An Edgy Wedding Celebration at Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum

“Someday I’m going to marry that guy,” Amber Kowalski recalls telling her best friend when she met Nathan Showers while bartending at Milwaukee Club No.720 in 2009. That prediction came true when the couple wed at Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum. Though located on Lake Michigan, guests felt like they were transported to the Italian coast with the historical European feel of the venue. The abundant florals reflected the dark and moody theme of the day, featuring bold burgundy blooms with touches of orange and green. Amber was stunning in her long-sleeved lace dress as she came down the aisle with her uncle. “Although we had 200 people attend, when I walked down the aisle, it felt like it was just Nate and I standing there in that moment,” the bride recalled. The celebration continued at Jan Serr Studio, with centerpieces made from piping and dark linens on the guest tables complementing the industrial reception space. The head table was illuminated with 50 candles, which Amber describes as “absolutely magical.” For their wedding cake, adorned with “’Til Death Do Us Part,” the newlyweds used the same knife to cut the confection that Nate’s parents had used at their wedding 52 years ago. “I remember looking around to see all of our friends and family mingling, laughing and dancing,” Amber says, “and it was such a special feeling seeing all of our loved ones in one place to celebrate us.”