Dakota County is a beautiful place for a wedding, as it is bordered by the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers and has some gorgeous parks where you can exchange wedding vows.
Major cities and townships in Dakota County include Hastings, which is the county seat, Mendota, Apple Valley, Mendota Heights, South St. Paul, Sunfish Lake, Vermillion, Castle Rock, and Eureka.
Dakota County is home to part of the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge and part of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, both of which have plenty of scenic areas where you can take engagement and wedding photographs.
Also, several of the county's parks are home to some of the region's premier wedding venues. Make sure you check out Dakota Lodge, which is in Thompson County Park, and Schaar's Bluff Gathering Center, which is located in the Spring Lake Park Reserve.
Other shelters in Dakota County available to rent for special occasions include Holland Lake Shelter, Trout Brook Shelter, Lakeside Shelter, and the Jensen Lake Shelter in Lebanon Hills Regional Park, just to name a few.
Dakota County is in close proximity to major shopping venues in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area, but it also has some quality shopping centers of its own, so you will be able to easily find everything on your wedding checklist.
Make sure you check out the specialty shops in Historic Downtown Hastings, the Western Area, Midtown Shopping Area, and Southern Area districts in Hastings, Mendota Plaza, and Granada Shopping Center in Apple Valley.
Dakota County has plenty for you to enjoy during your free time, so make sure you take a break from the wedding planning process to explore the area.
To start, you can go boating at Hastings Bay Marina, visit the Sibley House Historic Site in Mendota Heights, spend a day at the Minnesota Zoo, which is in Apple Valley, go skiing at Afton Alps, or see a show at Burnsville Performing Arts Center.
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Dakota County Weddings, City of Hastings, Mendota, Schaar's Bluff Gathering Center, Shopping in Dakota County, Sibley House Historic Site
