Glance at Andrea and Chris’ outdoor wedding photos and guess what month they married in. You may not believe the answer. “You can’t plan for 55 degrees on December 1st, but it was definitely a welcome surprise,” say the couple, who had an intimate ceremony at Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum. “We knew that with Matt [Haas] and Sarah [Olsen] taking our pictures, they would take full advantage of the amazing garden and natural Italian feel.”
Hints of the holiday season were scattered throughout the wedding day. Mediterranean-inspired Christmas décor bedecked Villa Terrace—a simply lit evergreen tree, citrus-studded wreathes and more. At the reception, miniature ornaments shone in some of the centerpieces. To top it off, Chris and Andrea chose a warm, rich color palette of bright plums and fresh greens.
After the “magical and surreal” ceremony (which had been customized just for them), Andrea, Chris and their wedding party moved the festivities to Henry’s, a cozy spot on the East Side. “It was a favorite hangout of Chris and mine, so it was really great to stop by on our wedding day,” says Andrea.
Later, family and friends welcomed the newlyweds to Cuvee, where the elegant yet laid-back celebration continued. A catered dinner garnered rave reviews and a talented DJ duo kept the party going. “We couldn’t believe the amount of our family members that were dancing,” say the Milwaukee couple, who often think back fondly on their Champagne lounge reception. “We have stopped back a few times to reminisce.”
Location: Milwaukee
Date: December 1, 2012
Photographs: Matt Haas Photography
Ceremony site: Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum; Officiant: Rev. Arthur Hendricks of Sky’s the Limit Weddings; Ceremony pianist: Francis Steeno; Reception site: Cuvee Champagne Lounge; Caterer: Saz’s Catering; Cocktail hour musicians: Ken Baron and bandmates; DJ: Music in Motion; Gown: Ann Taylor; Bride’s hair: Jaden at Salon Voga; Bridesmaid dresses: J.Crew; Groom’s suit: J.Crew; Groomsmen’s suits: Men’s Wearhouse; Groom’s ring: Spexton Jewelry; Bride’s wedding band: Jared The Galleria of Jewelry; Bride’s engagement ring: Custom made; Bride’s bracelet and earrings: Charming Charlie; Florist: Gregory and Company; Baker: Miss Julia’s Bake Shop; Transportation: Blackline Limousines
By the end of high school, Ellie Martin Cliffe was completely enamored of journalism, so she chose the most logical college major possible: anthropology. Disappointed by the minimal emphasis on writing and editing, she changed tracks and earned a comm degree from Carroll College. Ellie has since tackled many facets of the field including books, magazines and the Web at places like The Knot and Reader's Digest. She now works full time in book publishing, and is thrilled to get her wedding fix with WedInMilwaukee.com. When she isn’t wielding her (red) pen, Ellie can be found in the garden, at any concert that showcases a fiddle, playing pub trivia or in the kitchen. She and her husband live in Riverwest with their hedgehog, Guinness, and grapefruit tree, Sprout.
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Beautiful wedding! I just loved her bouquet, so so pretty!