War Memorial Center Reviews

We had an amazing experience having our wedding at the WMC! From great service to amazing views, this was the perfect facility for us. In addition, we loved supporting an organization that does so much for our community and our Veterans.

We had our wedding ceremony at the War Memorial Center on October 4, 2024, and we couldn't have been happier with our experience! The venue itself is absolutely stunning, with breathtaking views of Lake Michigan and a perfect blend of elegance and history that made our day so special.

Manda and her team were simply amazing! From the moment we first inquired about the venue, they were attentive, professional, and incredibly helpful. They made the planning process seamless, offering great suggestions and ensuring every detail was executed flawlessly. On the big day, they went above and beyond to ensure everything ran smoothly, allowing us to relax and truly enjoy the moment.

If you're looking for a venue that combines beauty, exceptional service, and a unique Milwaukee charm, we highly recommend the War Memorial Center. Thank you, Manda and team, for making our wedding day unforgettable!

Seyaye and her team were so great to work with and provided top notch service throughout the entire process of our wedding planning. The venue was amazing for both the cocktail hour outdoors and the reception portion inside. We had to deal with some major obstacles the day of and Seyaye helped guide us through our problem and acted quickly to give us a great solution! We cannot thank her and her team enough and highly recommend the War Memorial Center for any wedding or event.

We are so blessed we found The War Memorial. The moment my fiancé (now husband!) and I toured War Memorial, we knew it was the perfect venue for our reception. The terrace is everything- you have so many amazing views- the lake, Art Museum, the city, the marina- and is a perfect spot for cocktail hour and/or pictures. We did our first dance with sparklers on the terrace and it was a dream come true! The Memorial Hall where dinner and dancing took place is also an amazing, wonderful space to make your wedding vision come to life! They set the lighting to whatever color you would like and it really adds to the "feel" of your special day. I highly recommend War Memorial! It is a hidden secret that I wish more couples knew about. The staff was also a pleasure to work with and another main reason we fell in love with War Memorial. Jennifer answered all our questions and felt like a friend when giving us a tour of the space. We had to postpone our wedding back in March (scheduled for an April wedding) and the War Memorial was so accommodating, flexible, helpful, and empathetic. They made it easy for us to postpone and when our day came along in October they made it SO special! They worked behind the scenes making sure our dream day was a possibility. We are so thankful for the War Memorial and the staff there that made our dream wedding a reality!

My husband and I were very impressed with our initial visit to the property and decided to sign immediately. We loved the esthetic of the reception space and the added feature of the built-in uplighting. Jennifer was the event planner we worked with and she was very helpful throughout the process. Planning a wedding during COVID was very stressful and she worked to keep us informed of any changes as they came about. I would note that this venue is one of the most affordable options in the downtown Milwaukee area based on the research I completed. We paid $3,700 plus tax for a Saturday evening rental. We did not take the option to buy parking for our guests.

My wedding was beautiful here 77 degrees all the sail boats in the background. The bridal suite was huge perfect venue for a large event.

The War Memorial was the perfect spot for our wedding. Jennifer was very responsive and flexible with changing plans last minute when it rained on our wedding day. Everything turned out amazing, and the venue was everything we could have ever wanted for our big day!

This was the perfect venue. We did the wedding and reception right there, which made it so easy to transition and people didn't have to leave. The backdrop is perfect for pictures. The scenic views create a great backdrop no matter where you're standing. There was plenty of space to bring the dinner in doors at the last minute. They were able to make the change without any issue, appreciated the flexibility. People are still talking about the perfect space!

We had our wedding reception here and it was better than we thought it would be! Our guests loved it too! The outdoor space is incredible and such a good way to kick off the night. The staff was great and the venue is so beautiful by its self there is no need to worry about a lot of decorating! The location is also great because it is so central. It is also really fun if you want to walk to the bars after the reception (Like we did!) it was also great for pictures because we didn't haven't to drive around the city, there were so many backdrops right on sight!
Photos done by Amy Bone Photography

Secretly the best wedding venue on the lakefront! We were looking for a venue that was downtown, on the lakefront, with indoor and outdoor spaces, big enough to hold all 250 of our guests, parking - and in our budget. I didn't think we could find something like that, but the War Memorial Center checked every box and more! The building's architecture is modern and unique. The venue has multiple spaces, and the entire center is reserved for your event! The outdoor plaza is huge and great for cocktail hour since it has the best views of the Milwaukee skyline hands down. The reception hall has been recently renovated and is modern with wood and gold accents, gold chandeliers, built in uplighting - just gorgeous. Tables and chairs are included and they do set up and take down for you! There is a separate, secure suite available to store your valuables and gifts during the wedding. Also, there is parking available for your guests if you need it (which is hard to come by downtown!). The events manager Jennifer was an absolute pleasure to work with. Her communication and attention to detail was such a comfort. I felt so at ease knowing she had everything under control as we were planning our wedding and on the day of. Everything was perfect, and I am so happy we chose the War Memorial!

Having our wedding at the war memorial was the best decision we made with our wedding planning. Every. Single. Guest. we talked to was amazed by the venue, and having the ability to walk outside on the terrace overlooking the lake was something everyone loved. So many guests who'd never been to Milwaukee before were amazed with how beautiful it was, I think the venue helped them see that.

This venue is incredible! It is perfect for a summer wedding given the very large outside space. You basically get two spaces for the price of one. We had a significant number of kids at our wedding and they were able to release their energy outside without being in the way. The views are beautiful and nothing beats the location. We had our wedding during the 1st weekend of Summerfest and our guests had no issues with parking.
We received so many compliments on our venue. Pictures don’t do it justice, you need to go visit in person!

Our wedding at the War Memorial was amazing! The space is wonderful for an outdoor ceremony and cocktail hour. The team also took care of our set-up and take-down, which took so much stress off of us and our families. It was an awesome day!

Absolutely no regrets going with War Memorial! We ended up having our ceremony & reception on site (which our guests really appreciated) and they made the whole process a breeze! Jennifer was our contact throughout the process and she was fantastic to work with! She was always very responsive when we had questions, always had plenty of time if we needed to meet & ensured that our day went smoothly. The reception hall was recently renovated in the summer and it looked absolutely GORGEOUS for our big day! Very spacious & the colored lighting they set up for us made the room look amazing. We got (and are still getting) so many compliments on how much they loved our venue. Being able to have our wedding all in one location was fantastic & we were extremely happy with our decision. Would definitely recommend !

The staff and the venue was top notch. would definitely do this again.

When we first began planning our wedding, we knew that we wanted to have it held at the Milwaukee County War Memorial simply because military has been a huge part of our family's life and the views were unbeatable. This was just the tip of the iceberg! From the beginning, Jennifer was prompt with any inquiring that we had and went above and beyond. Fast-forward to the day of... again, Jennifer was so helpful with accommodating all of our requests and her assistant, Joy, was literally the best to work with throughout the day. Everything went absolutely flawless, minus some annoying rain, but they worked around and through it. The evening was absolutely perfect-more than we could have ever hoped for! We got so many compliments on the professionalism of the staff and how beautiful the venue was. Thank you for making our day so wonderful!

While planning for our wedding, my husband and I must have toured 10 venues throughout Milwaukee, keeping a detailed pro/con chart for each. After just a few minutes into our meeting at the War Memorial we threw aside our charts and booked their last available 2018 date. The ceremony view was incredible, prices were competitive and Jennifer (event coordinator) was amazing! We booked the venue having only seen mock-ups of the planned Memorial Hall renovations but felt like the work that was actually done to the hall far exceeded our expectations. It's been a month since our wedding and our guests are still talking about how beautiful the ceremony AND the reception hall looked. Jennifer was patient and responsive throughout the entire process. She and Joy arrived early the day of and stuck around for as long as we needed to ensure things ran as smoothly as possible. My husband and I feel like the luckiest couple to have had such a great experience with the venue and with the event team.

War Memorial staff were very helpful and kind. They assisted in coordinating all the reception vendors and setting up meetings and keeping things together. They were very attentive through the whole process. The War Memorial spaces are beautiful and very elegantly laid out.

We toured a bunch of downtown Milwaukee wedding venues. We fell in love with the War memorial because of the view, but the price was also the most affordable of them all with no hidden costs like many other venues. Jennifer (on site wedding coordinator) was also great to work with. Always was quick to respond to emails and was able to answer any of our questions, calm any of our concerns, and was there the day of our wedding to make sure everything was going as planned. We had a mid-October wedding and planned the ceremony and cocktail hour outside. Don’t let the fear of bad weather stop you from picking the war memorial. We were scared it was going to rain and ruin the view and the reason we picked the war memorial. Sure enough, it poured that day. However, the overhang provided plenty of cover and nobody got wet. The view with the art museum in the background was still amazing and most of the guests assumed this was where the ceremonies were held regardless of the weather. We did our first look inside the war memorial on the stairs and they turned out great. The cocktail hour was moved inside the entrance/atrium area and provided plenty of space for everyone while still allowing nice city and lake views. We were worried the ballroom carpet was a little dated, but when all the tables, dance floor, decorations, and lighting was added, the ballroom looked as nice as any other venue and didn’t feel too large or too cramped. The layout provides a nice flow for Band/DJ/Guest Tables/Bar area. After the ceremony the Art museum and the city views provided great backdrops for night photos. Pick the war memorial, rain or shine you won’t regret it.

We had such a wonderful experience with the War Memorial and the pictures were absolutely stunning! Jennifer was sooooo helpful and really wonderful to work with! We only did the ceremony there with a mini cocktail hour there and we're so happy with how everything turned out! Not to mention it ended up raining during our ceremony and they waited as long as possible to move it under the overhang. We are so glad we went with the War Memorial!

The space is wonderful when you include the Fitch Plaza with the view of the Lake, Calatrava, and downtown. The Fitch Plaza also got a makeover, adding space along with some well thought out additions for plants. Our host Jen was great, on top of everything we needed, and she thought ahead about how the day would go to anticipate things we didnt. We thoroughly enjoyed having our wedding here.

My husband and I used to live in downtown Milwaukee. Every time we would walk by the area, I always told him that I would like to get married at the War Memorial. The area is absolutely stunning... beautiful views with a lot of history. Since my husband is in the military, we were able to get a discount on the venue. Also, the helpfulness of Jennifer and the staff won us over. Emails were responded promptly, and as the wedding day got closer, everything came together. Jennifer was also great at calming my anxiety as the day got closer. On the day of the wedding, everything was beautiful. The staff did all the set up (chairs, tables), cleaning, and tear down of the chairs/tables. The husband and I highly recommend the War Memorial!

I loved being able to have the ceremony and reception in one location. It we really easy to get to for out of town guests. Jennifer, the events coordinator, helped bring together m vendors and even helped with changes along the way. She even had Plans A, B, and C for any weather! Great Facility! I would highly recommend!

War Memorial was the perfect choice. The staff was amazing. So happy Jennifer took over and was our person for our big day. This lady was awesome. I didn't fully understand why she wanted so much information on my vendors and coordinator, but leading up to the big day I fully understood. She made my day as seamless and stress free as possible. Working directly with my coordinator and vendors so not to stress me and my groom. It was amazing. The staff on the days leading up to the event and the day of left us fully impressed by their professionalism and dedication to our special day. The ceremony space was absolutely beautiful on the Fitch Plaza overlooking Lake Michigan. The pictures were flawless. Cocktail hour was setup as requested and all special requests and last minute additions were fully accommodated. We're currently looking for a reason to have another event here. Just amazing.

The War Memorial was the perfect place for our wedding. We had our ceremony on the patio and our reception in the ballroom inside. The lake and art museum made the perfect backdrop for our ceremony and photos. The staff at the War Memorial did an amazing job setting up, tearing down, and making sure everything ran smoothly in between. A special thanks to Jennifer Metz, Katie, Zach, and the rest of the staff. Everything was just perfect!

When we took a tour back in 2013 I knew this was the venue! The vie is amazing the reception hall is nice as well. Brie and Jennifer we super nice to work with and our wedding ceremony and reception was perfect. The birth of our daughter cam the same week we were scheduled to get married the war memorial was very accommodating. Love this place for a wedding!

Loved the location, gorgeous, beautiful, so happy with everything! My wedding was perfect!!

This was the perfect venue for our wedding reception and cocktail hour. Amanda at the War Memorial is very responsive and will help to plan your entire night. We couldn't have asked for a more easier night than what was planned for us at the War Memorial. We felt like guests at our own wedding, because we were so relaxed and stress free. Which is very important! I would do it all over again at the War Memorial. It's also very affordable and a great scenic location in downtown Milwaukee with the lake in the background.

The War Memorial was amazing! We worked with Amanda who did everything she possibly could to be flexible, accomodating to our cultural needs, and providing a setup that couldn't have been more perfect. She was extremely responsive and gave me tons of confidence that everything would go well. Anyone would be lucky to have their wedding at the War Memorial, so many different spaces to use and only one event per day.. just perfect!

The Milwaukee County War Memorial was great. It was an affordable option for the Milwaukee area, that still had a great view and great accommodations. They have parking on site, which saves your guests from having to find parking in downtown Milwaukee. Amanda, the wedding coordinator there, was always accessible to ask a million questions, and she always seemed to have the answers. Despite there being a national triathlon on our wedding day, Amanda assured us everything would run smoothly, and she even set up all of our decorations for us, which was above and beyond what we imagined. You can't beat the view of the Art Museum and Lake Michigan!

The venue speaks for itself overlooking Lake Michigan. The ceremony started at 4:00. Cocktail hour immediately following while the wedding party took pictures. And the reception from 6:00-midnight. If you're looking for an outdoor ceremony I would highly recommend the War Memorial. It was great having everything in one place. The only risky part is depending on good weather in Wisconsin!

I've always dreamed of getting married outside and this was the perfect spot. Not only do you have the option of having the ceremony out on the plaza but if there's inclement weather there are several back up plans. There were chances of rain the day of our wedding and Amanda was great about keeping me up to date and letting us make a decision at the last possible moment. In fact my now husband changed it from Plan B to Plan A at even more last minute and they were more then accomodating! The Memorial Hall is a beautiful place for a reception. I was put off a little about the carpet choice, but you honestly don't even notice it, or see it with all the tables set up! The only issue was they were unable to figure out how to turn the lights down...which apparently has never happened before. They even called Amanda at home to try and figure it out, but no luck. Our guests didn't even notice unless we said something. It didn't bother them at all and we had a fabulous night! I thought pricing was very reasonable for a downtown venue and the prefered catering list made finding a caterer a breeze. We also loved that it was within walking distance of everything we wanted pictures with!

The most beautiful lake venue in Milwaukee! They are professional, responsive and reasonable. Amanda goes above and beyond to make sure everything is perfect.

We absolutly loved having our wedding (ceremony and reception) at the War Memorial. We had the ceremony outside on the patio next to the water. With the beautiful lake, park and art museum in the background we did not need a lot of decorations and our pictures turned out beautiful. We had the cocktail hour also outside on the patio closer to the building and there was plenty of space for all of our guests to enjoy cocktails and food. Our reception was indoors in Memorial Hall which turned out beautifully. The staff at the War Memorial was very responsive to our requests and were very easy to work with. The bridal room where all of the girls got ready was located in the building overlooking the ceremony site and the lake. It was wonderful to get ready and see all of the decorations being put together and to see all of the guests enter. I would highly recommend this vendor.

The Milwaukee County War Memorial was a beautiful location for my reception! My guests were amazed at how beautiful is was there! Jennifer was very responsive for planning my wedding and accommodated any changes we had. There were a few things that didn't go right the day of that were a little troubling though. The placement of the tables I had were not in the right order. I had reserved seating for 3 tables and they reserved 4 so one whole table was empty because my guests were confused. The table that was empty was supposed to be where my close family sat directly to my left. The coordinater said she didn't get the floor plan seating from Jennifer so she didn't know. It did work out though, so it was all good. The PowerPoint for our slideshows were not working so my groom and one of my groomsmen went to fix it before dinner, so dinner was a bit behind due to technical difficulties. Other than those 2 things, really it was a nice venue to host my wedding at! ❤ I would highly recommend the Milwaukee War Memorial!

In selecting our venue, once we had completed our basic walk thru with Jennifer at The War Memorial, we were sure that this was the location for us, despite having another six venues to see. The price point for the location and view is such a value compared to other lakefront venues. The key selling points for us were the location, the ability to rent out the parking lot for our guests (remarkably affordable given the location), the fact that we could use the entire venue (no risk of gifts or guests getting lost) and Jennifer. The War Memorial and Jennifer also need to be commended on their attention to detail and flexibility. Again, we had met with other venues and our estimates kept climbing because they charged for EVERY table, chair, moving of a reception, parking attendants, security, etc. ALL of this is not only included at The War Memorial, they do it with ease and no expectation of anything different. My groom said it best the next day, "Now I want to go to someone else's wedding here just to be able to enjoy this location more."

Absolutely recommend War Memorial center for any wedding or event!! Toured 20+ venues and very happy we chose here.

Beginning with the perfect backdrop for any wedding celebration or ceremony, the scenic views of Lake Michigan are unbeatable. The cocktail hour in the historic plaza creates an amazing ambiance to get the night going. Finally, the renovated ballrooms with upgraded lights, city views, and spacious dinning.

The staff at the war memorial were professional, responsive, and supported us throughout the wedding journey. I found this venue to be very affordable and money towards a great cause, supporting the War Memorial of Milwaukee county.

The War Memorial is an excellent venue for a wedding. Amanda was a pleasure to work with and was very responsive. Such a great value for the location!

The War Memorial is a beautiful venue for weddings. The view of the lake is great and there are several options for outdoors weddings, depending on weather. We had ours under the overhang because of rainy weather, which ended up looking beautiful in pictures. Amanda at the War Memorial was great in coordinating everything; she had been answering my emails for months before the wedding.

Jennifer, Robert, and the rest of the event team and staff was so great and fun to work with! I love how they always included the caterer, making everything SO much easier! This venue is priceless and captures the heart of Milwaukee so well, I would pick it over and over again.

Loved this venue for the outdoor space. Also liked the flexibility to choose our catering option. Beautiful venue and our guests absolutely loved it.

The management at the War Memorial Center were great to work with. She really was on top of the our contract--didn't have any problems at all. The management team was great to work, helpful and very professional plus the price was not bad at all. They also have some really good group of venues to choose from. Def recommend others to have their event there no matter what it is. Thank You WMC we had a wonderful wedding there despite of the weather being a little cloudy and windy.

Alia & Christopher Thomas 4/4/10

Overall good. The venue itself I found to be affordable, however I found that a large part of the cost comes from parking costs, if you want to have the parking included for your guests.

They are very unorganized. When going through the tour you are told that you will get x y z but they never put it in writing. Your contract doesn't specify what is included.