Creative Wedding at Dandy Milwaukee

Wedding

October 28, 2022

Dandy Milwaukee is a unique wedding venue near Washington Park. Colorful antiques fill the space. For lovers of all things vintage, Dandy is a magical place. Nora and Steve held their creative fall wedding there. They went with a vintage aesthetic that made their decor feel like part of the shop. Best of all, their community came together to create an unforgettable night in this whimsical venue.

Nora drapes her legs over Steve's in Dandy Milwaukee.

Getting Married at Dandy Milwaukee

Dandy Milwaukee is unlike any other wedding venue. The building houses an antique store that’s attached to a renovated auto shop. It has a big skylight and towering brick walls that feel quintessentially Milwaukee. With over 7,000 square feet of space, there’s space to have a ceremony, cocktail hour, and seated dinner.

Two wedding rings sit on a pamphlet that reads "Artists you are sleeping with".

A bride's mother buttons her wedding dress beside a hotel window.

However, Dandy Milwaukee is completely different from typical industrial wedding venues because of the antique shop. It’s eclectic with a surprising and intriguing mix of objects. Elaborately upholstered couches sit on colorful rugs. Vintage dresses and hats hang beside animal statues and out-of-print books. Plants throughout make the store feel less commercial and more like someone’s endlessly interesting home.

A bride and groom pose for black and white film wedding portraits.

A bride poses in an art deco hotel lobby.

Because Dandy Milwaukee is so full of incredible objects, you don’t have to decorate much at all. Many people choose to add a ceremony backdrop and maybe a few rentals. The beauty of a place like this comes in embracing its eccentricity. It will be a truly unique experience for guests.

Wedding florals decorate a wedding arch.

A bride walks up an aisle toward the altar.

All of the displays in the shop are perfect for wedding portraits with a vintage flair. Many wedding venues have one pretty couch or small lounge area for portraits. Here there are so many possibilities for artistic portraits that feel distinct from one another. Nora and Steve mixed drinks with friends at a wooden sideboard, cuddled on a brocade couch, and shared a sweet moment beside a display of boots and dresses.

Nora looks to their wedding guests during the wedding ceremony.

Nora and Steve sit side by side at Dandy Milwaukee.

I love Dandy Milwaukee so much that I’ve even photographed engagement sessions here. You can check out Sarah and Nick’s playful engagement photos on digital and film here. The images have a similar sense of color and warmth that are so important to Nora and Steve’s nostalgic wedding photos.

Nora and Steve exchange vows during a wedding ceremony at Dandy Milwaukee.

Nora and Steve kiss in front of the orange and yellow ceremony backdrop.

Steve and Nora share their first dance at their wedding at Dandy Milwaukee.

Steve smiles down at Nora during their dance.

Nora and Steve dance at their reception at Dandy Milwaukee.

Nora and Steve’s Creative Wedding

Dandy Milwaukee was the perfect venue for Nora and Steve’s creative wedding. Nora is an engineer, and Steve is a graphic designer. Nora’s eclectic style fit right in among the antiques and warm colors. The gold suns on her headband complimented the floral lace on her shoes. In the lobby of the Saint Kate, where they got ready, Nora looked like a vision from the 1920s.

Nora and Steve hold cups in the sunlight beside a window in Dandy Milwaukee.

Knick knacks sit on tables in a Milwaukee wedding venue.

Since Nora and Steve had a fall wedding, they filled Dandy Milwaukee with warm, colorful florals. Their orange and yellow backdrop looked like an autumn sunset during their ceremony. Their florist incorporated reds, oranges, greens, and browns into their ceremony space, and they coordinated so perfectly with the rug and furniture. The candles added to the intimacy of the space. These additions, along with some furniture rentals, really transformed Dandy from a funky antique store into a one-of-a-kind wedding venue.

Nora and Steve walk through a parking lot.

Candles light the table at a Dandy Milwaukee wedding reception.

Nora and Steve listen to wedding toasts.

Community and Connection

Steve and Nora’s wedding was so beautiful that you would never know that they made it happen in just three months. So many friends and family members came together to make it happen. They showed up for Steve and Nora in a big way. Steve’s family even catered with food from their Greek restaurant. That sense of community and commitment to the people around them made their day emotional in the best way. These wedding photos will be a powerful reminder of the depth of those connections.

Steve and Nora stand to speak to wedding guests.

A wedding guest holds a glass in front of a round light.

A bride and groom dance during their wedding reception.

Even though Nora and Steve were having a great party with their people, they made sure to sneak away for private moments. It’s so important to build those into your wedding day. Everything happens so fast that you need to stop and take a breath intentionally with your partner. We took advantage of all the amazing vignettes around the store to take fun photos that feel timeless.