Venue Spotlight: Black Swan!
Black Swan once referred to a Grafton wedding venue. Present day, it’s known as the elegant Renaissance Building in Milwaukee’s Third Ward. It was built in 1896 but never used for anything other than storage. A stunning but underappreciated space caught Peter and his son, Stephen’s eye and so they took the plunge and purchased it. Since then, the Grafton location has been closed and the team has made the new space their own.
The Interview
Meet the Black Swan Event Professionals!
Stephen & Peter Shepard are the son and father owner duo of Black Swan. Stephen volunteered to be the face and Peter was kind enough to carve out some time in his busy schedule to sit down and let us interview him!
PETER
What’s your adult beverage of choice?: Jameson
If you had an enormous yacht, what would you name it?: Cynthia Lynn, that’s my wife’s name.
What’s your guilty pleasure?: Jameson
What’s your favorite music?: Blues
What do you love to do with friends and family?: Have a great dinner
What type of couples are drawn to the Black Swan for their weddings?
Passionate ones. I think couples can see the passion we have for the industry and that we’ll make sure their event is special to them. It’s all about the service we give them. We never thought we’d do so many ceremonies, which cannot go wrong. There’s no space for mistakes. We treat our couples like family and no matter how many locations we have, that will never change.
Favorite trend you are seeing for weddings this year?
More casual weddings. They understand the day is more than just social media. I think that’s really important. Social media was starting to take over what weddings are really all about for a little bit, and ultimately, it’s about the uniting of two people. That’s what’s so special.
One thing every bride or groom should know before their wedding?
Good planning and good vendors are so important. Before picking a venue I suggest visiting them all, reading and understanding their contracts, and know what you are getting yourself into before making your final decision.
What services are available in-house?
It’s really just room rental. We work with wonderful vendors to supply what they do best. We appreciate every single vendor because of that expertise they bring. We like to set up consults to bring those vendors and our couples together to see who’s the best fit for each couple.
Fabulous features of Black Swan
The location – being in the Third Ward and on the river, it has a unique character unlike any other space in Milwaukee.
What is your favorite thing about weddings at Black Swan?
The smiles and the passion that these people have to make their day the best.
The Beauty
We love photographing weddings at the Black Swan because the location is excellent. The Third Ward offers plenty of places to walk to for a change of scenery, including the picturesque Riverwalk. When the sun hits the water just right, it’s magic. Imagine having your guests hang out along the Riverwalk for your cocktail hour – amazing! But also the historic nature of the building itself is a treat to photograph. The gorgeous wood ceiling, the grand entryway and the cream city brick in select spots add a unique character to the wedding venue.
Learn more about a Black Swan wedding here!
Contact Peter Shepard: (262) 618 – 4336 or blackswanmke@gmail.com
Follow them on social media!
Learn More!
You can always contact the Front Room Studios team to learn more about weddings at Black Swan or our wedding photography and wedding videography.
Call us (414) 294 – 0080
Email us at info@frphoto.com