We get to see and feature a lot of amazing weddings, but it’s not that often we get to feature a wedding planners wedding! That changes with this article – we are super excited to feature this wedding at GATHER at Deer District with planning by the bride, owner of Celebrait by Kait!
We think Kait and all the vendors did an AMAZING job with her GATHER at Deer District wedding! Read on to learn about the couples’ awesome wedding and don’t miss the “note from the couple” at the bottom – it’s a unique opportunity to see how a wedding planner plans their own wedding!
Married In Milwaukee Family Used:
We were excited to see that this couple used several Married In Milwaukee Family Members!! Here are the MIM Family Members involved in this wedding at GATHER at Deer District:
- Venue: GATHER at Deer District
- DJ: David Charles Productions
- Photo Booth: David Charles Productions
- Rentals: David Charles Productions
- Floral: Flowers For Dreams
- Rehearsal Dinner: Centraal Grand Cafe & Tappery
Quick Facts – GATHER at Deer District Wedding:
- Guests: 130
- Ceremony/Reception: GATHER at Deer District
- Wedding Date: May 2024
- Total Costs: $65,158
Wedding Essentials ($15,500):
- Invitations/Stationery: $239
- Photographer: $6,172
- Flowers: $3,215 (includes: bouquet, boutonnieres, bud vase centerpieces, detail blooms, bedazzled anthuriums, etc)
- Desserts: $374
- Wedding Planner: $5,500 (bride used her business’ services which retail at this price)
Reception and Ceremony Costs ($37,795):
- Reception/Ceremony: $5,500 (GATHER at Deer District)
- Drinks: $4,495
- Catering: $17,472
- DJ: $3,114 (David Charles Productions)
- Photo Booth: $1,395 (David Charles Productions)
- Officiant: $0 (family friend)
- Rentals: $3,485 (lounge furniture, string lights, place card shelving and uplighting by David Charles Productions)
- Décor Rentals: $1,885
- Other Rentals: $449 (8 foot tables and mini martini glasses)
Attire, Jewelry and Beauty ($4,580):
- Bride’s Dress: $382
- Bride’s Shoes: $88
- Bride’s Reception Dress/Shoes: $196
- Alterations: $294
- Bridal Accessories: $665
- Groom’s Attire: $295
- Dog’s Attire: $15
- Beauty: $695 (includes trials and tip)
- Rings: $1,950
Other Costs ($7,283):
- Rehearsal Dinner: $ 3,275 (Centraal Grand Cafe & Tappery)
- Wedding Party Gifts: $535
- Wedding Favors: $214
- Transportation: $750 (coach bus from family)
- Hotel Suite: $519
- Other Costs: $50
- Signage: $140
- Vendor Tips: $1,800 (photography, day of coordination, DJ, party bus)
Honeymoon ($6,000 – Not Included in Total):
- Honeymoon in Thailand: $6,000
A Note From The Couple
We asked the couple to tell us about their planning and budgeting process, and this is what they had to say:
Working the budget to your advantage is a pillar at Celebrait by Kait, the wedding planning and day of coordination company owned by the Bride Kait. She started doing this from the very beginning in 2019 and naturally carried this savviness into her and Amgad’s big day.
The Priorities:
Kait and Amgad had a few choice priorities when it came to allocating their wedding budget: the venue had to be a cityscape canvas to customize, photography by Lottie Lillian was an absolute MUST, and implementing sustainable, stylish elements into the wedding day aesthetic was key.Amgad’s biggest priority was the DJ and emcee services, which were provided by David Charles Productions. The entire day was smooth in terms of DCP, and they really brought the party!
Lastly, Kait was dead set on infusing an overwhelming amount of color to amplify the space and have fun with florals! This investment was lower than the average client spend Kait saw in 2023/2024, but a lot of work went into the bedazzled florals with Amanda Klein of Flowers for Dreams. Given her 5 years of running Celebrait by Kait prior to her own walk down the aisle, the couple also had a lot of strong opinions about where they would spend their money and how the wedding day would play out.
The Venue:
Trusting Mikayla, Mali, and Ashley at GATHER/Levy was a no brainer. Given Kait’s background, it may be surprising to hear that as a Wedding Planner she is quite picky with selecting vendors (just kidding)… GATHER at Deer District was the one and only venue they toured as they knew it was it for them, and that the team would provide excellent service with fair luxury pricing. GATHER has the indoor/outdoor feel they wanted, along with a large space to accommodate their guest count comfortably.The “blank canvas” was a huge selling point for them as they wanted the ability to make their wedding shine in its own way, a value that is emphasized often within the Celebrait by Kait brand. Not being downtown was not an option, and as a special nod, Kait and Amgad’s first date was also next door at a Bucks game in November 2018.
The Food and Drink:
Levy’s packages were a great one stop shop for food and beverage, with the selected $90/head package including an open bar, plated three course meal, signature cocktails during cocktail hour, and a champagne toast at dinner. Not to mention, the Levy team let the couple get creative with a selection of Mini Martinis (~3 oz) at cocktail hour- Dry, Dirty, and Cosmopolitans.The Photography:
Photography was a very important investment for Kait and Amgad. Lottie Lillian Photography was the obvious choice for so many reasons, one of which being that she was the first photographer Kait ever worked with professionally, and her welcoming demeanor paired with her innate educating nature were something Kait never forgot.Her work is so phenomenal, and Kait must have talked about it so much that Amgad booked Lottie for the proposal. And of course Lottie went the extra mile and wore a wig to disguise herself while capturing the proposal in Zeidler Union Square Park (where they enjoyed Christmas lights on their second date).
Her work focuses on joy, and is bright and cheerful, which is everything Kait and Amgad wanted out of their day. They are beyond thrilled with the final product and have Lottie’s works throughout the whole house!
The Sustainable, Stylish Rentals:
For a little background, Celebrait by Kait offers vintage décor rentals through their subsidiary Sparkle Vintage. Every single piece of decor, varying from taper candle holders to ornate bud vases was hand-selected by Kait when she began building the company’s inventory in 2021.Choosing items that you can’t easily source on Amazon was at the core of this, and countless thrifting trips throughout Milwaukee, Madison, Facebook marketplace, and other states took place to source the necessary items. Not only was the shopping part fun, but it had the dual benefit of being a company inventory purchase that would be used for other weddings in 2023 and beyond!
Having pieces that were unique, and likely being restored to their original glory in a 2020 era light was part of the charm of their aesthetic. Implementing various colored tea lights, taper candles, pillar candles, and miscellaneous candle holders was a large part of the vision being a success. Overall their floral investment was below average due to the emphasis on Sparkle Vintage items lighting up the tables, and using their bud vases versus Flowers for Dreams’s vases saved money as well.
The DJ:
David Charles Productions absolutely slayed the day! Having worked with David’s team numerous times, Kait was happy to connect with David knowing that he would exceed Amgad’s high expectations. The ceremony was directed perfectly, David was a fantastic emcee, and Joey brought the HEAT to the dancefloor.They also provided lounge furniture, string lighting, a photo booth, uplighting, and the place card shelves. David and his team’s passion are a pillar of their offerings, along with communication, and they delivered on everything the couple desired and more!
The Florals:
Although this was not a large line item, it was strategically planned to create an impact throughout the space. Colorful pink, orange, yellow, and teal florals was a must, with an emphasis on an airy and whimsical shape.Amanda from Flower for Dreams was an absolute wizard with these florals between her selections and arranging! Not to mention, she BEDAZZLED 50-70% of the anthuriums by hand between personal floral and the bud vase centerpieces to add that little something extra Kait was looking for. We have to admit, Amgad was quite indifferent to that element.. 😉 The florals were above our expectations, and as a florist, we cannot recommend Amanda enough! Her work ethic, creativity, and commitment to the client’s vision (even when a little funky) is simply unmatched.
The Dress:
Kait went the unorthodox route for her wedding dress. She was more excited about the prospect of the shoes and accessories for her wedding day than the gown itself! Therefore she shopped online, got some bridesmaids and her mom together and tried them on to make the selection. She adores the local MKE bridal shops and highly recommends them, but it was not the way she wanted to go about dress selection personally.Looking back, Kait and Amgad are thrilled with their budget priorities and would not change a thing. Their day was supported by fantastic vendors deeply committed to the couple’s desires.
– The Happy Couple
A BIG thanks to the couple for sharing the Cost Breakdown of their awesome wedding at GATHER at Deer District and to Lottie Lillian Photography for the amazing photos!
If you’re currently working on your wedding budget, make sure to read through our previous Cost Breakdown articles featuring real Milwaukee wedding cost breakdowns.
