Kaitlyn & Sophie’s Wedding Reception at Studio 324
After having a very unique and original ceremony, with songs and tears at the Quarry Hill Nature Center, Kaitlyn and Sophie met their guests at Studio 324.
In this article, I will show you how they used this venue for their own reception, and more broadly, I will present this venue and the options you could apply to your own upcoming celebration.
Table of Contents
The Bride and Bride’s Wedding Reception at Studio 324
Sophie and Kaitlyn opted for a small, family and friend-oriented wedding. After the official wedding ceremony at Quarry Hill Nature Center, we took some time to take photos of the couple in the park.
Do you notice their unique outfits? They were designed by the brides and created by one of our local Rochester Vendors: Looking Sharp Alterations.
During this time, the guests headed to the venue and started the cocktail hour.
When we arrived at the venue, and before they started mingling with their guests, I immediately took the brides for a few shots on Broadway to take advantage of the sunset light, before the sun started to hide behind the surrounding buildings.
The cocktail hour was filled with many candid shots.
Then it was time to capture good candid shots of the guests during the cocktail hour. This took place near the building’s large front windows, which provided good natural light.
Dinner and Party
Then the dinner took place in the central part of the venue. They had a long line of tables. I was able to move everywhere to shoot photos. Although taking pictures during dinner is not an easy task (people are eating and perhaps not at their most photogenic); I was able to capture interesting moments because the guests were excited and conversed with passion.
Then the speeches took place. (Speeches are my favorite part because there is always emotion). There was a lot of laughter and tears.
One of the great advantages of small gatherings is that the photographer is able to capture a lot of candid moments!
And finally, the party took place at the back of the venue, on a wood floor. The brides did their first dance. I love how Kaitlyn’s blue dress flew when she spun.
Finally, before leaving, I asked the brides to come to a nearby alley for a more artistic image, where I lit the street in red so it contrasted with the blue dress.
Presentation of the Studio 324 Venue
The Vibe Inside
What I like about Studio 324 is its historic character. The building dates all the way back to 1867! It’s been beautifully updated. You get these amazing exposed brick walls and warm hardwood floors. On the walls hang large, colorful paintings in a modern abstract style. The whole place, being long and narrow (tout en long), feels like a cool, intimate art gallery.
It has a charm that’s hard to beat, and it’s so different from a standard ballroom.
A Venue for Small to Medium-Sized Receptions
Wondering about space? Studio 324 is perfect for those cherished, more intimate gatherings, like Sophie and Kaitlyn’s, which had about 40 to 50 guests.
If you’re thinking of a more casual cocktail-style party where guests can mingle easily, it can hold up to about 100 people.
If you want to have a seated dinner, you can seat up to 80 guests with round tables, but then it might start to feel very (very) tight.
The open layout is great, which gives me plenty of room to move around and capture all those special moments from different angles!
A Venue That Lets You Pick Your Own Caterer
One of the things couples really appreciate about Studio 324 is the freedom with catering. You get to choose your own caterer! This is fantastic because you can pick food that perfectly matches your taste and budget. If you’re looking for suggestions, the folks at Studio 324 can give you a list of caterers who know the venue well. I’ve photographed some amazing meals there from local favorites like Catering By Design and Canadian Honker!
Note that the venue is surrounded by many other restaurants, which could also be used to host small events, such as a dinner after the courthouse wedding or a rehearsal dinner.
What You Get When Booking This Venue
Let’s break down the practical stuff:
- Booking Details: Last I heard, booking Studio 324 for a Thursday, Friday, or Saturday is around $850. If you’re looking at a Sunday through Wednesday, it’s typically closer to $650. This usually gives you the venue for six consecutive hours, and your event would wrap up by 11 p.m. If you need more time? You can often arrange that.
- Tables & Chairs: They provide a good mix of tables (those nice 60-inch rounds and some 8-foot rectangular ones). You’ll also get about 100 black banquet chairs and six high-top tables. Basic black linens are often available, too.
Plus, they sometimes have some stylish lounge furniture already in the space, which adds a nice touch. - Sound & Screen: For your music or maybe a photo slideshow (I love those!), the venue offers a projector and a sound system. It’s a good idea to confirm with them directly if these are part of the standard rental fee or if there’s an extra charge. You can usually plug in your phone or laptop for your own playlist.
- Wi-Fi Access: Yes, they have Wi-Fi for you and your guests.
- Easy Access for All: Great news here: Studio 324 is ADA-compliant. That includes accessible restrooms, so all your guests will be comfortable.
- Parking Nearby: There’s a flat lot right behind the building. You’ll also find a city parking ramp less than a block away.
- A Helping Hand: Usually, someone from the venue is on-site during your event. This can be really helpful for any questions that pop up.
Limitations
The uniqueness of this venue also comes with some limitations. You need to be aware of that at the beginning of your booking process, because once you have signed, it’s too late for last-minute changes.
A Unique Elongate Room
There is only one room to host a cocktail, a dinner, and a party.If you want to flip the room, it would be challenging, and you would need help. Plus, given the room is long and narrow, you have to design the event to fit the room.
That’s why the couple decided to have a long table.
An Option to Get Ready
The venue is mostly one big long room. There is an optional bridal suite includinga room to get dress and access to the photography studio. That said, it might not be ideal if you have a large wedding party and want great pictures of that part of the day; you will need to book one of those gorgeous suites in a nearby hotel. I recommend the J. Powers, or the Kahler.
No Outdoor Option
With only one main room, the ceremony and cocktail hour will take place in the same place as the reception, making any flip or turnover of the room quite difficult.
That’s why many couples prefer traditional venues with outdoor options such as the Garten Marketplatz or the Mayowood Stone Barn.
The Cleaning before 11 pm
Similar to many venues, you would need to be out by 11 pm and clean the venue of all the reception material.
Let’s Talk Photos
Alright, this is my favorite part! From a photographer’s perspective, Studio 324 is a decent venue to work in. Those exposed brick walls I mentioned bring a warm atmosphere.
The hardwood floors are great for the dance floor. And the natural light from the big windows is good for cocktail hour near the big windows.
During dusk, the natural light (blue) from the west through the big front windows will mix with the artificial light of the venue (yellow). This can be challenging.
Make sure you have a great photographer!
If you’re also thinking about outdoor shots, being downtown gives us some cool urban options. I’ve also seen couples head over to Silver Lake, Quarry Hill Nature Center, or Plummer House for different, more natural settings for their pictures.
My Photographer’s Tips for Studio 324
Over the years, I’ve picked up a few things. Here are some tips for planning your day at Studio 324:
- Plan Your Layout: Think about how you want the room to feel. If you can go up to 80 people seated, 50 or 60 might be a more reasonable number if you want your photographer to be able to move around to take good pictures. For instance on this wedding, they were between 40 and 50 guests.
- Smart Decor: This place has so much built-in charm! You really don’t need to go overboard with decorations. Simple, elegant touches that complement the brick and art will look fantastic. Sometimes, less is definitely more.
- Use downtown backstreets for the wedding party and group photos.
- Plan for sunset photos downtown: Whether on a rooftop or the Plummer Building front door.
- Vendor Coordination: Since you’re bringing in your own caterer and other vendors, make sure they’re familiar with Studio 324’s layout and any rules. Smooth communication helps everyone, including me!
- Guest Information: Make things easy for your guests. Include parking details and the venue’s downtown location on your wedding website or invitations.
- Guest Stays: Being right downtown on Broadway is super handy for guests traveling in. There are plenty of hotels nearby (so you don’t have to book a shuttle).
Conclusion on Studio 324
Despite major limitations compared to traditional wedding venues, if you are fine with that, Studio 324 is perfect for mini to medium indoor receptions, like the one our two brides had. Located downtown, you will be able to take advantage of the Med City architecture in your photos. Plus, your guests will be able to walk back to their hotel.
Finally, one of the major interests of this location is its prices. It’s one of the top affordable venues in Rochester, MN. And, what’s more, the relaxed rule on caterers means you control your budget as you wish.
Studio 324 Contact Information
Address: 324 South Broadway, Rochester, MN 55904
Phone: 507.316.2868
Website: www.studio324.org
And, of course, when you’re ready to talk about capturing all those beautiful, joy-filled moments on your wedding day, I’d love to chat!
