ABOUT US
Mandy and Ben met at the University of Wisconsin in 2005. Ben was in the marching band with Mandy’s roommate Augusta and they were probably in the same vicinity at Trumpet House parties on several occasions. Mandy also recalls Ben delivering pizza to her dorm room when he worked at Ed’s Express and exclaiming “You’re Augusta’s friend!” in his face. They then promptly forgot about each other for the next few years.
As in any other great romance, they crossed paths again in Statistics class. Ben was very attentive and engaged in their discussion section, frequently offering answers to questions posed to the class, while Mandy busied herself with crossword puzzles and avoided eye contact with the TA.
By the summer before senior year, Ben and Mandy found themselves both single and ready to mingle and started dating a few months later. When Mandy expressed her wishes to pursue a graphic design career in New York, Ben started applying to graduate programs on the East Coast. After a couple years studying at Rutgers University in New Jersey, Ben finally joined Mandy in New York City. They found a cozy little apartment together in a townhouse in Brooklyn where they currently call home.
Ben proposed to Mandy on a chilly Brooklyn afternoon at peak sunset on the East River with glorious views overlooking Manhattan and received no response (because of shock!). Ben doesn’t remember anything he said, but neither does Mandy. They’re sure the words were all lovely. Once Mandy was reminded that she needed to give an answer, she responded. Yes (obviously).
WEDDING FESTIVITIES
CEREMONY
2:30 pm
Big Red Church
935 W. Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee, WI
COCKTAIL HOUR
5:30 pm - Open Bar
Wisconsin Club
900 W. Wisconsin Ave
Milwaukee, WI
RECEPTION
To Follow Cocktail Hour
Wisconsin Club
900 W. Wisconsin Ave
Milwaukee, WI
WEDDING PARTY
ALLIE BRAATZ
Woman of Honor
Sister of Bride
Allie is the Spice to Mandy’s sugar. Though they are virtually complete opposites, they have managed rub off on each other over the years. Mandy likes to think she’s shown Allie how to embrace her softer side, while Allie has shown Mandy how to not be such a pansy (Mandy freely admits that she is at times). On the day of the engagement, Allie surprised Mandy by flying out to New York (for 24 short hours) just to be there to celebrate.
JEN HOMER
Best Woman
Friend of Bride
Mandy met Jen in 1st grade after she was asked to pick a locker partner sight-unseen. Thinking “Jen Homer” sounded like a nice name, her instinct turned out to be quite right. Their now decade-spanning friendship carried them through just about everything: rec soccer, high school cheerleading, college in Madison, traipsing around Europe and beyond. Jen is currently living in Stuttgart, Germany serving as a dentist in the US Army.
NORA HENNICK
Friend of Bride
Nora + Mandy studied abroad together in Athens, Greece in the spring of 2008. They took the flight over together as nervous strangers, but by the end of the semester they were inseparable. Luckily, they weren’t going to be far from each other upon returning to Madison, because it just so happened they were also neighbors on Mifflin Street. While separated for a brief period while Nora lived in Portland, they are now happily reunited, both living in NYC.
JESS SCHAEFFER
Friend of Bride
Jess also studied abroad in Athens with Mandy. Mandy was instantly drawn to Jess’ boundless Midwestern warmth and charming pronunciation of the word goat (“GOOOAAHT”), which was comforting being so far away from home. Whenever Mandy tires of the callousness of the East Coast, Jess is always ready to spend an evening on the phone over a glass of wine, soothing Mandy with her glorious Minnesotan accent.
RHEANN JACOBS
Friend of Bride
Mandy met Rheann in middle school. They grew close when they both joined cheerleading and closer still when they were the only of their friends to stick it out in the high school band through senior year. The joke was on everyone else though—they went on not one, but two band trips to Orlando. They were also partners in crime, frequently conceiving new ways of sneaking alcohol into Summerfest as underage teens (Sorry Mom!).
MATT STELLICK
Best Man
Friend of Groom
Matt and Ben grew up together playing music venues across Taylor County, considered by many to be the birthplace of modern music. Though they live across the country from each other now, their Gchat game is strong. Matt promises that his best man speech won't devolve into a Comedy Central roast.
SAM WERNBERG
Brother of Groom
Sam is Ben's oldest younger brother and the world's leading consumer of gas station hotdogs. He got married in 2012 and has given Ben valuable marital advice like "clean the stove every night". Half the groomsmen will become uncles this summer thanks to Sam.
LUKE WERNBERG
Brother of Groom
Luke is the Wernberg family's premier NASCAR expert and his dream of a jeanshorts bridal party was narrowly avoided. He's currently following in Sam's footsteps to become a physical therapist and can be found in Minneapolis bars hustling kids in Big Buck Hunter.
ZACH WERNBERG
Brother of Groom
Zach was voted "Most Likely To Be The Youngest Wernberg Brother" 23 years in a row. He's always down for talking about the latest Python web development framework with Ben. Any technical difficulties with the reception slideshow will be directed to Zach.
ADAM BRAATZ
Brother of Bride
Adam is Mandy’s brother and lead sniper on the Wernberg Halo squad. He's also joined the brothers in several jam sessions, eliciting comparisons to Joe Satriani and Greg Koch. Adam grew up practicing wrestling moves on Mandy and will now have to deal with her tag-team partner.
AARON NIZNIK
Friend of Groom
Aaron acts as spiritual advisor to all the groomsmen. OHHHHH YYEEEEAAAAHHH!!!
TIM SCHULTZ
Cousin of Groom
Tim is a professional usher and has never met the happy couple. This could end poorly.
ACCOMMODATIONS
DOUBLETREE MILWAUKEE DOWNTOWN
Located just two blocks from both the ceremony and reception venues. Group rates have been reserved for Friday and Saturday nights under Braatz/Wernberg.
611 W. Wisconsin Avenue
THINGS TO DO IN MILWAUKEE
Coming from out of town? Never seen what the Cream City has to offer?
Here are a few of Ben and Mandy’s favorite Milwaukee spots.
WAKE UP
COLECTIVO
Delicious breakfast (and lunch!) sandwiches, all slathered in WI cheese, and coffee in insanely instagrammable cups.
1701 North Lincoln Memorial Drive
Our favorite location: in an old river station right on the harbor.
223 East St Paul
Walkable from the Doubletree.
422 North 5th Street
For the serious coffee drinkers who prefer to have a choice between pour-over and Chemex.
SEE
700 North Art Museum Drive
Even if you don’t stay for a tour of the museum, walk into the iconic winged Quadracci Pavilion that defines the MKE skyline, designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava.
Shop, dine and stroll through the historic district along the river.
LAKEFRONT
Take a walk on the Hank Aaron Trail from the Henry Maier Summerfest grounds to Veteran’s Park.
EAT
400 North Water Street
Soups, salads, fresh fish, cheese, sausage, beer + wine tasting; you’ll find it all here. And don’t forget to pick up some fresh cheese curds!
125 East National Avenue
If you’re feeling adventurous, make your way to Walker’s Point for this tasty international-style tapas. Unassuming from the outside, cozy on the inside.
DRINK
1872 North Commerce Street
We recommend the Friday night brewery tour + Fish Fry (a Wisconsin tradition!). Advance tickets for the tour are advised.
Plenty of restaurants and bars on this charming street that might make you think you’re in Munich instead of Milwaukee.
REGISTRY
The greatest thing you could give us is your presence on our big day! If you wish to give a gift, you can find us on the registry website, Zola. We will be traveling for our honeymoon immediately following the wedding and will be unable to bring many things back to New York with us, so we ask that you kindly send gifts to our apartment. Thank you!
118 S Elliott Pl #1
RSVP
