Milwaukee Wedding Photographer: 7 Classic Wedding Venues in Milwaukee!

Between our seven photographers we cover nearly 100 weddings a year. The majority of those are in the Milwaukee area. While we get to a good variety of venues, there are some that pop up on our calendars on a regular basis. The styles run the gamut, from classic to rustic.

These are some of our favorite classic venues in the Milwaukee area.

The Pfister Hotel

The Pfister Hotel is the place where visiting athletes and rock stars come to stay. Not only does that increase your chances of running into someone very famous, it gives you an idea of the space The Pfister Hotel occupies on the Milwaukee venue landscape. They have two ballrooms, each laden with character, and a top notch team that takes care of its couples.

Hilton City Center

Entering Hilton City Center feels like you are stepping back to an era of street cars and beer barons. It’s a hotel with a great presence and an incredible amount of detail from the ornate lobby to the stately ballroom. For a couple that would like to think their wedding would fit into any era, it’s hard to go wrong here.

Milwaukee Athletic Club

Elegant is the first word that comes to mind when thinking of Milwaukee Athletic Club. This is a very old club in Milwaukee and holds itself that way. Service is their main focus and everything is top notch. They also have a wonderful rooftop patio which makes every experience there feel special.

Grain Exchange

This amazing room has come a long way since farmers used to gather here to literally exchange their grain. Today, The Grain Exchange is host to many of Milwaukee’s most epic weddings. With it’s towering columns and vast ceilings it certainly lends itself to that. As part of the Bartolotta world, the food here is off the charts. The bonus with this venue is it’s staff. Maria, Katie and John are like a family and every couple that comes through their doors becomes part of that family.

Wisconsin Club

Of all the venues on this list, Wisconsin Club is the only one that feels like a home. An incredible mansion of a home, but with lots of nooks and cranny’s that provide a lot of cool photo opportunities. The ballroom is amazing in itself, but also opens up on one side to cocktail hour and on the other to a great patio overlooking the grounds.

Milwaukee County Historical Society

Currently operating as a museum as well as event space, Milwaukee County Historical Society offers a lot of unique elements for such a timeless space. A former bank building, it still has the old-time vault which we have seen couples use in a variety of ways. Located just off Pere Marquette Park, there are wonderful urban and nature photographic opportunities surrounding this classic space.

1451 Renaissance Place

A former Christian Science Church erected in 1909, 1451 Renaissance Place is nothing if not unique. It is one of the only large venues on Milwaukee’s east side and is very close to Lake Michigan. Best suited for larger weddings, the cocktail area and ballroom are sizable but comfortable. The curved, lit ceiling inside and the columns outside give this space a character all to itself.