Jessica & Paul’s Beautiful, Bloom-Filled Wedding at the Milwaukee Art Museum



Paul and Jessica met in college at UWM. The two were on a trip to Vancouver when Paul proposed. “We took a gondola up the side of Grouse Mountain,” Jessica says. “At sunset, Paul got down on one knee, in the snow, and asked me to marry him.”

Jessica and Paul planned a July wedding at the iconic Milwaukee Art Museum. Both the ceremony and reception were held there. What made the ceremony unique for the bride and groom: “A family friend was the officiant. Her personality and beautiful sermon made our ceremony perfect.” Photos were taken at both the Art Museum and at the nearby Pfister Hotel.

At the reception, food and drinks were catered by the Art Museum. “The reception was amazing!” Jessica says. “The food at the Milwaukee Art Museum was incredible, the music was perfect, and having all our friends and family enjoy the beautiful ambiance with us made it all the more special.” Dinner was a choice of scallops, steak, or risotto. “We decided to split all three — best decision ever!” For dessert: A 1,000 layer puff pastry.

The color story for the day was navy, burgundy, and blush. Floral arrangements from Feisty Flowers were both lovely to look at and filled with meaning. Paul’s heritage is South African, so the florists at Feisty Flowers made sure to include South Africa’s national flower, the King Protea. These were laced throughout all of the arrangements.

Bringing Wisconsin and South Africa together, there were also local blooms and foliages of scabiosa, crimson peonies, baptisia and smokebush from Windswept acres farm in Cecil Wisconsin. “The other extra special touch were the large white peonies we had shipped in from Alaska Perfect Peony,” says Feisty Flowers owner Jaclyn. A nod to the engagement story, no doubt. “Their season is a very short one, limited to spring. But fortunately, with the magical things they are doing with peonies in Alaska, we were able to get them, and they were beautiful, fresh, and large.”

Looking back on all the beauty, emotion, and love in the room, Jessica says it’s impossible to pick just one moment that stands above the rest. “From our first dance to dancing the night away, I focused to much on cherishing the entire day that I couldn’t possibly pick a favorite!”

[table]
Make-up and Hair~Jennifer Newstat
Ceremony, Reception, Catering & Bartending~Milwaukee Art Museum
Cake~Regina’s Whitefish Bay
Flowers~Feisty Flowers
Music/Entertainment~Kyle Feerick
Transportation~Blackline Limo
Photographer~Heather Cook Elliott
Gown~Anne Barge from Gigi of Mequon
Formalwear~Banana Republic
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