The North Garden Theater is best suited for events with a guest count of 150 or less. Our total building capacity allows for a few extra guests (just in case you're more popular than you thought) plus staff, servers, and vendors.

We aim to make your planning as simple as possible. Your rental includes a wide range of amenities designed to create a seamless, professional event. (Note: Amenities and services are subject to change; current as of April 2026.) The Venue & Atmosphere Custom Marquee: Your custom message on our illuminated exterior marquee—a perfect photo opportunity for your guests. Historic Signage: Access to our exterior poster boxes (2' x 3') to personalize the entrance. Custom Lighting: Professional lighting design, including our signature chandelier, cafe (string) lights, wall sconces, theatrical stage lights, and dance floor "party" lighting. The Stage: A 24' x 8' raised stage with a classic black velvet split-curtain backdrop. Photo Backdrop: A 10' x 10' curtained backdrop frame (use our curtains or bring your own to match your theme). Furniture & Linens Seating: Up to 150 chairs. Tables: 20 six-foot banquet tables, 3 eight-foot banquet tables, and 7 high-top cocktail tables. Linens: Black table coverings for all guest and catering tables. Audio, Visual & Tech Sound System: Full house audio with microphones, iPad control, and 18-channel stage inputs. Projection Surfaces: High-quality media capabilities for slideshows, movies, or custom logos. Connectivity: High-speed 5GHz Wi-Fi access for you and your vendors. Background Music: Ability to provide customized playlists for your cocktail hour or dinner. Staffing & Coordination Management: A dedicated Venue Floor Manager to oversee the facility during your event. Bar Service: Fully staffed bar service including professional bartenders. Planning: A one-hour planning meeting to finalize your layout and details (held at least two weeks prior to your date). Guest & Wedding Party Comfort Dressing Suites: Access to our "backstage" dressing room (mirrors, garment racks, and private bathroom) plus a second "get ready" room. Kitchen: A catering prep kitchen for your food service team. Restrooms: Three public ADA-compliant bathrooms.

Yes! There is no additional fee to add a wedding ceremony to your reception as long as it takes place within your rented time period and there is no need to staff a "flip" of the space from one setup to another. If a ceremony requires additional hours or a staffed changeover is needed, we will provide a custom quote for the labor.

The North Garden Theater is an intimate, single-room venue, which means we do not perform "Full Flips" (where all guests must exit while the entire room is reset). Instead, we utilize a Minne-Flip: The Setup: We arrange traditional ceremony seating for your immediate family and VIPs in the center of the room. Your remaining guests are seated comfortably at their reception tables from the very beginning. The Transition: Once the ceremony concludes, we simply remove the VIP rows to open up the floor. This allows your guests to stay in the space and head straight to the bar without the awkwardness of clearing out the room. How it happens: For no additional cost, the wedding party can provide a few volunteers to assist our Floor Manager with moving those few rows of VIP chairs. This takes only a few minutes and keeps your event moving seamlessly.

We have a list of preferred caterers but are open to any licensed and insured caterer of your choice. You may also bring in pre-prepared trays from a local grocer (no home-cooking allowed). Up to 75 Guests: The renter must arrange for non-guest volunteers or a hired professional staff to clear guest tables of food and waste. 76–150 Guests: The renter or caterer must provide professional staff (1 staff member for up to 100 guests; 2+ staff for up to 150) to attend to food service and bussing. We highly recommend hiring professional catering staff for larger groups.

We welcome curated playlists, professional DJs from our exclusive list, and small musical ensembles. Exclusive DJ List: To ensure the best experience and protect our professional sound system, we only allow DJs from our pre-approved, exclusive vendor list. Outside DJs or "friend/family" DJs are not permitted. These professionals are intimately familiar with our venue’s acoustics and technical requirements. Bands & Ensembles: Small musical ensembles (acoustic, jazz trios, etc.) are welcome. However, traditional, amplified rock bands are not allowed. If you have a specific group in mind, please ask us! Curated Playlists: You are welcome to plug in your own device to play a curated playlist for your ceremony or background music during dinner.

Cakes may be brought into the North Garden Theater from a licensed vendor. We do not provide cake-cutting, but some caterers can offer this service. We do not provide plates, forks, napkins, or serving utensils for cake. These items must be provided by you, your bakery, or approved caterer cutting the cake. PRO TIP: One of THE most forgotten things to bring is a knife to cut the cake.

Yes! The North Garden Theater is located less than 2 miles from Downtown St. Paul, which offers a wide variety of lodging from historic landmarks to modern boutique hotels. Proximity: Most downtown hotels are just a 5-to-10-minute ride from our front door. Click here for a Google Maps search of nearby hotels. Hotel Shuttles: Many couples choose to coordinate with their selected downtown hotel to arrange a shuttle service for their guests. This is a fantastic way to ensure everyone arrives on time and has a safe, pre-arranged ride back at the end of the night. Ride Shares: Uber and Lyft are very active in our neighborhood, making it easy for guests to find a ride at any hour.

We only require "Special Event Liability" insurance for weddings and wedding adjacent events. It’s a simple way to protect yourselves and your guests, usually costing around $150. Please note: We require a Waiver of Subrogation to be included when you secure your policy. You can find our recommended insurance providers on our Vendor List. What does wedding insurance cover? Most of our couples use providers like EventSured, The Event Helper, or eWed Insurance. Liability Protection: Covers you if you are held responsible for a guest’s injury or property damage. Host Liquor Liability: Protects you against alcohol-related accidents (a must-have for any open bar!). Cancellation/Postponement (Optional): Many policies can also reimburse your non-refundable deposits if a vendor goes bankrupt, a family emergency occurs, or extreme weather forces a reschedule. You can find these direct links and more information on our Vendor List. Disclaimer: The North Garden Theater is not an insurance provider. Coverage, limits, and exclusions vary by company and policy. Please review the specific terms and conditions of your chosen provider for full details.

We find that our space is a perfect fit for couples who want to keep things simple and personal without the need for a professional planner. While you can choose to work with a planner on your end, we want to work directly with you, our client, to ensure your vision is executed perfectly within our space.