The Villa Terrace
An intimate, slow night before everything begins at Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum—a historic Italian Renaissance-style villa perched above Lake Michigan, where European architecture, manicured gardens, and quiet courtyards create a setting that feels more like the Amalfi coast than the Midwest. Austin & Ellen's welcome dinner leaned into connection over production: cocktails in the courtyard, lake views on the terrace and guests drifting between both before settling into a connected dinner with heartfelt speeches under the string lights. I love this space for couples who lean towards a documentary approach but still want elevated portraits.
