The Wisconsin Club is one of my favorite wedding venues in Milwaukee. Julia and Dawid leaned fully into an old-world, romantic aesthetic, and I couldn’t have loved it more. From getting ready in the beautiful Victorian-designed room to a traditional church ceremony rich in culture to a reception at one of the city’s most historic venues, their wedding was one of the most romantic I’ve witnessed in my twenty years as a wedding photographer in Milwaukee.
A Traditional Milwaukee Ceremony at SS Cyril & Methodius
The ceremony took place at SS Cyril & Methodius Parish, spoken entirely in Polish. Julia and Dawid are both Polish, and they even had family and friends fly in from Poland, so it was an important element to help them create the Polish-American wedding they’d envisioned. The church was grand and magnificent, with stunning architecture, stained glass and paintings for the backdrop of their ceremony. It was an honor to be a part of something so beautiful.
See more Milwaukee weddings at one of my favorite venues here.
A Joyful Windy Day
Their wedding day was one of the windiest weddings in Milwaukee that I’ve ever photographed. It certainly made the day less predictable, but Julia and Dawid embraced it and had a blast anyways, and the portraits that came from the windy moments are some of my favorites from the day.
Julia wore a custom dress from Bella Bianca Bridal Couture that was perfect down to the last detail. She worked with them to create a custom dress after struggling to find something that matched her inspiration, and it was one of the most breathtaking dresses I’ve seen. Not only did she look stunning, but she was absolutely overjoyed wearing it on her wedding day!
At one point during their church exit, a strong gust ripped Julia’s veil completely out of her hair! Instead of it being a stressful moment, guests jumped in and caught it mid-air. It turned into something joyful and chaotic, and I love the photos that came from it!
I love what Julia said about that moment, “My goodness, it was windy! It honestly made the day so memorable and fun. The wind was so powerful, but somehow that just made it all feel very divine. Just really felt like love was a powerful force in the world. As a child, the wind always felt especially magical. Truly, it was just so fun and added to the happiness of the moment.”
Old World Aesthetic at The Wisconsin Club Wedding
Weddings at The Wisconsin Club will always be some of my favorites to photograph. The European architecture and Victorian aesthetic is a very specific feel that’s hard to replicate at other wedding venues. It was the perfect setting for Julia & Dawid’s wedding day.
The Mitchell Mansion is an absolute masterpiece, from the gorgeous grounds and the Belvedere gazebo in the garden, to the old-world richness of stained glass and hand painted details inside. The Grand Ballroom, with its theatrical layout, continues the Victorian feel that really transports you back in time. There’s so much space for moody, editorial portraits, and it’s so much fun to photograph in.
For Julia and Dawid, having their wedding at The Wisconsin Club matched exactly what they were going for. Romantic, honoring tradition, and yet still full of energy and warmth. Every time I look at their wedding photos, I feel like I’m watching an old movie, which tells me we accomplished the exact feeling they wanted for their day.
See another one of my favorite old world wedding venues in Wisconsin here.
The Grand Ballroom Wedding Reception
The wedding spaces at The Wisconsin Club helped to tie personal elements into elegant decor. The Grand Ballroom held music, dancing, and important cultural touches that all combined to be exactly what Julia and Dawid were hoping for their wedding.
Music and dancing were a big focus for them, and it was especially important since they were hosting so many guests traveling in from Poland. They brought the Orient Band, a Polish-American band from Chicago and it was an absolute hit.
Another personal touch was their wedding cake from Simma’s Bakery. Growing up, Julia’s family always went to Simma’s for special occasions, and weaving those memories into her wedding day made it the only choice for their wedding.
The Wisconsin Club is such a great fit for couples searching out a classical, romantic wedding venue in Milwaukee.
“Thank you truly for the most incredible photography experience ever. To have such a special day, captured by such an incredible person, means the world to both of us. You delivered exactly what we dreamed of for our wedding photos, and honestly, more. I’ve said this before, but it feels so meant to be that it was you that captured our day. Every time working with you has been a dream and I’ll treasure it and the photos forever.” — Julia and Dawid
Planning a Wedding at The Wisconsin Club in Milwaukee
If you’re considering The Wisconsin Club for your wedding, I cannot recommend it enough! A wedding at The Wisconsin Club means you’re getting:
A venue with a romantic old-world aesthetic.
An elegant theater style ballroom space.
A setting that pairs beautifully with a nearby traditional church ceremony .
A classical space that still feels personal.
If you’re planning a wedding at The Wisconsin Club or anywhere in Milwaukee, I’d love to help you capture the day while still feeling present in the moment. The focus should always be on what’s actually happening, how you feel, and your photos should transport you back to those feelings. You can see more of my Milwaukee weddings here on the blog or reach out to chat about planning your wedding day.
Vendors
Ceremony Venue: SS Cyril & Methodius Parish // Reception Venue & Catering: The Wisconsin Club, @wisconsinclub // Wedding Photography: Anna Page Photography, @annapagephoto // Florist: Belle Fiori, @bellefiorimke // Content Creator: Follow The Bride, @followthebride_ // Dress: Bella Bianca Bridal Couture // Suit: NL Suits // Live Music: Orient Band // Cake: Simma’s Bakery