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Weddings

About

Coast at Zilli Lake & Gardens is ​a stunning lakeside event space ​located in​ downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Coast provides couples a unique space, bright & open rooms, and spectacular views of the Milwaukee lakefront. The design, décor and architecture of the space embody a water theme that reflects Coast's proximity to Lake Michigan. Offering views of the lakefront, the Milwaukee Art Museum, and downtown's famous orange sunburst sculpture, "The Calling", Coast provides upscale ambiance, spectacular views, and a simple, refined theme that compliments all wedding styles.

Facilities and capacity

Coast at Zilli Lake & Gardens can accommodate up to 250 guests yet can be combined with ZLG's adjoining Miller Room and North & South Gardens to host 1,000+ guests. Coast has a unique split-level ballroom area with a hardwood dance floor, curved Wave Bar, and tiered two-level seating with large floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Lake Michigan for an intimate yet airy feel. Coast also offers a private Great Lakes room, located behind the Wave Bar, which can be used as a wedding party suite. Coast has an outdoor patio with string lights, outdoor couches, cozy firepits, and yard games to keep your guests entertained.

Services offered:

Coast at Zilli Lake and Gardens is the exclusive venue of Zilli Hospitality Group. Zilli Hospitality Group has over 50 years of experience in the event industry and prides itself on its “Zilli touch” — exceptional customer service, obsessive attention to detail, and massive expertise that comes from working with thousands of clients on a personal level. You will be paired with your personal Event Designer who will work with you throughout the planning process to create the most memorable and seamless experience for you and your guests. Zilli Hospitality Group offers full bar services and Event Design & Decor rental options to create the atmosphere you've always envisioned. Wedding packages also include:

  • Professional wedding coordinator services
  • Event set-up and teardown
  • Wave Bar
  • Stone fireplace
  • Tables and chairs
  • Outdoor Patio with string lights, outdoor couches, firepits, and yard games
  • Hardwood dance floor
  • Multilevel lighting
  • Flat screens & Audiovisual equipment
  • Onsite WiFi
  • Wheel-chair accessible
  • Coat room
  • Optional use of private Great Lakes Room
  • Recommendations for local vendors including photographers, bakeries, and florists

Cuisine:

Coast at Zilli Lake & Gardens is exclusively catered by Zilli Hospitality Group. Our culinary team can create delicious menus in a variety of styles, including Kosher & Indian menus, and are excited to work with you to create a uniquely delicious, personalized menu to your tastes. Coast's in-house kitchen allows for your wedding's custom menu to be cooked and served fresh onsite! Our team can also work with you on a signature cocktail or drink for your big day!

Location:

Coast's downtown Milwaukee location is centrally located and convenient for guests as it is a 15-minute drive to General Mitchell International Airport, perfectly suited to out-of-town and international guests.

It is within a 6-minute drive to Milwaukee Intermodal Train Station, which offers daily trains that get you to or from downtown Chicago in 90 minutes, a great option for Chicago-area guests.

For wedding guests looking to explore Milwaukee, Coast is right across the street from beautiful Lake Michigan and the famous Milwaukee Art Museum. It is also a 4-minute drive to the Milwaukee Public Market and the walkable Third Ward area, perfect for guests looking to pick up souvenirs of tasty Milwaukee favorites like local Wisconsin cheese, beer, and Bloody Mary mix.

  • LGBTQ+-owned
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Frequently asked questions

Do you have a site fee for wedding receptions at your venue?

No

Do you have a site fee for wedding ceremonies at your venue?

Yes

Which of the following are included in starting site fee?

Chairs
China
Clean Up
Event Planning
Flatware
Glassware
Linens
Set Up
Tables

Which of the following are included in the cost of wedding catering?

Server(s)

Describe your venue:

Banquet Hall
Garden
Park
Restaurant
Waterfront

What kind of settings are available?

Indoor
Uncovered Outdoor

Which of the following wedding events does your venue service?

Ceremony
Reception
Bridal Shower
Engagement Party
Rehearsal Dinner

What event services do you offer?

Catering Services
Clean Up
Event Planner
Liability Insurance
Outside Vendors
Pet Friendly

What catering services do you offer?

Buffet
Cocktail Reception
Hors d'oeuvres
Outside Cake
Plated
Server(s)
Stations
Tastings

What bar services do you provide?

Bartender(s)
Champagne Toast
House Beer
House Wine
Liquor License
Open Bar
Premium Liquor
Signature Drink
Specialty Beer
Specialty Wine

What event items are available?

Chairs
Dance Floor
Decor
Furniture
Lighting
Tables

What food and beverage items are available?

Barware
China
Flatware
Glassware
Linens

Reviews of Coast at Zilli Lake & Gardens

We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.
5.0 out of 5 rating
5.0 out of 5 rating
2 Reviews
100% recommend it
  • Quality of service
    5 out of 5 rating
  • Average response time
    5 out of 5 rating
  • Professionalism
    5 out of 5 rating
  • Value
    5 out of 5 rating
  • Flexibility
    5 out of 5 rating
K
Kristen Sent on 08/30/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Classic and Intimate Wedding Venue

What an incredible experience we had at Coast for our wedding! My husband is from Milwaukee originally, so we knew we wanted to get married somewhere special in the downtown area. We toured many venues and without a doubt this was the place that stole our hearts! Right away when we met with Yvette she made us feel at ease and answered all of our many questions. The venue is intimate and feels like a cozy 5-star restaurant, which is exactly what we were looking for. Throughout the planning process both Yvette and Dana guided us through every step, responded to every request, and even made accommodations where necessary to make sure our day was perfect. They did not miss one detail that we discussed during our various meetings, emails, and phone calls.
On the wedding day my bride squad and I arrived on site and our day-of coordinator, Sam, made sure we had everything we needed. She was on top of every set-up detail and we didn't have to worry about a thing.
The outdoor ceremony site was perfect with a beautiful view of Lake Michigan and the sailboats. The Calatrava (Milwaukee Art Museum) is nearby and a perfect photo opportunity.
There is a large bridal suite right off the main entrance perfect for getting ready in. The reception space has a large bar and multi-tiered areas including a lounge area for guests to hang out in. The dance floor seems small at first glance but was the perfect size for our group and was full all night!

The staff at Coast was professional and attentive, and every time I came across one of them they met me with a smile and congratulated me! Later in the evening we could not find one of our important items, and our event director Sam went into high gear to make sure it was located safely! We very much appreciate all they did for us!
If you are searching for a venue in Milwaukee to show your guests a good time with top-notch service and a feeling of elegance, this is the place! Thank you Coast and staff for making our wedding day perfect!
Jennifer
Jennifer Z. Sent on 07/02/2021
5 out of 5 rating

COVID 19 wedding planning, all ended well!

Warning: long COVID19 planning journey. We got engaged Valentine's Day 2020 and booked through Zilli right before COVID lockdown. Our initial experience with booking was very smooth and great. We planned everything with our original venue and everything went well until about 2 months before the wedding. Aside from being a bit slow to respond to some questions, they were otherwise very helpful and with the pandemic we were understanding! The second to last planner we had was not the most responsive, and when our venue made decisions for COVID precautions that were incredibly restrictive we didn't feel that our questions were answered very well. Long story short, the venue was no longer an option for our reception, and it was changed to Coast. Again the coordinator was not the most helpful but we didn't think much of it, until she emailed us that she was leaving and oh BY THE WAY our ceremony was cancelled. THANKFULLY Roxann became our planner and saved the day. We had a meeting with her that week to talk about our options and changed the ceremony to Coast as well. She has a lot of experience with the venue and answered all of our questions and we felt so comfortable having her help us. We hadn't wanted an outdoor ceremony and it rained on our wedding day, but thankfully everything worked out great. The coordination of decorations, details, timing etc all worked out great. The food was incredible, you can't go wrong, and I didn't have to deal with anything the day of our wedding! Coast is beautiful and a great reception venue and the outdoor upper garden for the ceremony was amazing too.

Not our original plan but after it all, it was a perfect day. We are so grateful for Roxann and everyone and Zilli and Coast who made our day everything we dreamed of and more!

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