Whether your wedding is right around the corner, or down the road, The Corners has just what you need to make your day extra special!
There are a number of evocative wedding venues in Milwaukee that allow you to celebrate your future in a setting that conjures Brew City’s past. While most of them won’t come as much of a surprise, one just might.
Did you know you can get married at the North Point Lighthouse in Lake Park?
"I like to say, ‘Your wedding ceremony will be an historical event’," says Mark Kuehn, who serves at curator of the lighthouse and its museum.
Landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted – who designed three Milwaukee parks, and a little thing in New York called Central Park – called Lake Park his "jewel."
(PHOTO: North Point Lighthouse)
"The lighthouse would be the perfect venue to place a ‘jewel’ on a bride’s finger," quips Kuehn.
The lighthouse is available for engagements, wedding ceremonies and receptions, as well as rehearsal dinners. It even offers an event planner. Imagine the stunning photos you’ll have with the lighthouse, the lions that stand watch over the bridge and the gorgeous park as backdrops.
"We have facilitated everything from a romantic wedding proposal in the tower or on our steps; a four-person ceremony in the tower lens room; to a wedding picnic, formal ceremony on the bluff or by the Victorian Kitchen Garden, to a reception for 175 on our terrace," says Kuehn.
The lighthouse’s event planner has connections with trusted vendors and experience planning everything from birthday parties to casual picnics to formal dinners, graduation events and more.
"Each wedding is tailored to the bridal couple’s personalities," says Kuehn. "Because we are selective in the types and numbers of events that are held here, each rental request is reviewed on a case-by-case basis."
For more information, call North Point Lighthouse at (414) 332-6754.
Here are some other great historical locations to consider for your Milwaukee wedding:
1451 Renaissance Place
(PHOTO: 1451RenaissancePlace.com)
1451 N. Prospect Ave., (414) 272-1451
renaissanceplace.com
This Neoclassical gem (designed by the same architect who drew the dearly departed Pabst Building on Water and Wisconsin) opened in 1907 as the First Church of Christ Scientist. For decades now it has been an event space offering a lovely barrel vaulted ceiling.
The Grain Exchange
(PHOTO: Bartolottas.com)
225 E. Michigan Ave., (414) 727-6980
bartolottas.com/catering/venues/grain-exchange
Managed by Bartolotta Restaurant Group, the Grain Exchange Room is among the most beautiful spaces in the city. It's located in the historic Mackie Building, designed by influential Milwaukee architect Edward Townsend Mix and built in 1879.
Milwaukee County Historical Society
(PHOTO: MilwaukeeHistory.net)
910 N. Old World Third St., (414) 273-8288
milwaukeehistory.net/host-an-event
The recently restored Beaux Arts former Second Ward Savings Bank – built in 1913 – has hosted many weddings and other events, and it was the setting for a Hollywood film a few years ago. With its ornate details and a wraparound balcony, it’s a unique setting located in the heart of Downtown.
Tripoli Shrine Center
3000 W. Wisconsin Ave., (414) 933-4700
tripolishrinecenter.com/RentVenue
This former Masonic lodge is stunning on the outside, but if you’ve never been inside, then you ain’t seen nothin’ yet. An explosion of color and glitz, this place – which took inspiration from the Taj Mahal and was completed in 1928 – is a true Milwaukee landmark. It’s also got a wide variety of spaces that make it perfect for a wedding of any size and scale. There’s a parking lot, too.
Turner Hall Ballroom
(PHOTO: TurnerHallBallroomWeddings.com)
1040 N. 4th St., (414) 286-6164
turnerhallballroomweddings.com
Designed by architect Henry Koch (The Pfister, City Hall, etc.), and built in 1882, Turner Hall offers a big space in a historical setting with a stage and great acoustics for your entertainment.
Other interesting places to consider include Hubbard Park Lodge, The Humphrey Scottish Rite, Hoyt Park Great Hall, South Shore Pavilion and The Pfister Hotel.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
