Charleston Event Center

Updated January 26, 2024

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About This Vendor

The Mansion. The Setting. The Story.

The Charleston Event Center is a classic Southern Mansion style venue in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. The banquet facility is decorated to highlight the building's historic, hospitable feel with warm, rich colors and various textures of wood and brick. The Parlor, Mezzanine, Ballroom, and Veranda are stunning spaces all in their own rite. Guests will be enchanted on the Veranda gazing out over the pond with an old fashion dock and row boat. The Veranda is a favorite spot so we can transform it throughout the event to accommodate ceremonies, cocktail hours, and late-night mingling by the fireplace. The Ballroom features elegant chandeliers, classic white pillars, and French doors that walk out to the Veranda, beckoning all of your guests. The first floor Parlor and upper Mezzanine levels provide a stunning first impression, welcoming guests for socializing with large windows overlooking the romantic pond. Throughout the grounds, the rope swing and natural tree arches provide beautiful nature-filled vignettes for your photos. What brides love most is the impressive bridal suite with all the southern charm your heart can take!

Amenities & Details

Ceremony Area, Dressing Room, Handicap Accessible, Indoor Event Space, Liability Insurance, On-Site Accommodations, Outdoor Event Space, Reception Area, Wireless Internet

Guest Capacity

Up to 250

Ceremony Types

Civil Union, Commitment Ceremony, Elopement, Interfaith Ceremony, Non-Religious Ceremony, Religious Ceremony, Second Wedding, Vow Renewal Ceremony

Venue Service Offerings

Planning, Rentals & Equipment, Service Staff

Settings

Backyard, Ballroom, Beach, Waterfront, Estate, Garden, Trees

Business Attributes

Pricing for Charleston Event Center

Option	Value
Starting Cost	Affordable
Cost Starting
Price Range
Couples Usually Spend
Peak Season Months
Peak Season Cost
Peak Season Reception Cost
Peak Season Ceremony Cost
Peak Season Bar Service Cost
OffSeason Months
OffSeason Cost
OffSeason Reception Cost
OffSeason Ceremony Cost
OffSeason BarService Cost

Charleston Event Center Reviews

Liz McCaughtry (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 31-12-2022
If I could give more stars, I would! This venue and Julia, Sarah, Savannah, and the whole team went above and beyond for our NYE wedding. They were great to communicate with, quick to make any changes we asked for, and the venue itself was so gorgeous we didn't need extra decor! As part of our package, they provided two planning sessions that were essential in why our day was so smooth and helped us plan and think of things we hadn't considered yet! They also provided so many votives, charges, tables, chairs, outside lights, and signage!! We've been getting nothing but compliments on our day and the Charleston was a huge part of it! Absolutely cannot recommend the team and the venue enough! The price was also fantastic and the location was perfect for all of our extended family to travel to!
Reviewed on 05-01-2023

Ashley Hamerlind (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating

We had a beautiful wedding here! Affordable, flexible, and beautiful venue/staff. I highly recommend them to anyone looking for a venue that does more than the bare minimum. Loved every moment of our wedding!
Reviewed on 19-12-2023

Tsola Bell (other) 5 out of 5 Rating

We had the most incredible experience with the Charleston. The day of and everything leading up to went so smoothly and we had peace of mind which is everything. Julia was detailed, thorough and attentive and all around a pleasure to work with. 10/10 would recommend.
Reviewed on 30-10-2023

Alexis Johnson (other) 5 out of 5 Rating

Charleston Event Center made sure my best friend's wedding day was perfect! They are amazing at communicating and are more hands on than most wedding venues I've worked with as a wedding coordinator. It is a beautiful venue and had everything we needed for a wonderful day! Highly recommend to anyone! Plus, Julia is probably the sweetest venue coordinator you could ever work with!
Reviewed on 18-10-2023

Shelby Leske (other) 5 out of 5 Rating

We got married at the Charleston Event Center on 10-13-23 and can't say enough good things about them. Julia was wonderful to work with and communicated super well through the whole process. We ended up having to move ceremony indoors due to weather and the team was fantastic about making it work. The venue itself is beautiful and we especially loved the getting ready rooms. Awesome venue and team to work with!
Reviewed on 17-10-2023

Hannah Brokmeier (other) 5 out of 5 Rating

We had our reception at The Charleston Event Center in August 2023 and had the most perfect day. We got ready at the venue and had an off-site ceremony. Julia was excellent to work with throughout the entire process. She was flexible with our meeting times (as we are not from the Twin Cities area) and super responsive via email no matter how small the question was. During our day, guests commented how pleasant she was if any questions came up. Julia and the Charleston staff took a tremendous amount of stress off myself and our families by being so helpful. What set this venue apart was the ability to use a lot of their amenities (bridal suites, decor, yard games) and the beautiful outdoor areas where we could take our pictures. Our favorite part of the venue was the veranda where we had our first dance. The guests also enjoyed cocktail hour out there, and those that didn't enjoy dancing were able to spend time out there after dinner. The trees made us feel like we were out of the cities entirely. The recommended vendors we used (Donatelli's, Complete Beverage) were also great to work with. We appreciate Julia and the entire Charleston Event Center staff for making our day perfect!
Reviewed on 25-08-2023

Amber Louwagie (other) 5 out of 5 Rating

We simply cannot say enough good things about our experience with the CEC. Everything was so organized. All the check-ins throughout the process and lists of next steps were extremely helpful in allowing us to stay on task and not feel like we were forgetting something. Julia, Sarah, and Kate were always just an email away with any questions, and that also was greatly appreciated. They took one of the most stressful parts of planning a wedding and turned it into one of the easiest for us. Everything was so beautifully coordinated and flawlessly executed. There was never any doubt in our minds that everything was under control and that allowed us all to relax and fully enjoy the day. CEC was the perfect blend of indoor/outdoor options for this wedding! The pond, dock, and boat allowed for some of the most beautiful pictures that truly captured us as a couple. We also greatly appreciate your flexibility to accommodate our many unique requests. We received SO many compliments from our guests about the venue and the many unique things it offered. Between the yard games, s’more station, and beautiful indoor and outdoor setup, it was the perfect way to encourage mingling among our guests and people from several different facets of our lives all became quick friends.We also really appreciated the uncomplicated billing process and everything that was included in the price. Other venues offered some of the services that we received at the CEC, but everything was an extra charge. We steered clear of places like that because we didn’t want to be unprepared for all the hassle and nickel-and-diming that would be on the final bill. At the Charleston, we received many more extras than any other place offered, and there were no surprises. We would highly recommend the Charleston Event Center to anyone!
Reviewed on 14-08-2023

Ashley Sayler (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 19-11-2022
Our wedding day at the CEC was the most amazing day of our entire lives. From the first walkthrough to the big day, communication was excellent. Our guests complimented how unique the venue was - noting how perfect it was for a wedding. They especially enjoyed the parlor for social hour. For a winter wedding where everything was indoors, ~100 people fit well in the parlor. We had to postpone our wedding and Julia and her team were nothing but understanding throughout the whole process. While we had originally planned for a summer wedding, the snowy veranda and festive parlor decorations made it a magical winter wedding. The CEC has a large list of decor that you can use for your wedding, which was super helpful as we didn’t have to try to find as many things on our own.The bridal suite that they have onsite was absolutely amazing. There was ample space and huge mirrors for getting ready. It was wonderful to be able to have hair come onsite for us as it saved a lot of time. It was also great to be able to add on an additional 2 hours in the morning to decorate and get ready. Highly recommend doing this as we never felt rushed or stressed out due to time. Overall, Julia and everyone on her team that we worked with throughout both of our planning processes were wonderful. They communicated well with the other vendors and made the day seem flawless from my point of view. We will definitely be keeping the CEC on our radar for any future events that we might have and highly recommend them for anyone looking for a cozy, unique venue!
Reviewed on 28-12-2022

Audrey Palm (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 12-11-2022
We had the most perfect wedding at the Charleston Event Center on 11/12/22. Julia was very helpful during the planning process and was always available for questions. The venue, inside and outside, was beautiful, and we got many compliments from our friends and family. The venue has many locations for great photos. We loved the option to be able to have the ceremony indoors or outdoor. The bridal suite to get ready was beautiful and spacious, and provided great lighting for hair and makeup, and getting ready photos. We could not have chosen a more perfect venue for our wedding.
Reviewed on 20-11-2022

caitlin hallquist (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 07-10-2022
The Charleston was absolutely amazing! Had our wedding 10.07.22 and it was perfect! The venue is beautiful and we got so many compliments on it. The staff are very good with communication and helping. I would 100% recommend this place to anybody getting married!
Reviewed on 19-10-2022

Bobbie Becker (bride) 4 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 10-09-2022
Overall, we were extremely happy with our venue! At first, the communication was a little difficult. We had to reach out to them twice (once their website and once on here) before we got a response. Once we got things going, the communication was better. Sarah (our lead day of coordinator) was awesome and so sweet! She checked in frequently, helped us plan and made us feel comfortable! The scenery of this venue is absolutely stunning! I would highly recommend this venue!
Reviewed on 06-10-2022

Kayla Kwak (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 27-08-2022
10/10 would recommend!! Amazing staff to help your day go smooth, they took all the worry out of our day!! My husband and I can’t stop talking about how magical our wedding day was and our guests could not believe how beautiful the venue was! Classic and timeless and fit our boho vibes perfectly!!
Reviewed on 30-08-2022

Kallie Anderson (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 20-08-2022
My husband and I got married here August of 2022. Everyone and everything was amazing, the coordinators made sure our event ran smoothly and that everything was perfect. The space is absolutely beautiful, and their preferred vendors are the perfect choice for a wedding!
Reviewed on 23-08-2022

Morgan B (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 06-08-2022
I have all the best things to say about this venue. My husband and I got married here in August 2022 and planned a fusion wedding to represent our unique cultures. The venue is very affordable and reasonable with timing, vendors, and our individual requests. Julia was incredible to work with as our month-of planner, and I was so impressed by her communication. She went above and beyond during the planning process to communicate with us, our vendors, and create our timeline. We were not able to hold our ceremony outside due to rain, and the day was still perfect and went so smoothly. I had no stress on my wedding day, and I attribute that to the amazing coordination of the staff at this venue!
Reviewed on 22-08-2022

Sharon K (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 18-07-2021
My husband and I got married at the Charleston Event Center in July of 2021, and we are so glad that we chose this venue for both our wedding and reception. Julia was so accommodating and understanding of our situation and Julia and her team handled everything with grace and ease. She was very quick to respond in all the tedious questions I had, and was very transparent about what was included in the wedding package.We specifically wanted a venue that had lots of parking, was close to the Twin cities, and had a big enough space where we could have an outdoor ceremony and an indoor reception. It was also nice to know that the venue had a backup plan B incase of rain during the ceremony. All of our guests had a wonderful time, and there were a number of different spaces (outdoor lawn, ballroom, beautiful bridal suite, parlor, pond) that we were able to utilize and capture beautiful pictures all in one building. Both the outdoor and indoor space is elegantly decorated, functional, very well maintained, and hardly needs extra decor to make it feel event -ready. We truly can’t thank Julia and her team enough for making our wedding a dream come true! We highly recommend the Charleston Event center for any special event you have, no matter the season.
Reviewed on 21-06-2022

Daniel Joucken (other) 5 out of 5 Rating

I highly recommend to anyone wanting to celebrate their special event. The staff is amazing. I had the privilege to meet Julia. She was very attentive, proffesional and makes you feel welcome. Every interaction has been great!
Reviewed on 17-06-2022

Kayla Miracle (bride) 2 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 05-03-2022
This venue was not easy to work with. The event coordinators changed midway through the process with no update to us. We ended up finding out that they changed as we had to navigate postponing our wedding. We had to, unfortunately, move our wedding date due to the shutdown 4 months prior to our initial date. We called multiple times to discuss specifics and how to navigate the process with no return call. We ended up calling the owner, who then had the new event coordinator reach out to us. She told us that there was no record of us in their system, no record of us paying, no record of our solidified date either. We got things squared away FINALLY and we thought it was going to be smooth sailing moving forwards. It was not. On the morning of the wedding day, there was an ice storm. The owner would not let us enter the venue because he was afraid we were going to 'hold him liable if someone got hurt'. We were supposed to have access to the venue at 8am, and did not end up getting in until 8:30am. When we signed the contracts initially, we were told that we could set up the week prior to the wedding provided that there was no meetings scheduled in the same area. So this half hour ended up making things a bit tight on the timeline and there was no change to the conditions when we finally talked him into letting us in. At the rehearsal, the event coordinator was telling the officiant how to run the ceremony. There was quite a bit of head butting between her and our officiant. The pastor we used to marry us has been in our lives for many years and knows us and how we wanted things done. It was far outside her place to explain to him how to coordinate the ceremony as far as how the rings should be grabbed, how the bride interacts with her father, etc. The venue itself is extremely gorgeous and great for pictures. It has plenty of room for guests and has a good setup for the ceremony ballroom flipping into the reception. However, the lack of a great coordinator was deeply felt as we led up to our day, and even on our day as well.
Reviewed on 15-06-2022

Hannah Tongen (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 13-11-2021
Absolutely wonderful. I was looking for a venue that would allow us to stay in one location for getting ready, ceremony, cocktail hour and reception and Charleston was perfect. Great bridal suite that was nice to have conveniently located for touching up hair or dress bustling throughout the dancing. I had hoped for an outdoor ceremony but unfortunately it ended up being colder than tolerable and even was the first snow of the season. They put together a lovely setup inside (note* the arch cannot come inside which I didn't know until the morning of). I loved how the dancefloor was near the french doors so during the dancing portion, it was nice to step out on the patio to cool off. Our guests got some lovely photos on the patio that evening that even ended up on a Christmas card or two. The staff was absolutely fantastic with everything especially on the day-of. They took my table decor plans and executed them better than I imagined. My jaw literally dropped when I walked into the reception for dinner - it was beautiful. I loved that they also have decor options available to use for free. It was nice not having to worry about some smaller pieces like tealight holders or vases. We did have a few issues with emails not being responded to in the last two months and having to call to get responses. Wasn't a huge deal and didn't effect anything, just something to note if you're more of an email person ,like me. Otherwise, planning was great with Julia and she was such a cheerful and upbeat person to work with. It is so awesome that they provide an in-house planner to assist with bringing your ideas together and organizing it all. Another thing to note, you do have to choose from their list of required caterers and you must use the one bar service company they work with. I didn't mind the caterer because the company I had hoped to have was on their list (highly recommend Donatellis). The bar service thing bothered me initially but once I sat down and figured it all out, their prices were really reasonable and it was nice to not worry about supply, insurance, or bartenders as it was all taken care of. Overall - I definitely recommend this venue and I wish I had some other reason or occasion to host an event here again with dinner and dancing. It was so great!
Reviewed on 15-04-2022

Madelyn Saxton (bride) 4 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 16-07-2021
A wonderful and reasonably priced venue with great indoor and outdoor spaces. It was a beautiful space for our summer wedding.
Reviewed on 24-10-2021

Emily Westemeier (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 05-09-2021
I cannot say enough amazing things about this beautiful venue! My husband and I chose this venue for our wedding in September, and the location was more than gorgeous! Julia was wonderful to work with, and our day-of coordinator Brenna was instrumental to making sure everything flowed incredibly smoothly! Our day was perfect, and the venue was so wonderful to work with, from making sure our long distance planning was smooth to ensuring the details that I never would have thought of were in place. I highly recommend visiting this phenomenal venue!
Reviewed on 07-10-2021

Sara Burdick (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 24-09-2021
09.24.21 will be the best days of our lives. We held our ceremony and reception at the Charleston Event Center. We worked closely with Julia during the the planning process and the day of the wedding. It was a dream - Julia was professional, organized and kept us on track with our pre decided timeline. She was willing to work with me on my vision and helped answer all my questions along the way. It rained on our wedding day- but Julia made sure there was a contingency plan in case the ceremony would need to be moved inside. Thank you Julia and Team!
Reviewed on 05-10-2021

Jocelyn Lensing (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 26-06-2021
Thank you SO much to Julia and Jill at Charleston Event Center! Planning a wedding during the COVID-19 pandemic was stressful, but these amazing women made everything a little easier. We were able to tour virtually and handle most planning from home. It rained on our wedding day and the CEC team expertly flipped the event space from ceremony to reception. They were incredibly accommodating of every request from us and our guests. At the end of the night, a few cards and gifts were accidentally left behind, and Jill drove them to our hotel at 1 AM. She's our hero! Thank you both for making our wedding day spectacular.
Reviewed on 30-09-2021

Jen A (other) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 10-08-2022
A big thank you to the staff at the Charleston Event Center for working to make Maggie's wedding so special and a wonderful event. We couldn't have asked for a better venue or people with whom to work! It was exactly what Maggie wanted. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Reviewed on 10-06-2021

Laura Donohue (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 08-05-2021
We got married here and it exceeded our expectations! It was a beautiful venue and our guest raved how much they loved it! Julia and her staff were so helpful in the planning process and on the day of! They checked up on us constantly throughout the day of the wedding and made sure we had everything we needed. I would chose this venue all over again! We had a great experience with nothing bad to say!
Reviewed on 12-05-2021

Ashley Frost (bride) 3 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 08-08-2020
We got married at the Charleston Event Center in August. It is a stunning venue, with unique charm which is why we chose it. Another reason we picked it was because of the former manager, Shannon. She was amazing to work with and made us feel like we were the only couple she was working with. Unfortunately, Shannon & her entire event coordinator team was let go a couple of months before our wedding with zero communication. It was difficult enough planning a wedding during covid with the constant guideline changes but for the management team to be let go without any notice to the current couples is unacceptable. A wedding is a huge investment and is one of the most special moments in a couples life. Julia from Great Day Events was hired as the new management company and it took several weeks of corresponding to the Charleston before we heard anything from Julia informing us of the management change. The remaining couple of months of planning our wedding was extremely stressful due to the lack of communication from the Charleston or Julia. We would go days/weeks without hearing anything from Julia. Luckily, I can say our wedding turned out amazing thanks to our vendors, family and friends. Julia did do a nice job keeping us on schedule day of however there just wasn’t the personal touch we grew to love from Shannon. If you decide to move forward with using this venue I would encourage you to pay close attention to your damage deposit. We did not receive our damage deposit until 4 months after our wedding after I had to reach out asking for it. We loved this venue for our wedding but we can not recommend this location unless some serious management improvements have been made.
Reviewed on 07-02-2021

Alicia Wales (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 24-10-2020
An honest review of the transition to new management during COVID: my husband and I had originally met with Shannon, previous coordinator/owner/manager of Charleston Event Center. We loved the the dock and pond, the patio, the ballroom and cocktail room, and I absolutely fell in love with the enormous bridal suite. We had no issues with Shannon during our initial and 6-month check-in meetings. Then COVID happened, we were supposed to have had our 2-3 month pre planning meeting in April ...reached out several times...nothing. The lack of communication was infuriating to say the least. We got an email asking us about our Plan B date, which we gave, but no other explanation was provided (again emailed her several times to follow up). Then in early June we finally got an email from one of Shannon's other coordinators (Austin) telling us he would be our new day of coordinator. Austin was wonderful and heard all of our frustrations and addressed them as best as he could. One major frustration was that instead of being able to split our Plan A & B dates (ceremony in July and reception in October) with equal hours, we were told that we would only be able to do \"3 ceremony hours\" on site in July... frustrating because we had chosen this site for it's bridal suite and we wouldn't even be able to use it for the most important part of our wedding. Austin was going to ask Shannon if she would reconsider (or else we were reconsidering getting our money back due to unforseenable events of COVID), but then 1-2 weeks later, we received an email that Charleston was now under new management (this was less than a month from our ceremony date). So now we're panicking about what the new management will look like and if we can use the gold chargers, navy table runners, gold votives, roll out fire pit that we had originally planned it have included for our reception later in the year (spoiler: answer was yes they still had them!). Swiftly after getting that shocking email, Julia and her team contacted us and we had a Zoom call that gave me the biggest sigh of relief - she allowed us to split the 2 days based on the hours we had paid for (and respecting their schedule so they could squeeze in another event if they wanted). Ceremony day in July: super smooth, I was calm, everything came together despite doing an intimate ceremony with family and bridal party only. It was a hot but beautiful day. Reception day in October: Julia helped us plan last-minute things (such as I didn't care how the donuts looked on the table, but she made it look cute and brainstormed with our helpers). She was organized, level-headed, and suggested things when I just had no idea how a table should be set-up. So at the end of it all, both days went smoothly and I can assure you that you will be in excellent hands with Julia and her team. Recap: CEC as a ceremony or reception venue: 5/5 stars.Previous ownership with Shannon: 2/5 stars. New ownership with Julia: 5/5 stars.
Reviewed on 04-01-2021

Anna King (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating

Charleston is the place to host your large events. We got married there August 2019 and the customer service was flawless and an absolute dream. The staff went above and beyond in every way and made wedding planning super easy. We chose the location because it has everything we needed, nature, updated venue with a.c., free parking, and multiple areas guests could go if they needed a break from the party. I would 100 percent recommend booking. Shannon and the staff felt like family and were super flexible with us using their space and making our vision come to life.
Reviewed on 27-04-2020

Ashley Eland-Smithburg (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 09-11-2019
Our wedding at the Charleston Event Center was just like a fairy tale. Every aspect of the venue is beautiful and it doesn't need much if anything to decorate it. And they let you use of the saved decorations they have - which is a huge cost saver. Shannon, the event coordinator was amazing to work with. She was always pleasant and extremely helpful. She would diligently answer all of my many questions and she would make suggestions based off of my husbands and my relationship for things we never would have thought of, but were absolutely needed. The entire experience was a joy and we can't imagine having gone through our wedding at any other venue. There were so many nights that we looked at each other and said we are so lucky to have found the Charleston Event Center.
Reviewed on 20-01-2020

Tiffany Marquis (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 30-11-2019
Shannon is the greatest in the world she made the planning and day of seamless. With the wonderful bridal suite my party got ready there and we had the ceremony and reception here. It was hands down the most perfect day and all of our guests raved about the venue. Check this place out, you will be glad you did!
Reviewed on 11-12-2019

Caitlin Kohorn (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 14-09-2019
I honestly cannot say enough good things about this venue. They made wedding planning a complete breeze and had absolutely everything taken care of. They had decor to borrow, signage to use and were on top of every little detail. You get a day-of event coordinator included. The bridal suite is also beautiful! I would recommend to anyone!
Reviewed on 08-11-2019

Kathy Weimar (parent) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 28-09-2019
My daughter was just married at the Charleston on 9.28.19. It was a beautiful and joyful event, and MUCH thanks goes to the staff at the Charleston. From the beginning of the planning to the end of the reception, Shannon and her staff went above and beyond to make the day a success. One of the big benefits to me was that by the end of the reception, the staff had inconspicuously collected everything I had brought to the venue (framed photos, easels, signs, gift table accessories, the florist's candles, etc.) and had it carefully packed up in a bin for me. They loaded it into my car and I was on my way by 12:15 am. Every other detail was attended to as well. They were exceptional.
Reviewed on 02-10-2019

Corey Birkholz (groom) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 27-09-2019
There is a reason why this venue got best of 2018 and 2019. My wife and I just had our wedding there and it turned out beautiful. Shannon is as helpful as can be. We both loved it. I can not express how grateful we both were to find this venue. It was definitely the greatest day of our lives and Shannon made it all happen.
Reviewed on 29-09-2019

Catherine Stemig (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 20-07-2019
Best decision I've ever made having my wedding and reception here! Not only is the venue beautiful but Shannon and her team were so kind and helpful through the whole process. All my questions were answered timely and Shannon also helped with working with my vendors! Thank you so much for making our day extra special!
Reviewed on 01-08-2019

Gretta Grayden (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 22-06-2019
BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL VENUE! I’m so glad I picked the Charleston for our wedding venue for the ceremony and reception. Not only is it a gorgeous place, but the staff at the Charleston are the GREATEST! They made sure everything was perfect for our wedding. I worked with Caroline as my event coordinator and she made sure to account for every small detail in the planning process, most of which I hadn’t even thought about! Austin was our evening host and he was on top of everything! He made sure that all of the decorations were taken down and packed up, so I didn’t have to stress about a thing! I would truly recommend the Charleston to anyone and everyone!
Reviewed on 24-06-2019

Megan Carver (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 08-06-2019
Such a beautiful place! I would recommend this venue to anyone, Shannon is so easy to work with. She is quick to reply to any questions and so helpful with the planning process. She made our day flow smooth and everything went as is. We had many people compliment on how well it went and saying “it was the most well put together and organized wedding.”
Reviewed on 22-06-2019

Ellen Martin (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 27-04-2019
The Charleston Event Center is absolutely wonderful. I was wary at first as the prices are not listed on the website, but after reaching out to Shannon, I am SO glad I did! The mansion-style event center is stunning and well maintained. Shannon, the owner, is always looking for new ideas. In the year from booking the site to our wedding, she added a newly renovated groom's suite and a fire pit.Shannon is highly receptive to emails and EXTREMELY helpful. She helped us when we had trouble with the required liquor vendor (which turned out fine), and came up with several seating charts when my hubby and I had differing ideas (he wanted the bar in the front, and I wanted the head table not to be picked up for the dance floor). Shannon also is very flexible with her schedule. We were always able to set up meetings with her on weekday evenings, after we got home from work. She also scheduled several tours with us before booking, because we wanted our moms to come with the second time. Planning was a total breeze with Shannon, and she always seemed excited to speak with us. It seems like she works all the time, but never appears tired or bothered. She always answered our questions as if she hadn't heard them a thousand times (and I'm sure she had!). The week and day of the wedding turned out perfectly as well. The venue was all set up for us to bring in floral and centerpieces on the Friday. We got married on the Saturday, and Shannon was our on-site coordinator. Everything went smoothly and we heard about absolutely nothing! Shannon handled everything in the background, causing no extra stress for us. I would 100% recommend the Charleston to anybody. The venue is seriously beautiful and is always being added to. Shannon is truly the best and we couldn't have had a smoother wedding planning experience or wedding day without her!
Reviewed on 06-05-2019

Margaret Wood (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 15-12-2018
I toured many venues that are more expensive than the Charleston and offer far less. Included in the price was the service of Shannon as the coordinator- I didn't have to spend the extra money on a separate day-of coordinator. The team takes care of the set up, room flip, and clean up. Shannon is responsive, replying promptly with answers to questions and suggestions. She also checked in with me periodically through the planning process and answered any questions/offered suggestions. She was SO accommodating. I was able to go to the venue many times in the months leading up to the wedding just to look/show the space to family, and was able to set up and decorate days before the wedding, saving tons of stress the day-of. I needed to arrive at the venue for hair/makeup earlier than originally planned and Shannon made it happen.I'd choose this venue again and again, the beauty and value are unmatched!
Reviewed on 16-01-2019

Marissa Wright (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 29-09-2018
I give our Charleston experience 10/10. This was the only venue we toured, once we saw it we know it was the one! Overall the feel is classically romantic, exactly what we were going for. Shannon was delightful to work with and everyone on her team went above and beyond to make things work. We felt heard, encouraged, and important during the planning and the day of. She made us feel like her top priority and was available to answer last minute questions/calm our nerves in a timely manner. The Bridal Suite was one of my favorite parts, it was the perfect place for us girls to start the day on a fun note! We had plenty of unique options for group and couple photos on the property, there's no need to go anywhere else! The veranda was beautifully cozy during our chilly ceremony and a fun spot for guests to visit during the reception. It really doesn't get any better!
Reviewed on 13-10-2018

Sara Wilson (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 27-07-2018
First of all, Shannon is the best. I can't rave enough about her, my bridal party loved her as well, and we got so many complements between how beautiful the venue is and people came up to say that Shannon was just amazing as well. Our parents were so impressed by her, her staff and the space. This venue is gorgeous. I love how charming it is, the set up of the parlor and the ballroom which opens up to the veranda. The adorable swing, canoe and dock to the pond made for the best wedding pictures. The place inspires romance. We had the most perfect day, I owe so much of that to Shannon making sure that everything went perfect. Our wedding didn't have anything go wrong and it's because their vendor list is THE BEST. Thank you to Shannon and everyone at the Charleston!
Reviewed on 06-08-2018

Katie Klein (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 20-07-2018
We just recently had our wedding reception at The Charleston and it was amazing! We heard nothing but good things & compliments from our guests. It's awesome that the upstairs parlour is open (with a bar up there as well as downstairs), the pretty outdoor area with yard games, and the veranda is a beautiful place to take photos & socialize. The dock was awesome and made for a great photo spot as well! Shannon was EXTREMELY helpful in planning and made us feel instantly comfortable after our first planning meeting with her, and put our minds at ease with literally any question or possible issue we could think of. Thank you so much for making our day a complete fairytale!
Reviewed on 29-07-2018

Zachary Eustis (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 30-06-2018
I highly recommend this venue! We were so lucky to have Shannon as our coordinator, she is simply amazing! The venue is gorgeous and has a lot of photo opportunities. Our wedding was a dream come true! Thank you again!!
Reviewed on 26-07-2018

Shakirah Edwards (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 01-09-2019
What a beautiful venue and amazing staff !!! I had the pleasure to work with them while DJing a wedding and I had a blast ! They made me feel welcomed like I was apart of the team . And they were so professional. I’d like to specifically give Shannon a shoutout , as she was so kind and helpful . I look forwards to working with you guys again !
Reviewed on 01-07-2018

Carolyn Gruenes (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 16-06-2018
I am so happy we found and chose the Charleston for our reception. So easy to get to for guests, beautiful venue, and picturesque grounds for stunning photos. Very reasonable for pricing, especially because you can DIY to your liking. Shannon was so organized and great to work with. We’re excited to see this place grow in the ranks for venues in the Twin Cities.
Reviewed on 27-06-2018

knottie76a63e8913a9d80e (wedding party) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 26-07-2019
So what can I say about a fantastic wedding venue! My last daughter just got married here. Things couldn't have gone better - had the time of my life!! Shannon is a total gem to work with and is so sincere and sweet! She truly wanted the wedding to be a success. Many questions to me that day was \"how did you find such an amazing venue\"! The outside patio area is fantastic and makes for great pictures. I have never reviewed anything before but this place was well worth the review. You cannot go wrong to choose this! Enjoy...…...
Reviewed on 26-05-2018

Linda Vukelich (wedding party) 4 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 25-07-2019
My professional association held a day-long training event and had access to the full venue which allowed us to feel at home everywhere and gave us enough space to hold breakout sessions without hearing each other. The variety of spaces was perfect for our needs. When people arrived they all mentioned what a beautiful venue it was, so we started out with everyone feeling like a special day was at hand. Thank you, Shannon and staff, for being there all day to help and give us the VIP treatment! We also had an evening award dinner and it was wonderful! The parlor overlooking the pond was a great spot for our reception. The ballroom was perfect for our formal event, and felt transformed even after being there all day. Canes Catering was excellent too and rose to the occasion with all our special requests - at a price point that made our budget happy too! Although it is easily accessible right off 35E and Highway 96 in White Bear, it felt like we were transported to a quiet retreat surrounded by beautiful trees, a pond and lovely outdoor venue options. Having a hotel literally across the street for our speaker was an added plus!
Reviewed on 25-05-2018

Devyn Ostertag (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 04-05-2018
Shannon is AMAZING!! The venue is AMAZING and everyone kept coming up to us saying it’s hands down the perfect venue and best wedding they have attended! Couldn’t be happier!! It truly was perfect. Shannon went above and beyond to make things PERFECT and smooth for us. SO WORTH IT!!! Highly recommend to everyone. Guests were beyond impressed!
Reviewed on 09-05-2018

Séverine Poul (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 03-11-2017
The Charleston Event Center is such a gorgeous venue! I had to find a new ceremony site 2 months before my wedding and Pam, the wedding coordinator, was fantastic. She was very responsive from the beginning and so accommodating. She will work hard to exceed your expectations! One of the many great features of this venue is the stunning Bridal Suite. It is elegant and functional. My hair and makeup artist were impressed. It was also a great place to relax and enjoy my friends and family. Not only is the building beautiful, the landscaping is gorgeous, no matter the season! My guests were impressed.
Reviewed on 24-11-2017

Mike Miron (groom) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 24-01-2019
We had a fantastic experience at the Charleston Event Center for our wedding! We had to find a ceremony site on a short timeline and this venue exceeded our expectations. The site provided a place for all of us to get ready and was the perfect setting for our pictures. In addition to a beautiful location, Pam really took the time to make sure that she understood all of the details for our wedding day. She worked to make sure that nothing was overlooked and went smoothly. I would recommend the Charleston to any couple!
Reviewed on 24-11-2017

Dave Kaminski (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 20-01-2019
Great wedding venue! From the picturesque patio to the parlor to the wedding hall, we had plenty of space for all of our guests. The bridal suite and patio are beautiful and elegant backdrops for pictures. The Charleston is a hidden gem in White Bear Lake.
Reviewed on 19-11-2017

Alyssa Conrad (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 20-11-2018
As the word gets out, this wedding venue will no doubt book out years in advance. We were lucky enough to be one of the first weddings! I think the most impressive thing is how \"well oiled\" the machine was for such a new venue. We had several moving pieces because my fiance and I were from out of town and many guests were flying in and that meant lots of the details were left to the week of. That didn't frazzle Pam or Lorah at all and it definitely calmed in. I also learned that some of our selections were \"firsts\" for the venue (with a quartet on site and passed appetizers during social hour) but my every dream as accommodated and executed to perfection. I can't say enough about the classy setting...the pond, the Veranda, the Parlor, the Bride's Suite....my pictures were amazing and the whole thing feels like a dream. Book this venue now!
Reviewed on 20-09-2017

Theresa Knutson (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 03-09-2017
BEAUTIFUL venue! It has a little bit of everything - great interior design, great landscaping, beautiful photo spots for the wedding party and guests, a pond, etc! Lora and Pam helped me feel so at ease when I was feeling stressed - and helped me to relax and enjoy my day! I felt like they did such an amazing job taking care of everything and being so considerate to what personal touches my husband and I wanted in the wedding and the set up - and even along the way as the months approached the big day. The day turned out SO beautiful and flawless!
Reviewed on 14-09-2017

Bonnie Knutson (wedding party) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 14-11-2018
We loved our wedding at the Charleston Event Center.. The venue is absolutely beautiful. The grand stairway for our daughters walk to the ceremony was breathtaking. The upstairs lounge is gorgeous and we loved the ballroom. Lorah and Pam were sooooo professional and helpful with planning the wedding and helping on our special day. .Our day was flawless thanks to Pam. I'm happy we had our wedding at the Charleston. It was perfect💕
Reviewed on 14-09-2017

Kathy Kamrowski (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 24-10-2018
Everything was perfect for our wedding! The day was beautiful and having the ceremony on the veranda surrounded by the gardens and overlooking the pond was a great setting! Pam, the event coordinator was there every step of the way to make sure our plans went smoothly and that the entire evening was absolutely magical. Our friends and family have said it was \"the best wedding ever\"!
Reviewed on 24-08-2017

Kalina Parsons (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 05-08-2017
The Charleston is a beautiful venue for a wedding. We thoroughly enjoyed our experience with Pam (the wedding coordinator), as she walked us through planning for the big day. She thought of things we would never have thought of and made sure our day was exactly what we wanted. The day of ran so smoothly, I couldn't believe it! I definitely attribute this mostly to the hard work of the wedding coordinators, as well as the other preferred vendors for the venue. We had about 170 people at our wedding, including the wedding party, and found it a bit crowded during the ceremony on the verandah and during cocktail hour. There are some options to expand into the grass which is nice, but was not something we had wanted to do. You also have to get a bit creative for photos. There are a couple beautiful spots, but not a ton of options. Also, they are a bit strict on the vendors you choose for you wedding, but I think they do so in order to make sure you are having vendors that provide the best service. Overall, we had a great experience and would definitely recommend this venue to others.
Reviewed on 22-08-2017

Ashley Trombley (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 15-07-2017
This venue is gorgeous and will make a big wedding feel intimate. I had a lot of people telling me that. We had 180 people and were able to fit the ceremony outside on the veranda. The bridal suite is so cute/convenient and you can access your things at anytime during the night with a door code so your things are safe. The event coordinators (Pam and Lorah) were very involved through our journey and made sure my groom and I didn't have to worry on our wedding day. This place has a special place in our hearts and our guests' memories.
Reviewed on 03-08-2017

Kirsten Lockman (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 06-01-2018
Great location and convenient to all metro areas. Very intimate space in a beautiful building. Love the bridal suite! Plenty of mirrors for the entire bridal party to prepare for the wedding together. Beautiful!
Reviewed on 09-05-2017

Kim G (wedding party) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 27-06-2018
The Charleston offers an intimate, welcoming, “at-home” feeling. Truly, it’s like stepping into a romance novel with the grand entry, sweeping staircase, magical evening lighting, and bank of French doors out to the large patio overlooking a serene pond…seriously, a photographer’s delight! And on top of that, the Bride’s Suite is mind-blowing…an amazing space to prepare for such a special day. Easy to get to, close lodging accommodations for guests, and amazing, attentive staff. A wedding venue just doesn’t get much more perfect than this!
Reviewed on 27-04-2017

Alison V (wedding party) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 10-06-2018
This gorgeous venue is so unique to the area. There is nothing like it anywhere in the twin cities! It is every bit a grand mansion style while feeling welcoming and warm as well. The staff is all so friendly and accommodating that it is a pleasure to interact with them. Highly recommended!!
Reviewed on 10-04-2017

knottiee4296d46030c9349 (wedding party) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 06-06-2018
I can’t get over the beautiful mansion-style interior of the Charleston. I was sold at the grand entry! The reception ballroom was the main reason we chose The Charleston - so classically beautiful. The whole venue is perfect for pictures, and has lots of space and accommodations for guests; we wanted to keep the festivities intimate but there was ample room with an upstairs bar and the large patio. The staff was so accommodating and so professional. Couldn't be any happier with The Charleston!
Reviewed on 06-04-2017

Sue - Jubilee Flower Studio (wedding party) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 05-06-2018
The Charleston is one of the prettiest venues around! The overall look and feel is warm and inviting, Southern and charming. The staff is welcoming and attentive. The beautiful wooded setting is easily accessible with close parking. An overall great choice for your wedding or event!
Reviewed on 05-04-2017

60 Reviews, with a Rating of 4.87 out of 5.0

Contact Info for Charleston Event Center

Contact	Value
Facebook	https://www.facebook.com/thecharlestoneventcenter
X (Twitter)	Charleston Event Center
Pinterest	Charleston Event Center
Instagram	thecharlestoneventcenter
Website	www.charlestoneventcenter.com
Phone	(866) 285-9825
Address	4525 White Bear Parkway, White Bear Lake, MN, 55110
Email	celebrate@charlestoneventcenter.com

Charleston Event Center on the map

Meet the Charleston Event Center Team

Julia Holm Charleston Event Center Events Director

Julia Holm (Events Director)

Meet Julia Holm! Julia is the owner and lead event producer of Great Day Events and manages everything from tours to event days at The Charleston Event Center.Julia has planned and managed events with non-profits and small businesses around the Midwest and Lake Tahoe (Nevada and California). She has a passion for weddings and working with couples to help bring their visions to life. Julia will be a key factor in helping you execute your vision while keeping your event stress-free!

Wedding Service Guide (WSG)