Kate & A Dream Wedding at the Great Hall & Speakeasy

The Historic Pabst Brewery is home to one of the most unique wedding venues in the city—The Great Hall & Speakeasy. This space was initially built in 1880 as the Pabst Brewery’s corporate headquarters, but it retains all its old-world charm. Frederick Pabst’s office remains intact, and the venue features stunning original stained-glass windows that give the whole place a timeless feel and offer a perfect background for pictures.

We started the day just down the street at The Brewhouse Inn & Suites, where Kate and her bridal party got ready. The hotel’s industrial-chic vibe and rich Milwaukee history made it the perfect backdrop for fun bridal party photos. One of the sweetest moments? A first look between Kate and her dad — a quiet, emotional moment before the ceremony began.

Kate and John decided to wait until the ceremony to see each other for the first time, and it was worth it. The moment Kate walked down the aisle in the Great Hall was full of emotion — you could feel the love in the room.

After the ceremony, Kate and John chose to do their portraits outside the venue so they wouldn’t miss too much of the cocktail hour. It was the perfect compromise — we captured some beautiful photos with the stunning cream city brick and historic architecture as the backdrop, and they still had time to mingle and enjoy drinks with their guests.
Best Place provided catering, and the whole evening flowed beautifully from ceremony to cocktail hour to reception—all under one historic roof.