Historic Courthouse 1893 is a stunning ballroom and banquet hall venue located in downtown Waukesha, WI, that specializes in hosting weddings and other milestone occasions. Operating since 1986, Chef Jack's Catering owns and manages this facility and invites you and your loved ones to experience the charm and grandeur of this historic building.
Originally constructed in 1893, Historic Courthouse has been transformed into an exquisite event venue, boasting more than 11,000 square feet of event space across two levels of Romanesque architecture. The 25-foot-high ceiling adds to the picturesque setting, and the facility can accommodate events of up to 300 guests.
The helpful staff at Historic Courthouse 1893 is ready to assist with catering, bartending, event planning, rentals, and equipment. They can also provide recommendations for preferred vendors, including licensed and insured vendors they have worked with in the past. The venue hosts a variety of ceremonies, including single-faith, multi-faith, non-religious, commitment, vow renewal, civil unions, and second weddings.
Prepare for your special day in our beautifully appointed bridal suite and groom's room. Our bridal suite offers a tranquil retreat, while the groom's room provides a fun and engaging atmosphere for pre-wedding camaraderie.
Discover a series of unique event spaces known as "vaults," adding an element of intrigue and historical charm to your event. Enhance your celebration by extending it to the adjacent Waukesha Museum, showcasing the legendary Les Paul exhibit.
Whether you envision a grand wedding, an intimate reception, or a milestone anniversary, Historic Courthouse 1893 provides the perfect setting to create unforgettable memories. Our exceptional service, outstanding dining options, and unique amenities will make your special day truly extraordinary.
For more information and immediate pricing information, visit www.courthouse1893.com/contact-us and fill out the request information form. You will receive an automated email with all our offerings and pricing guide.
Civil Union, Commitment Ceremony, Interfaith Ceremony, Non-Religious Ceremony, Religious Ceremony, Second Wedding, Vow Renewal Ceremony
Venue Service Offerings
Bar & Drinks, Cakes & Desserts, Destination Weddings, Food & Catering, Planning, Rentals & Equipment, Service Staff
Settings
Ballroom, Castle, Historic Venue, Museum
Business Attributes
Pricing for Historic Courthouse 1893
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Affordable
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Couples Usually Spend
Peak Season Months
Peak Season Cost
Peak Season Reception Cost
Peak Season Ceremony Cost
Peak Season Bar Service Cost
OffSeason Months
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Historic Courthouse 1893 Reviews
Mariah Klemann(other)5 out of 5 Rating
My husband and I just got married 11/18/2023 and it was PERFECT! The venue is absolutely gorgeous. Eo many photo opportunities we didn’t need to find another place to take pictures. Awesome bride AND grooms suite. Our wedding party really enjoyed this! Eric was our coordinator for the venue and he really brought our vision to life. He made sure our vendors knew what to do and where to go, he helped coordinate so much. He was AWESOME! Everything was organized, beautiful, like a dream. The food was amazing, drinks were great. Our wedding guests and even our other vendors stated this is the best wedding they’ve ever been to and the venue was so beautiful and unique. I’m so thankful we found this venue and were able to have a wedding of a lifetime. Reviewed on 29-11-2023
Ann Kappes(other)5 out of 5 Rating
I could not have asked or dreamed up a better wedding experience! The Historic Courthouse staff made the planning process as seamless and stress-free as I could have asked for. They were quick to respond to any questions we had leading up to the date and were very direct and honest with their responses. Day of the staff was professional and flexible which allowed me to relax the day of. Would 100% recommend! We will be keeping them in mind for future large gatherings! Reviewed on 20-11-2023
Bob Grainger(other)5 out of 5 Rating
From the first time that we met with Eric, we knew that we were at the venue that was meant to be... He was so professional and personable, he walked us through and made us beel comfortable. Eric than passed us on to Nicolette, who did not miss a beat. If you are looking for a venue that is perfect, the Historic Courthouse will live up to you expectations and then some. The entire staff went above and beyond to fulfill our dreams and the exceeded by far. Thank you so much Eric, Nicolette, and the entire staff... Reviewed on 17-11-2023
Courtney Sedgwick(other)5 out of 5 Rating
I cannot say enough great things about HC1893. We worked with Eric for the majority of the the planning and he was always timely and courteous when answering my MANY (sorry, Eric) questions! Day of we had both Eric and Nicolette as our main coordinators and they were AMAZING. I had a lot of moving parts as far as decorations, bridal party, etc. and they managed it all perfectly and honestly went above and beyond what I expected them to do. In addition to the staff being very competent, helpful and professional, the venue itself is a great space. Absolutely stunning (honestly go see it in person because it is even better than the photos) and lots of room for people to space out at the reception/ cocktail hour. Chef Jack's catering was amazing as well. We did the semi-plated and that seemed to flow really nicely and the food was excellent. Reviewed on 15-11-2023
Lauren Bacik(other)5 out of 5 Rating
I highly recommend having your reception here!! The entire staff (especially Eric and Lisa) communicate amazingly and respond very quickly. Eric communicated with us from our first tour to being our point person on our wedding day. He sat down with us 2 months before the wedding to get every detail and everyone was on the same page because of his attention to detail. The staff are beyond helpful on the day of the wedding in helping set up and cleaning up personal items. My mom did all my flowers and they helped us set them up so that my mom did not have to do anything on the wedding day! They are extremely organized and send you diagrams/ paperwork for visualizing the ballroom. The groom’s room and bridal suite are so fun and we both enjoyed getting to spend time there prior to the ceremony. They fully stock the spaces with drinks which was also a great perk! The spaces for cocktail hour and dinner are so unique and we got so many compliments on the space. Many guests told us how quick the bar service was and how they never had to wait for a drink. (A bartender even saw my dad looking at the drink menu the morning of the wedding and had a drink waiting for him at cocktail hour). The bartenders all memorized who was in the wedding party and parents of the bride/groom and always served them as fast as they could. The bartenders and wait staff were always willing to help and make sure the day was going smoothly.Chef Jack's is also so great!! We were able to have a food tasting for 6 people and it was amazing. We got so many compliments about the appetizers and dinner food and how unique it was. We had around 200 guests and they set up 2 buffet tables for 4 total lines, so it was very quick for guests to get food and there were lots of options for food. The staff put a plate of appetizers in the bridal suite for myself and the groom to enjoy a half hour before dinner since we missed half of cocktail hour and wanted to sit down with each other. Reviewed on 06-11-2023
Alyssa Lewandowski(other)5 out of 5 Rating
We had our wedding here 06/03/23 and it was beyond amazing. From the beginning the entire chef jacks team was attentive and responsive. The entire event from start to finish went so smoothly in terms of decor and attention to detail. Nicolette and Eric were so pleasant to work with and executed everything we asked for. The only thing we would suggest is that the venue opened earlier than 2pm for both bridal party and vendors! That would allow for a little more getting ready time but we definitely made the 2pm time work. The food/ beverage package was perfect and our guests commented several times how delicious everything was. Overall, cannot recommend the courthouse enough!! Reviewed on 17-06-2023
Jack DeDecker(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 26-02-2023 This place is so elegant, and the staff are so caring and wonderful to work with. They were willing to negotiate with us and accommodate various needs of ours and we appreciated that so much. We felt entirely at ease on our big day and everything went so smoothly. So thankful we chose them!! Reviewed on 22-03-2023
Lindsey Werman(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 04-02-2023 I absolutely cannot express how AMAZING Historic Courthouse 1893 was for our wedding! Eric, Lisa and team were wedding heroes! I was warned by so many people that you don't actually get to enjoy your wedding because you'll be too busy with managing everything. That could not be less true here! The team handled everything: set up, managing vendors, coordinating everything and everyone, even tear down. The whole day was seamless and I didn't have to do anything! Literally the only things they didn't do for us was get married and take pictures! Which is amazing considering they were so incredibly flexible and accommodating for our wants and vision. I had a lot of decor and moving of decor but they didn't even blink at it! They were so organized, professional, and friendly. It was for sure best day of my life. My husband and I say we wish we could afford to do an annual party here! Countless guests told us it was their favorite wedding and/or party! It was all just perfect and I cannot recommend them highly enough! Reviewed on 26-02-2023
Courtney Makinen(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 17-12-2022 My husband and I highly recommend this venue for any and all events! They were very professional and have an excellent staff. They answered any and all questions we may have had. We were able to relax because they took care of everything the day of. Their food was delicious!! We have nothing but good things to say about the Historic Courthouse 1893! The venue itself is stunning. Beautiful high ceilings and multi colored uplighting. Reviewed on 14-01-2023
Stephanie Nielson(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 12-11-2022 We could not have picked a better wedding venue! Not only was it absolutely beautiful inside and out, but the people were so amazing. Eric was incredibly helpful throughout the almost 2 years of planning. The decorations were perfect and the day went off without a hitch! Our guests had nothing but great things to say about the venue itself and the staff! I’m sad my wedding is over because I don’t get to work with them anymore. Highly highly recommend!! Reviewed on 14-12-2022
Kiera Arnson(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 06-08-2022 I couldn’t say enough wonderful things about this venue, food, and those that run it. It was truly one of the best things about planning my wedding. They were helpful, kind, and caring. They knew me by name and made sure that my bridal party and all guests were taken care of. They were a delight to work with. The food was fantastic and all my guests raved about it. The space is stunning and you can costuming the lighting. They have beautiful centerpieces to work with, their linens and napkins are a wide variety. I will be eternally grateful for this venue and the team behind it!! Reviewed on 28-11-2022
Tina M(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 01-10-2022 I don't think words can describe how wonderful the team was to work with! You can really tell they are experienced and know exactly what they are doing. Planning was really easy throughout the entire process, and they made us feel at ease. They asked us questions about things we hadn't even considered and made sure everyone was on the same page. On the day of, the attention to detail was astounding. We did not have a separate day of coordinator, and I didn't feel like we needed one. I have never been in a wedding that ran as on time as this one did, and it is all thanks to the Chef Jacks team. Having the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception all in the same building was not an issue and we were able to transition from one to next with ease. They took care to make sure we got enough to eat as a couple (bringing us our own plate of appetizers) and even brought me a second napkin to make sure I didn't spill on my dress. I made my own wedding cake and wanted to make sure our guests could see it before we cut it. They were super accommodating and volunteered to move the 66lb cake from the cocktail area to the reception area. These are only a few things that stick out from the day, but I could go on and on. We have gotten so many compliments from our guests on the food and the beautiful venue. We loved this place because we didn't feel like we had to add a lot of decorations to dress it up because it was already gorgeous. I absolutely recommend having your wedding here! Reviewed on 13-11-2022
Caroline Peserik(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 09-07-2022 The venue is gorgeous and the staff is excellent! They were so on top of it and really made our big day feel easy. We had a “coordination” meeting a few weeks out, and they made an entire map about the placement of each piece we were bringing in. Seriously so amazing! Our guests were impressed by both the venue and the food. You will not regret booking your wedding here! Elegant, classic, and was perfect with just a few floral arrangements. Reviewed on 28-07-2022
Brittany Grosskopf(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 22-04-2022 We found this venue by chance on google and was immediately blown away by the architecture and attention to detail inside the venue to maintain its historic beauty and have a modern edge. Eric and Lisa were incredible, reliable and so personable. My husband and I loved the groom and bridal suites for getting ready and a quick escape for us when needed. The planning stages were detailed and they asked questions I didn't even know needed answers. Our wedding went so smoothly, I never had to think about how to clean up, when to set up decorations, meeting the florist etc. They had everything under control. Chef Jack's food was amazing, my only regret was not eating more of it! They have these desert \"shots\" of Bailey's in chocolate that were unexcepted and the guests loved them. I personally had 3 after dinner. I would highly recommend this venue, and all of my guests were beyond impressed with the venue, staff, food and the elevator! Reviewed on 29-04-2022
Alyssa Macki(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 18-12-2021 Fantastic everything! This venue is stunning and made you feel like you are in a castle. We loved the groom and bridal suites. The staff was very thorough and on to of any issues that arise. the venue is associated with Chef Jacks and the planning was wonderful and easy. Reviewed on 09-01-2022
Taylor Hansen(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 18-09-2021 Eric and his team were incredible. The venue was beautiful and his team made the day so stress free. My husband and I really appreciated that the staff made a specific effort to make sure the two of us were offered apps and drinks throughout the night as we were so busy talking to guests. They did a great job with everything and we would recommend them to any couple looking for a great venue with great food! Reviewed on 06-12-2021
Kevin Kolter(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 23-10-2021 A great experience! Eric and the whole team made the day effortless and stress-free. Plus the food is AWESOME! Worth every penny. Reviewed on 21-11-2021
Marisa S(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 16-10-2021 This venue is absolutely amazing - I cannot recommend it highly enough!!! My husband and I got married at this venue and can truly say that our wedding was everything we were hoping for and more! I know everyone is biased about their wedding, but we received many compliments from family and friends praising the venue, the smooth transitions, and the delicious food. The venue is beautiful, the food is delicious, and the staff was even better! Everyone we interacted with from start to finish was helpful, communicative, and made the planning and event process so easy and smooth (special shout out to Eric and Nicolette in particular!)! They kept our wedding running smoothly, set-up beautifully, and were always in close proximity if we needed something or had questions. Although we did not hire a wedding planner, this venue made me feel as though we had as they had meetings to walk us through the process and provided us resources to ensure that we didn’t miss anything! I went into the wedding planning process feeling very stressed, but can honestly say the whole process with the help of this venue and staff made my experience stress free. I am so grateful that an acquaintance recommended this venue to me and would highly recommend this venue to everyone!!! Reviewed on 08-11-2021
Maddie Cartier(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 24-07-2021 We got married at the Historic Courthouse and loved everything about it. We had a great experience with them since we toured to the tasting and to the wedding day itself. They had such a great team and were very communicative and great with making adjustments as needed. The getting ready rooms were phenomenal for both the bride and groom. The guys have an awesome space with games and relaxation area, and the girls have a dressing room, makeup room, and lounge area. The staff was very professional, ensured everyone was served, comfortable, and happy. They were quick with clean up, service, and ensured that the bride and groom were well taken care of. They made sure when we got back from photos they had an entire plate of apps for us and ensured we had time to eat and enjoy. It was so thoughtful, and we got all the compliments on food and drinks. The entrees were amazing and so good, and the apps were perfect. Drinks came quickly and quality. All of the experience was so great and the staff and quality is more than we anticipated. Love love love this venue and catering. Reviewed on 06-08-2021
Stephanie Malchine(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 18-05-2019 Eric and the entire staff are INCREDIBLE. Everyone was kind, caring, and were SO helpful. Throughout the planning process, the were there every step of the way and so willing to be flexible and helpful. Chef Jack's catering as absolutely top notch - the food is absolutely excellent. The staff was even willing to work with us and make our dream of having breakfast for dinner a reality, and it was perfect!! The entire staff on the day of our wedding went above and beyond. They treated our guests so well and we could not be happier. There are not enough stars to say how grateful we are to have celebrated at the Historic Courthouse - it was amazing!! Reviewed on 19-05-2020
Morgan Cummings(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 19-10-2019 I have nothing but good things to say about Historic courthouse 1893 and Chef Jacks. We are still getting compliments about our unique and beautiful venue! Also about how good our food was! Eric was so helpful and organized. I did not have to worry about a thing the day of. Everything went without a hitch! Thank you chef jacks team! Reviewed on 07-03-2020
Kelsey Wishowski(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 18-01-2020 This venue is stunning- and the staff is the most professional and friendly to work with. We searched for a long time for the perfect venue and they more than delivered. They helped set everything up for the ceremony and dinner, and worked with me to plan every second of our wedding day. They made everything so easy, I was shocked. They are so fantastic, the venue is gorgeous and well-maintained. The staff was dressed exactly the same in formal wear for our wedding day. I could go on & on, but the truth is they are the best of the best. They deliver the best customer service in a gorgeous, unique location. Reviewed on 29-01-2020
Haylie Schroeder(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 03-08-2019 The service provided by Historic Courthouse 1893, from booking through planning through our wedding day, was beyond incredible - it was perfect. We booked the Historic Courthouse 1893 after an \"open house\" tour of the venue while it was in the very early stages of renovations; knowing that the venue was backed and operated by Chef Jack's gave us confidence that the completed venue would be the space of our dreams. Eric and his team at Chef Jack's made booking very easy and straightforward. We initially had concerns about parking (which turned out totally fine on our day!), and Eric provided regular communication regarding updates. It is extremely apparent that Eric pours his heart into this venue, and his expertise ensures that no detail is overlooked. In regards to our wedding day, everything went off without a hitch (or at least none that we knew about!). We met Eric a few weeks prior to the wedding to finalize details and set-up of the space, and then we returned for our ceremony rehearsal feeling very confident that Eric and his team understood our vision and were ready to execute (we held both our ceremony and reception at the Historic Courthouse 1893). We had a couple of \"unprecedented\" ideas in regards to the transition to cocktail hour and also the reception room set-up, which Eric's team perfectly brought to life. The venue is set up so well - our guests are still talking about not only how beautiful the venue is, but also how nice it was to have a separate area (with fun features like old vaults and comfortable seating areas) for cocktail hour while the ballroom was being reset for dinner. Ah, this venue. I don't think I'll ever be able to describe how happy we are that we chose the Historic Courthouse 1893. The venue has amazing bride and groom suites which gave my husband and I both space to relax with our bridesmaids/groomsmen in the hours leading up to our ceremony. Unfortunately, it rained for the majority of our pre-ceremony photo time, but the venue is SO GORGEOUS with so many beautiful rooms and areas, that I honestly don't think that I'll miss having outdoor photos of our bridal party. Again, no detail in this venue has been overlooked. Between the fabulous service and the gorgeous space, I feel you'd be hard-pressed to find a better space for a classically elegant wedding. We wholeheartedly recommend the Historic Courthouse 1893! Reviewed on 31-08-2019
Gabrhael Walman(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 24-08-2019 Our wedding was absolutely amazing! I cannot say enough great things about Eric and his staff. The food was so delicious, the building was stunning and the staff made everything perfect. Everyone commented about how friendly and professional the staff were. Eric was very patient with my family (who happen to have many opinions) throughout the wedding planning process. Eric met with us any time that we wanted to see the venue and finalize details. I am so happy that we decided to have our wedding at the Historic Courthouse! Thank you so much Eric and Chef Jacks! Reviewed on 27-08-2019
Kaleen Morkin(parent)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 24-11-2018 The Historic Courthouse 1893 is a perfect venue for one of the most special days of your life. The authenticity, historical significance, and charm of the building itself is enchanting. The extensive renovations respect the originality of the building, yet unveil modern beautiful amenities that are elegant, classy and timeless. Nothing was overlooked in this masterful restoration. Planning was made simple by Eric and Tony and all of Chef Jack's staff. They met with us when ever requested and truly there was not a minute of worry or concern throughout all the preparations and the actual wedding day was flawless. The ability to have the ceremony and reception in one facility so that there are no travel concerns was extremely beneficial. All aspects of the wedding day were professional, comprehensive , detailed and provided by gracious and competent staff. The ceremony, cocktail hour and reception were seamless. Guests were extremely complimentary of the food provided by Chef Jack. Appetizers were plentiful, varied and delicious and the meals were generous in portions, tastefully presented , and delectable. The Historic Courthouse 1893 is unequivocally highly recommended as a venue that will profoundly satisfy and honor all expectations and provide a most memorable , extraordinary and unforgettable event! Reviewed on 15-01-2019
Kasey Radtke(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 24-11-2018 My husband and I decided to have our wedding at the Historic Courthouse...it was the best decision we have made. Our wedding vision came to life with the timeless feel of the courthouse and it’s new renovation. One perk of renting out this space is that you can host your cocktail hour, ceremony and reception in one spot. We also could not have chosen a better caterer than Chef Jacks. Our guests raved about the food and overall quality service from Chef Jack’s employees. I also want to give a big thank you to Eric and Tony...they were so patient and helpful from day one. Our wedding day was the best day of our lives thanks to Chef Jacks team. Reviewed on 18-12-2018
Ashley Gordon(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 13-10-2018 We were the second wedding to be held here at the Historic Courthouse 1893 and I am so happy we found this place for our reception! Everything was absolutely perfect and was everything and more than what we had imagined. The buildings exterior and interior is stunning and is one of a kind. There is so much character and history in this building and kept the guests intrigued throughout the evening. Chef Jack's Catering is the best of the best and provided us with top notch service. This is the 6th formal event Chef Jack has catered for in our family at multiply venues since 1988 for all my sisters weddings! The food and service is just outstanding. We have had so many compliments from our guests on how wonderful and beautiful everything was and we are forever thankful for this amazing experience. Special thanks to Eric for everything he did throughout this entire process, going above and beyond and helping us have the wedding of our dreams! Reviewed on 19-10-2018
Amy Bavery(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 06-10-2018 We cannot say enough about the Historic Courthouse 1893! From the very beginning- they were a dream to work with! We planned our wedding from another state- and they were always understanding and helpful about planning meetings around when we would be back in town. All of our communication with the team was in a timely fashion- we usually heard back within hours. Both the interior and exterior of this building are magnificent. It was a wonderful place for our family and friends to gather and take memorable pictures. The main ballroom had a lot of \"wow\" factor, making it the perfect spot for a ceremony and reception. The bridal rooms made for an excellent day with our bridal parties! The space for cocktail hour was also very impressive, and had a lot of standing/sitting areas for our families to mingle! Overall, it was the perfect venue for a wedding! The food was outstanding. We're still getting compliments several weeks later about how wonderful everything tasted! They also offered a huge variety of food and beverage options. We cannot thank Eric and the entire crew enough. It was a dream wedding- and everything went so smoothly! All we had to do was enjoy our time! If you're looking for a venue in SE Wisconsin, I would highly recommend the Courthouse!! Reviewed on 18-10-2018