If you’re planning a wedding in beautiful downtown Milwaukee, you might be interested in taking some photos in more than one location outside of your venue. Milwaukee has a ton to offer for wedding photo locations, and when you’re in the downtown area a lot of these spots are fairly close to one another, which makes it incredibly easy to add a ton of variety to your wedding gallery. If you’re looking for a few photo op ideas, check out this list to see what might inspire you!
The Historic Pabst Brewery Sign
Day or night, this spot is a must have on your list! It’s one of Milwaukee’s most iconic locations and makes for a perfect backdrop for any wedding day. Personally, I love shooting here once the sun is down and the sign lights up. It adds such a fun and unique element to any wedding gallery!
See where it is on the map here!
Lake Park
Honestly, if you wanted to spend an hour here for your wedding day photos, you definitely could. This park features an epic staircase, several beautiful bridges with natural scenery in the background, as well as many other hidden gems throughout the park. Definitely take a trip to this park before your big day so you can see which areas are your favorite. By doing that, it will make it easier to make this location a slightly faster stop if time is of the essence.
Click here to see where it’s located.
The Milwaukee Art Museum
Another one of Milwaukee’s most well known locations is the stunning Art Museum next to Lake Michigan. The plus side: this location will 100% fit right into your MKE vibe on your wedding day. The downside: it’s a VERY popular spot for tourists and locals, so sometimes it can be a little difficult to get people to move out of your way for a photo. However, as long as your wedding photographer knows a thing or two about photoshop, this shouldn’t be an issue to remove them from the photos later.
Not sure where it’s located? Click here!
The Milwaukee Central Library
This isn’t just any old library (as I’m sure you can see from the photo here), this location is an absolute masterpiece. The entryway is the area you’ll want to be in to get the most amazing shots, as that’s where all the stunning architecture is.
SPECIAL NOTE! - You MUST call ahead to ask for permission from the library to use their entryway for photos. Typically, they want at least a weeks notice, but in the event of a rainy day, they’ve been known to do their best to allow last minute accommodations for weddings. Also, you can use this location at no additional cost!
Find this hidden gem on the map here.
Villa Terrace
This location brings a little slice of Italy right here to Milwaukee. From it’s stunning arches, beautiful sculptures, and incredible stair case, it’s a fantastic location not only for your entire wedding, but for a quick stop for wedding day photos as well.
SPECIAL NOTE! - This is another location where you’ll need to call ahead to see if they’re available on your wedding day, and the sooner you do, the better. Also keep in mind that this location charges a fee to use their property for wedding day photos.
Click here to see where it’s located!
Hamburger Mary’s Mural
Walker’s Point has a ton of great little spots for wedding day photos, however I personally love the bright and colorful mural on the side of Hamburger Mary’s. This can be a pretty quick stop if you’re wanting to explore this area of town a little more, or you can stay a while with your whole wedding party to really add some personality to your photos!
See where it is on the map here!
Here’s a quick list of a few other must-see locations:
Kilbourn Reservoir Park - Want the absolute perfect view of downtown? Then this is the place for you!
Urban Ecology Center - Wide open fields with a beautiful backdrop of downtown.
Northwestern Mutual Park - A small yet stunning park downtown near the Art Museum.
Catalano Square + The Third Ward - Start at this small park and walk around the Historic Third Ward.
Beerline Trail Bridge - A cute little bridge right next to one of Milwaukee’s best breweries!
Outside of this list, Milwaukee’s downtown area has so much to offer every couple on their wedding day. From the stunning views of Lake Michigan, to the small nooks and crannies located throughout the entire area, getting married in Milwaukee won’t disappoint. Hopefully this will help you choose a few different locations to add to your own wedding day agenda and add exactly what you’re looking for to your gallery.
Happy planning!
Warmest Regards,
Taber
