Since we’re just down the road from the Minnesota State Fair, we know how much Minnesotans love it. It totally makes sense that State Fair “super fans” would want to incorporate their favorite summertime event into their big day. Maybe you’ve wondered, “Can we get married at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds?” Yes, you can, and we’ve got a special guest today to give you all the details!

 Photography courtesy of DnK Photography.

Go all out with a carnival wedding at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds!

We love the carnival weddings we’ve been seeing on Pinterest and some of our favorite wedding blogs. What better way to incorporate this fun-loving theme than with a carnival wedding at the Minnesota State Fair? Maria, one of two fabulous wedding coordinators at the Fair, is here to give us the scoop on how you can make your ideas for a carnival wedding become a reality. About how many weddings do you host every year? Typically two or three a year. Many times we will have one during the 12 day fair at the Blue Ribbon Picnic Area and then one or two in the Progress Center during the summer or fall. How far in advance should couples book their dates? At least a year in advance. Particularly in the Progress Center, dates tend to fill up very quickly. We get a lot of inquiries from couples six to nine months in advance, and unfortunately have to turn them away due to date unavailability.

Come one, come all to a Minnesota State Fair wedding!

Photography courtesy of DnK Photography.

How many wedding coordinators do you have on staff to work with couples? There are two of us: myself and a co-worker. We also have a large operations staff that assists with setup and on-site maintenance. Who are your preferred vendors? We have an exclusive list of caterers that include: Mintahoe Catering & Events, Prom Catering and Lancer Catering. Other than that, we allow couples to use their decorator, sound provider, florist, DJ, etc. of choice. We do have a directory of local services available for couples looking for suggestions. What do you think attracts couples to having a State Fair wedding? Nostalgia. We see a lot of couples who had their first date during the fair, met while showing their horse through 4-H or even fell in love while working in a food concession booth. There really is something romantic and magical about the fair. What can couples expect from a wedding at the Fair that they can’t get anywhere else? A relaxed and unique setting. Many weddings venues in the Minneapolis/Saint Paul area are very cookie cutter. We strive to allow couples to make their special day as unique as they are. If a couple doesn’t want to get married at the Fair, can they still have an engagement photo session? Engagement photo sessions are a possibility depending on the time of year and fairgrounds availability. For more information, interested couples can call (651) 288-4400.

Find fun ideas for a carnival wedding at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds!

Photography courtesy of DnK Photography.

What kind of gowns do you see brides wearing? We have really seen all kinds: lace, ball gowns, princess, mermaid, etc. What is the most unique thing a couple has done for their wedding at the Fair? This was before my time but the daughter of the Giant Slide owner said her vows on top of the iconic attraction and then took a joy ride down with her husband. I am sure that is one wedding that their guests remembered for quite some time! What has been your favorite wedding? Why? We had one wedding that served fair-food during their cocktail hour. It was very well done and the guests loved it. They had mini corn dogs, cheese curds and a few other staple fair-food items for guests to sample. What advice would you give to couples wanting a State Fair wedding? Check on date availability as soon as possible! A big thanks to our friend Maria for filling us in on all the details. Still have questions? You can visit the Fair’s event page online or contact Maria directly at maria.mccullough@mnstatefair.org.

(Thank you, DnK Photography, for sharing these awesome images of James and Ruthie's Rock the Dress session!)