This couple was looking for a space that was elegant, large and offered delicious and well-presented food. Enter the Crystal Ballroom at the Hilton Milwaukee City Center, which fit their 240 guests and delivered on their vision of “classic elegance”.
For just under $63,000, this couple pulled some awesome vendors together and had a great time! Read on to see their elegant wedding at The Hilton Milwaukee City Center, but first check out their video from Mina George Films:
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 Hilton Milwaukee City Center:
- Photos: Lottie Lillian Photography
- DJ: Sound By Design
- Lighting: Sound By Design
Quick Facts – Hilton Milwaukee City Center Wedding:
- Guests: 240
- Ceremony: Sts. Peter and Paul Polish National Catholic Church
- Reception: Hilton Milwaukee City Center
- Total Costs: $62,695
Wedding Essentials ($12,150):
- Invitations/Stationery: $1,050
- Cake: $1,000
- Photographer: $3,800
- Videographer: $2,000
- Flowers: $4,300 (included: bridal and 8 bridesmaids’ bouquets, centerpiece flowers, candles & rentals, flower girl crown, 15 boutonnieres and 7 corsages)
Reception and Ceremony Costs ($33,950):
- Ceremony: $200
- Reception: $30,000 (included venue rental, open bar and food)
- DJ: $1,250
- Lighting: $750
- String Quartet: $650
- Marching Band: $1,100 (Wisconsin Badger Marching Band)
Attire, Jewelry and Beauty ($10,945):
- Bride’s Dress: $5,700
- Bride’s Shoes: $120
- Groom’s Attire: $900
- Hair and Makeup: $225
- Rings: $4,000
Other Costs ($5,650):
- Linens: $600
- Rehearsal Dinner: $2,000
- Transportation: $1,700 (two buses)
- Wedding Party Gifts: $1,350
Honeymoon ($14,000 – Not Included in Total):
- Honeymoon at Secrets St. Lucia: $14,000
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:
Being in our 30’s, Colin and I were the last of our immediate family members to get married, so we knew that our wedding was going to be a party to be remembered. We are both fortunate to have parents who wanted to give us the wedding of our dreams.
The Vision and Food:
I had a very specific vision for the wedding and created our budget around that vision. To us, the most important aspect of our wedding was the food. We believe food makes or breaks how people remember your reception.The Venue:
Having such a large guest list, we were limited to locations that could host us. The Crystal Ballroom at the Hilton Milwaukee City Center not only was large enough, it fit my “Classic Elegance” theme perfectly, and the food selections, taste, and presentation were far beyond what we have experienced before. People still talk about the amazing food at our wedding 😊The Stationary, Invites and Linens:
I was able to source a lot of the traditionally expensive items (stationary, invites, linens) from online retailers for a savings, and that allowed us to spend more on other items that were important to us.The Photographer:
Having been in quite a few weddings, I knew that photography was the #1 item to splurge on. I searched for months for photographers and met with quite a few. As soon as I came across Lottie Lillian Photography, I immediate fell in love with her vision and perspective. We are sooooooo thankful she decided to take us on as a winter wedding during her off season!The Florist:
Jaimer’s Floral put the most beautiful finishing touches on our wedding with his classic white creations. I was so impressed with our flower arrangements and working with Jaime was a blast!The Marching Band:
The hit of the night was the Badger Marching Band! That definitely got the dance floor packed!– The Happy Couple
A BIG thanks to the couple for sharing the Cost Breakdown of their awesome wedding at the Hilton Milwaukee City Center 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.
