St. James 1868

Attended a wedding here and I can't stop talking about it! The venue and all of its spaces inside and out from the courtyard, terrace, bridal suite, groomsmen room, the Abbey, the Hyde were amazing from top to bottom. Every detail from space design, to staffing, etc etc were thought out to guarantee that guests, family and the wedding party have an amazing experience. Bravo! Highly recommend for anyone seeking an amazing wedding!

My daughter got married at St James and I have nothing but amazing things to say about the venue and its staff. From the tour, to answering our endless amount of questions, to the planning meeting and finally the day of, every detail was well thought out and executed perfectly. You can tell the staff are very passionate about what they do and it shows. Between the Venue Manager and the Coordinator, they were with us every step of the way suggesting vendors, rentals and even lighting options that helped bring our vision to life. We are so incredibly grateful for such a beautiful day and for my daughter to have the wedding of her dreams. Thank you so much!

My husband and I attended a wedding at St James and wow - what an experience! The venue itself is beautiful and so well run - the staff were so personable and thoughtful every step of the way. From the moment you walked up the steps, to heading to cocktail hour and back into dinner, the staff greeted you with a smile, answered questions and made sure that everything ran smoothly. We were worried it might be too noisy with the amount of people and music but the later part of the evening was very enjoyable - the bartenders took great care of us and we’re hoping to return for a Candlelight Concert.

We just got married at St. James in the Abbey, and I am still in awe of the space and team. We decided on the venue almost two years before our wedding day, so we have seen the space and team change and develop as they are a relatively newer venue. Throughout the waiting, then eventual planning process, I felt very taken care of and knew the team's goal was to help ensure we pulled off a successful event. As a bride with many questions, it was so nice to receive quick responses to my queries and honest opinions when I asked for them. We decided to hire the month of coordinator through St. James as well which added a whole level of support (although the St. James staff was already doing a superb job!). I felt that the team did everything they could to make the day as seamless as possible. The weather the day of my wedding was on and off rainy which posed a threat to cocktail hour being outside. The rain finally stopped right before cocktail hour. St James staff worked quickly to dry off the courtyard and the furniture, so guests could still enjoy the space during that time. That meant so much to us! All in all, I highly recommend St James 1868. The space speaks for itself, and the team goes above and beyond to ensure your event lives up to and exceeds your vision. I cannot thank them enough!

We had our wedding ceremony here two weeks ago and let me tell you, this venue is BREATHTAKING. My family and friends were blown away by it's beauty. The best part was that we didn't have to spend a whole lot of money on decor because the space speaks for itself. The staff was wonderful, very responsive, and accommodating to our every need. No detail was missed. Thank you for making our wedding day something out of a fairytale!

I LOVE officiating weddings at St. James 1868. Besides being a beautiful venue, the staff is outstanding! I worked with Danielle, sales manager, for a wedding there last weekend and she was not only friendly and welcoming, but on top of all the details which is an officiant's dream! I was also impressed with Kate, the owner, mopping floors before the event and cheerfully greeting guests as they arrived for the wedding. Eveyone is very 'hands-on', working hard to create the best experience for a couple's special day. The St. James 1868 has a feel of elegance, combined with exellent service. I can't wait to officiate my next wedding there. Kindly, Joan Fergus Master Celebrant Ceremonies by Joan

We had our dream wedding at St. James! I knew from the moment I saw it, I had to get married here. It truly is such a unique and stunning venue, no detail is missed and everywhere you turn is just perfectly designed. The team there is great, everything on our wedding day went off without a hitch, and it was an absolute joy to work with them. Our guests as well were blown away. The only thing I would make note of is what is included in the general venue pricing and what is an add on. For example, you do not get access to the bride and grooms suite until the afternoon without paying for access, certain tables cost more, ect. All was completely fine, just something to be aware of when budgeting! Overall, we loved our experience and are already hoping to have friends and family get married there just so we can go back to this magical space. Thank you St. James!

We specifically used The Hyde part of St. James. You can rent the whole property which includes the Abbey, but we decided against it. We had ~100 guests and didn't feel cramped in there at all. The property itself is beautiful! We added on the coordinator and worked with Danielle. She was amazing, totally worth it, and the day was perfect. There was a forecast for potential rain, but we made it through the ceremony and cocktail hour without a drop. Would 100% get married here again.

If you are anything like me (type A, attention to detail, organized, etc.) or literally the exact opposite, this is absolutely the venue for you. My husband and I got married here in June of 2023 and we call it the best day ever and that is due to St. James staff and their exclusive vendor list. I was absolutely blown away at how perfectly the night was executed and how helpful all the St James staff was. Kate the owner was exceptional. As a nervous bride wanting the night to go perfectly, Kate would pick up the phone and call me to reassure me that her and her staff would make sure all the little details were taken care of and that I had nothing to worry about. She was right. Wedding planning is so stressful and the last thing you need to be doing as a bride and groom is hand holding your venue or vendors. Do yourself a favor and go with the best venue in MKE!

From top to bottom, St. James 1868, as both a venue and business, is the most accommodating, thorough, beautiful, and professional organization in the country. From the second you walk into the building you are not only greeted with the warmth and kindness from their lead coordinator (Jo) – but you are overwhelmed with the character and magnificence of the space itself. Jo’s energy, optimism, and detailed understanding of the facility bring to life the fairy tales that live within us all. Leading up to our wedding – the coordination and correspondence was always prompt, encouraging, and professional. The event manager (Juli), coordinators (Joe, Jess, and Ceci), and even the owner herself (Kate) were so unbelievably helpful and supportive with their lessons learned, best practices, and sound advice – with every day of planning, we grew more and more confident we could make our dream wedding a reality. We could not have asked for a better team to guide us through the stresses and challenges of planning and coordination! On our Wedding day, the team showed up in Aces. Again, from start to finish, they were available, flexible, and cooperative. For any wedding – the bride and groom are always pulled in a hundred different directions – and I can confidently say, without the team from St. James 1868 – our day would not have been as flawless and seamless as it turned out to be. Their full coverage of the day, positive presence, and elite level of care made us feel so loved, supported, and cherished that we are forever in debt to their thorough and selfless service. Regardless of what you’re planning, celebrating, or commemorating – you will never go wrong with this team. So rarely in life do we have the opportunity to work with such a well prepared, well equipped, and professional organization – yet when we do, it is immediately recognized as both an honor and privilege. While St James 1868 will always say it is their honor to work for their customers – I promise it is the other way around. You could spend the rest of your life looking for a venue with the character, beauty, and exceptional elegance of St James 1868 – and after a lifetime of searching you might come close, but you will never find the love, selfless support, and relentless pursuit for excellence offered by the St James 1868 Staff from start to finish. They are simply a cut above – and they are worth every penny. Thank you Kate for everything you did for us, and thank you to the whole crew for making our dream a reality! Respectfully, Mr. and Mrs. Jason R Kons

For a fee of $5500 + tax for just the ceremony, you certainly do not get what you pay for these days. Our experience at the St. James was unacceptable during our wedding. We just had our wedding ceremony in mid April 2023 and the staff were not only extremely discourteous & offensive, openly suggesting we don't speak English? but actively refused to resolve the issue they themselves caused, delayed our wedding and irrecoverably harmed the ceremony progression and atmosphere. We shared all of our feedback, and they offered a very small refun (less than 10%), a half apology, and nothing else. that at least 50% of our fees inclusive of taxes be refunded. TLDR During our ceremony, there was double sound being played which of course is unacceptable and it was the manager of the St. James personal music system (an Alexa device) that was plugged in. Took forever to discover since they actively did not help figured it out until my planner's team found it. Imagine as a Bride spending over a year planning and thousands of dollars for your big moment, all your guests there, the bridal party enters and now awkwardly everyone waits 30min just for this mishap to get resolved and for you to FINALLY walk down the aisle 🤬 That was the icing on the cake... My wife arrived to doors locked and our wedding planner team shared the staff were unhelpful all day long - go figure.

Our wedding was amazing thanks to Kate and her team! We had nothing but compliments from our guests, even with sever weather happening outside! It didn’t stop the party and it was still a beautiful, perfect day.

My fiancé and I had a tour at St. James with Jo. She was absolutely amazing and answered all of our questions and pointed out the beautiful and historic details that make up St. James. We fell in love with this venue and cannot wait for our wedding day. We especially are grateful with the amount of communication, support and advice that the team at St. James gives us along the way.

We had our wedding at St. James in December of 2022 and couldn't be more pleased. Kate, Tim, and the entire staff are top notch. Very responsive and no detail is overlooked. They are thorough and have a solid vendor list - if we had to do it over again, its a no brainer that we would chose St. James again. During our day and the weeks following we received so many compliments for how beautiful the space was. It is truly so different from any hotel conference space. It looks incredible, both fully decked out or with the limited decorations like we had.

Our wedding in The Abbey at The St. James was nothing short of a dream come true! Candidly, the St. James was the first and only venue we toured, and we don’t have a single regret! Kate and her team were so easy to work with throughout the wedding planning process, which was even more appreciated as we do not live in Milwaukee. The venue is absolutely breathtaking, and it is clear how much thought and attention has gone into every detail. I HIGHLY recommend the St. James as a venue if you are looking to host a beautifully magical event!

BEAUTIFUL SPACE! If you're considering a Milwaukee wedding, you need to see St James 1868. Not only did they make the entire wedding planning process as easy as possible, but they also have the most gorgeous European church style. We fell in love with the space the moment we saw it and are so happy that we said our vows here. Can't recommend St James 1868 and their team enough!

My daughter’s wedding celebration at the St James was spectacular! We rented the Abbey for the ceremony and dinner reception, and The Hyde for the cocktail reception. I hadn’t seen the space for over a year from when we originally booked it, and am still in awe of all the details that made our milestone event so perfect. I honestly felt like we had three different venues at the Abbey - it was bathed in golden light for the ceremony making the space joyful and sacred, transformed to a classic and elegant venue for dinner, then magically turned into a night club for dancing! Kate and her entire team could not have been kinder or more helpful. The St James wedding coordinator, Katie, was a true angel and kept everyone calm, organized and allowed us to enjoy the experience without any worries. I wish I had more daughters getting married to be part of another wedding again here!

To have held our 11/11 wedding at the St. James was a dream realized. To start, the space is beyond stunning - Kate and her team thought of every single detail - from the suites to the bathrooms, to the bars to the courtyard, there isn't a corner of the venue that isn't picture-perfect. We loved that the Abbey for our ceremony was such a timeless, beautiful space — our family loved that it was church-like, and we loved that we could experience a modern twist on a traditional space. The Hyde made for a perfect backdrop for our wedding party photos and later, our cocktail hour - both sides have such a distinct feel that were so fun to work with to bring our creative vision to life! The Abbey transforms into a different space for the reception...it's so cool to see it lit up as a backdrop for both the sentimental moments (first dance, speeches) and the party that follows. Our entire guest list was from out of town, and SO many raved that the trip was worth it just to see the St James alone. ----- What sold us on the St James wasn't only the space. It was the TEAM. You need a group of vendors you can 100% trust, and Kate, Tim, Kathryn, Katie and Jo were exactly that for us. They went above and beyond their roles throughout our planning process and our event, ensuring we were 100% confident in the run of show and details of our wedding, then taking incredible care of us throughout the wedding itself. They are absolute professionals - you won't find a better team to ensure your day runs as smoothly as can be, without ever letting the couple see how many logistics they're coordinating behind the scenes! ------ As a couple, we wanted a space that we could trust would be stunning on its own, let alone with the florals and decor we'd incorporate. We also wanted absolute peace-of-mind that the day would run without a hitch thanks to the team and the way the venue was laid out. If you're like us, you'll fall in love with the St James and the people who have poured their hearts in this space and the events they host - genuinely cannot recommend this space and this incredible team enough.

We got married in The Abbey at St. James 1868 a few weeks ago and it was the day of our dreams! The venue is gorgeous. We knew as soon as we toured it last year that it would be the perfect setting for our ceremony. My girls and I loved getting ready in the Duchess Suite - it was such a great way to start the day! We heard SO many amazing compliments from our guests. People could not stop talking about how stunning The Abbey was. Seriously the most beautiful venue around! 10/10 recommend!

This was the only venue we looked at because there is nothing that comes close in Milwaukee. If you are looking for traditional, elegant and a bit European , this is the place! It is stunning and all in one spot! The get ready rooms are both to die for; the terrace for cocktail hour is enchanting and the ceremony/venue at the Abbey is absolutely gorgeous! The entire venue makes for perfect photos too! All of the staff were more than helpful to make everything from planning to the big day run seamlessly.

St. James 1868 made all of our wedding dreams come true. The vision of walking down the isle has been with me since I was a little girl and on our wedding day, when this venue was filled our loved ones, it truly exceeded all of my expectations and more! This space is truly out of a fairy tale. From the moment we stepped inside we felt it in our hearts that this had to be it and goodness was it ever.

We had our wedding at the Abbey, and my husband and I along with our guests loved inside the abbey as well as the large courtyard. The lights above the courtyard make it an even more romantic area at night. My guests said that my wedding venue felt like a castle, with there being many beautiful spots to take photos inside and outside. There was a wedding in the Hyde the same night and we didn’t hear them at ALL, and barely saw any of them. Kate swore that she’d do her best to make sure her team separates our weddings and she didn’t disappoint ! The primary reason we chose this venue is because there are designated rooms for the women and the men to get ready in. The lighting in the women’s room is PERFECT for putting on makeup, and I love how it had multiple large mirrors and a full bathroom. The guys room has a bar and ping pong table, perfect for them to pass time as the girls get ready. We had so many awesome photos taken in both decorated dressing rooms. Not only is this new venue beautiful, but also it has wonderful, kind people coordinating it. The venue workers could just do their job and go home, but they were so kind to everyone and interactive. My month of coordinator, Danielle, that I received through St James, was extremely helpful, continually offering to do big and little things for me. I appreciated how I was so nervous to walk down the aisle, but she didn’t rush me to make my way to the ceremony - she took the time to talk me through my feelings :) Kate and Tim were great this whole past year with the wedding process ! They were thorough with their communication, gave helpful suggestions, and were super nice during the whole wedding planning journey !

Staff was super responsive and helpful through the whole process. So much information is given and detailed through the day. The space is beautiful and makes you feel like you’re in a dream. Our guests adored it! The ceremony felt holy and set apart, and the reception was a huge party- the abbey and Hyde are both spectacular.

Seven months later, friends and family are still raving about The Hyde and Abbey and the absolute gorgeousness of the big day! The venue was historic and lovely, and the location was perfect (downtown) for pictures and out of town guests. My husband and I are so happy that the St James 1868 team could be a part of all the special memories from the day, they were an amazing venue to work with. Everyone on the team was knowledgeable and helped us along the planning process- they took a lot of stress off our shoulders and it’s couldn’t have been better. So happy we chose the St James❤

It’s hard to even know where to begin because there’s so many amazing things to say about both Kate, her team, and the St. James 1868. When my fiancé and I were searching for a venue we had very specific boxes to check off. For my fiancé it was that it wasn’t in Illinois, and for myself, I wanted something that provided a European inspired vision since we don’t have estates or castles here in the Midwest. We also wanted to get married somewhere that guests could travel to and have a plethora of options to do before and after the wedding. My fiancé found the St. James 1868 on Married in Milwaukee and as soon as he showed it to me I knew it was the one. January of 2021 (only a week or so after getting engaged) we toured and fell in love with the venue almost as quickly as we had with each other. We felt we had to check other venues just to say we did but every time we’d find ourselves saying, “Well it isn’t the St. James 1868…” We got married August 27th, 2022 and it was breathtaking. There wasn’t a thing Kate or her team could have done to make it any better. Kate has created a truly luxury wedding experience. From the decor to the dream team she has for flipping the room during the cocktail hour and everyone in between, Kate is the real deal. It’s rare to have such open communication with the owner of the venue and to have them check in to make sure everything is as you hope and dream. She has set a beautiful standard for both Milwaukee and the Midwest and continues to be finding ways to make every couples experience one to remember. Weddings can be expensive and it can hard to find a place that is as naturally beautiful as this venue. If you’re thinking about cutting costs, this venue provides the most photo ready opportunities and stunning interior. You don’t need much to have the most elegant photos. Maybe some candles and flowers and before you know it you have the best photos you could imagine. We even opted out of a photo booth for our guests because we felt it would take away from the stunning look of the venue which already has so many photo opportunities. If you’re even vaguely considering the St. James 1868, take the time to tour and talk with Kate. Just like being married is hopefully a once in a lifetime experience, so will this venue be to your guests and you.

Just got married on August 27th, 2022 in the Abbey of the St. James 1868! My now bride and I instantly knew we wanted to get married here after visiting back in early 2021. There is a beautiful mix of historical and modern elegance that we couldn’t miss out on. The owner, Kate, was lovely throughout the whole process and guided us with a great vision that fit our personalities. I applaud the excellent communication, value, and overall pre-marital and day of experience. We are so happy to have chosen the St. James 1868 and would repeat it over and over again with the happiness experienced by us and our guests. Much love to the team for making our wedding the best of our days.

We got married in the Hyde at St. James Place in August 2021. We had the most incredible experience. Not only was the venue absolutely stunning, but the whole day was ran smoothly and very well-organized. The terrace made for a beautiful ceremony space, and some great photos later in the day. Overall, this was a perfect choice and it made for a fantastic and elegant wedding. :)

St. James 1868 is a terrific venue for a wedding. The renovated church provides a the ability to have a church wedding and flip for reception allowing no need for travel from wedding to reception. The historic property is exquisite and the staff handle all aspects of the wedding professionally and properly. Referral for a day coordinator was perfect as well. Great job! Thank you St James!

I am beyond happy we picked St. James for our wedding venue! I cannot imagine having had my special day anywhere else. The space is absolutely stunning - both unique and timeless. The repurposed church space gives a nice vintage vibe and is complemented by the modern and elegant interior design. The outside of the venue is equally beautiful, and there are countless spots to take photos. I toured several other places, but as soon as I saw St. James, I had to book it. Their team is great to work with and are genuine, kind people who will work with you to bring the vision of your special day to life! They have many great vendors to work with but are accommodating to others, and I was able to hire my own decorator and DJ. Communication was great, and my wedding day proceeded without any hiccups. So many of our guests commented on how beautiful the venue was, and we couldn’t have been happier with our choice.

Yesterday was by far the best day of my life and it couldn't have happened without your incredible team. THANK YOU for following the dream you had and building this magical venue because it was everything I wanted for my dream wedding and more.

Kate was a pleasure to work with through the wedding planning process. She is always very professional and yet made an effort to connect with my family when we had our planning meetings. We were able to bundle the bar service to the venue and while some of the costs such as rentals were less straightforward, Kate and her team were always happy to walk us through them and make sure we were on the same page. Flexibility when planning is very important to me, and the process with St. James was very flexible. The venue itself is absolutely STUNNING, and I still remember how magical the reception room looked. We chose to have the ceremony and reception in the Abbey, with the cocktail hour in the Hyde, and when we walked through the Abbey after the ceremony and prior to the guests coming in, it was such a sweet time for us to see all the little details we'd created come to life.

The team made everything EZ. I told them in the beginning I just wanted to write the check and they took care of all the details. I will be using their services again in the future. Why wouldn’t I

Kate and the entire staff at St. James did a fantastic job for our law school gala event. I almost wished I had gotten married in Milwaukee just so I could have it at St. James 1868. The building is absolutely gorgeous and easily accommodated our 400 guests in the Abbey Ballroom alone. Although we wished the weather would have been better to take advantage of the courtyard, using both the Hyde and Abbey ballrooms really made all of our guests comfortable throughout the night. Throughout the entire process, Kate was transparent as well as incredibly insightful when selecting furniture, vendors, and more to make sure we had a great time. The service by the entire staff and just the little details, like the security guys opening the doors for guests as they walked in, really made the event. We were so excited to host our event here and can't wait to try and do it in the future.

There wasn't one detail that they didn't take care of with the utmost care! The entire staff went above and beyond and the venue itself....an utter dream!!!!

We absolutely loved working with Kate and the entire team at St. James 1868. We booked the Hyde for our wedding reception, having only seen pictures online, as neither myself nor my husband lived in Milwaukee. My mom had spoken with Kate on the phone and we placed our trust in her from miles away. When we finally saw the Hyde in person, it was even better than online. The space is gorgeous and needs very little decoration. Kate responded to emails quickly and had an answer for every question I had. Her vendor recommendations (floral, catering, DJ, etc.) were fantastic as well. The weekend of our wedding, my family stayed in the Airbnb apartment rental that St. James 1868 has next door. It was spacious, clean, and convenient. We headed over to the Hyde to use the Hathaway and Harrison suites to get dressed. The suites were perfect for getting ready and storing our things. Kate was there all afternoon and evening to ensure the night went smoothly. At night, the Hyde is beautiful with some soft uplighting, floral centerpieces, and the wood rental tables. It doesn’t need much décor as the space itself is stunning. Kate and her entire team did an incredible job helping me out through the entire process of planning our wedding. I highly recommend anyone searching for a venue in Milwaukee to consider St. James 1868.

Kate and St. James Team, We sincerely want to THANK YOU for having the vision and drive to create the St. James 1868 event space. Our Son and Daughter in Law's wedding was PERFECT!! We feel so very honored to have been able to enjoy your impeccable property and our guests were so very complimentary and impressed. Your staff was very professional and friendly and had every detail covered. It will be a cherished memory for us all.

We are thrilled with the outcome of our wedding on 9/10/21 in the Abbey venue. We moved our wedding three times due to COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021, and the St. James 1868 and Gracious Events, their caterer, were so flexible. The venue is beautiful and offers many options to customize but the great thing was that we didn't need to do too much and kept within budget. Patio is beautiful. Onsite amenities to get ready were great. Their recommended vendor list was perfect and with that all we required was a day-of coordinator through St. James/Gracious rather than a planner. We are thrilled with the outcome of our day.

I’m looking at photos of my daughter’s St. James wedding as I write this review. Of course, I’ve been looking at the photos constantly over the last couple of weeks, because the wedding truly was a dream come true! St. James 1868 is an exquisite venue. The dramatic arched ceiling, rich woodwork, and stained glass just takes your breath away as you enter. The 72 foot aisle makes for a stunning entrance for the bride. No detail was overlooked as the St. James was restored…even the chairs provided by St. James are perfect, not only classy, but comfortable too. There are so many wonderful opportunities to embellish with florals, candles and rentals..though you wouldn’t HAVE to do a thing! We chose to rent the Hyde as well as the Abby, which took away all the potential stress that might have occurred with rain on the wedding day. In case of rain, we would have had the cocktail hour in the Hyde. But given our good weather we opted to have our cocktail hour outside in the beautiful courtyard. We had about 180 people and the space was absolutely perfect. I was worried about having a two hour cocktail hour, but everyone was having such a good time, and was so comfortable that we had to encourage them to go in for dinner! We used Gracious Catering and the staff kept everyone happy with generous amounts of delicious appetizers and cocktails. They even presented a private plate of the apps to the bride and groom so they could be sure to taste everything even as they greeted guests and took photos. While we were outside for cocktail hour, The Abby was “flipped” for the reception. I walked in before the other guests and was brought to tears (of joy!) with the beauty of it. The head table stretched down the aisle so everyone felt like they were close to the bridal party. We had 21 round tables of 8 in addition to the head table. The dance floor up front was generously sized with room for our big crowd to dance. We chose to set up a lounge with rented furniture up on the large alter area, and guests used it for photo ops, to relax, and to just enjoy looking out over the dance floor. The food served by Gracious was outstanding. Our guests are STILL talking about what a wonderful meal it was. Kate was a dream to work with at St. James. She was responsive to questions, available for in person consultations, and happy to offer suggestions when asked.

We were ecstatic with our experience at St. James 1868 - The Hyde. Our ceremony and reception went perfectly and everything was breathtaking. So happy we chose this venue. Highly recommend!

Hey There! Look no further. The St James is thee perfect wedding venue! I am so Godly glad I discovered the venue at the start of planning our wedding, fall of 2020. Call me old school, but for me I wanted to have a church feel on our wedding day. Honestly I wanted to feel like Princess Diana, lol. I also wanted to find a venue that did not require a ton of decor. If this is you St. James is it. Every inch of the venue is fabulous. The architecture is and will be your decor. The venue will also be selfie heaven for your guests. The staff is just as fab! Jo, Selema, and the owner/designer Kate treated us like family. Jo and Selema will go above and beyond to make sure your day goes very very smooth. On your wedding day you want to be calm and you want to have a peace of mind. It's very important to have vendors and a venue that wants that for mood for you just as much as you want it for yourself - the ladies of St. James get it. You will not be disappointed. Pinky Swear (wink)

We have had such a wonderful experience working with St. James 1868, and are so looking forward to our wedding in the Hyde on August 5, 2022! Once seeing the St. James, it was really a no brainer to choose this for our venue. For starters, the space itself is immaculate - a renovated church modernized with beautiful details from light fixtures, to tables made of upcycled church pews, and fun decors that brings a lightness to the room. It was the picture of Kobe and Vanessa nestled in the corner by the bar that sold my fiance :). The getting ready rooms are well designed with again beautiful details like Anthropologie mirrors and comfy couches that will make for a wonderful backdrop for a few pre-wedding photos and a comfortable place to get ready or take a break throughout the evening! Okay, that's my rambling about the venue itself, but it was more so the incredible team that sold us so quickly! Jo Young, the event coordinator, could not have been kinder or more accommodating on our tour. Salema, the bar manager, even met us on the tour and gave us a complete, transparent run down of options, costs, etc. Not only were they professional and SO good at details of how our wedding would run, but they were so much fun! By the time we left, I felt like we were friends and could not wait to work with them, and really couldn't imagine a better fit. All that said, I am really excited for our wedding, and the St. James is such a huge part of that! Forever grateful to the team!!

When I saw the pictures online, I said to my fiancé that we would have to look! A summer of COVID later and 4 days ago, I married my best friend at St. James 1868! The Duchess suite was spacious enough for the bridal party(5), MOB(2), MOG, grandmas, flower girls, plus 2 makeup artists, 2 hairstylists 2 photographers and a videographer all at the same time! We essentially had a before the wedding party! The Duke suite was also spacious for the groomsmen, dads, and ring bearers! The kiddos were kept entertained with the pingpong table, while the older guys lounged on the couch and played card games! The Abbey was absolutely breathtaking and additional decorating was not needed! The ceremony music was able to resonate and the effect was magical! I truly felt like a princess! The staff are so friendly and great to work with! Responses to my many questions were always returned in a timely and professional manner! You can tell that the staff love what they do, and they want your day to be perfect! My day was exactly that! PERFECT!

I cannot express how grateful I am for Kate and her team for making our wedding come true. I called Kate 8 weeks before our postponed wedding date. I am so lucky because they had that day available and helped me move my entire wedding from Chicago to Milwaukee in two months. The minute I made the switch the fun part of wedding planning came back. They helped me with everything from the vision to vendor suggestions I still needed to fill. Our wedding day ended up being the day I always envisioned and the property is so beautiful we didn’t have to go anywhere else for pictures. Book your next event at St. James 1868 you won’t regret it!!!!

I had the opportunity to work at St. James 1868 as a Wedding Coordinator this past weekend. Let me tell you, it is an absolutely stunning space for a ceremony, reception, or both. Before walking in the building, the first thing I noticed was the immaculately manicured grounds. Once I walked inside, my breath was taken away by the detail in the luxurious décor and how it complements the historic charm of the building. Each room is curated so precisely and accentuates the architecture of the former church while also creating an opulent feel that is not available in your average wedding venue. The suites available to couples and their bridal-parties have unique styles that represent a sophisticated elegance of their own. St. James 1868 did not miss a beat when designing these accommodations. Working with Kate and Jo was a dream come true. They were incredibly accommodating and welcoming. In my years of working in the wedding industry I found this to be one of the most seamless operations I have worked with. Parking was a breeze with a large lot next door, and it is walkable to many downtown hotels. But the icing on the cake was the vendor packet that they supplied each vendor with. It provides specific details that show where to load in and out, where elevators are, and answers so many of the questions that a vendor could have. Working with St. James 1868 was a one-of-a-kind experience.

I can't recommend the St. James enough. Every detail in this meticulously renovated space is stunning and so well thought out. On top of the beautiful space, Kate, Jo and the team, went above and beyond to make our day picture perfect, and to make us and our guests feel welcomed and at ease. They were wonderful to work with - detail-oriented, organized, quick to communicate, and so kind.

The most amazing venue you’ll ever find in the state of Wisconsin! Not a detail has gone missed and everything is conveniently located in one space. I highly recommend this venue to anyone looking for heaven on earth.

The moment we walked into St. James, it took our breaths away. Kate and her team stopped at no detail to ensure this was a venue of luxury. We are getting married in october and are so excited to have our ceremony at the St. James. The Abbey provides us with the traditional feel that we want for our ceremony. Colleen was extremely helpful and responsive as we were deciding where to get married, and we absolutely cannot wait to say "I Do" in this gorgeous and historic venue.

We have not had our wedding reception at St James Abbey yet but after visiting this beautiful venue we have a secure date for 2022. Colleen and Kate couldn’t have been more helpful on our very informative tour and have continued to answer all our questions promptly. To date we have received the royal treatment and are looking forward to working towards our European Elegance Wedding.

My partner toured St. James when he was visiting MKE back in the Fall (we currently live in CA) and was so amazed by the beauty of the space. The architecture is simply stunning! Though calendar conflicts prevented us with going with this venue (sad face) I wanted to sing the praises of Colleen. She was wonderful to work with and guided us through all of the details. I highly recommend her to anyone looking to get married in one of the most gorgeous spaces in Wisconsin! You're in good hands with Colleen and her team.

AMAZING STAFF AND SPACE! My fiance and I toured the Hyde and fell in LOVE with the venue! We were welcomed with open arms by an amazing team of hardworking women who helped us with any questions and concerns we had. We 100% recommend this amazing gem in the heart of MKE.

Working with Katie, Colleen & the entire St James team has been such a dream come true. After our initial venue fell apart due to Covid, St James stepped in & welcomed us with open arms just a month before our big day. They made the transition easy, fun & stress free and we can't thank them enough! Their team is knowledgable, quick to respond if any questions or concerns popped up and were extremely easy to work with. In the end, our "backup" plan ended up being even more gorgeous than our original plan because of how incredibly stunning St James is. If you are looking for a timeless, classic & grand wedding venue that will never go out of style, you have found the perfect spot!

The venue is so beautiful! The high arches, stained glass windows, bridal suite and indoor/outdoor elements of St. James are unlike any other venue in the area.

St. James is a truly stunning venue - it's incredible to see the before and after photos and how beautiful Katie turned the space into. I haven't seen any other wedding venues in Milwaukee that have the same elegance, history and personality as St. James!

Our experience working with Katie and the venue was overall top notch! Every element of the venue has an interesting story and the attention to detail throughout the space is incredible. You can tell from the minute you step inside how special of a space this venue is. We highly recommend checking it out!

The venue is absolutely stunning and stands out among other venues I've toured in Milwaukee. The European ambiance is so unique and the large open spaces really allow you to incorporate all the elements you want for your dream wedding. I also love the outside spaces available for guests. On top of that, the staff was incredible! Highly recommend this venue!

St. James 1868 was a dream come true. The ceremony space- The Abbey was absolutely breathtaking. The space is so beautiful and elegant. Although it is a big space and can hold up to 500 people, our ceremony felt very intimate as Colleen and Kate set up the space perfectly. Colleen and Kate were both amazing to work with- their communication was impeccable and they made our vision a reality. St. James 1868 was everything I dreamed about and I highly recommend it to any couple that is looking for a beautiful, elegant, romantic venue!

St. James 1868 has two elegant class A event spaces inviting weddings to networking events. The owner and visionary behind the beautiful venue space is Kate Crowle. She has revived the historical St. James church to be a modern beauty!

We could not be happier with our experience with the St. James 1868 team! The venue spaces that Kate and her staff have created are simply breathtaking. We could not recommend hosting your event at this venue enough. As we were St. James’s first wedding, there were some minor hiccups along the way, but when it counted St. James far exceeded our expectations! St. James is absolutely stunning. Every single corner of this space is beautifully restored and decorated. We held our wedding in the smaller of the two venues, the Hyde. It is by far the most beautiful wedding venue we could have chosen in the Milwaukee area! Even implementing COVID-19 distancing precautions, the space easily handled our 105 guests. In addition to the incredible indoor space, both venues have wonderful outdoor spaces. The Hyde’s outdoor space easily accommodated a bar, multiple cocktail tables and all of our guests. Not to mention the beautiful view of downtown! We utilized the outdoor space for our cocktail hour while the indoor space was flipped, of which the St. James team orchestrated seamlessly. We additionally utilized the same space for the dance floor later in the evening. As for the wedding party suites, our experience is likely to be different than other Hyde renters. As we were the only wedding on site, Kate graciously offered to us the Abbey suites free of charge! Not only are both the bride and groom suites decorated to the nines and spacious, they also offer TV and audio hookups, ping pong tables, and bar space! On top of the beautiful spaces offered at St. James, the location couldn’t be better. The downtown location allowed our guests numerous choices for lodging all within walking distance of the venue. Our guests had no issue finding parking near the venue and our photographer had no difficulty finding the perfect spots for photos following our ceremony! While this next section will become less relevant in the not too distant future (fingers crossed), St. James was on-top of COVID-19 and the ramifications the pandemic might have had on our wedding day. Kate and her team provided us with frequent communications detailing relevant updates to Milwaukee and State COVID-19 orders. Kate ensured that we felt comfortable with our wedding date, with all things COVID-19 considered, and was extremely flexible. She offered multiple backup dates, alternatives, and even the option of a full refund secondary to the COVID-19 pandemic. Day of the St. James team did a wonderful job keeping our guests safe and that is really all we could have asked for! As we were St. James’s first wedding, we did run through some small stumbling blocks during the planning process. We are certain these will not be an issue in the future as they were related to a transition from an inhouse event staff/caterer to their new partners, Gracious. To be frank, it was quite frustrating. We had to repeatedly communicate to St. James and Gracious our wedding plans and point out contractual provisions and commitments from the previous event staff/caterer. With that being said, once we all got on the same page the process couldn’t have been smoother. Kate bent over backwards to make sure our wedding was special and was on site day of to make sure everything went off without a hitch! We are truly grateful for everything St. James and Gracious did and hope that everyone who chooses St. James 1868 has as wonderful of an experience as we did!

St. James was a stunning venue for my sister's wedding in fall 2020. Kate and her team were incredible and the food and cocktails were perfect.

We celebrated our 10 year wedding anniversary at St. James 1868 and it was a dream come true. The venue is beautiful and very accommodating. They listened to my vision and dreams for our 10 year and made it all come true. The night was beautiful in which made it possible to enjoy the outdoor patio space as well as the indoor Hyde. You will not find a more accommodating venue in the Milwaukee area. Our guests are still raving about not only the venue but the catering as well.

We recently hosted about 30 family and friends at St. James to celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary. I can't say enough great things about the venue and the staff. The facility is very unique with a neat history and provides a great setting for any type of gathering. It was very easy to coordinate everything with the caterers leading up to the event and the day turned out just as we had planned!

Beautiful venue with amazing options! The history was explained in detail! Gorgeous stained glass and exceptional detail to the renovations! Would make fantastic memories for any bridal couple!

I've had the pleasure of painting at the St. James twice in the past month. I cannot say enough about how wonderful this venue and the owner/staff are! They are so kind and accommodating to everyone there, vendors included! 2020 has not been a great year for events and has made it extremely difficult for businesses, especially new ones (St. James) to succeed. Postponements and restrictions on guest counts have made for an interesting wedding season and has been very hard on venues, especially because it is very difficult to fill a date once someone has postponed. I'm so glad the weddings I've been to were still held, as it gave St. James a chance to show off how wonderful a venue they are. Both weddings I painted at St. James were perfect, despite the current situation. The staff took all the necessary precautions while still making it enjoyable for guests to attend. The venue itself is absolutely stunning and you can tell this was a complete labor of love. There's thought in literally every detail of this place. I had the pleasure of meeting the owner, Kate, twice. She makes a point to be involved with her events and she really cares about the experience you have there. I wish her and the Gracious Events staff all the best! If you're looking to have your wedding or event here, do it!!! Covid or not, it will be in good hands.

BEWARE, BEWARE, BEWARE! My new wife and I signed our contract with St. James in January 2020 for our August 2020 wedding. Given the uncertainty and Milwaukee’s COVID restrictions, Kate and her team lead us on, saying things that weren’t true, just so we wouldn’t cancel. Other venues we used (rehearsal and brunch) reached out asking if we wanted to move dates, cancel with full refund, or use a larger space at no charge. NOT ST. JAMES. Kate reassured us we could use the whole venue (the Abbey and the Hyde) to comply with health department regulations. So we mailed our invitations. Then Kate told us we had to pay extra to meet our contracted guest count of 250, otherwise half our guests eat dinner OUTSIDE in the courtyard along Wisconsin Avenue. You pick who sits inside and who sits outside at your reception! St. James is unorganized, prices change without notice, and reality never seems to match what is on the website. Our contract was for a sit-down dinner of 250 guests inside the Abbey (seating capacity of 337 per Kate). City Council guidelines during Aug 2020 were 50% capacity, which meant 168.5 people including staffing for food and wedding personnel (photographer/DJ/etc) - really about 155 guests. Since ST. JAMES couldn’t fulfill the contract without making guests sit outside, we had no choice but to change venues and had a spectacular wedding elsewhere. Kate refused to refund our deposit and demanded full confidentiality to return even a portion - she doesn’t want people to know the truth. Stay as far away from St. James as you can!

We were absolutely blown away the first time we walked into the Abbey. So beautiful...it was everything I could have ever wanted for my daughter's dream wedding site! Every detail has been thought of, and I feel so confident that her day will be as perfect as can be. Working with Colleen has been a pleasure and we can't wait to also meet Kate! Being a professional photographer (including 20 years in the wedding photography business) means that I was for sure looking for a venue that would be worthy of a giant wall portrait in our home. We more than found it!! Every square inch of the Abbey is a photographer's fantasy and I cannot wait to choose which image I'll look at everyday and be reminded of this special day!

Wow! What an amazing space! The Abby is such a cool spot with so much potential for a breathtakingly beautiful wedding, I love how you can get really creative with the set up, I think a live band on the alter for the reception would be so fun! We've only gone for the initial tour so far but Kate was awesome to work with and was so accommodating, she came in on an early Sunday morning for us! The whole space is beautifully executed and I really appreciate all the design details Kate has incorporated into every single room of the place! So so beautiful!

St. James 1868 is a place I will forever remember. My fiance Shawn proposed to me here and Kate and her team made it unforgettable. Kate helped Shawn with the flowers, champagne and even found a great photographer who captured the moment perfectly ! They had planned everything for a month and I was totally surprised, not to mention the space is absolutely gorgeous ! Highly recommend St. James 1868 and their team !

YEAR 2020: To the Knot, my letter of review of St. James 1868 These are by far difficult and challenging times we're faced with currently. Attempting to share love with one another as a couple is easy, doing so with family during a devastating pandemic such as the Covid-19 virus outbreak is one that forces you to question any and everything. So hence, my review of St. James (Abbey) starts... My fiancee Nina is special to me. My "Third Times a Charm" future wife I call her. It goes without saying: I must strive for nothing but the best experience to prove my love to her. The Abbey space here at St. James 1868 venue is as delightful as one could imagine and that's the feel you get just from the tour. Thinking ahead; assemble love one's (few or many), introduce couple and celebrate, once again, as a whole family... life is good! Enough said. I can't simply close this review without concluding; the location of this venue is set perfectly for a downtown wedding/ceremony for many couples in search for a bit of elegance and decor with a few of historical artifacts. Lastly, I was surprised to have been met by the owner (Kate) herself, which aids to a strong decision to seek no further, due to her passion to recreate something original to something now more, unique and enchanting. Yes, our wedding planner (WP) Marie, cautioned us of our budget topping off, while utilizing ST. James 1868 (wedding space) along with our second desired venue choice for a reception. However, without this venue as an opener of a grand and chic splendor, our vision would only feel half mast. Thanks Kate/owner, for the tour, your honesty in making my FUTURE QUEEN, feel like the PRESENT PRINCESS she is. This Cinderella's request was for a church wedding. St James 1868 offers a "ROYAL" church wedding/reception (there must a castle somewhere near by). My fiancee would like to pair this location with a horse and carriage send off. My fiancee, even as the mature woman that she is, she's still so... #Disney. Lol! Venue: Highly recommended. Couples, Be apart of history; Harrison Ford was married here, (WOW!) factor. What more can I say? Be safe and stay Covid-19 FREE. ~Groom