The Hotel Millwright, Amana

Select services venue

The venue will provide the space, plus a few extras.

Full wedding (ceremony and reception) pricing

Starting at $4,000 for off-peak dates, and $5,000 for peak dates

Packages

Prices start at $3,500

Guest capacity

Up to 225 seated guests

About this venue

Celebrate your love story in a space as unique as you are. The Merino Loft, nestled on the second floor of our historic weaving building, sets the stage for a wedding reception your guests will never forget. With stunning floor-to-ceiling windows, exposed brick walls, and industrial-chic architecture, it radiates charm, romance, and just the right amount of edge. This versatile venue offers over 7,000 square feet of space and can comfortably host up to 225 of your closest friends and family. Whether you're envisioning an elegant candlelit dinner or a high-energy dance party under twinkling lights, the Merino Loft adapts to your style and vision. Let the rich history of the Amana Colonies blend with your modern love story in a space that feels both timeless and bold. At Hotel Millwright, we’re ready to help you create the reception of your dreams—one unforgettable moment at a time.

Seated guest capacity

  • 48-225

Venue type

  • Ballrooms, Banquet Halls
  • Hotels, Inns, Resorts

Venue setting

  • Indoor
  • Outdoor
800 48th Ave, Amana, IA 52203

Our event spaces

Merino Loft

Fall in love all over again in the Merino Loft—where exposed brick, big windows, and even bigger vibes set the stage for the best party of your life.

The Merino Loft is where industrial-chic meets unforgettable celebration. With bold style, tons of character, and room to party your way, it’s not just a venue—it’s the main event. This is the kind of place that turns “just married” into “can’t stop talking about it.”

Guest capacity

48-225 Seated

48-225 Standing

Square footage

7,000

Ideal for

Wedding ceremony, Wedding reception, Welcome party

Guests often feel this space is

“Surprised and delighted”

Included in this room:

Get Ready Rooms – your private pre-party spaces to glam, chill, or pop some bubbly. Tables & Chairs Linen & Napkins – crisp black or classic white, dressed to impress. Silverware, Flatware, and Glassware Hedge Wall Decor (x2) – for that Insta-worthy backdrop moment. Signature Indigo Blue Furniture – one stylish couch, two cool armchairs Basic Centerpieces – choose from mirror tiles or rustic wood slabs Dinner & Bar Staff – (and no bartender fee if your bar tab hits $350—cheers to that!)

Room cost

$4500 April-November / $3500 December - March (Holidays are Full Price)

Carding Studio

The Carding Studio is perfect for your rehearsal dinner, brunch, or micro wedding—where intimate moments, big style, and unforgettable memories unite.

Why travel around when your entire celebration can unfold in one stunning place? The Carding Studio is your perfect spot for a rehearsal dinner, next-day brunch, or even a cozy micro wedding. With its rustic charm and modern elegance, it's the ideal prelude to your unforgettable reception in the Merino Loft and ceremony in the Courtyard. Keep the magic flowing all weekend long—your guests won’t want to leave.

Guest capacity

10-48 Seated

10-48 Standing

Square footage

1,000

Ideal for

Elopement, Rehearsal dinner, Wedding shower, Engagement party, Farewell brunch

Guests often feel this space is

“Surprised and delighted”

Included in this room:

Tables & Chairs – the perfect spots for your guests to mingle and eat. Linen & Napkins – sleek black or white to set the mood. Silverware, Flatware & Glassware – because every meal deserves style. Centerpieces – choose from mirror tiles or wood slabs with 3 votive candles for each table. Staffing – setup, tear down, dinner service, and bar staff (no bartender fee if bar hits $350!).

Room cost

$2500 for a Micro Wedding / $500 for Rehearsal Dinner or Brunch

Courtyard

Say ‘I do’ in the Hotel Millwright Courtyard, where lush greenery and historic charm create a perfect setting for your unforgettable outdoor ceremony.

Why settle for one stunning spot when you can have it all? Exchange vows in the beautiful Courtyard, then celebrate in style with a reception in the Merino Loft. Keep the party going with a next-day brunch in the Carding Studio. Your entire wedding weekend in one unforgettable location—your guests will be talking about it for years!

Guest capacity

10-200 Seated

10-200 Standing

Square footage

2,500

Ideal for

Wedding ceremony, Cocktail hour

Guests often feel this space is

“Surprised and delighted”

Included in this room:

Padded White Folding Chairs – Comfort and elegance for your guests. Sleek Square Arch – Modern and stylish backdrop for your ceremony. Elegant Octagon Arch – A unique focal point for your vows.

Room cost

$500 for Ceremony or Cocktail Hour

Merino Loft

Fall in love all over again in the Merino Loft—where exposed brick, big windows, and even bigger vibes set the stage for the best party of your life.

The Merino Loft is where industrial-chic meets unforgettable celebration. With bold style, tons of character, and room to party your way, it’s not just a venue—it’s the main event. This is the kind of place that turns “just married” into “can’t stop talking about it.”

Guest capacity

48-225 Seated

48-225 Standing

Square footage

7,000

Ideal for

Wedding ceremony, Wedding reception, Welcome party

Guests often feel this space is

“Surprised and delighted”

Included in this room:

Get Ready Rooms – your private pre-party spaces to glam, chill, or pop some bubbly. Tables & Chairs Linen & Napkins – crisp black or classic white, dressed to impress. Silverware, Flatware, and Glassware Hedge Wall Decor (x2) – for that Insta-worthy backdrop moment. Signature Indigo Blue Furniture – one stylish couch, two cool armchairs Basic Centerpieces – choose from mirror tiles or rustic wood slabs Dinner & Bar Staff – (and no bartender fee if your bar tab hits $350—cheers to that!)

Room cost

$4500 April-November / $3500 December - March (Holidays are Full Price)

The Hotel Millwright, Amana packages

The Merino Loft

220 guests

Peak pricing $4,500-5,000

Off-peak pricing $3,500-4,000

Description

The Merino Loft, filled with natural light, exposed brick, and original hardwood floors, is the perfect space for a wedding reception. The Merino Loft has a capacity of 220.

What’s included
  • Get Ready Rooms
  • Tables
  • Chairs
  • Choice of Linen & Cloth Napkin: Black & White
  • Glassware, Plate ware, Silverware
  • Hedge Wall Pieces (2)
  • Signature Indigo Blue Furniture pieces
  • Basic centerpieces
  • Staff: Service, Setup/Teardown of Hotel's Items
  • Bartenders ($350 Bar Minimum = No Bartender fee)
  • Access from 7:00 am - 12:00 am

Available services that can be provided by The Hotel Millwright, Amana

Services & amenities

  • Bar services
  • Catering services
  • Clean up
  • Dance floor
  • Dressing room / Bridal Suite
  • Event staff
  • On-site accommodations
  • Service staff
  • Set up
  • Wedding cake services
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Wifi

Transportation & access

  • Self parking - free

Accommodations

  • Room blocks offered

The Hotel Millwright, Amana menu options

$30-41 per guest

The Dye Haus Dinner

Includes mixed greens salad, house baked rolls & butter, one - two entrées, one sauce, one starch, & one vegetable. Freshly brewed regular coffee & assorted hot teas with lemon. *decaffeinated coffee on request. Can be served buffet style or plated. 20 person minimum / based on 90-minute time frame.

  • Seated dinner
  • Buffet dinner
  • - Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten Free, and Dairy Free options or accommodations are available. - All food & beverage prices are subject to change based on market fluctuation. For this reason, menu pricing for planned food and beverage functions will be guaranteed no earlier than 60 days prior to the event.
$40-55 per guest

The Bellwether Dinner

Includes berry salad, house baked rolls & butter, one - two entrées, one sauce, one starch & one vegetable. Freshly brewed regular coffee & assorted hot teas with lemon. *decaffeinated coffee on request. Can be served buffet style or plated. 20 person minimum / based on 90-minute time frame.

  • Seated dinner
  • Buffet dinner
  • - Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten Free, and Dairy Free options or accommodations are available. - All food & beverage prices are subject to change based on market fluctuation. For this reason, menu pricing for planned food and beverage functions will be guaranteed no earlier than 60 days prior to the event.
$50-62 per guest

The Tapestry Dinner

Includes Greek salad, house baked rolls & butter, one - two entrées, one sauce, one starch & one vegetable. Freshly brewed regular coffee & assorted hot teas with lemon. *decaffeinated coffee on request. Can be served buffet style or plated. 20 person minimum / based on 90-minute time frame.

  • Seated dinner
  • Buffet dinner
  • - Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten Free, and Dairy Free options or accommodations are available. - All food & beverage prices are subject to change based on market fluctuation. For this reason, menu pricing for planned food and beverage functions will be guaranteed no earlier than 60 days prior to the event.
$15-47 per guest

Full Bar

Includes house spirits, choice of 6 domestic beer or premium beers, 4 house wines & assorted soft drinks. priced per person, per hour first hour $15 per person second hour $11 per person each additional hour $7 per person

  • Add a specialty cocktail for an additional $3 per person per hour.

Reviews

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5.0 out of 5

5 reviews

Write a review

  • Need a wedding venue...look no further!

    •Verified review
    •Caitlin H.•May 29

    We loved our wedding day at the Hotel Millwright! Shelby and all the staff were incredibly responsive and collaborative throughout the planning process. They provided wonderful guidance, tips, and even had a preferred vendor list that made the planning less stressful. Cannot recommend the Merino Loft as a reception venue enough, it is truly beautiful with the natural light coming from the surrounding windows to the exposed brick and everything in between. The banquet team was so attentive on the day and made our reception so enjoyable for us and our guests. From the food tasting to our wedding cake and buffet, the food was absolutely delicious! Everything you could want or need is right there at the Hotel Millwright, from guest rooms and bridal suites to the reception venue and local shops - our entire wedding party and guests had a truly memorable experience.

    Response from vendor•May 29, 2025
    AWEEEEE Caitlin! We absolutely loved working with you, Chad, and your in-laws on your wedding weekend to remember! We cannot thank you enough for your kind words! Sending so much love to you all and we hope to see you VERY soon!

  • Rehearsal Dinner for son’s wedding

    •Verified review
    •Georgia F.•May 18, 2025

    Our only adult child married an Amana, Iowa girl almost two years ago. They met in grad school at. Northwestern University. We live in Portland, Oregon, so I made plans long distance for the rehearsal dinner, accommodations for out of state guests and members of the wedding party, and arranging for the special needs of my husband who was receiving treatment for pancreatic cancer but wasn’t going to miss our son’s big day. Whew! We had a lot to manage and couldn’t have chosen a better venue or a kinder person than Shelby Foster to help pull things together. Every single thing about the Hotel Millwright exceeded our expectations. The facility was a perfect blend of history and upscale contemporary design. Our ADA room was comfortable and made access to other areas of the hotel easy. My husband, Dennis, needed a wheelchair available upon arrival. Working with Shelby, it was waiting there for us. She also ensured the medical rental company would collect it after we left. One less detail for me to fuss with. Shelby and your Executive Chef collaborated with me to arrive at a dinner menu that would suit a wide range of palates. We opted for a bar serving wines, beers, and soft beverages so the wedding party would be functional the next day! Dinner was served buffet style and EVERYONE raved about the food and selections. Being an over-functioning retired advertising professional who has attended and thrown many functions, my standards were high. I don’t mind paying for quality, and the Hotel Millwright delivered it with flying colors. There were so many small and large decisions to be made in the process, and again, Shelby and I made thoughtful, informed choices. Her office was overflowing with cases of items destined for the goodie bags I assembled for the wedding party and out of town guests. Once we checked into the Hotel Millwright, another important aspect revealed itself: your AMAZING staff. Again, we travel quite a lot but rarely are engaged with such warm and welcoming people. We would never stay anywhere else in Amana. And I am happy to say that my husband is in full remission to this day. When Shelby reached out and asked for my review I was so happy to hear from her again and delighted to oblige. As I told her, when I look back at our time at the Hotel Millwright I always smile. You are the best. And that’s not just word candy, it’s true! Sincerely, Georgia Freshwater Portland, Oregon 503 757-1543 Cozy4884@gmail.com Ps. I want this detail to stand out. The morning of the rehearsal dinner Chicago, O’ Hare shut down due to severe weather. The bride and groom have Ph.D’s in Chemistry from Northwestern, and their wedding party (also scientists from grad school) were flying in from all over the country to celebrate. I finally freaked out and turned to Shelby. Nobody would be at the rehearsal dinner except for a handful of locals and our own guests! She was so calm. “It will all be fine” is what she said. How did she know? It turns out flights were diverted to Minneapolis and they rented cars and drove to Amana. They showed up an hour or so late and were hungry and thirsty. No problem! At moments like that I needed someone as cool as a cucumber. Shelby is everything that and more. I can’t wait to visit you folks again and give her a hug!

    Response from vendor•May 27, 2025
    Hello Georgia, You were an absolute JOY to work with! We cannot wait for you to come back to Iowa for a visit and to catch up. Sending massive hugs across the country!

  • The Perfect Wedding Venue

    •Verified review
    •Caroline S.•May 16, 2025

    Shelby Foster and the Banquet team were amazing to work with during the planning process and on my wedding day. They communicated well and provided great advice throughout the process. The venue was simply amazing and beautiful. From the tastings to our actual appetizers and meal, the food was spectacular! Everyone is still commenting on how they had a fantastic time at our wedding, and I couldn't have done it without the team at Hotel Millwright.

    Response from vendor•May 16, 2025
    Hi Caroline! We LOVED helping you and Bradley host the most perfect day! Please let us know the next time you're back in Amana because we would ALL love to see you both!

  • Best Space and Staff Wedding Ever!

    •Verified review
    •Sara B.•May 14, 2025

    Everyone at the Hotel Millwright , Amana, from the front staff, to the catering, to the support staff to the wedding planner was amazing. Everyone was kind and easy to work with and flexible with providing everything to make our day perfect. The space is so beautiful and the connection between the indoor wedding space and the hotel was perfect. It made it easy to get ready and have our family and friends available to take photos before and after the ceremony. It was easy for people to go between the reception and their hotel rooms. Also, the hotel is beautiful and charming. One of my family members who has the highest standards, could not stop telling me how wonderful everything was at the hotel and the wedding itself. The food was also somehow more delicious than when we did our tasting. I could not have been more impressed with how the staff handled everything on the day off and supported us throughout the event. Even with a small tornado warning, we had the best time ever! We looked at many spaces for our ceremony, when I saw the space here and met Shelby, we knew this had to be the space. Amana was also perfect for my family who all came from out of town. It was a great place to walk around and had so much for my family to explore.

    Response from vendor•May 16, 2025
    Sara and Sam, Thank you both for your kind words - it makes us feel all warm and fuzzy inside! You both were an absolute JOY to work with! We all cannot wait for you both to come back to Amana! Sending big hugs to you both!

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