Marcus Performing Arts Center Reviews
Reviews
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![Alex]()
Alex Sent on 12/30/2024Wedding Review- July 2024
My wife and I previously got married at the Marcus Performing Arts Center in late July. Upon touring the venue, we knew that it was the only choice for our special day. There are many advantages to this venue including easy ADA accessibility for guests, close proximity to the Milwaukee River for Bridal Party photos, and separate hosting spaces for the various parts of the day. Our Ceremony took place in the Fitch Gardens and was all we could have asked for. The space fit our 150 guests comfortably yet still felt very intimate which was important to us. The reception space (Bradley Pavilion) is gorgeous! It is elegant and timeless while providing a stunning view of the cityscape and river. This made for a perfect backdrop to our Head Table which we loved seeing in our photos/videos. Since our initial meeting with the venue's event planner, Marie, we were impressed with the professionalism and flexibility provided. The venue was very accommodating regarding decor, table layout, uplighting color choice, etc. Most importantly, the meal! If you have many guests with food allergies, this venue is for you. They take this very seriously and ensure that all guests have a wonderful and memorable meal. Since our wedding, we have heard nothing but rave reviews regarding the food. Hors d'oeuvres, entrees, late night food- people loved it all. My wife and I were especially impressed with the manner in which the servers present the food to the tables- it is very professional. If you are considering this venue, we highly recommend that you reach out to Marie to learn more. You will not be disappointed in the least- she truly goes above and beyond to make you feel important and valued. We are so grateful to the MPAC staff for making our wedding day dreams a reality. Highly recommend to future couples! -
Laurie Sent on 12/13/2022
Beautiful downtown space
The Marcus Center is a stunning downtown location for a wedding. Our daughter and her partner's outside ceremony and inside reception there was a large success due to Lynn and her staff helping with critical decisions along the way. -
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![Alyssa]()
Alyssa Sent on 12/14/2021Best Wedding Venue Ever!
We absolutely LOVED having our reception at the Marcus. We were a couple planning a wedding from out of state, luckily we did not have to re-arrange our wedding plans due to Covid. Lynn and her team was AMAZING! One challenge we faced was that Hamilton was performing the same weekend as our wedding. It was frustrating at times because the crew with Hamilton was extremely strict about following guidelines. We had to make sure to keep our wedding guests separate from the theater guests. Anyways, the reception turned out beautifully, the lights and the room lit up. We rented gold chivari chairs, through Lynn, and they really made the space look classy. We choose buffet style, but our guests got through the lines quickly and efficiently. We received SO many compliments on our delicious the food was. One thing we really liked about this venue was there were space for guests to also step outside. Beautiful photo opportunities inside and outside. Thank you so much for giving us a great experience! If we could do it all over again, we would choose our reception at the Marcus, 100%. -
![Stephanie]()
Stephanie Sent on 10/07/2021Beautiful venue & wonderful coordinator
The Marcus Center exceeded our expectations it was a gorgeous venue. Everything was perfect, ladies were able to get ready on site in a spacious area, ceremony in the atrium, cocktail hour in the promenade, and reception in the bradley pavilion. This was a huge selling point for us. The catering was also phenomenal. Their food selection was amazing, as was the actual food. Lastly, our wonderful coordinator Karin! She was absolutely amazing and incredible to work with. She was quick to respond and answer any questions. She was incredibly accommodating and made sure we had everything we needed. Karin put us at ease for our wedding, and made it as easy and stress free as possible. She was there from the beginning planning stages to fluffing my train as I walked down the aisle. We highly recommend the venue and more importantly Karin and Sazama's catering! -
![Nikki]()
Nikki Sent on 04/13/2021Easy to work with, thoughtful
My fiancé and I fell in love with the Marcus Center at first sight. The dreamy ballroom pavilion paired with the balcony overlooking downtown and the Fitch garden patio was everything we hoped for in a wedding venue. What really sealed the deal was having Sazama's as our caterer and learning that we could have the infamous Saz's festival platter as a late night snack.
Being a covid bride has not been easy, but Karin with the Marcus Center has done everything to keep the wedding planning process stress-free. She has been so flexible throughout the last two years, including when we decided to move our wedding from August 2020 to July 2021. Even now when our plans are still a little up in the air with summer quickly approaching, she is so willing to roll with it and let us decide exactly how to proceed. Karin with the Marcus Center has been a dream to work with. I have no doubt that it will be worth the wait when we can finally have our big day there. -
![Kristen]()
Kristen Sent on 09/14/2020So flexible, so kind!
Like many couples this year, my fiance and I made the decision to push back our wedding due to COVID-19. But unlike several horror stories I've heard this summer, it was a breeze to do so -- and that's because of Karin and everyone at the Marcus Center/Sazama's! When I reached out to Karin in June about our December 2020 wedding, I thought she'd think I was crazy for wanting to reschedule six months out or tell us we needed to wait and see how things progressed. Instead, Karin called back right away to let us know every option was on the table and the ball was in our court. The flexibility was great, but it was Karin's kind, thoughtful and sincere demeanor throughout the entire process that really blew me away. We are SO looking forward to our December 2021 wedding at the Marcus Center! -
![Rachel]()
Rachel Sent on 04/26/2020Cool and calm during the storm!
I am a corona-bride and I had to change my wedding date from June 2020 to June 2021. It was a stressful time while I was deciding how to go about my dream wedding and the possibility of moving it. Before I even knew which way was up, Lynn with the Marcus Center reached out to me to make sure my family and I are okay and if there was anything she should do to help. I worked with Lynn to find another date in 2021 once I realized that was what I wanted to do. I cannot say enough about how lucky I am to have picked Marcus Center as my venue. So supportive, so helpful, and so accommodating. Thank you thank you.Marcus Performing Arts Center's reply:
We're so sorry that COVID-19 led to stress for one of the most important days of your lives. We are looking forward to help make your wedding even more fabulous on your rescheduled date! -
Maria Sent on 01/02/2020
Flexible, caring, and worry free staff in a gorgeous space!
We were first drawn to the Marcus Performing Arts Center from the beauty of the ballroom, but quickly signed on the dotted line after just one meeting with Karin, who quickly instilled confidence that her and the team at Sazama’s Fine Catering could over-deliver on all our requests. Karin and the team were professional and flexible throughout the whole planning process, customizing nearly everything to our needs while being a creative resource to bounce ideas off of and proactive to ask all the right questions. All coordination was quick, timely, easy, and extremely pleasant.
Day of, Karin and the team were very attentive to all our needs, effortlessly liaising between vendors and watching out for our needs first as bride and groom. Above and beyond is an understatement when it came to the day-of detail of the space. I never had to worry about how the venue would be set up as I could trust her taste and professionalism to ensure it looked beautiful. All the events they do make them so solid in what they do, yet they still make you feel like you are the only client they have.
The flexibility, dependability, and care of the most important wedding vendor (venue and F&B) is what truly made the Marcus Performing Arts Center and Sazama’s Fine Catering such an asset to our special day. You will be so impressed as you move forward with them on yours as well!
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![Courtney]()
Courtney Sent on 10/23/2019Great space and amazing food
You can't beat the stunning views from the balcony, the cute little garden for cocktail hour and the stunning ballroom. The space really has a lot to offer. Lynn was really great in helping us with all of the details and questions we had. Lynn and her crew truly outdid themselves for our Wedding. We wanted to do stations and Lynn suggested doing them based off of our favorite restaurants. It was a huge hit and everyone couldn't stop talking about how amazing the food was. -
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![Brieanne]()
Brieanne Sent on 10/23/2019Absolutely Stunning
Our wedding day was absolutely beautiful. We had our ceremony in the Fitch Garden, which turned out absolutely beautiful, with the ivy backdrop. The flow from the ceremony to the cocktail hour in the promenade, and then to the reception in the ballroom was perfect. Our guests all complimented the food, and the service. We worked directly with Lynn and she was so helpful, and responsive to emails and calls. Lynn was able to help us customize our food and beverage package to fit within our budget. I highly recommend the venue, and Sazama’s for catering, we had the best experience. -
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![Shannon]()
Shannon Sent on 10/23/2019So Amazing !
The service and venue were absolutely amazing at the PAC. We were able to simply drop off decor and Lynn set it all up beautifully for us. The room is very traditional, open, and doesn’t need much added decor. Food was great as well. No complaints here. Thank you all so much for an amazing evening. -
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![Lauren]()
Lauren Sent on 01/14/2019Beautiful and Professional
The venue was gorgeous, especially at night. The atmosphere was so sophisticated and everything was clean and beautiful. The ceiling I was worried would take away from the evening but it added even more than I could've imagined. The service was phenomenal and Lynn was AMAZING to work with. She was always so responsive and accommodating to my constant emails. I would 10/10 recommend this venue.
Only issue we had was they ran out of steaks for our guests and the late night snack was pulled from the floor early. -
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![Kelly]()
Kelly Sent on 10/14/2018Booking The Marcus Center and Sazama's for our wedding was the best decision we have ever made; we will never forget our experience with them. It was truly unbelievable. We had SO many guests tell us they were left speechless and they had never seen anything like it. From day one, Lynn had gone above and beyond to ensure everything would go smoothly and would be exactly the way we wanted. The venue is stunning-from the Bradley Pavilion to having two other unique spaces for use; the Fitch Gardens and the private balcony overlooking the river. The service was like none other I have ever experienced at a wedding before (and I've been to A LOT of weddings) I couldn't believe how quickly they were able to serve a 5 course meal. The chef even allowed me to design the menu, and her interpretations on the dishes were beyond delicious. Our guests were absolutely blown away with the food. I cannot emphasize it enough that booking this venue will be the best decision you would ever make. I have some pretty high standards and the PAC and Sazama's team beyond exceeded them. Thank you again for allowing us to have our dream wedding! It would've never have been nearly the same elsewhere! -
Rachel Sent on 09/28/2018I cannot recommend a place more highly than the Sazama's team at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. Everything about the process was stress-free and professional. It was clear that they had years of experience and dedicated staff. We did not have a wedding planner and we had a 230+ person wedding. Lynn with Sazama's made sure every detail was thought of and attended to. She was kind and flexible and had a calming way about her. Planning a wedding can be stressful, so to work with people who are calm and know what they are doing is a huge help. She did so many extra steps for us, like coordinating place covers and setting up our decorations. Their pricing was fair and transparent, and they were easy to work with when customizing packages.
Beyond the process, the day itself was perfect! I had guests say their steak was one of the best they've had- not just at a wedding but overall! The passed food during cocktail hour was delicious and the staff was great. Not one detail was missed. Somehow Lynn or the manager was always near by when I had a question and they were awesome at keeping things on time. They even brought cocktails to us from the bar so we wouldn't have to get up during dinner. The venue was so elegant yet the two outdoor spaces allowed us to have corn hole and giant jenga during the cocktail hour and cigars during the band break. We had a fantastic plated dinner and Saz's casual late night food later. They really had it all! The views of the sunset on river are so stunning and the long room meant tables were only two rows deep in front of our head table, so even though it was a large wedding, it felt personal.
You could really tell they took pride in their work and truly wanted your day to be perfect - and ours was. I would give them 100 stars and recommend them again and again. -
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Jonathan Sent on 01/14/2018Our September wedding at the Marcus Center could not have been more perfect. Through every step of the planning process, from the first time we met with Keith more than a year before our date, all the way through the end of our wedding night, we were so thrilled with the Sazama's team. Keith and his team take care to make sure your every need (and want!) is met throughout the planning process and on the day-of. As for the venue itself - you can't ask for much more! The location in the heart of downtown is absolutely perfect, and proximity to hotels (the InterContinental is across the street) is perfect for out of town guests and the wedding party. The ballroom is dramatic and gorgeous, with unique lighting and beautiful downtown and river views. The outdoor balcony overlooking the river is a nice touch for getting some fresh air during the night, and being in the heart of downtown allows for some awesome city photos. The ballroom is large enough to hold close to 500 guests, but our 225 guest wedding did not feel like it was swallowed up by the space. We had our ceremony in the atrium overlooking Water Street, which is managed by the Marcus Center (different than Sazama's, but made to be a seamless experience). Having everything contained to one building (including cocktail hour in the Fitch Garden - a beautiful outdoor courtyard on the property) was key for us and made logistics a breeze. If you work with local vendors, most of them will have worked with Sazama's and the team at the Marcus Center. We hardly had to worry about any day-of coordination, as Keith and his team had things down to a science with getting equipment, cake, etc. into the venue and getting the room set up. We even had the benefit of coming in the night before to begin setting some details up - avoiding that last-minute/day-of rush was so nice. I'm out of space for this review - but the food was also amazing. We would recommend the Marcus Center/Sazama's to anybody planning a downtown wedding!
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Julie Sent on 12/06/2017Such a great venue!! Right off the bat Lynn was so accommodating when it came to answering questions and making appointments. The year of planning with Lynn was wonderful. The day of was absolutely perfect. All of our guests complimented the food ALOT. We did a late night snack as well that was a huge hit. Keith & Lynn made sure our families & us were catered to the entire night, & Kinta, the bar manager, made sure we had a drink in our hand all night! Service and quality were amazing, plus the space is just perfect for a wedding!! Our day was amazing!!!
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![User1359862]()
User1359862 Sent on 10/02/2013The Marcus Center for the Performing Arts was amazing. Our event manager, Lynn, was very responsive, flexible and a joy to work with. We have received SO many compliments from our guests that the food was outstanding and that it was 'the best wedding food' they have ever had. The venue is gorgeous and the lighting is perfect. I would highly, highly recommend using the PAC - our expectations were exceeded!! -
![katieam3]()
Katie Sent on 09/23/2009The Marcus Center and Ovation Catering surpassed my expectations for a beautiful, memorable wedding reception. They were always available to answer questions and give suggestions, they had food tastings and wine tastings...I knew exactly what I was going to get! Our guests could not have been more impressed and it is a wedding they will be talking about for a long time to come. -
![Annah]()
Annah Sent on 11/15/2024Perfect spot for our big day!
Our wedding reception at the Marcus Performing Arts Center was fantastic, and so much of what made the day so special was because of the incredible work done by the staff at the venue. From literally the first day that we started working with Marie on planning the day, we knew we were in good hands - any question, comment, concern, or wonder we had, she was able to get us all the information we needed as quickly as humanly possible. And on the actual day of our wedding, everything went exactly as planned. Isn't that just what you want on your wedding day? It's what we wanted! Thanks to Marie and the rest of the staff at the Marcus Performing Arts Center, our wedding was such a delightful, memorable day.
Oh and the food? INCREDIBLE. MOUTH WATERING. I still dream about the chicken verona to this day. -
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Latisha Sent on 07/01/2019
Just Beautiful
Our wedding day was perfect! The venue was beautiful and the flow from the ceremony in the Fitch Gardner to the reception in the Bradley Pavilion went smoothly. I was an hour late due to some unforeseen circumstances and when I arrived, Lynn and Karin put me immediately at ease! All the staff were friendly and professional. I have complained about everything this past week from my hair, to nails to my dress, BUT I have no complaints about the venue or the service. It again was amazing and I truly appreciate how it all came together. And the food was delicious. Thank you to all of the staff!!!! -
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Megan Sent on 03/05/2020
Favorite Day
My husband and I got had our reception at the Marcus last August and I've been meaning to write this up ever since, but could not find the right words to express how perfect the day was. The venue fit our big family with room to spare, the patio was perfect for cocktail hour and no one went hungry or thirsty for a second! During the planning process, I kept thinking "isn't this supposed to be harder?" but all the options were laid out so seamlessly, that it was uncomplicated and fun all the way through from the food trials to the day itself. It was a magical day that I wish we could repeat every year! -
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Milena Sent on 11/22/2024
October Wedding
This venue is a hidden Milwaukee gem in my opinion! Most of my guests, including my husband and I, did not know this venue option even existed after visiting for many shows throughout the years. This venue was spacious, included several amenities that are typically upcharges elsewhere like chivari chairs, an outdoor garden cocktail hour, additional linens and napkin options. Sazma’s fine catering did a great job with our family style dinner option & bar, and was decently priced per person. The venue space itself is situated on the Milwaukee river and has large floor to ceiling windows that face the water and downtown skyline making for a beautiful dinner backdrop. There is also balcony access that overlooks the water and was an awesome addition to the space. Lastly, the dance floor is built in hardwood floor which just brought the space all together! Overall I was very pleased with the space! The only note I would add is that communication with the venue coordinator was slow at times via email. When needed, I could call the office and speak to someone, but felt like email communication needed several follow ups up until a couple weeks before the wedding. Overall I would highly recommend the MPAC! Take a tour for yourself, as the space is more beautiful than photos! And a tour really helped us get questions answered and make the right choice for us, -
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