We had our wedding ceremony and reception in the Simone Ballroom of Saint Kate on 1/31/2022. We were initially looking at 2023 dates, but there was an opening and we decided to go ...for it! We planned our wedding in 2.5 months and it could not have been done without the support of Saint Kate.
We started the process with Melanie and she was very communicative, kind, and helpful. She reassured us that the team could definitely pull off a wedding on short notice. Being a NYE wedding and a short turnaround, we knew that a hotel that included catering was ideal because it checked a lot of boxes: food, bev, hotel rooms, parking, etc.. And the beauty of Saint Kate speaks for itself with its art exhibitions, decor pieces, etc., it was a no brainer! We were happy to sign the contract. We then worked with Emma, the event coordinator, and figured out the logistics: layout, food/bar items, and all the details for the day. Emma was my go-to person throughout the entire process. She is a smart, no nonsense event coordinator and I really valued her opinions when planning my event. In the short amount of time we worked together, it felt like she really knew me. She would address concerns that I had but never voiced and that speaks a lot to her experience and attentiveness. For the actual day-of, we worked with Joey and his banquet team. Joey is kind, calm, and extremely accommodating. You definitely want someone like that for the day-of madness! After our first interaction, we knew we were in good hands. I can’t say enough good things about the staff at Saint Kate–and this extends to the valets, staff at The Bar, housekeeping, etc. Everyone is so professional, friendly, and seems genuinely happy to be there. We knew our guests would receive top-knotch customer service.
Being a wedding, we were not without our hiccups. Ours was with our menu. We had a budget we were trying to stick to but also understood that NYE means the booze is flowing and guests need to eat. It caused a LOT of anxiety for my fiance & I, however, immediately after I voiced my concerns, the team stepped in and got creative. We worked with Matt to finalize our menu and made sure it was hearty but within budget. That really saved our wedding and we are extremely grateful.
We adore Saint Kate and are so happy that we got to host our wedding there. We recommend to all to visit The Bar and check out their art and live music (it’s free!). If you are planning to host an event, we recommend you really consider the type of event you are throwing and your budget. Don’t let a tighter budget hold you back from hosting a great event–and that’s true for any event! Saint Kate is a 4-star hotel in downtown Milwaukee, rightfully so. It is NICE. Our event was black-tie optional and I really couldn’t see it being anything less than. The staff makes you feel like you are royalty from the second you pull up to the second you leave. So, the money is definitely worth it. All that being said, we absolutely made the right choice and would do it all over again.