This couple lives in Chicago, but just like many other Chicago couples, they realized their wedding budget would get them a lot more by getting married in Milwaukee – We love that!! For just under $38,000 they had an awesome wedding at The George and Madcap Lounge.
They did a great job using the venue to its full potential, with their cocktail hour downstairs in the Madcap Lounge and their reception upstairs in The George. Read on for their full wedding Cost Breakdown at the George and Madcap Lounge, and don’t skip their “note from the couple” at the bottom.
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 The George and Madcap Lounge:
- Venue: The George and Madcap Lounge
- Caterer: Saz’s
- Rehearsal Dinner: Mobcraft
Quick Facts – The George Wedding:
- Guests: 130
- Ceremony: Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church
- Reception: The George and Madcap Lounge
- Total Costs: $37,960
Wedding Essentials ($6,300):
- Invitations/Stationery: $600
- Photographer: $3,250
- Desserts $1,000
- Flowers: $1,450 (included: 1 bridal bouquet, 1 bridesmaid bouquet, 15 centerpieces, 2 altar arrangements, delivery & set up)
Reception and Ceremony Costs ($21,125):
- Reception: $5,000 (The George and Madcap Lounge)
- Ceremony: $200 (donation)
- Drinks: $6,650 (Saz’s)
- Catering: $7,400 (Saz’s)
- DJ: $1,500
- Rentals: $375
Attire, Jewelry and Beauty ($6,715):
- Bride’s Dress: $3,500 (including alterations)
- Bride’s Shoes: $40
- Groom’s Attire: $730
- Beauty: $95 (includes makeup, hair was gifted)
- Rings: $2,350
Other Costs ($3,820):
- Rehearsal Dinner: $2,400 (Mobcraft)
- Hotel Suite: $650 (two nights)
- Transportation: $540
- Wedding Favors: $230
Honeymoon ($5,000 – Not Included in Total):
- Trip to Paris : $5,000 (not included in total)
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:
The City:
The first and most important decision we made in how to budget for our wedding was deciding to get married in Milwaukee! We live in Chicago, and learned very early in the wedding planning process that our budget would take us much further in Milwaukee without sacrificing our vision of an urban wedding.The Venue:
When we started researching venues, we had no idea what we wanted. As soon as we stepped foot in The George and Madcap Lounge, we were ready to sign a contract on the spot.The space is impeccable and the interior design speaks for itself (and requires no additional decorations). We loved having both floors to flow between to create a really unique and fun experience for our guests.
We opted to utilize the downstairs Madcap Lounge for our cocktail hour, head upstairs to The George for dinner and dancing, and then reopen the Madcap at the end of the night for our after party & late night bites.
The Food & Drinks:
A huge perk of this venue is it comes with Saz’s amazing catering & staff–we especially want to shout out Crystal and Michelle for making our day better than we could have imagined.It was incredibly important to us to prioritize food & drinks in our budget. With Saz’s, we got the most delicious food (our guests are still raving) and a really great bar package that we were able to customize with our own special requests.
The Photographer:
We would choose Niconic Photography a million times over. Nicole is a dream to work with. She made us feel so comfortable and relaxed throughout the entire planning process and, of course, on our wedding day. We could not have booked a better photographer and are so grateful for the memories she captured.The DJ:
We really hit the vendor lottery. DJ Sean from Double Platinum is professional, fun, and just the best. He kept the energy high and the dance floor full. We cannot recommend him enough.– The Happy Couple
A BIG thanks to the couple for sharing the Cost Breakdown of their awesome wedding at The George and Madcap Lounge and to Niconic 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.
