Courtney & Kevin’s Milwaukee Wedding at the Historic Pritzlaff Building

It all started at Summer Fest

Wisconsinites Courtney and Kevin met at a Summer Fest concert in 2013. Fast-forward five years to when the two were living in Milwaukee’s Third Ward, just a stone’s throw from the festival grounds. “We took our dog for a walk on our five-year anniversary,” Courtney remembers. The grounds were closed that day, so they strolled along the perimeter. “Kevin proposed to me in front of the grounds, where we first met.”

Planning made pretty

Kevin and Courtney planned a modern and elegant wedding at the Pritzlaff for August 3, 2019. There was no true color scheme, rather lots of neutral flowers, dark greenery, and cool accents of steel and iron. While envisioning the big day, Courtney found inspiration in unique places: “You don’t have to have a cookie-cutter wedding. Instead of searching on Pinterest, try searching hotel lobbies for floral and decorative inspiration! Or look at local stores with unique design elements.”

A wedding in bloom

Courtney and Kevin worked with Belle Fiori on floral designs, including a ceremony arch and hanging display. “Kevin built the arch we were married under and it was decorated by Belle Fiori,” Courtney says. “For our unity ceremony, we carved our initials into the arch. Now we have it in our backyard.”
With the help of Cori Coffman, the Pritzlaff’s wedding coordinator, Kevin and Courtney designed the 3D art and floral display that was suspended above the head table. Courtney says designing the wedding was one of her favorite things about planning, especially collaborating with Cori and Belle Fiori. “We used a flower called King Protea, which the entire wedding décor centered around.”

A bit of advice from the bride: “I can’t stress enough that if you can afford to hire a day-of coordinator, do it! They will take all the stress out of your day so you can enjoy. Cori went one step further and helped us design our entire aesthetic for the day and made sure everything was perfect.”

Party at the Pritzlaff

Both the ceremony and reception took place at the Pritzlaff. With the gorgeous building as their backdrop, there was no end to photo-ops. “We took rooftop photos on top of the Pritzlaff Building and throughout the Third Ward.”

During cocktail hour, a string quartet played, and the Pritzlaff bar served a signature cocktail of strawberry rhubarb daiquiris. Dinner was then catered by Chef Jack’s Catering. Guests enjoyed a trio plate of steak, chicken en croute, potatoes, and vegetables.

A dessert bar by Sweet Perfections offered an array of brownies and dessert bars. But to Kevin and Courtney, the sweetest treat of all was a packed dance floor: a perfect end to an unforgettable night.