She Built the Venue, Then Got Married In It: Kate and Neil’s Wedding at St. James 1868
Kate and Neil met a few months before the world came to a halt. They first connected in the early weeks of 2020, right before Kate opened her wedding venue — and right before COVID-19 upended the events industry entirely. Neil, a fellow entrepreneur, became her rock and support as the business she had poured herself into sat empty and uncertain. “Instead of all the flirty dating moments of getting to know one another, we were catapulted into very real-life situations and navigating how to make our relationship work during such a stressful time,” Kate recalled.
That foundation — built not on romantic first dates but on resilience — shaped everything about the wedding they would eventually plan together.
Kate owns St. James 1868, a restored historic church in Milwaukee, designed around the tagline “A Little Piece of Europe in the Heart of Milwaukee.” The venue houses two distinct spaces (The Hyde and The Abbey), and the couple wanted each space to feel like its own world while remaining seamlessly connected as one cohesive day.
Their inspiration drew from two special sources: Kate’s admiration for European aesthetics and Neil’s Indian heritage. “I’m typically a black, white and taupe decorator,” Kate admitted, “but I wanted to incorporate Neil’s culture, which is so colorful and alive.” The result was a multicultural celebration threading teal, mauve, blush and toffee roses through one of Milwaukee’s most storied architectural spaces.
The events of the day unfolded in stages, beginning with a joyful baraat in the street, and moving through an Indian ceremony, luncheon, cocktail hour and American reception. “The Indian ceremony is more focused on bringing the families together,” Kate reflected, “and the American feels more centered on the couple.” From the luncheon’s interactive Indian food stations to the string quartet and a ten-person choir of the American reception, both cultures were honored in their own, distinct ways.
The reception inside The Abbey was the culmination of over a year of vision. Kate designed three distinct tablescapes: one draped in teal velvet with multi-height candlesticks and rose-patterned vintage china; another featuring a diamond-shaped table in satin-velvet ecru with mismatched vintage china; and banquet tables dressed in champagne satin, mixed rose china, and David head vases. Oval menu cards were bordered with motifs drawn from the Abbey’s own carved monastery woodwork and black velvet bows tied it all together with a vintage, timeless finish.
Although Kate didn’t design St. James 1868 with her own wedding in mind, the space she so carefully crafted turned out to be everything she could have dreamed for her own day. “I was so proud to see my design in the beautiful building I restored,” she said. “It was a true fairy tale.”
With guests traveling from Mumbai, Africa, Ireland, London and across the United States, it was, in every sense, a destination wedding— one that just happened to take place in the couple’s own backyard.
Vendors
PHOTOGRAPHER Niki Marie Photography
VIDEOGRAPHER Character D Films
VENUE St. James 1868
OFFICIANT Mitch and Jenna Weddings
PLANNER Morgan Liddell Events
FLORAL Jane Kelly Floral
HAIR Bryanna Mae Hair
MAKEUP Neda Stevic
BRIDE’S GOWN Anne Barge from Bella Bianca Bridal Couture
BRIDE’S ALTERATIONS Anka’s Alterations
BRIDESMAIDS’ GOWNS Alfred Sung
GROOM’S FORMALWEAR HH Clothing Company 1948, Jim’s Formal Wear
STATIONERY Couqi Paperie
CATERING Nadi Plates
CAKE/SWEETS Greige Patisserie
TABLETOP RENTALS Dish & Decor Vintage Rental
LINENS BBJ La Tavola, Windy City Linen
CHURCH CHOIR Aperi Animam
VIOLINIST Ashley Rewolinski
ENTERTAINMENT & LIGHTING David Charles Productions
LIVE ILLUSTRATOR Ivy’s Illustrations
CONTENT CREATIOR Elliott Schroeder Video
