About Gracious

Gracious Events is a boutique Milwaukee catering and event design company specializing in bringing you a personalized and beautiful one of a kind event.

Gracious started solely as a catering company in the 1950s (then known as Grace Smock Catering) with the primary goal of providing delicious, from-scratch food partnered with warm and courteous service. In 1995 Gracious Catering became Gracious Events, Catering & Event Design. Our services expanded, but our goal has always remained the same. We are passionate about good people, great food and beautiful things. The perfect menu of fresh and seasonal ingredients is just the beginning. From table settings to floral and complete event design, Gracious will make your event perfectly yours, and one that will remain fondly in the hearts and memories of you and your guests for a lifetime.

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• THE GRACIOUS TEAM •

Vesna & Marija Madunic
Proprietors

Vesna & Marija began as employees of Gracious Catering during college and in 1995 bought the company and expanded its services and vision to provide full-service event design. From their creative and fresh menu ideas and reputation for producing exceptional events, Vesna and Marija won the bid to run the first and only cafe at the Milwaukee Art Museum in 2001, when MAM opened the new addition designed by internationally renowned architect Santiago Calatrava.

While running the café, the desire to open their own restaurant grew, and in 2003 they opened Bjonda, a high-style restaurant and bar in Wauwatosa. Bjonda had a successful run, however, in 2007 Vesna and Marija decided to take the restaurant in a different direction and create a more casual yet still creative and inventive dining experience. Bjonda became Firefly, which has proven to be not only a favorite Milwaukee restaurant, but also an excellent and popular Milwaukee wedding and private party venue.

Vesna & Marija's passion for culinary excellence has grown to encompass every element of special events, harnessing the beauty in even the smallest details to delight the senses.

Their uncompromised commitment to providing clients with innovative and fresh approaches to catered events is the driving force that keeps Gracious Events an industry leader.

A note to our clients ❤

“We are sisters and co-owners, and have been providing catering, floral and event design services for over 27 years (sisters even longer!).

We love delicious food, beautiful things, and good people. Bringing these elements together is what drives our passion to create notable and bespoke weddings and celebrations of all kinds.

With a strong European heritage - from-scratch cooking, the importance of gathering at a table, and enjoying the bounties of what surrounds us has been our foundation. Catering and Event Design is a fitting destiny.

Together, with our talented culinary and design teams, we work with every client to create a delectable menu, elegant setting and manage every aesthetic and logistical detail to provide a beautifully curated, one of a kind event.

We absolutely love what we do.”

Gracious Planning & Event Design Team

Our team of dedicated and talented professionals have great collective education and experience in design and event organization. They share the company's vision of creating a wonderfully unique experience for each and every client. Uncompromised standards and an atmosphere filled with creative momentum is our recipe for outstanding customer service and exceptional events.

Culinary Team

Creating foods that are both delicious and beautiful is the focus of our culinary team. We source local where we can, use the freshest and best ingredients, and prepare all of our offerings from scratch. From modern interpretations of the classics and multi-cultural inspirations, to fun and funky theme parties, you can be sure our chefs will create a stimulating menu that will leave you and your guests raving.