Villa Terrace in spring is absolutely lovely. Jessica and Nick were married in April and the trees were covered in blossoms, the gardens were green and the soft spring colors fit the day and the season so, so beautifully. After photographing over thirty weddings at Villa Terrace, I love seeing and experiencing new sides of the venue like this gorgeous spring wedding day.
A Dreamy Spring Wedding at Villa Terrace in Milwaukee
Villa Terrace is one of my favorite Milwaukee wedding venues in any season, but spring brought something extra to Jessica and Nick’s day. The color around the grounds had peaked, and the blossoms were in full bloom.
Their wedding crossed through many of the different spaces to use at Villa Terrace. We photographed inside the villa, along the courtyard grounds and through the gardens as the day went on. Rain or shine we had beautiful spaces to work with everywhere we went (and there definitely was rain!).
The rooms inside Villa Terrace have such a different feeling from the gardens and lakefront spaces outside. It brings a unique variety to a wedding day, even though it’s all taking place at the venue. The time spent not traveling is time that I see couples really enjoying being present with each other and their families.
If you’re considering Villa Terrace for your wedding, I go into all the details about ceremony spaces, portraits, weather options and more in my complete guide to weddings at Villa Terrace.
A Ceremony Overlooking the Gardens
Even with rain threatening throughout the day, Jessica and Nick were able to enjoy their ceremony outside on the terrace. Villa Terrace sits above Lake Michigan and gives a beautiful, open view of the water. It’s one of my favorite features of the space! For Jessica and Nick, it also meant the spring blossoms and greenery were all part of the ceremony.
Days like this are a good reminder of why rain doesn’t necessarily mean you have to panic. It’s always good to have a rain plan, and a backup option coordinated with your venue and planner. But weather near the lake can change so quickly over the course of a wedding day. Sometimes being patient and staying flexible gives us the window you need, like it did for Jessica and Nick. And sometimes? You just gotta embrace the rain. In my eyes, Villa Terrace looks absolutely ethereal in the rain.
See more wedding galleries at Villa Terrace with ceremonies on the terrace here and here!
Spring Wedding Portraits Around Villa Terrace
Inside, all the ornate details and antique furniture make the villa feel like a historic home. I think it’s especially lovely for bridal and detail portraits. My favorite is what I call the “wallpaper room,” a smaller antique-filled room upstairs with vintage furniture and floral textured walls.
The open spaces outside are great for bridal party portraits and couples portraits. The architecture and character of Villa Terrace is all around the building as well. From the terrace to the arched columns, the stonework and museum statue pieces, there’s everything you could possibly want for dreamy couples photos.
The variety at Villa Terrace is something I absolutely love, and part of what makes it such a special venue. For couples who want to feel like they can walk from a manicured garden to a lakefront terrace to what feels like an Italian courtyard in a matter of moments, there’s nowhere else I’d recommend more.
You can see more of my Milwaukee wedding photography and the mix of candid moments + portraits I bring to a wedding day.
An Intimate Courtyard Dinner After the Rain
The spring rain did decide one change for the day, with dinner being moved into Villa Terrace’s courtyard. Gracious Events handled the switch with ease and filled the courtyard with spring flowers, candles and blush colored goblets. The tables picked up the same soft pinks throughout the rest of the wedding, including the bridesmaids’ dresses.
I loved how everything looked against the pale walls and arches surrounding the courtyard. The flowers added color, and the candles added warmth. It was a perfectly put together spring wedding.
Stephanie and John’s rainy day wedding at Villa Terrace is a must see with multiple rainbows throughout the day!
Villa Terrace Courtyard First Dance
Jessica and Nick also had something I’d never seen in all my visits to Villa Terrace photographing weddings. A first dance in the courtyard! I’ve photographed dinners, cocktail hours and plenty of portraits there, but never a couple’s first dance. Kinda chic to have your first dance next to a two thousand year old statue of Mercury.
Everyone gathered around while Jessica and Nick danced through the courtyard, surrounded by the beautiful architecture of the villa and their people. It was such a cool use of the space and to make the dance a focal point framed by the courtyard itself.
Musical Reception in the Great Hall
Music was a big priority for Jessica and Nick, so they found the perfect band for the reception. They chose The Brew City Rockers to get everyone going, and they were absolutely amazing!
One of the moments that stayed with me was Jessica and her dad’s dance inside the Great Hall. It was an especially sweet and emotional moment they shared together, with a family favorite song. Family was such a big part of this wedding. All the hugs, sweet moments and little interactions with family took place around Jessica and Nick all day. Those candid moments are the photographs I love capturing to tell the story of the day and the people involved. More often than not, those are some of my couple’s favorite images and memories from their wedding day.
Villa Terrace Wedding FAQ
What happens if it rains during a Villa Terrace wedding?
A light rain doesn’t necessarily mean the outdoor parts of a Villa Terrace wedding have to be abandoned. For Jessica and Nick, dinner moved into the courtyard. But their ceremony still happened outside on the terrace. If a heavier rain does move in, ceremonies can be moved inside the Great Hall, and there are several covered areas and interior spaces that are amazing for portraits.
Where are some of the best spots for photos at Villa Terrace?
The courtyard is a beautiful space and one of my favorites to use along with the balcony above. Spots in the garden like The Boschetto or the garden water feature can give you a lush, green setting for portraits. Other spots like the terrace overlooking the water and some of the museum rooms are also unique editorial style spots for photos. Having photographed so many weddings here, I’ve found it’s best to choose locations around the weather, light and timing of each particular wedding.
What can you use the Villa Terrace courtyard for?
Jessica and Nick used the courtyard for both dinner and their first dance after rain changed the reception setup. It was the first courtyard first dance I had photographed at Villa Terrace and I loved the way guests could gather around them within the architecture of the space. It’s also a great spot to use during cocktail hour as well, since it allows guests to mingle and enjoy the space around the arches, paths and the open courtyard.
Planning a Villa Terrace Wedding in Milwaukee? Let’s work together.
I am so grateful to be able to photograph weddings at Villa Terrace, and Jessica and Nick’s will always be one of my favorites. The spring blossoms had peaked, the moments in the courtyard were immaculate as always, and it was all tied together by precious, intimate moments in their love story. Wedding days centered around family and their interactions always tell such a beautiful story in a wedding gallery.
If you’re planning a Villa Terrace wedding in Milwaukee and want your photos to have that blend of editorial portraits and candid moments of your day, reach out to chat about your wedding and see if we’re a good fit.
Vendor Credits
Photography: Anna Page Photography @annapagephoto // Venue: Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum @villaterracemuseum // Floral + Catering: Gracious Events @graciousmke // Makeup for Mothers + Bridesmaids: Stephanie Schuh Beauty @stephanie_schuh_beauty_llc // Dress: White Dress Off The Rack @whitedressofftherack // Dress Alterations: Maria Arteaga Studio // Suits: Men’s Wearhouse @menswarehouse // Cake: The Mad Batter @themadbatter2 // Band: The Brew City Rockers @brew_city_rockers // DJ + MC: Vital Image @vitalimagestudios // Rentals: Relics Rentals @relicsrentals // Invitations + Menus: Zazzle @zazzle