The Best Beach & Waterfront Wedding Venues in Forest Lake, MN

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4 Wedding Venues in Forest Lake, MN

Beaches, waterfront settings
300+ guests
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Leopold's Mississippi Gardens 
Rating: 5.0 (9 reviews)
Minneapolis, MN
  • Up to 330 guests
  • Select services
  • Indoor & outdoor
  • Offer

Leopold's Mississippi Gardens is a waterfront ballroom wedding venue in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Located on the beautiful and historic Mississippi River, the venue offers serenity and privacy within its state-of-the-art event space. Designed for the perfect wedding, we will help you create an event to be remembered for a lifetime.

“Mintahoe has worked hand in hand with Mississippi Gardens since their inception, and they are absolutely a delight to work with! The team is devoted to making sure that their clients have a great day and that all of the details come together. The space itself is stunning & always in top-top shape. Truly a space in which fairytales to come true.”
Elsie, 5 years ago
InterContinental Saint Paul Riverfront 
Rating: 5.0 (1 review)
SAINT PAUL, MN
  • Up to 700 guests
  • All-inclusive
  • Indoor

Built in 1966, the InterContinental Saint Paul Riverfront is nestled on the banks of the Mississippi River in downtown Saint Paul. We feature two grand ballrooms with contrasting styles: The Minnesota Ballroom is a traditional classic ballroom with vaulted ceilings and chandeliers. The Great River Ballroom is contemporary with floor to ceiling windows and a panoramic view of Saint Paul and the Mighty Mississippi River. Our hotel has rooms with a view and a variety of larger suites so you can take the elevator home following your wedding. Direct inquiries for availability and pricing to our website: intercontinentalstp com/weddings

Why you'll love this venue

  • Exudes style
  • Accommodates more than 200 guests
  • Provides a dedicated team on-site

Venue considerations

  • Large venue, not ideal for small guest lists
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Does not allow pets
“The team at the InterContinental Saint Paul Riverfront was a pleasure to work with from start to finish. Their communication was quick, patient, and clear, which made planning our wedding a breeze. The venue itself was roomy, unique, and absolutely perfect for our special day. Kira, our planner, was the most flexible, helpful and kind person to work with. She stayed to assist us with the rehearsal the night before and was there for every step on the day of the wedding, truly making it a stress-free experience. We couldn't have asked for a better venue and team to bring our dream wedding to life.”
Allie S., a year ago
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Mendakota Country Club 
Rating: 4.5 (2 reviews)
Mendota Heights, MN
  • Up to 300 guests
  • All-inclusive
  • Indoor & outdoor
  • Starts at $4,000

Nestled in picturesque surroundings, Mendakota Country Club offers elegant indoor and outdoor spaces for weddings. The venue's lush landscapes and luxurious amenities provide a beautiful backdrop, while the dedicated staff ensures a flawless celebration.

Why you'll love this venue

  • All-inclusive venue packages
  • Full catering menu to choose from
  • Provides lighting and sound

Venue considerations

  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • No on-site guest accommodations
  • Best for events with big guest lists
“The Mendakota Country Club is a beautiful venue and we had the vision for how beautiful the course would be in the early fall for our wedding when we toured in the dead of winter!! Our photos throughout the day in multiple locations throughout the venue are stunning with beautiful greenery and waterfronts. MCC checked every box for what we looked for in a venue, including (but not limited to): the opportunity for an outdoor ceremony and flexibility in having both indoor and outdoor spaces throughout the event including cocktail hour, onsite getting ready spaces, onsite catering with a variety of dinner options and a cohesive, one-level space (helpful and easy for family members with physical mobility issues) Adena was very responsive and by the end of our year and a half engagement, had responded to 200 emails, discussing details and answering questions for our big day! Jessica and Adena in partnership with our Day of Coordinator were able to manage many moving pieces and make our big day come together beautifully, and the waitstaff and barstaff were wonderful to work with. While we had a good experience overall with MCC, there were two day-of notes that did detract from our Big Day: We were told that the staff will “stop golfers” from teeing off at certain holes during the ceremony, however we had numerous golfers walk right behind our officiant during the ceremony and even one golfer approximately 15 feet from us saying our vows yelling to someone in the parking lot. While we understand it is a country club/golf course first and foremost, MCC charges couples a 1,200 onsite ceremony fee that should come with the expectations of no members on the first few holes of the course during the ceremony. During the reception, the temperature was not well maintained and by the time the dance floor was fully opened, all guests were profusely sweating. While there were industrial fans to help keep the room cool, it was not as effective as we would have liked, especially during an unseasonably warm day in mid-September.”
Maeghan C., a year ago
Stillwater River Boats 
Stillwater, MN
  • Up to 600 guests
  • Select services
  • Indoor & outdoor

The perfect venue for your wedding ceremony and/or reception… unique…affordable…romantic…scenic. We've been cruising the St. Croix river for almost 40 years providing boats for weddings, receptions, vow renewals, rehearsal dinners, anniversaries, elopements, and other various events!

Why you'll love this venue

  • Offers full-service amenities
  • Accommodates more than 200 guests
  • Has a dance floor to dance the night away

Venue considerations

  • No free parking
  • No dedicated areas for getting ready
  • No built-in audiovisual options

Location flexible? Discover venues near Forest Lake, MN

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FIVE Event Center
Rating: 5.0 (26 reviews)
Minneapolis, MN
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The Van Dusen Mansion
Rating: 5.0 (18 reviews)
Minneapolis, MN
InterContinental Saint Paul Riverfront
Rating: 5.0 (1 review)
SAINT PAUL, MN
Target Field Events
Minneapolis, MN
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East Town Ballroom At Courtyard Minneapolis Downtown
Rating: 5.0 (4 reviews)
Minneapolis, MN
Glass House
Rating: 5.0 (1 review)
Minneapolis, MN
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Campus Club At The University Of Minnesota
Rating: 5.0 (2 reviews)
Minneapolis, MN
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Northern Lights Ballroom & Catering
Rating: 5.0 (1 review)
Milaca, MN
Rolling Ridge - Classic Barn & Garden Venue
Rating: 5.0 (2 reviews)
St. Joseph, MN
Braham Event Center
Rating: 5.0 (4 reviews)
Braham, MN
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Blackberry Ridge Golf Club
Sartell, MN
Machine Shop
Rating: 5.0 (9 reviews)
Minneapolis, MN

Event types for wedding venues in Forest Lake, MN

About wedding venues in Forest Lake, MN

Forest Lake offers an incredible backdrop for weddings with stunning lakefront views, magical forest settings, and historical venues just 30-40 minutes from the Twin Cities. You'll discover a perfect blend of Minnesota's natural woodland charm throughout this North Metro destination, where venues seamlessly combine indoor and outdoor spaces perfect for both intimate gatherings and grand celebrations with all your loved ones.

What Makes Forest Lake Wedding Venues Special?

Each Forest Lake venue showcases unique architectural elements you won't find elsewhere, from the romantic French country estate design at Abella Weddings to the incredibly distinctive airplane hangars at Hangar 97 and charming rustic Scandinavian-influenced structures. The area's renovated historic barns maintain their character through original wood beams, cozy stone fireplaces and vintage chandeliers while offering all the modern amenities you need for a comfortable celebration. You'll love that many properties feature dedicated ceremony gardens, peaceful lakeside gazebos and climate-controlled reception spaces all within the same grounds so your entire day flows smoothly.

How Much Do Forest Lake Wedding Venues Cost?

Wedding venues in Forest Lake typically cost between $900 and $15,000 with the average couple spending around $6,271 which represents about 15% of their total wedding budget. This aligns nicely with the national average of $6,500-$12,000 for venue costs. Your next biggest expenses will likely be catering at 12% and floristry at 11% of your total budget. Here's how total wedding costs scale by guest count: - 50 guests: $18,218 - 100 guests: $30,101 - 150 guests: $41,274 - 200 guests: $51,266 - 250 guests: $61,258 - 300 guests: $71,250

Which Forest Lake Venues Are Most Accessible?

Tanners Brook Golf Club features excellent accessibility with room for 200 guests at a reasonable $1,195-$1,495 per wedding. If you're planning a larger celebration Hangar 97 offers an incredibly spacious floor plan that can accommodate up to 1,000 guests with pricing between $3,000-$15,000. Running Aces Harness Park provides a more intimate setting for up to 150 guests with affordable rates of $900-$1,050 for smaller gatherings of around 50 people. For guaranteed wheelchair accessibility you might also consider The Lowlands in nearby St. Paul which comfortably hosts up to 250 guests for your special day.

What Are the Top Wedding Venues in Forest Lake, MN?

Abella Weddings & Events creates a truly romantic atmosphere with its French country estate setting just 35 minutes from the Twin Cities, featuring both modern reception halls and a gorgeous historic barn you'll fall in love with. Dellwood Country Club offers spectacular golf course views paired with inviting outdoor patios and cozy fireplaces perfect for creating memorable moments. Forest Lake VFW Post 4210 gives you tremendous flexibility with space for up to 400 guests and both indoor and outdoor options to customize your celebration exactly how you've always imagined it.

Which Forest Lake Venues Offer Outstanding Food?

Dellwood Country Club is renowned for its excellent cuisine that perfectly complements the inviting atmosphere, accommodating 251-300 guests at moderate prices that won't break your budget. Redeemed Farm sits on 40 beautiful acres west of historic Scandia offering a stunning vineyard estate setting with high-quality dining experiences for 151-200 guests that your friends will talk about for years. For a touch of luxury The Historic Water Street Inn in nearby Stillwater provides an elegant setting with fine dining options that will impress even your most discerning guests.

How Do Forest Lake Venues Handle Remote Participation?

Abella Weddings & Events features large open spaces that work beautifully for creative virtual setups so distant loved ones can feel included. Forest Lake VFW Post 4210 has versatile banquet facilities that allow for truly interactive remote experiences including live virtual games and group celebration projects that bridge the distance. You'll find most venues can easily accommodate professional AV teams using platforms like Zoom or specialized wedding streaming services to create real-time interactions that make everyone feel part of your special day regardless of their location.

When Should You Book Your Forest Lake Wedding Venue?

December sees the highest number of venue inquiries with most couples securing their bookings about 16 months (471 days) before their wedding date. If you're dreaming of a summer or early fall wedding you'll want to book even earlier sometimes 18-24 months in advance for the most popular venues. Planning ahead gives you the best chance of securing your perfect date at your dream location without having to compromise on your vision.

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