Turner Hall Wedding Inspired by Old Hollywood

As a Milwaukee wedding photographer, I’m lucky to attract lovely clients. Emily and Dylan are some of the sweetest people I’ve met along the way. Although they live in L.A., Emily and Dylan wanted to get married in Emily’s hometown, Milwaukee. Their Turner Hall wedding had Old Hollywood inspiration set in a vintage theater. The cinematic lighting and amazing architecture made for stunning wedding photos.

A Turner Hall Wedding 

Turner Hall is a unique Milwaukee wedding venue because it also hosts concerts. Needless to say, the sound and lighting are really high quality. The space is also really big – over 7,000 square feet – and open, so you get an airy communal feeling at your ceremony and reception.

There’s a lot to love about the aesthetics here, too. European-style murals and gorgeous woodwork border many of the high ceilings. You and your guests get access to the balcony, so you can see your beautiful ceremony and reception set up from every angle. It’s really special to steal away for a quiet moment to soak it all in from above. I love the images of the ceremony and reception beneath the strings of lights. It’s a pretty unforgettable experience for guests too.

Since Turner Hall is also a concert venue, the staff is very capable when it comes to hosting big events. Up to 300 guests can sit comfortably in the space. The venue also offers optional onsite catering and dressing rooms to use as getting ready suites. Packages for weddings at this venue range from around $4,750 to $6,000. You have the option of doing just a reception after a ceremony at a different location, but it really is convenient to do everything in one spot.

Before it was a concert hall, Turner Hall was originally built for use by the Turner Society. This was more or less a progressive philosophical society for German immigrants. They sponsored the construction of the building in the late 1800s. It still includes original murals from the time. The building is located just about a block away from the Milwaukee River between Westown and Haymarket. It’s easily accessible by all the main highways through the city.

Glamorous Portraits Rooted in Love

In L.A., Dylan and Emily are film editors. They’ve got great eyes for aesthetics and wanted to take a creative approach to their wedding portraits. Turner Hall is the perfect Milwaukee wedding venue for this. The historic murals, dramatic architecture, and balconies make incredible backdrops for artistic imaginations to work overtime.

With all the tall windows and interesting nooks, the light inspired me too. We played a lot with light and shadow too. The bright rays of light contrasting with the dark shadows feel so cinematic – very on theme!

To top it off, Emily and Dylan opted to include film photography and Super 8 video in their wedding coverage. I love how timeless the black and white film photos feel. They really could be from one year ago or fifty years ago. Film feels even more appropriate with the amazing historic features in Turner Hall. 

Dylan and Emily’s Relaxed Wedding Day

You could find Old Hollywood-inspired details throughout this wedding. Emily looked like a classic movie star with her vintage-style and elegantly curled hair. Nods to Hollywood filled the decor as well. Each table was named after one of Emily and Dylan’s favorite movies, and the seating chart looked like movie tickets.

One of the more modern touches in the wedding were Emily and Dylan’s Converse. All the groomsmen wore matching Converse. After the ceremony, Emily slipped on her own pair. The high tops, from Converse’s wedding line, read “Just Married” on the bottom. It was a fun, lighthearted touch.

Throughout this Turner Hall wedding, Emily and Dylan kept the focus on family and friends. They stayed rooted in the moment so they could soak up the connections that made the day so special. Their relaxed timeline made it possible for them to have those spontaneous moments and get more creative portraits, too. 

Are you interested in having me photograph your wedding? I‘m a Milwaukee wedding photographer. I specialize in documenting creative, down to earth wedding stories on digital, film, and Super 8. Reach out to me here!