When it came time for Sandra Feist and her husband Ben to select a locale for their winter nuptials, one thing came to mind: music. “We knew that we didn’t want to have a traditional wedding, and it seemed like a great idea to have the wedding someplace where we could take advantage of the already attractive and interesting layout and décor,” Feist says.
The couple had attended a Placebo concert at the Fine Line Music Cafe in Minneapolis and were excited to learn that the nightlife hot spot also hosts private parties. “To have our wedding at a location that could facilitate the various types of music and performers that brought us together was very special,” Feist says. “The same music at a different venue wouldn’t have been the same.”
Whether it’s walking down the aisle to the sound of hip-hop or enjoying hors d’oeuvres while a live band performs, more and more couples are embracing nightclubs as the locale to celebrate their big day and “wow” their guests.
Your Rock ’n’ Roll Lifestyle
“Not many couples can say they held their ceremony within the historic walls of an internationally recognized rock club,” says Megan Netland, promotions and public relations coordinator at First Avenue & 7th Street Entry in Minneapolis. “In my mind, if a couple is looking for a one-of-a-kind, non-traditional wedding space, it does not get any more non-traditional than First Avenue. It may not be for everyone, but I can guarantee that it will be memorable for all who get to be a part of it, not to mention a great story to tell.”
First Avenue’s mainroom is its most versatile space, with a capacity of approximately 1,500 guests and a 1,000-square-foot dance floor. For smaller affairs, the club’s VIP room holds approximately 150 people standing and about 50 to 60 people seated. Couples must bring in their own catering.
“We have two levels, including three rooms altogether, with amazing sound and lights available in all of those rooms,” Netland says. “We can utilize those spaces in any way a couple would like.”
The Fine Line can accommodate 225 to 250 guests for a seated event and more than 700 guests if it’s a standing cocktail reception, according to special events coordinator Wendy Haney. “Most couples have themes that revolve around music and more of a city feel to them, although we can adapt to different styles,” she says. “I’ve had a lot of couples lately who choose us because they met here, they had their first date here or they are really into music and see some of their favorite bands here. Some couples are simply looking for a place that is a little less traditional and perhaps a little more affordable.”
Epic Event Center in Minneapolis is seeing increased interest from couples who want to host their entire wedding—ceremony and reception—at the club. As sales and marketing director Marcia McKinney explains, Epic is a unique venue for those who want a more contemporary look and feel for their big day, and it’s especially helpful to couples with extensive guest lists.
“We needed to find something large enough to support our big families,” says groom Jai Kissoon who married his wife Carrie at Epic. “Being together for eight years, we’ve been lucky enough to build many wonderful friendships, and we didn’t want to exclude anyone because of a lack of size in our venue.”
Most importantly, Jai and Carrie also wanted something that would reflect their interests—Carrie is a dancer and has go-go danced at many clubs and Jai DJs at many of the local nightclubs.
“We had some skepticism from some of the parents at first, referring to us as having a ‘Vegas-style wedding,’” Kissoon says. “We think they were mostly worried about losing the delicacy and traditions that come from a wedding, but once they saw the venue and listened to our plans, they began to see our vision.”
For the ceremony, the staff arranged the chairs in the mainroom in two sections facing the stage. Besides incorporating Epic’s unique layout—multiple levels with a balcony overlooking the stage and an outdoor terrace—the couple worked closely to take advantage of the facility’s high-tech lighting, adding a memorable flair to the event.
“When we kissed at the end of our ceremony, all of the lights went crazy with flashes and strobes,” Kissoon explained. “We also got to do the ‘Billy Jean music video thing’: With each step we took down the aisle, the ground under our feet would light up. It was Carrie’s favorite part.”
After the ceremony, staff and ushers moved the guests upstairs for food and cocktails while the crew removed the chairs from the dance floor and set up the DJ booth on stage. The couple ended up opening the doors to the public a little before 11 p.m. for one of their favorite house DJs, Mark Farina.
“A lot of people were a little hesitant about this idea, but we pointed out that many pop wedding venues make you shut down at 11 p.m. or 12 a.m.,” Kissoon says. “This way we were able to party until 2 a.m. Once we opened the doors to the public we were also able to keep part of the club to just our wedding guests, so if they didn’t want to mingle with the outsiders, they didn’t have to.”
Epic’s upscale contemporary interior is designed for the mid-size to larger wedding, McKinney explains, offering 18,000 square feet of event space, accommodating up to 600-plus for a plated meal, more for a cocktail-style event. If you have a group of 200 to 300, you can hold the ceremony and dinner on the main floor and use the second level for more casual seating, with a great view of the stage and dance floor, to showcase the couple as well as the entertainment.
Sights and Sounds
Making the most of state-of-the-art sound and lighting capabilities is just one advantage couples have when hosting a wedding event at a nightclub. “We have an amazing sound system because live music is what we do on a full-time basis,” Netland says of First Avenue. “Couples either have the opportunity to take full advantage of an awesome DJ setup with top-of-the-line sound, and a full light show; or they can bring in a live band lineup playing from the main stage for their reception. Either way, the dance floor is sure to be full all night.”
Sandra Feist prepared a mix on her iPod for each stage of her wedding at the Fine Line. Musicians such as Nick Drake, Laura Nyro and Bruce Springsteen “accompanied” the 133 guests as they arrived and took their seats.
“We incorporated the setting into our music for the ceremony itself. First a string quartet of a Bowie song played, and then I walked down the aisle to Alice Cooper’s very appropriately exuberant, ‘Hello Hooray,’ ” Feist says. “We married on the stage, walked back down the aisle, then had a receiving line at the foot of the stairs that led to the second level.” A buffet dinner, during which guests enjoyed live jazz, was held near the stage. Later guests enjoyed Mise en Place, a noise-pop band that covered one of the couple’s favorite Pixies songs.
“Using a club for your wedding doesn’t have to mean that you’re alienating or excluding your elder guests from the event,” Feist says. “You can arrange the evening to ensure that the music starts out at an acceptable decibel level, then turn it up as the night progresses.”
Capturing the originality of a wedding reception held at a nightclub also was paramount for many couples. “My favorite pictures from the night incorporate band stickers on the mirrors of the green room, the brick walls, the bands on stage and the posters for upcoming events at the Fine Line,” Feist says. “We also made use of the alleyway behind the club to take photos that were both romantic and urban.”
Engaged couples are drawn to the Envy Nightclub’s sound system and DJ equipment, says Ivy Ivers, marketing manager at the Minneapolis club. “We have two rooms, offering the ability to play two types of music at the same time with no leakage into the other room,” Ivers says. Some couples have enjoyed a Top 40 dance room with the other room playing classic Sinatra-era music. It allows lots of diversity so the reception crowd can find their niche sound.
For Jai and Carrie Kissoon, the numerous flat-screen televisions and projectors scattered throughout Epic Nightclub afforded the ideal arena to showcase their audio-video presentation.
“As guests arrived, we had a slideshow playing on all 33 HDTVs and on the main projector screen on stage,” Kissoon says. “During the private main reception we had two of our favorite local DJs—DJ Dudley D, who also played the role of a groomsman, and Bryan Gerrard. And at the end of the night we brought in Mark Farina, a superstar DJ from the West Coast. In the middle of the Mark Farina show, we grabbed our wedding party and took them backstage to hand out the pink and white glow sticks that we bought as wedding favors. Everyone grabbed huge handfuls, cracked them on and ran out on stage together in front of hundreds of Farina fans, and just started throwing. We felt famous for just a night!”
A Contemporary Feel
Contemporary is a key word when it comes to nightclub receptions. “Our lighted LED bars add a modern edge and our high ceilings keep the two large dance floors feeling very open and spacious,” Ivers says of Envy. “This is a great venue for a young couple who want to break free of a traditional banquet facility for a wedding and flash it up with a modern appeal.”
Envy offers two main rooms with three full bars and can hold up to 500 people. Each room has table, booth and couch seating. Wedding parties must hire a catering company for the event, as Envy does not have a kitchen.
Last summer the club hosted a reception for 200 guests, where the couple used the back room for food and conversation and the front room as their dance floor and bar. “One of the rooms was used as more of a reservoir for those who wanted to relax, mingle and catch up with family and friends, while allowing party festivities to be at full capacity in the main room.” says Ivers. “The couple provided their own decorations for the event—the fabric wrapping for the pillars and the many candles gave a nice ambiance.”
Netland assures couples that if they want to have a rock club like First Avenue be their reception backdrop, they can make the details of the room look any way that they like. “We’re in the business of making dreams come true here,” she says, “whether you’re an up-and-coming rock star or a soon-to-be bride and groom.”
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