Minneapolis Institute of Art Wedding Photographer

Minneapolis Institute of Art: The Venue Itself

What the space is actually like — the details couples ask me about before they ask about photography.

Address

2400 Third Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55404

Capacity

Per Mia's current Rental Spaces page: Second Floor Corridor with Regis Court and Bruce B. Dayton Rotunda — 4,400 sq ft, 300 seated, 1,000 reception (largest indoor space). Reception Hall and MacMillan Atrium — 500 reception. Wells Fargo Community Room — 1,100 sq ft, 64 seated, 85 reception. Friends Community Room — 1,200 sq ft, 64 seated, 150 reception. Pillsbury Auditorium — 276 theater. Target Park (outdoor) — 1,000+. Note: seated and square-footage figures for the Reception Hall and the reception figure for the General Mills Lobby are omitted because Mia's own index page and room sub-pages give conflicting numbers.

Ceremony & reception spaces

Indoor rental spaces currently listed by Mia: the Reception Hall (maple-paneled) with the adjoining MacMillan Atrium (500 reception); the Second Floor Corridor with Regis Court and the Bruce B. Dayton Rotunda (4,400 sq ft; 300 seated / 1,000 reception); the General Mills Lobby (2,500 sq ft, first floor, three-story windows onto Washburn-Fair Oaks Park); Pillsbury Auditorium (276 theater); the Wells Fargo Community Room (1,100 sq ft; 64 seated / 85 reception); the Friends Community Room (1,200 sq ft; 64 seated / 150 reception); the Library (48 theater / 24 classroom; maple-paneled with large windows overlooking Target Park); and the Art Studios (45 reception / 32 theater / 18 classroom). The outdoor space is Target Park, an outdoor courtyard with landscaping, abstract sculptures, a pavilion, and a grove of oak trees, listed at 1,000+. Wedding rentals on Friday and Saturday evenings include access to designated galleries.

Parking

Paid parking is available on site in Mia's covered ramp, entrance on Third Ave. between 25th and 26th Streets, along with three surface lots: an upper and a lower lot on 24th Street and one on 25th Street. Street parking on the surrounding neighborhood streets is free, so check the posted time limits. Pay stations take credit and debit cards only, no cash. A circular passenger drop-off driveway is at the main museum entrance on Third Avenue. Accessible spaces are on Third Avenue, 24th Street, the first floor of the covered ramp, and the 24th Street/Third Avenue surface lot. There is no overnight parking, and special event rates may apply during large museum events.

Catering

Not in-house. Mia's weddings page states the museum offers "an extensive list of caterers to choose from who will work with you to design the perfect menu." Mia does not publish the list, and does not state anywhere whether use of a caterer from that list is required or whether outside caterers are permitted.

• The Minneapolis Institute of Art is located at 2400 Third Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55404, in the South Minneapolis neighborhood of Whittier, and the main public entrance is on Third Avenue South, leading directly to the main lobby and Visitor Experience desk.
• The Second Floor Corridor with Regis Court and the Bruce B. Dayton Rotunda totals 4,400 square feet and is listed at 300 seated and 1,000 reception; Mia describes it as a "stately marble hall with soaring ceilings and enchanting balconies."
• Target Park is Mia's outdoor rental space, described as an "outdoor courtyard with elegant landscaping, abstract sculptures, pavilion, and a grove of oak trees, perfect for outdoor celebrations," with a listed capacity of 1,000+.
• The Reception Hall is a maple-paneled room that can be paired with the adjoining MacMillan Atrium, and the combined space is listed at 500 reception.
• The General Mills Lobby is a first-floor, gallery-adjacent space of 2,500 square feet with three-story windows looking out to Washburn-Fair Oaks Park.
• Mia's wedding rental package includes complimentary onsite day-of event supervision, access to designated galleries for Friday and Saturday evening rentals, event set-up and strike, staffed coat check, event signage, decorative lighting, AV equipment with a media technician, and an extensive furniture inventory of tables and chairs.
• Mia does not provide catering in-house; its weddings page states the museum offers "an extensive list of caterers to choose from who will work with you to design the perfect menu," and notes that caterers provide linens for tables with food and beverage while Mia provides linens for non-food tables.
• The museum occupies a 1915 neoclassical building designed by McKim, Mead & White; a 1974 expansion added two modern wings designed by Kenzo Tange to the east and west sides of the original building; and a 113,000-square-foot Target Wing designed by Michael Graves & Associates opened June 11, 2006, together with 49,000 square feet of building renovation, adding thirty-four new galleries.
• Pillsbury Auditorium is a rentable space listed at 276 theater capacity, suited to presentations, talks, and film screenings.
• The Library is a rentable space Mia describes as an "intimate maple-paneled room with large windows overlooking Target Park," listed at 48 theater and 24 classroom.

Best Photo Spots at Mia

• Target Wing floor-to-ceiling windows
• Pillsbury Auditorium
• Columned front entrance
• Doryphoros sculpture gallery
• Rotunda
• Period Rooms (when approved)
• Washburn Fair Oaks Park
• Front steps editorial

Frequently Asked Questions