🌿Amy + Scott’s Heat Wave Wedding at The Ivy House🌿
🌿Amy & Scott are Married!
I have been looking forward to Amy & Scott’s wedding for a long time! Back in 2023, they were one of my very first 2025 couples whose engagement session I photographed. They’re so cool; we had a fantastic time together… and then I had to wait two years for their big day. The anticipation only made the whole experience better!
Amy & Scott chose The Ivy House to host their wedding celebration. If you’ve followed me for a while, you know I talk about this venue a lot. It’s one of the most popular and well-loved spots in Milwaukee, and for good reason. As we walk through the highlights of their wedding, I’ll point out some of the things that make The Ivy House such a fabulous choice.
When their day finally arrived, Milwaukee was in the middle of a full-on heat wave with temps pushing 100 degrees, with barely a cloud in the sky. Wisconsin weddings always require a little weather flexibility, but we’re usually battling snow or rain, not triple-digit heat! Amy & Scott handled it like pros, working with their vendors to make a few smart adjustments so everyone could stay cool, hydrated, and ready to celebrate. The Ivy House even brought in extra AC units, which made the indoor spaces extra comfortable and let the party keep rolling.
🥂CONTENTS🥂
*Navigation Note: You can jump to a specific part of the day or tap any tag above (below the blog title) to explore more vendors, venues, and cool locations!
🌿See the full Wedding Vendor Team:
🌿PLANNING YOUR OWN WEDDING AT THE IVY HOUSE?
I would love to help! Reach out and let’s get started! *See more Ivy House Weddings on the Roost Blog or learn more about the venue on the Ivy House website!
🌿The Ivy House🌿
I’m on record with my love for The Ivy House! This converted warehouse, tucked into Milwaukee’s vibrant Fifth Ward, has so much going for it. As you arrive, the first thing you’ll notice is the iconic green brick exterior marked with the giant 906. The landscaping shifts with the seasons, but by mid-summer, everything is lush and vibrant.
From the parking lot, guests are greeted by the colorful “Enjoy the Journey” mural before passing the Fernweh open-air Patio Bar on the way inside. Once you step through the doors, the Cream City brick-and-ivy ballroom greets you with a mix of old Milwaukee character and modern industrial style. The result is a space that feels both fun and welcoming, perfect for celebrations, events, and especially weddings!
🌿Getting Ready in the Penthouse
The Ivy House’s Penthouse bridal suite gives couples a comfortable, private space to breathe, get ready, and retreat to throughout the day whenever they need a moment to recharge. With a mini kitchen, spacious bathroom, dressing room, and plenty of room to spread out, it’s designed to make a wedding party feel right at home. It’s also a dream for detail shots—rings, dresses, shoes, and invitations all stand out beautifully against the natural light, exposed brick, and stylish furnishings. Bonus: the suite overlooks the parking lot, making it convenient for spying on the Groom!
With the dress and details on display, Amy & Scott’s wedding vision really came to life—an aesthetic inspired by wildflowers with pops of light purple, spring orange, and earthy green. Amy’s veil was embroidered with delicate blooms that perfectly matched her stunning dried wildflower bouquet from Unordinary Omen Floristry. She also had multiple pairs of shoes (a trend I continue to love!), including wildflower-embroidered All Stars for later when the dancing started. One of my favorite moments was watching her flower girl—completely mesmerized by Amy’s wildflower dress and proudly wearing her own!
🌿The Final Fit & The Reveals
Once Amy had her hair and makeup just right, it was time to bring her whole bridal look together. One piece of advice I often give couples when they’re choosing wedding attire is to think not only about how it looks, but also how it feels and moves. Many of my favorite photos capture motion, so I’m always paying attention to how a dress (or suit) flows in real life. During fittings, the focus is usually on fabric, lines, and cut—which are really important!—but at the end of the day, you have to wear it, and it needs to move with you.
All this to say, Amy’s dress was fantastic. It flowed with her like magic and looked effortlessly stunning the entire day. With her whole fit complete, it was time for a few fun reveals.
🌿Getting Ready with the Groom
Speaking of things inspired by wildflowers with pops of light purple, spring orange, and earthy green - Scott’s outfit was on point! He absolutely crushed it with a stunning green suit with a floral tie that brought in the full color board! His best men both joined in with matching tie clips and brought a lot of fun and energy to the day!
🌿First Looks & Private Vows at the 906
With both Scott and Amy dressed up and ready to go, they agreed to meet up by the iconic “906” painted on the green brick wall of The Ivy House. First looks are visible from the Penthouse, so everyone upstairs can sneak a peek without getting in the way. Scott’s green suit blended in against the green backdrop, but Amy was still able to find him. It is so much fun to be part of so many Wedding day first looks - I get a front row seat to all the emotions and joy!
🌿Portraits and Wedding Parties
Next, the wedding party joined the fun! One of the things I love about The Ivy House is how many little nooks and backdrops it offers for photos—a lifesaver when you’re working on a tight timeline. With the heat, we skipped most of the outdoor spots and made the most of the cool, airy Ballroom instead, featuring its Cream City brick accent wall and the upcycled wooden bleacher details. We even carved out time for some family portraits!
Before heading upstairs, Amy & Scott also got a sweet sneak peek at their cupcake spread—made with love by a close friend—before retreating to the Penthouse Suite to relax and hide away before the ceremony.
🌿An Outdoor Ceremony in the Fernweh Patio Bar
Even with the heat, Amy & Scott had their hearts set on an outdoor ceremony in the Fernweh Patio Bar. They thoughtfully provided cute little fans for all their guests to help beat the summer sun. The officiating was entrusted to two members of the wedding party, who co-created a beautiful, personal ceremony—perfectly tailored to the couple in a way only longtime friends could achieve!
🌿Escaping the Heat - Cocktail hour in the Ballroom!
After the ceremony, everyone was ready to grab a cocktail and cool down in the Ballroom! One advantage of using the Fernweh for the ceremony was that the ballroom was all set up and ready to go without needing a flip! The extra AC units brought in by The Ivy House did a great job of keeping everyone comfortable! After greeting their guests, the couple headed back to the Penthouse Suite to freshen up before the reception!
🌿Feasting and Toasting in the Ballroom!
The reception took full advantage of the beautiful Ivy House Ballroom! Each table featured a unique centerpiece inspired by meaningful places from their journey together. As we feasted on delicious food from Antigua, we were treated to lovely toasts and tributes shared by parents and friends! The cake and cupcakes contributed deliciously to the wildflower theme!
🌿Golden Hour with the Newlyweds!
The day cooled a little as the sun moved toward Golden Hour and Sunset. Between the speeches and their first dances, we snuck back outside to grab a few more photos of the newlyweds. They looked magical and in love in the golden light and they had a great time running and twirling and dancing! Of note - Amy finally switched to her dancing shoes!
🌿First Dances in the Ballroom!
The Ivy House Ballroom looks fabulous and alive during the day, and at night it makes a romantic transformation as the warm incandescent lights of the chandelier and the Edison bulbs throughout become more evident. For Scott and Amy’s first dance, the center of the room was cleared, and everyone was able to look on! Of course, they included dances with their parents too! And then, finally, they were able to cut their wildflower cake and enjoy it together!
🌿Party Time in the Ballroom!
Party time is always one of my favorite parts of a wedding day. Once all the “official stuff” is done, you can feel the energy shift—suddenly everyone is ready to celebrate and dance! Milwaukee Airwaves is consistently outstanding, especially on their home turf. They know precisely how to keep the dance floor alive and get everyone moving. And let’s be clear… Amy was ready to dance!
If you look closely at the photos, you’ll even spot my latest line of Roost merch in action. The couple had planned to bring a Pride flag to celebrate Pride Month on the dance floor, but it ended up being the one detail that slipped through. Luckily, I had a stack of my Milwaukee Love Pride stickers on hand, and they were able to accessorize with them instead. It’s always fun to see my merch put to good use!
🥂Champagne & Celebration🥂
I never get tired of Champagne pops! While they’re a popular trend, I can assure you I’ve never seen anyone do it quite like Amy & Scott. They gathered all their guests in front of the Green Ivy wall for the celebration. It’s pretty normal for couples to have concerns about getting champagne everywhere—but with the heat that day, Amy cleverly used the spray to cool herself and her guests down! I absolutely loved it, and it made the photos feel truly one-of-a-kind and magical.
🌿More Party Time in The FernWeh
Since we were all outside, Amy & Scott decided to keep the party going in the Fernweh Patio Bar. I was amazed at how efficiently Nick and the Ivy House staff were able to change gears and move their whole setup outside without missing a beat. In the time it took us to capture the Champagne photos, they had already moved everything and were already bumping the music! Outdoor ceremonies are great, but dancing the night away under an open sky is even better!
One thing that makes The Ivy House fabulous is how adaptable it is as a venue. It can be dialed in to a specific wedding vision, but it is also flexible enough to change on a dime to surprise and delight couples and guests alike!
🌿The Wrap-up!
Amy & Scott’s wedding was the perfect mix of emotional moments and joyful celebration. From their wildflower-inspired theme and stunning bridal look to dancing under the open sky, every part of their day reflected their personalities and love for each other. The Ivy House provided a versatile, stylish backdrop that made everything feel effortless and fun, even in the summer heat. Surrounded by family and friends who came to celebrate them, Amy and Scott’s wedding was fabulous from start to finish!
I wish Scott and Amy a lifetime of Love, Laughter, and Moments that Matter together!🥂
🌿PLANNING YOUR OWN WEDDING AT THE IVY HOUSE?
I would love to help! Reach out and let’s get started!
*See more Ivy House Weddings on the Roost Blog or learn more about the venue on the Ivy House website!
🌿The Wedding Vendor Team:
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.
📸 Photographer: Me!
💒 Venue: The Ivy House (part of Two Birds Event Group)
💍 Officiant: Jovan Lazarevich & Elizabeth Maranto
👰🏼♀️Dress: Rish
🛍️ Boutique: Strike Bridal Bar Milwaukee
👠 Shoes: Palscou & Custom Converse
💄 Makeup: Elana Darrus
🤵♂️ Groom Attire: The Suit Shop
🎂 Cake & Cupcakes: Friend of the Couple
🍽️ Catering: Antigua Milwaukee
🥟 Late Night Snack: Empanadas from Antigua
🎶 DJ: Milwaukee Airwaves (part of Two Birds Event Group)
