Award-winning Minneapolis Wedding Venue

Named One of the Top 50 Places to Get Married in the U.S. by Brides magazine, the architecturally-stunning McNamara Alumni Center is a popular Minneapolis wedding reception venue. The center has 2 unique zones for large and small wedding celebrations bundled in all-inclusive packages. They are in separate areas of the first floor and both accommodate ceremonies. Benefits to choosing McNamara for your wedding celebration:

McNamara won The Knot's Best of Weddings Award 2021, earned by only 3% of The Knot vendors.
McNamara won The Knot's Best of Weddings Award again in 2022.


5 stars

We were thrilled to be able to have our wedding reception at McNamara Alumni Center! Not only is it a stunning venue, but the whole McNamara event team was so helpful throughout our planning process. It was also such a value add to have the venue and caterer work so closely together on details. They are truly experts and helped us think through every detail and provided recommendations on what works well and were honest about what doesn't. We were thankful to have their team behind us as we navigated through the ever-changing protocols of Covid-19 and supported us in creating an environment where our guests could celebrate safely with us. Thank you for helping us plan our perfect day!

Heather W.

5 stars

This year and planning process have been a challenge for everyone; we sincerely appreciated the thoughtful balance by McNamara staff between Covid precautions and making our wedding feel "normal". We received lots of positive feedback regarding how safe and fun the night was. The entire McNamara team was a pleasure to work with. Thank you all for making our wedding a dream come true!

Katherine K., August 2020 wedding client

5 stars

We were SO excited to have our wedding at McNamara Alumni Center in May 2020. Unfortunately, we had to cancel our wedding due to COVID-19 and we ended up getting hitched at our home. While we didn't get to experience an actual wedding day at McNamara, I still wanted to leave a review for McNamara, because they really couldn't have been more amazing throughout the WHOLE process, even through canceling. I so appreciated their understanding and willingness to help through a really unfortunate time. I really think everyone should consider this venue, not only because of how beautiful it is, but really because the people are so great.

Erin L., May 2020 wedding client

5 stars

My husband and I got married at McNamara and it was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made! If you’re looking to impress your guests, THIS is the venue! Every single aspect regarding having our wedding here was handled smoothly and professionally from start to finish. I literally didn’t have to worry about a single thing the days leading up to or the day of our wedding! Our lead server in charge of the reception provided the most exceptional service I’ve ever experienced. And the food--wow! Our guests continued to reach out to us after the wedding to tell us how fabulous it was.

Allie M.

5 stars

If you are looking for a venue with beautiful views, professional staff, and an overall amazing experience you are looking at the right venue. McNamara's detailed planning itineraries and event coordinators really allow you enjoy your special day. They help you organize everything down to specific details. Our food from D'Amico was also amazing! Don't let the fact that this is on campus intimidate you! The Graduate Hotel is there for guests from out of town and there is a parking ramp attached to the building. You definitely get more than you pay for with this venue!

Laura S.

5 stars

We were drawn to McNamara Alumni Center because it was a beautiful, modern space--University Hall was the perfect size for our 120-person wedding. We are so glad we had our wedding here! It was an affordable choice, D'Amico Catering was amazing, and the planning process was smooth and easy!

Megan M.

5 stars

I had such an amazing experience planning my wedding at McNamara Alumni Center! The architecture makes for an intimate but also very open reception space. The staff were also amazing and answered every one of my questions, no matter how crazy! Also, you could tell the McNamara coordinators and D'Amico Catering staff have a good relationship and were in sync. I would highly recommend McNamara to anyone who wants a more unique venue.

Samantha D.

5 stars

We were impressed with several aspects of the McNamara Alumni Center: the professionalism of the staff from the early planning stages through the day of the wedding; the flexibility of the staff when we realized we had to add some guests last minute; and how unique the space was. So many guests complimented the architecture and the beauty of the space--I loved our photos taken outside the building! D'Amico Catering was amazing, too. It was the perfect place for our wedding reception.

Britta M.