The Minnesota History center is the headquarters of the Minnesota History Society and houses a museum, library, and event space next to Capitol Hill in St Paul. Its a gorgeous place to celebrate with guests, and one of my favorite places to photograph.
Why choose the History Center for your wedding
Right next to downtown St Paul, with parking and views of the skyline, the interior of the History Center is still the main reason people choose it for their wedding. The vaulted ceilings and huge windows are impressive for guests and the acoustics for the ceremony and dancing are lovely.
Planning for wedding photography that showcases this magnificent space in St Paul.
Couples choose the Minnesota History Center for their wedding because it brings a sense of timelessness to their celebration. And “classic” is a good description of weddings at the St Paul History center.
The History Center is a beautiful set of spaces to show off many eras of St Paul to your guests, and it is also a gorgeous space in its own right.
Many couples use the amazing interior as their ceremony space inside, and then lead guests to the large balcony overlooking downtown St Paul for cocktail hour. A reception in the rotunda and dancing upstairs ends the night.
Minnesota History Center Wedding Ceremony
Many couples opt for using the three-story-tall Capitol Corridor for their wedding ceremony. And with good reason – with stunning architecture and windows looking onto the Capitol, its a perfect framing for a ceremony, even with larger groups.
For a wedding ceremony, it doesn’t get much more picturesque than this. Keep in mind that, depending on the time of day, the ceremony will be backlit with the window lighting. This can be a feature, and sometimes people opt for additional lighting on the wedding ceremony to balance this.
Making the most of the evening views at your Minnesota History Center Wedding
Minnesota History Center weddings are a lovely blend of architecture, history, and stunning views. Make sure to plan for photos outside at dusk or even after dark – the view of the St Paul skyline from the exterior patio is lovely.
Dancing the night away at the Minnesota History Center
There are few places as well suited for dancing photography as the history center when it comes to backgrounds for dancing – overlooking the St Paul capitol building through arched glass, it brings the city right in with your guests.
MN History Center Rotunda for Wedding Receptions
From the Cathedral in the background during your dances, the hanging airplane over your reception, or the arched building itself, having the structure as a part of your images completes the story of your wedding.
Frequently Asked Questions about Minnesota History Center Weddings
Is the Minnesota History Center suitable for large weddings?
Yes, this is a prime spot for larger weddings. And because the History Center has many spaces, with large scale architecture, it can accommodate a large number of guests without feeling cavernous.
Where is the Minnesota History Center located?
The History Center is by the edge of downtown St Paul, MN at 345 W. Kellogg Blvd. St. Paul, MN 55102. There is a large parking lot on location, and easy access to the highways.
What are best portrait locations by the Minnesota History Center?
Depending on your plans, there are many spaces in St Paul or the larger metro for portraits and photos before your History Center wedding. I’m particularly fond of Raspberry Island for views of downtown St Paul by the Mississippi river. Downtown St Paul also features Rice park and Mears park, which can be good spaces for portraits with some greenery in the midst of the city.
Are there photography rules at the Minnesota History Center?
The main events of a wedding can’t start until the History Center closes to the public, generally in the late afternoon. That means that the bulk of photography can’t happen until then as well.
What is lighting like at the Minnesota History Center?
Parts of the History Center have lovely natural light, like the rotunda dome. The capitol corridor can be very backlit at times, so I often introduce lighting to balance the subjects with the background so that the sky and capitol building are also visible during the ceremony or portraits. As night falls, the skyline becomes more dramatic, and this is often enhanced with a plan for lighting those spaces. Because the spaces are often quite tall, the interior spaces can be challenging and require a photographer who has a plan for balancing ambient light with any other flash work.
Do you often photograph weddings at the Minnesota History Center?
Yes! I love to photography celebrations here, it is such an amazing space for guests as well. If you are planning a wedding at the History Center, I would love to hear from you about your photography thoughts!