Midwestern Bride specializes in event design, organization, and execution. Our mission is to build relationships with our clients that allow us to assist them in telling their story in a fresh, innovative, and engaging way. We lead a team of Type A ladies that delight in organization and event management. Our clients are our family so we work side by side with our couples and companies to ensure that each part of their experience with MB is professional, precise, and personalized.
ABOUT ASHLEY
With a vast background in hospitality and event management Midwestern Bride was born out of a simple dream to assist clients through some of their biggest life experiences. Ashley has expanded business from Chicago to Milwaukee, Milwaukee to Madison and now expanded to several outlying states and destination work. Developing the team in each city and building a rapport with vendors across multiple states has allowed us to compound a wealth of knowledge that we can share with our clients.
As the Lead Event Director and Owner Ashley runs all day to day operations including training team members, scheduling, client design and the love/hate relationship with social media. As the team and business have grown Ashley has pushed the envelope in creativity to create a company that resonates with clients. Our clients are MB family.
Outside of weddings you will find Ashley with her young boys often being tackled, exploring the outdoors, and attempting to drink a glass of rose with her husband in peace. Her life's experiences have taught her an extraordinary appreciation for life's biggest moments which is why MB exists and why they travel as often with their kiddos as they can.
Loves - champagne, lobster rolls, and an unhealthy amount of shopping
Hates - indecisiveness, crocodiles, and slow walkers
Photo by Whitney and Matsaya Photography
Meet the Team
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Madda
Madda (short for Madeline; pronounced: Mad-Duh) is an experienced event planner and designer with over a decade in the industry. Since 2012, she’s curated 150+ weddings and a variety of events, from intimate ceremonies to luxury weddings, corporate galas, brand activations, and music festivals. Based in Milwaukee, she works across the region and is open to travel, tailoring her services to each client’s needs.
With a background in a family of artists and designers, Madda has a natural eye for design and spatial planning, ensuring every event is seamless and beautifully executed. Her design philosophy blends timeless vintage pieces with modern aesthetics, creating nostalgic yet fresh spaces. She carefully curates the right vendors to bring each client’s vision to life, aligning with their budget and priorities.
Her legal studies background sharpens her critical thinking and negotiation skills, making her a strong advocate for clients in high-pressure situations. Madda also has expertise in creative consulting, branding, artist management, and producing live music-focused experiential events across the country.
In 2023, Madda and her husband planned their own destination wedding in Mexico, hosting a weeklong celebration with 50 of their closest friends and family. Navigating the complexities of planning in a foreign location, this personal milestone showcases her passion for creating immersive, meaningful experiences—an approach she brings to every project she undertakes.
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Megan
Megan is a senior associate at Midwestern Bride team. She planned prom and other school sponsored events in high school as the student body president and fell in love with event planning. After Megan planned her own wedding last year, her passion for event planning was reignited!
With a knack for organization and detail, Megan thrives in ever changing environments like weddings. She enjoys planning weddings as unique as her couples and helping to make their wedding day relaxing and enjoyable with memories that last a lifetime.
She and her husband live in Madison, WI with their 2 rescued huskies. Outside of weddings, Megan is finishing up a Masters degree in Entomology (yes, bugs!) at UW-Madison. In her free time, you can find her cuddling with her pups, baking, gardening, crafting, or playing board games with her husband.
Loves: trashy reality TV, all furry animals, IPAs, and great food
Fears: a messy house, grumpy people, and clowns
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Koryn
Koryn is brand new to the MB team but not to weddings. As a photographer herself she has an eye for the details and an intimate knowledge of weddings inside and out.
Being behind the camera is a unique perspective and now she’s ready to take what she knows about delivery a gorgeous gallery to the styling and execution of wedding days. She is all about creating moments of pure joy and making sure the experience is full of joy and giddy cheeky smiles
Fears: horror movies, spiders, a dirty house
Loves: coffee, pasta, and film photography
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Lauren
Lauren joined the Midwestern Bride team in Summer 2021, but has been in and out of the catering and event planning industries since 2008. From balancing trays of nine plated meals, to slinging tables and linens, to being a venue coordinator, Lauren has done it all. Lauren thrives in fast-paced environments like weddings and no detail is too small for her to catch. She enjoys getting to know each couples’ style and building trust so that couples can relax and enjoy their wedding day.
Lauren attended UW-Madison, earning both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and when she is not planning, she enjoys working in higher education on the UW-Madison campus.
In her free time, you can find her walking her dog, streaming the latest hit show, or doing Pilates – it’s all about balance!
Loves: pickles, cute dog videos, and a clean house
Fears: heights, finding out your significant other ate the last [insert food] in the house
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Marla
I’m a UW-Milwaukee grad with a BA in Journalism & Media Studies and a lifelong Wisconsinite. I love intentional design and thoughtful details, I often find myself futzing with things to make sure they’re just right. I want to be my brides’ “bestie” for the day, I want them to feel unconditionally supported and comfortable with me. When I’m not working I enjoy hiking, kayaking, thrifting (so much of my decor at home is antique or secondhand) and I am an avid concertgoer. I can make a playlist for any mood. I used to photograph concerts for my own blog.
Fears: forgetting deadlines, bees, Uber drivers who want to talk to me the entire ride, not being able to DJ at a party, tight spaces
Likes: highland cows, Disney world, hanging at the airport bar before my flight leaves, Brand new notebooks, diy home improvement
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Peggy
Peggy hit the ground running with Midwestern Bride in 2024.
Peggy graduated from the University of Madison, earning a degree in Chemistry. When she's not planning weddings you can find her planning her own wedding, managing a team of over 30 people in a chemistry lab (I know… different worlds), or playing with her pup. Though her two interests seem so vastly different her eye for detail and precision has made her an exceptional addition to the MB team.
Peggy is always one step ahead and ready to take on anything!
Loves: red wine, trying new restaurants, charcuterie boards
Fears: clutter, laundry, centipedes
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Sarah
Sarah became part of Midwestern Bride in 2023. Her exceptional organizational skills, keen eye for design and passion for event planning makes her an absolute joy to work with. She has a calm demeanor, and organized composed style in coordination. Sarah is dedicated to ensure that the couple is happy throughout each step of the process.
Fears- Being Late, Bears, and being center of attention
Loves- Brunch, Cozy Sweater Weather
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Natalie
Natalie s new to the Midwestern Bride team, but brings a wealth of knowledge. As a prior MB bride herself she worked alongside Ashley to bring her vision to life. She has a passion for design and is a sucker for the little details.
Natalie currently resides in outside of Chicago with her new husband and her adorable golden doodle (with his own insta at @dood_its-finley) When she’s not chasing one of them around she enjoys travel and trying out new restaurants.
Loves: Dior, vacation, and family time
Fears: Fomo, being seated behind someone tall (short lady problems :)