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THE WEXFORD AT EMERALD GREENS
Combining countryside beauty with proximity to the Twin Cities, the Wexford at Emerald Greens (@wexfordweddings) is a sparkling new venue near Hastings. Built on not one, but two 18-hole golf courses that transformed Tom Furlong’s family farm, the whole operation is still family-owned and run by his children. The Wexford’s event center features soaring ceilings with wood beam trusses, light-filled, floor-to-ceiling windows and a 20-foot-high door that opens to the wraparound outdoor deck. Inside, the venue can accommodate up to 400 guests, and with 3,000 square feet of outside patio space, guests can cozy up by a fire table and enjoy a cocktail and the sunset. An outdoor ceremony site with a sound system and tiered bench seating features a waterfall. The Wexford has an exclusive list of caterers with a range of options, as well as a full-service bar. Couples can select their own florist, DJs and day-of planners. While there is no on-site lodging, The Wexford has a partnership with Crowne Plaza in Bloomington that provides discounts and shuttle services; plus, the new Confluence hotel is six miles away in Hastings on the Mississippi River. It goes without saying that golf can be part of your agenda, and in any season: Bogey’s Pub, at the turn between the two courses, has eight state-of-the-art golf simulators; two are equipped with a variety of sports, including bowling, bocce, croquet, cornhole, shooting and more.
VENUE 983
Take a former office building and transform it into a sophisticated, contemporary event space—that’s what the Hemisphere Restaurants group did with Venue 983 (@venue_983) in Minneapolis. Enter through the art deco-style brass doors to a gracious space that is the perfect blank canvas. The modern Sputnik-style chandeliers contrast against the black, gray and taupe color scheme and complement the bar’s pendant lighting. Venue 983 is a one-stop shop, with its own catering and bar service (outside cake and desserts are allowed). “We have preferred vendors [and] connections, but also offer an on-site event director to assist in the coordination of the event leading up to the day,” says Cara Wallsog, marketing director. With a capacity of 210 seated and 300 standing, Venue 983 also boasts ample, free on-site parking. The Hemisphere Restaurants group’s other properties are The Tavern Grill, Taza and Sphere.
PIKE LAKE GOLF & BEACH CLUB
Venture north of the Twin Cities for the Pike Lake Golf & Beach Club (@pikelakegolfandbeach) in Duluth. The club opened in 2020, the event center in 2022. Featuring a mix of stone, wood, exposed beams and neutral tones, the event center has an industrial-chic vibe that meshes perfectly with the rugged northern Minnesota landscape. Exchange vows in the bright, airy space that can comfortably accommodate 325-360 guests. Or hold your ceremony at one of several outdoor sites, some of which overlook beautiful Pike Lake.
THE HOLLYWOOD
If it’s Hollywood glamour you seek, you’ll find it in … Northeast Minneapolis? Yes! New venue The Hollywood (@hollywood_mpls) is a restored 1935 art deco theater, described at the time as “an incomparable showplace.” Closed in 1987, the building was left to deteriorate until the National Park Service recognized its historical significance and put it on the National Register of Historic Places in 2017. Northeast resident and entrepreneur Andrew Volna bought the property and in consultation with New History, a historic preservation and building reuse firm, The Hollywood was reborn. With gleaming terrazzo floors, a bubbling fountain in the lobby, art deco fixtures and ornamentation and a sweeping staircase, The Hollywood embodies star-quality splendor. At 10,000 square feet, it has a capacity of 275 seated and 500 standing. Couples can bring in their own catering team or select from the venue’s partners. Once you step under The Hollywood’s bright lights and see your message on the marquee, you’re sure to sense a bit of stardust in the air.
