Wedding at the Floral Hall, Rochester, MN: Essential Tips for Planning & Photos
Today, let’s talk about a historic venue in Rochester, MN: the Floral Hall. It’s through the wedding of Kirsta and Evan that we will discover this place.
Throughout their day, we will look at the advantages and limitations of this venue so you can decide whether to book it. And if so, you will have all the solutions to get the best of it. At the end of this article, you should already have an idea of the type of day you want.
What you will learn here
This guide offers an in-depth look at the Floral Hall in Rochester, MN, as a wedding venue, drawing insights from a specific couple’s experience to illustrate its features. It highlights the architectural characteristics of the historic two-story limestone building, including its spacious capacity and unique blend of industrial and rustic aesthetics. The text also addresses potential limitations such as lighting challenges on cloudy days, the lack of a private getting-ready room, and the limited outdoor photographic options due to its immediate surroundings. Ultimately, the guide aims to provide comprehensive advice for couples considering the Floral Hall, offering solutions and recommendations to maximize its potential for a wedding, especially for photography.
Table of Contents
Presentation of the Floral Hall
The Floral Hall is one of three historic buildings in Graham Park. Olmsted County manages it and rents it for weddings. The other two buildings are Aune Hall and Crawford Hall.
The Floral Hall was built in 1938 under the Works Progress Administration (WPA). It replaced a previous framed building from 1910, also named Floral Hall and associated with Dr. Christopher Graham.
With 25 tables for eight chairs, accommodating approximately 200 guests seated, and 300 standing. It can meet larger wedding needs. White foldable chairs are also provided.
If you’re having a small wedding and want a smaller venue downtown, consider restaurants instead.
So, what does the building look like?
A limestone two-story historic venue
The present building is a two-story limestone building built using locally sourced limestone from a quarry in Genoa. That is the same stone that covers most of the interior wall. Another current decoration for the wall is scraps of wood of different colors; That adds a barn-like dimension.
The visible ceiling of the building is actually the non-isolated roof. It shows the studs and all the functional tubes (electricity, AC, heater, etc). Pairing with a metallic warehouse-style suspended lamp adds an industrial dimension to the building.
Balconies and Open Mezzanines
The second floor features two open mezzanines (one north, one south) with an inside balcony running alongside. The four sides of the building wall are covered by big 4-foot by 4-foot windows, making it quite a bright building on a Sunny day.
On the contrary, on a cloudy day, the mix of natural light and artificial light can make it tricky for photos.
The mezzanine and balcony are all made of wood (nice wood floor), with darker desaturated tones for the floor, and yellowish pine for the guardrails and wall coverings.
The balconies are perfect for a cocktail hour or having the guests watch the first dance from above!
A Basic First Floor with limestone walls
The first floor, though, doesn’t have any windows, making it darker; some would say cozier. However, the polished concrete floor tends to reflect ambient light, brightening the space. If it’s a sunny day, you can let the main door open, which would bring a lot of sun in.
The first floor is the main area where your dinner will take place. White poles support the second-floor Mezzanines and balconies.
From the outside, the limestone building with its massive wooden door looks like a warehouse.
From an ambient point of view, inside, the second-floor windows bring in a lot of warm-toned light, but the sun gets cut off when the sun goes below the windows’ line. It’s definitely a building that would work great on sunny days. However, if it’s cloudy or rainy, your DJ should bring enough lighting to enhance the atmosphere.
Floral Hall Limitations
Now, let’s see the downside of this venue and what you can do to get the best of this place without compromising on your wedding day and photos.
No Proper Room to Get Ready
Most people want good pictures of their preparations. Indeed, it’s a special moment shared with close friends and family.
If the second-floor balcony works great from a lighting point of view (especially on a Sunny day), it also doesn’t offer much privacy to get dressed.
There is a tiny room on the first floor, lacking windows, and it is not ideal (not to say terrible) for taking nice pictures.
So, you need a proper place for the preparation.
Solution: Consider booking a suite in a hotel (J.Powers, Kahler Grand Hotel). Note that Airbnb can be another option for better preparation of photos.
A Potential Tricky Lightning on Cloudy Days
All the windows come from the second floor, large 4×4-foot windows that cover the entire building. On sunny days, it works like a charm. On cloudy days, the mix of artificial light (bare bulbs) with natural light could potentially be an issue for good pictures (if you don’t like the ugly mix of blue and yellow light).
On the first floor, the lighting is pretty basic. You might want your DJ to add some extra lights on the walls.
Solution: You need a very good photographer who understands how light temperature works, is skilled with flashes, and correction gels.
A large Balcony for a limited number of people
The balcony is quite spacious, but if you are planning to host a ceremony, be aware that it may not accommodate all your guests. It is suitable for a maximum of 40 to 50 guests for a wedding ceremony upstairs.
Solution: If you have more guests, you might want to consider having the ceremony on the first floor and then flipping the room during the cocktail hour on the second floor. Or, if you are religious, it’s a time of a ceremony at your Church (or other religious building) that has become convenient.
A Poor Outdoor option with an immediate parking lot
As soon as you get out of the Florida Hall, you are right facing the empty lawn of the Graham Park and the huge parking lot.
So, unless you like the charm of a parking lot, you won’t host an outdoor ceremony or an outdoor cocktail hour.
Solution: Plan everything (as much as you can) inside, and/or plan enough time to travel to the most photogenic locations.
Is the Floral Hall Photogenic for a wedding day? What are the photography options?
First, the building itself is quite photogenic.
The second-floor balcony is great for photos. You could have your first look there and host a ceremony.
The exterior of the building, with its stone and wooden doors, also works well for photography.
However, once those options are used, finding good photography spots directly nearby will be difficult. Graham Park doesn’t have many trees or backgrounds that work well for photography. It looks like an industrial area with warehouses and parking lots. Therefore, for good bride-and-groom photos, you must drive to another place (downtown or a park).
So, where can you take your Bride and Groom photos near the Floral Hall?
Here is a list of Rochester’s best photogenic places that I usually recommend for engagement sessions, but that would work great for the wedding day. Here is a list of Rochester’s best photogenic places that I usually recommend for engagement sessions, but that would work great for the wedding day.
If you cannot drive elsewhere, there are still two nearby options that could give you an original background:
- The rail tracks: a picture near the railway can be fun.
- The adjacent Ear of Corn Water Tower. It could work as a background element in a picture.
Where to do your first look and individual pictures?
Check Krista and Evan’s photos. They use the balcony next to the big windows.
The light was warm and soft. The couple was thrilled.
It was a blast!
Where to take your wedding party and family pictures?
- Whether it’s sunny or rainy, the easiest would be to use the floral Hall mezzanine. Paired with proper flash lighting, it would work great for a group of up to 10 people (including the bride and groom).
- If the main floor is not that busy with tables, then you could potentially move some to take your wedding party photos.
- If you are in a rush, the large wooden door, or even the stone wall, at the side of the building would probably work if it is sunny.
And, as we mentioned earlier, given there is no proper room to get ready, you will likely need to rent a hotel suite or Airbnb. If your hotel has a nice lobby (such as the Hilton), then we could use it for the wedding party.
Krista and Richard’s Wedding Day
Let me share the bride and groom’s plan for the day. But first, a quick introduction.
Quick Presentation of the Couple
She is a Registered Nurse at the Mayo Clinic, and he is a police officer in Eyota. They met in real life at Richard’s previous workplace. He found the right words at the right time and got her number.
I first covered Krista and Richard’s engagement session at Root River Park, south of Rochester. We talked and laughed a lot, and we had a great time, finishing up by playing in the water.
I also remember taking a few photos with their dog.
Again, I emphasize how engagement sessions help achieve better portraits on the wedding day. Consider having one at a river, a lake, or a farm. Plus, you can use the photos for your save-the-date cards and invitations!
How They Planned for Their Wedding Day
The preparation took place at the Floral Hall. As you can see, the groom wore a very unique outfit with his Scottish kilt!
Then they had their first look at the Floral Hall’s second floor, followed by some photos with their family members outside.
For their wedding party photos, we went to The River Access Park, near Silver Lake Dam.
For their wedding photos, we used Cascade Creek, the Old Stone Building, and the view of the Zumbro River.
Then, we went back for the ceremony, which took place at the Floral Hall. We also used the location for family photos.
For their sunset photos, they wanted to go to the Plummer House. However, we were delayed, and it was closing, so we headed downtown to the Plummer Building.
Finally, we returned to the venue for the dinner, the first dances, and the party.
An Amazing Wedding
Before closing, I just wanted to highlight how great their wedding was. I sometimes go into more detail about couples’ stories, but in their case, there is so much to say that it is better to keep it simple.
It was a great day, and I’m glad they decided to share it with me. I met great people and appreciated their connections.
Floral Hall’s Price and What’s Included
Floral Hall is available for events from March through October, with space for up to 300 guests.
- 2025 weekend rate: $3,700 (plus tax) for Friday through Sunday.
- 2026 weekend rate: $3,885 (plus tax) for Friday through Sunday.
A refundable $500 clean-up deposit is required.
The weekend rental includes full access to the hall and mezzanine, along with 300 chairs, 25 round tables, 12 high-top tables, and 25 banquet tables. You’ll also have dimmable lighting, a concrete floor, updated restrooms, and Wi-Fi.
What to Consider if You Book the Floral Hall at Graham Park
If you decide to book this beautiful wedding venue, consider the following to ensure the best photos.
- You should book a nice hotel suite for the bride’s preparations.
- Add extra light for the evening: The venue is dark, so adding LED uplighting (the box on the ground) in various colors would give it another dimension.
- Add some flowers for decoration. The venue is made of stone, and the first floor has no windows, so it benefits from a touch of nature. Plants and floral arrangements are great ideas.
- Except for the indoor bride and groom / first look and small group, you should plan to take your bride and groom photos in another location.
- You can host your ceremony on the second-floor balcony, like Evan and Krista (see the photos), but it would fit only a small group (40/50 people).
- You could potentially host your cocktail hour on the second-floor balcony and enjoy the view and natural light.
- Be aware of other events. The Olmsted County Fair and other events usually take place at Graham Park. Double-check the calendar if you don’t want to share your wedding day with thousands of random people.
Conclusion
The Floral Hall is one of the greatest venues in Rochester, MN, for large weddings, especially for couples seeking an affordable option. If you get married during the week, you can benefit from a huge discount, making it one of the most affordable venues. Thank you, Olmsted County! However, for weekends, prices increase significantly.
Although it’s located near downtown, the surrounding area lacks charm. So, consider another location for your photos (Check our locations for engagement session in Rochester mentioned earlier).
And finally, the biggest downside of this wedding venue is the lack of a suitable on-site room for preparations, often requiring a hotel room.
Floral Hall at Graham Park
Address: 1500 16th St SW, Rochester, MN 55902, United States
Contact: (507) 328-7324 (Olmsted County Parks Department)
Manager: Olmsted County Parks Department
As always, if you are looking to book this venue and need a wedding photographer who knows the place and would give you good pictures, contact me today! I usually answer within 24 hours!
