Milwaukee Wedding at The George Ballroom

A chic, classy, and fun wedding at an elegant venue in the heart of Walker’s Point

How They Met

It was love at first swipe when Erin and Pete stumbled upon one another on the dating app Hinge. In November 2018, Erin came across a Hinge profile for a cute guy named Peter, whose answer to the question, “If you get me drunk enough, I’ll admit to…” was “loving Matchbox Twenty.” She thought to herself, “A guy who can get down to Rob Thomas now and then is my kind of guy,” tapped the heart, and received a message from Peter shortly after.

When Pete and Erin decided to meet in-person, they had their first date at Scofflaw, a cocktail bar in Chicago. A week later, they grabbed dinner at one of their now-favorite restaurants, and after a few drinks, walked across the street to a cozy Irish pub and had their first kiss. The rest is history.

The Engagement

Pete proposed to Erin on her grandparents’ pier on Lake Winnebago. Their dog Maple and family were present for the surprise.

The Dress

Erin found her dream wedding gown, which was designed by Karen Willis Holmes, at Gilded Rose Atelier in Barrington, Illinois. After trying on just a handful of dresses, Erin knew it was “the one” when it fit her like a glove. The dress was very flattering and formal yet elegant. She felt like a chic, modern princess, which is exactly how she wanted to feel.

The Suit

Peter got his suit at Icon Custom Suit in Denver, Colorado.

The Rings

Erin and Pete bought their rings at Jeanne’s Jewels in Fond du Lac.

The Ceremony

Erin and Pete’s ceremony was held at St. James 1868 in Downtown Milwaukee. It was a Catholic ceremony officiated by a priest, but instead of the full mass, it was only 25 minutes long. Since their families have differing religious beliefs, they wanted to be respectful of both sides while still making sure they incorporated valuable traditions.

There were many other aspects that made the ceremony unique. For example, the service concluded with an Irish blessing. The couple also hired a Milwaukee-based string quartet, Dream City Music, to play their favorite love songs leading up to and after the ceremony.

The Food and Drink

Erin and Pete’s reception dinner was catered by Saz’s. The three entrée options included vegan paella, filet, and sea bass. The open bar served top shelf liquor, including signature cocktails called The Rambler (a negroni named after Pete’s alma mater), The Lake Girl (a paloma that was an homage to Erin’s upbringing on Lake Winnebago), A Love that Never Sours (a maple whiskey sour named after their dog Maple). For dessert, they served a Guinness-infused chocolate cake with Baileys buttercream from The Cake Lady (a nod to Erin’s Irish family), donuts from Mix it Up Bakery (a Fond du Lac staple), and mini pints of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, the couple’s favorite ice cream spot in Chicago.

The Decorations

The card holders were DIYed from gold spray painted safari animal figurines, which were a perfect complement to the space as well as their honeymoon.

The Reception

Erin and Pete had their wedding reception at The George in Walker’s Point, with architecture and design that are “out of this world,” as the couple describes. The second they stepped foot into the building, they knew it would be the perfect place to celebrate their love and throw one heck of a party for their family and friends.

One very special moment from their big day that has stuck with Erin and Pete the most is the very last song the Bluewater Kings Band played, which was “What’s Up” by 4 Non Blondes. Everybody crowded the dance floor and sang their hearts out.

The Honeymoon

Erin and Pete honeymooned in South Africa and Mozambique.

Words of Wisdom from the Bride

“Ask for help! You can’t do it alone,” Erin suggests. “And don’t listen to anyone’s negative opinions — it’s your day. Plan it exactly how you want it. You’ll never get to do it again.”

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