Milwaukee Wedding at Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum

A romantic, vintage-style, summertime celebration of love on the East Side

The Beginning

St. Louis natives Alex and Christopher met while working together at the local movie theater in high school. One evening, many years into dating, the couple had plans to grab dinner at Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder with another couple from Christopher’s law school class. The morning of the double date, the other couple canceled, but Alex and Christopher decided they still wanted to go. The restaurant only accepted cash so when it came time to pay the bill, Christopher left the table to withdraw cash from the ATM. However, he did not return. Eventually, the waiter handed Alex a note that began a scavenger hunt. The first stop was the couple’s apartment, where she found another note tied to their dog Aspen’s collar. Next, she went to the gym to meet her best friend, who presented her with a third and final note. This clue took her to the rooftop of her and Alex’s first apartment in downtown Chicago. When she made her way up to the rooftop, Chris was waiting to propose. Shortly after Alex said yes, all of their friends gathered on the rooftop to celebrate.

The Planning

The couple hired a full-service wedding planner from Weddings With a Twist, who made sure they had everything they needed and that their special day ran smoothly. Krista was key in helping them find the best vendors in the Milwaukee area, especially since they’re not from Brew City.

The Look

Alex found her dream wedding gown, designed by Ines Di Santo, at Berrybridge Bridal Boutique in St. Louis. The bridesmaids and groomsmen wore champagne and black, respectively. Jules and Rebecca from Rare Bird Beauties did Alex’s gorgeous makeup and hair.

The Celebration

Alex and Christopher got married at the Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum. Alex’s best friend Jon officiated the ceremony. “[Jon] and I became friends through work when we moved to Chicago, and it was important to me that the person officiating the wedding was an important person in Chris’s and my lives,” Alex shared. He made the ceremony so enjoyable as he talked about memories they’ve all shared together and read the poem “How Falling in Love is Like Owning a Dog” by Taylor Mali. The couple exchanged their own written vows, which meant a lot to them as they wanted to share the moment with everyone who had been a part of their journey. After the ceremony, the reception continued at Villa Terrace, where they shared their first dance to “Falling Like the Stars” by James Arthur. The DJ from Sound by Design played all the music Alex and Christopher enjoyed. Christopher even curated a 10-hour playlist with songs that were sure to keep the dance floor full.

The Décor

The Villa Terrace was the inspiration for many of the couple’s design choices. “I had always wanted a venue that felt private but was outdoors, and that was so beautiful you didn’t need to decorate it very much,” Alex said. “I couldn’t have pictured a more perfect venue.” The flowers from Feisty Flowers in Waukesha featured a mix of peaches, creams, and blues. Guests ate dinner at two long tables on the terrace, which made it feel like a huge family-style meal with all of their loved ones. Alex and Christopher rented their chairs, cutlery, and chargers from Well Dressed Tables by Arena Americas.

The Photos and Video

Danielle Determan (Duey Photo) captured the magical moments of Alex and Christopher’s wedding day. “Photography was our biggest splurge. I had a very particular style in mind, and I had picked out our photographer before we were even engaged,” Alex shared. The couple and the bridal party stayed on the Villa Terrace property, including the lawn, stairs, and on the balcony overlooking the courtyard. “She captured the day exactly as I wanted.” The couple also hired a videographer from Complete Weddings and Events, whose footage they’ll watch for years to come.

The Food and Drinks

Alex and Christopher’s wedding menu, catered by Zilli Hospitality Group, was perfect for summer. It included several fun elements, such as a charcuterie station and seasonal salads. Chris loves dessert but isn’t the biggest fan of wedding cake, so the couple opted for DIY s’mores.

Words of Wisdom from the Bride

“Try and find moments or elements to the wedding that you can tailor to make your own. I really believe that our wedding is so memorable because we had a close friend officiate and we said our own vows. We also took inspiration from other weddings, but cut out things that we felt we did not need or did not make sense for us. Weddings can be very unique and special if the couple find elements that they can make their own.”

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