This couple tied the knot at one of our favorite venues in town – The Ivy House. We are excited that they used the outdoor patio, as well as the venue’s gorgeous indoor space, since both areas are a huge part of the Ivy House’s appeal as a wedding venue.
For just under $40,000 we think this couple did a great job and worked with some amazing vendors! Read on to learn more about their awesome wedding at The Ivy House.
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 Ivy House wedding:
- Venue: The Ivy House
- DJ: Milwaukee Airwaves
- Cake/Desserts: The Cake Lady
Quick Facts – Ivy House Wedding:
- Guests: 155
- Ceremony/Reception:The Ivy House
- Total Costs: $39,500
Wedding Essentials ($7,750):
- Invitations/Stationery: $600
- Cake/Cupcakes: $450
- Photographer: $3,500
- Flowers: $3,200 (included: all bouquets, boutonnieres, corsages, ceremony arch floral, wood plank, centerpiece candles, head table and wedding party)
Reception and Ceremony Costs ($20,440):
- Ceremony: $315
- Reception: $6,000
- Food: $7,000
- Drinks: $5,000
- DJ: $1,525
- Photo Booth: $600
Attire, Jewelry and Beauty ($6,560):
- Bride’s Dress: $3,500
- Bride’s Shoes: $60
- Groom’s Attire: $900
- Hair and Makeup: $1,600
- Rings: $500
Other Costs ($4,750):
- Hotel Suite: $250
- Wedding Party Gifts: $1,000
- Rehearsal Dinner: $2,500
- Other Costs: $1,000 (brunch, lunch and other small things)
Honeymoon ($10,000 – Not Included in Total):
- Honeymoon: $10,000 (Hawaii trip)
Cake by The Cake Lady
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 Wedding Planner:
We first decided on a wedding planner to help us with our decisions (Heather Farr Events). Speaking with her, we decided that 35k was our goal. From there, we chose our vendors with that figure in mind but like many, we went well over. We went with the vendors that felt right for the price. Our wedding planner was a steal and worth every penny. We didn’t want someone completely handling the planning, more so someone for guidance when needed.The Venue and Catering:
Like most, the venue was our biggest expense and we went with the one at the top of our list. Catering was our next big ticket item but we kept the price a little lower by going with a buffet style. We wanted our guests to have a good time so we went with a cocktail hour and 5 hours of open bar but once again kept it within reason by offering beer and wine, while cocktails were still at guest expense.We decided to focus the majority of our budget to the venue, bar tab and good food. The Ivy House came with their own in-house DJ (Milwaukee Airwaves) and photo booth. Being able to have the ceremony and reception all in one place was one of our top priorities.
The Dress:
We also went with our top dress and suit options. With there being so many pictures, I would recommend going with the dress you love and for guys, get a custom suit.The Floral:
Flowers were more than we wanted but the center pieces and especially the bridal party flowers were amazing – once again they are featured in so many photos so you want flower pieces that fit your wedding’s overall look and feel.The Photographer:
We would go with your number one option when it comes to a photographer as well, preferably one that has shot at the venue. A videographer would have been nice but it seems like it would take too much of our attention away from the day trying to pose for photos and a videographer. It seems like most photographers are indifferent about videographers as they prefer to not ‘share’ you with someone else.What really helped us was having a wedding planner (Heather Farr Events) that knew all of the vendors in the area. We had our very own all star line up of vendors that were almost all recommendations of the wedding planner or the venue.
The entire day literally went off without a hitch. It was amazing to see all the vendors seamlessly work together as they have done so many weddings together in the past.
A Wedding Weekend:
We always pictured our wedding being a weekend event, not just a one day deal. Therefore, we spent extra money on a rehearsal dinner the day before for 40 guests and a brunch the day after the wedding for the wedding party and close friends.Overall we went with what felt right at the time, keeping the budget in mind but not letting that stop us from going with what our heart was saying.
That being said, there were a few areas that we went cheap in – rings, stationary, decorations (venue was fully decorated already), hotel suite after the wedding, etc.
At the end of the day, the venue, food, photographers, entertainment and reception are what people remember. We had countless people tell us we threw the best wedding they have attended and we believe that is attributed to the venue most of all. The Ivy House is the number one venue in Milwaukee for a reason and I would recommend them to everyone whose budget allows.
– The Bride and Groom
A BIG thanks to the couple for sharing the Cost Breakdown of their awesome wedding at the Ivy House and to Uttke Photography & Design 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.
