Everyone knows that a wedding is one of the most expensive parties that you will ever throw. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
Sure, some wedding venues may charge an arm and a leg, but many places provide quality, elegant, and ornate spaces at reasonable costs.
If you’re looking to host your wedding in Wisconsin, specifically, then you’re in luck! We’ve compiled a list of affordable venues that will surely please any couple!
But before we dive into all that Wisconsin has to offer, you should know that the average couple spent $21,464 on their 2021 wedding.
This number is already several thousand dollars less than the national average, which should give you an idea of how far your money will stretch here!
So without further ado…here are 10 of the best affordable wedding venues in Wisconsin.
Milwaukee Historical Society – Milwaukee
If you and your love appreciate a venue that pairs elegant architecture with historic charm, then the Milwaukee Historical Society — an organization meant to celebrate Milwaukee’s storied past — may be the place for you.
This grand venue offers 8,000 square feet of meeting space that’s fully equipped to handle all of your wedding activities.
But before you dive in, you have to commemorate the occasion with photos taken in the building’s lobby. Here, ornate columns, high ceilings, and marble flooring will act as a stately backdrop.
When it’s time to exchange rings, you can choose between the Main Hall or a patio space that’s in full view of the gorgeous Père Marquette Park.
Rentals include access to the reception and ceremony space, standard wedding supplies, and bride and groom suites.
Price Range: $4,700 – $5.700 for venue rental; add-ons extra.
Capacity: Up to 75 guests.
Find Milwaukee Historical Society at Milwaukee History or check out Facebook or Instagram.
Irish Cultural and Heritage Center – Milwaukee
The Irish Cultural and Heritage Center is an organization that aims to unite Irish Americans with their cultural roots through various performances and festivities. However, it also doubles as an affordable wedding venue in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Lucky for couples, there are several indoor spaces for all of your wedding activities.
For example, you may consider The Erin Room, an event space that boasts large windows which allow for natural light to illuminate the space. There’s also a private bar available!
The Firth Province Hall is a mid-sized space with high ceilings and hardwood floors. It’s great for an intimate reception venue.
Lastly, the Heritage Center also has an onsite-theater, which is perfect for larger parties. It’s a great option for a reception space, especially if you plan to have video presentations.
Rentals include access to the ceremony and reception spaces, standard wedding supplies, and an onsite coordinator.
Price Range: $300 for a ceremony; $600 for a reception.
Capacity: Up to 300 guests, depending on the rental.
Find Irish Cultural and Heritage Center at Irish Cultural and Heritage Center or check out Facebook or Instagram.
The Atrium – Shorewood
The Atrium is an industrial wedding venue, that offers several elegant indoor/outdoor spaces. And while weddings here can be expensive affairs, the base price to rent is definitely within most budgets.
Start your day by taking photos on the whimsical rooftop setup, which features lush greenery splashed amid an urban landscape. You can also exchange vows here as you overlook the gorgeous nearby skyline.
When it’s time for your reception, most couples head down to the main ballroom, a conglomerate of urban and elegant styles which features space for a sit-down dinner.
Basic rentals include the ceremony and reception sites, onsite coordination, and basic wedding supplies, such as linens, tables, and chairs.
For an additional charge, you can add things such as DJ services, catering, and bar packages.
Price Range: $5,000 – $6,000 for venue rental; add-ons extra.
Capacity: Up to 220 guests.
Find The Atrium at The Atrium or check out Facebook or Instagram.
The Broadway Theatre Center – Milwaukee
The Broadway Theatre Center is perfect for couples who want their wedding to have a bit of a dramatic edge. Weddings here can be as much of an event as any stage production or concert.
Set your wedding apart from all your friends by displaying your names on the marquee outside. (Don’t forget the wedding photos!)
Once you’ve signaled the events to come, you and your guests can venture inside the theater and make use of several spaces for your wedding activities.
Whether you’re looking for a classic banquet hall or the floor of a stately theater, this venue has you covered.
Depending on the package, your rental can include access to the event space, standard wedding supplies, audio and visual equipment, and catering services.
Price Range: $750 – $4,500.
Capacity: Up to 150 guests.
Find The Broadway Theatre Center on Facebook or Instagram.
Schlitz Audubon Nature Center – Bayside
The Schlitz Audubon Nature Center is a conservation effort that offers hiking trails that run through over 185 acres of forests.
Weddings here benefit from the surrounding natural splendor, but you’re also free to dress the space up or down to your heart’s content.
Set against Lake Michigan, this venue offers near endless spaces that make great photo-ops. And once you’re done documenting the beginning of your marriage, you can venture to one of several venues to officially cement your commitment.
Many couples opt for an outdoor wedding, given the surroundings, and a popular location is the main pavilion, which offers gorgeous views of the property.
For the reception, many couples venture indoors and host their reception in the Great Hall, an ornate banquet-hall type space that’s perfect for a sit-down dinner.
Rentals include the ceremony and reception spaces, a wedding party suite, a dressing room, and the use of a golf cart to transport you across the venue.
Price Range: $2,700 – $4,200 for venue rental; add-ons extra.
Capacity: 125 – 225 guests.
Find Schlitz Audubon Nature Center at Schlitz Audubon or check out Facebook or Instagram.
Stoney Creek Hotel – Wausau
The Stoney Creek Hotel is a hotel chain, meant to replicate the feeling of lodging in a riverfront cabin. From here, you’ll enjoy up-close views of the Mississippi River and the surrounding natural splendor.
If you’d like to have an outdoor wedding, you can wed along the verdant lawn, with the hotel acting as your backdrop.
For indoor affairs, you can take advantage of one of several ballrooms, which feature high ceilings and ornate finishes.
The best part about this venue is that it’s a pretty convenient place to wed if you plan on having a bunch of out-of-town guests.
Rentals include access to the ceremony and reception spaces, standard wedding supplies, such as tables, chairs, and flatware, an onsite coordinator, and bartenders.
Price Range: $1,700 – $2,000 for venue rental; add-ons extra.
Capacity: Up to 450 guests.
Find Stoney Creek Hotel at Stoney Creek Hotel or check out Facebook or Instagram.
Black Swan – Milwaukee
The Black Swan is a premier wedding venue, located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Nestled against the Milwaukee River, this space offers breathtaking river views, while providing elegant indoor spaces to host your wedding activities.
You can think of the main hall as a blank canvas, just waiting for your personal touch to transform it into an unforgettable space. However, hallmarks of the space are stately columns and low ceilings which give the space a cozy vibe!
Whether you’re hoping to have an utterly charming daytime wedding, where natural light can flood in and illuminate your floral decor, or a nighttime affair, where you can overlook the majestic beauty of the river, this venue has you covered!
Rentals include the ceremony and reception spaces, standard wedding supplies, and dressing rooms for all of your pre-wedding prep.
Price Range: $5,000 and up.
Capacity: Up to 300 guests.
Find Black Swan at Black Swan or check out Facebook or Instagram.
Sixth Floor Wedding and Event Venue – Milwaukee
If you’d like your wedding to resemble a black-tie gala at house party prices, then consider the Sixth Floor Wedding and Event Venue.
This elegant space sits on the sixth floor of its resident building, which means that you and your guests will be treated to awe-inspiring views of the Milwaukee skyline.
Because this venue spans over 5,400 feet, you and your gets will have plenty of room to have an elegant, stately ceremony and reception.
Rentals include the event space, standard wedding materials, and lighting features. However, the best part about this venue is that it doesn’t enforce any minimum policy, which helps to keep prices low. Plus, you can bring in any outside vendor that you wish.
Price Range: $2,500 – $6,200.
Capacity: 250 – 300 guests.
Find Sixth Floor Wedding and Event Venue at Sixth Floor Milwaukee or check out Facebook or Instagram.
Riverbend Venue at River’s Edge – Richmond
The Riverbend Venue at River’s Edge is a charming, rustic event space that sits on the Apple River and offers gorgeous views of the surrounding natural beauty.
You can start your day off by taking wedding photos along the bank of the majestic flowering river.
When it’s time to exchange your vows, well take your pick of the lot. If you’d like an outdoor wedding in Wisconsin, then you’ll set up along the river on the pavilion. After you’ve committed yourselves to each other, you can use the clubhouse for a cozy cocktail hour.
For your reception, you can use the outdoor patio, which comes equipped with a fire pit and tiki bar, making this a great space for an evening wedding.
Depending on your wedding package, your rental can include access to the ceremony and reception spaces, get-ready rooms, and standard wedding supplies. Onsite accommodations are also available.
Price Range: $2,000 and up.
Capacity: Up to 200 guests.
Find Riverbend Venue at River’s Edge at Apple River or check out Facebook or Instagram.
The Ingleside Hotel – Pewaukee
The Ingleside Hotel is a boutique hotel that offers full-sized service! Here, weddings are elegant occasions that neither you nor your close friends and family will ever forget.
This sprawling property offers seven total spaces to host all of your wedding activities.
Many couples opt to host their wedding on the hotel’s lush lawns, as the gorgeous architecture helps curate an elegant space for your nuptials.
After you’ve exchanged your vows, you can venture inside and host a dreamy reception inside of the main ballroom, a space that boasts high ceilings and opulent charm.
Depending on your wedding package, your rental can include access to the ceremony and reception space, get-ready rooms, and standard wedding supplies.
Price Range: $8,000 – $9,000.
Capacity: Up to 300 guests.
Find The Ingleside Hotel at The Ingleside Hotel or check out Facebook or Instagram.
