Milwaukee – the largest city in Wisconsin – is home to hundreds of wedding venues. If you can dream it, they likely have it!
Rustic barns, historic museums, and secluded beach oases just scratch the surface of what you may find in the city.
And the best part is that a Milwaukee wedding won’t break the bank with the average ceremony costing around $25,000.
If you’re thinking about hosting your wedding here, then you’re in for a treat. Here are 10 of the best wedding venues in Milwaukee!
Turner Hall Ballroom
Dating back to 1882, Turner Hall is one of Milwaukee’s oldest and most cherished structures. The two-story building spans 7,000 feet, working double duty as a general event space and also a popular venue for weddings.
The main ballroom is perfect for both the ceremony and the reception. It has high ceilings and multi-level seating, allowing guests to overlook the couple as they say their vows or take their first dance.
Boasting concert-quality sound, it’s a great place to shoot high-quality wedding footage. And despite modern amenities, Turner Hall still retains its rich history and authentic charm.
Price: $4,750 – $5,500.
Capacity: Up to 300 guests.
Find Turner Hall at Turner Hall or check out Facebook or Instagram.
Marcus Center for Performing Arts
The Marcus Center for Performing Arts is the centralized hub for every Broadway production that passes through the city, but during downtime, weddings take precedence.
Floor-to-ceiling windows capture the attention of anyone who steps foot inside the Bradley Pavilion, an impressive ballroom that can accommodate up to 700 people.
If you fancy an outdoor space in Milwaukee for your wedding day, then consider Fitch Memorial Garden, a quaint natural oasis, offset by fresh flowers and a stone fountain.
Peck Pavilion and Grounds is a large, open outdoor space that sits by the water.
Price Range: $30,000 and up.
Capacity: 300 – 700 guests.
Find the Marcus Center for Performing Arts at Marcus Center or check out Facebook or Instagram.
Milwaukee County Zoo
If you want a wedding experience that’s unique, then the Milwaukee County Zoo might serve your needs.
It’s the ideal wedding location for animal-loving couples who want nothing more than to wed in the vicinity of our four-legged friends.
Your ceremony could take place inside its Peck Welcome Center, an amazing space with large windows and plenty of natural light.
Oak Grove and Maple Cove are outdoor spaces that have rustic wooden tables and shrubbery shaped like animals.
Price Range: $800 and up.
Capacity: 25- 300 guests.
Find the Milwaukee County Zoo at Milwaukee County Zoo or check out Facebook or Instagram.
Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum
The Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum displays decorative arts from the 13th and 18th centuries, as well as local and national artists and sculpturists.
However, the building is a work of art in itself! The Mediterranean-style mansion, donated on behalf of the Lloyd Smith family, is a nod to Tuscan architecture and elegance.
The space offers several indoor and outdoor spaces:
The Great Hall, once the space where the Smith family congregated, is perfect for an intimate ceremony and reception.
For larger, outdoor gatherings, The Mercury Courtyard offers a beautiful garden with a statue of Mercury – a mythological messenger of the gods – perched at the center. There’s also a breathtaking view of Lake Michigan!
Price Range: $3,000 for ceremony; $7,000 to include reception.
Capacity: 120 – 200 guests.
Find Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum at Villa Terrace or check out Facebook or Instagram.
The Milwaukee Art Museum
The Milwaukee Art Museum boasts over 25,000 pieces of art on display, but its grounds are just as impressive.
This historic space has several event options, the most striking being the Quadracci Pavilion, a domed addition with vaulted ceilings.
Windhover Hall, a subsection of the Pavilion is a sprawling indoor space with tall white walls with geometric cutouts, and incremental arches to break up the monotony.
Look up, and you’ll see a gorgeous retractable sunroof!
Price Range: $25,000 and up.
Capacity:450 – 800 guests
Find the Milwaukee Art Museum at Milwaukee Art Museum or check out Facebook or Instagram.
North Point Lighthouse
The North Point Lighthouse’s original purpose in 1988 was to mark the Milwaukee River’s entrance. These days it operates adjacent to a museum and popular wedding venue.
A wedding here happens on the lush lawns in front of the museum and lighthouse; the sparsely flowered and manicured lawn offers a blank slate that you can transform into whatever you’d like.
What’s more, the front lawn is a wonderful place to take one-of-kind wedding photos!
Price Range: $1400 and up.
Capacity: 60-175 guests.
Find North Point Lighthouse at North Point Lighthouse or check out Facebook or Instagram.
Kimpton Journeyman Hotel
The Kimpton Journeyman Hotel is a resort-style hotel, built with a traveler’s needs in mind. You know, those who seek out adventure, cultural experiences, and 5-star accommodations.
Nestled inside Milwaukee’s historic district, the brand new glossy black building creates a nice juxtaposition against the historical buildings that populate the area.
Weddings here are social events! The chic hotel offers a large 2,000-square-foot ballroom, which overlooks the city skyline. There are also rooftop accommodations, equipped with trendy, modern tables and eclectic furniture.
The hotel also has an in-house wedding planning team that handles every detail of your big day from start to finish.
Plus, if you bulk-book a set of rooms, they offer generous discounts and other incentives!
Price Range: Contact the venue for a quote.
Capacity: Up to 200 guests.
Find the Kimpton Journeyman Hotel at Kimpton Journeyman or check out Facebook or Instagram.
The Loft on Broadway
The Loft on Broadway is a new event space that combines NYC flavor with Milwaukee’s architectural history.
Early on, Milwaukee was dubbed the “Cream City,” due to the cream city brick walls built by early settlers. And while you’ll find the city’s signature bricks on the walls of the interior, the rust-colored exterior nods to Soho’s infrastructure.
The event space is large with high ceilings, and plenty of room for a dance floor.
You’ll have to supply the decor, but you can utilize the dedicated caterer for some amazing food and take advantage of their professional photography services.
Price Range: Contact venue for price.
Capacity: Up to 150 guests.
Find The Loft at The Loft or check out Facebook or Instagram.
The Grain Exchange
It seems that the beautiful buildings of The Grain Exchange took inspiration from the most striking aspects of Italian architectural design.
The ceilings soar high above, held up by intricate columns. The walls, made from limestone and sandstone, are adorned with glass cutouts, giving the place the feel of a colosseum. Plus, the center of the space boasts a 175-foot bell tower!
The 141-year-old venue accommodates day or night weddings, but nighttime makes the beautiful space feel extra charming and intimate. In all, the space spans 10,000-feet!
Price Range: $2,500 – $17,000.
Capacity: 325-500 guests.
Find The Grain Exchange at The Grain Exchange or check out Instagram.
Discovery World
Discovery World is a science center that the whole family can enjoy. It’s always bustling with the energy that sought-after knowledge can bring, and it can host your wedding if you so choose!
Not only does its function make it a fun, eclectic choice, but its event spaces really can compare with more traditional venues.
The spherical exterior of the building, which sits just off of Lake Michigan, offers a gorgeous backdrop for wedding photos.
The interior offers a 360-degree view of the shoreline and surrounding city. Inside, there are several spaces that you can utilize for your special event – all equipped with that same amazing view.
If you book Discovery World, The Bartolotta Restaurant, its in-house catering company, will supply delicious food for you and your wedding guests.
Price Range: $2500 and up.
Capacity: Up to 450 guests.
Find Discovery World at Discovery World or check out Facebook or Instagram.
