Planning a wedding in Milwaukee and Southeast Wisconsin comes with plenty of amazing possibilities; beautiful lakefront views, historic venues, gorgeous countryside and some seriously good food. But there are also a few very “Wisconsin” details that are easy to overlook when you first start planning.
Here are a few things worth thinking about early, so they don’t become a last-minute surprise.
Forgetting About Milwaukee’s Festival Calendar
Summer in Milwaukee means festivals, concerts, sporting events and something happening nearly every weekend.
If you’re getting married downtown, near the lakefront or around one of the city’s major event areas, check what’s happening on your wedding weekend before you finalize transportation and hotel plans. A major event can mean busier roads, limited parking and higher demand for hotel rooms.
Not Checking the Packers Schedule
Yes, really. A Packers game can affect more than whether a few guests are sneaking glances at their phones throughout the night.
If you’re planning a fall wedding, check the Packers schedule once it’s released, and if there’s a Thursday night game during your wedding weekend, lean into it! Turn your rehearsal dinner or welcome party into a casual watch party with cheese curds, brats, your favorite Wisconsin beer, old fashioneds and other local favorites. It’s a fun way to kick off the weekend, especially for guests coming in from out of town.
And if your wedding happens to fall on a Sunday game day? Just know your Wisconsin guests will probably want to keep tabs on the score.
Underestimating Wisconsin Weather
A sunny 75-degree forecast can turn into wind, rain and a 20-degree temperature drop faster than we’d like to admit.
Outdoor ceremonies and photos are beautiful, but having a backup plan is especially important in Wisconsin. Think beyond rain, too. Summer heat, lakefront wind, chilly spring evenings and surprise October cold snaps can all change how an outdoor portion of your day feels.
Not Thinking About Sunset Time
Those dreamy golden-hour wedding photos require one pretty important thing: sunlight.
Sunset times change dramatically throughout the year in Wisconsin, especially once we get into fall. Before building your ceremony and dinner timeline, ask your photographer when they’ll want to sneak you away for outdoor portraits. You may need to adjust your timeline to get the light you want.
Waiting Too Long to Reserve Hotel Rooms
This is especially important if you’re getting married during peak wedding season, a major Milwaukee event weekend or in popular destinations like Lake Geneva and Lake Country.
Even if most of your guests are local, you’ll probably be surprised by how many decide they’d rather stay overnight than drive home after the reception. Starting the hotel conversation early gives guests more options, and gives you one less thing to worry about later.
Forgetting That Construction Season Is Basically a Wisconsin Season
We have winter, spring, summer, fall…and road construction.
Routes that were perfectly convenient when you booked your venue may look very different by the time your wedding arrives. As the date gets closer, check the routes between your hotel, ceremony, photo locations and reception venue. If there are closures or major detours, give your guests and transportation company a heads-up.
Trying to Plan Around Every Possible Problem
Here’s the good news: you don’t have to.
There might be rain. There might be construction. The Packers might be playing. Milwaukee might have three festivals happening on the same Saturday. None of that means your wedding date is a bad choice.
The goal is simply to know what’s happening, have a backup plan where it matters and then enjoy the day you’ve planned.
Plan Your Milwaukee & Southeast Wisconsin Wedding
From finding the right venue to building your local vendor team, Premier Bride makes it easier to plan a wedding right here in Milwaukee and Southeast Wisconsin. Browse local venues, photographers, florists, DJs, caterers, planners and more in our Vendor Guide, and pick up a copy of Premier Bride throughout the area for even more wedding inspiration.
