Meet Monique Cunningham
Bold Journey Magazine
June 19, 2025
We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Monique Cunningham a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Monique, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
I’ve always believed that purpose isn’t something you stumble upon, it’s something you uncover piece by piece. Looking back, every chapter of my journey led me here, and now that I’m in it, I can say with full confidence: this is what I was meant to do.
At 22, I opened a boutique fitness studio in Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward. While my passion for wellness was real and unwavering, something unexpected happened.
For two years, I lived a double life, running a fitness business by day, and coordinating weddings and events deep into the night. It was chaotic, exhausting, and absolutely exhilarating all at the same time. I didn’t realize it at the time, but that season cracked the door open to something even bigger.
After closing my studio in 2019 and saying “I do” at my own wedding, I landed a role at the Milwaukee Public Market. When the world shifted in 2020, I helped pioneer their very first virtual cooking class series and tripled their social media following and engagement. I was still planning, still executing, but I missed the deep connection that came from working closely with couples.
In 2022, the Pabst Theater Group created a role for me after acquiring a new venue, The Fitzgerald. And that’s when everything clicked. I became the direct line between couples, vendors, and venues. I was managing renovations, timelines, emotions, expectations, you name it, and I loved every second of it. It was like all my past experiences had finally come together to reveal the bigger picture.
Today, I’ve planned and executed over 75 weddings and private events across iconic Milwaukee venues. From elopements on the Pabst Theater stage to full-scale receptions for 300+ guests at Turner Hall Ballroom. I thrive on bringing calm to chaos and beauty to logistics. My purpose is simple: to allow my couples to be fully present while I handle every detail behind the scenes.
Finding my purpose wasn’t linear. It was layered. But every chapter, from fitness and marketing to design and leadership, led me here. And now, I get to spend my days helping people celebrate life’s most meaningful moments. That’s something I will never take for granted.
Creating meaningful experiences for others, advocating for their vision, and showing up when it matters most? That’s the dream. And I’m living it.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Hi, I’m Monique Cunningham, wife, rescue pup mom, and the heart behind Unique by Monique Weddings! After nearly eight years in the wedding industry, I finally took the leap to launch my own planning business and it’s been the most rewarding adventure yet.
Unique by Monique was created for couples who want to feel fully present on their big day without stressing over the details. Whether I’m stepping in for full planning or day-of coordination, I’m there to be an extension of you, handling timelines, vendors and all the behind-the-scenes magic so you can truly enjoy every single moment.
What’s most exciting? I’m no longer tied to a single venue, which means more creative freedom, more travel, and more ways to show up fully for my couples. I’ve already helped one of my couples get published in Wisconsin Bride magazine, earned recognition from The Knot and WeddingWire and built a trusted team to support my growing business.
It’s been an incredible ride and honestly, it feels like I’m just getting started.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Looking back, three qualities that have been absolutely crucial in my journey are resilience, communication and attention to detail. {In Project Management, this is called 'Lessons Learned'.}
The wedding industry is fast-paced and full of surprises, whether it’s last-minute changes, unexpected challenges or shifting client needs. Learning to stay calm, adapt quickly and keep moving forward has made all the difference.
Secondly and maybe most importantly, communication. I don’t believe there’s such a thing as over-communication!
Weddings involve so many moving parts and personalities. Being a clear, empathetic communicator has helped me build trust in my vendor relationships and keep everyone on the same page, including your crazy cousin or your old college roommate!
Last but not least, attention to detail. The magic of a wedding is often found in the small things, the “in-between” moments, the timing, décor placement and vendor cues that most guests never even notice and most couples would rather not have to handle!
My advice for anyone starting out? Be patient with yourself and keep learning. Find a mentor or two, ask questions and don’t stress the mistakes, that’s how you learn & grow after all!
What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?
One of the biggest challenges I’m seeing right now is adapting to the way this next generation of couples approach wedding planning. This generation grew up with instant gratification, think next-day delivery and TikTok, so there’s a tendency toward last-minute decisions and fast turnarounds. While that spontaneity can be fun, it can also create a lot of pressure on vendors and planning teams to pull off big changes quickly. {Like the cat on a stick thing}
To stay ahead of it, I’ve shifted my process to focus even more on proactive communication. I prep my couples early with customized checklists and curated questions specific to their wedding, so when it’s time to meet with vendors, they’re ready to make confident, informed decisions. It’s all about setting them up for success before the final weeks hit, so we’re not scrambling to make magic happen under pressure.
Planning should still be joyful and fun, not rushed or chaotic. My job is to guide them there!
Contact Info:
Image Credits
Ampersand Photography, Caroline Cavalcante, & Krysta Holden Photography
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Link
https://boldjourney.com/meet-monique-cunningham