Milwaukee Wedding at the Bradley Symphony Center

An elegant, classy, and joyful wedding for two high school sweethearts.

How They Met

Liz and Peter, both natives of Brookfield, Wisconsin, met in high school. Liz’s best friend’s prom date was a grade above them. Not wanting to go to the dance alone, her friend set her up with Peter, her date’s best friend. Liz and Peter started dating soon after. They parted ways while they both attended college then moved to Chicago together after graduation.

The Engagement

On Memorial Day weekend 2022, Liz and Peter had plans to go out for brunch. Afterward, the two went on a walk by Belmont Harbor in Chicago. Before she knew it, he was down on one knee proposing. Their friend was there to capture the beautiful moment. When they returned to their apartment, their friends were waiting with champagne to celebrate!

The Dress

Liz found her dream wedding dress at White Dress Bridal Boutique in Walker’s Point. Her mom, sister, mother-in-law, and sister-in-law were present when she said yes to the dress. The associate, Jimmy, made the experience amazing, as he knew exactly what the bride-to-be had in mind. She ended up falling in love with the very first dress she tried on.

The Rehearsal Dinner

The evening before the big day, Liz and Peter hosted their rehearsal dinner at Good City Brewing on the East Side. They ate and drank with their family and friends in a lovely private room.

The Ceremony

Liz and Peter’s wedding was held in The Gallery at the Bradley Symphony Center in Downtown Milwaukee. Their ceremony was short, sweet, and meaningful. Their officiant was Peter’s college roommate, who flew in from Seattle. Liz and Peter each had seven bridesmaids and groomsmen, including a mix of family members and close friends. One of Liz’s lifelong best friends did two elegant, simple readings. Their nephew, the ring bearer, ran down the aisle, while their four-month-old niece, the flower girl, was pulled down the aisle in a baby carriage.

The Reception

Liz and Peter’s reception at the Bradley Symphony Center, “was so much fun, it’s so hard to pick only one favorite part,” according to Liz. Her father gave the funniest, most heartfelt toast, and even surprised his daughter with various photos of her on every single table. The father of the bride, best man, and maid of honor speeches brought the newlyweds and their guests to tears of happiness.

For an extra special touch, the newlyweds’ names were on display on the brightly lit marquee outside the venue, and many guests took photos in front of the sign. The Bradley Symphony Center offered a combination of a historical lobby and a modern, renovated reception space. Every room had so many beautiful details from the grand staircase, floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the city, built-in bars, and gorgeous lighting. “It was the perfect place that had multiple rooms as we wanted to have our ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception all at the same place.” The cocktail hour was held in the Grand Lobby, and the reception was held upstairs in the Atrium.

The Décor

The venue was decorated with stunning floral arrangements from Impressions by Esther Fleming. Liz wanted simple white flowers with pretty greenery to match the classic ambiance. The florist designed two pedestals of flowers for the ceremony, which the bride and groom stood between as they said “I do.” Paperwhites, a custom design studio out of Wauwatosa, created all of the signage throughout the space.

The Food and Drinks

Resonance Food Co. – the hospitality brand of the Bradley Symphony Center – prepared and catered all of the delicious food for Liz and Peter’s wedding reception dinner. The menu consisted of short ribs and various other items that yielded plenty of compliments from the guests. The couple’s dog, Mildred, had her very own sign for the signature cocktails, an old fashioned and a paloma.

The dessert, including mini pastries and cake, was provided by Simma’s Bakery. The three-tier wedding cake came in two different flavors – classic cheesecake and genoise cake with raspberry chambord mousse. The cake was decorated with beautiful white flowers and gold details. The late-night sweets table was filled with fruit tarts, cream puffs, cannolis, and eclairs.

The Honeymoon

To celebrate their newly wedded bliss, Liz and Peter spent 10 days in Italy, including Lake Como, Tuscany, and Rome.

Words of Wisdom from the Bride

“Take a minute to step back with your partner during the reception and appreciate and take it all in. Having all of the people you love in one room is so special.”

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