We’re always on the hunt for unique Minnesota wedding venues, and it doesn’t get much more unique than the Minnesota Renaissance Festival. If you totally geek out over all things Camelot-related (and even if you don’t!) you’ll definitely want to look into the renaissance weddings that take place at the Festival grounds in Shakopee. Not sure you want a renaissance wedding with the works? No problem! The Festival will host everything from engagement photo shoots to rehearsal dinners to a renaissance wedding reception. We had the pleasure of sitting down with Katie, one of the fantastic wedding planners at the Festival. She filled us in on all the details, so read ahead for tips on hosting a renaissance wedding of your dreams. Huzzah!

Photography courtesy of the Minnesota Renaissance Festival.

Read about renaissance weddings at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival!

The Festival has a number of different options available for ceremonies and receptions, and will gladly accommodate a variety of needs. Even if you don’t plan on having an all-out renaissance outdoors wedding, don’t worry—only half of the weddings held at the Festival every year are themed. Katie gives us the scoop on having a renaissance wedding reception, ceremony, or both. How many weddings do you host every season? 40-45. We hold weddings from June through early October. Many couples don’t realize that we hold weddings before the Festival is open as well as during the Festival. We’ve got multiple ceremony venues. How far in advance should couples book their dates? For peak times, we recommend nine months to one year out. Couples at any planning stage are welcome to give us a call to check availability.

Minnesota wedding venues: Host a renaissance outdoors wedding.

Photography courtesy of the Minnesota Renaissance Festival.

Who are your preferred vendors? We provide food and beverage on our site. Couples are welcome to bring in their own florist, photographer, cake, and officiant of their choice. We work with a wide variety of vendors. Since all of your ceremony venues are for a renaissance outdoors wedding, what do you do in the case of inclement weather? We have an indoor manor and a covered pavilion that a ceremony can move into. Tents can also be rented. What do you think attracts couples to having a Festival wedding? A unique setting; a beautiful one-of-a-kind backdrop. Couples appreciate the affordable rental costs, too [ceremony packages start at $350]. What can couples expect from a wedding at the Festival that they can’t get anywhere else? Weddings held when the Festival is not open enjoy the privacy of a private event in an outdoor garden setting.  Weddings held during a Festival enjoy the pageantry of the Festival, with opportunities to participate in the daily parade and toasting with the King and Queen. We have a large cast of entertainers that can accommodate any type of event.

Minnesota wedding venues: The Minnesota Renaissance Festival.

Photography courtesy of the Minnesota Renaissance Festival.

What is the most unusual thing a couple has done for their ceremony? We’ve had many. The most unique have been when people have incorporated their pet(s) into the ceremony. What has been your favorite wedding? Why? We’ve had so many. We enjoy when a couple chooses to incorporate family traditions and heritage into the ceremony and reception.  Also when they have added their personality, travel, hobbies etc. into the wedding day. What advice would you give to those couples wanting a Renaissance Festival wedding? Remember to think about the guests in attendance. If there are going to be many children, it’s great to have some activities planned to keep them busy. Plan for the weather. There are many things for guests to see and do at the Festival, so don’t forget to build in some time for them to go explore. Enjoy your day! Want more info? Contact Katie and the other event planners at weddings@renaissancefest.com or 952-445-7361.