Meet Your Team

Our team of dedicated and talented professionals share a vision of creating a unique experience for each and every couple. Uncompromisable standards and an atmosphere filled with creative momentum is our recipe for outstanding customer service and exceptional events.

see them in action

Kate Crowle

OWNER & EXECUTIVE DESIGNER

Welcome! My name is Kate, and I am the Owner and Founder at St James 1868. I’m honored to share our newly renovated property with you and create the wedding day you have dreamed of. St James is owned and operated by a team of female entrepreneurs and we are dedicated to creating an experience for you and your guests that will last a lifetime.

I have a passion for renovating historic buildings and creating St James 1868 has been a dream come true. My design is inspired from the bride's perspective, creating photography moments throughout the property focused on all the details. My love for traveling across Europe influenced many of the décor decisions, especially the Luxury ABBEY Bridal Suite. My talented team and I look forward to meeting you and touring you through our little piece of Europe!

Kelsey Hock

Drawn to the fast paced and detail oriented aspects of the events industry, Kelsey enjoys bringing all of the elements of your day together to make a truly unforgettable celebration. Whether it’s planning discussions, venue management, event execution, décor arrangement or providing a listening ear, she is here for every aspect of your day to ensure a smooth and enjoyable event for you and your guests.
With experience in catering, bridal styling and day of coordination, Kelsey enjoys many aspects of what the events industry has to offer. In her free time, she enjoys spending time at home with her fur babies (Axle, Lily and Griffin), ballroom dancing lessons and embracing her inner foodie with her husband Jason.

Jo Young

My name is Jo, and I am focused on Venue Engagement! I absolutely love beautiful, well thought out events. For 20 years, I was responsible for all the runway shows and fashion productions for Marshall Field’s Department Stores.
Creating an experience that delights the senses as well as the heart, is my true passion... anything that involves mood-setting music, pretty lighting, seasonal flowers, awe-inspiring aesthetics, yummy food, and sparkly drinks....Mixed with love, is my absolute favorite. I look forward to working alongside of you as we plan and execute your wedding!

Jessica Rydlewicz

Step into a world where cocktails are crafted with love and weddings sparkle with magic, all under the expert guidance of Jessica. With an eye for detail and a heart for celebrations, Jessica weaves together the perfect blend of whimsy and sophistication to make your special day shine.
When Jessica is not working, you can find her exploring new places and gathering fresh drink ideas. Her passion for mixing drinks is matched with her love for serving happiness with each sip!

Julie Hornak

Hello! My name is Julie and I am an Event manager at St. James 1868. My mission here is to ensure your event is everything you've ever dreamed of and more. Leave the details up to me so you can focus on making lasting memories with family and friends. My past years of experience coordinating and working with special events allows me to handle all situations that may arise. I truly enjoy assisting with all the small details that go into making your special day absolutely perfect. Lastly, the motto I believe in is “an event lasts a day, memories last forever.”
When I’m not at St.James 1868 I love spending time with family and friends. Staying active and traveling are some of my many passions. I enjoy walking my dog Magoo and exploring the wonderful state trails in Wisconsin.

Kathryn Kutz

My name is Kathryn and I am an Event Manager at St. James 1868. I am dedicated to making you and your guests comfortable while making sure your special day runs smoothly. Ensuring your event is as memorable as possible is my main priority. I know you will find that the St. James's team is prepared to provide service that exceeds your expectations. Our team does great work because we love what we do.
Outside of St. James I enjoy spending time outdoors and gardening. I'm grateful for any free time that I can spend with family and friends.

Tom Sadowski

Hello, I'm Tom and I'm all things Event Operations at St. James 1868! I have worked over 40 years collectively in the Visual Merchandising Department for Marshall Field's, Boston Store, and Macy's. I first met Kate while we were both working at Marshall Field’s and I am so honored she brought me on as a St. James 1868 team member!
When I'm not at St. James 1868 I enjoy working in my garden/yard, exploring our great trails in our parks and along the lakefront, checking out antique shops, and of course checking out all the great microbrews the city has to offer!

Danielle Gehrt

Hello! My name is Danielle, I coordinate all things weddings here at St. James 1868. With a heart that loves beautiful gatherings surrounded by the people we love, my priority is orchestrating all the small details of your day, so you don’t have to! Allowing you to slow down, be fully present, & enjoy making memories that you will cherish forever. Whether it’s being your personal cheerleader, communicating with vendors, or grabbing your dancing shoes, I am dedicated to making the vision of your wedding day come to life smoothly & beautifully. I look forward to creating a fun & stress free wedding day together!
When I am not at St. James, you can find me hosting dinner parties for my favorite people, kicking back at a coffee shop, or hiking & exploring new places with my husband. My true passion is creating love & fun times through hospitality.

Our Event Team in Action

Here is a BEHIND THE SCENES glimpse of our team focused on making your event a day to remember. A common question from our Royal Couples is . . . What does the St. James 1868 Team help us with on our wedding day? and our reply . . . What a great question! For every event our team personally greets each of your guests at the entrance to St. James 1868 with a warm welcome and available to answer any parking and handicap entrance questions upon arrival. During our cocktail hour our team jumps into action to get the floor plan set with precision. Making sure each table is set with symmetrical balance, the correct number of chairs, each chair kissing each table so that your linens hang perfectly straight to the floor. Any luxury rental items such as our black and white checkered dance floor, luxury lounge sets, pillar lighting package are set once the tables are in place for the florists, planners and catering teams to layer on all your design details. Once the room is set we partner with the DJ/ Band to create the perfect ambience by dimming the lights and recommending the complimentary pillar up-lighting that creates depth, elegance and warmth to the room as your guests enter to experience the magical transformation. We look forward to being a part of your Royal Wedding Day!

My daughter and her new husband were married at The St. James 1868 this past weekend. What a special place! The venue could not have been more beautiful. The staff at St James 1868 are wonderful to work with and did everything right to make the event perfect. We were able to reserve the entire venue which made it easy for us transition from the ceremony to the cocktail hour and then to the reception without leaving the building. The staff changed over the ceremony space flawlessly and everything was just as we had planned for it to be. We had so many great comments from our guests and they were just as in awe of the venue as we were. We highly recommend the St. James 1868 - the most beautiful wedding space in Milwaukee.

AGNES - MOTHER OF THE BRIDE
The staff at St James is incredible! Jo is so sweet and gave us our venue tour and Kelsey kept us up to date and organized throughout the entire process. From the day we signed our contract to the day of our wedding we were consistently kept informed and we were never left with questions. On wedding day Kate, the owner, and her team walked around to check on our guests which is something I really appreciated. Their service is incredible and they put us, the bride and groom, first and always made sure we had what we needed and were happy! The room flip not only was quick and efficient, it was exactly what I wanted! When we walked in for the room reveal we were in complete awe!
There is not a single thing I would change about our wedding day. The whole day was absolute perfection and that was largely due to St James, their team, and their attention to detail. If you’re considering getting married at this beautiful venue, do yourself a favor and DO IT!
KATIE - ROYAL BRIDE
My (now) husband and I just got married at St. James, and it was literally the best experience we could have hoped for. The St. James' team was so helpful from the very beginning giving recommendations of vendors to work with, to later in the process advising on all the smaller details that were important to the day. Not only does the entire team have a great grasp on how to make an event run smoothly, the building itself has also been tailored so well to make hosting an event as big as a wedding so easy. Not to mention just how beautiful the building is as well - we stayed onsite for taking all of our photos and there are so many beautiful spaces to work with, so they've all turned out amazing.
SOPHIE - ROYAL BRIDE
I got married at the St. James 1898 in July and could not recommend it more! Kate and her team were absolutely AMAZING! Through the entire wedding planning process, Kate and/or a member of her team were so responsive, kind, and eager to make the wedding day I envisioned come to life. The day of was truly a dream come true. Not only is the venue STUNNING in itself, the behind the scenes, was amazing as well. From start to finish, St. James did not disappoint. I highly recommend it for any event!
ALENA - ROYAL BRIDE
What sold us on the St James wasn't only the space. It was the TEAM. To have held our 11/11 wedding at the St. James was a dream realized. If you're like us, you'll fall in love with the St James and the people who have poured their hearts in this space and the events they host - genuinely cannot recommend this space and this incredible team enough.
OLIVIA - ROYAL BRIDE
We could not have asked for a better team to guide us through the stresses and challenges of planning and coordination! On our Wedding day, the team showed up in Aces. Again, from start to finish, they were available, flexible, and cooperative. For any wedding – the bride and groom are always pulled in a hundred different directions – and I can confidently say, without the team from St. James 1868 – our day would not have been as flawless and seamless as it turned out to be. Their full coverage of the day, positive presence, and elite level of care made us feel so loved, supported, and cherished that we are forever in debt to their thorough and selfless service. Regardless of what you’re planning, celebrating, or commemorating – you will never go wrong with this team! thank you to the whole crew for making our dream a reality!
JASON - ROYAL GROOM