South Shore Terrace Wedding in Milwaukee | Alex & John
- Jul 19
- 4 min read
If you’ve been hanging around here for a while, you know that togetherness is the absolute heart of a great celebration. But when you are a local planner and the couple getting married is your own family, the stakes get a whole lot higher.
Meet Alex and John
Alex is a local wedding photographer, and John is her partner in everything. They met all the way back in high school and have spent the last decade building a beautiful life together—including completely renovating Alex’s childhood home here in Wisconsin.
Because Alex works in the industry, she had major visual dreams for her day. But she also found herself stuck in the classic couple trap: Do we pack our bags for a destination wedding, or do we throw a massive party with every single person we love in one room? Since they wanted to honor their Latino roots with an unforgettable party, a local celebration was the only option.
A Morning Rooted in History
Before the lakeside celebration began, the morning started in the most intentional place possible: their own home.
This isn't just any house—it's the childhood home that has been in Alex's family for generations. Getting ready in a space where they had spent the last few years pouring their hearts into a massive renovation added a layer of grounding peace to a fast-moving morning.
There is something incredibly special about putting on your wedding attire in a house filled with decades of family history, toast to your future with your closest people in the living room you rebuilt together, and take a quiet breath before stepping into the chaos of the day.
Navigating the Two-Year Waitlist & Vendor Curation
Once the priorities were locked in, we hit the ground running. Planning a South Shore Terrace wedding means playing the long game—this iconic lakeside venue has a notorious two-year waitlist. The second that booking window opened up, we made the call and secured their June date.
Because florals were at the absolute top of their wishlist, we locked in Remington right away. From there, we built a dream vendor lineup tailored exactly to their budget, their style, and their vision for a modern celebration.
But let’s keep it real: wedding planning isn't always a walk in the park. Alex and John are the ultimate definition of a Type-B couple. We were making logistical decisions right up until the buzzer—including linens that were finalized at the absolute last minute (and yes, a few went down onto the tables beautifully unsteamed, because that's real life). I even hand-DIY’ed their bar menus myself, learning the hard way that spray glue is officially my nemesis.
Mastering the 90-Minute Room Flip
When the wedding morning arrived, the logistics engine had to run at 100%. The venue space is gorgeous, but it is heavily DIY. The venue staff sets the initial tables and chairs, but everything else—the transitions, the lighting, the styling—falls entirely on your hiring team.
I brought a powerhouse crew of four assistants with me because we had exactly 90 minutes to execute a massive ceremony-to-reception room flip. We had to reset all the chairs, move the ceremony backdrop, lay the linens, and perfectly style menus, table numbers, lamps, and hundreds of candles. This was all while also managing the timeline- bar flow, catering start time, mariachi end time, portraits and family photos (OH MY!). You really have to be on top of your stuff. Guess what? We got it done 30 minutes early.
And as every planner knows, the universe loves to test a timeline:
Late Alcohol Delivery: The alcohol showed up late, so my team jumped in to help load the cases in record time.
Timeline Shifts: The groomsmen showed up entirely at the wrong time with their bowties completely untied, putting us a tad behind.
The Tiramisu Crisis: No spoons were packed for the dessert, so an assistant sprinted to the store during the speeches so guests could eat.
Surprise Entertainment: A surprise Mariachi band was sprung on the couple as a gift the night before. We intercepted them, coordinated their entrance, and cued them seamlessly into the timeline.
Did Alex and John find out about any of this? Absolutely—but only after the final song of the night over late-night drinks. On the actual day, their only job was to be completely present, take in the music, and watch their favorite people pack the dance floor.
We bent the traditional rules, stretched the budget with intention, and built an unforgettable celebration that looked like a million bucks but felt entirely like home.
Vendor Team:
Photographer: Emma Coss Photography @emmacossphotography
Planning, Design, Decor and Production: Redwood Weddings and Events @redwoodweddingswi
Venue: South Shore Terrace @mkeparksfoundation
Caterer: Charlie’s Catering
Bar: Pour Inc MKE @pourincmke
Florist: Remingtons Flowers @remingtonsflowers
Late Night Snack: Conejitos Mexican Restaurant
DJ: DJ Felix Entertainment @dj_felix_entertainment
Hair/Makeup: Belviso Co. @belvisoco
Wedding Dress: Vowd Brookfield @vowdweddings
Wedding Party Dresses: Azazie @azaziebridal
Suits: Generation Tux @generationtux
Planning Your Own Lakefront Celebration? Let's Chat.
If you want a stunning celebration without having to play project manager on your own day, let’s talk. Drop your date, tell us your vibe, and let's get your weekends back.
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