There’s been a ton of amazing new venues continuing to open up in Milwaukee and we are very excited to add the St. James 1868 to that list. If you’re looking for a world class venue that’s totally unlike anything in Milwaukee, you’ve found it with St. James 1868.
History and modern charm meet within the amazing property, which includes two venues, two outdoor patios, amazing bridal suites and groom’s rooms. #MKECouples – you are going to love St. James 1868!!
All About St. James 1868
St. James 1868’s two venue spaces are housed in a historic 150 year old former church. The space has been thoughtfully repurposed into two luxury wedding and event venues that are spectacular! We’ve had the pleasure of touring the space before the work began, and let us tell you the final result is nothing short of stunning.
The historic property has both indoor/outdoor spaces and the entire property can be rented, or you can simply choose the venue that suits your needs and style. Located on the west side of Downtown, St. James 1868 is walking distance to several hotels, bars and restaurants.
St. James 1868 – Quick Facts:
- Capacity: The Abbey: 250 / The Hyde: 150
- Location: 833 W Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53233
- Two historically elegant venues, renovated 150 year old church building, beautiful outdoor spaces, dedicated bride and groom suites
- Preferred Catering List
Included in Rental for Both Venues:
- Outdoor Terraces with String Lighting
- Chairs and Tables
- Bride and Groom Suites
- Ceremony Space
- Indoor Speakers and 2 Microphones
- One-hour Rehearsal
- Set Up & Take Down of Tables & Chairs
The Abbey – For Up To 250 Guests
St. James 1868 houses two venues, the largest of which is The Abbey. The Abbey can hold up to 250 guests for a reception or 170 guests for a ceremony/reception.
The Abbey has dedicated bride and groom suites, which are simply amazing. The Abbey can also be rented for a ceremony only option and has an expansive outdoor courtyard included with the rental. Check out The Abbey in the video below:
The The Hyde – For Up To 150 Guests
The second venue at St. James 1868 is called The Hyde, which can host up to 150 guests for a reception and up to 100 for a ceremony/reception.
Similar to The Abbey, The Hyde has dedicated bride and groom suites as well as an elevated outdoor terrace included with the rental. You can also rent the space for a ceremony only if desired. Check out The Hyde in the video below:
Catering and Drinks
St. James 1868 works with multiple wedding caterers all of which will provide you with delicious and unique cuisine for your event. Ask them to recommend one of their favorite wedding caterers that would fit best with your event.
In addition to delicious food, bar service will be handled by St. James 1868. Discuss this with the St. James 1868 events team for advice and recommendations. We absolutely love the idea of using one of St. James 1868’s amazing outdoor courtyards for your cocktail hour – your guests will be amazed!
Ceremony Options
One of the things we love about St. James 1868 is that you can have your ceremony and reception in the same place. In addition, both venues are available to rent for ceremony-only options.
If the weather is on your side, St. James 1868’s two outdoor patios make for an exceptional spot for your wedding ceremony. Another great option is to have an elegant ceremony in one of the two venues, then transition to the outdoor courtyard for cocktail hour. Having an inclement weather backup is another benefit to this beautiful space.
Amazing Bride/Groom Suites
Both The Abbey and The Hyde venues include dedicated bride and groom suites. With the rental of The Abbey, St. James 1868 includes the use of The Duchess Suite and The Duke Suite. As you can see from the photographs below, the rooms are both spectacular:
When renting The Hyde you’ll also receive use of the Hathaway Suite and the Harrison Suite. Both suites were constructed with no detail left forgotten, as you can see in the photos below. Fun Fact: The Harrison suite is named after actor Harrison Ford, who married his first wife at St. James 1868!
Location, Parking and Hotels
St. James 1868 is located on the west side of Downtown Milwaukee, close to hotels, restaurants and bars. Your guests will find several hotels within walking distance or a short Uber/Lyft ride away. Be sure to ask your event team for recommendations and check out our list of places offering hotel room blocks in Milwaukee.
For guests who will be driving to your wedding, St. James 1868 is adjacent to a few parking lots. These include a City of Milwaukee lot that can accommodate up to 86 cars and an additional surface lot with 108 spaces. Ask your event team for more details and also check out other wedding transportation options available.
According to the St. James 1868 website, valet parking is highly recommended during the winter months and for larger events.
Additional Details About St. James 1868
We love venues with outdoor courtyards and St. James 1868 has two of them that we highly recommend using! You can host an outdoor ceremony, cocktail hour or even have your whole wedding outdoors in one of their amazing spaces.
In addition, if you have a very large event, you can rent both venues at St. James 1868 for their “Royal Wedding” experience. This would also include the two outdoor courtyards and other amenities. If you do this, please send us photos – we’d love to see this wedding!
We are really excited about the addition of St. James 1868 to the Milwaukee wedding scene and are excited to see more weddings at this unique, luxurious space. If you’re looking for more information, head over to St. James 1868’s website at stjames1868.com
Photo Shoot – Vendor Shout Out:
Some of the images used in this article (the header image and the catering image) were part of a styled photo shoot. Here’s the amazing vendors that participated:
- Design & Floral: Cheri Denise Events
- Paper Goods: Taylor Design And Stationery
- Venue: St. James 1868
- Photographer: Jermaine Horton Photography
- MUA: Shalisa Elizabeth Artistry
- Hair Stylist: Kytas Touch
- Gown: White Dress Bridal Boutique
- Cake: Signature Sweets
- Rentals: BBJ Linen; Marquee Rentals; Windy City Linens; Northern Decor
- Suit: NL Suits
