🌿Emily + Chaz’s Ivy House Wedding 🌿
Emily & CHaz are Married!
Emily & Chaz chose to celebrate their day at The Ivy House—a converted warehouse tucked into Milwaukee’s vibrant Fifth Ward. If you’ve been around my blog, you know I talk about this venue a lot. It’s one of the most popular and well-loved venues in the city, and for good reason! As we walk through the highlights from Emily and Chaz’s day, I’ll point out a few of the things that make The Ivy House fabulous.
The Ivy House
The Ivy House has a lot going for it, starting with its iconic green brick exterior emblazoned with a giant 906. The landscaping changes with all seasons, and the white cherry blossoms of spring gave way to the most vibrant pink blooms I’ve ever seen there.
Outside, there’s the open-air Patio Bar (perfect for cocktail hour), a colorful “Journey” mural in the parking lot, and inside, the Cream City brick-and-ivy ballroom brings together old Milwaukee charm with modern, industrial style. The result is a fun and accessible space that is perfect for celebrations and weddings. I promise I am not exaggerating - scroll down and check out the images for yourself!
Oh, and a big shoutout to Northgate Floral—their floral creations were immaculate.
*See more Ivy House Weddings on the Roost Blog or learn more about the venue on the Ivy House website!
Getting Ready in the Penthouse
The Penthouse is The Ivy House’s bridal suite, perfect for getting ready in style. With a mini kitchen, full bathroom, and ample space to spread out, it has everything a wedding party needs to feel at home. It’s also a dream for detail shots—rings, dresses, shoes, and invites all pop against the natural light, brick walls, and stylish furnishings. Bonus: it overlooks the parking lot, which made it extra convenient for spying on Chaz as he arrived!
First Looks & private vows
The iconic “906” painted on the green brick is one of my favorite first-look spots at The Ivy House. It’s visible from the Penthouse, so everyone upstairs can sneak a peek without getting in the way. Chaz finished getting ready there with a little help from his son, and then Emily made her way down for their first look. After the big reveal and a few moments admiring each other’s fits, they read private vows.
I love the private vows trend—it’s such a meaningful gift. A quiet moment, just the two of them, to share promises too intimate for an audience but perfect for each other.
Portraits and wedding Parties
After their first look and private vows, Emily and Chaz wandered the venue for some portraits together. A few minutes later, we brought in the wedding party to keep the good vibes rolling. The Ivy House is full of gorgeous little pockets for photos, which I really appreciate while trying to create amazing photographs on a tight timeline.
THe Ceremony and the Living Ivy
The Ivy House Ballroom just keeps getting greener as the ivy continues to grow. It adds a living element to pair with Cream City brick, modern lines, and steel details. Emily and Chaz filled the space with the people they love most. A fun surprise for me? Realizing I knew Emily’s parents and their officiant! The ceremony was heartfelt, and they even included their kids in creating a special family keepsake together.
Cocktail hours
After the ceremony, the Fernweh Patio Bar was ready to welcome Emily and Chaz’s guests. Everyone had a chance to hug the happy couple, share stories, and raise a glass. Signature cocktails are always a win! A Paloma (hers) paired with a Brandy Old Fashion (his) was a fantastic choice!
To top it off, they brought in a wandering magician for cocktail hour fun. He even stumped Emily by making things vanish from her own closed hand. Pure magic.
Golden Hour with the newlyweds!
I basically get to spend the whole day with couples on their wedding day (it's one of the best parts of my job). Emily and Chaz made it easy—fun, relaxed, and full of laughs. When golden hour hit, we snuck out for a few portraits and they were relaxed, joyful, and clearly crazy about each other. The way they light up around each other is pure magic.
Food, toasts, cake, and Dances!
After a quick flip, the Ballroom was ready for dinner, toasts, and dancing. As dinner was wrapping up, a Dessert cart appeared, and, based on how quickly the line formed, people were very excited about it! Then it was time for the first dances!
The Ivy House team seamlessly moved us from the cocktail hour in the Fenwah Patio bar back into the transformed Ballroom. We cut the cake, we ate dinner, and there was a decadent dessert table waiting for us!
The first dances are always a special moment - that shift from dinner conversation to everyone watching as the couple has their moment before the dance floor opens up to everyone else.
Party Time!
When the last speech is over, you can feel the energy shift and suddenly - it’s party time! It is one of my favorite parts of the wedding day. People are full of good food and cheer, and really to celebrate and dance! Milwaukee Airwaves - always brings the party - especially on their home turf!
There's something magical about that moment when the formalities wrap up and the real party begins! You can feel the collective exhale as everyone is released from programmed moments and freed to drink and dance! The combination of good food, flowing drinks, and that shared joy creates such an electric atmosphere.
Milwaukee Airwaves knows how to keep the dance floor hopping and bring exactly the energy needed to get everyone moving.
CHampagne and EMpanadas
I never get tired of Champagne pops! At the end of a long wedding day full of joy, but still tiring couples deserve a fun moment, and spraying champagne like you won the Super Bowl works! Following their Champagne moment, Emily and Chaz arranged for Lola’s Empanada truck to deliver a tasty late-night snack for their guests!
The wrap up!
Emily and Chaz’s wedding was a joy from start to finish, filled with thoughtful details, meaningful moments, and an abundance of love. Their quiet first look and personal vows set a heartfelt tone, followed by fun surprises like the magician (yes, really!) and stunning golden hour portraits. Surrounded by family and friends who came to celebrate them, the day was truly filled with joy and connection.
Wishing Emily and Chaz a lifetime of love, laughter, and moments that matter. 🥂
*It’s not just the building that is awesome either! Nick Brenning (venue manager) and the staff of the Ivy House are friendly and awesome! They go above and beyond to ensure all the details are covered and the guests are comfortable.
*See more Ivy House Weddings on the Roost Blog or learn more about the venue on The Ivy House website!
The Wedding Dream Team:
📸 Photographer: Me!
💒 Venue: The Ivy House (part of Two Birds Event Group)
💍 Officiant: Steve Sonderman
🛍️ Boutique: White Dress Off the Rack
👠 Shoes: Betsey Johnson
💄 Makeup: Hannah Marie Beauty
🤵♂️ Groom Attire: N.L. Suits
🎂 Cake: Simma’s Bakery
🍽️ Catering: Antigua Milwaukee
🥟 Late Night Snack: Lola’s Empanadas
💐 Florals: Northgate Floral
🎶 DJ: Milwaukee Airwaves (part of Two Birds Event Group)
