The Avalon, Saint Paul: A Minnesota Wedding Venue That Feels Like Stepping Into Another Era
Posted by Tim Thornburg Films | Minnesota Wedding Videographer
There are wedding venues, and then there are the ones that stop you in your tracks the moment you walk through the door. The Avalon in Saint Paul is the latter. Tucked into the heart of downtown Saint Paul on Rice Park — just steps from the iconic Landmark Center — this breathtaking space doesn’t just host weddings. It defines them.
As a Minnesota wedding videographer who has spent years chasing light, texture, and story through the lens, I can tell you: The Avalon is one of those rare venues that practically films itself. And if you’ve ever dreamed of a wedding that feels cinematic, literary, and effortlessly elegant — this is your place.
A Library Turned Love Story
The Avalon’s story begins long before any wedding bells ring. The building itself is the former James J. Hill Reference Library, a stunning piece of Beaux Arts architecture that opened its doors in 1921. Commissioned by railroad baron James J. Hill and designed by architect Electus Litchfield in the Italian Renaissance style, the building was modeled after the great palaces of Florence, Genoa, and Rome. The exterior is clad in pink Tennessee marble, and the interior features soaring columns of Kettle River sandstone that frame what was once called the “Great Reading Room.”
It was entered on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975 and hailed by architectural critics as “a high point in Beaux Arts architecture in Minnesota.” For nearly a century, it served as one of the most important business research libraries in the region. Then, in 2019, the library closed its doors to the public.
Fast forward to 2025, and the space has been thoughtfully reimagined as Avalon — an event venue that honors the building’s grandeur while breathing entirely new life into it. Original bookshelves still line the walls, rows of stone columns still rise toward vaulted ceilings, and the quiet reverence of a historic library still hangs in the air. But now, instead of scholars poring over trade catalogs, couples are writing the first chapter of their love story.
Why The Avalon Is a Dream for Wedding Videography
I’ll be transparent: as a Minnesota wedding videographer, I have a running list of venues that make my job feel like less like work and more like art. The Avalon just jumped to the top.
Here’s why this space is a videographer’s dream:
The Light. The Reading Room — the venue’s main event space at over 5,800 square feet — is drenched in soft, diffused natural light filtered through its historic architecture. For someone who lives and breathes cinematic lighting, this kind of glow is everything. It’s the kind of light that makes every moment feel golden without a single filter.
The Layers. Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. Ornate stonework. Marble floors. Soaring pillars. Every angle in this room offers depth, texture, and visual interest. There’s no such thing as a boring background here — which means every shot, from a wide ceremony frame to a quiet close-up of hands exchanging rings, has a story built right into it.
The Intimacy Within the Scale. The Reading Room can hold up to 250 guests for a reception or around 150 for a ceremony, but it never feels impersonal. There’s a warmth to the space — a sense of being tucked into something historic and meaningful — that translates beautifully on camera.
The Perfect Venue for a Super 8 Film Wedding Videographer
If you’re considering Super 8 film for your wedding — and you should — The Avalon is practically made for it.
Super 8 film has a warmth, a grain, and a timeless quality that modern digital footage simply can’t replicate. It’s nostalgic without being kitschy. It’s romantic without being over-the-top. And when you pair that organic film aesthetic with a venue like The Avalon — all marble, mahogany, and century-old charm — the result is nothing short of magical.
As a Super 8 film wedding videographer based in Minnesota, I’ve shot on Super 8 in all kinds of settings. But there’s something about a library venue that elevates the format. The muted tones of aged bookshelves, the warmth of stone and wood, the quiet sophistication of the space — it all plays to Super 8’s strengths. The grain adds texture to the already rich architecture. The color palette of the film complements the venue’s natural warmth. Every frame feels like a page from a love story someone will actually want to read.
Think of it this way: if your wedding were a novel, The Avalon would be the cover. And Super 8 film would be the ink.
Rice Park and the Landmark Center: A Backdrop Beyond the Venue
One of the things that makes The Avalon truly special isn’t just what’s inside — it’s where it sits. The Avalon is located directly across Rice Park from the Landmark Center, one of Saint Paul’s most iconic buildings.
Completed in 1902, the Landmark Center is a stunning example of Richardsonian Romanesque architecture, wrapped in pink granite and crowned with turrets, gables, and a grand clock tower. It originally served as the Federal Courthouse, Custom House, and U.S. Post Office for the Upper Midwest. Today it’s a beloved arts and cultural center — and one of the most photographed buildings in Minnesota.
Rice Park itself — Saint Paul’s very first public space, donated to the city in 1849 — sits right between the two buildings. Named one of the Great Public Spaces in 2011, the park features a beautiful fountain, period lampposts, and a quiet, almost European charm that feels worlds away from the bustle of a modern city.
For couples who want to incorporate outdoor moments into their wedding day — a first look among the trees, a golden-hour portrait session with the Landmark Center as a backdrop, or even a quick stroll through the park between ceremony and reception — the location is unbeatable. And for a videographer? It’s a gift. The architectural contrast between the warm marble of The Avalon and the pink granite of the Landmark Center, all framed by the soft green of Rice Park, creates a visual narrative that practically tells the story on its own.
What to Expect as a Couple Planning at The Avalon
If you’re considering The Avalon for your wedding, here’s what you need to know:
The Reading Room is the venue’s signature space — a grand, column-lined hall with original bookshelves that can be configured for ceremony, reception, cocktail hour, or all three. At 5,800 square feet, it’s versatile enough to accommodate a range of guest counts while still feeling intentional and intimate.
The Lower Level offers a secondary reception space for a more intimate gathering, while private dressing rooms give the bridal party a quiet, gorgeous space to get ready. The venue also includes a staging kitchen for caterers and furniture rentals — tables, chairs, and linens are part of the package.
The Avalon’s team provides a venue manager and support staff on the day of, along with help coordinating vendors. There are no hidden fees — everything is laid out transparently from the start. That kind of straightforward, stress-free approach is something I deeply respect, and something I always encourage my own clients to look for.
Why Minnesota Couples Should Consider The Avalon
Minnesota has no shortage of beautiful wedding venues. But The Avalon offers something that’s genuinely hard to find: a space with history, soul, and architectural beauty all wrapped into one. It’s not a generic ballroom dressed up with uplighting. It’s not a blank canvas that requires a massive production budget to feel special. It’s a venue that arrives already gorgeous — already layered with story — and simply invites you to add yours.
For couples who value elegance over excess, who want their wedding to feel timeless rather than trendy, and who want a setting that honors the significance of what’s happening inside it — The Avalon is a venue worth serious consideration.
And for couples who are drawn to cinematic wedding videography — whether that means Super 8 film, a documentary-style film, or just a beautifully shot highlight reel — this is a space that will make every frame sing.
Let’s Talk About Your Wedding Film
If The Avalon is on your radar — or if you’re still exploring venues and want a Minnesota wedding videographer who understands how to make a historic space come alive on film — I’d love to connect.
At TK Images LLC, we specialize in cinema and documentary-style wedding videography. We work with Super 8 film, gimbal, handheld, and drone techniques to create wedding films that feel less like a highlight reel and more like a cinematic experience. Our work has been featured on HGTV, and we take a laid-back, stress-free approach with every couple we work with.
Whether you’re planning a grand celebration or a quiet, intimate affair, we’d love to be part of your story.
📍 Based in the Twin Cities, Minnesota — serving couples across the state.
Get in touch with Tim Thornburg Films
The Avalon | 80 W 4th Street, Saint Paul, MN 55102 | avalonsaintpaul.com
