Downtown Milwaukee Wedding at the Wisconsin Center

Two culinary artists tied the knot on New Year’s Eve in their favorite city on earth.

How They Met

Megan, who was born in Mankato, Minnesota, and Omar, who hails from Stockholm, Sweden, are both leaders in the hospitality industry in the Milwaukee area. The pair met at a business lunch at the InterContinental Milwaukee Hotel (now Saint Kate Arts Hotel) in January 2018. For Omar, it was love at first sight. He fell in love with Megan the moment he met her. Megan, on the other hand, had no idea Omar had strong feelings for her until two years later in March 2020.

Their paths always seemed to cross at events throughout the city, but Omar never made a move until he invited Megan to brunch at Engine Company No. 3 in Walker’s Point one Saturday afternoon. From there came an invitation to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at an Irish pub the following weekend. Megan point blank asked Omar, “Are you into me?” He responded, “Only if you’re into me!”

The Engagement

The weekend of January 14, 2021, Megan and Omar ventured on a trip to New York City. There was an indoor mask mandate for the city and people were required to show their vaccine card and ID to wine and dine indoors, but we were up for an adventure. We were craving different sounds, scenes, and flavors from Milwaukee. They visited jazz clubs, the New York Public Library, the Plaza Hotel, Tiffany’s, and the Apollo Theater, ate Japanese noodles, sandwiches at Katz’s deli, tacos at the Chelsea Market, sipped Manhattans in Manhattan and coffee in SoHo, walked the streets of Harlem, walked around Little Italy, Bryant Park, and Central Park, enjoyed the lights of Times Square. While riding down 5th Avenue in a taxi, Omar pulled out a ring and asked Megan to be his partner for life.

The Dress

Megan found her dream wedding dress, a gown designed by Martina Liana from White Dress Bridal Boutique in Walker’s Point. She tried on three different gowns for her mother and sister. She walked into the shop with a vision of what she wanted, but when she put the third dress on, it felt perfect and she simply knew it was the one.

The Ceremony

Megan and Omar got married on New Year’s Eve 2022 at the Wisconsin Center. Lit by lanterns, the glow of candles, and Chavarri chairs, Megan walked down a 150-foot aisle lined in white with her father by her side. The venue also featured black iron chandeliers and the candle wall where they exchanged their vows.

The Reception

Megan and Omar’s New Year’s Eve wedding was strategically designed to be a progressive experience for their guests. At 5:00 pm, their candlelit ceremony was held in Grand Ballroom AB. From 5:30 to 7:00, the newlyweds and their guests enjoyed a cocktail hour with classic instrumental love songs, food stations, wine, and appetizers. Dinner, which featured cuisines from around the world, was held from 7:00 to 9:00 in Grand Ballroom C. Megan and Omar greeted their guests with a formal receiving line.

At 9:00, the couple cut their six-tiered wedding cake as a curtain was raised to unveil Maggie Speaks, the live band that was set in Grand Ballroom D. The couple’s first dance was a song Megan had written for Omar. The music never stopped and everyone danced the night away. At midnight, there was a balloon drop with a digital countdown on display to ring in the new year.

The Food and Drinks

For dinner, which was catered by Levy Restaurants, the wedding guests navigated through various stations that took them on a global dining experience. The countries’ represented included Sweden, Malaysia, Great Britain, Italy, Morocco, and the United States (Minnesota to be exact). Late night snacks included corn dogs, Milwaukee soft pretzels, fresh fruit, and hand-rolled ice cream. The wedding cake was designed by Greige Patisserie.

Featured drinks included signature Wisconsin old-fashioneds, Milwaukee lite and craft beers, red and white wine, and champagne. There was even a build your own coffee station for guests who craved an extra jolt of energy or didn’t want to consume alcohol.

The Couple’s Favorite Moments

Some of Megan and Omar’s most cherished moments of their special day include pouring their individual glass crystals together, reciting their personalized vows, being surrounded by friends and family who traveled to Milwaukee from around the globe, and the best man’s inspirational speech.

Words of Wisdom from the Bride

“Being in the hospitality and event world, [Omar and I] tend to think we know how things work because we live and breathe these experiences each day,” Megan shares. “But when it came to our own day, it was hard to make decisions on certain things.”

Megan also suggests, “Don’t overthink things. People are there to celebrate your love for each other. You cannot and you should not try to please everyone. Everyone is going to have an input, but it’s okay to not act on their advice. If you’re not traditional, know that you don’t have to have a traditional night! Your engagement will go incredibly fast. Take time to stop and enjoy it. You only get to call each other your fiancés for a short time of your life journey.”

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