Marie Pauls
Kelsey Barth and Sam Christian: Overture events team delivers a distinct wedding experience
September 6, 2022
It’s unique in its space in terms of options. Overture nails something that I don’t think a lot of other places manage to do.
If you could pick just one day of your life to go off magically without a hitch, wouldn’t it be the day you get hitched? A wedding is a joyful celebration of love, surrounded by family and friends, but along with that comes planning and preparation. The component of “behind-the-scenes” work, which Overture Center has so appropriately honed, tips the scale between the event that is stressful and nerve-wracking, and the one that bubbles with positive energy, squeezing out maximum enjoyment for all.
Overture Center strives to bring extraordinary experiences to each person entering its doors, and our Event Services Team extends equal passion and dedication to its wedding clients and guests.
Newlyweds Kelsey Barth and Sam Christian knew from day one that Overture was the venue best-suited to deliver the distinct vision they had for their wedding day.
Says Kelsey, “Growing up in the (Madison) area, it was a whole event to go to Overture, and we wanted to bring that excitement to our own wedding… a black-tie affair, getting dressed up to go to something special.”
Currently living on the West Coast, both are proud alumni of UW-Madison with family ties in Wisconsin. Overture’s vibrant downtown location was ideal for hosting guests from near and far. Walkable from numerous hotels, restaurants and our beautiful State Capitol, out-of-state friends were able to enjoy the highlights of the city without renting a car.
Of course, the beauty of Overture’s numerous event spaces speaks for itself. Kelsey and Sam were smitten with the dazzling natural light and “clean slate” look of the striking main lobby, and for a couple with a flair for the non-traditional, the venue’s versatility was a huge draw.
“Madison has no shortage of beautiful venues,” Sam shared. “It’s unique in its space in terms of options. Overture nails something that I don’t think a lot of other places manage to do.”
Having originally booked their wedding for August 2021, COVID prompted a reschedule to June 2022, which Overture staff accommodated with ease. The extra time allowed them to prepare an unforgettable event that guests described as “the most beautiful wedding they’d ever seen.”
Kelsey says, “The versatile space was like a canvas, big and empty, and you can fill it with whatever you want.”
And that’s exactly what they did.
Photos
When the couple opted for a “jazz brunch” wedding on a Sunday morning, their family and friends were a bit skeptical. But, rooted in its identity as an artistic center, Overture staff were keen to think outside the box, providing malleability and technical expertise to bring the couple’s creative ideas to life.
Overture’s Event Services team, led by Bailee McNair, and wedding planner Sarah Davidson of HUE, collaborated like a well-oiled machine, seamlessly coordinating 10 plus vendors and the many moving parts.
Overture’s third floor balcony, the site for the ceremony itself, resonated with an elegant duo of cello and piano. Guests were then wooed with cocktails to follow in Promenade Lobby, which boasts a stunning view of the Capitol Rotunda. In full swing with a nine-piece jazz band, the sleek lounge-style reception took place in the sunlit main lobby. A French pâtisserie and Bloody Mary bar were just a few ingredients in their one-of-a-kind concoction.
Staff, along with Sarah, expertly arranged custom-look furniture for a luxurious yet relaxed vibe, enabling guests to mingle and graze freely without constraint to assigned tables. Taking the road less traveled, Kelsey and Sam chose brunch-style appetizers such as mini pancakes and waffles. Haley Gloede, from Overture’s resident Catering a Fresco, was instrumental in guiding them through the flexible menu options, which included vegan and gluten-free dishes.
It helps to have friends in high places too—or at least friends who can get to high places. Overture’s Director of Production John Penisten, a relative to Kelsey, engineered hanging a chandelier from 30 feet off the ground, adding further grandeur to the reception.
While Overture’s bright and airy spaces hosted most of the celebrations, a “first look” between the couple and their immediate family was staged in the lush, intimate lobby of the historic Capitol Theater, which dates back to 1928.
Sam described it as “tucked away from the crowds… the opposite of the lobby,” and said the orchestration of this moment “further speaks to how awesome Overture was as a venue.”
Kelsey and Sam’s advice to couples? “Just do what you want. At the end of the day, it’s your wedding.”
Whether you lean classic, chic or a little razzle dazzle, Overture’s tailored event services beautifully and creatively reflect each couple as they usher in a new life chapter.
Thank you to the following vendors for their exceptional contributions to Kelsey and Sam’s wedding day:
Design, Planning + Coordination: HUE by Sarah Davidson
Photography: BearMoose&Fox
Rentals: Event Essentials & Chance Productions
Floral: Atmospheric Floral
Cake: The Baked Lab
Catering: Catering a Fresco
Band: All That Jazz Big Band
Beauty: Allure Beauty
Transportation: Gallant Knight Limousine
Officiant: Arthur Hendrick