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Weddings

About

Monona Terrace marries the ideal wedding venue location and reception hall with service and style to help you create an event to cherish and remember forever. Their downtown, waterfront location offers couples beautiful indoor and outdoor settings, perfect for hosting their special wedding celebration. Whether you want to host a small, intimate gathering or a grand, magnificent gala, Monona Terrace is here to help orchestrate your incredible.

Facilities and Capacity

No friend or family member will need to be turned away from your guest list for size restrictions — Monona Terrace allows couples to host up to 600 guests for their ceremonies, receptions, bridal showers, engagement parties, and rehearsal dinners. Their affordable event rooms can accommodate small and large celebrations. Bright, open spaces are perfect for being able to socialize without feeling cramped or uncomfortable. Both you and your guests are sure to enjoy and appreciate such an area.

Services Offered

The staff at Monona Terrace will make sure couples are well-prepared and cared for throughout their special day. Their top-notch offerings include catering packages as well as hotel accommodations reserved through the attached Hilton Madison Monona Terrace. They also offer bar, catering, and lighting/sound services, as well as a coordinator that will be there the day-of to help and guide couples on their special day. Monona Terrace also offers wireless internet, parking, and wheelchair access. Our dedicated staff can also help with set up and clean up, and offer the following food and beverage items with no minimum and a discount to your room rental based on your food and beverage purchases: Barware, China, Flatware, Glassware, Linens.

Cuisine

Monona Catering offers couples the option of buffet, hors d'oeuvres, plated, and station serving styles for their catering services. Couples may bring in an outside cake from a Wisconsin licensed bakery, and cake cutting is included with each catering package. Monona Catering also offers cocktail reception and dessert services. Couples are encouraged to attend tastings to preview and select food items. Some tasty dishes Monona Catering offer include risotto stuffed chicken, margherita chicken, lemon pesto pork, and vegetarian options. You may notify Monona Catering of any and all dietary restrictions.

Other Services

Couples may rent event items from the venue, including audio equipment, chairs, a dance floor, lighting, and tables. Monona Catering would also be happy to provide couples with bar services. They have a liquor license and bartenders, who may staff a cash, limited, or open bar and serve the following: Champagne toast, House beer/wine/liquor, Premium liquor, Signature drink and/or Specialty beer/wine.

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Frequently asked questions

Do you have a site fee for wedding receptions at your venue?

Yes

Do you have a site fee for wedding ceremonies at your venue?

Yes

Which of the following are included in starting site fee?

Chairs
China
Flatware
Glassware
Linens
Tables

How many event spaces or rooms does your venue offer?

5

Describe your venue:

Ballroom
Rooftop
Waterfront

What kind of settings are available?

Indoor
Uncovered Outdoor

Which of the following wedding events does your venue service?

Ceremony
Reception
Bridal Shower
Engagement Party
Rehearsal Dinner

What event services do you offer?

Accommodations
Bar Services
Catering Services
Clean Up
Event Planner
Event Rentals
Get Ready Rooms
Wifi

What catering services do you offer?

Buffet
Cocktail Reception
Dessert
Hors d'oeuvres
Outside Cake
Plated
Server(s)
Stations
Tastings

What bar services do you provide?

Bartender(s)
Cash Bar
Champagne Toast
House Beer
House Liquor
House Wine
Limited Bar
Liquor License
Open Bar
Premium Liquor
Signature Drink
Specialty Beer
Specialty Wine

What event items are available?

Audio Equipment
Chairs
Dance Floor
Furniture
Lighting
Tables

What food and beverage items are available?

Barware
China
Flatware
Glassware
Linens

What transportation and access is available?

Parking
Wheelchair Access

Reviews of Monona Terrace

J
Joe Sent on 10/18/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Beautiful seamless experience

Monona Terrace was the first choice of venue for our wedding, and it was the best choice.

Apart from being an iconic Frank Lloyd Wright building that can be seen from most places in Madison, the MT team were very professional and organized in helping set up our wedding day.

From the tasting (which was very well executed) to the rehearsal to the actual wedding day, Marcia Terrones (our wedding manager) was friendly, courteous and accommodating of our many questions and requests.

We were married at the Community Terrace which is a lovely room with sweeping views of Lake Monona. The setup and breakdown was seamless, and we didn’t have to do much to the room to make it look good. A big plus of the MT is their in-house catering, and they are experts in this field. From the hors d’œuvres to the drinks to the main course, everything was very delicious. They also packed up any main courses that weren’t eaten by the guests, which I appreciated as we hate food waste.

Overall; we had a great experience with this iconic Madison venue and will cherish the memories of our wedding day here.

(Photos by CJefko Photography; highly recommend her as well)
J
Jillian Sent on 03/13/2021
5 out of 5 rating

Highly recommend

We had out wedding in the midst of the COVID summer of 2020-- which meant so many last minute changes to plans. Monona Terrace was so responsive and open to ideas; they made a very stressful situation much more tolerable. Jeanette and Micayla are wonderful-- really, every staff member we came into contact with was friendly and helpful and we were so impressed. Our event came together perfectly-- the food and the bar were great and our guests especially loved chatting with the bar staff. THANK YOU to everyone there; we are so grateful we chose Monona Terrace.
B
Brooke Sent on 09/25/2019
5 out of 5 rating

Would recommend in a heartbeat!

We had our wedding ceremony and reception at Monona Terrace last weekend. First, it all started with our awesome tour with Breanne and we were hooked! Breanne showed us around answering all the questions we had that day to make us feel like we were making a great decision to have it at the terrace. Our big day was everything and more that we could have ever wanted at the Monona Terrace. We were very surprised by how often the staff came by to ask us if we needed anything and how everything was. That was a very nice touch. We didn't have to worry about anything not being on time and fully trusted Monona Terrace. Micayla was AMAZING and a rock star. There aren't enough words to explain how helpful she was and how relaxed/at ease she was on Saturday which made me feel at ease. Micayla always answered my (many) emails right away and was thorough in her responses. Every time I asked her if I could do something, she always found a way to make it work. The food was amazing and we got nothing but compliments about the chicken and pork dishes - and the apps. We will definitely recommend the Monona Terrace in a heartbeat!
Kristen
Kristen Sent on 07/02/2019
5 out of 5 rating

Unbelievable staff!

Perfect wedding day! The food was hot and delicious for each guest. The staff was accommodating and present when needed! The view is phenomenal from the grand terrace and everything flowed smoothly.
E
Elaina Sent on 07/18/2018
5 out of 5 rating
The Monona Terrace was a beyond perfect wedding venue! Their staff know exactly what they are doing and made our planning process and wedding day go off without a hitch. From the knowledgeable and helpful staff to the amazing food, I cannot say enough! I highly recommend the Monona Terrace to anyone looking for a wedding venue in Madison.

Photos from Dutcher Photography (also highly recommend)
http://www.robandsamphoto.com/archive-blog/2018/7/14/elaina-nate-a-modern-monona-terrace-rooftop-wedding
T
Tony Sent on 11/22/2017
5 out of 5 rating
We held our wedding reception at Monona Terrace on October 28, 2017, and are very pleased with how our event turned out, as well as with all the planning leading up to it. At the outset, Breanne was helpful and no-pressure as we considered potential venues. Once we chose Monona Terrace, Marcia and her staff provided clear guidance and answered all our questions along the way. We particularly enjoyed the tasting where you get to sample all the food offerings to make your selections! Matt was very helpful finalizing all details the week of, and the night itself came off without a hitch. The service staff was attentive and friendly (they even set aside a few of each appetizer for us at the head table, a nice touch), the food was delicious (a common compliment from our guests), the room set-up was flawless, and things just ran very smoothly. Would definitely recommend!
J
Justin Sent on 08/28/2016
5 out of 5 rating
We had our wedding ceremony and reception at the Terrace. They definitely know their wedding business! Micayla was our representative, and she walked us through everything very thoroughly and clearly. She didn't make us feel stupid when we had to ask questions multiple times (there's so much that goes into a wedding!). What impressed us was the way she was able to get creative to get things to fit into our budget. From switching around meals to mixing up the layout, we were able to hit our budget while still keeping high quality. The food was delicious - not what I was expecting for large batch, catered food. The venue is obviously gorgeous. The team at the Terrace also added lots of nice touches and covered things we didn't even think about (eg, saving the wedding party a plate of appetizers, small gifts as thank-you's, and clearly communicating hand-offs between workers). We highly recommend working with Micayla and the Terrace!
R
Raisa Sent on 06/11/2016
5 out of 5 rating
We could not have been more happy with having our cocktail hour and reception at the Monona Terrace. It seriously could not have been more of a perfect venue. All of our guests were amazed and kept mentioning that they really wanted to come visit Madison again, and we think this had a lot to do with the Monona Terrace. The cocktail hour on the roof was amazing. The reception in the Community Terrace was amazing. We were pleasantly surprised with how pampered we felt by every single staff member we encountered. Working with Breanne and Marcia was an absolute pleasure; they were definitely our most professional and responsive vendors, and we really appreciated that. We feel so lucky that we were able to hold our reception at a venue so special and so iconic of Madison.
S
Sheena Sent on 05/27/2016
5 out of 5 rating
So great, we do not have anything but good to say. Their staff was on point 100% of the time and in always communication with us both. I recommend them to anyone, you will be surprised the value you can get this beautiful venue at with the basic package and building your wedding from there. Be sure to book a year in advance if possible to secure your date and the best room choice.
U
User2406978 Sent on 04/25/2016
5 out of 5 rating
So wonderful and accommodating. They were super professional and organized. I was planning my wedding from another state but they were able to work with me to set up meetings, etc. and everything was perfect!
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.

Awards

58
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2017 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2016 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2015 Winner

Map

Monona Terrace frequently asked questions

Monona Terrace includes the following items and services for wedding events in its starting site fee:
  • Chairs
  • China
  • Flatware
  • Glassware
  • Linens
  • Tables
The space offered by Monona Terrace for wedding events is known for:
  • Ballroom
  • Rooftop
  • Waterfront
Monona Terrace offers the following indoor/outdoor options for weddings:
  • Indoor
  • Uncovered Outdoor
Monona Terrace offers the following types of wedding events:
  • Ceremony
  • Reception
  • Bridal Shower
  • Engagement Party
  • Rehearsal Dinner
Monona Terrace offers the following services for wedding events:
  • Accommodations
  • Bar Services
  • Catering Services
  • Clean Up
  • Event Planner
  • Event Rentals
  • Get Ready Rooms
  • Wifi
Monona Terrace offers the following furniture and decor items for weddings:
  • Audio Equipment
  • Chairs
  • Dance Floor
  • Furniture
  • Lighting
  • Tables
Monona Terrace is recommended by 93% of couples who have used their services. Their overall rating is 4.6 out of 5 with the following breakdown: 4.8 in quality of service, 4.8 in average response time, 4.8 in professionalism, 4.4 in value and 4.3 in flexibility.
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