the pizza at Turtle’s is to die for! The price is very reasonable. When compared to my friends who got married in “the cities,” I spent less to feed my guests than they did (and the food was much better!). We checked out a few other venues in the area and they had added charges for everything—cake cutting, dance floor lighting, cash bar fees, you name it. The price model at Turtles is very straight forward and fair. The ambiance of the venue is what sold us. The exposed brick, industrial ceiling, and antique bottles worked well with our vintage themed wedding. Turtle’s is charming, gorgeous, and classic.

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se" and then we brought in a few things extra to give it a personal touch (eg. Cake plates that were used at other family weddings). We chose a non-traditional route and did food stations with some ethnic food along with a station with more typical food choices. We interviewed many venues and most were a bit lost when we asked about this. Here the owner and chef were very excited about the change of pace and spent a lot of time perfecting our requests. They asked about particular places to buy the ingredients and had a tasting for us prior to the wedding to make sure it was what we wanted. Our guests loved the wide variety of food and we received lots of positive feedback. The owner was great, he was very flexible and willing to work with us. It was very fun to plan the event with him. He has been in the business for a long time and it is clear he takes pride in putting on a great party. The only issue I had was that the bar had tip jars set out when we got there and I preferred to tip the bartender rather than have our guests do it. I asked the owner if they could be removed and they were gone immediately. No fuss or hassle. The venue is in a cute part of downtown, with a city parking lot across the street which was nice for out-of-town guests who don't know their way downtown. Finally, the pricing was understandable and simple to follow. There was room rental, per person food charge, charge for the alcohol (we had a pre-determined limit), tax and gratuity. Other places we looked at had multiple charges such as bar set-up, per server per hour charge, cake cutting fee, security fee, etc. The bill we got at the end of the night was exactly what we were expecting. I highly recommend this place. In an industry where most venues care more about padding the bill versus making sure your reception is what you want, this was a refreshing experience and a great find.