Weddings & Events

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Open hill. Open floor plan. Open list of vendors.

Crystal Ridge sits atop the tallest hill in Milwaukee, fifteen minutes from downtown — a lodge and patio built to become whatever your day needs it to be, with no one telling you who can help you build it.

Contact us here to learn more

5,000 square feet

Crystal Ridge is able to host up to 200 guests for ceremony and reception

noon-midnight

12 hour exclusive access to the Crystal Ridge property

Choose your vendors

Zero preferred vendors – bring your own team to execute your vision

At a glance

From May through October, our lodge and patio become a venue for weddings, graduation parties, and everything between. Once the snow falls, we're a fully operational ski and tubing hill — which means the ground you're standing on for your vows is the same ground our guests will be skiing by December.

We sit inside Ballpark Commons, near Luxe Golf, Franklin Field, and a Mainstay Suites, just fifteen minutes from downtown Milwaukee. A gravel path leads from the lodge to the summit for skyline views, and the Oak Leaf Trail at the base of the hill — accessible through Whitnall Park, near the Botanical Gardens — offers a footbridge and forested alcoves for quieter portraits.

Black-and-white wedding photo of groom dipping bride outdoors.

www.ampersandphotography.com

Bride and groom outdoors, smiling as they share a moment.

May - October

Private event bookings are only available outside of ski season

tallest hill

Take in the view from the tallest point in Milwaukee just out the back doors of the lodge

Stay Close

Minutes from the nearest lodging: Hampton Inn & Main stay Suites

Bride and groom embrace at sunset beside flowing white fabric.

www.elizabethjeanphotographyllc.com

Explore Crystal Ridge

Three spaces, one rental

Bride and groom embrace in a sunlit field at sunset.

www.ampersandphotography.com

The Hill

A gravel path from the lodge climbs toward the summit for panoramic views. Below, the Oak Leaf Trail has forested alcoves and a picturesque footbridge for intimate,

Rustic open-air wedding reception with white tables and chairs under wooden beams

The Lodge

Cathedral ceilings, exposed wood beams, and a natural stone bar. Picture windows along the north wall frame the hill and flood the room with daylight. The open floor plan is yours to lay out.

Outdoor evening wedding under a warmly lit pavilion with string lights.

The Patio

A paved patio with four gas fire pits and string lights, transitioning from ceremony space to a quiet spot for marshmallows. Yard games available on request.

Rustic buffet table with pastries, bread, vegetables, and a small red flower.

Bring anyone. We mean anyone.

catering

Any licensed and insured caterer of your choosing – No preferred lists, no required menu, no extra fees.

florals, rentals, & decor

Work with the people who already know your vision.

Everyone Else

Photographers, DJs, planners, officiants – no insurance required, hand pick your own team of vendors for your day.

Your investment, our promise

Pricing, plainly

Every rate below is a 12-hour rental. Ask about reduced hours if your day runs shorter

Rental Day	2027-2028
Friday	$4,200
Saturday	$5,200
Sunday-Thursday	$3,500
Ceremony package	$1,800

Bride and groom sitting on a yellow bench in a grassy park.

What We bring to the table

What you're quoted is what you pay. The rental rate is the whole invoice, plus applicable tax — full stop. Tables, chairs, the patio, the fire pits, the string lights, the staff: all of it is already folded into that number.

The ceremony package and bar service are the only items priced separately

Exclusive venue access from noon-midnight the day of your event
5,000 sq ft, able to accommodate up to 200 guests for ceremony and reception
Private parking lot with overnight parking available
8' natural wood harvest tables, high-top tables, cocktail tables, and guest chairs for ceremony and reception
Paved patio with four gas fire pits and string lights
Fully ADA compliant lodge – no stairs, easily accessed by all
Fully climate controlled buildings
Event and bar staff to serve guests and maintain the lodge during your event
On-site venue manager coordinating with all your vendors
No preferred vendor list of any kind – including catering
Lodging less than two minutes from the venue

Ceremony Package

Say "I do" at Crystal Ridge with the best view in Milwaukee County as your backdrop.

8-foot cedar hexagonal arch, included
Both private suites for the full length of your rental
Full ceremony setup completed before you arrive
Complete room flip to reception while you're off taking photos
Room for all 200 guests on the patio — no guest list cuts for the ceremony

Rustic wooden wedding arch with palm fronds overlooking a vineyard.

8' cedar hexagonal arch

Bright open-plan kitchen and dining area with wood floors and white cabinetry.

West Suite

Rustic salon reception area with black chairs, wood beams, and a welcome sign.

East Suite

Bride and groom smiling, holding espresso martinis at an outdoor wedding

www.ampersandphotography.com

The Lodge Bar

Endless options.

Every bar at Crystal Ridge is built around you, your guests, and your budget. Choose anything from a simple soda or mocktail bar to a full menu with beer, wine, and custom cocktails. Make it yours any way you can imagine. Swap in your favorite beers from your home town brewery. Make a his-and-hers cocktail that tells your guests about you. Let us track down that particular bottle of wine you shared on your first date.

Every package is custom built for you and includes dedicated and experienced bar staff to make sure your guests have the best experience possible.

A little more if you want...

Vintage camper bar with open serving window on a grassy lawn.

The Outpost Bar

A second spot for guests to order from during cocktail hour or the whole night — custom options from signature drinks to craft beer.

People gathered around a bright campfire at dusk.

S'mores

End the night roasting marshmallows around the fire pits on the patio. Doesn't need to cover your full guest count.

Bride and groom celebrate under string lights as guests wave sparklers.

Sparkler Send Off

End the night with a sparkler send off! Your guests line up, the sparklers light, and you walk out through the glow. It makes for a memorable finish and great photos.