Winnipeg: Unique Reception Venues?

[bluenoser]

Hey Winnipeggers,

I am looking for some local help if you could. I'm getting married next year in Winnipeg, which is my fiancee's home city. A lot of my family and our friends will be travelling from Halifax and other parts of the country, and most of them have never been to Winnipeg before. I really love the city and I want to showcase it a bit, so I'm looking to host the reception in a unique-to-Winnipeg venue for the reception.

So I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions of places. We might have somewhere in the range of 300 people, so for round tables we'd need something like 3000 - 5000 square feet (fairly big, I guess).

I was thinking along the lines of an old warehouse or loft or any interesting, indoor open space really, so my first choice would be to have it somewhere in the Exchange District but I'm not limiting it to there. I have looked into the Millennium Centre (which is incredible) but I want to check out all of the possibilities before I go ahead with a down payment anywhere.

I apologize if there have been similar 'venue' threads before but I didn't come across any.

Thanks in advance for any help!

[Archiseek]

Millenium Centre is available
http://canada.archiseek.com/manitoba..._interior.html

[drew]

Millennium Centre is cool, but a lot of people complain about the acoustics. Personally I thought it was fine for the wedding I went to there.

There is of course the Fort Garry hotel as well. Not in the exchange, but fancy, downtown, close to the Forks and capable of large groups. The Sunday brunch is pretty kick ass too.

[Svenn]

The best reception I've ever been to was at millennium centre. It's just so different from all those other halls.

[dennis]

I've heard the Marlborough Hotel had a pretty good reception room. The grain exchange building on Lombard had a nice little one.

[Only The Lonely..]

Originally Posted by dennis

I've heard the Marlborough Hotel had a pretty good reception room. The grain exchange building on Lombard had a nice little one.

The skyview ballroom at the Marlborough is probably another great choice.

[DowntownWpg]

Originally Posted by Only The Lonely..

The skyview ballroom at the Marlborough is probably another great choice.

The staff of the Marlborough is horrible to deal with (at least, it was 1.5 years ago). My department threw a conference there. Sure, the ballroom upstairs is massive and is without pillars... but upon further examination you'll notice problems with some of the curtains, as well as the retractable wall was in a real state of disrepair. It was off to the side, but had several crooked panels. We also experienced many electrical issues up there.

I'd recommend staying away from the Marlborough. They do have a nice dining room on the main level you can use for events, "Churchill's Dining Room," but again, dealing with the management there is more headache than it's worth.

Originally Posted by JayM

To bad they weren't like longer rides with casinos in them that would be worth it.

You can actually make up your own gambling game on the riverboats. Award points each time to the person who is the first to spot something on the riverbank. 1 point for a shopping cart, 10 for a John and his prostitute at their "secluded" spot, 50 for a human corpse (25 for partial remains), etc. At the end, the winner of "The Great Winnipeg RiverBank Game" gets the cash.

[Only The Lonely..]

Originally Posted by drew

Millennium Centre is cool, but a lot of people complain about the acoustics. Personally I thought it was fine for the wedding I went to there.

There is of course the Fort Garry hotel as well. Not in the exchange, but fancy, downtown, close to the Forks and capable of large groups. The Sunday brunch is pretty kick ass too.

The Crystal Ballroom on the 7th floor of the Hotel Fort Garry is probably the nicest room i've ever been in my life.

My company holds its Winter Soiree there. The rail barons of the 19th century certainly knew a thing or two when it came to elegance.

[Only The Lonely..]

What time of the year is your wedding?

[bluenoser]

Thanks for the suggestions, guys - the Millennium, Fort Garry and Marlborough seem like solid options. I think Winnipeg's wealthy heritage is definitely a good thing to show off to out-of-towners.

Originally Posted by Only The Lonely..

What time of the year is your wedding?

We're thinking sometime in June, or else late May or early July. Hopefully we can also show off that Manitoba sun, ha.

[cotterpin]

I recently attended a wedding reception in the lobby space and mezzanine level of the centennial concert hall, its an amazing space.

[Only The Lonely..]

Originally Posted by bluenoser

Thanks for the suggestions, guys - the Millennium, Fort Garry and Marlborough seem like solid options. I think Winnipeg's wealthy heritage is definitely a good thing to show off to out-of-towners.


We're thinking sometime in June, or else late May or early July. Hopefully we can also show off that Manitoba sun, ha.

You might want to consider renting out the river boat. I believe they do weddings too.

Afterall, it is the best way to see the River City.

Another great choice would be Captain Kennedy's Tea House. And yes! Don't worry you can buy beer there too.

The house is about a 30 min drive to the north of the city, in the Rural Municipality of St.Andrews.

The house which was built in 1866 sits on the banks of the red and is surrounded by a lovely canopy of tree's.

Captain William Kennedy was a prominent merchant back in the days of the old Red River Colony.

His home is also across the street from St.Andrews Church, the oldest church in Western Canada.

[Greco Roman]

Originally Posted by bluenoser

We're thinking sometime in June, or else late May or early July. Hopefully we can also show off that Manitoba sun, ha.

You will probably be fine in May and July, however June is typically the rainy month across the prairies. I guess it all depends on how much of your wedding and it's associated events are being held outside.

[Only The Lonely..]

If you like the historic home theme, you can also rent Dalnavert for weddings.

Dalnavert is a block away from the Hotel Fort Garry, and was the home to Sir. Hugh MacDonald, Sir John A's son. He was also a lawyer and served breifly as the Premier of Manitoba in 1900.

The house is built in the Queen Anne Revival style and is quite charming as well.

Both Dalnavert and Captain Kennedy's home are alledgedly quite haunted.

[Only The Lonely..]

Sorry, on second thought I forgot your having a large wedding.

Those two venues, with the exception of the river boat might be too small for your needs.

[Biff]

The rooftop garden on the Art Gallery is also very nice but i think for only about 150 people.

[wags_in_the_peg]

capt kennedy and dalnaverte are both nice places but would be too small. the river boat is something diferent, but not very classy. i actually find them quite run down.

[thegreattait]

Niakwa Country Club, it's a 10 min drive from downtown and you can have the ceremony just off to the side of the golf course.

check out www.provencebistro.com for information. This is probably one of the nicest venues in the city, and the food is spectacular.

[wags_in_the_peg]

I'm going to a wedding there in 2 weeks (Niakwa CC) and am really looking forward to it.

I use to be a dishwashere there in my teens, before they tore told the old club and built this one.

[Biff]

While not very urban but beautiful none the less, check out Pine Ridge Hollow...just outside of Birds Hill Park - very nice. It is fast becoming the location of choice for many weddings and a perfect site for outdoor pictures.