The Wisconsin Club

Haley and Nick held their wedding reception at The Wisconsin Club in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on June 11, 2023. Much like the couple, their wedding day was unique and filled with so much love. Also, dancing! There was A LOT of dancing! I don’t think I’ve ever seen all the guests dance so much throughout the day and then watch the dance floor fill up so quickly. I loved every minute of it!

Haley and Nicky actually attended grade school together, but never knew of each other until high school. The real connection didn’t happen until much later. A little over a year before their wedding day, Haley noticed Nicky on LinkedIn and started to dig around. She found his number, reached out to him, and the rest is history! According to Haley, they bonded over deep conversations and they’ve been inseparable ever since!

Nicky proposed to Haley on the riverwalk in Chicago, just below her apartment building at the time. Nicky knew that Haley would want her nails looking their best, so about an hour before the proposal, he suggested they both get manicures and pedicures! So, Haley’s nails were freshly done when Nicky got down on one knee and popped the question.

The couple’s Serbian wedding ceremony took place at St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Cathedral. The church was beautifully detailed and so unique. Haley and Nicky decided to do a first look before the ceremony. As a photographer who has been to A LOT of weddings, I love a good first look. It gives the couple a private moment to really take it in before the beautiful chaos of the day!

After the first look, we went to what is called the Skup, which is a welcoming party at the church. After the Skup, there was a bartering ceremony for the bride. While Haley was hiding inside, the groomsmen and wedding guests on Nicky’s side offered gifts to Haley’s side. The gifts started small, like a plate of cheese, a bottle of alcohol, chocolate, and then finally, real gold coins!

The ceremony was about an hour long, and it had so many different cultural elements to it. For one part of the ceremony, Haley and Nicky wore crowns and walked in a circle three times. When they finished the third circle, they were officially married! The photos were so much fun to take. It felt a bit like being at a royal wedding! After the ceremony was complete, the guests left the church at the same time as the couple. Outside, there was cheering, dancing (I told you there was a lot of dancing), and even more coins being tossed in the air!

Haley and Nicky’s reception at The Wisconsin Club was a HUGE party! The Wisconsin Club offers its members an elegant experience with flawless service. The Grand Ballroom holds up to 300 guests, and the couple took full advantage of the large capacity! There were heartfelt speeches, shots for all of the guests, and you guessed it, more dancing! As soon as the floor opened it was flooded with people. Almost every single guest headed to the floor to participate in traditional dances. Haley and Nicky had a blast, and their loved ones danced well into the night!

Haley and Nicky, you two were a joy to work with and your wedding is one I won’t forget! I can’t wait to see the exciting season ahead in your marriage! Big hugs – TK