Urban Ecology Center - Riverside Park — Attraction in Milwaukee

Thank you to the Urban Ecology Center at Riverside Park for hosting our October wedding!  When we started planning our wedding we knew we wanted our own style and values to shine through.  As biologists, getting married in nature (around the campfire circle in Riverside Park surrounded by trees, family, and friends) was perfect, but even more so we loved that by doing so we were supporting such an important mission of connecting people in cities with nature all year long.

We found the Center was especially welcoming to us as an LGBTQ+ couple and MaryBeth and the events staff made us feel prepared for the big day (we met early on in the planning stage and again about a month before, plus communications along the way). They helped us create a wedding that showed off some of our Milwaukee favorites to our guests as this is one of the few venues that allows you to find your own catering and bar services.  We had set-up and clean-up help from family and friends we asked in advance (it truly needs very little beyond some plants and lighting, moving kegs/decor back into the garage at the end of the night, etc.).  Using the park and building as backdrop for photos will save you time, money, and stress --plus they turned out beautifully!

We would highly recommend this venue to anyone who wants a unique, nature-based wedding in the heart of the city close to hotels and...

My partner and I greatly enjoyed holding our wedding at the UEC. I proposed along the nearby Milwaukee River Greenway, so it made sense to get married here. The ceremony space is a short walk away, nestled among the trees; well-sized for an intimate crowd, but we made it work for our party of 125 by adding chairs. Especially in the summer, the bridge over the Oak Leaf Trail and the rock arch make great wedding photo spots. The interior of the venue is entirely wood and exposed rafters. A mix of the natural and built environments. The space is split between two floors (with an opening on the second floor overlooking the first) and features an aquatic animals room, camouflage room, an outside-to-inside slide, and lookout tower--fun for kids and adults alike. The staff were incredibly helpful throughout the process, from the initial visit to the day of--including stepping in to help time the procession! They are willing to move furniture and decorations as desired and provide storage space (for rented chairs, decorations, etc.) before and after the event. We are very appreciative of the UEC staff for all their support on our wedding. If you desire a unique space with a focus on "green" and "sustainability," this is...

We are so grateful we hosted our wedding reception at the Urban Ecology Center! The venue was gorgeous (lots of natural light, beautiful wood details, stunning Riverside Park, etc.). We took our wedding photos throughout Riverside Park before our reception and they turned out to be beautiful.

The Urban Ecology Center staff were so helpful and kind with our friends who came early to set up decorations, twinkle lights, and centerpieces. MaryBeth also recommended an amazing caterer (shoutout to Ball’n’Biscuit) and we received so many compliments that it was the best wedding food our friends had ever had!!

Our guests from out of town also enjoyed exploring the building itself and learning about the eco groovy features (solar panels, rainwater flush toilet system, composting, and more!) and all the amazing work this organization does for the city and youth of Milwaukee!

If you’re still trying to decide where to host your wedding reception, THIS IS THE PLACE! Your guests will thank you and the planet...