For Rachel Ruetz and Josh Madlung, a Milwaukee couple who tied the knot last October, creating a guest list for their wedding was a relatively smooth process – and one that prioritized love and connection, says Ruetz, rather than trying to fit into a specific venue or space.
“The very first thing we did was create a list of people we absolutely knew we would invite, and only then did we begin to look at venues that could comfortably hold that number of people,” she adds.
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
The guest list included about 180 guests, the majority of whom fell into the categories of immediate or extended family, friend, or family friend and neighbor. With the exception of a few unattached cousins, every guest was given a plus-one. “We ended up with 150 guests,” Ruetz notes, “which somehow felt intimate since we had only invited people we truly felt close to.”
Emily Riordan, the director of operations for wedding planning and production company Events to a T, says that many clients craft a guest list in one of two ways: either by quantity (e.g., each side invites 100 guests), or by establishing specific criteria regarding which extended family members (e.g., only aunts, uncles and first cousins) can be invited and drawing the line there.
The process is not always a seamless one, of course, and some couples may need to expand or trim their guest list due to budget constraints or tricky family dynamics. “You definitely have to be careful how you handle it,” says Wendi Ward, owner of Wendi Ward Weddings and Events. “I use the example of, ‘Have you seen the person you’re thinking about inviting in the past year? Or have you had any contact with them?’ That might be a spot where you may be able to make a cut.”
3,714 couples tied the knot in Milwaukee County in 2023
There’s little subtlety when it comes to trends in engagement ring designs this season. Jewelry designer Amy Shallow Bern, owner of A Trio Jewelry Design Studio in the Third Ward, says that big rocks, bold colors, and custom pieces are trending, and that she even recently created a ring that featured the snouts of the couple’s two pups. Regarding wedding bands, Shallow Bern says her studio made more precious metal men’s rings than ever last year, with yellow-gold and custom designs as top trends.
Editor Tip!
WEDMKE is the expo to check out if you’re looking for Milwaukee’s top wedding vendors. My fiancé and I were very impressed by the curated event at Turner Hall when we went last year – not only because it was a fun date night but also because of all the great booths with samples and an abundance of information about everything from photographers to catering. (We found our caterer there after a lovely conversation!) It’s usually in December and April.
Another great expo is the Wonderful World of Weddings, which just happened at the Expo Center at Wisconsin State Fair Park earlier this month. It’s another great place to find plenty of vendors, giveaways and more. – Brianna Schubert
