🥂Why Your Wedding Needs a Dream Team!🥂
✨Another New Blog Series: Wisdom from Wedding Planners✨
I asked some of my favorite Milwaukee wedding planners to share insights about what they do and why it matters! First up: Alexa Ampe.
✨Learn more about Finishing Touches Events Co ✨
Claire & Tony’s Best Place Wedding!
✨See more Pabst Best Place Weddings on the Blog or learn more about the venue on The Best Place Website!
*Tap any tag above (below the blog title) to explore more vendors, venues, and cool locations!
Alexa Ampe is the Owner and Wedding Planner for Finishing Touches Events Co. Recently, we collaborated on a magical wedding at Best Place at the Historic Pabst Brewery (coming soon to my Wedding Venue blog series), which included portraits at the Mitchell Park Domes!
I’m glad she’s kicking off this series with her wisdom about building a wedding-day dream team, because building a dream team is something all the best planners do!
✨Pro Tip: Check out my blog (and socials) for some fantastic wedding vendors! Whenever I post wedding images on social media and on my blog, I list as many vendors as I can - because fabulous vendors are what make for amazing weddings and fabulous wedding images.
🥂Wedding PLanning Wisdom from Alexa:
1. Dream Homes & Dream Weddings
Planning your wedding is like building your dream home. The ultimate goal is to create something you love and will cherish forever. And just like building a house, the key to a project of that magnitude is having a dream team in place. Most people hire a general contractor, who then brings in subcontractors, such as roofers, electricians, and interior designers, among others. You trust them to assemble the best crew for the job.
As a planner, I build weddings. One of my top priorities is making sure we have the right team assembled. I look for wedding pros who have a team mentality, can think on their feet, are detail-oriented, and stay laser-focused on the couple’s and guests’ experience. A considerable part of creating that experience is keeping any chaos firmly out of sight behind the scenes.
2. What Makes a Wedding Dream Team?
Of course, sometimes—no matter how well-prepared one is—life happens. Things change. And that’s where an experienced, creative, and quick-thinking team comes into play.
I look for wedding professionals who are team players, who remain calm under pressure, and who will go above and beyond their assigned tasks to ensure everything runs smoothly. That flexibility and shared mindset? It makes all the difference.
3. Story Time: Claire & Tony at Best Place at the Historic Pabst Brewery
In August 2024, I had the honor of coordinating Claire and Tony’s wedding at the Best Place at the Historic Pabst Brewery and working with Brandon from Roost Photography for the first time. With 250 guests, it was the largest wedding the venue had ever hosted. The ceremony and reception were taking place in the same room, so we planned a 90-minute flip of the space—exactly what the venue recommended as the bare minimum.
With the help of the venue staff, we had to set up 26 tables with linens and 250 chairs. My assistant and I were responsible for ensuring that the seating chart and table numbers aligned, the ceremony florals were moved to the correct tables (not all tables had the same centerpieces), and the candles were positioned just right.
About 20 minutes into setup, we realized the printed timeline sign for guests showed only a 60-minute cocktail hour instead of the 90 minutes we had planned. And just like that, guests started coming back, trying to find their seats… before we had even finished setting up.
You can imagine the stress level. What had been a well-oiled plan turned a bit chaotic. But here’s where that dream team made all the difference. The venue staff and catering team stepped up way beyond what was expected of them. The caterers jumped in with centerpieces, and the venue staff assisted with placing cards and relocating florals. None of that was technically their job. But they cared, and they understood what was at stake.
Without that kind of team mentality, there’s no way we would have flipped the room on time. And I’m okay saying that. No matter how strong your plan is—or how good you are—you can’t be everywhere at once.
We also looped in the photographer and videographers to adjust the timeline. They kept the photos going a little longer, giving us space to pivot - without the couple ever noticing or being stressed by it (as far as I know, they still don’t know about it!)
Afterward, the couple told us the room looked even better than they imagined. That feedback meant everything, but it was only possible because of the team we had. Those are the people I mentally bookmark for future events.
4. Why the Right Team Matters
That wedding could have easily derailed, but it didn’t—because we had the right people in place. People who didn’t hesitate to roll up their sleeves and jump in, whether or not it was part of their job description.
That’s the kind of team you want on your wedding day: thoughtful, unflappable, and focused on the bigger picture. When the unexpected happens (and it often does!), the difference between panic and magic is who’s standing beside you.
5. The Planner’s Role: Your Wedding’s General Contractor
At the end of the day, a wedding planner is basically the general contractor of your event. We know the industry inside and out. We know the hidden gems and the must-haves. We have the connections. And we care—sometimes more than you might expect.
A house lasts for years, but your wedding? It’s just one day. Investing in a wedding planner to build your dream team—and lead it—is one of the best decisions you’ll make for your once-in-a-lifetime celebration.
Final THoughts:
It’s Brandon again!
So there you have it- Milwaukee wedding planner Alexa Ampe of Finishing Touches Event Co shared why building a dream team of vendors is the secret to a stress-free, magical wedding day. From a behind-the-scenes story at Best Place Pabst Brewery to her insight on the planner’s role as your “wedding general contractor,” we have explored how the right team transforms challenges into unforgettable moments—plus why the Pabst Best Place is an iconic and uniquely Milwaukee wedding venue!
I loved working with Alexa on Tony and Claire’s Wedding! If you want to learn more about her approach, head over to her website: Finishing Touches Events Co! We will hear from more wedding planners soon. Stay tuned!
🥂PLANNING YOUR OWN MILWAUKEE WEDDING?
I would love to help capture all the Love, Laughter, and Moments that Matter for your love story and wedding day! Reach out and let’s get started!
🥂The Wedding Dream Team from Claire & Tony’s Wedding:
📸 Photographer: Me!
📋 Wedding Planner: Alexa Ampe - Finishing Touches
🏨 Getting Ready: Brewhouse Inn & Suites
🌴Photo Location: The Mitchell Park Domes
🛍️ Boutique: Marien Mae Bridal Boutique
👰🏼♀️ Dress: Martina Liana Bridal
👠 Shoes: Dolce Vita
💄 MUA: Shalisa Elizabeth Artistry
🤵♂️ Groom Attire: Black Tie
🎂 Dessert Vendor: Classy Girl Cupcakes
🍽️ Catering: Prime Minister Catering
🍕Late Night Snack: Toppers Pizza
📹Video: Memento Video & Design
🚍Transport: Churchill Limo
