When Elizabeth Michels was introduced to Peter Schuelke by his sister, Allie, after meeting at a Milwaukee Athletic Club event, neither could have anticipated where the connection would lead. After weeks of texting – and two rescheduled first dates due to travel – the pair finally met for drinks. “We talked so long, we missed our dinner plans,” the bride recalls of the special evening that marked the beginning of their relationship.

At the end of a holiday trip to Florida, Peter proposed to his beloved in a moment designed to completely surprise his future bride. “As we were getting the last of our bags set, I turned around and saw Peter on one knee, asking me to marry him,” Elizabeth remembers. “He wanted to catch me off guard, since I do most of the planning and always know what’s going on in our schedule.” His plan worked, and she of course said yes.

Elizabeth and Peter spent just over a year planning their wedding with the help of their wedding planner, Emily Riordan. “She got to know us as a couple, and then took off on planning the most amazing wedding,” shares the bride. “We didn’t have to worry about anything.” Throughout the process, the pair prioritized guest experience above all else. “We have a large family and friend group, and this was the one time where everyone would be together, so we wanted it to be very thoughtful in how our guests would feel and be able to enjoy themselves.”

Choosing to celebrate close to home in Milwaukee, the couple envisioned a reception inspired by the glamour of the 1960s. “The first time I met Emily, I told her to think ‘Mad Men inspired’ for the reception,” says Elizabeth. Warm tones, rich textures, dramatic draping, and more than 20 chandeliers transformed the venue into an inviting, vintage-inspired setting. “My only ask was to avoid a ‘white, airy wedding,’” the bride explains. “We accomplished that with a lot of warm draping on the walls and rich textures.”

“My only ask was to avoid a ‘white, airy wedding’... We accomplished that with a lot of warm draping on the walls and rich textures.”

Following a full Catholic ceremony that included family participation in the Mass and a prayer led by the bride’s grandfather before dinner, 200 guests gathered for an elegant sit-down dinner reception. Tables were adorned with neutral florals and dramatic floral chandelier installations suspended overhead, while velvet couches accented with monogrammed pillows surrounded the dance floor to encourage guests to linger and celebrate together all night long.

The culinary experience highlighted passed hors d’oeuvres including shrimp cocktail, arancini, steak tartare, and pork belly, followed by a choice of filet, halibut, or three-cheese ravioli. A five-tier wedding cake decorated with ornate traditional piping served as the focal point of the reception space, while later in the evening, guests enjoyed an ice cream cocktail bar serving Brandy Alexanders and Grasshoppers – a playful nod to the couple’s love of classic supper-club culture.

Personalized details were also carried throughout the evening, including custom decks of cards illustrated with meaningful icons from the couple’s life together, which also doubled as escort cards displayed along bookshelves for a unique touch.

For Elizabeth, one moment stood out above all others: watching her 84-year-old grandmother take over the dance floor during “Takin’ Care of Business.” “Our guests weren’t sure how to react when grandma started rolling around on the floor in her dress!” she smiles of the special moment that affirmed the full, exquisite experience felt by guests of all ages.

Looking back on the celebration, the bride’s advice is simple: “Enjoy every second of the day, because it goes quickly and you’ll never have that experience again.” Intentional about soaking in each moment herself, Elizabeth reflects on a wedding day that felt personal, joy-filled, and entirely reflective of the life she and Peter are building together.